What it's all About

Yesterday was a memorable day for our family.  Our son Kyle was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple to his love and best friend, Megan.  As I sat in the temple, looking around at our family and dear friends there to share this time with us, I just kept thinking over and over again, "This is what it is all about.  This is why we do what we do.  This is what makes the tough times worth it."  As a new family unit was created today I felt so blessed to know of the Lord's Plan of Happiness and to have a testimony of its truthfulness.  I know that when we live according to God's plan we will find peace and joy in our lives.  Understanding his plan helps us through our trials.  Trusting in him and in his plan helps us to have a vision of the eternal scheme of things.  Families are ordained of God, and I am so excited as Kyle and Megan begin their journey together. 

Our younger children got to share in the day as Megan and Kyle came out of the temple and we greeted them for the first time as man and wife. They were positively beaming and love shone in their eyes.  We hugged and congratulated them and took lots of pictures. 
 
Our little man, David, looked so adorable in his big boy dress pants, white shirt and sweater, and of course, a bow tie, just like the big brothers.  The day was long for him and he enjoyed it for the most part.  At one point, pictures were no longer fun for him, so we didn't press the matter.  He is missing from a few shots.  He enjoyed the family dinner and listening to Kyle sing.  He even enjoyed the reception until the last little bit, perking up just in time to enjoy the sparklers and say goodbye to the couple.   By then he was exhausted!!!  He fell asleep almost the minute he was buckled in his car seat.  When we arrived home we transferred him straight to his bed.  It was close to midnight.  All we did was take off his shoes and cover him up with a blanket. 

In the morning, he awoke refreshed and ready for breakfast.  I looked at him and thought…wow, all I need to do is change his diaper and he is ready for church.  We hadn't even taken off his bowtie before we laid him down.  Good thing though.  Church started at 9am this morning so it was nice to have him dressed and ready.  I am pretty amazed that he made it through the entire wedding day staying as clean as he did, clean enough to wear those same clothes to church. 

Tonight….he is sleeping peacefully…….and wearing pajamas!!

Hailstones in My Freezer

A couple of Saturdays ago I was getting ready to pick some fall greens and tomatoes from the garden.  Arming myself with a few bowls I decided that I needed one more.  I opened the cupboard to get my large white Tupperware bowl. Finding it missing from the cupboard I remembered that I hadn't been able to find it numerous times that week.  In our home, that is not uncommon.  People are always using things from the kitchen for non-kitchen related things and I eventually find them in one strange place or another. 

So I started asking around to see if any of the kids knew where my bowl was.  It didn't take long.  "It's in the freezer Mom."  Of course!!!!  Why didn't I check there?  I opened the freezer in the garage and there was my bowl……filled with hailstones!!!  Doesn't everyone keep a giant bowl of hailstones in their freezer?  We brought the bowl in the house and Olivia ran a little water over the outside to loosen the hailstones from the bowl.  They had melted slightly before being frozen and now they were frozen in a chunk inside the bowl.  I thought maybe they would take the icy blob outside and play with it and watch it melt.  But no…it had to be carefully placed in a kitchen garbage bag and put back in the freezer to await next summer.  That is when they want to take it out and play with it. 

So how did hailstones end up in my freezer?

A couple of weeks ago we had a hailstorm to beat all others we've ever seen.  We had finished up with Family Home Evening and were getting everyone ready for bed when the storm started.  Teeth brushing and tucking in were set aside as we huddled by the front door watching in wonder.  The hailstones bounced off the ground as they hit.  They made a tremendous noise landing on the roof.  Of course, David had to eat a few of them.  Jacob and Nathan bravely stepped off the porch only to be painfully pelted by stones, many of which were larger than peanut M&Ms.  Pretty soon everyone, girls and boys, were all trying to gather up hailstones to "put in the freezer."  At first cups were enough.  But eventually, nothing would do but….THE BIG WHITE BOWL.  It was a memorable family time.  We were just enjoying each other and the awe-inspiring power and beauty of the storm. 

Jerry and I regularly plan fun activities for our family to do together, but sometimes, the unplanned, spur of the moment fun that we enjoy together seems to be the most memorable.  I think every member of our family will fondly remember enjoying that hailstorm together more than any trip to the swimming pool or zoo. 

I am reminded of a story that Dallin H. Oakes told in his October 2007 conference address entitled, "Good, Better, Best."  He told of a father who took his family on a series of summer trips to different historical sites.  When he asked his son which of the trips had been the most fun for him, his son answered that his favorite summer memory was the time that he and his Dad laid out under the stars and talked. 

Elder Oaks wisely concludes,

"Super family activities may be good for children, but they are not always better than one-on-one time with a loving parent."

Quality time with brothers and sisters, Mom and Dad are the key to strengthening family relationships and building beautiful memories.

I'm Weaning!

Last week my two year old began the weaning process.  It wasn't planned.  He's been nursing less and less often the past few months and eating a larger variety of foods…and more of them.  But the weaning kind of caught me off guard. 

I've nursed all of my babies.  Due to their many food allergies, discovered as nursing babies, this seemed like the best option nutritionally for them.  I could tell when foods bothered them as young as a few weeks old because when I would eat the problem foods, they would affect my milk and cause tummy complaints, eczema, respiratory symptoms, ear aches etc.  When I avoided those foods myself my babies were happy and healthy.  As they got older I could test those offending foods by actually offering them to the babies, and then determine if they had outgrown the allergies or still had problems.  Because there were so many foods that a typical toddler would eat that my children could not, I tried to nurse them longer than what is often seen.  I wanted them to get the nutritional benefits of my milk as long as possible, until their tastes and teeth and ability to chew allowed them to get their nutritional needs met without me. 

David is 28 months old now.  He is what we believe to be the last of nine children.  So weaning him is not without its emotion filled moments.  I don't know how many months or years of my married life I have spent nursing children, but I am sure I have spent more time nursing than not nursing.  It has been an enjoyable and satisfying part of being a mother.  I have nursed in every setting imaginable…in a bathroom stall, at amusement parks, on the beach, waiting for a valet to bring our car, at concerts, at very noisy BYU volleyball games, on airplanes, on the top of "Y" mountain, at cross country races, next to Old Faithful…you name it I have done it. Babies have to eat and since I chose not to ever use a bottle, to ensure the crucial milk supply for babies who could not use typical baby formula, I had to feed those babies wherever I was.  I've always tried to be discreet and stay covered, but this post is not about that. 

Last week, due to an extremely busy day, David did not nurse once from early morning until bedtime.  When bedtime came I had a thought come to my mind that I should ask Jerry to put him to bed that night, without his regular nursing.  Jerry offered him a snack and drink, brushed his teeth, sang to him in his darkened room and lay him down.  He went right to bed.  He slept well that night and did not wake early morning to nurse.  When he did wake up I offered him oatmeal.  He jumped at it.  Throughout that day I had these little feelings (kind of like the same feelings I get when I just know that the time is right to potty train) that David was weaning. 

A few days later he still hadn't nursed again.  He'd asked a few  times for "milky" (his name for nursing) but when I offered to read him a story or get him a snack or cup of almond milk, that always made him happy. 

It's been ten days now and he isn't even asking for "milky" anymore. 
 
And now, I am going through my own "weaning" process.  I still have milk but no one to drink it.  Emotionally I am weaning as well.  I have always enjoyed the bonding I feel with my babies while nursing and I will miss that.  There will most likely not be another baby for me and that thought makes my heart a little tender.  No more waking up for middle of the night feedings, but also, no more of that quiet sucking little baby looking up at me with absolute adoration in his eyes. 

There are benefits though.  Our babysitting age children can attest to that.  David will be much easier to put to bed when we go on dates from here on out.  And Sophia, who is four, decided this week that if David is done with "milky" she is done with her binkie.  Hallelujah!!!!  Just last month when I asked her if she would think about getting rid of her binkie she told me she needed to wait until she was five!!!!  But Sophia has been binkie free for over a week now.  I promised her a pack of gum all to herself this week as a reward.  We will go to the store together so she can choose her favorite flavor.

My babies are growing up so quickly.  Brandon, our oldest is 23 and fulfilling his dream flying for a living, Kyle is getting married soon, Benjamin has only 10 months left of his mission, Jacob has had his first date and will soon have a driver's license, Nathan is soon to be a Teacher in the Aaronic priesthood, Olivia will "finally" be in Young Womens in just a few weeks, Emily is baptized and becoming a great little babysitter, and now Sophia has relinquished her binkie and David is weaned.  It reminds me of a quote that my sister in law had on her wall, "A mother holds her children's hands for a while... their hearts forever."  The time with our children goes so quickly.  We must cherish every second.

Jerry and I have many years of child rearing ahead of us and look forward to every year with anticipation.  We were talking the other day and are grateful with our decision to have these 9 wonderful spirits come to our family.  What better way to spend our life together. 

Psalms 127:3 states that "children are an heritage of the Lord."  We truly believe that children are a gift from God.

Eagle Project

It is Eagle Project time again.  Having five boys in a row means that you have a lot of encouraging and supporting to do as they work their way through the Boy Scout program.  Yesterday was Jacob's Eagle project. 
 
He chose to do a community clean up.  Last week he prepared a flyer to hand out at church, then the scouts helped to distribute flyers to every home in our ward boundary on our Young Men's night.  He arranged for several big dumpster bins to be stationed in a couple of locations. Saturday morning at 8am, he and many of the other scout age boys and leaders, as well as numerous other members of the community, including the missionaries serving here, showed up to help.  Members of the community could bring their trash to the dumpsters and there were boys to help unload it for them.  Jacob also arranged for trucks and trailers that could come directly to people's homes if they needed help getting their junk to the bins.  A member of the ward donated the use of the bins (part of his personal business) and took them to the dump to empty them as they filled.  Donations were collected to help offset the dump fees.

As it got closer to lunchtime the little ones and I showed up with boxes and boxes of pizza and drinks for refresh all the hard workers.

It was a great success.  4 great big bins were filled with trash and junk.  Another slightly smaller bin was filled with recyclable metal.  Another large trailer was also filled and taken to the dump.  We estimated about 120 man hours of service were given throughout the morning and for the prior flyer delivery.

An Eagle Scout project is supposed to be a leadership project that is service based.  The idea is for the boy to come up with a project that will benefit the community and then organize the bodies needed to help bring it to fruition.   This was a great project for that.  So many people helped.  Several people mentioned when they came to dump their junk that this was a great idea for a project and thanked us.  I am so grateful for all the scouts and leaders and members of the community who supported Jacob in accomplishing this great project.  It was a great day!!

Spaghetti Sauce and Swim Goggles

It is harvest time again.  Last week we froze bags and bags of peaches for our winter green smoothies.  We also ate all the fresh peaches we could possibly want.  Our family looks forward to peach season every year for this very reason.  When there are boxes and boxes of peaches ripening in the basement, we all get to enjoy peaches for breakfast, lunch and dinner….and in between as well…if we want.

We are bringing in quite a few tomatoes from the garden.  Last Saturday I had the girls help me turn them into spaghetti sauce.  We roasted some in the oven with garlic, onions and olive oil for our special roasted sauce, and then we got out the "Goliath" pot and made a great big batch of our neighbor's special spaghetti sauce recipe.

The first step is to cut up mountains of onions and bell peppers.  We did this in the food processor and got the job done quickly.  But the odor of onions was filling the kitchen and our eyes soon began to water.  Olivia and Emily had a great idea.  They ran upstairs after their swimming goggles.  Now they were prepared.  Olivia cooked the onions and peppers without so much as a tear with her new eye protection.  We added tomatoes and seasonings and after it had simmered for hours and filled the house with a wonderful smell we let it cool and froze it in bags for dinners through the winter. 
 
I was so grateful to have my daughters' help in this project.  It made the work much more enjoyable as we talked as we worked.  We were also able to get done so much quicker.  But I also hope that by including them in the process,  they will find satisfaction every time we pull out sauce to use for a meal, knowing that they were part of creating it.

Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that:

“Teaching children the joy of honest labor is one of the greatest of all gifts you can bestow upon them” (“The Joy of Honest Labor,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 62).

Never Too Young

The other day as my husband was getting ready to leave the house to drop off our boys at Scouts, he offered to take David along.  Whenever David notices that someone is getting their shoes on or grabbing a sweater he knows that they must be going to go somewhere exciting and he is always game.  Just dropping brothers off at the school for cross country practice is awesome to him.  So he was thrilled when Jerry told him that they were going to go "bye bye" together.

I was sitting at the kitchen table and Jerry walked past on his way out and said, "Bye sweetie," and squeezed my shoulder as he went by.  A few seconds later I was surprised by David (just two years old) as he swaggered by me like a big grown up man, arms swinging, (anyone who knows David very well will immediately know the "walk" I am describing) and said to me, "Bye sweetie," and reached up and squeezed my shoulder. 

Way back when I was three years old and Harold B. Lee was the prophet, a pamphlet was put out by the church that was republished in the June 2002 Ensign.  It was called, "Father, Consider Your Ways."  In this it says:

"It must be emphasized that as a father, you are always teaching. For good or ill your family learns your ways, your beliefs, your heart, your ideas, your concerns. Your children may or may not choose to follow you, but the example you give is the greatest light you hold before your children, and you are accountable for that light."

Even a two year old is not too young to learn a ton from his Dad about how to love, honor, and respect his mother.  And as he grows he will learn to always honor and respect all women.

Clutches and Courtship

Shortly after my husband and I became engaged we took a road trip to Arizona for me to meet his family.  The trip there was uneventful.   We enjoyed time with his parents and siblings, and had engagements photos taken.  After a couple of short days we needed to head back for school.  We were about three and a half hours from home when the clutch on our car went out.  My car had a manual transmission and without a working clutch, we couldn't really shift gears.  We coasted in to a gas station to figure out what to do.  My fiancé quickly assessed the situation and calmly told me that he knew how to pop the clutch and get the car started.  To do this, he had to run beside the car, pushing it to get it rolling.  The door was open as he ran and once the car was moving well he jumped into the front seat and was able to 'ease' it into gear.  As he sped up, he continued to slip the transmission into the next gear.  Once we got up to highway speed we thought we would be fine as long as we didn't need to stop the car.  The Lord was watching over us.  Since we had just finished topping off the gas tank, the tank was full enough to get us home without another gas stop.  And even once we got into town we didn't hit a single red light.  With careful timing we were able to pull into the parking lot of the apartment building where we lived without needing to come to a complete stop anytime during the drive. 

Yes, it was a testimony building experience for me.  I felt our Heavenly Father's watchful care over us, helping us to get home safely.  But I also learned something else.  I learned something about the character of the man that I had chosen to be my eternal companion.  Not once did he exclaim in anger, use bad language, or complain.  He calmly assessed the situation, took care of the problem and made me feel secure and looked after.

I was so grateful for this experience.  Dating and college life was full of fun, dances, activities and study dates. Our courtship had been a whirlwind of wonderful times together and we had had our decision to marry confirmed by answers to our prayers.   But seeing my "husband to be"  in a real life stressful situation allowed me to really see what a good man I had found. 

Today after church my son, Kyle, noticed that his baby brother needed his messy diaper changed.  I was fixing lunch in the kitchen when he came and asked where the diapers were.  He quickly took care of the diaper.  No one had asked him to; he didn't complain.  I pointed out to his fiancé what Kyle had done.  His actions today demonstrated the kind of father that he will be someday. 

I think that it is so important during courtship for couples to notice these types of things.  We have told our children, "As you search for a spouse, look for someone who you want to go through the hard times of life with."  Seeing Kyle taking care of his little brother, seeing Jerry calmly take care of a difficult car situation…these experiences help one to see true character.  And someone with good character, Christ-like attributes, and desires to follow the Lord….that is who you want to go through those difficult times in your life with.

Here's what Richard G. Scott, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles says about choosing a spouse. (from April 1999 General Conference)

"There is more to a foundation of eternal marriage than a pretty face or an attractive figure. There is more to consider than popularity or charisma. As you seek an eternal companion, look for someone who is developing the essential attributes that bring happiness: a deep love of the Lord and of His commandments, a determination to live them, one that is kindly understanding, forgiving of others, and willing to give of self, with the desire to have a family crowned with beautiful children and a commitment to teach them the principles of truth in the home."

Daddy's Books

One of my favorite things to see Jerry do as a Daddy is read to his children.  Most nights he can be found laying on the floor in the girls' bedroom, reading to them from whatever chapter book they are doing.  Right now, he is reading "The Emerald City of Oz" by Frank Baum, to them.  Jerry has read to our kids for many many years.  He has told me that he was not much of a reader as a child.  He only read the books he needed to for school assignments.  He says, "Now, with my own kids, I am reading all the classics I should have read as a child."  When he finishes a book he comes to me to ask which one should be next. 

We homeschool our children and I spend quite a bit of time each day reading to and with our children.  So I welcome his desire to read to the children at night.  He reads completely different books than what we read during the day.  That way, he doesn't miss any of the storyline.  And we get twice as many good books read to our children.

Some books are better "read alouds" than others.  Here are a few of our favorites that have been repeated over the years as our children have grown up.

Charlotte's Web  - E.B. White
The Trumpet of the Swan - E.B. White
Stuart Little - E.B. White
The Great Brain - John D Fitzgerald
Little House in the Big Woods - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Little House on the Prairie - Laura Ingalls Wilder
Farmer Boy - Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Secret Garden - Francis Hodgson Burnett
A Little Princess - Francis Hodgson Burnett
The Cricket in Times Square - George Selden
Heidi - Johanna Spyri
Summer of the Monkeys - Wilson Rawls
Little Britches - Ralph Moody
Caddie Woodlawn - Carol Ryrie Brink
Snow Treasure - Marie McSwigen
Mr Popper's Penguins - Richard and Florence Atwater
The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis

Each morning when our girls tidy up their room they find a pair of Daddy's big socks on their floor.  Sometime during his nightly reading he took them off and left them there.  They are a precious reminder to the girls of the love their Daddy has for them, and the time he has taken to be with them.  I hope they never feel frustrated by having to pick up their Dad's dirty socks, but remember what they symbolize. 

Polka Dot Family

This week I have been a little under the weather…nothing major…just a little virus.  I've been snuffy, tired, headache etc.  Jerry and I had been planning all week to go to the temple tonight.  I was sure I would be feeling well enough and planned my day accordingly. 

Last night Sophia was a little under the weather but with a good night's rest she seemed well enough today.  This morning Olivia woke with a sore throat and hadn't slept very well.  Emily had a headache which got progressively worse through the day.  Later in the afternoon she started to complain of a tummy-ache, and carried a bowl with her everywhere she went.  Then Nathan came in and said, "Mom - I think I have a rash.  Look!"  His chest and stomach were covered with red polka dots.  Earlier this week he'd been feverish and had chills, and had complained of a headache a few times, but I didn't connect it with the rash at first. 
 
I started to wonder if we should maybe stay home from the temple.  Emily was worried that I wouldn't be there if she threw up.  She's only 8 and I can totally understand that.  Throwing up is one of the worst kinds of sick, and having Mom there makes it a teency bit easier to stand. 

Jerry had come up to change for the temple and I went into the room to fill him in on our recent state of ill health.  When I brought up Nathan's polka dots his eyes opened wider and he said (while lifting his shirt), "Do they look like these?" He had discovered them only minutes before as he was changing.  His polka dots matched Nathan's exactly.  "Yikes!!  Okay.  That settles it.  We are staying home tonight."

I then proceeded to check every other member of the family, including myself, for polka dots.  Olivia has them..mainly on her legs.  In the meantime, Nathan had a few polka dots show up on his legs and feet. 

I looked up a few things online, verified that no one was feverish, and decided that I think we just have a viral rash.  Calling them red polka dots is fun but probably makes them seem bigger and scarier than what they actually are.  I think we'll stay home a day or two and if they are not gone, have the doctor check them out.  But I think they will just disappear as quickly as they came.  I'm not too worried. 

However, Jacob is now convinced of the health benefits of immense peanut butter and honey sandwiches on homemade whole wheat bread.  He consumes these several times a day and figures that is why he is polka dot free.

And Nathan came to me as I was fixing dinner and said, "If we clean up the house really quick, do you think we could have a 'WE ARE ALL SICK' party tonight?"  I don't know that we really had a party tonight, but we did watch something together as a family before heading up to bed. 

Now, we'll just pray that Emily's stomach is settled enough for Jerry and I to get a good night's rest.

Sappy Mommy Moment

So lately, Sophia has discovered the fun of the digital camera.  When she is bored and can't think of anything to do she asks if she can use the camera to take pictures.  Recently it came to my attention that the card on my camera was getting quite full with all of Sophia's pictures, so today I decided to stick the card into my computer and clean it off quickly and efficiently. 

But that didn't happen quite as anticipated.  As I started to scan through the pictures I got kind of misty eyed.  I was seeing our home through the eyes of my 4 year old.  I was seeing what was important to her.  I wasn't seeing the cleaned up version that you often get when you take a picture.  I saw the messes in all their glory…the piles of flip flops by the front door and the baby board books that permanently live on the floor.  I saw her first attempts at "selfies."  I also saw pictures that the older girls had taken of things obviously important to them…things they wanted to immortalize.  I saw hairdos, a perfectly made bed, the gerbil, and a carefully made plate of cucumbers for dinner. 

I just couldn't erase all of them.  I think they give a more accurate picture of life in our home than more carefully posed pictures would give.  I ended up spending an awful lot of time just enjoying the pictures the girls had taken.  And then there were the "movies."  I still haven't watched all of them, but they are pretty silly and fun!!

Sophia's pictures are by no means works of photographic genius.  Sometimes they are blurry.  But they are endearing.  Here's one that I clearly remember being taken…David asked Sophia to take a picture of his belly!!

 

Sophia painted this picture of a rainbow.  It has been up on the fridge for weeks.  When I told Sophia that she couldn't take any pictures until I cleared off the camera she made me promise that I wouldn't delete her rainbow. 

 

FHE Discussion...inspired by skunks?

This summer has been the "summer of the skunks" in our small town.  For some reason the skunks are flourishing.  They are living under sheds, carrying off chickens, and even being so bold as to eat cat food and chicken feed off of people's porches.  We've seen so many skunks in the evenings this summer that our boys, who usually enjoy many nights sleeping out on the trampoline, have avoided it.  Jerry has a gigantic lime green flashlight that he can shine out our back sliding door and see all the way back to our chicken coop.  It has been out quite a bit this summer as we scope things out in the evenings. 

Last night for Family Home Evening, Jerry led a simple and awesome discussion.  He brought his super powerful lime green flashlight with him.  It has a battery that detaches and can be charged.  He simply asked each of us to think up some kind of gospel principle or lesson that could be understood better by comparing it with his flashlight.  We started with Sophia and went up the family from there.  The discussion was excellent.  Everyone contributed.  Every person had a different idea, and we added to each other's ideas as they were presented. 

Here are a few of the ideas that were brought up:

"The flashlight is like your body and the battery is like your spirit.  Your body can't move without being connected to the spirit".

"The flashlight and battery can be compared to the story of the ten virgins.  You can't share your flashlight battery with someone else.  Every flashlight needs its own battery.  You need to be prepared and make sure your battery is ready and charged for when you will need it." 
 
"The flashlight could be faith, and the battery could be works.  Faith without works is dead."

"The flashlight is ordinances like the sacrament and baptism.  Without the battery, which is the proper priesthood authority, the words said in the sacrament and baptismal prayers are not effective."

He finished by challenging us to look for gospel lessons in objects and situations all around us every day. 

In the manual, Teaching, No Greater Call, it says,

"You can use comparisons and object lessons to help learners understand intangible principles.  Together with the use of stories and personal testimony, these methods give you an excellent set of tools for teaching the eternal realities that we cannot perceive with our senses."

The Savior used comparisons in his teaching as well.  He called himself the Bread of Life, and the Good Shepherd. Some of my favorite General Conference talks are those which use analogies and comparisons to teach gospel lessons.  It's probably the way I learn the gospel the best!!

Reverence is More than just Quietly Sitting.....

I love to watch David, 26 months, as he putters around in the backyard.  He really doesn't need much to be amused.  He wanders around, stopping here and there to pick up a roly poly or a ladybug.  Once in a while he crouches down to watch an ant or a spider, not daring to touch.  He sits down in the grass and just wiggles his bare toes feeling the softness.  Sometimes he lays down in it and just rolls.  If there is any water at all in the yard, whether a little puddle from rain or the sprinklers, or a little left in the wading pool from yesterday's swimming, David will find it.  He splashes his fingers in it, dabbles his toes, and once in a while sits down in it with a big splash, clothes and all.  He laughs and giggles in absolutely joy, nothing held back. 

A few days ago I saw him sitting quietly on the edge of the patio.  I stopped what I was doing to watch.  He caught my attention because he was so still, and for such a long time.  He just sat there.  As I watched him I sensed that he was observing everything around him.  He saw the white butterflies fluttering in and around the sage plants.  He felt the warm sun on his face.  He could see the breeze blowing what is left of our spring daffodils.  From this teeny little guy, I learned something about reverence. 

In our church we have a little book called, True to the Faith.  In it gospel topics are addressed in alphabetical order.  Each topic contains a brief explanation along with scriptures to aid our understanding.  Under the topic of reverence, it states, "Reverence is profound respect and love."  I believe that David, young as he is, was not just sitting quietly on the patio.  I believe, that right there, for a moment, he was feeling a profound respect and love for the beautiful world that his Heavenly Father has created for him.  At such a tender age, he was feeling reverence for Heavenly Father's creations.

So often, we think of reverence as sitting quietly with folded arms in a church meeting.  But it is so much more.  It is what we are thinking about.  It is how we are feeling.  It is demonstrated by our actions.  We can feel reverence in our homes, outside in nature, in the temple…not just in church.   Purposefully striving to be more reverent can bring us closer to the Lord and help us to have the influence of the Spirit more in our lives.

A Little Like Noah's Rainbow

We have had an incredibly dry winter here.  We’ve all been asked for months by our church leaders to be praying for moisture.  Well, this past week we had an answer in a big way.  In about 24 hours we got about 9 inches of snow here in our little town.  I am sure there was much more on the mountains behind us still covered in white. 

 

I was thinking about this today.  Heavenly Father could have just made it rain and rain and rain.  That is what you would normally expect in April.  But no…this time he sent snow.  And even though it warmed up into the 40s as soon as the snow stopped falling and the snow started to melt very quickly and soak into our dry ground (it really amazed me how few puddles we saw around,) up in the mountains where we can see it everytime we step outside is a reminder of God’s mindfulness of us and our prayers.  As I took a walk on Saturday in the beautiful warm sunshine I kept finding my eyes drawn up toward the mountains and the snow that will keep reminding me of God’s love and blessings. 

 

It’s a little like Noah’s rainbow isn’t it?

 

Grateful for those..."Thrilling Bursts of Speed"

Last night we went for a family bike ride as part of family home evening.  We have always enjoyed biking as a family but it is often a major operation just to get out of the garage.  We invariably find ourselves pumping up tires and changing inner tubes at the last minute.  Last night was no exception.  But once we got out the door it was a great experience.  The sun was shining and the air felt cool and beautiful…a gorgeous spring evening. 
 
We headed up to the area they are just beginning to develop behind our house.  It is not flat and a few of the hills are quite steep for Emily's little legs…and Jerry pulling two little ones in a trailor.  But we managed the hills.  And then we got to enjoy the fun trip down, down, down.  As I cruised down a long hill I had a quote come to mind, one that has long been a favorite of mine. I first heard it quoted by President Gordon B. Hinckley.  It goes like this.


"Life is just like an old time rail journey…delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.  The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."

What a great image and how true it is.  Amidst the many difficulties of life, how grateful I am for the beautiful, thrilling moments that the Lord sees fit to bless me with.  I do thank the Lord for letting me have "this ride," and for the loving children and husband that I share it with. 

You Raise Me Up

Our son, Kyle, has been on a two year mission to England.  In just two days he returns home to us and we are so excited.  He has a beautiful voice and I look forward to hearing him sing and having him join with the family in singing again.  He sings a popular song by Josh Grobin called, You Raise Me Up.  Every time he sings that song I get chills up and down my spine and tears in my eyes. 

The lyrics of that song go like this:

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

CHORUS
You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

I was thinking about Kyle tonight, and thinking about that song.  I often think of my Heavenly Father as Kyle sings.  The Lord raises me up each day and helps me to conquer my mountains and stormy seas.  When I am ever so weary and troubled, I can find a quiet place (not always easy to do) and let him fill my soul with hope and peace. 

But tonight I am thinking about that song a little differently.  I am thinking about my eternal sweetheart, Jerry.  Jerry and I have been married over 23 years now.  He is my best friend and my best cheerleader.  Not a day goes by that he does not tell me that I am "the most beautiful woman that he's seen all day."  He regularly reminds our children that he is only "the second best" and that their mother is the "first best."  He is strong when I am weak.  He has so much confidence in me and helps me to be "more than I can be."  And he never leaves me to climb those mountains and walk those stormy seas alone.  All of our struggles and challenges…we work through together. 

And when I look at Jerry, I do glimpse eternity.  I cannot imagine eternity without him.  We have spent more years of our lives in mortality together than not.  I am grateful for the strength he gives to me, for the wonderful husband, father and provider and father that he is.  And I am thrilled to know that I will be with him for eternity.

I Want to be Elastigirl

Today I ran errands with only Sophia and David.  It was fun to have all that time in the car and in the stores to just enjoy Sophia's 3 year old chatter.  Today I found out that Sophia thinks I am a superhero…somewhere in the same vein as Elastigirl!!  I knew that it was snacktime so I bought some bananas at our first stop and offered her a banana to eat in the car while we drove to our next destination.  She declined saying, "I will just wait and eat the samples at Costco."  I had to smile at that one.  We got in our belts and headed off.  After several minutes of driving the inevitable cries of "I'm hungry," started.  Sophia said, "I'm ready for my banana now.  Can you give it to me."  When I tried to explain that I couldn't as I was driving, she had a very simple answer.  "Just climb back here and give it to me while you keep on driving." I drive a great big passenger van with three benches behind the front seats.  She was in the second bench back.   I answered, "I don't think I can do that."  She simply stated, "Yes you can!"  Oh, if I only had the stretchable arms of Helen Parr, aka Elastigirl, aka Mrs. Incredible.  Sophia did survive the drive however, and never did need her banana.  She got her fill at the sample tables at Costco!

After the Scone...it could only get better!!

With Valentines Day being just this past weekend I found myself thinking about other Valentines Days that Jerry and I have shared together.  Two particular Valentines Days stick out in my memory.

The first Valentines Day that Jerry and I celebrated together was when we'd only been dating a short time.  We had met for the first time the beginning of January, had our first date a couple of weeks later and by February 14th we were already feeling that we might be destined to spend forever together.  Jerry worked all day long on Valentines Day and we only had the evening to be together.  He dropped by my apartment on the way home from work and handed me a warm fresh scone wrapped up in a napkin.  (At the time he worked in a fast food restaurant that specialized in scones and honey butter, fried mozzarella and fried pickles.)   "Happy Valentines Day,"  he said.  I got a big hug and…and that was it.  No flowers, no chocolate, no sentimental card….just a scone.  I'd eaten dinner already so I stuck the scone in the fridge for later.  I think I may have forgotten about it.  I don't remember ever eating it.  Sometime later, after our marriage, the Valentine's Day scone came up in conversation.  Apparently he'd gone to the trouble of making me a heart shaped scone. And I hadn't even noticed the cute shape. Of course, when he fried the scone and it cooked and puffed up, the shape was a little sketchy.  But  it was a sweet offering from the man who loved me  very much, didn't have much money, but who still wanted to do something creative and special for me on Valentines Day.  I still feel bad to this day that I didn't realize that he'd been giving me a gift.  Of course…we've kissed and made up by now….and if he ever gives me a warm scone on Valentines Day ever again, I'll be sure to check it closely to see if it is shaped like a heart.

A number of years back I took a trip to visit my parents….without Jerry. He stayed home to work, feed and look after the five boys, and run them around to their activities.   I took our two youngest with me (at the time that was Olivia and Emily).  We flew to Seattle and my parents picked us up at the airport and drove us up to Canada.   We had a wonderful visit and flew home on Valentines Day.  Flying with two small children is not very fun and I was not really looking forward to the flight.  We pulled up to the curb so that I could get my luggage checked outside and not have to haul it through the airport when all of a sudden I saw this crazy guy holding a sign that said something like, "Will work for wife and children."    I felt utterly confused.  I was sitting in the car with my mother, but there was my husband…yes, he was the crazy guy with the sign.  Was I in Seattle?  Was I in Salt Lake City?  What was going on?  It took me a couple of minutes to process everything and even when Jerry opened the car door to let me out, I think the confusion on my face was apparent.  He had decided to surprise me for Valentines.  He flew to Seattle early that morning…so he could fly home with us.  Once I finally got my head back on straight, I gave him a hug and a kiss, and we laughed and enjoyed a flight home together. 

Elder Russell M. Nelson (April 2006 General Conference) reminds us that we need to celebrate our love for our spouse each and every day not just on Valentines Day.  He says:

"Marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other human relationship. Yet some married couples fall short of their full potential. They let their romance become rusty, take each other for granted, allow other interests or clouds of neglect to obscure the vision of what their marriage really could be. Marriages would be happier if nurtured more carefully.

Celebrate and commemorate each day together as a treasured gift from heaven."

My son, Nathan was in the room on Valentines Day listening to my mother talking to my father on the phone.  Mom and my brother David have been visiting this past week, and my Mom and Dad had to spend Valentines Day hundreds of miles from each other.  As my Mom expressed her love for my Dad and gave him kisses and hugs over the phone, Nathan got a funny look in his eyes that his Grandma noticed.  When she got off the phone she said, "Yup!!!  Even old people who've been married for a very long time, still feel that way.  In fact, they love each other more and more as the years go by."  What a great thing for my 13 year old to see the love that his grandparents still have for each other after more than 40 years.

Answers

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf has counseled us:

"As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. For example, you might yearn for direction and guidance by the Lord regarding challenges you are facing.

Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase, or song. A heart filled with gratitude for the blessings of life and an earnest desire to hear and follow the words of counsel will prepare the way for personal revelation."
(Ensign, September 2011)

I have heard council similar to this many times from Sunday school and Relief Society teachers, bishopric members and general authorities, that we ought to come to General Conference with a prayer in our heart and a question or problem for which we need  an answer or guidance.  This weekend was our stake conference and I took the opportunity to go with a very specific question that I've been struggling to find the answer to. 
 
When I heard the topic for the Saturday night session, I wondered to myself, "How will I ever receive the answer I need when the focus is on this particular topic?"  I listened carefully through the meeting with a prayer in my heart that somehow I would get the answer I needed.  I enjoyed every talk but in the last five minutes of the very last talk, I knew that what I was hearing was part of the answer I had been seeking.  During the Sunday morning session, I went hoping to receive more inspiration and answers.  In a talk that was not even listed on the program I found what I needed.  The Lord was mindful of me this weekend and I feel invigorated and renewed to tackle the challenges I face.  My testimony of personal revelation has also been strengthened and I am inspired to more quickly include the Lord in my day to day activities as a wife and mother. 

The End of Missionary Mondays

In every mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, missionaries are given the time and expected to email or write their families once a week.  Typically they are asked to email/write on their p-day.  This is a "preparation" day given to missionaries one day a week for them to buy groceries, do laundry, clean their apartments, enjoy activities with other missionaries, and…. Write their families. 

Monday is the most prevalent day chosen for the missionary p-days throughout the missions of the church.  And so…. "missionary Moms" and of course the rest of the family too… love Mondays.  When your missionary is overseas, as when Brandon was in Uganda, and Kyle, who is now in England, you wake up Monday morning, and more likely than not, your email from your missionary will already be there just waiting for you to open it.  It is a great way to start your Monday morning. 

Since Benjamin left on his mission this past July, (he is in New Mexico) we have had two missionaries serving in our family.  So we've been having double the fun reading emails from our boys each week.  BUT NOT JUST ON MONDAYS.  In Benjamin's mission they have their p-day on Tuesday.  So for the past 6 months we have been hearing from Kyle on Monday and Benjamin on Tuesdays. 

Kyle will be returning home from his two year mission in Birmingham England in less than 6 weeks.  We have his flight itinerary and that just makes it seem more real.  It is hard to believe that our son and brother will be home so soon.  We have missed him dearly and cannot wait to see him and hug him in person.  He has served well and enjoyed it so much, and we can tell that he has grown and is coming home a man. 
 
But this will mean the end of "missionary Mondays" for our family.  For the rest of Benjamin's mission, we will be enjoying "Missionary Tuesdays!"  That just doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?  But we will be loving every Tuesday because we will be hearing from our son/brother who is serving the Lord far (well, maybe not so far) from home.

Ripples

I like to memorize poetry with my children.  I want to fill their minds with beautiful thoughts that will come to them as they go throughout their day; thoughts that will help them to make good choices, thoughts that will make them smile or laugh when they do not have much to smile or laugh about, thoughts that will uplift their spirits and inspire them to do good in the world. 

A favorite poem of mine that we have memorized is called, simply, "Kindness."  (anonymous author) It goes like this. 

Drop a stone into the water -
In a moment it is gone,
But there are a hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on.

Say an unkind word this moment
In a moment it is gone
But there are a hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on.

Say a word of cheer and splendor
In a moment it is gone
But there are a hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on.

I've been thinking a lot this week about a family that we know and love so much.  Jerry and I met them when we moved into their ward.  We'd only been married a year.  After living in the ward less than a year, we were blessed to move into the house right next door to theirs. 
 
In the 5 years that we lived there this family was a blessing in our lives and the ripples that their kind words and loving examples began are still being felt in our family today.  Jerry and I watched this wonderful man and woman as they nurtured their marriage through going to the temple together, and went on regular dates.  We watched as they raised their children, making sure that their children played together, worked together and served together.  We watched as they faithfully took their older children to do baptisms for the dead at the temple.  We were blessed by their daughters as they babysat every week for us so that we too could have dates and regular temple visits.  They would never let us pay them when we were at the temple, and were genuinely grateful for the opportunity.  They always made us feel like we were serving them by allowing them to watch our children, instead of the other way around. 

I remember one time when this couple took Jerry and me out to lunch and then to a play…. all on them.  We had very little money to spend on entertainment and this was such a treat for us. They told us that each year they bought seasons tickets to a particular playhouse as a special gift to themselves.  It helped them to have a really nice date now and then.  Actually…they bought TWO sets of seasons tickets.  That way, they could take another couple with them occasionally, or maybe some of their children.  Once in a while they just gave those second tickets away to someone who they thought might enjoy them.  We were the blessed couple that one time and we have never forgotten it. 

This Christmas Jerry and I decided to give ourselves seasons tickets to that same playhouse.  With our baby a little older, he is getting easier to leave, and we've made a goal to have more regular dates this year.  Thank you so much Verna and Terry for your love, for your wonderful children, for your great example, for your devotion to each other, and to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The ripples that you set in motion so many years ago are still being felt and on continuing to circle "on and on and on."