Sunday. They say it gets better.

Today.. was one of those Rough Days at Church. They sometimes happen. I’m grateful when they don’t, and the rough days serve to keep me grateful on the good days (as with all of life, right?).

It was one of those days in which scrapbooking, because it forces me to look at the things in my life with eyes of celebration and love, becomes therapy. Like this layout, which I did tonight:

 
Click for Larger

Supplies:

• Papers: Enjoy Life kit by Mindy Terasawa; Fancy Free paper by Jen Wilson (the text)
  
• Brushes: On the Edge No. 3 Brushes by Katie Pertiet;  On the Edge No. 2 Brushes by Katie Pertiet; 2nd Hand Titles (the ampersand at the top of the picture); Brushes A La Mode by Mary Ann Wise (flourishes on the title)
• PNG: Natural Borders by MaryAnn Wise; Heart swirl from Rekindle Kit by Jen Wilson
  

Scrapping this photo reminds me that Rowen is a rare girl. I love her for it. But I’m still glad this day is over. Backstory follows. :P 

The first two meetings of Church are fine. Jared and I team-teach the 4-5 year old class. So cute. We can see a glimpse of what Rowen will be in the next couple years. It’s fun to teach a low-stress class, and be with Jared at church. The final meeting, though, is always the rough one, although we always hope that it’ll be a great day.

Today wasn’t that day.

We sat in the back, near the door, as we always do. We usually don’t make it the entire meeting without at least one  small one needing to be taken out to calm down. Elliott instantly screamed, pretty much as soon as we sat down, so out into the hallway he went. Then Rowen started out the meeting alright with me, tracing around her hands with crayons. She dropped a few, so I bent down to get them, and somehow in the flash of 4 seconds, she had the little bowl of Cheerios that we keep in their Church bag out, and I turned around just in time to see her in the last second of prying the bowl open (lid in one hand, bowl in the other), and see 100 Cheerios explode in every direction.

Nobody in church really knows how to react to someone whose kid has just exploded Cheerios in a 5-foot radius all around her chair. Do you bend down to help? Do you pretend it didn’t happen? Well, everyone around us chose #2, and resolutely kept singing the song, pretending to be oblivious to me on my hands and knees picking up  pieces of cereal from under their chairs. I was actually pretty glad of that - it made for a quicker escape.

After that, we cut our losses and left. I was too embarrassed to go back into the meeting after that incident, and the kids were so tired and spent and scream-y, and we were both so worn down, it seemed like the best option at the time.

I hear it gets better. We’ve been waiting for that time. Better is NOT a 1.5 year old who has missed his morning nap and a barely-3-year-old who’s gotten ahold of  a bowl of Cheerios. But I think that Church is important. I really do. Sometimes I forget that on days like this, and think, why the heck do we bother? But I know why. And someday, these small ones will know why, and that keeps me going week after week, doing my best.

We had some new friends invite us over tonight for some really phenomenal banana cream pie (Ms.-non-cook didn’t even know you could make this stuff from scratch! Move over, Jell-o pudding!) and a visit with them and their three boys. Jared grew up in a family of three boys. He was the youngest. He totally empathized with boy #3, saying “Man, that kid is totally broken in”. I thought that was hilarious.

I failed in my quest to take the weekend off yet again, by editing and printing a bunch of photos. Oh, and by making this layout  But that’s not the same, right? I just really love some of the photos that have been coming out of my camera lately. Any ideas for a quick and easy low-stress book I could put them in? I know if I get all hardcore I’ll never actually get it done, since the ‘paid’ work will come back and this will get put aside. I would like to create some kind of, “These are my 50 favorite pictures Ever” album. Super quick and easy. Please link me if you have some ideas here. :D

Happy Sunday! 

Comments

[Sheri]

I think one of these kits would be perfect for what you want!
Just order them, plop your pics in, and print!
A friend of mine did that and she said they were gorgeous!!!
http://www.theshabbyshoppe.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=102

hope that helps!
sheri

[Heather]

Oh Jessica - All I have to say is that we've all been there. I can't believe you have sacrament meeting last...that's a killer with 2 toddlers. My kids are 18 months apart and now that Hannah is 4 and Abe is 2 1/2 things are slightly better...though I think every family of toddlers has had the cheerios experience. Now my kids just fight over stuff that we bring so we might have stop bringing anything. Yikes! Sundays seem like the hardest days sometimes, but then every once in a while those inspiring ones make up for the hard times. Keep a goin'!

[chickadee]

Love the story about the kiddos! I had one of those days today, too. Only instead of Cherrios it was her lying upside down on the seat with her dress falling back down over her head. At least you got through your first two hours. 45 minutes of *underwear* during sacrament was way too much for me and it was out the door we went! BTW, amazing layout as always!

[Cathy Pascual]

gorgeous layout!
and bless you for having TWO toddlers at once and managing to do all your beautiful work and being active in the church!
my hats off to you!

[Sara]

Our 2-month old made it through all three hours for the first time today. I assume this too will pass and I'll be joining you in the Cheerio explosion zone soon enough. Bless your heart for surviving!

[Annette]

Wow wow wow - what an amazing layout and photo.....just love her lashes!!!!

[Sinead]

I'm in the same boat with you. Our 3 year old has historically been really good in church (despite being wild in many other situations), but here lately she's been increasingly difficult. It doesn't help when Daddy goes to the vestibule with the fussy baby...said 3 yr old thinks she needs to join him. In clicky shoes that resonate on the laminated floor of our temporary church building. Hey--at least she wasn't yelling "WAIT for me Daddy!" lol These times will pass. :)

Somebody had a link for a Winkflash book at TDC. Let me dig up that link for ya. I think the coupon is good until Wednesday...

[Sinead]

Ahhh...here it is:

http://www.thedigichick.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11812

9x12 books from Winkflash with up to 100 pages for $19.95. Sounds like a sweet deal to me...

[Julie Ann Shahin]

Way to turn strife into gorgeous art!

[Brooke]

Such a beautiful layout. Yes it will get easier and you are oh so right in feeling like it is good to have the kids in Church even if it is hard. Mine are grown now and we all survived :) Yes, cheerios always seem to 'fly' at some point with kids. lol Just know you are doing a really good job and I am sending ya a cyber hug!<>

[Amy Hummel]

Wonderful testimony about why we still go to church with little ones! I just had to chuckle at your story because I've been there so many times. I'm assuming by the descrpiton of your chruch atmosphere and duties that you are LDS too. We have just moved to 1:00pm church, meaning we don't even get home until 4pm. I teach the 12-13 year old sunday school and my husband teaches the same age boys for scouts. We have days like that all the time at church. Yesterday I went alone with my 2 girls (age 2 and 4) while my husband stayed home with our sick 11 month old. In the middle of Sacrament meeting I had to drive the 2 year old home and drop her off with dad because she wouldn't stop SCREAMING!!! 1pm is a difficult time for little kids. Right in the middle of lunch/nap time!

[photocat]

First of all, let me explain that I am european. Which means highly practical.
I wonder what toddlers of 3, 4 and 5 are supposed to do when they have to sit still for 3 hours.
I am reading all this and hardly can believe my eyes....
On our base they have kiddie groups, the parents are in mass, and the kiddies are with weekly changing parents in charge, doing their own kiddie stuff, in a separate room, they are invited in the mass the last ten minutes... and nobody cares if they chant or fall or drop things...
If religion means that they have to sit still for hours in a row, then it is not a kid friendly religion... I feel sorry for both parents and kids who are put in difficult situations for a higher good. Kiddies will always be kiddies, they have to learn how to adapt, but I don't think sunday mass is the right time or place to do that. I'll get off my soapbox now and will hide in a cave. I am expecting flack...
On a positive note, I love the layout, what a beautiful angle to shoot a girl, putting focus on her longue lashes. That kid is a knock out... Keep up the good work Jessica, I love your digital stuff, I buy almost everything you put up for us...

[Kristy]

I use shutterfly. I love thier new books especially for scrapbookers. You can print your digi layouts in a hard bound book or you can use their layouts and insert your photos. I really have found them to be the best,

[Kimberly White]

LOOVE that layout! What an amazing photo! I hear you about church being important, and that it's tough with kids! (I could go on and on about that one but I'll spare you!) I think God understands (He's a Father right????). Hope you have a great day! Kim

[helga]

An amazing layout really! It made me grasp my breath (don't know if that makes sense in Englisch?)

Beautiful picture of Rowen too.

[Joelle]

Hi Jessica - I can totally emphathize! I have a nearly 3 yr old son and a nearly 1 yr old daughter. I sure hope it gets better :) They bring so much joy though - makes the crazy days more than worth it :) To answer your question - I've bought several books from Shutterfly and I love the quality. They're super easy, too.

[MN Carol]

The LO is stunning! You have a knack for putting a positive spin on things. Bless you for your valiant efforts with the little ones at church. Hugs to all!

[Renee]

I just read this today about your day and I can totally relate. Well, somewhat. I have a one year old and I was wondering if it would be wrong to skip out on church for the next four months until she can go to nursery. I guess that wouldn't be setting a good example. It is so hard to have a three hour block of church, but it really is the best place we can be. Thanks for your positive outlook on things. I will try to remember that when my daughter is throwing a tantrum in the middle of a talk. :)

[Alicia]

I know this is a little late of a posting, I just wanted to say, along with every one else, that it's kind of nice to hear other people go through this too. I have a 3 1/2 year old and a 2 year old. My oldest is autistic and while sacrament meeting is probably the hardest with both of them, I have to sit with my autistic son through, let's face it, some boring primary sharing times and lessons in class. So even though I have reached the "nursery" stage with my other son, I still don't get a break to be spiritually uplifted and I do wonder "what's the point". But I am glad you hung in there and it gives me strength not to give up on taking them to church...I know they need it and I need it.

[KatieJ]

Wow what a beautiful layout! I absolutely love it. And I love to hear that the struggle with little ones in church is universal! My 3 year old now runs off and sits with other families (whoever the lucky winner is) and she sits like a perfect angel with them. My 18 month old is a nightmare but I have discovered that no one else is disturbed by toddlers except their own parents. Everyone else around thinks it's wonderful entertainment!