Top Five Peterson Events of 2013

I can most definitely say that I am not the same person I was one year ago.  The same can be said of our family, which has seen more change than I can remember in quite a while.  Unlike 2012 where most of the changes were depressing, sad, and no fun; 2013 has given us many good changes and 2014 looks to be no different.  Here's what happened to us that was so big this past year.

1.  Scott returned to the classroom to teach Spanish.
This was so huge for him and our family.  After losing his position at the Meadows last year, Scott wondered if he would ever teach again....and wasn't sure he even wanted to.  He took a position as a manager at a Asian food-production plant and to be quite honest, he was miserable almost the whole time.  He spent nearly six months looking for another teaching job all over the country, but when he got a callback to guest-teach at Agassi Prep here in Las Vegas, I knew he would get this job.  He took another cut in pay, but to have him doing what he does best is worth it.  It's very much a challenge for him to be at this school, but he has good administration that backs him and I love the fact that he dresses professionally again.  I missed that more than I realized.

2.  I got accepted into UNLV's nursing school program.
I have been going to school for four years now and finally was able to finish off all the prerequisites to apply for the BSN program at UNLV.  Competition was fierce (they accepted less than half of the applicants), but I was so blessed to get in.  It has been harder than I ever thought it would be, but I LOVE IT.  This is what I was meant to be, and with God's help, I'll be able to graduate this August!

3.  Noodle joined his dad and brother in the priesthood.
In our church, when boys turn twelve, they are interviewed to determine their worthiness to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.  (For more information on that, please go here.)  Boys are part of the Aaronic priesthood from ages 12-18, at which time, they can advance to the Melchizedek Priesthood (which Scott has), as long as they are worthy.  The day he passed the sacrament for the first time was an emotional one for me.  This young man, who started life 11 weeks early and weighed 3 lbs 10 oz; who faces the challenges that come with having autism; was doing something that I hoped one day he would be capable to do.  With that day, I know the sky is the limit for him.  He will achieve great things because he already has!

4.  Brianna got her drivers license.
I'm not sure when time decided to go into very-fast-forward-mode, but it did (and without my permission).  Brianna got her learners permit at the beginning of the year and by mid-July she was a legally licensed driver.  It's been a real blessing to have her driving though.  With my increased studies and time at the hospital, I've needed her to be able to drive her and her brothers to various activities AND run errands for me, too.  She is a good driver (from what I can tell) and we'll soon be sending her and the Trailblazer that she drives off to college in August.  (I can't believe I just wrote that.)

5.  Zac grew about 19 feet.
Although you can't see it from this picture, our Zacharry has nearly reached his dad in height and HE IS ONLY 15.  He currently stands at 6 feet.  Holy crap doesn't even begin to describe how quickly he has grown.  Many people mistake him to be our oldest child and that he is a senior in high school (both comments make him so happy), but he is not only growing in height, but in spirit as well.  He has a strong testimony and I look forward to when he gets to turn in his papers to serve a mission.  That time is only two and a half years away.  (I can't believe I just wrote that, either.)

Top Five Running Songs of 2013

I have kicked up my running goals this past year, finishing a Color Me Rad 5k and now just completed training for a 10k that I will most likely run with the tribe at Another Mother Runner in May.  I would also like to be part of a Ragnar this fall (perhaps with a contingent of Bateman cousins/my siblings???) because that's just boss-sounding.  I used to run listening to podcasts, but with my runs now stretching out to an hour or more, podcasts do not give me the boost I need when I'm halfway into the run and music absolutely helps the miles go by faster.  So here's a list of my favorite running songs, no explanations needed because well....they just rock for me.

1.  "Catch My Breath" - Kelly Clarkson

2.  "Without You" - David Guetta/Usher

3.  "The Fighter" - Gym Class Heroes with Ryan Tedder

4.  "Counting Stars" - OneRepublic

5.  "Troublemaker" - Olly Murs

Top Five Peterson Pics of 2013

A lot of big things happened this year in our family, which I blogged about here.  I was able to capture some great moments that may not seem overly amazing, but were great pics in their own right.  Here they are, in no particular order.

1.  Deacon Collar 

This was a year where Noodle made some big strides.  As a high-functioning autistic kiddo, he will always have obstacles to overcome and this year, he did just that.  He transformed from a kid that I would have to sit next to and remind him to stay focused just to complete most of his homework, to a young man who takes the initiative when he gets home from school to grab a quick snack and then sit down ON HIS OWN to start and FINISH his school work.  He also turned 12, which means he was ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood and took on responsibilities that come with being a deacon.  One of those things in our family includes wearing a tie-it-yourself-tie and not a clip-on.  It took him about a month of Sundays for him to get down how to tie the knot, but he still has what we call Deacon Collar, where the front looks fine, but the back doesn't quite get tucked into the collar properly.  He's a work in progress, but I'm so proud of all the strides he made this year.

2.  Scott's First Selfie

Bless his heart....my Beloved (much to my chagrin and consternation) drove our kiddos up to Utah/Idaho for a week this past summer while I slaved away in my first semester of nursing school.  He made the 20-hour roundtrip drive in about 36 hours, which made me extremely cranky with him because I felt he was not driving safely on very little sleep.  In order to pacify/surprise me, he took this selfie in St. George and sent it to me.  Not the most slick selfie.  In fact, I challenged people to caption it and the winner was our friend Aaron, who said this, "I bet my wife can hardly wait for me to get home. My efforts will surely be rewarded."  Brilliant, I say!

(Scott has since refrained from further selfie-taking.)

3.   Brother Tower 

Aahhh.. brothers.  There's something completely wonderful and irritating about having brothers.  These two are either in sync or not.  They bug, bother, poke, and annoy each other.  But they also play and laugh and joke around wonderfully.  This moment was an example of the latter.  I hope they will continue to develop their relationship as the years go on without me needing to be Referee Mom.

4.  Brianna's $11 Homecoming Dress

Funds were a bit tight this past fall and we just could not justify buying another prom-like dress this year like we did in the spring.  So Brianna gathered up whatever money she had and headed to Ross to see what she could find.  She found this little number for $11 and with just a bit of tweaking from her amazing seamstress/YW president, pulled off a fabulous dress for Homecoming.  Score one for the penny-pincher!

  

5.  Our First 5k

This was also our last 5k for a while.  Scott and I promised that if he got a job teaching this fall, I could train him to run a Color Me Rad 5k.  This was the last morning of training and five days before the race.  We ran it, and as Scott was getting into the shower, he notice a bulge in his groin which turned out to be a hernia.  He ended up walking the race while I ran.  He has been sidelined from running until recently when he had it repaired.  He comes out running with me on my short run mornings (about 2 miles) and we're looking for another 5k that we can do together maybe this spring and he's contemplating upping to a 10k with me so perhaps we can run a 10k in the fall (in New England maybe?).

Top Five Girly Products of 2013

With my entrance into nursing school, I have found my time is very precious and I am now using products that are tried-and-true.  If it doesn't work for me, it's not a keeper.  So here's what I've been using most this year.  None of these products have elicited my endorsement, I just love them.  That's all.

1.  Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
This primer does a fabulous job in making my foundation stay put from before sun-up to well after sun-down.  I received a deluxe sample of it earlier this year and didn't use it until late summer because I thought it would make my combination skin be too oily.  It only takes a small amount to smooth onto my face and I wait a few minutes to let it set before I apply foundation.  When I  run out, I will definitely be purchasing the full size.

2.  Alpha Hydrox Spot Light Targeted Skin Lightener
As I'm aging, the brown spots on my face are becoming more noticeable (at least in my mirror!) and I have searched high and low to find something that will lighten these spots.  This skin lightener does a fabulous job and it is really very affordable.  I've spent tons on other products, but this does the trick. HIGHLY recommend, be just be sure to follow the directions and do NOT get this stuff in your eyes!

3.  EOS Strawberry Sorbet Lip Balm
This little egg-shaped lip balm has great moisturizing qualities and I love the fact that it is 95% organic and paraben/petroleum free.  I also have the summer fruit and lemon flavors, but the strawberry is my favorite.  I keep these all over the house and in my purse.  So cute and works great!

4.  Bliss High Intensity Hand Cream
This is definitely a loved product by me.  I have used this hand cream for years!  Being a student nurse, I wash my hands all the time and by the time my shift is done, my hands are screaming for moisture and this is amazeballs at giving my hands what they need while absorbing fairly quickly.  I also love the scent.  It is light, fresh and clean.

5.  L'oreal Paris Voluminous Power Volume 24H Waterproof Mascara
I was a loyal CoverGirl Lash Blast mascara wearer for many years and after reading some great reviews on this particular mascara, decided to give it a go.  It was not love at first sweep of the wand, but after two weeks, the formula dried up enough for my liking.  It really makes my lashes look fuller and longer, which is great because my lashes seem to be thinning.  No bueno!  But this mascara is great and I have since re-purchased it.

Top Five Apps of 2013

My iPhone has become as much a part of me as my right hand.  Most of the time it is on my person somewhere, and I almost think it has a hidden magnet that attaches itself to my left hand.  Here are the apps I have relied on most in 2013.

1.  Saucony Run4Good
I was introduced to this app by Another Mother Runner podcast that I discovered this year.  This app tracks my run time/distance/pace and then adds my miles to others who have this app.  If the total miles of all runners is 10,000 then Saucony donates up to $10,000 to a charity that promotes ways for children to be more active and run.  It's a win-win....I try to stay healthy and kids get the chance to discover what running can do for them.

2.  Menu Planner
This app combines two things into one for me....a weekly menu and a shopping list.  The app allows me to plan meals for my family and if the recipe is in the app, it can draw up a shopping list based on what we are eating that week.  This app isn't perfect though, it's a bit glitchy and quits out when I try to add recipes, so that part doesn't work for me.  But I like the fact that as I'm shopping, if I can't remember if I got everything for the week, I can double check the menu to make sure I won't need to make additional trips to the store (which I just do NOT have time for right now).

3.  Collect
Life goes by fast....and gets faster as you get older.  I use this to keep pics of the small moments that happen all the time.  Like in the spring when Zac was sick with the flu for a week (not a good memory, but still something to remember), or the day Brianna got her drivers license and she drove home legally that day.  I haven't used this every day, but there are stretches of weeks that I collect the pics and remember life.

4.  Penzu
This journaling app is one that can be used on both iPhone and Mac.  There is a yearly fee for access, but I have multiple journals that I can write in whether it be on my phone or my laptop.  It's easy to use and personalize.  It's pretty simple, but I have tried other apps and this one wins due to its cross-platform versatility.

5.  30/30
This is a timer app that I use when I study to keep me on track.  You can schedule various activities for certain amounts of time and it goes off to let you know to move on to the next thing (or take a break).  It's fairly user friendly and can be tailored to whatever you need....not just for school!

What Is Right For Me

I have been a mother for more than 17 years.  It is a role that I have loved, hated, cherished, and despised.  I know that sounds harsh, but being a mother is not all home baked cookies, adoring clean children who are instantly obedient.  It's hard work keeping these little human beings fed, safe and educated while maintaining some sense of sanity.  But my job as a mother has evolved over the years.  When my three children were little, I was proud of the fact that I was able to devote all of my time to them.  I was a very typical stay at home mother.  I had the minivan (still do), my kids were in soccer, I did preschool at home with them, I was crafty, I was a scrapbooker.
As they have grown and the stages of their lives have evolved, so has my mothering.  When my youngest, who is autistic, started school at age three to begin early childhood education for therapy to help him, I was left wondering what was in store for me next.  I began to understand that my children would not be at home forever and that my purpose in this life is to serve God and His children.....and not just the children I bore.  So after searching, pondering, and praying, I felt that I needed to begin to prepare for the time when all of my chicks fly from the nest.  Before I had children, I was a journalism major at USU.  I loved it.  I loved getting the stories, doing interviews, being in the know.  But when the prompting came to return to school, it wasn't journalism I was to pursue.  It was nursing.  The prompting took me back because I was never strong in science, and math was drudgery.  However, I knew that if this is what God wanted me to do, He would also help me accomplish it.  So, it was with the knowledge of His help that I applied to the local university and started the path to lead me to a bachelors degree of science in nursing.
That's when the guilt started seeping in.
I've had many moments over the past four years when I've questioned my timing of going back to school, but I always know deep down in my soul that this is my time.  This is my time to be more than I thought I could be.  This is my time to be what God wants me to be.  When my role as a mother turns into one of an advisor, mentor and cheerleader, I can still help His children where ever I may be as a nurse.  I know that this is my time because I would not have been able to accomplish all that I have without His help....I'm not that smart on my own.
The process of obtaining my degree has not only taught me so much, but my children have learned to become self-reliant.  They do their own laundry, they cook dinner, and they clean up after themselves (mostly).  These are life skills that they need to know when they leave home for college.  I can't do everything for them now because I don't have the time, but I actually should not do everything for them.  How else can they become responsible adults?
The whole point of this story is to say that there are many women who strongly advocate that the mother's place is in the home, and there are many women who just as strongly feel that women can be both mothers and professionals at the same time.  I have seen many blog posts supporting one side or the other.  I have been on both sides of the issue.  My stance now is one of individualism.  My path, my role, and my responsibilities are not the same as yours, your mother's, sister's or friends.  If you want to know what I think you should do, I will always tell you that you should pray about it....to find out what God wants for you.  What He wants for me isn't the same as what He wants for you, and His timing for you isn't the same as it is for me.
The moral of it all?  Don't judge, either out loud or in your attitude.  We are all on a path that will lead us Home someday and our paths are all different.  Not wrong.....just different.  Life is hard and we need to support and love one another to get through.

The Path to Greatness

Over the years, I've learned that I can do hard things.

I've buried an angel baby.
     But I discovered that families are forever.

I've lost 80 pounds.
     And I found that I have more willpower than I expected.

I've had a baby 3 months premature.
     Noodle's birth gave me empathy and understanding for friends who go through the same thing.

I've dealt with some serious health issues.
     These gave me a new found appreciation for the wonder of the human body.

I've felt lost and without purpose.
     That's when I felt God's love and knew why I am here.

I've endured economic hardship and lost our house of eight years.
     It taught me that a house is not a home without love and my family in it, and money does not make happiness.

I've started nursing school.
     All things that I have learned up to this point have come together through this last adventure.
     It has been my forever family that has stepped up to support me.
     It has been my willpower to push through hours-long study sessions that challenged my sanity.
     It has been empathy and understanding for others that are going through this with me that brings me newfound friendships.
     It has been the appreciation of the human body that keeps me from getting weirded out from some of the procedures I have do to.
     It has been God's love and knowing His purpose for me which pulled me through some very stressful weeks of school.
     It has been the love of my family, especially my best friend/husband, that brings me happiness at the end of each week when I finally get a few moments to be with them.

I believe this latest challenge will prove to be the one thing that will change not only my life, but the life of my family in so many ways.  On the days when I feel like I have nothing left to give, or when the grade I get is not the grade I studied for, or when the Adversary reminds me that I'm not being enough of a mother/wife, I have to dig down deep.....remember who I am, who I'm meant to be and know that God allows life be difficult for a reason.

Because "it's the hard that makes it great."

Forty.

This is 40

All that goes with it. 

This is finally knowing who you are

Why you're here. 

This is watching your children today

Remembering all the yesterdays. 

This is coming to terms with your body type

Being stronger because of it. 

This is seeing your husband

Adoring him so much more now. 

This is fighting gray hair

Sensing you'll lose anyway. 

This is doing new things

You never thought you could. 

This is wisdom from the past

Hoping for a long future. 

This is 40

The start of a new chapter.