assiduously /adv. / constant in application or attention, completely. comprehensively, from A to Z, from top to bottom. fully. in and out. thoroughly, through and through. backwards and forwards. whole hog.
assiduously /adv./ 1. My efforts to assiduously document and record my life, my thoughts and my feelings on this blog, have definitely been stymied this week by the demands of my ACTUAL life. I noticed that I posted 22 times in March (not counting my blessing log) and only twice so far in April. The truth is that from now until mid-June my life is not my own and my lists are longer than my days.
assiduously /adv./ 2. I really tried this year to assiduously use the orange crop from the "mini-orchard" in our yard. Despite my efforts to eat and drink and give away my citrusy goodness...my trees were still full. Yesterday the "professional" orange pickers cleaned us out and left my trees nothing but green. It leaves me with that same feeling as when I take the Christmas decorations down...a bit forlorn and a bit relieved all at the same time.
assiduously /adv./ 3. This past week was testing week for my kids. Caleb and Olivia both had AIMS tests all week and this created quite a bit of anxiety especially for Olivia. Caleb was a bit worried until the first day when he figured out that the tests were going to be very easy. Olivia, however, assiduously maintained her nervousness throughout the week and even when David congratulated her on "it being over" she said, "Well, now I'm nervous about my scores." I was in charge of making sure we all ate hot, healthy breakfasts with plenty of protein and "brain foods," which I assiduously performed, surprising even myself.
assiduously /adv./ 4. David gave me a "night away" for my birthday and so my sister, Emily, came and played all-around-wonder-aunt to my kids on Friday night. On Saturday morning she took the kids down to the church building for our ward's "Pancake Games," which eventually dissolved into a pancake food fight, but also involved all kinds of pancake competition, including hanging from the "pancake gallows." Ethan (who doesn't like to lose at anything) assiduously hung on for dear life, but in the end was bested by a three-year-old little girl. Much to his consternation. This disappointment has not prevented him from proudly wearing his pancake medal (think an actual schellacked pancake) around his neck full-time since then.
assiduously /adv./ 5. Since Easter, my girls have devoted themselves assiduously to all things "craft." This week they took up knitting on round looms. Olivia is making a hat for a woman in our ward who has cancer and Savannah took the small loom and made a hat for her American Girl doll. She was nothing but absolutely delighted with the result. The girls informed me that they are going to knit all summer long, to which Caleb remarked, "That's just what people need. Hats and scarves for summer." Olivia superciliously replied that they were "stocking up for winter."
assiduously /adv./ 6. After being "at the breaking point" for some time, David and I assiduously applied ourselves to R&R this past weekend. We spent a night and day at the Sanctuary resort in Paradise Valley (aptly named, by the way). The resort was spectacular and the get-away was wonderful, even if it was only 28 hours long, not that I was counting. This is my idea of the perfect birthday present. Alone time with my one-and-only. Just what I needed.
I know David will want me to post these pictures of our incredible room(s). This is for you babe.