September Morning

The air is crisp today. The weather app on my phone tells me it is 54 degrees, sunny in Milton, New York.

As Liam, almost seven, stands in the middle of the kitchen, stripped down to his Batman boxer briefs, he tells me he is going to need a jacket. He then proceeds to wrestle on his black and gray polar fleece, hugging it tightly to his bare chest.

"It's so warm and fuzzy, Mom."
Especially if you are naked, buddy.

We rush through lunch prep. Peanut butter and Nutella for Liam. Sunflower butter and honey for Symon. Leftover enchiladas for Andrew. Carrots, grapes, and a piece of pumpkin cake with maple cream cheese frosting--last night's Family Home Evening treat--go in each Land's End lunch box.

A quick breakfast: a piece of ham and a piece of bread washed down with apple cider from Saratoga Apple (thanks, friend Brenda for bringing it over last night).

Brush teeth; no shoving, fighting or tears today! Progress.
"Andrew! Did you do your inhaler?"
"Where is the OnGuard?" Rub on feet. Avoid that back-to-school cold everyone always seems to get.
On go socks.
Folders and lunch boxes cram into backpacks.
Gym clothes for the fourth grader.

"I need a jacket, Mom," says Symon as he sees Liam put on his polar fleece, over his clothes this time.
Run to find a sweater.
Rummage through pile of shoes to find yours.
"Andrew will you get Symon's shoes out, too?"
"Hurry, Mom!"
"Go. Go."

I grab the first sweater I see in my closet and swoop out the front door, helping Symon on with his backpack. I can hear the squealing metal on metal of the bus breaks at the stop before ours.

"I love you, Mom."
"Love you, Mommy."
"Bye, Mom."

"Have a good day," I say as I finally slip on my own sweater. It is a pale blue floral/paisley print on a creamy background. It is soft inside. My sister, CeliAnne, gave it to me. I think I should take a selfie and send it to her to say thanks for such a fantastic sweater. I hug it close as I walk back from the bus stop to my house with the pots overflowing with purple petunias and a happy red door. It is a bit crisp today. But the sun in shining!

The Good Old Summer Time

Look Mom! No Training Wheels

Do you remember when you learned to ride a bike? I vividly remember the day. I was riding the white and yellow banana seat bike, trying over and over to get my balance. My brother, Chris, was holding on to the back and trying to help me up and down the driveway of our Wanda Street house in Ammon, Idaho. I just couldn't seem to get the hang of it. I remember everyone leaving me out there alone. I was determined to get this bike-sans-training-wheels thing. In my mind I rode for hours trying on my own to get it. And finally, triumph! It was probably one of the first things I taught myself how to do. I nailed it and was in bike heaven.

On Saturday, my oldest son finally figured out how to ride his bike without training wheels. I worried all summer last summer that it might take many summers for Andrew to get the hang of this. He insisted that he didn't want his training wheels removed. But last week he got out his bike and asked my husband to raise up the training wheels. Within a few minutes he was ready for them to come off entirely. He took off like a pro! Oh man was he excited to show me his new trick.

Today he spent the whole afternoon after school riding his bike up and down our street. I let him venture a little further when he could show me he had a pretty good handle on using the brakes. He kept commenting on how much faster he could go with the training wheels off.

I thought a lot about how this is a great metaphor for our lives. Last summer, Andrew was too nervous to even try raising the training wheels, let alone remove them. It was always slow and steady, but wobbly, and predictable. I wanted for him to do what so many of his friends could do. I was anxious for him. But he wasn't ready.

When he was ready, he went for it and let go of the things that were holding him back. He still fell a few times, once pretty badly. But he got back up and flew down the road over and over.

I wonder what holds me back from experiencing all that the Lord has in store? Am I desperately holding on to training wheels, playing it it safe, unwilling to trust a little more fully. Do I see that the ride will be liberating, invigorating, enlivening. Do I see that the training wheels are actually holding me back. I can't move with the same speed and agility. I can't go to nearly as many places and maneuver with the same dexterity. What are these spiritual training wheels I "need" to hang on to? When will I have the courage to let them go?

As I ponder on that, I get to enjoy seeing my seven year old discover the new found joy that comes from having courage, working hard, and trusting himself. He's going to have a great summer on that bike, I can see it already!

Doing Normal Things

The last two weeks have NOT been normal. The first week was a super amazing trip to Guatemala, which I promise to post about soon. The second week was spent with our oldest son in the hospital and then trying to get my husband ready for a six week work assignment away from home. I've had a little bit of a hard time processing everything that has been going on. Today at pre-school pick up one of the other mom asked how I was doing and said I looked very tired. To her credit, she is a great woman and helped so much with my younger kids last week while I was at the hopsital. I don't think I realized how tired I must appear (and I had even takedn a nap this afternoon. Ha!)

In an attempt to digest all of this non-normal behavior, I decided I better do something "normal." So I mowed the lawn. Just the front, no trimming. I am going to miss my husband this summer. I don't really like to mow the lawn. It's sort of patchy and bumpy. But it was almost up to my knees in some places and had to be done. And it looks so nice.

I also washed the "big" dishes, you know, the one's that don't fit in the dishwasher. This is my most un-favorite job to do. Usually Jim takes care of it. But again with that six week assignment thing...

So I guess I'll be doing lots of "normal" things on my own for a while. Kudos to all those single parents and military families! New normal is still normal, right? And at some point all that non-normal stuff will be digested and just melt right into normal.

Nine Habits for a Happy Healthy Home

The apostle Paul had lots to say about happy homes. In part of a letter to the early saints of Colosse, Paul urged the families of the church to live nine basic habits that would make their home and family life happy and centered on the Savior. Drawing on Paul's words from Colossians 2:15-21, here are those nine habits:

1. "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts"

How do we get peace in our hearts. Christ himself said that he gives peace not as the world giveth. In our homes, I believe this means avoid contention, work on patience with eachother. Most importantly slow down and let the Lord have room to breath and move and wisper and influcence us.

2. "Be ye thankful"

My sister has a large tree literally painted on the wall of her home. It has paper leaves glued to it. Each leaf has one thing that someone is thankful for. I asked my sister when they put the leaves on. She said, "Oh whenever I feel like someone needs to be reminded to be thankful for what they have!" Gratitude seems to help us all be more content with what we have.

3. "Let the word of Christ dwell in your richly"

The words of Christ through prophets ancient and modern will do more to strengthen a family than another other single thing. As our family has made time to study the Book of Mormon together each morning, things run more smoothly. We made a decision in October of 2012 to get our kids up at 5:45 a.m. before I teach early morning seminary and my husband goes to work at 6:00 to read together from the scriptures. It is a miracle how attentive and REtentive the boys are that early in the morning. No breakfast to fight over, no distraction of stopping a game or a tv show. And they are remembering and making connections with things they hear other places and the things we are reading together as a family.

4. Teach and amonish one another, especially through music

We have spent many prayers asking the Lord to help us recognize what our children's spiritual gifts are. I am certain there are important and significant things each of them are to teach me and others about the love of the Lord and other precious truths. When we use the hymns and other positive music, the teaching flows naturally. Sometimes music can say things, especially when it is time for correction or reproval or admonision, that a sit-down conversation cannot say. Correct principles taught through music stay with us. We often tell our young boys to think of a favorite primary song when they feel scared or can't sleep. What an asset we have in teaching eachother.

5. What ever you do, do it in the name of Christ

The primary children are learning a song this year called "If the Savior Stood Beside Me." I would do well as a parent to use these words as my guide. Would I do the things I do? Would I say the things I say? Would I be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be? I also imagine what changes would happen if we adoped the philosophy that we are here in families to do for eachother what Christ would do if he were here. Would I be so inclined to put off the house keeping? Maybe, if it ment spending meaningful time in the scriptures or prayer or with my family or serving others. We want to be people of great character, honor and repute. This is probably the single most important way to do that.

6. Wives submit to, or counsel with, your husbands

Part of God's great eternal plan is that husbands and wives should be helpmeats for eachother. As women (or at least THIS woman) I often think I can just do it myself. I'm strong and indepenant. And yes, I could. But that is not God's plan. To seek out my husband's counsel refines my ideas, gives me persective, assures me of the wisperings of the spirit, confirms truths, opens solutions. Most of all, we become closer to eachother has husband and wife as we work as a team, pray as a team, counsel as a team.

7. Husbands, love your wives!

I have had the sad experience of seeing women I love dearly who do not enjoy the blessings of deep and sincer, Christ-like and romantic love from their husbands. Interesting that Paul felt like he needed to remind the men of Christ's church to love their wives. I am certain, and grow and deepen in that conviction every day, that my husband loves me. He says it with words and deeds. A wife who feels loved and appreciated is maybe the single most noticeable factor in how happy and healthy family life is.

8. Children, obey your parents in all things

As I was sitting with my stake president to be set apart as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I learned a phrase that has been a guide for my whole life since: Obedience is the first law of heaven. Obedience brings blessings. My sister-in-law always tells her children that obedience keeps us "safe and happy." As parents we are obligated to teach our children right from wrong and to be wise stewards of Heavenly Father's precious children. As we require obedience, it would be well for us (note to self) to help our children understand WHY such and such behavior is so key to their happiness and safety. Sometimes I think it is as simple as saying things like, "it makes our home a happier place."

9. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

I asked my husband, the father in our house, what this ment to him, especially the discouragement part. In essence we discussed how we never want to break our children's spirits. Too much anger, often through frustration at a child's mistake, can cause them to be discouraged and retreat. They withdraw from conversation and family time. I am not what you would call patient. I learn this lesson the hard way all too often. It is a good thing my husband and I seem to balance eachother out.

Finishing the Race

I am inspired this week to finish a race. A race that others started and didn't get to finish. Not of their own choice, but because of the choice of others. I was super motivated to run this week to honor those who didn't get to finish the Boston Marathon.

It also started me thinking about other races I have run that weren't quite so literal in pounding the pavement, but that were equally lengthy, just as challenging and sometimes feel unfinished. Tonight at my Weight Watchers meeting I told my members about some of my thoughts and encouraged them to finish their race. Stay the course. Many people walk through the door to my meetings with some sort of baggage or at least weight on their shoulders that they are working through. I think the greatest reward in the journey towards better health and wellness is the satisfaction of setting goals and achieveing them, knowing you can be the master of your fate AND shape. (As a note, when I realized I could actually change the shape of my  body through exercise, that seemed to open up a world of possibilities. What else could I change just through positive, small changes).

I hope I can echo the words of the New Testament Apostle, Paul, when he said "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." Timothy 4:7.

Chased By a Bear

Today 4 hours and 9 minutes into the 117th running of the Boston marathon, a bomb exploded at the finishline in Copley Square. And then another bomb exploded some 20 seconds later. Chaos errupted. Racers were diverted to side roads. Such sadness on such a perfect running day. My heart goes out to those who were injured and the loved ones of those who lost their lives. I also ache for those who worked and trained and sweat and cried and triumphed and then never got the chance to cross that finishline. I heard one report that most of those who were left in the race (which was actually a large chunk) were the charity runners. These are the people who were fighting more than a personal fight and had run to raise money and show support for a cause near to them. My friend Maren and her husband, Ryan, were running for their beautiful daughter Leah, who has Rhett Syndrom. They raised over $10,000 for Rhett Research! Maren made it to mile 25.5. She and all her fellow Rhett team were safe and accounted for. Maren has been my inspiration when it comes to running. I've been meaning for months to write this post about how I got into running. This post is dedicated to her.



 

(My husband and me running our first half Marathon in Salt Lake City, UT)

 

Chased by a Bear

 
In college my friend Maren tried to get me to go running with her. I'd tell her, "Maren, I will run if a bear is chasing me!" Secretly I think it was because she ran early in the morning and I am not much of a morning person. But she was persistant in asking. While I never did run with her in the time that she and I were neighbors, fast forward many months and a few moves cross country and a baby, to the breakthrough.

After some intense health problems and then getting pregnant, and struggling with my weight, I knew it was time to do something about getting a handle on my health. I could hear Maren in my head inviting me to go running. My sister told me to just go run a mile. I said, I don't think I can even run to the end of my street. Enter inspirational friend #2, Erin. I knew from my experience with Maren that I wanted to try running. We had just moved back to New York from a seven-month training assignment for my husband's work. Erin and her family had just moved to New York with her husband's job. She had been training to run a marathon and then found herself pregnant and scaling back. Some how we became running buddies.

I still can't believe the patience she had. We'd meet every day at our favorite park, pack our little boys in their strollers and run. It was so slow going at first. Again, I am amazed at how willing Erin was to run with me, the girl who would only run if being chased by a bear. First we'd walk and then run one minute. Then we'd increase to two mintues running. We'd gradually add minutes to the running and take away minutes from the walking. In a matter of six or seven weeks I could run a whole loop, about 1.5 miles, without stopping. And then I did two loops! I even hit three one day. There is hardly anything so satisfying as running further than you've ever run before.

Over the many months that followed I ran and exercised and lost weight and felt wonderful. But there was still that little voice called "Maren" in my head. After my second child was born, I knew it was time to heed Maren's call and I signed up for my first half marathon in Salt Lake City. I knew Maren would be there and I was excited to tell her I'd learned to love to run. In the training process she was so good at answering my questions and calming my nerves. Read this for details of the SLC race

I have now run half marathons in Salt Lake City, Utah; Hartford, Connecticut; had another baby; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Troy, New York as well as a handful of other 5 and 10Ks. No longer am I the girl only running from bears. I'm grateful for the inspiring friends that told me I could do it when I wasn't sure I could. I'm grateful for the inspiration of my running friends who make me want to run hard and do good in the world. I'm grateful for Erin and her willingness to pay it forward. I've since trained with and ran two of those halves with friends who were really running for the first time. It's hard to express how proud I felt for them on the days that they ran further than they had ever run before. I'm so grateful for Maren and her steady heart. In the face of her own challenges, she ran on and told me I could, too.

You can read more about some of my running experiences on my post Heart of a Runner

Write On! Hope On!

For anyone who's been paying attention, you've probably noticed that I've blogged more in the past week than I have in, oh, the last year almost! At the beginning of last week I decided that I would set a goal to write something every day. And I nearly did (minus Friday--we were busy finishing our taxes for date night; lame, I know). I made the goal because I have recognized that writing is one of the gifts God has given me and if I don't use it I'll loose it. I'm not entirely sure why this is my gift or what exactly I'm supposed to do with it. But I do know that trying to do something is far better than doing nothing. And it's been a while since I've done much of anything. So forgive the roughness of this past weeks' writing and the writing for the sake of writing posts. I'm just going to share one thought today.

One inspiring message from church today came in the form of a hymn. We sang "We Thank Thee, O God for a Prophet." It's sort of too bad that we often see this as a song about prophets (which are great). But the meaning of the message is about trusting Christ. The second verse goes:

"When dark couds of trouble hang o'er us And threaten our peace to destroy, There is hope smiling brightly before us, and we know that deliverance is nigh. We  doubt not the Lord nor his goodness. We're proved him in days that are past. The wicked who fight against Zion will surely be smitten at last."

So much threatens to destroy our peace in the world. But we know that the Lord will watch over us. We can hope on! And we can do this because we have seen how he has delt with us and others in the past, and we can trust that if he did it once, he will certainly do it again. Equally powerful for me was the thought that the greatest reward that comes from following the prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ is happiness. That is articulated in the last verse "they who reject this glad message will never such happiness know." Oh that I could give that happiness to all I love and know.

So a new week begins. I really love Mondays. It feels good to start fresh. Tomorrow's post is going to be an outline of some goals I have for the next few weeks. There. I've said it and I can't NOT do it.

Beautiful

Victor Hugo can be longwinded. But some of what he writes is stunning. My book group is reading Les Miserables this month. I feel this great redemptive power, even a change in myself as I read this intricate story of revolutionary France. There are many words to live by, but so far in my reading my favorite passage is from the old bishop, Monseigneur Bienvenu: "Beautiful is as useful as the  useful.... Perhapse more so." This remindes me of the Article of Faith 13 that admonishes us seek after that which is "lovely, vituous, of good report, or praiseworthy." Beauty and seeing real beauty might be a virtue and skill of days gone by. I hope we are calm enough and slow enough to see those things that are beautiful and bring joy and peace.

Live Life Active

Spring means move more. And every Spring Weight Watchers launches a great challenge to motivate members to make a commitment to move more.Tonight I introduced the challenge in my meeting and got a great response. This is a great movitvator for me becuase I've had a hard time the last few weeks getting on my feet to go. I made a commitment last Thursday that I would find a race to run. I looked and didn't immediately find one that fit in my time frame. So I decided I'm going to make my own 10K. This is my public sign up to run a 10K on May 17.

The activity plan:

1. Run Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday (Maybe Thursday, too).
2. Do 30 minutes strength training Tuesday and Friday. 
3. Consistently use an activity log to record meaningful data.
4. Set a new activity goal in ActiveLink to keep me moving throughout the day, not just when I'm exercizing.  
5. Rest on Sundays, but do take a walk with my family around the neighborhood.
6. Try something new every few weeks (zumba?)

I'm Just One of the Ninty and Nine

 

Sheep show up in the scriptures a lot. Christ describes one parable in particular where a shepherd has 100 sheep and leaves the 99 in search of one that wanders away. We often talk about "the lost sheep" and the very real need to seek them out and rescue them.

But in all honesty, I never have been and hope never to be the One. There is a song I like by an artist named Michael McLean called "Ninty and Nine" where he beautifully describes the life of the imperfect but trying 99. I heard the song years ago and it really resonated with me. I was reminded of it again tonight by a friend. Below I've included some of the lyrics. I just love how attentive Jesus Christ is to me, even one of the ninty and nine and how special I am even when there isn't much that I feel makes me stand out or call attention. My favorite line is "Have you any idea how brightly you shine?" It is easy as a busy stay-at-home mom to feel like I'm just one of the crowd, nothing special. But that line. That line "have you any idea how brightly you shine?" Even if the only people who see me shine are the three little boys who most brighten my world, it is all worth being one of the 99.

I am one of the ninety and nine
I’m not perfect but basically I’m doing fine
I have not lost my way, I have not gone astray
I’m just one of the ninety and nine
I am here in the heart of the fold
I’m not mindless but I try to do as I’m told
I’m not tempted to run and become the lost one
I am here in the heart of the fold

...

I’m just one of the ninety and nine
I have stumbled and fallen, but I’ve kept in line
I’m not one he must seek; I’m not all that unique
I’m just one of the ninety and nine

...
(The Savior speaking)
You are one of the ninety and nine
Have you any idea how brightly you shine?
You are safe in this fold, and it’s time you are told
That I know where you’ve been so I know where you’ll be
Because all of your life you’ve been following me
You are more than just one of the sands of the sea
Or just one of the ninety and nine

You are mine, you are mine, you are mine
You are mine

I am one of the ninety and nine.   

I Can't Wait Until I'm Eight!

(The above picture is my own baptism day, May 1986. I'm the one in front in the green dress with the white pinafore and the puffy sleeves)

Tonight we took our oldest child to his "Baptism Preview." This is a short fireside of sorts where all the children who are turning eight this year are invited with their parents to meet together and learn a little about what to expect on their baptism day, logistics of how to prepare, and fun things to look forward to after turning eight.

I am having a hard time getting it through my head that I have an almost-eight-year-old child. When did that happen? He is mature beyond his years and really looking forward to this special day. I look forward to it for him. There is something really special about a child who is at that transitional age where they move into understanding real accountability. I loved my years of teaching this age group in Primary. They were so anxious to be good. I always want to live my life as happily and enthusiastically as eight year olds.

How to Date a Teenage Girl

 

Teenage boys are beyond me. On Friday I took my early morning seminary class to go rock climbing after they worked on a goal to memorize a certain number of scripture mastery scriptures. There were three carloads of kids, and somehow I ended up with ALL the boys. They are generally nice, polite boys who are also very diverse in interests and tastes. On the way home, one of the boys asked me what dating was like in my ward growing up. That launched into a sort of wild discussion about dances and girls and asking a girl out and a whole host of things I promised I would keep within the confines of my car. However, I thought about what I would want MY three boys to know about dating when the time comes.

First thing, follow the For the Strength of Youth  pamphlet produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It will never steer you wrong. Be committed to waiting to date until you are 16. I read in a human development book that people typically believe they are ready, in their own minds, to marry four years after they begin dating. Spot on. Also, the advise to group date before your mission is sound counsel. It is so much more fun and so much less akward. Besides, if it turns out things aren't going so well with your date, there are plenty of other people you can interact with. Which leads me to the second thing.

Two, be as polite as humanly possible. To every. single.girl. You don't have to marry her, but she is a daughter of God! Royalty. Treat her with that kind of respect. I remember seeing my dad always open the car door for my mom everywhere we went, even just in the garage after we got home from church. My good husband is that kind of guy, too. Open the door on the way into buildings. Offer to let her go first if you are waiting in line for something. And never hesitate to say "please" and "thank you."

Third, speak highly of the girls you know. If there is one who's company you don't care to keep for one reason or another, don't dog on her. I promised the boys in my car last week that for every negative thing they could say (to their credit they didn't really say anything specific), I could say at least ten positive things. If you look for goodness, you will find it. One of my favorite scritpures is from the Doctrine and Covenants about how "light cleaveth unto light."

Fourth, while you don't have to marry this particular girl you are taking out, you will eventually marry the girl you are taking out. Please try to use good judgement when making friends and asking girls out. People of high standards will respect other people with high standards. But do have fun and don't worry early on so much about whether or not this girl is the one when you don't even have a driver's licence.

Fifth. have fun and try new things. You'll get to learn so much about you and your friends. My brother-in-law, Josh, and I call this high efficency dating. Do some sort of extreme things and that quickly weeds out those that aren't interested. This can be things like rock climbing, or hiking or offering to babysit your rowdy siblings or cook something.

Last, don't feel obligated to date and date and date, especially before your mission. Make friends. Learn to enjoy a good conversation.  It's okay to feel shy. It's okay to have lots of friends, both girls and guys. After you return from your mission, you'll have the chance to date for friendship and to eventually find an eternal companion. But, heck, have fun and don't rush it.

Did I say "have fun" enough? Those are my first off the top of my brain thoughts of dating. Dating can be a blast and a bust. But either way, learn from it and enjoy it and great things will happen. I'll look for the old LDS film called the Phone Call and that will really get your palms sweating.  

I need books like I need air. I'd rather read than just about anything else. I have a pretty strong stomach and like variety and read all sorts of things. Some things are more worth while than others. Some keep you thinking and wondering and considering. Mrs. Bybee, my 10th grade honors Enlish teacher would always say the mark of a good book was how long it kept you thinking after you'd finished the last page.

I'm just finishing a series of books that are young adult classics of American literature. It's the Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. With each one I read, I feel like I've just enjoyed a rich journey through the history of settling the American West as well as through the values, faith, fortitude, hard work and joy so readily cherished then and, hopefully, now. I feel like a better person for having read every chapter of each book. I see the imperfections of good people trying to do their best. I see the moments of poverty and lack. I see the incredible gratitude for even the smallest things. I see the pleasure of working the land and feeling the wind in your face. I see the gentle parents and vivacious children and the typical dilemmas of family and community life. I was touched by the traditions of courtship and felt all the more grateful for my good husband.

Most of all, I long to be a better person now after having read the books. Can you say that about all the books you read? Sometimes yes; sometimes, no. If I could be half as diligent as these remarkable settlers, great things would come of my life. They were smart and witty, as well as well educated in both book learning and land learning. The books are full of reference to specific passages of scripture and how they wove them into the fabric of their lives, from their patch work quilts to their patchwork fields.

My Patriarchal Blessing admonishes me to always read from the best of books. This great series undoubtedly fits that criteria. I'm {almost} ready to pick up and move West!

Seek the Good

Last weekend I did something I've never done before: I went out of town, overnight, without my husband or my children. That may seem silly. But, in the ten and a half years of marriage and almost seven years of motherhood, I've never gone away by myself. And it was great. I was glad to be home when it was time to go home. But what I did while I was away was unbelievable. I had the chance to go to Springfield Massachusetts for a women's conference called Time Out For Women, sponsored by the Deseret Book Company. It was geared toward women of faith, particularly LDS women. Deseret Book brings several of their authors and a couple of the musicians on their music label to speak and sing/perform for two wonderful days. The theme for this year's tour was "Seek the Good." And boy was there much good to be seen over that weekend.

The very last speaker, Emily Freeman, had some especially poignant words for me personally about really seeing the goodness of God. Afterwards I had a chance to visit with her. I wanted to tell her how much I appreciated her ability to seamlessly weave scripture stories and real life experience together. I wanted to pick her brain and ask her how she does it. She's written 10 books and does these TOFW tours and I also found out she teaches early morning seminary just like me! So I asked her about her writing--when she does it, how, etc. The one thing that feels like it was just branded into my brain was this comment: "My audience is my children. I write exclusively for my children." What? Wow! For all those popular books and speaking engagements, every single thing she writes is written expressly for her children. She told me that many years ago she had a friend who had cancer and she wanted her children to know certain things about her. That left an impression on Emily and she decided to follow that lead. Everything she writes is with the intent to share her thoughts, ideas, feelings, testimony, advice, experiences, growth, joy with her children. Her children are mostly grown now. But she has followed this pattern for many years.

That experience feels like it has changed me. I have so many things that float around in my head and my heart. My husband sometimes teases me that my brain is just always racing and never shuts down. I've thought over and over in the last many years that a long time ago, God gave me gift for words and if I'm not going to use it, I'm going to loose it. I've already started making lists of the things I want my children to know and feel and understand. I hope over the next long while I'll be able to commit those things to paper (or computer!) and use that same energy I saw in Emily to write for my audience of one: my family. Everyone else may enjoy the read as well.

I had tons of great experiences at TOFW and I think that might be where I start. So check back now and again if you'd like, and see what I'm writing for my children. Also on the agenda is a request from my friend Sarah to write about how I got into running. Since this has become such a big hobby for all of us, my three boys included, that seems absolutely a great idea to write about my journey to becoming a runner.

So, to my children: I love you. You make me giggle and tare out my hair, sometimes simultaneously  But I wouldn't trade you three busy boys for anything. Thanks for letting your mom go hang out with a bunch of ladies for a long weekend. I think the things I learned will make me a better mom, a better wife, a better friend, and most importantly a better disciple of Jesus Christ.

Seminary Ideas

So I've been playing around with this cool website Wordle.net to make word clouds from scripture mastery scriptures for my New Testament seminary class. What do you think of this one?

Tuesday Is The New Monday

Today I woke up with Monday on my mind. It's Tuesday. You know all those things that you say you are going to "start on Monday?" I decided today was as good a day as any to get a move on and who cares if it's Tuesday.

So here's what we started today. Everyone got up and after breakfast started back into a regular routine of doing chores. Then I ran. It's been many weeks since I've been running. I hardly ever run on Tuesdays. But I read somewhere that if it's been a while since you've been running, just put on your shoes to get you motivated. I decided to take it one step (for a few thousand steps) further and got on the treadmill. It wasn't far and it wasn't fast. But I did it. And I plan to do it again tomorrow.

This afternoon we'll do some decluttering and cleaning. Goodness know our house sure needs it after our nine week adventure in Idaho.

So here's to Tuesday. No need to wait for next Monday. A new start can being now!

Is there anything you've been saying you'll start "next week"? How about starting today?

Living the Dream

So, over Thanksgiving break, my kids finally saw the movie Tangled at Uncle Nathan and Aunt Jessica's house. I was in and out and didn't really see much. But the boys loved it and wanted to check it out from the library when we got home. One morning I sat down with my three year old to watch it and didn't get up again until the closing credits. I loved it! I laughed. I cried. What a great uplifting movie. I dropped hint after hint to my husband that I would very much like the movie for Christmas (to no avail--will buy it for myself at some point). I think the reason it was so powerful for me was because of the message so clearly conveyed that we must hang on to our dreams, that dreams can change, and pay attention because you just might be living your dream!

I think these ideas came to me because of a conversation I'd had with my sister-in-law over Thanksgiving. Jessica is a remarkable young woman. She is talented in so many ways. She married my husband's brother when she was very young after going to college when she was younger then most. She graduated from college in much less time than it takes many. She's been working in a really wonderful and satisfying career for a few years and is about to have a baby in the late Spring and "retire." But one of Jessica's most outstanding talents is her ability to sing. And when I say "sing" I mean she can really sing. She spent most of her life singing and writes music and even went to Nashville and has a demo CD. Her dad really wanted to see her chase her dream from growing up and working towards a career in music. To some degree he felt like maybe by marrying so young she sold herself short. She would never be able to live that dream.

But, Jessica told me that, while she certainly had that dream and still uses her outstanding talents to bless other people, she has new dreams--dreams the include a whole broad of children and supporting her dentist husband and being happy and adventurous and serving in the church.

So that got me thinking about my own dreams. And getting back to Tangled, it was in the middle of hearing Rapunzel ask Flynn Ryder what you do when you finally find yourself living your dream, that I realized that I was in the middle of living the most splendid dream I can imagine! It was while sitting in the middle of a kitchen that needed to be picked up and to the sound of the third load of laundry that day, that I just felt this great surge of emotion that I'm living my dream! I'm not sure I ever really thought much about what my life would be like with a family. It was always something on the list, but not something I sat around dreaming about. I guess what I mean by living my dream is that I had this wonderful sense of contentment. I am happy and feel loved and feel like I can serve and bless those around me. I have a beautiful family and that it is really the best dream anyone can have.

In the movie, Rapunzel sings a song asking "when will my life begin." What she doesn't realize is that all the things that she's doing to try to pass the time, to learn, to grow, to develop her talents are the things that eventually make her life so rich and full when placed in the right circumstances. There is no sense in waiting around for our lives to begin. Why not start now.

Sometimes I think things are really going to be great when I no longer have children in diapers, or when everyone in the house sleeps through the night (got woken up four times last night--and that was the two older boys). I tire of hearing people say they sure don't miss this or that about having a baby or young children. I will probably feel that way, too. But in the mean time, this is very much part of my dream. It's taking the bitter with the sweet and savoring the sweet. I suppose it's a little like a really great See's chocolate. It's small and it lasts only a moment, but the flavor and satisfaction linger so much that even when your eating the ho hum, you have a sweet memory of something better and will for sure go back for more when the chance comes up!

So thanks, Disney for making a movie with such beautiful, redeeming ideas. I'm doing it. I'm in the middle of living my dream!

The Short List

I love to write. Really I do. I am making a commitment to myself to write a little more in this blog space of mine. Here's the short list of blogs posts that I've been turning over in my mind that I intend to write about soon, very soon.

1. Tangled and being in the middle of living my dream

2. The promise that my days would be lengthened

3. Amish love stories (really)

4. A tribute to some of my favorite artists and musicians

5. Great pictures of my kids

Quite the eclectic mix of topics. But these ideas are floating around in my mind and if I don't at least write down the ideas, I'm afraid I'll loose them for good.

In the mean time, today my seminary class was studying about King Saul in the book of 1 Samuel. One of the boys pointed out the verse that said that rebellion is like witchcraft and stubbornness is like idolatry. Wow did we have a rousing round of "ughs" from a few of my extra stubborn (using their own words) students. I've chuckled about it all day. How often do we take some level of pride in our stubbornness? Wouldn't it be great if we could learn a little better how to be more humble without having to be compelled to be humble?

I'll look forward to writing a few posts when I can make a few minutes over the next days and weeks. Check back now and again. It's nice to hear from you.

Will Duck Tape Work?

This week holding myself together has been really...hard. The last few days especially. Nothing out of our busy-life ordinary has happened. No major tragedy or unexpected (or expected) unhappiness has occurred (unless you count that unplanned $650 car repair). If anything I've found myself having a few great moments of simple satisfaction. But there is something that I seem to keep grappling with or searching for that just seems to be. just. out. of. reach.

Hummm.

I remember once helping with a column for my high school newspaper about the top ten things you can do with duck tape. I'm wishing a little silvery tape would hold me together when at any moment it physically feels like I might just fall apart.

On Thursday night I told my husband that I need something that I can be really good at. I've spent a lot of my life able to do a huge number of things, none of them exceptionally well--one of those jack of all trades master of none. But wouldn't it be nice to know that I'm really, really good at SOMETHING? In retrospect, though, I wonder if I feel that way because I've let myself drift off course a little and have been caught up in the idea that other's validation might bring me up a little. Still...

I just finished reading a fun blog post of a friend who had just finished a beautiful creative project. In the comments section her mother wrote a hearty congratulations to whom she called her talented and creative daughter. For a moment I so wanted that compliment to be mine. Too bad I don't have a lot of attention span for doing crafty projects.

I do recognize that there are things I am good at. I'm a really good story teller when I can stay awake to read to my kids. I'm a pretty good public speaker. I'm not so bad at teaching early morning seminary. I'm excellent at making sure I get to the temple every month.

But here's where I start to fall apart. It's the every day things that need my constant time and attention. I am realizing more and more that for as happy and beautiful as my growing up experience was, there are a few fundamental life skills that I don't have. Like, oh, housekeeping. And this really bogs me down. How does one simply get things done. You'd cringe if you knew how long it has been since I mopped my kitchen floor. I'm a piler-er. Things get shuffled in to piles all around the house instead of really being put away or beng tossed out.

Most draining is just being exhausted and unmotivated. I'd so much rather go take a nap than tend to the laundry or the dishes or the toys (who wouldn't!) Most days I just give in and take a nap and then have no clean clothes or clean dishes and still no motivation.

Sigh.

The other day a funny cartoon made its way around Facebook. It was a picture of a woman looking haggard sitting on the table in her doctor's office. The doctor is looking at her chart and says "What you have is a bad case of motherhood." When I look around, how is it that it seems I am a little more haggard than most. I know. I know. There is no good in comparing. But, I want to know how they do it! What are they doing that I'm not that I could learn from?

Forgiving me if this post is a little of a downer. I've had a flood of things on my mind this week and here it all comes spilling out. I used to walk with a friend of mine a couple of times a week before she moved. We'd call them our therapy sessions. Since that outlet isn't available, the great wide world of blogging gets to be my shameless therapy. That and a roll of duck tape might just come in handy.