When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar

My dad brought this to my attention a few years back and I can even relate to it more now with Taylor...life can seem so crazy that you forget what is important. I believe we are all guilty of getting caught up in the little things and if you say you don't then your lying to yourself its human nature. The important thing is that you stop and realize what is important. Taylor and Brock do that for me everyday. No matter how stressful my day was at work or if I am just having a bad day all I need to is to pick her up and see her smile and realize that is what is important. Your family, your friends and your health are what makes life so great.
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar... and the coffee...A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed."Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, " I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff.""If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Taylor Sue DesLauriers

Brock and I were blessed with baby girl on May 1st. She just turned three months this past weekend and is getting bigger by the minute. She is a pretty low maintenance baby for the most part. She also has start sleeping through the night, but as a mom I still don't sleep through because I have to get up and check on her to see if she is okay!! She is starting to smile and giggle and it is the most amazing sound in the world. She is really starting to recognize Brock and I. She can't control herself when Brock walks into a rooms she coos with excitement! He is amazing daddy! Brock and I couldn't have asked for anything more then such a little angel.

Thanksgiving

Well Thanksgiving has came and went way to fast. We spend Thanksgiving with my family in Starkweather. Brock had to get back to work on Friday but I was able to spend some more time with Sydney and Lisa in Grand Forks. We managed to get some shopping done and Sydney got to see Santa Clause! She did pretty good no tears but you could tell she was a little confused as to who this guy was! Now it is back to work until Christmas. We will be staying busy with Christmas decorating and possibly starting on the baby's room. Which can be challenge because we are not sure if it a boy or a girl. We hope to be finding out at our appointment this month but if we don't that is okay too. All we can pray for is healthy baby. I hope everyone is well and they had a great Thanksgivging and ate way to much like we did.

Baby News

Woops...Okay so I realize it has been way way to long since I have updated. Partly because until lately I haven't been able to share our exciting news. Brock and I are expecting a baby in May 2009. We found out the exciting news in late September and have had two doctors appointment to confirm that yes there is a growing baby that will be due on May 23rd. We are both beyond excited and can't wait for the upcoming months.

Pictures

Father Daughter DanceMom and I
Brock and I at the reception
Jess, Me & Lisa

Olympics!

Brock and I have turned in to Olympic junkies this past week. We get home and five eat supper and then are glued to the TV from 7:00pm to 11:30. We obviously are not too original because our favorite person to watch has been Michael Phelps. I hope he can keep is momentum going but I think a big factor is going to be his grueling schedule. Yesterday alone he had two final races in the morning and two prelims in the afternoon. I hope he makes it through with all the gold metals that people are expecting but if not I hope Americans can understand what the guy has been through mentally and physically in the past week. As one commentator said this morning on the Today Show, "If you or I swam the length of the pool and back we would look like a dead Jelly Fish!." Well times that by at least Twenty times and you will not even be close to what Micheal Phelps does everyday.

Is it Friday yet?

Brock and I are patiently awaiting the weekend like we always do but this weekend is even more exciting because we get to go see our niece Sydney Paige. We haven't seen her since the Fourth of July and we are starting to go through with drawls. She seems to be growing like a weed and every time we see her she has more teeth, more hair, and well sometimes a little more of a personality. Oh yeah and we are also excited to see Lisa and Kori sometimes we forget to mention that!