Blog Tour

So....you may have noticed that we don't get around to blogging very often. But all that is about to change, people!! We are excited to announce...

The Mercy River Blog Tour: March 2012!!!!!!
(Coming to a blog near you.)

As part of our celebration of the release of our NEW ALBUM , "Higher," we are visiting about 20 blogs this month with individualized posts, pics, and giveaways. Check out the schedule below and PLEASE come along with us on this journey!

(And after March, we promise to update our OWN blog every once and a while. Maybe.)

March 5th        Momza’s House                  http://momza.blogspot.com/ 

March 6th        Les Chateau Des Fleurs      http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com/ 

March 7th        Diapers and Divinity                       www.diapersanddivinity.com

March 9th        Chocolate on my Cranium  http://chocolateonmycranium.blogspot.com/  

March 8h         Creating Comfort                  www.hiretoinspire.blogspot.com

March 10th      Latter-Day Homeschooling            http://www.latter-dayhomeschooling.com 

March 12th      Key Lime                                www.keylimedigitaldesigns.com

 March 13th     Shannon Makes Stuff                      http://shannonmakesstuff.blogspot.com/ 

March 14th      My Little Gems                     http://mygratitudeattitudes.blogspot.com/

March 15th      Music Notes                          http://www.notesaboutmusicnotes.com

March 17th      Swinging on Small Hinges      http://swingingonsmallhinges.blogspot.com/

March 16th      Music for Tots                                   www.musicfortots.blogspot.com

March 19th      Seven Cherubs                      http://www.sevencherubs.com/ 

March 20th      Someone in Mind                http://www.someoneinmind.blogspot.com/

March 22nd      Moments by: Jenn-Lee        http://jenn-lee.blogspot.com/  

March 22nd      House of Sarager                 http://sarager.blogspot.com/

March 28th      The Things I Love                 http://thethingsilovemost.blogspot.com/

March 29th      The Red Headed Hostess  www.theredheadedhostess.com 

light at the end of the tunnel

As many of you know, I just had my third baby three months ago. She is such a blessing in our family-this I know. But I'm really not a fan of this stage in post-pardum. The stage where I feel almost normal but I definitely do NOT look normal. (My pants practically laugh out loud every time I try to pull them over my hips. Or maybe they groan. Anyway!) Also, at this stage I start sleep training my babies, and although the payoff is totally worth it, the work is rather tedious. This is the stage I start to get frustrated, almost antsy for my life to go back to how it was before I had a newborn. (Let me reiterate-I'm so in love with her. Honest.)

Sometimes I feel like I just need a change. Or maybe I need things to slow down. Or let's be honest, it very well may be my hormones are still a bit nutty. At any rate, it's not an easy time for me. But I do have moments when I remember that this stage doesn't last forever. Things will improve at some point. It's like I tell my husband, "I know there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I just can't see it yet." It helps that I've been through this before, and I've lived to tell the tale.

This reminds me of something our dear friend Amanda Dickson talked about. How change is inevitable. It's constant. We know things won't remain as they are, simply because change will always be waiting for us around the next corner.

Now, this is definitely not the hardest thing I've gone through, but I think there are two lessons here that can be applied to our most difficult times in life;

1) It will get better. It has to. Because that's how change works.

2) There is something to be said for knowing that someone has been through the same thing and has "lived to tell the tale". Although there's a good deal of faith that is required of us, I think it's so comforting to know that in my darkest times, our Savior felt the same things I have felt. And He knows how to help me through this. Even when my faith isn't strong enough.

So if you're going through a rough patch-hang on! Change is a comin'. Even if you can't see it, there is a light at the end of that tunnel.

Right now, I'm just hoping that light involves 8 hours of sleep. xo
Brooke

Left Over Halloween Candy: Making it Work for YOU

It's Halloween night. I have allowed the kids to sort, trade, and devour their candy for a good 30 minutes. Then I announce that everyone must choose one last candy before they surrender it all to me. After all, candy is not good for us. It rots our teeth, makes us unhealthy, and can be addicting. Oh...and Mom likes to secretly eat it through December. But I leave this last part out.

I climb the stairs to my bedroom with the heavy bag of sweets. I stuff it onto my third dresser drawer where it will be safe from little hands. And I smile at the thought of many candy gorging sessions for weeks to come. Not to mention the BRIBING power that the bag brings to me, seeing as how my kids will do ANY thing for the smallest piece of candy. Faith, prayer, and sugar. The three tools of any smart mom.

But listen. The possibilities do NOT end with sweet tooth sessions and bribery. Oh no, my friend. There are MANY ways you can employ your Halloween candy for your benefit. Read on.

1) Lost your wedding ring? (Or...perhaps it has "shrunk"?) No problem. Slip on a Ring Pop and you will be the envy of the neighborhood. Remove before showering or doing dishes.

2) Out of $ for a tip? What waitress wouldn't LOVE a pile of Smartees on the table??

3) Vacuum pack the candy and use it for upcoming holidays. Christmas stockings, Valentine parties, even NEXT Halloween!

4) No need to keep track of your kids in the store. Just let them lose with pockets full of candy. Enjoy your shopping. When done, follow the trail of wrappers to your children and go home.

5) Jazz up bath time! Kids reluctant to bathe? Just dump Pixy Stix powder into the water. Watch as the water turns beautiful pastel colors, and enjoy the aromatherapy benefits as well.

6) Protect your home. Place candy on your porch so you will hear the crunch of the wrappers when an intruder approaches. Then, while he sits down to eat the candy, call the police and go back to bed. Foolproof.

7) Keep a stash in your car. When you are pulled over, brightly smile at the officer and casually ask him if he likes Snickers. Who doesn't feel happier with a little chocolate?

8) Dress up the veggies. Stick a broccoli stalk on top of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and voila--instant healthy snack for the kids.

9) Melt all chocolate candy together. Pour into a golf club candy mold and let set. What husband wouldn't want a chocolate golf club for his birthday? No need to buy anything else.

10) Sell it on ebay. Who knows? People are weird.

With a little imagination, you can definitely find ways to make your Halloween candy work for YOU. Good luck.

Whitney

Time for Interviews!

We were in Las Vegas this weekend at our last Time Out Event for the year, (*Sniff!*) and I thought maybe it's time all our readers get to know us a little better. And although we had a fabulous time in Vegas, and it deserves a blog post all it's own, this one is coming first. I decided to interview Soni and Whit on the plane ride home Saturday night. Granted, it's usually an exhausting time for us after performing all day, but they were good sports...ish.

Me: Girls, thank you for sitting down for this interview.
Soni: (Silence.)
Whit: (Silence.)
Me: GIRLS! You WILL participate in this interview!

(After my pep talk...)
Me: OK. First question-what did you want to be when you were a little girl?
Soni: I wanted to be a school teacher. I made my neighbors come to my house, and they were all my students.
Whit: I wanted to be a singer/actress. Until I was 12, then the "Mother" thing kicked in.

Me: What do you want for Christmas?
Soni: An IPod.
Whit: A blue tooth and a popcorn maker.
(Rock and Treion, are you listening?)

Me: What's your favorite dessert?
Soni: Mmm, Almond Poppyseed Cake...or homemade brownies with HOMEMADE frosting...or this this orange cake trifle thing I make...(20 minutes later)...I can't pick just one. (Love her!)
Whit: Cinnamon rolls or mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Me: Where's a place you'd like to visit?
Whit: ISREAL!
Soni: That's TOTALLY what I was going to say! Or maybe Italy.

Me: What's the worst advice you've been given?
Whit: Never go to bed angry. Whatever! I'm tired!
Soni: (Silence.)
Me: Soni! Wake up!
Soni: Oh, um, I need a couple days on that one...

Me: What's your secret talent?
Soni: I can drive with my knees.
Whit: I flair my nostrils.

Me: OK, last question. If you had one day all to yourself, what would you do?
Whit: Lay in bed all day with a book and my OWN bowl of popcorn. (I think she has to share a lot.)
Soni: OK, I would clean my house till 4:00, then I would sit on my couch and just stare out the window and watch cars for awhile, then I would look through all my cookbooks and find the most AMAZING meal and cook it all for myself, and then I would eat as much as I want, then I would clean the kitchen and be happy it was going to stay clean the rest of the night, then I would go to bed at 8:00.
Whit: Are you writing all this down?
Me: Um, yes. Soni, that's quite the day.

Me: Girls, thank you for your cooperation. I have learned a lot as I'm sure our readers will.
Whit: (Silence.)
Soni: (Silence.)
Me: GIRLS!

Oy vey. :)
xo
Brooke

Weeds

So it's late Sunday night, and I can not shut my brain off. Blame it on pregnancy, a too-long Sunday nap, or just the upcoming General Conference weekend. (I tend to get philosophical during this time!) But lately I've been thinking about what improvements I need to make in my life. And I've decided I need to love more.

But first, let me say this. I really don't like dandelions. (Isn't that a great thing to say? Right after I said I need to "love more". Just stay with me, folks.) Emily Freeman talks about dandelions in her Time Out for Women presentation, so that may be the reason they are on my mind. They are a constant presence in my yard. No matter how often I fertilize my grass, or pull each seedling, they are persistent little buggers, with their obnoxious yellow heads that leave yellow streaks on my arm, their stubborn roots, and those fluffs that just spread their wealth. I shudder at the thought of those fluffs.

But a couple years ago, while out walking with my kids, my 2 year old daughter gave me a special gift. The first flower she picked, especially for me. And you can guess what "flower" it was. Yep. A Dandelion. "For You!" she said, in the sweetest voice. "Because I love you!"

All of a sudden, that dandelion wasn't so awful. For that moment, I saw the dandelion as my daughter saw it. With it's vivid color and hundreds of petals what's not to admire?  That day my daughter's love turned that weed into something I'll always remember. It's amazing what love will do to our vision.

So now I'm thinking about the "weeds" in my life. There are definitely certain people that may fall under that category. People that have hurt me or hurt the ones I hold close to my heart. (I have a mama bear in me that rears it's ugly head whenever someone I love feels pain.) But maybe I'm missing that key ingredient-LOVE. Maybe if I tried to love them-prayed to love them-I would see them as our Savior sees them. Someone worth dying for. Maybe if I had the courage to forgive I could see THEIR vivid colors. Maybe if I had charity in my heart for each of my "weeds", I would find a beautiful person underneath, who's trying their best-just like me.

So that's my goal. To love my weeds. And now it's out for the world to see, so maybe that'll hold me more accountable! ;) Wish me luck...
xo
Brooke

Sacramento...Until We Meet Again!

We just returned from a FANTASTIC weekend in Sacramento at Time Out for Women. This was the first TOFW of the fall season, so we had those all too familiar butterflies as Saturday got close. But the women of Sacramento put us right at ease. I couldn't beleive how responsive they were from the minute TOFW began. It was like we were old friends.

I have to admit that there were MANY interesting things that happened to me in Sac. Starting with the first number of our morning set. There was a little confusion with the sound cue...and Hello Sunshine started playing before we were on stage!!!!! Not only were we yards away, but Brooke had NO shoes on. I sprinted to the microphones and dashed on stage, as I am the first to start singing. I missed the first 5 words or so...Brooke and Soni were hot on my heels...I was frazzled, out of breath, panicked....wow. I can say we've never quite had an entrance like that!! I was worried that this would throw me off the rest of the day but the energy and generosity of the 2500 women literally sustained us.

I adored  meeting the women of California. I am always amazed at the stories the TOFW women share with us. And this was kind of fun...one woman came up to me and introduced herself as my mother's first cousin! We had never met and she hasn't seen my mom in over 35 years. Very cool. I also met a homeless woman after TOFW who was searching for any extra Hope Kits. They had already been taken away, but Soni and I talked to her for a few minutes and were able to find her some lunch. That's one of the things that surprised me about Sacramento--the number of homeless people on the street. It is sobering to be reminded how people suffer right under our noses in our own country. And what a blessing these TOFW Hope Kits will be to so many of those struggling women.

And now this--Sacramento, do you always have 50,000 police cars patrolling the midnight streets with their sirens on full blast? It took me a while, floating in that place between awake and asleep, to realize that surely that wasn't normal. Then when the helicopters started circling I had no choice but to peek out the window. Here was this helicopter, circling this bank right across the street from us with its light fixed on one of the floors. And poilice car after police car--surely every police car in Sacramento--came to join in on the fun. It was quite a loud affair. And what makes me mad is that I can't find anything about this excitment on the news. If I had to be awake half the night, I wanted 1) an explanation, and 2) bragging rights that I was there at whatever IT was. And an interview on CNN (I WAS an eye witness afterall ) would have helped to make up for the lack of sleep.

I will end with 5 happy words: Carmeled Apples In Old Sac. (I will be craving more oreo and chocolate chip covered apples until I return to you, Old Sac.)

We love you, Sacramento!!!
 
--Whitney

I Wish I Was...

The other day in the car, my 4 year old daughter said to me,

"Mom, I wish I was a REAL princess".

Cringe. I told her she was a real princess, and in her almost patronizing way she acknowledged she knew that, but still. "A REAL princess", she repeated.

Is it starting already? This horrible part of being a girl. The wishing-I-was-something-else part. I thought this would hit around school age. When she started to notice the differences between herself and her peers. But how could I not see the the "danger" in her obsession with all things princess? Of course there is something glamorous in the lifestyles of the rich and...Disney. I'm sure I'm reading into this more than her 4 year old statement intended. Maybe she didn't mean "I wish I was as pretty as a princess. As thin as a princess. As rich as a princess. As quick-to-attach-a-dark-handsome-prince as a princess." But one day it will be that. There will always be someone smarter, thinner, shorter, funnier, more popular than her. Someone who catches that certain boy's heart a little faster. Someone who will dance better, sing better, throw a ball better. It's that way for everyone. But more than anything I hope she gives her all-HER best. And that she's happy with that. Maybe I want her to learn this early on, so she doesn't struggle with it into adulthood. (Like her mom.)

So to my dear future daughter-remember this quote from Henry Van Dyke;

"Use what talent you possess. The woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best."

You can always be your own best. And that will always be enough.

Oh, and you are a real princess.

Love, Mom (Brooke)