Today we attended sacrament meeting in the Papago ward where the hubby had the opportunity to confirm his great-niece and give her the gift of the Holy Ghost. For some reason as he said to her "receive the Holy Ghost" the words really hit me. What a great blessing I have to be able to have the companionship of the Holy Ghost in my life. I wonder, do I make an effort each day to "receive" him and all the blessings that he can bring to me? Often I take this gift for granted or fail to conduct myself in the way necessary to be influenced by him. I need to make having the spirit with me a priority each day. (I thought it was interesting that one year ago today I was also pondering on the importance of the Holy Ghost).
The talks in the meeting today were on charity. Two of the speakers were young men and it was interesting to hear their thoughts on charity and the individuals in their lives who are charitable. The last talk was about gossip and how charity is the cure for gossip. As members of the church, we are in a battle with Satan. All of the other members of the church (and a lot of other individuals) are fighting on our side in this battle. When we gossip about or bash others we are weakening our own defenses. Her analogy made me think about the concept of "friendly fire". In a war sometimes people are injured or killed by weapons being fired by their own comrades. I have always thought that "friendly fire" was a bad choice of words for this situation. How can something that hurts you ever be considered friendly? I think too many of us today are involved in way too many incidents of "friendly fire". We think it is funny or harmless to make sarcastic or derogatory comments about other people in the name of entertainment. I see this a lot with today's youth, but they are definitely not the only ones who have a problem with this. I like to think that I have a quick wit. Sarcasm is one of my specialties. I like to be funny, but sometimes I find myself aiming my humor gun at people. Something that I have always taught my children not to do as in "You don't point guns at people!". I need to think about what I say, even just to be funny, and who my "friendly fire" might hit and what damage it might cause.
Today I am grateful for
opportunities for my children to give service.
a husband, son, and son-in-law who hold the priesthood and are worthy to participate in priesthood ordinances.
the gift of the Holy Ghost.
dinner as a family (minus one).
One year ago today - Potluck at the Park, An Interesting Source for Inspiration.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Funny Flashback
This morning when I went to the church to run off the bulletin I noticed that they had aerated the lawn and there were lots and lots of little dirt plugs all over the grass.
I kind of made a mental note not to go on a walk today during nursery because I could just imagine what our nursery kids would do with these little treasures.
Looking at these dirt clods brought back a funny memory. When my oldest daughter was in Kindergarten her teacher decided to have a peanut hunt for her students for Easter instead of an Easter egg hunt. A couple of parents and I took a whole bunch of peanuts in the shell and "hid" them in the grass at the park adjacent to the school. I thought it was kind of a healthy and unique alternative to candy or eggs, and a lot cheaper. It just so happened that the park lawn had been aerated a few days before. After the hunt, the kids were all quite disappointed when they tried to eat the treats they had collected in their Easter bags. Most of them had collected a lot more dirt plugs than edible peanuts.
I kind of made a mental note not to go on a walk today during nursery because I could just imagine what our nursery kids would do with these little treasures.Looking at these dirt clods brought back a funny memory. When my oldest daughter was in Kindergarten her teacher decided to have a peanut hunt for her students for Easter instead of an Easter egg hunt. A couple of parents and I took a whole bunch of peanuts in the shell and "hid" them in the grass at the park adjacent to the school. I thought it was kind of a healthy and unique alternative to candy or eggs, and a lot cheaper. It just so happened that the park lawn had been aerated a few days before. After the hunt, the kids were all quite disappointed when they tried to eat the treats they had collected in their Easter bags. Most of them had collected a lot more dirt plugs than edible peanuts.
Off to Camp
A couple of months ago I got an interesting phone call from my hubby. He asked me if our youngest son was going to scout camp this year. Our ward takes the 12 and 13 year old boys to Camp Geronimo for a week each year. I thought that perhaps my husband was getting old and had forgotten that our son is almost 17, not 12 or 13. I replied, "No, why?" He then told me that he had received an e-mail from the scoutmaster that said that our son was attending camp this year as the Junior assistant scoutmaster. Hmm, this was news to me. When my son came home from school that day I asked him about this. He told me "Yeah, I told him I would go if that wasn't the week of our Priest Summer activity." I was surprised that he was so agreeable with the idea.
Since this son is the youngest member of our family, he doesn't get too many opportunities to be the leader. At least not in our home. We all tend to think of him as the one who needs to be led, not the leader. That is why I am glad that his scout leaders view him differently and are willing to give him the change to be a leader. He seems to rise to the occasion when he is given responsibility by them and it is a great thing for me see.
This morning he was up early to head to camp.
Somehow, since our first conversation, the son has become a little less agreeable with the whole camp idea. It has turned into "I had no choice." and "I'm not going to survive or some of the punk scouts are not going to survive". I think this is just him trying to uphold his image. You don't want to admit that going to scout camp with a bunch of 12 and 13 year olds sounds fun to you when you are going to be a senior in high school. Hopefully it will turn out to be a positive experience and he will be the helpful leader that his leaders, and his mother, know he can be.
Since this son is the youngest member of our family, he doesn't get too many opportunities to be the leader. At least not in our home. We all tend to think of him as the one who needs to be led, not the leader. That is why I am glad that his scout leaders view him differently and are willing to give him the change to be a leader. He seems to rise to the occasion when he is given responsibility by them and it is a great thing for me see.
This morning he was up early to head to camp.
Somehow, since our first conversation, the son has become a little less agreeable with the whole camp idea. It has turned into "I had no choice." and "I'm not going to survive or some of the punk scouts are not going to survive". I think this is just him trying to uphold his image. You don't want to admit that going to scout camp with a bunch of 12 and 13 year olds sounds fun to you when you are going to be a senior in high school. Hopefully it will turn out to be a positive experience and he will be the helpful leader that his leaders, and his mother, know he can be.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Yasmine's Baptism
Today we attended the baptism of our great niece, Yasmine. She is the daughter of our niece, Sylvia, who passed away about a year ago. The missionaries have been teaching her and she decided she was ready to be baptised. We are proud of her for making this important decision. Her uncle baptised her. Her dad and the elders (or part of the elders) are in the picture also.
This is her with her brother and sisters and her Auntie (that they live with).
These are some of her cousins at the baptism.
My oldest son gave the talk on baptism and my oldest daughter gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. They both did a great job. The daughter got a little emotional while she was speaking. When she was finished, her cousin, the smallest one in the picture above, climbed on her lap and asked her why she was crying while she was talking. She told her it was because she was scared. I personally think it was because she felt the spirit or perhaps because she is pregnant. This cousin was really concerned about the tears and kept asking my daughter questions about her emotions.
One year ago today - Has anyone seen my son?
This is her with her brother and sisters and her Auntie (that they live with).
These are some of her cousins at the baptism.
My oldest son gave the talk on baptism and my oldest daughter gave the talk on the Holy Ghost. They both did a great job. The daughter got a little emotional while she was speaking. When she was finished, her cousin, the smallest one in the picture above, climbed on her lap and asked her why she was crying while she was talking. She told her it was because she was scared. I personally think it was because she felt the spirit or perhaps because she is pregnant. This cousin was really concerned about the tears and kept asking my daughter questions about her emotions.After the baptism we went to my sister-in-law's house to eat dinner. This same cousin sat down by my youngest daughter and rather than calling her by her name kept referring to her as "the one who didn't cry". It was pretty funny. She also told us some other funny things that aren't very blog appropriate. We enjoyed her entertainment.
Today I am grateful for
dinner cooked by someone else.
baptisms and the spirit that I feel during them.
the support and love of an extended family.
One year ago today - Has anyone seen my son?
They Did It!
Back in August I posted a blog about how my friends each had a high school senior this year. Well, today I am happy to announce that they are now all high school graduates.
2 girls.3 boys.
2 different graduation dates.
4 different high schools.
5 different graduation announcements.
5 very different personalities.
3 first to graduate in their family.
1 last to graduate in his family.
5 happy graduates.
5 very happy sets of parents.
5 different plans for the future.
Me wishing them all the best!
Congratulations to the graduates
and their parents!
Hooray!!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Photo Radar
Photo Radar seems to be a hot and controversial topic in Arizona. We have had photo radar on one stretch of freeway as well as at numerous traffic lights throughout the valley for several years. In the past year they have put in a lot more cameras on the freeways and have put up speed cameras on city streets. There are certain intersections and streets that are almost constantly putting on a light show with all the flashes that go off.
There are many Arizonians who hate photo radar. They say it is illegal. They say it is an invasion of privacy. They say the way the tickets are served makes them invalid. At Christmas time someone dressed up like Santa and covered many of the cameras on the freeway with cardboard boxes. Not too long ago a man working in a photo radar van was shot and killed by a disgruntled member of the community. Lucky for the police the camera took his picture and they were able to catch him.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I don't always observe the speed limit. I have received more than one speeding ticket in my lifetime. I don't usually speed because I am in a hurry. I speed because I am easily distracted and forget to notice how fast I am actually going or what the current speed limit actually is. I do try to be a law abiding citizen. With that said, I really don't have a problem with photo radar. I think if I am breaking the law then I deserve to face the consequences of my behavior. I don't feel that it makes any difference whether I was caught by a camera or an actual person. Do I like to get speeding tickets? Of course not. Do I like paying close to $200 to go to traffic school so the points won't go on my record? Not at all. I think that most of the people who complain about photo radar are just whiny babies who don't like to be held accountable for their actions. It bugs me that so many individuals find ways and make excuses to get out of having to pay the tickets they have received.
Perhaps you have figured out by now what this blog is leading up to. Someone in our family got a photo radar ticket recently and we received the picture in the mail today.
There are many Arizonians who hate photo radar. They say it is illegal. They say it is an invasion of privacy. They say the way the tickets are served makes them invalid. At Christmas time someone dressed up like Santa and covered many of the cameras on the freeway with cardboard boxes. Not too long ago a man working in a photo radar van was shot and killed by a disgruntled member of the community. Lucky for the police the camera took his picture and they were able to catch him.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I don't always observe the speed limit. I have received more than one speeding ticket in my lifetime. I don't usually speed because I am in a hurry. I speed because I am easily distracted and forget to notice how fast I am actually going or what the current speed limit actually is. I do try to be a law abiding citizen. With that said, I really don't have a problem with photo radar. I think if I am breaking the law then I deserve to face the consequences of my behavior. I don't feel that it makes any difference whether I was caught by a camera or an actual person. Do I like to get speeding tickets? Of course not. Do I like paying close to $200 to go to traffic school so the points won't go on my record? Not at all. I think that most of the people who complain about photo radar are just whiny babies who don't like to be held accountable for their actions. It bugs me that so many individuals find ways and make excuses to get out of having to pay the tickets they have received.
Perhaps you have figured out by now what this blog is leading up to. Someone in our family got a photo radar ticket recently and we received the picture in the mail today.
I like the way they bubbled me and the son out of the picture (just in case that wasn't his wife that was riding in the passenger seat). Plus, it made a great spot for me to add a caption.
In the hubby's defense, the spot where he got flashed the speed limit is 35 and it seems like a dumb place for it to be that low. I have driven past this spot when it felt like I was in the middle of an electrical storm there were so many pictures being taken. However, he is willing to accept the consequence of his action regardless.
Today I am grateful that
the youngest son's report card was better than expected. At least he passed all his classes. (He lucked out that it arrived in the mailbox on the same day his dad's speeding ticket got here. That took a little pressure off of him.)
I wasn't the one who got the speeding ticket this time.
I am willing to accept consequences for my actions without too much whining (most of the time) and that my husband is too.
One year ago today - Fun with the Ladies, Lunch in a Truck.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
New and Improved
Frequently companies come out with new and improved versions of their products. Sometimes I am a fan of the new version and sometimes I wonder why they couldn't have just left a product I already liked alone.
Take the new and improved brown licorice - not a fan.
However, Press and Seal plastic wrap - a big fan.
I would have to say that I am definitely a fan of the "new" resealable Oreo cookie package.
Now, I know that this design has been around for awhile, but I usually only purchase Oreos once a year so I haven't really tested it out before now. I thought it was a great improvement. I could close those cookies up pretty tight and still get at them in a matter of seconds when the urge hit me.
Then I think there are some improvements that sound like a good idea in theory, but end up having some inherent problems. Recently my youngest son became the proud owner of a new pair of scout pants. These pants are the new Centennial design and they are long pants with legs that zip off to become shorts.
Great idea you would think but let's think a little harder. Here is a group of scouts out hiking. They get hot and wah-la their long pants become shorts. Perfect. Unless you are a mother of one of those scouts. If the bottom portion of the pant leg actually makes it into the back pack rather than left on a rock or accidentally dropped from a pocket somewhere along the trail, it most likely will not end up in the laundry when he returns home. It's small and easy to miss. I have spent lots of bonding time with my sons searching for a missing scout shirt or scout pants 20 minutes before that court of honor where a scout uniform is a requirement. These new and improved pants just add the very real possibility of 2 more missing items to frantically hunt for.
Or imagine the last day of a week at scout camp. All of the scouts are packing their bags and the scout leaders are picking up the left over items. Here we have a pile of scout pant legs. How do they decide which legs belong with which pair of pants? The boys certainly don't know which ones are theirs. It's possible the ones from their tent belong to them, but it's just as possible that they were thrown into their tent during a pant leg fight. The leaders very efficiently divide up the legs. Each boy gets two and quite possibly ends up going home with one short leg and one long leg, or 2 left legs. Not a pretty sight. Perhaps other scouts are more responsible they my boys were at 13, but I'm not counting on it. This might be a great idea or it might be a huge mistake. I will wait to give my final verdict on this change, at least until my 17 year old gets home from scout camp on Saturday, hopefully with his pants all in one piece.
One year ago today - Poison Cake, Lunch in a Truck
Take the new and improved brown licorice - not a fan.
However, Press and Seal plastic wrap - a big fan.
I would have to say that I am definitely a fan of the "new" resealable Oreo cookie package.
Now, I know that this design has been around for awhile, but I usually only purchase Oreos once a year so I haven't really tested it out before now. I thought it was a great improvement. I could close those cookies up pretty tight and still get at them in a matter of seconds when the urge hit me.
Then I think there are some improvements that sound like a good idea in theory, but end up having some inherent problems. Recently my youngest son became the proud owner of a new pair of scout pants. These pants are the new Centennial design and they are long pants with legs that zip off to become shorts.
Great idea you would think but let's think a little harder. Here is a group of scouts out hiking. They get hot and wah-la their long pants become shorts. Perfect. Unless you are a mother of one of those scouts. If the bottom portion of the pant leg actually makes it into the back pack rather than left on a rock or accidentally dropped from a pocket somewhere along the trail, it most likely will not end up in the laundry when he returns home. It's small and easy to miss. I have spent lots of bonding time with my sons searching for a missing scout shirt or scout pants 20 minutes before that court of honor where a scout uniform is a requirement. These new and improved pants just add the very real possibility of 2 more missing items to frantically hunt for.Or imagine the last day of a week at scout camp. All of the scouts are packing their bags and the scout leaders are picking up the left over items. Here we have a pile of scout pant legs. How do they decide which legs belong with which pair of pants? The boys certainly don't know which ones are theirs. It's possible the ones from their tent belong to them, but it's just as possible that they were thrown into their tent during a pant leg fight. The leaders very efficiently divide up the legs. Each boy gets two and quite possibly ends up going home with one short leg and one long leg, or 2 left legs. Not a pretty sight. Perhaps other scouts are more responsible they my boys were at 13, but I'm not counting on it. This might be a great idea or it might be a huge mistake. I will wait to give my final verdict on this change, at least until my 17 year old gets home from scout camp on Saturday, hopefully with his pants all in one piece.
One year ago today - Poison Cake, Lunch in a Truck
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Boy oh Boy!
Today was the big day!
The oldest daughter
and the son-in-law
went to the doctor
and found out the sex
of their baby.
Even though I voted
for a girl on her blog
I am excited to add
a little boy to our family.
The daughter brought this bib
in a yellow bag to announce
the big news.
I'm sure he'll be a very charming child.
I've already been informed
that we need to start working on
a little boy quilt.
Today I am thankful for
a friend who motivated me to clean out my freezer and a working air conditioner while I did it. (This needs a little explanation. My friend called me today to say that she was cleaning out her freezer and found two, unopened packages of cream puffs left over from my oldest daughter's wedding. She wanted them out of her freezer so she brought them to me. I didn't have room for them in my freezer and couldn't just throw them away, even though they have been around for a while, so I cleaned my refridgerator freezer to fit them in. This was a project that has needed done for a while now, so I was glad to get it completed. The reason my friend was cleaning her freezer was because her AC hasn't worked for 3 days and she was looking for a way to cool off. I personally would have just gone and checked into an air conditioned motel.)
new scout pants for the youngest son that I didn't have to pay for.
an ultrasound with only good things to show.
One year ago today - Summer Reading Program
The oldest daughter
and the son-in-law
went to the doctor
and found out the sex
of their baby.
Even though I voted
for a girl on her blog
I am excited to add
a little boy to our family.
The daughter brought this bib
in a yellow bag to announce
the big news.
I'm sure he'll be a very charming child.I've already been informed
that we need to start working on
a little boy quilt.
Today I am thankful for
a friend who motivated me to clean out my freezer and a working air conditioner while I did it. (This needs a little explanation. My friend called me today to say that she was cleaning out her freezer and found two, unopened packages of cream puffs left over from my oldest daughter's wedding. She wanted them out of her freezer so she brought them to me. I didn't have room for them in my freezer and couldn't just throw them away, even though they have been around for a while, so I cleaned my refridgerator freezer to fit them in. This was a project that has needed done for a while now, so I was glad to get it completed. The reason my friend was cleaning her freezer was because her AC hasn't worked for 3 days and she was looking for a way to cool off. I personally would have just gone and checked into an air conditioned motel.)
new scout pants for the youngest son that I didn't have to pay for.
an ultrasound with only good things to show.
One year ago today - Summer Reading Program
Monday, May 25, 2009
Flying the Flag
For quite a few years now our scout troop has posted flags in neighborhood yards on holidays as a fund raiser for scout camp. The sons, the hubby and I have all taken our turns getting up early on holiday mornings and driving around the neighborhood searching for the tiny PVC pipe flag holders often hidden in the various subscriber's front yards. We have all lived through it. This morning when I walked outside and noticed the flag flying in our neighbor's yard I will admit that I was grateful that my sons are both too old to have to put up flags anymore.
Every year I have declined the offer by various scouts to place a flag in my front yard. For some reason this is a fund-raiser I have a problem with. I firmly believe that each home in the United States should own an American flag and be responsible for flying it on national holidays. I don't feel that this is a scout responsibility. I feel it is an American privilege.
I remember as a child standing at attention, with my hand over my heart, as my brother raised or lowered the flag on the flag pole in our front yard. I was taught to respect the flag, honor it, and how to fold it properly. This was important to me and still is.
This morning when I saw the neighbor's flag I went inside to get our flag and put it up. I found the flag, but the flag pole was missing in action. I searched in every closet, behind every door, under every couch, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Finally, I sent the hubby to the store to purchase a new one. Soon the flag was flying and I once again felt like a grateful American as I enjoyed watching it wave in the breeze.
Today I am grateful for
sons who both worked very hard without even being asked.
the freedom I enjoy because of the men and women who have made sacrifices in my behalf.
the privilege to own and fly the American flag.
One year ago today - Frogs don't like Orange Peels
Every year I have declined the offer by various scouts to place a flag in my front yard. For some reason this is a fund-raiser I have a problem with. I firmly believe that each home in the United States should own an American flag and be responsible for flying it on national holidays. I don't feel that this is a scout responsibility. I feel it is an American privilege.
I remember as a child standing at attention, with my hand over my heart, as my brother raised or lowered the flag on the flag pole in our front yard. I was taught to respect the flag, honor it, and how to fold it properly. This was important to me and still is.
This morning when I saw the neighbor's flag I went inside to get our flag and put it up. I found the flag, but the flag pole was missing in action. I searched in every closet, behind every door, under every couch, but I couldn't find it anywhere. Finally, I sent the hubby to the store to purchase a new one. Soon the flag was flying and I once again felt like a grateful American as I enjoyed watching it wave in the breeze.
Today I am grateful for
sons who both worked very hard without even being asked.
the freedom I enjoy because of the men and women who have made sacrifices in my behalf.
the privilege to own and fly the American flag.
One year ago today - Frogs don't like Orange Peels
Teaching for our Times
Even though I absolutely love my nursery calling, every once in a while I really miss attending Relief Society. I miss associating with my Relief Society sisters on a weekly basis. I miss being taught the gospel and learning from the lesson material and the sisters comments and personal experiences. For several years I had the opportunity of being the Teaching for our Times lesson instuctor in Relief Society. I loved that calling. I learned so much as I studied the current conference talks and prepared to share them with the class. However, the thing I enjoyed the most were the insights that were shared during the actual lessons. I miss those spiritual, bonding moments. Today was the Teaching for our Times lesson and I missed it. I also missed a lot of my sweet nursery children today. We only had 2 cute little boys to hang out with.
One year ago today - Demolition
One year ago today - Demolition
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Happy Birthday Blog
My blog is one year old today. It has been a great year.
Thanks for sharing it with me!
One year ago today - Why?
Friday, May 22, 2009
Empty Schools
The oldest daughter and I were talking the other day about how sad elementary schools appear at the end of the year. All the artwork comes down. All the colorful bulletin boards - gone. The colorful rugs and containers are put away. All that is left are bare white walls - sad, boring, bare white walls. The hallways and classrooms looks so lonely and forlorn to me. The son-in-law, both sons and I spent a lot of the day at the oldest daughter's school helping her get everything taken down, put away and moved to one side today. It was a big job and interesting working around her students. Her classroom has VERY limited storage space and we crammed lots of stuff into her one small, metal cupboard. I'm not looking forward to emptying it and putting everything back up when school starts again.
This year the elementary school behind my house is closing forever. The school district is losing students and money and decided it was time to take drastic measures and shut down a school. It is a very sad thing. None of my children attended this school. We moved into this house with 2 elementary school students, but I was working at the elementary school in our old neighborhood (one neighborhood East) so they just continued attending school there. My youngest daughter started middle school the next year and I was prepared to put my youngest son in the new school, but when I started asking my new neighborhood friends for a 2nd grade teacher recommendation they didn't have one. I dearly loved two of the 2nd grade teachers at the old school and I was still going to be working there so I just kept him there and he stayed until he left for middle school as well.
I think it is always a heart wrenching event when a school closes. Children are quite possessive of "their school" and it seems that many parents are too. From a real estate point of view it is also a negative thing. I have enjoyed hearing the children reciting the pledge over the intercom each morning and listening to the happy voices during recess. Knowing that the children won't be returning in the fall makes me view this empty school differently this summer.
The district has recently decided to rent the school to the High School district to use as an alternative high school. That wouldn't be my first choice for a neighborhood school, but I'm trying to withhold my judgement until I see how it turns out. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised. It will definitely be different.
Today I am grateful
for a cool, rainy day in May. What a gift!
that I don't have to consolidate a classroom every day.
for boys to move heavy shelves.
This year the elementary school behind my house is closing forever. The school district is losing students and money and decided it was time to take drastic measures and shut down a school. It is a very sad thing. None of my children attended this school. We moved into this house with 2 elementary school students, but I was working at the elementary school in our old neighborhood (one neighborhood East) so they just continued attending school there. My youngest daughter started middle school the next year and I was prepared to put my youngest son in the new school, but when I started asking my new neighborhood friends for a 2nd grade teacher recommendation they didn't have one. I dearly loved two of the 2nd grade teachers at the old school and I was still going to be working there so I just kept him there and he stayed until he left for middle school as well.
I think it is always a heart wrenching event when a school closes. Children are quite possessive of "their school" and it seems that many parents are too. From a real estate point of view it is also a negative thing. I have enjoyed hearing the children reciting the pledge over the intercom each morning and listening to the happy voices during recess. Knowing that the children won't be returning in the fall makes me view this empty school differently this summer.
The district has recently decided to rent the school to the High School district to use as an alternative high school. That wouldn't be my first choice for a neighborhood school, but I'm trying to withhold my judgement until I see how it turns out. Hopefully I will be pleasantly surprised. It will definitely be different.
Today I am grateful
for a cool, rainy day in May. What a gift!
that I don't have to consolidate a classroom every day.
for boys to move heavy shelves.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Last Day of School x 3
Yesterday was my youngest son's
last day of school.
I was surprised that
he wanted to get up early today
and go spend the day
with one of his sisters
at her last day of school.
She works as an instructional assistant.
Today was the oldest son's
last day of school as well.
He is also an instructional assistant.
Then tomorrow is
the oldest daughter's last day of school.
She has almost completed her 1st year
as a second grade teacher
and her third year as a teacher.
No more school for a couple of months.
Hooray!
I love the slower pace of Summer,
at least for a couple of months.
Today I am grateful for
a break from making school lunches.
a break from early morning wake up service.
the smell of rain.
last day of school.
I was surprised that
he wanted to get up early today
and go spend the day
with one of his sisters
at her last day of school.
She works as an instructional assistant.
Today was the oldest son's
last day of school as well.
He is also an instructional assistant.
Then tomorrow is
the oldest daughter's last day of school.
She has almost completed her 1st year
as a second grade teacher
and her third year as a teacher.
No more school for a couple of months.
Hooray!
I love the slower pace of Summer,
at least for a couple of months.
Today I am grateful for
a break from making school lunches.
a break from early morning wake up service.
the smell of rain.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Retro TV
My hubby has been really concerned about the TV in our bedroom not having a converter box. I thought we had decided that he could watch TV in the family room on our new digital television and just use the set in the bedroom for DVDs, but apparently I was mistaken. Over the weekend he took a trip to Target and purchased a converter box, at full price . After he got it all hooked up he was excited to check out the additional channels that we could now pick up. His favorite is the Retro TV channel. This channel shows some of his favorite old TV programs. As "luck" would have it, on Sunday night he starting coming down with a cold and was too sick yesterday and today to go to work, which gave him lots of Retro TV watching time.
This afternoon he was watching "Emergency". This is a show I remember watching, and enjoying, during my youth. I sat down and watched for a few minutes. I don't even remember for sure when this series was originally broadcast, but obviously it was quite a while ago.
In one scene Roy and Gage are flagged down by a woman and drug through a parking lot to a locked car. There is a group of women gathered around the vehicle and a small child laying in the back seat not moving. One of the women says that she saw the child when she went into the store and now he is still in the car 30 minutes later when she came out. The paramedics stand there trying to decide how to get the door open. They stand, they debate, they stand, they determine that the roof of the car is hot, they stand, they look for a hanger, they find a hanger and try to unlock the door, and try, and try some more. Eventually the door is open and the child is picked up. He wakes up and begins to cry, but appears to be fine. Wet and smelly, but not hot to the touch. The women all leave and Roy and Gage are standing there holding a screaming baby. About that time the mother comes out of the beauty parlor and begins to berate the men for opening her car and touching her child. They are all apologetic, give her the child and leave.
Perhaps it's just because I live in Arizona, where cars heat up like ovens, but I think in 2009 that mother would have been charged with child endangerment. Also, I have watched firemen break into a car in a parking lot with children locked inside and they didn't stand around trying to decide how to do it. They broke the window. However, the mother was standing next to them and most likely gave them permission. She wanted her kids out of that car. Apparently she put the baby in the car seat and went around to put the 2 year old in his car seat and he locked the doors while she was going around.
Another story was about a man who was faking illnesses to get to stay in the hospital and enjoy the food and attention he received. When they finally figure out that he isn't sick and has a history of hospital stays with fake diseases they confront him. He says he hasn't broken any law. In 2009 I think his behavior would be considered insurance fraud and he'd probably be in some serious trouble. It's interesting how things have changed over the years.
Today I am grateful for
an A and a B on the two finals the youngest son took today.
a fridge full of groceries.
cough syrup.
This afternoon he was watching "Emergency". This is a show I remember watching, and enjoying, during my youth. I sat down and watched for a few minutes. I don't even remember for sure when this series was originally broadcast, but obviously it was quite a while ago.
In one scene Roy and Gage are flagged down by a woman and drug through a parking lot to a locked car. There is a group of women gathered around the vehicle and a small child laying in the back seat not moving. One of the women says that she saw the child when she went into the store and now he is still in the car 30 minutes later when she came out. The paramedics stand there trying to decide how to get the door open. They stand, they debate, they stand, they determine that the roof of the car is hot, they stand, they look for a hanger, they find a hanger and try to unlock the door, and try, and try some more. Eventually the door is open and the child is picked up. He wakes up and begins to cry, but appears to be fine. Wet and smelly, but not hot to the touch. The women all leave and Roy and Gage are standing there holding a screaming baby. About that time the mother comes out of the beauty parlor and begins to berate the men for opening her car and touching her child. They are all apologetic, give her the child and leave.
Perhaps it's just because I live in Arizona, where cars heat up like ovens, but I think in 2009 that mother would have been charged with child endangerment. Also, I have watched firemen break into a car in a parking lot with children locked inside and they didn't stand around trying to decide how to do it. They broke the window. However, the mother was standing next to them and most likely gave them permission. She wanted her kids out of that car. Apparently she put the baby in the car seat and went around to put the 2 year old in his car seat and he locked the doors while she was going around.
Another story was about a man who was faking illnesses to get to stay in the hospital and enjoy the food and attention he received. When they finally figure out that he isn't sick and has a history of hospital stays with fake diseases they confront him. He says he hasn't broken any law. In 2009 I think his behavior would be considered insurance fraud and he'd probably be in some serious trouble. It's interesting how things have changed over the years.
Today I am grateful for
an A and a B on the two finals the youngest son took today.
a fridge full of groceries.
cough syrup.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Nicest Mom in the World
Today I went to the oldest daughter's Second Grade to help get some stuff filed and put away for the summer. It's obvious that I haven't spent as much time with this group of students as I did with her Kindergarten classes. Every time I arrive we have to go through the questions all over again. "Are you her mother?" "Are you sure?" "Why didn't her dad come with you?" "Are teacher's parents allowed in the classroom?" "How old are you?"
Today after I left one of the students asked, "Where did your mom go? Did she leave?" My daughter told him that yes, I had gone home. To that he replied, "She must be the nicest mom in the world. I didn't hear her yell once." Little does he know what I'm really like, but it's a title to shoot for.
Today after I left one of the students asked, "Where did your mom go? Did she leave?" My daughter told him that yes, I had gone home. To that he replied, "She must be the nicest mom in the world. I didn't hear her yell once." Little does he know what I'm really like, but it's a title to shoot for.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Star Trek The Movie 2009
Today the hubby and I went to see the new Star Trek movie. He really wanted to see it and I went along because he couldn't find anyone else to go with him. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't have anything against Star Trek. I grew up watching the TV series with my brother and I am quite familiar with the storyline and the characters. In fact, if I were to meet Captain Kirk or Spock I would probably even consider them friends. I could quite possibly find my way around the Enterprise if I were ever accidentally beamed up by Scotty. I would actually say I like Star Trek, but I am definitely not a "Trekkie". I thought I would see the movie sometime, but I don't have to see any movie during the first 2 weeks of its run. I am happy to wait for it to go to the cheap theatre or to come out on DVD. Having said that, I really liked the movie. I found it entertaining. As is usually the case, there were a few words and a scene that I could have lived without but overall I thought it was very good. It made me want to go back and watch a few Star Trek reruns just for fun. It also opens up a whole new world of future voyages of the Star Ship Enterprise, a thought that I am not totally opposed too and a even a little bit curious about.Today I am thankful for
a hubby that likes to do things with me.
a quiet Saturday.
my computer.
a phone visit with my mom.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Looking Forward to our Next Visit
Today I attended the funeral of Gwendolyn Lucille Palmer. She is the grandmother of one of my good friends and she has always been "Grandma Jones" to me which is interesting because there's no Jones in her name. Gwen lived with my friend for several years and I had the privilege of being her visiting teacher for some of those years. She was an inspiration to visit with. She was in declining health all of the time I knew her and was unable to do so many of the things that she loved to do, but she still made sure she did her gospel study and scripture reading. We would always find her sitting in her recliner with her treasured Articles of Faith book, the Ensign and the scriptures on the table next to her. She made sure our discussions were always gospel centered and I gained new insights from her on whatever topic we visited about that day. She was a great example to me and I am looking forward to my next visit with her and the things I will be able to learn from her then.
A few months ago I attended the funeral of another ward member and was struck by comments made about the legacy he had left for his children. Since that time I have done some musing on what my legacy to my children might be and quite frankly I haven't been able to think of much. Today one of the speakers (a son-in-law I think) made the comment "Gwen didn't leave us a large inheritance but she left us a spiritual treasure. She left us a path to follow." As he made that last statement it really hit me. That is the legacy I want to leave for my posterity. I want to leave them a path to follow. Not just any path, but the path that leads them to eternal life with their Savior, Jesus Christ and the rest of our family. What a wonderful legacy that will be.
Today I am grateful for
Relief Society sisters that support each other.
visiting teaching friendships.
a good example.
A few months ago I attended the funeral of another ward member and was struck by comments made about the legacy he had left for his children. Since that time I have done some musing on what my legacy to my children might be and quite frankly I haven't been able to think of much. Today one of the speakers (a son-in-law I think) made the comment "Gwen didn't leave us a large inheritance but she left us a spiritual treasure. She left us a path to follow." As he made that last statement it really hit me. That is the legacy I want to leave for my posterity. I want to leave them a path to follow. Not just any path, but the path that leads them to eternal life with their Savior, Jesus Christ and the rest of our family. What a wonderful legacy that will be.
Today I am grateful for
Relief Society sisters that support each other.
visiting teaching friendships.
a good example.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
MacGyver Mystery
My hubby enjoys watching old Television programs on DVD. He has quite a collection.
Most recently he received the 2 seasons he was missing of MacGyver as a birthday gift.
He has such a nice wife.
While he watches his programs I am usually sitting at the computer with my back to the TV. I sometimes hear a little of what is going on, but I really don't pay much attention.
Tonight I was in bed, rather than on the computer, when he was trying to decide which episode was up next. He wasn't sure if he had watched one so he started it. As soon as the first scene came on I told him, "You saw this one the other night." He watched for a couple of minutes and said, "I don't think so." I recognized the plot. I recognized the guest stars. I knew who the bad guy was. I even knew that there were two bad guys instead of one. We watched the whole show together. He swore he hadn't seen it before and I swore he had. It's possible that he slept through some of it the first time, but he has to start each episode, so I doubt he fell asleep as soon as it began. He would have at least remembered a portion of it.
It's a mystery.
Playing Favorites
Today I had a short chat with my youngest son's school counselor (and yes, dear child, it is perfectly legal for me to have a conversation with your counselor. I asked her just to make sure.). Along with other things we discussed, she asked me why he wasn't too fond of one of his teachers (I had mentioned this fact in a previous conversation). I told her I wasn't really sure of his reasons. It seems like they change frequently depending on his mood and his favorite word for the day. He really isn't fond of too many people in the world and even fewer teachers. (The reason he doesn't care for this counselor is because she once said to him "You must be smart." Go figure.) Anyway, she responded with an "Oh yes, I forgot, he's a teenager." I guess I should take comfort in knowing that my son isn't the only "hater" in Tempe and yet it doesn't give me much comfort.
On the way home from school I decided to ask for his answer to this question. He made a couple of derogatory comments and then added "and he plays favorites." I asked the son how he thought these students became the teacher's favorites and he expounded their virtues. "They do what he asks. They help him. They do extra stuff. They are overachievers..." I then told him they would probably be my favorites too. I mean yes, it is probably wrong for teachers, or parents, or employers to have favorites, but get real. If you are nice to me and do what you are suppose to do and even a few extra things that I don't expect now and then, then chances are I am going to like you. You might even be my favorite. That's just human nature.
I thought it was interesting as I was blog hopping tonight that I ran into this blog post entitled Favorites. Now, I have absolutely no idea who this blogger is. (It's amazing the places you end up when you keep clicking on links). However, I loved what he had to say and how he said it. I thought it would be good reference material for the son if he ever decides he wants to become some one's favorite, besides his mom's of course. (Oh, but don't tell his siblings I said that. They each think they are my favorite). Check out the Favorites post and see what you think. Pretty good and honest advice in my opinion.
Today I am thankful for
fresh cherries for 88 cents a pound.
a "quilting bee" with a few of my Relief Society Sisters.
zucchini and scrambled eggs.
On the way home from school I decided to ask for his answer to this question. He made a couple of derogatory comments and then added "and he plays favorites." I asked the son how he thought these students became the teacher's favorites and he expounded their virtues. "They do what he asks. They help him. They do extra stuff. They are overachievers..." I then told him they would probably be my favorites too. I mean yes, it is probably wrong for teachers, or parents, or employers to have favorites, but get real. If you are nice to me and do what you are suppose to do and even a few extra things that I don't expect now and then, then chances are I am going to like you. You might even be my favorite. That's just human nature.
I thought it was interesting as I was blog hopping tonight that I ran into this blog post entitled Favorites. Now, I have absolutely no idea who this blogger is. (It's amazing the places you end up when you keep clicking on links). However, I loved what he had to say and how he said it. I thought it would be good reference material for the son if he ever decides he wants to become some one's favorite, besides his mom's of course. (Oh, but don't tell his siblings I said that. They each think they are my favorite). Check out the Favorites post and see what you think. Pretty good and honest advice in my opinion.
Today I am thankful for
fresh cherries for 88 cents a pound.
a "quilting bee" with a few of my Relief Society Sisters.
zucchini and scrambled eggs.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Too Hot to Move
When it first starts to get really hot here in Tempe it takes about a week for me to accept the fact that summer is truly here and that I better get use to it and adjust. Today was our 5th or 6th day of 100+ temperatures and I have not quite gotten to that point of acceptance yet. It is hot! Way too hot for the first half of May. I don't want to move. I don't want to cook. I especially do not want to go outside or get in my car that has been sitting in the sun. I also seem to have a hard time sleeping at night. For the past few days I have been playing "Let's make a Deal" with myself. If I clean the bathroom then I can lay on my bed, under the ceiling fan, and read my library book. If I cook dinner I can lay on my bed and read my library book. If I water the flowers, clean the living room, organize the food storage corner,do the laundry,... I can lay on my bed and read my library book. I have gotten a few jobs done and have read more than a few library books.
I discovered a new author a couple of weeks ago and I have really enjoyed reading all of the books by her that the library owns. Her name is Lorena McCourtney. She is older and apparently started out writing romance novels but then switched to writing christian fiction mysteries. Her books are very light reading with a little suspense and romance thrown in and she does a good job of keeping me guessing "who done it" right up to the end. She has a series called the Julesburg mysteries that includes Whirlpool, Riptide and Undertow. These books are about different characters who live in the same small town. Another series called the Ivy Malone Mysteries are about an older lady and how her curious nature gets her into trouble. The books in this series are called Invisible, In Plain Sight, On the Run and Stranded. If it's too hot to do anything where you live or if you just feel like reading some fluff you might want to check them out.
Today I'm thankful for
air conditioning.
my washing machine.
my dryer.
Family Home Evening with my boys.
I discovered a new author a couple of weeks ago and I have really enjoyed reading all of the books by her that the library owns. Her name is Lorena McCourtney. She is older and apparently started out writing romance novels but then switched to writing christian fiction mysteries. Her books are very light reading with a little suspense and romance thrown in and she does a good job of keeping me guessing "who done it" right up to the end. She has a series called the Julesburg mysteries that includes Whirlpool, Riptide and Undertow. These books are about different characters who live in the same small town. Another series called the Ivy Malone Mysteries are about an older lady and how her curious nature gets her into trouble. The books in this series are called Invisible, In Plain Sight, On the Run and Stranded. If it's too hot to do anything where you live or if you just feel like reading some fluff you might want to check them out.
Today I'm thankful for
air conditioning.
my washing machine.
my dryer.
Family Home Evening with my boys.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mother's Day Eulogy
Whenever I go to a funeral I try to imagine what someone will say about me after I am gone. I sometimes have a hard time believing that any of my kids, or anyone else for that matter, will be able to come up with anything kind to say. A couple of years ago it was proclaimed by one of my children that the musical number at my funeral was going to be "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead". However, today I kind of felt like I was Tom Sawyer or Huck Finn hiding in the balcony of the church and listening to my own eulogy when my oldest son spoke in sacrament meeting. He should probably keep track of this talk. It might come in handy some day. I am including it here for his Grandma's benefit (she likes to hear what her grandkids have to say) but you can read it if you want to.
A mother held her new baby
and very slowly
rocked him back and forth,
back and forth,back and forth.
And while she held him,
she sang: (and yes the son sang)
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Of course, I have been asked to speak about mothers on this special day, but more specifically I was asked to speak about my own mom. This may seem like an easy topic, but I have struggled over what to say for a while. Brother Jones told me when he asked me to speak that this talk should make my mother cry. I immediately started thinking of times that I have not followed my mom's counsel and the tragedies that happened as a result, which often made her cry. Then I realized that I am probably supposed to be making her cry tears of joy. So, I have been trying to figure out what it was that I could say to my mother to portray to her the profound effect she has had on my life. Rudyard Kipling once wrote, “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers”. I have a firm testimony that this is true. There is nobody on this earth that has influenced my life as much as my mother. I could not ask for a better example. In an article written by Thomas S. Monson, he referenced ten suggestions given to mothers by President Ezra Taft Benson. I would like to analyze these traits and how my mother has accomplished or strives to accomplish each of these things
the first is "Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen." As I think back over the major events in my life, there are always familiar faces in the crowd, including my mothers, but as I think of some of the seemingly more minor events, there is still one face that stands out, that of my mother.
2. "Take time to be a real friend to your children." As hard as it is to believe, there was a time in my life, that I thought my mother's sole purpose in this world was to cause me as much embarrassment as possible, when this happens, especially around friends, you tend to take on a macho attitude of I don’t need you. Even through this phase, my mother never gave up trying to be my friend, trying to find out how she could make my life better. As I have grown older, I have tried harder to reciprocate that friendship, and now I have what I feel is a strong relationship with my mother. Are there still things I don’t want to tell her, sure, there are some things that I don’t want to share. Chalk that one up to human nature. However, I do know that I can tell her anything and she would be there with her unwavering love and support.
3. "Take time to read to your children." Remember what the poet wrote: You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a mother who read to me. The beginning of my talk came from the first story that I can remember my mother reading to me. My children at work have recently discovered this book, and every time they ask me to read it to them I can still hear my mom’s voice,
“That teenager grew.
He grew and he grew and he grew.
He grew until he was a grown-up man.
He left home and got a house across town.
But sometimes on dark nights
the mother got into her car
and drove across town.
If all the lights in her son's house were out,
she opened his bedroom window,
crawled across the floor,
and looked up over the side of his bed.
If that great big man was really asleep
she picked him up
and rocked him back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
4. "Take time to pray with your children."
This is a tricky one mostly because there are times that children feel there are more important things to do than pray, but parents often intervene and help to teach the importance of prayer. My own mother has shown me by example the importance and power of prayer, and it is a tool that I have grown to love. Although we are older, my mother still strives to ensure that our family gathers to pray each day.
5. "Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening." Make this one of your great family traditions. Now if you asked my mother she may say that this is one of the chinks in her motherly armor. However I would submit that I learned the importance of family home evening somewhere, I feel that it was those nights as a child when we would have a lesson. I remember very vividly some the stories that where shared and the principles that were taught. I remember simply being to spend time with my family, and occasionally use the time to play Don’t Eat Pete. I learned from my mother’s example, why it is important to take time to strengthen the bonds of the family, and as I know contemplate having my own family, I know the importance of Family Home Evening.
6. "Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible." Growing up, it seems that we always ate dinner as a family, and then slowly but surely people got older, Jessica went off to college, our family dwindled, but we still ate with the remainder of our family. Then Janaya moved out, again our family shrunk but we that were left still ate dinner together. Now it seems that our own lives often take us to separate destinations at mealtime, but occasionally I get the joy of eating dinner with my whole family. A family that though once disintegrating now when all together requires extra space at the table, room for a brother-in-law, a fiancée, and an adopted sister, as well of all those family members that once went there own separate ways.
7. "Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family." I don’t know if any of you have had the opportunity to read scriptures with Jayce when he would rather do something else, but I guarantee you that if my mom feels that it is important enough to read scriptures together even after dealing with that, there must be something to it. I am grateful that my mother would take the time to help her family search the scriptures even with such distractions.
8. "Take time to do things together as a family." I can still remember being dragged across this great state to have day trips with my family. There were times when I loved these trips, and times that I hated them. Looking back now, I see that they were simply a way of strengthening our family. A family that I am constantly grateful for, that has a strong adhesive in large part due to our mother. I can guarantee that nobody else in our family would have ensured that these trips were taken with all the complaining the occasionally accompanied them.
9. "Take time to teach your children." My mom writes a blog, and it is by far one of the better blogs I have an opportunity to read. One day as I was perusing, I noticed an entry that I will now share, it was titled back off. We had a ward talent show tonight and it was fun to get to go and enjoy some time with the other members of the ward. The hubby and I went as a two-some since all of our family members had other plans. I like to see our nursery children in settings other than nursery and see how they respond to me. I sat on the floor of the gym and played ball with one of them, and another one enjoyed sitting on my lap and melting ice cubes in his hands all over the two of us. They make me feel loved and important. It is kind of sad though that the nursery group that moved up to Sunbeams in January don't seem to want to be bothered by me any more. I started talking to one of the little boys and he held up his hand in front of him, in a stop sign, and firmly stated, "I'm in primary now." In other words, "Back Off. I've moved on and I don't need you to hold my hand or wipe my nose or dry my tears or build block towers for me to knock down or take me potty anymore. I am bigger now." It took me back for a moment and then it just made me laugh. For the rest of the night, when I would see him, I'd say "Oh, you're in Primary now." and then the two of us would both giggle about it.Backing Off is something that I have a very difficult time with. Just ask my husband and my kids. It is hard for me to see my own children, as they grow up, raising their hands signifying stop every now and then. So many of their words and actions and gestures seem to say "I'm bigger now and I don't need you". It always takes me back for a moment and their unintentional snubs are harder to laugh off than those of the nursery kids. It is kind of funny when you think about it. This is what we work for all of our children's growing up years. To raise responsible, independent, self-assured children who are capable of taking care of themselves. Who don't need their mommy to hold their hand or wipe there nose... When they are moving forward in this endeavor I should applaud and pat myself on the back not feel sad. And yet, there is something about not being needed that is a little unnerving. I do want my children to grow up. I do want them to be independent and self-assured and responsible. I do want them to have their own lives and their own friends and their own families and their own homes and their own dreams, but every once in a while I want them to remember that they still need me, even if it is only to wipe their tears when someone knocks their tower down or to share their joy when they get it to stand up tall and steady.Message to my children - I love you. I am learning to let go, but sometimes it is hard. Please be patient with me.
This is the comment that I shared after reading this blog, Please remember that all those unintentional snubs are really just pats on the back saying what a great mother you are. It is because of you that we are able to build our own towers, and find joy in the building of those towers. Also remember that the foundation of those towers is in your home, reinforced with your love, and should those towers happen to fall, the foundation will remain. That is what you have given us:) Through the teachings of my mother, I have become, the man I am today and I am sure that many of you can tell she didn’t do too shabby a job. I am not perfect, but I am far closer than I would be without her.
10. "Take time to truly love your children." A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love. I know this to be true, there are so many times that I have made my mother’s life her own personal prison, regardless of my stupid choices, decisions that sometimes result in damage such as a hole in the wall, my mother shows over and over her love for me. Only my mother could take a hole in the wall, and turn it into a beautiful teaching opportunity.
President Hinckley shared this advice to mothers, “I hope that you will have every reason to be proud concerning your children, to have love for them, to have faith in them, to see them grow in righteousness and virtue before the Lord, to see them become useful and productive members of society. If with all you have done there is an occasional failure, you can still say, “At least I did the very best of which I was capable. I tried as hard as I knew how. I let nothing stand in the way of my role as a mother.” Failures will be few under such circumstances.” I want my mother to know how much she means to me. There are so many blessings in my life that stem directly from her being a part of it. I echo the sentiments of Abraham Lincoln who said, “All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother.”
I’d like to close with another portion of the book I began with.
Well, that mother, she got older.
She got older and older and older.
One day she called up her son and said,
"You'd better come see me
because I'm very old and sick."
So her son came to see her.
When he came in the door
she tried to sing the song.
She sang: I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish
because she was too old and sick.
The son went to his mother.
He picked her up
and rocked her back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
And yes I cried, just like it was a funeral, but I'm glad he said those nice things while I was still here to hear them.
P.S. If you are not familiar with the book "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch you need to read it. It is one of my favorite children's books and, in my opinion, every family should have a copy of it.
A mother held her new baby
and very slowly
rocked him back and forth,
back and forth,back and forth.
And while she held him,
she sang: (and yes the son sang)
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
Of course, I have been asked to speak about mothers on this special day, but more specifically I was asked to speak about my own mom. This may seem like an easy topic, but I have struggled over what to say for a while. Brother Jones told me when he asked me to speak that this talk should make my mother cry. I immediately started thinking of times that I have not followed my mom's counsel and the tragedies that happened as a result, which often made her cry. Then I realized that I am probably supposed to be making her cry tears of joy. So, I have been trying to figure out what it was that I could say to my mother to portray to her the profound effect she has had on my life. Rudyard Kipling once wrote, “God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers”. I have a firm testimony that this is true. There is nobody on this earth that has influenced my life as much as my mother. I could not ask for a better example. In an article written by Thomas S. Monson, he referenced ten suggestions given to mothers by President Ezra Taft Benson. I would like to analyze these traits and how my mother has accomplished or strives to accomplish each of these things
the first is "Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen." As I think back over the major events in my life, there are always familiar faces in the crowd, including my mothers, but as I think of some of the seemingly more minor events, there is still one face that stands out, that of my mother.
2. "Take time to be a real friend to your children." As hard as it is to believe, there was a time in my life, that I thought my mother's sole purpose in this world was to cause me as much embarrassment as possible, when this happens, especially around friends, you tend to take on a macho attitude of I don’t need you. Even through this phase, my mother never gave up trying to be my friend, trying to find out how she could make my life better. As I have grown older, I have tried harder to reciprocate that friendship, and now I have what I feel is a strong relationship with my mother. Are there still things I don’t want to tell her, sure, there are some things that I don’t want to share. Chalk that one up to human nature. However, I do know that I can tell her anything and she would be there with her unwavering love and support.
3. "Take time to read to your children." Remember what the poet wrote: You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be— I had a mother who read to me. The beginning of my talk came from the first story that I can remember my mother reading to me. My children at work have recently discovered this book, and every time they ask me to read it to them I can still hear my mom’s voice,
“That teenager grew.
He grew and he grew and he grew.
He grew until he was a grown-up man.
He left home and got a house across town.
But sometimes on dark nights
the mother got into her car
and drove across town.
If all the lights in her son's house were out,
she opened his bedroom window,
crawled across the floor,
and looked up over the side of his bed.
If that great big man was really asleep
she picked him up
and rocked him back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
And while she rocked him she sang:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.
4. "Take time to pray with your children."
This is a tricky one mostly because there are times that children feel there are more important things to do than pray, but parents often intervene and help to teach the importance of prayer. My own mother has shown me by example the importance and power of prayer, and it is a tool that I have grown to love. Although we are older, my mother still strives to ensure that our family gathers to pray each day.
5. "Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening." Make this one of your great family traditions. Now if you asked my mother she may say that this is one of the chinks in her motherly armor. However I would submit that I learned the importance of family home evening somewhere, I feel that it was those nights as a child when we would have a lesson. I remember very vividly some the stories that where shared and the principles that were taught. I remember simply being to spend time with my family, and occasionally use the time to play Don’t Eat Pete. I learned from my mother’s example, why it is important to take time to strengthen the bonds of the family, and as I know contemplate having my own family, I know the importance of Family Home Evening.
6. "Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible." Growing up, it seems that we always ate dinner as a family, and then slowly but surely people got older, Jessica went off to college, our family dwindled, but we still ate with the remainder of our family. Then Janaya moved out, again our family shrunk but we that were left still ate dinner together. Now it seems that our own lives often take us to separate destinations at mealtime, but occasionally I get the joy of eating dinner with my whole family. A family that though once disintegrating now when all together requires extra space at the table, room for a brother-in-law, a fiancée, and an adopted sister, as well of all those family members that once went there own separate ways.
7. "Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family." I don’t know if any of you have had the opportunity to read scriptures with Jayce when he would rather do something else, but I guarantee you that if my mom feels that it is important enough to read scriptures together even after dealing with that, there must be something to it. I am grateful that my mother would take the time to help her family search the scriptures even with such distractions.
8. "Take time to do things together as a family." I can still remember being dragged across this great state to have day trips with my family. There were times when I loved these trips, and times that I hated them. Looking back now, I see that they were simply a way of strengthening our family. A family that I am constantly grateful for, that has a strong adhesive in large part due to our mother. I can guarantee that nobody else in our family would have ensured that these trips were taken with all the complaining the occasionally accompanied them.
9. "Take time to teach your children." My mom writes a blog, and it is by far one of the better blogs I have an opportunity to read. One day as I was perusing, I noticed an entry that I will now share, it was titled back off. We had a ward talent show tonight and it was fun to get to go and enjoy some time with the other members of the ward. The hubby and I went as a two-some since all of our family members had other plans. I like to see our nursery children in settings other than nursery and see how they respond to me. I sat on the floor of the gym and played ball with one of them, and another one enjoyed sitting on my lap and melting ice cubes in his hands all over the two of us. They make me feel loved and important. It is kind of sad though that the nursery group that moved up to Sunbeams in January don't seem to want to be bothered by me any more. I started talking to one of the little boys and he held up his hand in front of him, in a stop sign, and firmly stated, "I'm in primary now." In other words, "Back Off. I've moved on and I don't need you to hold my hand or wipe my nose or dry my tears or build block towers for me to knock down or take me potty anymore. I am bigger now." It took me back for a moment and then it just made me laugh. For the rest of the night, when I would see him, I'd say "Oh, you're in Primary now." and then the two of us would both giggle about it.Backing Off is something that I have a very difficult time with. Just ask my husband and my kids. It is hard for me to see my own children, as they grow up, raising their hands signifying stop every now and then. So many of their words and actions and gestures seem to say "I'm bigger now and I don't need you". It always takes me back for a moment and their unintentional snubs are harder to laugh off than those of the nursery kids. It is kind of funny when you think about it. This is what we work for all of our children's growing up years. To raise responsible, independent, self-assured children who are capable of taking care of themselves. Who don't need their mommy to hold their hand or wipe there nose... When they are moving forward in this endeavor I should applaud and pat myself on the back not feel sad. And yet, there is something about not being needed that is a little unnerving. I do want my children to grow up. I do want them to be independent and self-assured and responsible. I do want them to have their own lives and their own friends and their own families and their own homes and their own dreams, but every once in a while I want them to remember that they still need me, even if it is only to wipe their tears when someone knocks their tower down or to share their joy when they get it to stand up tall and steady.Message to my children - I love you. I am learning to let go, but sometimes it is hard. Please be patient with me.
This is the comment that I shared after reading this blog, Please remember that all those unintentional snubs are really just pats on the back saying what a great mother you are. It is because of you that we are able to build our own towers, and find joy in the building of those towers. Also remember that the foundation of those towers is in your home, reinforced with your love, and should those towers happen to fall, the foundation will remain. That is what you have given us:) Through the teachings of my mother, I have become, the man I am today and I am sure that many of you can tell she didn’t do too shabby a job. I am not perfect, but I am far closer than I would be without her.
10. "Take time to truly love your children." A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love. I know this to be true, there are so many times that I have made my mother’s life her own personal prison, regardless of my stupid choices, decisions that sometimes result in damage such as a hole in the wall, my mother shows over and over her love for me. Only my mother could take a hole in the wall, and turn it into a beautiful teaching opportunity.
President Hinckley shared this advice to mothers, “I hope that you will have every reason to be proud concerning your children, to have love for them, to have faith in them, to see them grow in righteousness and virtue before the Lord, to see them become useful and productive members of society. If with all you have done there is an occasional failure, you can still say, “At least I did the very best of which I was capable. I tried as hard as I knew how. I let nothing stand in the way of my role as a mother.” Failures will be few under such circumstances.” I want my mother to know how much she means to me. There are so many blessings in my life that stem directly from her being a part of it. I echo the sentiments of Abraham Lincoln who said, “All I am, or can be, I owe to my angel mother.”
I’d like to close with another portion of the book I began with.
Well, that mother, she got older.
She got older and older and older.
One day she called up her son and said,
"You'd better come see me
because I'm very old and sick."
So her son came to see her.
When he came in the door
she tried to sing the song.
She sang: I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always...
But she couldn't finish
because she was too old and sick.
The son went to his mother.
He picked her up
and rocked her back and forth,
back and forth, back and forth.
And he sang this song:
I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my Mommy you'll be.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
And yes I cried, just like it was a funeral, but I'm glad he said those nice things while I was still here to hear them.
P.S. If you are not familiar with the book "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch you need to read it. It is one of my favorite children's books and, in my opinion, every family should have a copy of it.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Chinese Cultural Center
Today I went on a field trip with the oldest daughter's Second Grade class to the Chinese Cultural Center in Phoenix. It was a warm day and it was a sit and wait, listen and don't touch kind of field trip which was hard for the kids. We toured a Chinese Garden and an Oriental Grocery Store. We did learn some interesting tidbits about Chinese culture and we were treated to Chinese food at the end, which was very good.The children were asked to "dress nicely" for this field trip. It was interesting to see the different interpretations of what "nicely" meant.
We learned that different things are carved on the roofs of the buildings to protect them. Here is a dragon that protects from evil spirits.
These are sea creatures that protect the buildings from fire.
These statues represent the things that we need in life. One has water and the other is holding a flower to represent beauty. There were other ones but I don't remember how many, perhaps 10. Some of the other needs were food, music, and education.
The circular doorway behind the statues is to walk through. The Chinese try to avoid sharp edges because they represent knives or death. I think it is called a moon gate maybe.This pond was full of lots and lots of fish, great big ones and little, teeny tiny ones.
More statues. I think the first one represents an emperor and I'm not sure what the other ones represent.
The Chinese make their bridges crooked so that if an evil spirit is chasing you he will get confused and loose his way.
The gardens were very beautiful but the Second Graders and I would have enjoyed having some time to explore them a little more.
Here we are sitting outside the grocery store waiting for time for our tour. The books made good fans since it was very warm.
They also made good shields so we couldn't be seen when we got our pictures taken.
A few of us actually read them.
And finally we got to line up and go inside where it was air conditioned.
The most exciting part of the grocery store was the fresh fish swimming in tanks. There was quite the variety, but the smell was a little strong for some of us, especially the pregnant teacher. We also got to see 1,000 year old eggs and a large variety of beer in the cooler we waited in line for our food next too. We got our food from a food court in the grocery store. It was very interesting trying to help the students select fried rice or noodles and 2 entrees from a selection of items they couldn't recognize and that all looked a little strange. Most of the kids stuck with a type of chicken (like orange chicken without the sauce) and egg rolls. A few chose duck and really liked it. I wasn't that brave and stuck with my old favorite Sweet and Sour Pork and some green beans.
It is always fun to get out of the classroom and do something different, but I wouldn't say this was my favorite field trip of all time. I think I would like to go back sometime with the hubby and just check out some of the stores and visit the garden at a more leisurely pace. Oh, and buy a couple of those 1,000 year old eggs perhaps.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Pink and Black Skull Quilt
My youngest daughter is a fan of the colors black and hot pink, especially together, as well as designs which include skulls, so when I saw this fabric, a couple of years ago, I knew I needed to buy it and make something for her.
I had wanted to make a rag quilt for quite awhile, ever since someone demonstated how to sew one in an enrichment meeting, and I decided this fabric would work well for this project. I couldn't just have one fabric however, so I bought a variety of other fuzzy materials and cut a bunch of squares. Each square had to have a skull block attatched to the back with a sewn criss-cross then the squares had to be put into rows and the rows finally combined into a lap quilt. Once all the blocks were sewn together, with the raw edges showing, those edges had to be clipped to make fringe. This fringe frays and curls when the quilt is washed and makes it look cute and fluffy.
I had no idea how long it would take to clip all those squares on all 4 sides. It took FOREVER. Then when that was done I realized I had no idea how to edge the quilt, so like so many of my projects, it got put away in a cupboard for quite awhile - maybe a couple of years.
When the daughter got accepted to BYU-Idaho I decided a warm, fuzzy, flannel quilt would be just the thing for her to take with her and I pulled the project out again. I just sewed a binding on, with the raw edge showing on the top, and did some more clipping, which went alot faster this time. Then I washed the quilt, to get the fluff, and ta-dum...
Unfinished project #2 - FINISHED and delivered.
Perhaps I'm on a roll here.
I had wanted to make a rag quilt for quite awhile, ever since someone demonstated how to sew one in an enrichment meeting, and I decided this fabric would work well for this project. I couldn't just have one fabric however, so I bought a variety of other fuzzy materials and cut a bunch of squares. Each square had to have a skull block attatched to the back with a sewn criss-cross then the squares had to be put into rows and the rows finally combined into a lap quilt. Once all the blocks were sewn together, with the raw edges showing, those edges had to be clipped to make fringe. This fringe frays and curls when the quilt is washed and makes it look cute and fluffy.
I had no idea how long it would take to clip all those squares on all 4 sides. It took FOREVER. Then when that was done I realized I had no idea how to edge the quilt, so like so many of my projects, it got put away in a cupboard for quite awhile - maybe a couple of years.When the daughter got accepted to BYU-Idaho I decided a warm, fuzzy, flannel quilt would be just the thing for her to take with her and I pulled the project out again. I just sewed a binding on, with the raw edge showing on the top, and did some more clipping, which went alot faster this time. Then I washed the quilt, to get the fluff, and ta-dum...
Unfinished project #2 - FINISHED and delivered.
Perhaps I'm on a roll here.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sluffer
My boys think it is so funny when I refer to not going to school or work as sluffin' as in "Did you sluff math today?". Apparently this is a small town Utah, 70s term that shows I grew up in the back woods, way back when. I personally don't care what my boys think about my vernacular. I do however care if they sluff.
For 2 months now my oldest son has given me numerous reasons every morning why today would be a great day for him not to go to work. He still has 2 days of personal leave for this school year and they have been "burning a hole in his pocket"so to say. I am of the opinion that if he is suppose to be at work and he's not on his death bed or doesn't have 2 broken legs he should be there. Well, yesterday he informed me that today was the day he was not going to work. I pointed out all the reasons he should change his mind, but he didn't. I started thinking about him not going to work and why it bothers me when he doesn't go, but if my hubby were to decide to stay home every now and then I wouldn't be nearly as upset. With him it's more of a he has days off, he may as well use them kind of attitude. Is it because I don't feel as responsible for my husband's choices as I do my son's? After all I didn't raise the husband and teach him better than that. After much pondering I finally decided what the difference was. I have spent too many years in the school workplace, often as the person who had to fill in the holes left by other employees who for whatever reason (good or not so good) weren't there to fill the holes themselves. Now, I'm not saying my husband doesn't have an important job. I'm sure he does. However, if he misses a day of work the majority of his work will just wait to be done tomorrow. In a school setting, this isn't always the case. The kids still show up and still need to be taught and someone has to teach them. Recess and bus and lunchroom duties still need to be done and someone has to do them. When my children who work in education, especially the ones who are classified employees and don't usually get covered by a substitiute, sluff work I worry about who is going to have to pick up the slack. Despite my concerns, I guess my children deserve to use there leave just like anyone else and I should just let them use it and be happy.
With that said, I definitely enjoyed going to the temple with my oldest son today. When he sluffs at least he does something worthwhile with his time. His mother must have taught him something.
For 2 months now my oldest son has given me numerous reasons every morning why today would be a great day for him not to go to work. He still has 2 days of personal leave for this school year and they have been "burning a hole in his pocket"so to say. I am of the opinion that if he is suppose to be at work and he's not on his death bed or doesn't have 2 broken legs he should be there. Well, yesterday he informed me that today was the day he was not going to work. I pointed out all the reasons he should change his mind, but he didn't. I started thinking about him not going to work and why it bothers me when he doesn't go, but if my hubby were to decide to stay home every now and then I wouldn't be nearly as upset. With him it's more of a he has days off, he may as well use them kind of attitude. Is it because I don't feel as responsible for my husband's choices as I do my son's? After all I didn't raise the husband and teach him better than that. After much pondering I finally decided what the difference was. I have spent too many years in the school workplace, often as the person who had to fill in the holes left by other employees who for whatever reason (good or not so good) weren't there to fill the holes themselves. Now, I'm not saying my husband doesn't have an important job. I'm sure he does. However, if he misses a day of work the majority of his work will just wait to be done tomorrow. In a school setting, this isn't always the case. The kids still show up and still need to be taught and someone has to teach them. Recess and bus and lunchroom duties still need to be done and someone has to do them. When my children who work in education, especially the ones who are classified employees and don't usually get covered by a substitiute, sluff work I worry about who is going to have to pick up the slack. Despite my concerns, I guess my children deserve to use there leave just like anyone else and I should just let them use it and be happy.
With that said, I definitely enjoyed going to the temple with my oldest son today. When he sluffs at least he does something worthwhile with his time. His mother must have taught him something.
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