Girl in a Whirl

My mom just handed this poem to me when I picked up my kids. Some of you may have read this before but I thought it was very funny so decided to share.

"The Girl In A Whirl"
by "Dr. Sues" (a.k.a. Vickie Gunther)

"Look at me, look at me, look at me now!
You could do what I do if you only knew how.
I study the scriptures one hour each day;
I bake,
I upholster,
I scrub, and I pray.
I always keep all the commandments completely;
I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.
I help in their classrooms!
I sew all they wear!
I drive them to practice!
I cut all their hair!
I memorize names of the General Authorities;
I focus on things to be done by priorities.
I play the piano!
I bless with my talents!
My toilets all sparkle!
My checkbooks all balance!
Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;
I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)
I'm taking a class on the teachings of Paul,
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all!
I track my bad habits 'til each is abolished;
Our t-shirts are ironed!
My toenails are polished!
Our family home evenings are always delightful;
The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.
I do genealogy faithfully, too.
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;
I know all the names of each youth in my stake!
I read to my children!
I help all my neighbors!
I bless the community, too, with my labors.
I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;
My visiting teaching is done the first day!
(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.
It's the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)
I chart resolutions and check off each goal;
I seek each "lost lamb" on my Primary roll.
I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.
But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all!
I write in my journal! I sing in the choir!
Each day, I write "thank yous" to those I admire.
My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!
My kids get straight A's! And their bedrooms are clean!
I have a home business to help make some money;
I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.
I go to the temple at least once a week;
I change the car's tires!
I fix the sink's leaks!
I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;
I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.
I make sure I rotate our two-year supply;
My shopping for Christmas is done by July!
These things are not hard; 'tis good if you do them;
You can if you try!
Just set goals and pursue them!
It's easy to do all the things that I do!
If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!
It's easy!" she said
and then she dropped dead.

This was very funny to me. All of us do some of these things (some seem capable of doing more than others--that is not me.) However, most women really do think we need to be just like the woman in that poem (I am guilty as charged--three times over!) I want to remember to read this when I start bewailing my incompetence and ineffectiveness as a wife, mother and homemaker and start comparing myself to others to a degree that I begin to judge myself worthless. This adds the right touch of lightness to bring my spirits up and remind me that I cannot be all things and that there is a time and season to do things. Maybe it will help you too. Happy chuckling!

Since My Last Post . . . .

I have played a small part in our high school musical, Oliver!

I worked at making Valentines Day a special day.

I attended Time Out For Women in Spokane with my mom and two sisters.

I went to NYC for 4 days!!!


My oldest started Cub Scouts and we had our first Pinewood Derby.


My husband and his brother started up a new business together (though Paul is still also working for my dad). They are now trying to get into the composting business.

I dyed Easter eggs (which I hate) so my kids would love Easter.


I got through Easter (I had to sing a solo in the program and almost died!)

(The Easter Day finery)
I have done 2 months of Sharing Time.

I helped to put on an Easter Activity Day and an amazingly fun Activity Day about countries around the world.

I went on a long vacation to Seaside, OR with Paul to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary in July.

(Paul and I at the seashore in Seaside. We weren't brave enough to ask someone to take a picture of us together.)
I did daycare a couple of days a week for a friend of mine who teaches.

I volunteered once a week in my kids' classrooms.

Was part of an Elder's Quorum Progressive Dinner.

Went to two school choir music nights and various other school related activities.

(Hannah's Dino Concert. We forgot to take the camera to Hyrum's concert. Many tears and exclamations of "It's not fair!" ensued.)
Helped out at my son's 2nd Grade Sleepout at the school (and, no, I did not stay up all night. I have a demanding almost-two-year-old to deal with. But I was there until 1 or 2 am).

(Hyrum with some classmates getting ready to play hide and seek throughout the school)
Was trying to lose weight. I only succeeded in losing and gaining the same 4 or 5 pounds on a rotating basis, but I did try.

I had the stomach flu during one of my busiest weeks in April (but this got me out of doing a few things and therefore lightening my load.)

Got through Spring Break!

Took kids to or attended various birthday parties, card making parties, luncheons, meetings and church parties.

Was an almost 100% Visiting Teacher :)

Attended numerous dance recitals and performances.

(Hannah's Farmyard and Cruella DeVille dances)
Helped with the end of year activities such as: Arts In the Park, Kindergarten Park Day, Kindergarten Graduation and my youngest sister's High School Graduation.

(Hannah with her teacher, Miss Zirker--also our Primary President--and with her cousin Holly, who was in the same class.)
Took two of my children to the dentist for the first time and found out that at least half of their teeth are rotting out of their heads!

Spent many hours in the dentist office to get the teeth fixed (with more hours to come) and spent (or at least, will have spent) thousands of dollars on dental bills since we have absolutely zero dental insurance unless one of us needs dental surgery following an accident or something (which is why this is the first time we have taken our kids to the dentist--a bad mistake, I know).

My husband and several different relatives spent many hours finally fencing in my backyard (a dream that started before we first moved into our house 5 1/2 years ago!)


So that is my life in a nutshell over the last 5 months (in no particular order). I hope to get better at this. If any of you are interested to learn more about something that I have done (as listed here) let me know and maybe I will do another post on just that thing and fill in any blanks. I was avoiding writing because their was just so much to say so I decided to cut it short and let you decide if you want to hear more. I hope that this post was somewhat enjoyable and not just tedious to get through.


(I didn't really have pictures of Emma and Joshua in this post so I added a few that I liked. Joshua is listening to my iPod and Emma is practicing her Princess curtsy in her Easter dress.)