Monday, March 30, 2009
Conference Weekend, Here We Come!
Elyse and I went to the General Young Women Broadcast this past Saturday. It was so awesome. They mainly spoke about the new young women value of Virtue. The thing that I came away with is that I need to be more diligent in 1) praying morning and night, 2)reading the Book of Mormon 5 minutes every day (hey, I can do that!) and 3) Smiling. (I do that already.) I also feel that we, as a family, need to be better peacemakers. This will be a tough one.
So, now I am looking forward to listening to the speakers this coming weekend. I am once again going to print out these wonderful packets. They were so much fun for the three youngest ones (minus Delta and Emma). Jayden had the most fun with them. Hopefully Katia will get into them more this time.
I also heard of another great conference tradition that we might try at least on Saturday. That is fondue. I love fondue. Especially chocolate fondue. Cheese fondue is also great. he last fondue experience we had wasn't so successful. We tried the frying meat fondue. Not very fun after a while. It takes too long, and the little ones can't really participate. So we'll see. Maybe...
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So, now I am looking forward to listening to the speakers this coming weekend. I am once again going to print out these wonderful packets. They were so much fun for the three youngest ones (minus Delta and Emma). Jayden had the most fun with them. Hopefully Katia will get into them more this time.
I also heard of another great conference tradition that we might try at least on Saturday. That is fondue. I love fondue. Especially chocolate fondue. Cheese fondue is also great. he last fondue experience we had wasn't so successful. We tried the frying meat fondue. Not very fun after a while. It takes too long, and the little ones can't really participate. So we'll see. Maybe...
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Sunday, March 29, 2009
Some things about ... who? Oh yeah, me.
I don't talk about me very much. Online it is easier because I'm not face to face with someone. But in person it's a different manner. So when I decided that I wanted Christina to interview me, I thought it might be a way that I could share with you a little about me and how I feel.
1. Tell us your two favorite things about each of your children. What unique talents and personality traits do they have?
Elyse is extremely helpful. She will sometimes jump right in and help. She is confident. She doesn't let what others say bother her. (Well, most of the time.) She knows she is a daughter of God, and tries to act accordingly. She is also very crafty. She loves to cook and do craft projects of all kinds. She can bake and cook almost anything. She just recently learned how to cook from a woman in our ward from Cambodia. She took it to school for a culture day in Chinese class, and they said it was the best they had tasted.
Julia is so fun. She is great with the little kids and will play with them. From dress up to Star Wars, she will join in and keep them happy. She is a peacemaker. She doesn't like it when the others fight and will try to break it up. She is empathetic with others and will worry about them. Whether it is a friend or a relative or an acquaintance, she cares. She is very musical and can pick up music so quickly. She also draws very well, and can draw what comes into her mind. She also writes wonderful and fanciful, as well as tragic tales.
Ari is kind and patient. He loves his younger sisters, and will play with them and hold them. He will also stand up for what he believes in. He doesn't like immodesty, and will let me know when something bothers him. He is great at drawing, and is the best speller I know. He reads like crazy, and probably reads faster than me. I won't be surprised if he reads as fast as Elyse does when he's a bit older.
Jayden is energetic. He always wakes up happy. He comes up stairs with a smile on his face. He is a wonderful helper and will go on "missions" for me, such as taking his laundry to his room, or getting a tissue for a little sister. He is great at helping with dishes and setting the table. He also makes his bed every morning first thing, and takes care of his dishes after he eats. He'll ask, "Sink or dish?" to find out if he should put it in the sink or dishwasher. He loves learning, and will watch informative programs on TV. He loves to read and figure out different math problems. His attention span is much longer than mine.
Katia is a loving (though sometimes jealous) older sister. She loves to play with and teach her baby sisters. She is loving to others in the family and will randomly go up to someone and hug them and say, "I love you 'berry' much." She loves to sing, especially the songs she learns at church. Her current favorite is "I Love To See the Temple". She loves books and drawing and "doing homework." Her new favorite pass time is working puzzles. She loves to play outside. She also loves to help around the house. The bathroom is one of her favorites to clean. As well as the walls. Just give her a baby wipe and she is off to erase smudges.
Delta is a happy baby. She is a tease and will giggle as she does something that she shouldn't (like pull the books off the shelf). She smiles most of the time. She loves to follow us around and watch what we are doing. She loves to look at books (hence the mischief). She loves songs and playing peek-a-boo.
She, as well as Emma, are very snuggly. They both give hugs to everyone. They also love to follow eachother around the house checking things out. They also both love to be outside.
Emma is also happy most of the time. She is a good eater and sleeper (hmmm...). She loves to play with anyone. She loves music and will start to sing when I rock her to remind me to sing her a lullaby. Her current favorite song is "Popcorn Popping". She loves silky things and uses them to
console herself.
2. What are some of your talents, accomplishments, or hobbies?
I guess my greatest accomplishment is my family. I love being married to my wonderful husband. I love spending time with him and listening to him talk about his day or concerns or plans. I love being a mother. I love staying home and doing fun or not so fun things with them. I love taking care of them (most of the time).
My talents are wide range. I am good at sewing, tole painting, making bows, scrapbooking, paper crafts, crafts, umm.. oh yeah, and crafts. I don't have the time I would like to devote to these things, but I'm sure someday I will. I guess these are also my hobbies.
I am also patient (not as patient as my husband). I am good at keeping the kids busy with fun activities (when I think about it). I am also great with teenagers. I can talk to my teenagers and their friends. I am good at listening. I don't always know what to say. I don't always react well. I can't always relate, but I do listen.
3. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why?
I guess the main thing I would change about myself, is I would like to have better self esteem. I usually second guess what I do or say or think. I don't always think I do a great job. I even think that others think I do a terrible job. I have improved in this department over the past 7 years. I have to remember that the only one who wants me to feel this way is not on my side, and then I'm okay. This interview has helped me to think about what I am good at. But this road block is also why it has taken me several weeks to get this done.
4. What advice would you have for younger mothers with fewer children?
I think the best advice I could give is to decide what is the most important, and devote your energy to that. My house isn't going to be clean for a while. Probably several years. But I do spend time with my family.
Also, spend time with your spouse. I wish that I could spend more time with my husband. He is busy, I am busy, the children are needy, and our time together gets pushed to the bottom of the list. Make sure you go on a date at least once a week. This has been my sanity saver. I have shared babysitting with a friend or just taken the kids with us. Now that I have teenagers, they get one night on the weekend and I get the other. This has worked out great for us.
Teach your children to work. I have to have helpers with so many kids, but when I had a small family, I wish I had LET the kids help more. It doesn't have to be perfect, just done. I have found that sometimes the younger ones are even more willing to help than the older ones. I feel strongly about teaching a good work ethic especially after speaking with family who have businesses and hear their stories about the employees who do just enough to get by, and how the ones who go the extra mile get more hours and pay raises more often.
5. What do you like best about this stage in your life?
I think the thing I like best about this stage of my life is that I am in new territory, as well as doing what I have done before. I have a few tricks up my sleeve for the younger ones, and I have to figure out the older ones. I am never bored, and I get to have some easy things as well. I also can see that even though Katia isn't potty trained yet, I know that she won't go to school in diapers. No one else hasn't. Not even the 2 who were very strong willed concerning this issue. I also get to see what will be in store for them when they do become teenagers.
I also appreciate my husband more. He happens to have lunch with us and I love seeing him in the middle of the day. He also gets the older two up and out the door for me when I've been up all night with the babies or Katia.
Another thing I like about life right now is I notice more. I notice the sun, the birds, the happy feelings. I also don't worry about as much as I used to. I worry about other things, but I also have more faith.
I hope all this has made sense. I have had several interruptions. But here it is, finally finished.
Do you want to play along and get interviewed too?
Here's the directions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me," along with your email address if I don't have it (or a link to your blog where I can post a comment with questions).
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Feel free to leave a comment even if you'd rather not be interviewed yourself -- I love comments! Pin It
1. Tell us your two favorite things about each of your children. What unique talents and personality traits do they have?
Elyse is extremely helpful. She will sometimes jump right in and help. She is confident. She doesn't let what others say bother her. (Well, most of the time.) She knows she is a daughter of God, and tries to act accordingly. She is also very crafty. She loves to cook and do craft projects of all kinds. She can bake and cook almost anything. She just recently learned how to cook from a woman in our ward from Cambodia. She took it to school for a culture day in Chinese class, and they said it was the best they had tasted.
Julia is so fun. She is great with the little kids and will play with them. From dress up to Star Wars, she will join in and keep them happy. She is a peacemaker. She doesn't like it when the others fight and will try to break it up. She is empathetic with others and will worry about them. Whether it is a friend or a relative or an acquaintance, she cares. She is very musical and can pick up music so quickly. She also draws very well, and can draw what comes into her mind. She also writes wonderful and fanciful, as well as tragic tales.
Ari is kind and patient. He loves his younger sisters, and will play with them and hold them. He will also stand up for what he believes in. He doesn't like immodesty, and will let me know when something bothers him. He is great at drawing, and is the best speller I know. He reads like crazy, and probably reads faster than me. I won't be surprised if he reads as fast as Elyse does when he's a bit older.
Jayden is energetic. He always wakes up happy. He comes up stairs with a smile on his face. He is a wonderful helper and will go on "missions" for me, such as taking his laundry to his room, or getting a tissue for a little sister. He is great at helping with dishes and setting the table. He also makes his bed every morning first thing, and takes care of his dishes after he eats. He'll ask, "Sink or dish?" to find out if he should put it in the sink or dishwasher. He loves learning, and will watch informative programs on TV. He loves to read and figure out different math problems. His attention span is much longer than mine.
Katia is a loving (though sometimes jealous) older sister. She loves to play with and teach her baby sisters. She is loving to others in the family and will randomly go up to someone and hug them and say, "I love you 'berry' much." She loves to sing, especially the songs she learns at church. Her current favorite is "I Love To See the Temple". She loves books and drawing and "doing homework." Her new favorite pass time is working puzzles. She loves to play outside. She also loves to help around the house. The bathroom is one of her favorites to clean. As well as the walls. Just give her a baby wipe and she is off to erase smudges.
Delta is a happy baby. She is a tease and will giggle as she does something that she shouldn't (like pull the books off the shelf). She smiles most of the time. She loves to follow us around and watch what we are doing. She loves to look at books (hence the mischief). She loves songs and playing peek-a-boo.
She, as well as Emma, are very snuggly. They both give hugs to everyone. They also love to follow eachother around the house checking things out. They also both love to be outside.
Emma is also happy most of the time. She is a good eater and sleeper (hmmm...). She loves to play with anyone. She loves music and will start to sing when I rock her to remind me to sing her a lullaby. Her current favorite song is "Popcorn Popping". She loves silky things and uses them to
console herself.
2. What are some of your talents, accomplishments, or hobbies?
I guess my greatest accomplishment is my family. I love being married to my wonderful husband. I love spending time with him and listening to him talk about his day or concerns or plans. I love being a mother. I love staying home and doing fun or not so fun things with them. I love taking care of them (most of the time).
My talents are wide range. I am good at sewing, tole painting, making bows, scrapbooking, paper crafts, crafts, umm.. oh yeah, and crafts. I don't have the time I would like to devote to these things, but I'm sure someday I will. I guess these are also my hobbies.
I am also patient (not as patient as my husband). I am good at keeping the kids busy with fun activities (when I think about it). I am also great with teenagers. I can talk to my teenagers and their friends. I am good at listening. I don't always know what to say. I don't always react well. I can't always relate, but I do listen.
3. If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be and why?
I guess the main thing I would change about myself, is I would like to have better self esteem. I usually second guess what I do or say or think. I don't always think I do a great job. I even think that others think I do a terrible job. I have improved in this department over the past 7 years. I have to remember that the only one who wants me to feel this way is not on my side, and then I'm okay. This interview has helped me to think about what I am good at. But this road block is also why it has taken me several weeks to get this done.
4. What advice would you have for younger mothers with fewer children?
I think the best advice I could give is to decide what is the most important, and devote your energy to that. My house isn't going to be clean for a while. Probably several years. But I do spend time with my family.
Also, spend time with your spouse. I wish that I could spend more time with my husband. He is busy, I am busy, the children are needy, and our time together gets pushed to the bottom of the list. Make sure you go on a date at least once a week. This has been my sanity saver. I have shared babysitting with a friend or just taken the kids with us. Now that I have teenagers, they get one night on the weekend and I get the other. This has worked out great for us.
Teach your children to work. I have to have helpers with so many kids, but when I had a small family, I wish I had LET the kids help more. It doesn't have to be perfect, just done. I have found that sometimes the younger ones are even more willing to help than the older ones. I feel strongly about teaching a good work ethic especially after speaking with family who have businesses and hear their stories about the employees who do just enough to get by, and how the ones who go the extra mile get more hours and pay raises more often.
5. What do you like best about this stage in your life?
I think the thing I like best about this stage of my life is that I am in new territory, as well as doing what I have done before. I have a few tricks up my sleeve for the younger ones, and I have to figure out the older ones. I am never bored, and I get to have some easy things as well. I also can see that even though Katia isn't potty trained yet, I know that she won't go to school in diapers. No one else hasn't. Not even the 2 who were very strong willed concerning this issue. I also get to see what will be in store for them when they do become teenagers.
I also appreciate my husband more. He happens to have lunch with us and I love seeing him in the middle of the day. He also gets the older two up and out the door for me when I've been up all night with the babies or Katia.
Another thing I like about life right now is I notice more. I notice the sun, the birds, the happy feelings. I also don't worry about as much as I used to. I worry about other things, but I also have more faith.
I hope all this has made sense. I have had several interruptions. But here it is, finally finished.
Do you want to play along and get interviewed too?
Here's the directions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me," along with your email address if I don't have it (or a link to your blog where I can post a comment with questions).
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions).
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
Feel free to leave a comment even if you'd rather not be interviewed yourself -- I love comments! Pin It
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Such a Happy Day!
today is a most excellent day. I can't believe that a year with twins could go so fast. Yes, today is THE birthday. It's mine, and Delta's, and Emma's. Currently I am posting to my blog, holding Emma (hopefully she'll go to sleep so she will be happy tonight), baking the first round of cakes, and wishing that Delta didn't just start crying (she was asleep until this minute)................
Okay, so I am kinda emotional today. Not in a bad way, but in the "Man, I can't believe all the blessings!" kinda way. Tony has taken off the past few years for my birthday. (Last year he would have been in real trouble if he hadn't.) This week he was sick, so I wasn't planning on him taking off. So this morning I got up and started on my day, then he drives in the driveway from taking Julia to school with stuff to make me breakfast. He stayed until it was time to take Jayden to preschool. Then he came home at lunch to help out for a bit, and went back to a meeting and will be home after the meeting is done. I am so grateful to him. He is always finding ways to spoil me.
Jayden came in to wake me up (hmm..Oh, yeah, I got to sleep in today. How did that happen?) He had to tell me happy birthday. What a five-year-old he is. I love him. Then Katia played with the babies while I showered. Then Jeanette called to wish me a happy birthday. Then a friend called to see if the kids could come play. Then my mom called to say she was almost here (she's coming to celebrate with us and to take me shopping tomorrow BY MYSELF). Then I got on facebook and saw messages from Kris and Lori. I am totally feeling the love!
So what if my house isn't clean, so what if the laundry isn't done, so what if I didn't do my hair or makeup until noon, I am so blessed. I love my family and friends. I love being a wife and mom. I love life.
Well, I gotta get off here before the cakes are done, but I'll post more later. Pin It
Okay, so I am kinda emotional today. Not in a bad way, but in the "Man, I can't believe all the blessings!" kinda way. Tony has taken off the past few years for my birthday. (Last year he would have been in real trouble if he hadn't.) This week he was sick, so I wasn't planning on him taking off. So this morning I got up and started on my day, then he drives in the driveway from taking Julia to school with stuff to make me breakfast. He stayed until it was time to take Jayden to preschool. Then he came home at lunch to help out for a bit, and went back to a meeting and will be home after the meeting is done. I am so grateful to him. He is always finding ways to spoil me.
Jayden came in to wake me up (hmm..Oh, yeah, I got to sleep in today. How did that happen?) He had to tell me happy birthday. What a five-year-old he is. I love him. Then Katia played with the babies while I showered. Then Jeanette called to wish me a happy birthday. Then a friend called to see if the kids could come play. Then my mom called to say she was almost here (she's coming to celebrate with us and to take me shopping tomorrow BY MYSELF). Then I got on facebook and saw messages from Kris and Lori. I am totally feeling the love!
So what if my house isn't clean, so what if the laundry isn't done, so what if I didn't do my hair or makeup until noon, I am so blessed. I love my family and friends. I love being a wife and mom. I love life.
Well, I gotta get off here before the cakes are done, but I'll post more later. Pin It
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
In the Kirkham household, holiday traditions center around food. Of course today is no different. We always eat Reuben Sandwiches. this tradition started 4 years ago when one of Tony's co-workers said they were having Reubens for St Patty's Day. I had been trying to get Tony to make them for me because they are my favorite sandwich when we eat out. This got him feeling he should try them. We did and he loved them and we have been eating them every year as a family.
For breakfast, we eat green chocolate pancakes. For lunch we eat sandwiches with shamrocks cut out of the middle.
Spring is also seeming to be near, so today I wanted to go outside and clean out the flower beds. I am so glad I did. I found that the tulips, daffodils, and crocuses are starting to come up. I love spring. It is my favorite season. I love the other times of year as well, but spring is my favorite. I'm not sure if it is because my birthday is in spring, or what, but I do love this time of things growing and coming alive again after a winters sleep. Pin It
For breakfast, we eat green chocolate pancakes. For lunch we eat sandwiches with shamrocks cut out of the middle.
Spring is also seeming to be near, so today I wanted to go outside and clean out the flower beds. I am so glad I did. I found that the tulips, daffodils, and crocuses are starting to come up. I love spring. It is my favorite season. I love the other times of year as well, but spring is my favorite. I'm not sure if it is because my birthday is in spring, or what, but I do love this time of things growing and coming alive again after a winters sleep. Pin It
Saturday, March 14, 2009
fun with books
We love books at our house. Here is Delta reading a book. Each page she turned she would say, "Ahh." So much fun. Hope you can hear her over the noise in the back ground.
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Friday, March 13, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Winds of Change
So many things are happening around here.
Let me start with Elyse:
Elyse will be turning 16 soon. She just finished her math and Debate class. She is taking a social dance class, learning the tango, cha-cha, and everything. She is taking her 1st college class. She just finished her YW recognition/personal progress award. She loves to bake and decorate cakes.
Julia is playing a new song on the piano almost every week. She just had a wonderful orchestra concert. Last week she made us a great meal all by herself. This is after her assuring us that she burns everything. She has also joined the freshman football team. She went to her first day of conditioning and came home saying that she was stronger than some of the boys on the team.
I'll have to post more later. Pin It
Let me start with Elyse:
Elyse will be turning 16 soon. She just finished her math and Debate class. She is taking a social dance class, learning the tango, cha-cha, and everything. She is taking her 1st college class. She just finished her YW recognition/personal progress award. She loves to bake and decorate cakes.
Julia is playing a new song on the piano almost every week. She just had a wonderful orchestra concert. Last week she made us a great meal all by herself. This is after her assuring us that she burns everything. She has also joined the freshman football team. She went to her first day of conditioning and came home saying that she was stronger than some of the boys on the team.
I'll have to post more later. Pin It
Awesome Cajun Fish Recipe
I was looking for something different to make that is fast and delicious. Here is what I found and the changes I made. This recipe was so good that even Delta ate it quite well. Kinda spicy, but oh, so good!
Ingredients:
1 tbsp. vegetable oil I used canola oil
1 small green pepper, diced (about 2/3 cup) We didn't have one, so I just left it out.
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves, crushed
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Tomato soup
1/3 cup water
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. ground black pepper
1/8 tsp. ground red pepper I added 1/2 tsp. of cajun spice
1 lb. fresh or thawed frozen fish fillet One of the kids doesn't like fish, so we also used breaded chicken breast
Hot cooked rice, cooked without added salt
Directions:
Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the green pepper and oregano and cook until the green pepper is tender-crisp, stirring often. I just heated the oil and started adding ingredients.
Stir the soup, water, garlic powder, black pepper, red pepper, and cajun spice into the skillet. Heat to a boil. Place the fish into the soup mixture. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Serve with the rice.
Pin ItSaturday, March 7, 2009
Stake Women Conference
Last Saturday I went to our stake's Women Conference. The theme was about Finding Joy. We could take 2 classes that would focus on where we wanted to apply this concept. I decided that I would take one on raising teens.
I love my teens. I was so excited when they turned 12 and then 13. But I didn't like being a teenager. It was hard. I made many mistakes. I felt insecure. So I want my children to have better memories of their teen-age years.
I learned that Love Comes First. That we need to love our teens more than things. Love them more than our parents. Serve them, for we serve those we love. And it is the parents responsibility to act first. One thing I'm going to do to show this is write them notes. I use to do this when they were little. Write little notes on their napkins in their lunch boxes. So I need to do this again.
Elder John H Groberg said:
I learned I need to be an example. I need to teach them to work by working along side them instead of just giving out chores. I need to be teaching them what they need to make it as adults.
Elder M Russell Ballard said:
I learned I need to bare my testimony. I need to let them know where I stand and what I believe. I need to let them know when they feel the spirit. I need to teach them how to be safe.
President Spencer W Kimball said:
I am so glad I was able to go to this conference. I was so uplifted when I left. I think we all need to go to things like this where we can get ideas to improve, and also feel that we are doing a great job, and find joy in our journey.
Pin It
I love my teens. I was so excited when they turned 12 and then 13. But I didn't like being a teenager. It was hard. I made many mistakes. I felt insecure. So I want my children to have better memories of their teen-age years.
I learned that Love Comes First. That we need to love our teens more than things. Love them more than our parents. Serve them, for we serve those we love. And it is the parents responsibility to act first. One thing I'm going to do to show this is write them notes. I use to do this when they were little. Write little notes on their napkins in their lunch boxes. So I need to do this again.
Elder John H Groberg said:
When filled with God’s love, we can do and see and understand things that we could not otherwise do or see or understand. Filled with His love, we can endure pain, quell fear, forgive freely, avoid contention, renew strength, and bless and help others in ways surprising even to us.
Jesus Christ was filled with unfathomable love as He endured incomprehensible pain, cruelty, and injustice for us. Through His love for us, He rose above otherwise insurmountable barriers. His love knows no barriers. He invites us to follow Him and partake of His unlimited love so we too may rise above the pain and cruelty and injustice of this world and help and forgive and bless.
I learned I need to be an example. I need to teach them to work by working along side them instead of just giving out chores. I need to be teaching them what they need to make it as adults.
Elder M Russell Ballard said:
Consequently, if we are “raising the bar” for your sons to serve as missionaries, that means we are also “raising the bar” for you. If we expect more of them, that means we expect more of you and your wife as well. Remember, Helaman’s 2,000 stripling warriors were faithful because “they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him” (Alma 53:21)—and that instruction came in their homes.
I learned I need to bare my testimony. I need to let them know where I stand and what I believe. I need to let them know when they feel the spirit. I need to teach them how to be safe.
President Spencer W Kimball said:
The devil knows how to destroy our young girls and boys. he may not be able to tempt a person to murder or to commit adultery immediately, but he knows that if he can get a boy and a girl to sit in the car late enough after the dance, or to park long enough in the dark at the end of the lane, the best boy and the best girl will finally succumb and fall. He knows that all have a limit to their resistance.
I am so glad I was able to go to this conference. I was so uplifted when I left. I think we all need to go to things like this where we can get ideas to improve, and also feel that we are doing a great job, and find joy in our journey.
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