Young Womanhood Recognition

Kelly did it. Much to her own amazement, she finished all the requirements to earn her Young Womanhood Recognition Award. She received the award at the same time as Hannah, who she was baptized with when she turned 8. I thought that was a cool coincidence. :)

Naturally, I forgot my camera and so ended up taking this photo with the crappy camera on my phone. You can't even read the certificate! We're very proud of her for all of her hard work. I know she will continue to make spiritual progress throughout her life. She's an amazing young lady!

My First Apple Pie

I learned to make apple pie for the first time, completely from scratch. First, you plant an apple tree....

Okay, just kidding. :)

But truly, I've only ever used premade crust previously because I didn't know how to make my own. Last night, the Van Ness Ward and Riverview Ward had a joint "pie clinic" taught by Doctor Jones. He taught us how to make the crust, the filling and everything. Then we took it home and baked it. My kids loved it!!

I forgot to take the photo before I began to slice it, but it looks lovely, doesn't it?

Filters

With this most recent election, I have been very grateful for the freedom of speech we have in our country, even though the ones who seem to use it most spend most of their time slamming the other side instead of having persuasive discussion. However, it seems like anyone who holds a conservative position, as I do on some issues, lacks the same freedom to speak freely about the positions held. Name calling, berating, and downright hostility are the result in most cases. For the most part, I have held my tongue during all the election-related discussions even though some of the comments were painfully off-base and often off-color as well.

I myself lack the self-restraint to do that long-term. I admit this freely. That's why I have been so grateful for the filters on Facebook that allow me to limit the posts I see on my news feed. All day, every day at school, viewpoints contrary to my own are espoused and recited as mantras in the classrooms. I have no desire to be subjected to the same kinds of mindless passion when I check in on FB. Further, I have a few friends that are radically the other direction, whose constant predictions of doom and gloom, as well as name-calling, further depress me. (Where, oh where are the reasoned discourses I once believed adults should and did have about issues and candidates??) I can suspend temporarily or permanently the posts I see from these friends, and give my mind relief from the constant "warring" when I am in my own home.

Goodbye, Abby.

Our beloved Abby-dog was hit by a car and killed on Monday afternoon. She was only four years old. She had a perpetual smile on her face, and loved to run and chase things, lounge in the sun, kill possums, and protect her family. She was a fast runner, and as stubborn as a dog can be. She was easily coaxed by love and attention, though. When I would feed her in the morning, she would always wait for all the bowls to be filled before eating, and then when I put the last bowl down, she would kiss my cheek. She kissed me whenever I asked her. She was very well loved by all of us, but most loved by her favorite person, Johnny.

I had someone working on my sprinklers on Monday. While he worked, I had the dogs in their kennel. By the time he left they were begging to go outside to potty. I neglected to double check that the gates were completely closed (sometimes people think they are closed when they are not), so the dogs took advantage of the open gate to go exploring. They were in an apartment complex around the corner from us, and ran out in front of a driver, who tried to miss Syrah, but didn't see Abby run under his truck. For about an hour after the accident, I couldn't locate Syrah, either...then she turned up in my locked yard just before Kelly walked in the door. Her back leg appears to have been injured, whether because she had been hit by the car or because of how she got back in the yard, I don't know. It doesn't appear to be broken, but she favors it. Since Abby was killed by the car in the afternoon while the kids were at school, I had to tell each of the children separately as they came home from school that their dog had been killed. I didn't think I would have the strength, and it was very difficult. All of them (except Joe, who is stoic) broke into sobs and wails, but it hit Johnny the hardest. He cried on my shoulders for almost thirty minutes in the garage, and while he spent the day at home on Tuesday due to a bad cough/cold, he sobbed many times throughout the day.

This morning I was remembering how Johnny had given the dogs a bath on Friday. Abby didn't enjoy her baths, but after she was clean, she loved running around and rubbing her wet body on all of us, demanding kisses and pets. I had washed the bedding for their kennel and I was trying to fold it on the floor before I put it inside. Abby recognized her blanket and began to lay on top of it, sniff it and "snuffle" happily, as if she was  glad it was clean and fresh. She was most happy when she was running, and so I imagine that when she ran out of the nearby apartment complex (chasing her buddy Syrah), she was in her element. Since she was dead instantly, I know she must have blinked her eyes and found herself in Heaven, wondering where in the world Syrah had gone. I know Syrah has been wondering where her pal Abby is. She has been morose and clingy since Abby has died, like all of us. We will certainly miss her!!

Day 5: ♫ ♪ Music!! ♩ ♬

I am so grateful for the gift of music~ I love all kinds of music. My kids will tell you that I only listen to church music in the car, but that's not so. I love international music, classical, rock, alternative, country...just about any music has something in it to like. These days, I do like my music to be clean. (Though my penchant for Def Leppard might not indicate that...what can I say...it's a flashback thing to my youth!)

I love to sing, too. I'm not a great singer. I can carry a tune if there's music, usually. Part of me believes that the singing voice I have here on this earth is very different from the voice I had when I lived in heaven. But either way it doesn't matter...what matters when I sing is the testimony I have in my heart, and that's the part that I'm sure Heavenly Father hears perfectly.

Music has helped me through some tough times. I'm so grateful for LDS artists who made music that spoke to my soul during times of crisis. I also love to hear my kids making music on their guitars, ukulele, clarinets, french horn, and piano. I love to hear my kids sing. I think music is one of the best gifts we've been given to bring joy to our lives and express our feelings. I'm so thankful!

Sunday, Sunday!

It's Sunday, and it's fast and testimony day! What better day than today to say that I'm immensely grateful for my faith, which is both a compass and an anchor in this life. Knowing where I came from, why I am here, and where I am going gives meaning to the mundane. I'm thankful to be His. ♥

I joined the Stake Adult Christmas Choir today, and was blessed to learn a new song that had me crying because it touched me so deeply. It was called, "Was I There" and it captured so perfectly how I have always felt about Christmas. The music is so beautiful. Here are the lyrics:

Christmas time fills the world again
Happy voices sing, Good will to men. 
Then a feeling of music forgotten 
Stirs my soul like a dream veiled in time.
Somehow do I know a heavenly song of long ago.
Burning bright in the heart of me
Like an ember in my memory.
Was I there in a chorus of angels when he came?
Did I sing out from heavn Glory to his name.
My Lord and my brother still the same.
Though I can't recall the scene,
The cold or balmy air,
Still somehow it must be so that I was there.
Did I weep for the love of him
On that holy night in Bethlehem?
Did I sing with a chorus of angels when he came?
Did I cry out from heaven glory to his name,
My Lord and Brother still the same.
Heav'n and earth together bound in wonder at the sight.
Nowhere else would I have been but there that night.
Did I weep for the love of him 
On that holy night in Bethlehem? 
Did I sing with a chorus of angels when he came?
Did I cry out from heaven glory to his name,
My Lord and Brother still the same (still the same).
Still the Same.

Sharing it forward

A quote from my Facebook friend, Rachel Solo: "Life changes every minute of every day. You lose friends. You gain friends. You realize your friend wasn’t ever really your good friend. You look for love. You find love. You lose love. You realize that all along you’ve been loved. You laugh. You cry. You laugh so hard that you cry. You do this. You do that. You really wish you hadn’t done that. You learn from that and are glad that you did. You have your ups. You have your downs. You see good movies. You see bad movies. You look at others and wish you were them. You then realize who you are and are glad that you are you. You love life. You hate life. In the end, you just find yourself to be living life no matter what."

I loved it so much, I had to share it, and I wanted to keep it on my blog forever. :)

For my children!

I'm grateful for my children, who stretch me, make me better, teach me so many things, and keep me thinking about the future while grounding me in the now. They are such amazing blessings to me, and I love them!!

There are days when I forget how blessed I am. A trip to a local school reminds me all over again that my kids are pretty darn good kids. 

Generally they like each other and get along. Usually they do what I ask and do what needs to be done.

Occasionally, they'll surprise me and do things without my asking...like Johnny yesterday when he got home from camp and went out to play with the dogs. He noticed the door was dirty from "Abby mud" and scrubbed it off all by himself. 

My kids accomplish great things, even when I don't push them. Two of my children are "straight A" kids, and Kelly just finished her personal progress.

I hope for the best, fear for the worst, and pray every day that despite having me as their mother that they will go on to live happy, God-centered, amazing lives.

Thanks, Mom & Dad!

The longer I parent, the more gratitude I feel in my heart toward my parents. When I think of all the hours I spend pondering and worrying about my children, it makes me wonder what fears they wrestled with as parents. (Not about me, of course, since I was so perfect. Ahem.)

When I am upset with my children for not helping out more around the house, I wish I had spent more time helping to make our home clean and orderly as a youth.

When I am trying to discuss the concerns I have about a child's behavior with him/her, and they blow me off or seem like they're not listening, I wish that I had listened more to my parents when they counseled my siblings and I about the world instead of thinking that I knew what I was doing.

When I see my kids making bad choices (not necessarily evil, just hard-headed) I wish they would take me more seriously. It makes me wonder if my parents are happy with the directions that my life took.

Here's a biggie...when I see how imperfect I am as a parent, and how much I struggle to keep it all together, I find myself with a prayer in my heart asking my Father in Heaven to bless my mom and dad, who despite their imperfections and their humanity, truly put their best effort into raising honest, hard working children.

I am so thankful for my parents. I wish they lived closer so I could demonstrate in person each and every day that I'm glad to be their daughter!

Auxiliary Training Meeting

Tonight I attended a training meeting for the presidencies of the various auxiliaries in all the wards of our stake. Most of the primary training focused on children with special needs, which was great considering several children in our ward have special needs.

In 2013, the focus for all auxiliaries will be looking toward the temple...attending the temple, being worthy to hold a recommend, and engaging in the work of our ancestors in our daily lives. This is exciting and motivating to me. I personally need this emphasis!

The primary theme for the coming year is "I am a child of God." In addition, we also discussed the GREAT 8. (8 because that's when children get baptized!)

• Daily scripture reading/pondering
• Really pray, don't just say (in other words, communicate!)
• Early to bed, early to rise. A few moments to ourselves in the morning to pray/ponder and read can greatly improve our day.
• Be of good cheer! (smiles are contagious)
• Work hard: laziness and spirituality do not go together
• Be more concerned with how you serve rather than where you serve
• Share your testimony with others
• Become more like your ideal self each day

I was grateful for the messages that were shared. I am so glad to serve in primary...I love the children and their smiles and testimonies make my heart soar. I'm grateful to have the gospel in my life...it blesses me each and every day!

Health

In November, I like to spend time each day pondering something I'm grateful for. I do this so that hopefully I can be reminded of all of my many blessings and permanently increase my gratitude in prayer and in my interactions with others.

Today, I am grateful for my health. I've been very fortunate so far in my life, that I have been extremely healthy. I really have only three health issues, which are relatively minor, and I try not to take being healthy granted. While I've occasionally grumbled about why I pay for health insurance (the premium for which kills me each month), I know that my health status could change in a moment. I'm grateful that this is one challenge I haven't had to deal with in my life (yet?).

It is a blessing and gift. I wish I could share it with others. I have friends whose kids have cancer, CF, or chronic disease. While I know that God turns all things to his purposes, and that these heart-breaking situations will allow tremendous growth, I still wish that I could share my good health with others, because it's hard to see them struggle through these hardships. I recently lost another friend to cancer, and I have several friends who are going through cancer treatment. The strength and faith that these friends exhibit humbles me. It's hard for my human heart to understand. And it makes me grateful that I and my children are healthy today.