Family Interaction Is My Goal!

I Am Thankful For...

2011-11-21T09:03:00.003-07:00

I received this "Thankful" list from Relief Society and have add a few other things that I am thankful for or things others have shared with me. Truly, I think having gratitude helps us get through some of the rough times. When we are feeling gratitude and thinking about what we are thankful for, we can't think about our worries can we?

Here's what I am thankful for:

...the mess to clean up after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

...the taxes I pay because it means that I'm employed.

...the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.

...a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.

...my shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.

...all the complaining I hear about the government because it means we have freedom of speech.

...the spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.

...my huge heating bill because it means I am warm.

...the lady sitting behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.

...the piles of laundry and ironing to be done because it means my loved ones are nearby.

...weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

...the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am alive.

...books to read because it means there are those who have information and talents to share.

...deadlines because it means I have to push to stay on task and accomplish a goal.

...changes because it means I can learn new things and develop empathy for others.

...waking up each day and finding out that all of my blessing haven't been taken away because of ingratitude because this means God is forgiving and loves me.

Now, for a minute, think about all of your many blessings. What if you were to wake up one morning and all blessings that you have failed to think about the days before are removed--taken away. You would certainly have cause to think about what you were missing wouldn't you? And just pretend that this became the new law of God--fail to have gratitude for a blessing and it is removed from your life forevermore--no expressions of gratitude could ever bring the blessing back into your life. Each day your blessings diminished because you failed to have gratitude for them. Day by day you would have less and less until you caught the vision of being thankful for what you do have instead of thinking about what you do not have.

Thankfully, life is not like this. But I do believe if we spent more time thinking about our blessings instead of our troubles or lack thereof, we would be a more thankful, grateful people.

And one more thing I am thankful for: I may not know everything. That's okay. Because I know that God knows. And that is ALL I need to know.

Resolving Conflicts Creatively

2011-01-14T06:55:00.004-07:00

I take the following from Jacqueline Haessly, from her book "Learning to Live Together." I couldn't say it any better so here is what she shares.

"I am fond of the motto, 'Conflict is neither right nor wrong. It just is.' Conflict exists because we are each uniquely different people with diverse likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, needs, and life experiences. Conflicts frequently occur because of opposing needs, limited supplies or resources, or because of real or perceived value differences between us. Yet for most families, few areas trigger a more emotional response.

"If we experience conflict as a test of who is right and who is wrong, who will win and who will lose, we then experience conflict as threatening t ourselves. Here are some stepping stones to creative conflict resolution, using some of the ideas we've already talked about:

"Make people feel loved and affirmed, and they'll want to work together to resolve problems.

"Acknowledge that conflict exists; this is the first step to resolving it.

"Find win-win solutions. Too often conflicts are resolved by determining who is right (and, of course, who is wrong) by blaming and labeling. There are winners and losers, and the winner is often the person who is biggest, oldest, meanest, or the one who can hit the hardest, run the fastest, or stay silent the longest.

"Invite everyone in the family into the decision-making process in ways that allow them to express their ideas and feelings about a conflict honestly. Problem-solving and decision-making--key to good conflict resolution--can be nurtured from a very young age, by encouraging children to choose what to wear, how to spend part of a day or what the family should do after dinner.

"Help children consider the widest possible range of solutions to a problem, not just the 'right' solution. Even consider impossible solutions, so they can learn that sometimes the improbable can become possible.

"Help children understand which solutions are morally unacceptable because they are harmful to another person. Encouragement of violence toward a minority group in a neighborhood or school conflict is one example of unacceptable behavior.

"Give children practice with decision-making and problem-solving in non threatening situations."

Here are a few activities that may help teach problem-solving:

"Animal Sculptures"
Purpose: To encourage decision-making and problem-solving skills, even in very young children. To foster group work on a common project.
How it works: 1) Two people sit out to be "guessers." If more than five players, form two groups. Guessers work together to solve the puzzle. 2) Begin with the youngest player. Think of an animal and tell its name to the group without letting the "guessers" hear. The youngest person then arranges the members of the group to form the animal named. (Five players form on e elephant or dolphin, not five different elephants or dolphins.) 3) "Guessers" try to guess the animal. 4) Rotate so little and big people can take turns being decision-makers and group planners.

Variations: Do same for farm machinery, forms of transportation, small appliances.

"Search for Alternatives"
Purpose: To allow children to practice creative problem-solving in a simple, non-threatening setting.
How it works: Each person thinks of three ways to solve the following problems. Adults can help children understand the problem and identify possible solutions.
1) Toys are always left on the floor at bedtime.
2) One child is always late for dinner.
3) Dad or Mom is always late paying allowances.
4) Dirty laundry is often left lying on the floor.
5) Two people are having a conversation, one is watching TV, one is listening to the radio.
6) Uncle John, who is in a wheelchair, is coming to visit for a week. You want to make his visit pleasant and comfortable for all.
7) The family has decided that Mom and Dad must both work full time to save for a special family need: braces, medical expenses, a trip. What are three necessary changes?
8) Mom is going on a ten-day business trip. Dad and the children will be home alone.

Think of other applicable problems your family may have and write them down. You may consider these problems as possible conversation starters around the dinner table. Be careful, however, you would never want to sour dinner by having heated discussions on solving problems.

"Puppet Theater"
Purpose: To help children act out potential and real conflicts. Young children love puppets and can use them to take on words and behavior that they would otherwise find difficult to communicate.
How it works: 1) Make puppets from old socks or paper bags. Even young children can help to decorate with scraps of fabric or yarn. 2) Use puppets at times when battles emerge about household chores, play activities that exclude the youngest or oldest, sibling rivalries, and other recurring family struggles. Have children alternate roles.

"Instant Replay"
When a seemingly senseless conflict is getting out of hand because parent and child are over-reacting, the phrase "time-out and replay" lets both parties take a time out, then replay the scene. Both parties are then more open to hearing the other person's point of view. This usually leads to a mutually satisfying resolution of the conflict. Everyone's needs can be met, the task can be accomplished, and freedom of choice can be respected and preserved.

Resolving Conflict Creatively

2011-01-14T06:55:00.000-07:00

Touch--It's a Wonderful and Needful Thing

2011-01-13T07:20:00.002-07:00

I promised some activities for families that would contribute to peacefulness and affirmation. I think the following two ideas would be very helpful:

"Touch Me Gentle"
Purpose: Soothing and relaxing activity at the end of a family meeting or end of day.
How it Works: 1) Everyone sits in a circle facing the back of the person in front of them. 2) Gently massage shoulders and back of this person for two or three minutes. 3) Reverse position by turning around and massaging person who had been massaging you.

"Touch Green"
Purpose: To encourage laughter and gentle touch while affirming members of the group. To discover and affirm differences.
How it works: 1) Have all family members stand in a circle. 2) Have players take turns calling out a particular item ("Touch someone wearing...a blue shirt...green tennis shoes...red hair.") 3) Everyone touches the person wearing the named article or having the named quality. 4) Callers continue to call out items, trying to include at least one or two things about every person playing. Even very young children will have the opportunity to decide the group's action. Remember they will need more time to consider what to call. Allowing this time gives the whole family a chance to practice patience in small, caring ways.

Learning Peacemaking Skills with Activities

2011-01-11T17:08:00.002-07:00

"The 'peacemaking' skills of affirmation, respecting differences, cooperation, and creative resolution of conflicts, learned early within the security of their own families, give children the foundation of lifelong values. Where love and acceptance are expressed in the home, children can risk testing out new ideas, tying new patterns of behavior. They can risk failure. They can dare to hold beliefs that may differ from the accepted norms of their neighborhoods, schools, and the marketplaces where they will spend their days as adults. And they can learn to respect others who are different." by Jacqueline Haessly in Learning to Live Together

For the next few days, I will be sharing Activities that may help families with the Gifts of "Affirmation," "Cooperation," "Respect for Differences," and "Resolving Conflicts Creatively.

Today I will start with a couple of Affirmation Activities.

"Naming Myself"
Purpose: To allow each member of the family to make positive statements about themselves.
How it works: 1) Family members gather together around a table or in a circle on the floor. 2) Give each person a sheet of paper and a crayon, pen, or pencil. 3) Each person writes the letters of his/her name downward on the paper, for example:

L
O
R
I

4) Write one positive word about yourself or one activity you like to do for each letter of you name. 5) The letters can begin the work, end the word, or be in the middle of the word, for example:

L oveable
h O nest
R eads
pol I te

Variation: Pass a paper with your name on it around the circle and have everyone add one positive word for each letter of your name.

"Family Sharing Time"
Purpose: To allow family members to share with one another some of their likes and dislikes, their hopes, dreams, and fears.
How It Works: 1) Family members gather together around a table or in a circle on the floor. 2) Each person in turn answers one of the following questions or statements. (Be sure to vary the questions after everyone has responded to the first question.) 3) Allow a different child or adult to choose the sharing question each round. 4) Use these questions at meal time, for car conversation, or for family meetings.

Suggested Questions and Statements:

1) Tell about one of your favorite things and why it is your favorite. Let everyone get a chance to speak. Choose one idea for each round--colors, animals, books, music, sports, time of day subject in school, season of the year, place in the house, etc.

2) What is one thing you really like to do in winter, or summer? Why?

3) What do you really like to do when it rains or snows? Why?

4) Tell how you made someone happy today.

5) Tell how someone made you happy today.

6) Tell about one time when you were afraid.

7) Tell about something that made you sad.

8) Tell about one time when you felt shame for something you did. Did you do anything to resolve it?

9) Tell each person in the circle on thing you really like about them.

10) Tell each person in the circle one thing you really like about yourself.

Responsible Parenting Needed More Than Ever Before

2011-01-02T06:18:00.007-07:00

"Fathers and mothers are needed who will rise and stand upon their feet to make of their homes sanctuaries in which children will grow in a spirit of (1) obedience, (2)industry, and (3) fidelity to tested standards of conduct. If our society is coming apart at the seams, it is because the tailor and the seamstress in the home are not producing the kind of stitching that will hold under stress. In the name of giving advantages, we have too often bartered away the real opportunities of our children." Quote by Gordon B. Hinckley

Please parents, ask yourselves these questions:

1) Do you counsel together as husband and wife in regard to your marriage and family?
2) Do you have a plan to teach your children?
3) Do you make Family Home Evening a major priority? (In other words, if you do not set aside time to teach your children about the things you know to be important on a daily or weekly basis, time will come and go with no progress in your teaching of important things.)
4) Do you know the special needs of each individual child?
5) Do you organize every needful thing--scripture time, family prayer, family counsel, individual visits with each child, time for just plain fun?
6) Will you remember that your greatest work and success will be in your home if you want it most and pay the price to accomplish this?

Remember that our lives are all about choosing. Think about it. Everything we accomplish first begins as a thought. We do nothing unless we had the thought to do so first. So, be careful in what you think about and please make Responsible Parenting something you think about daily and choose to be a parent focused on your children.

Mamma's Nest

2010-10-25T14:42:00.003-06:00

We've all heard it said that their are more than two sides to a coin. I am continually amazed at how true this is and that as I gain perspective and experience in life, I find that there is almost always a better way of seeing things than what I thought was best.

I love "Ah hah" moments. You know the kind! When all of a sudden a truth strikes your mind and heart simultaneously and you get chills or warm fuzzies because you recognize the truth for what it is. These moments are "journal worthy" aren't they?

I had such a moment the other evening while helping dip cookies in chocolate for our Super Saturday. Several women were talking about how tired they get having children come to their beds in the middle of the night because they're lonely or scared. I remember those days even though I think I had a lot fewer than most women and that's because Jeff made me promise when we were expecting our first baby that I would never bring the baby to bed for nursing or for sleeping. (We had friends that put their baby in bed with them the first days of its life and it became so spoiled by this that the couple's marriage disintegrated and eventually ended because the wife insisted it was okay that the baby sleep with them and the husband got so tired because of the crying baby and having to go to work early, that he wanted the baby weaned from bed. When the wife refused, each fought to have things his or her way.)
Thus, my promise to Jeff that children would not be allowed to sleep with us.

When our oldest started coming into our room in the middle of the night and laying on the floor without waking me, I soon discovered a potential accident waiting to happen since I nearly stepped on her a couple of times. I tried to reason with her and explained that she had to stay in her bed and not come in and lay on the floor because I might step on her. I didn't think she understood until I put a lock on the outside of her bedroom door and told her that I didn't want to lock her in her room at night but if she continued coming in my bedroom, I would have to for her safety. The sweet child never left her room at night again. There's more about that but I will spare her the embarrassment at this time.

So, the other evening as everyone was sharing their wisdom of children sleeping in mom and dad's bed, my dear friend, MaryAnn shared her experience which I think is charming and so Christ-like. Here's what she did to solve the problem:

She made "Momma's nest." MaryAnn gathered blankets and pillows and piled them in the corner of her bedroom. She told the children that she gets so tired because she has to feed the baby at night and she needs her rest. "So if you start feeling scared or lonely, come to Momma's nest and just settle in. That way Momma will get her rest but I will be close by in case you need me really bad." MaryAnn said that many a morning she would find two or three of her little offspring nestled in the nest cuddled together.

I can just see love, kindness, and closeness developing because of this sweet nesting idea. Can you?

What we "Think" is What We Are

2010-10-11T06:50:00.003-06:00

Today, I hope no one will think poorly of me for sharing something I have written in my journal. I am studying a book, "Mind Management" and I am keeping a journal about my thoughts and about what I am learning and/or desire to remember. I have always been intrigued by the power of our thought-processes and the power of our thoughts and I find this book very motivating. I know the scripture, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he," is true. Now, here is my journal entry:

"I am so intrigued by the power of our minds. I could study about this for hours a day. This morning I read the chapter, 'Your Mind Thinks Boundlessly.' I know I was told once after my brain activity had been tested because I was blanking out, that my brain waves were overly active and that even in my resting state they were overly active. Doctors determined that my blank-outs were my brain's way of getting a quick rest. Right or wrong on this analysis, I have always known that my mind never stops. Even Jeff becomes weary (I think--no pun intended) because I share so much of what I am thinking. He frequently says, 'Lori, you are such a deep thinker. Your brain never stops.' Now this morning I read this thought by Mark Twain and I am intrigued:

'What a wee little part of a person's life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself. All day long, the mill of his brain is grinding, and his thoughts, not those other things, are his history. These are his life, and they are not written, and cannot be written...Biographies are but the clothes and buttons of the man--the biography of the man himself cannot be written.'

Thus, I see how important it is to control our thoughts. 'As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he,' is a truth revealed. I am what I think about. I do not have the time or convenience (for lack of better words) to waste my thoughts on ridicule of myself or others. Nor should I waste thought on selfish wants and petty imaginings.

Our minds need 'jump-starts' and the searching of scriptures and the reading from the 'best books' do this for me and others. Small children are truly blessed if they have parents read to them. Older children are blessed if they develop a love of reading.

This is so simple as stated on paper and yet so powerful if remembered and put into action!"

2010-10-02T07:27:00.002-06:00

I thought this was such a neat idea. Recycle water bottles into handy spouts for plastic bags and you have less spilling and everything becomes air tight. I'm not sure how long the plastic bag would hold up but it's worth trying don't you think?
Hopefully the picture came through for you to view. (I'll see when I finish this blog.)

Have a wonderful Conference-viewing weekend and try to find three things that you can improve upon during the coming months that is suggested at conference.

J. K. Rowling Speaking At Harvard Graduation-Must See Video

2010-09-29T07:09:00.003-06:00

I just witnessed an amazing video of J.K. Rowling(author of Harry Potter) speaking at Harvard's 2008 Commencement. Her talk is entitled, "The Fringe Benefits of Failure." I was so touched by it that I found myself wondering why I haven't seen it around. May I encourage all to take the 21 minutes it takes to watch it and bookmark it for future reference. There is so much to digest and I feel that her words from experience can benefit individuals and families everywhere. She is so humble in her presentation. Please, please, please...watch and learn. Here's the website: http://motivation123.com/blog/category/perseverance/ Just copy and paste in the website address spot, and let me know if you are inspired by it as much as I was.

Read, Read, Read!!!

2010-09-21T06:37:00.003-06:00

At first I was just going to write this message to my family and then I read in the Ensign this morning that we should not be afraid to Blog our testimonies. So, with this is mind along with hoping everyone that reads this will remember that these are just my thoughts and feelings, I will proceed.

What is important to me today that I express is: I think reading is one of the most important skills and interests anyone could acquire. I keep telling my daughters (and now my sons in this blog)that as they rear their children, they must be sure to encourage them to seek out a spouse that loves to read and does so with the purpose to learn. I would encourage them to find a spouse that seeks learning by learning from others experiences that are shared in a good book. Does that make sense? If a person fills his free time with learning opportunities in a good book instead of using his free time simply for entertainment, he gains wisdom and understanding from those that have had experience--he is progressing and gaining knowledge that he or she will carry for the rest of their lives. I could not have reared my children nor made the progress I made as a homemaker if I had not been blessed to read books written by other women that shared their wisdom and experience.

A few weeks ago a young man in our ward gave this scenario. Picture your self trying to get to the Savior. He is on an upper floor and you are trying to go up on an escalator that is going down. If you ever stop climbing, you immediately lose ground. It takes effort and perseverance to get up to where Christ is. That is how our eternal progression is. The only things we can take with us beyond the grave is our knowledge and our relationships. If we aren't progressing we are retrogressing.

I am not saying I am perfect at what I am encouraging. I waste a lot of time on entertainment in front of the television or movie screen. Sometimes it's nice to relax and do nothing. I know, however, that one must be very cautious. We can get in the habit of allowing ourselves to be mesmerized (this is Satan's tool and it is a form of hypnotism). We can also become mesmerized in front of the computer screen and on video games. I am always amazed at how much time passes when I get into a computer game of solitaire. And I can never, never recapture that time that has passed. Often, I reflect on what I could have learned from reading a good book during the time I lost playing the insignificant game.

And while I am encouraging my children's children to find spouses that read, read, read, I would be amiss to not say, "Dear grandchildren, you must learn to read, too. And you must read to learn. You will then be prepared to be a spouse to someone whose grandmother encouraged them to find a spouse that reads a lot, too."

One more thing (and this is just my musing). We know that the Savior understands everything that we are going through. I have often wondered how he could if he never sinned. How could he understand the feelings of a thief, an adulterer, a time waster, someone that feels inadequate, someone that is friendless, someone that is an abuser? I have had the thought that he learned from others as they shared their experiences. He learned from reading, he learned from visions and dreams. Our Godhead have given visions and dreams to prophets that have shared what they have learned in written form. Always, always, we should take time each day to learn from the scriptures. I have written enough therefore you have read enough (but only on what I have to say on this subject today!). Now go and read, read, read!!!

Yellowstone, Love and More

2010-09-06T14:36:00.005-06:00

Don't you just love a day when your heart is so full of gratitude that you realize you are receiving a glimpse of what heaven will be like? I sit hear thinking about my family and friends that I love so much and then my thoughts turn to this weekend's trip to Yellowstone and I feel gratitude again. What a beautiful world we live in. Everywhere I look I see the handiwork of a loving Father who gave us this earthly opportunity to explore opposites and to find out what we're really made of. I love our campus. When I go to Yellowstone and see the big, blue sky or the multi-colored, clouded skies with streaks of sunlight highlighting a mountain top, and the tall pines and the mountains and valleys with the wild grasses and flowers, crystal-clear rivers and streams and the deep blues of Yellowstone lake; or when I see a 4-pack of coyotes playing near a stream and among tall grasses and river otters romping joyfully from sandy beaches to still river water and then back to the sand for a moment in the brilliant sun; or when I hold hands with my sweetheart as we travel down the windy mountain roads on a walk or in a heated car when it's cold in the morning or an air-conditioned car in the mid-day; or when I get an unexpected phone call from a sweet daughter when I'm standing at the base of the Tetons (while on a wilderness walk!!!); or when you see a large group of people gathered together to see "what's out there," and all are excited to see a wolf, a mother bear with her triplets, or a baby elk or baby bison; or when you and your sweetheart decide to take a quick stroll down a little-used trail and an American Eagle soars right over your head and you realize together that 5 seconds earlier or later on this trail and the eagle would never have seen you nor you see it, and you know--you just know Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to be happy even though the "campus tests" are hard--some are oh, so hard!!! But hey!!! I'll just keep on holding on. I'll keep looking for beautiful vistas and I will cling to memories of good times and hard times because I know I would not appreciate the good times if hard times had not come my way, too.

I also want to add here something that I remembered or relearned that I had almost forgotten about when I was in a struggling moad. Satan will get you down any way he can. There are times you will feel or hear a nagging voice in you head telling you that life is too hard or life isn't fair, or he will tell you to quit trying because you can never get things right again. Satan has as many ways to discourage us as we have weaknesses. And, Satan never gives up! He's a nag! And he will keep pushing buttons until he finds where your weaknesses are. And now here's the thing I remembered that I had almost forgotten about which I have a testimony of: Satan hates good, peaceful, truthful music. He can't stand to be in the same room where good, peaceful, truthful music is playing. So, I try to keep good music playing in my home, now (once again), every waking hour. And I am sure you can guess, the old nag has abandoned me. For a few weeks before I remembered this truth, every quiet moment was disturbed by Satan's influence. He really wanted to get me down. I would pray to dismiss him over and over again. This always helped. But when I remembered to keep my good music playing, I was no longer plagued by interruptions from that evil one. So, turn on the Tabernacle Choir, some Primary music, or the Hymns. I think you'll find this truth to be very helpful in helping you to find gratitude in your heart instead of doubts in your mind.

Proud of my family

2010-08-31T10:13:00.002-06:00

May I just say here that I am very proud (if that is the accurate word) of my family. We all know that life isn't easy--never has been nor ever will be. In the world today there seems to be more woes about finances, illness, politics, our country's wellness or lack thereof, crime, dishonesty, etc. In talking with people I find out that I would rather have my problems than just about anyone else's that are out there. I guess that's a good thing because I couldn't exchange with anyone anyway.

But as I think about each of my children and their families, I feel very blessed to know how hard they are trying to just "keep on keepin' on!!!

Today is Rachael's day off and she had been out helping Jeff in the garden while I was on my walk. When I arrived home she helped me prepare carrots for dehydrating. She knew she didn't have to help but she's just like that--always ready to help everyone. She takes better care of everyone else than she does of herself and that's because she is so selfless. She is ever faithful in her duties as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, granddaughter and an employee. She wears herself out in her service to others and she doesn't feel well most of the time. (Don't be mad at me for sharing this Rachael. You do so much for everyone. Thank you.)People love being around Rachael because she has a talent of bringing out the best in them. I wish I could tell about her most recent "funny," but that would embarrass Rachael because she doesn't like too much fuss made over her. You will always find Rachael behind the scenes doing good and expecting no recognition.

When I think of Zak, it's hard not to smile. His has not been an easy role as a father since he does not get to see his children at will. I am so proud of the way he has handled his responsibilities with his children. In the seven+years that he has been in our family (and I have the privilege of seeing him almost every day), he has never (no, not once), missed a day when he can see the children. And, this has sometimes been at great sacrifice because of feeling very ill, or having bad roads to travel, or missing some other event that many men would say, "Hey kids. Sorry I can't be with you tonight (or this weekend) because I have a chance to go boating."
If Zak's children do not know that he and Rachael love them, they will have to talk to me and I will share my observations with them. Thank you Zak for your good example and also for making Rachael smile. I have observed your many, many thoughtful ways and all of the things you do to show your love for her.

Now for my Texas Family. Some days I am as sad as I can be because Devan and Heather up and moved to Texas and took my grandbabies with them. But I can see their growth. Devan and Heather are as one in their efforts to improve themselves with schooling and accomplishing goals. I have watched them this summer with worries about the health of at least 3 of their children. Just one of the challenges would have brought deep despair and anguish for some, but to have three very significant challenges would cause some to throw in the towel and say, "I can't handle it." Instead, when I have talked to them they are counting their blessings and expressing faith that everything will work out for the best (whatever that may be). Devan and Heather work very hard but in different ways. Devan is a hard worker on whatever job he is on and I have observed that he becomes valuable to his employers when they get to know him. Heather puts her children first. They are always very well groomed and Heather teaches the children to show respect and to use good manners. It is a pleasure to be in their family's company as I experienced this summer. Both Devan and Heather are striving to overcome obstacles that are coming at them from every direction and I can't even tell when I talk to them that they have any fears. Heather is quick to point out her blessings and when I talk to Devan he teaches me because he has such keen insight into the feelings of others. Thank you--both of you!

Now, I will write about Shaun and Brooke. Actually, it is because of watching Brooke hurrying off to get her oldest off to preschool (not knowing that I was watching) that prompted me to reflect on the blessings of my family members. Brooke's children were scrubbed clean, hair combed, backpacks ready and with her one arm full of baby, diaper bag, and I suppose a sack lunch or something, she locked her door and scurried off to get the children seat-belted and on their way. Watching this caused me to pause and reflect on how Brooke (and my children and countless others) are trying to meet the demands of each new day and they do so without complaint. They are full of faith that a loving Father in Heaven is mindful of their needs and their efforts and that he will help them. I thought of new adventures that await Brooke and how excited she gets to be with friends and loved ones. (She actually loves wedding and baby showers!) I enjoy watching her play with her children or I observe the joy that comes to her face as her children do something that makes me or grandpa laugh. She is so cute the way she goes out in the garden and picks produce to share with her little family. I am glad she lives close by. Her enthusiasm is catching.

I have also enjoyed watching Shaun as he preforms his roles as husband, father, son, employee, and advice-giver as it seems he is always on his phone helping someone see the practical side of situations. Thankfully, Shaun is self-motivated and doesn't get discouraged easily. The economy has caused a few set-backs in his plans. So, what has he done? He re-evaluated his goals, set some new ones and has returned to school. Brooke is being very supportive and that helps. Shaun takes time each day to spend with his family. He spreads himself pretty thin with school, work, family, gospel study, odd jobs to make extra money (like selling watermelons). I know he gets tired (like everyone does), but he keeps pushing and keeps doing. Thank you, Shaun.

Last, but not least, are Michelle and Joey. Michelle called this morning all excited by the opportunity to plant some grass. She had everything planned out from tilling the ground to mowing the existing lawn to get its clippings to serve as mulch. She just loves to be out doors. She takes everything in stride. When asked if it's hard having a "special needs" child, she smiles and says "I'd rather have three of him than a 'normal' child. Normal children are hard!" With a love for animals, Michelle and Joey now have 3 dogs, 4 goats, and 6 chickens. I have had some good laughs because Michelle will call to tell me where her free-range chickens have laid eggs. Like a little child, Michelle will exclaim, "It's just like Easter every day. It's so fun looking for the eggs!" Michelle destroys all dullness when you are in her presence and I think she and Joey have two children that are just like her. Ahhhh! Watch out world.

Joey deserves my highest praise, too. Statistics say that he has beat the odds because he stayed in a marriage that had a child with special needs. Adding cancer to that in a child and because Joey didn't abandon ship, he became as rare as the syndrome that his son has. And, during the worst of this challenge, Joey maintained a full-time job and went to church every week even if he had to go alone. (Joey would go to one ward's sacrament meeting, return home, and then tend while Michelle went to another ward's sacrament meeting or vice versa.) Many of Joey's days were spent at work and then the nights were spent at the hospital. Through all of this, I never heard one word of complaint nor did I ever hear words of discouragement though I am sure Joey was discouraged and fearful at times. Both he and Michelle were examples to me during this very hard time and no words can express my thankfulness and admiration to them for "staying the course" in a very difficult situation.

My love goes to all of my family. They have a wonderful example in their father and grandfather, Jeff. I know when the ship sails, everyone that is wise will get on Jeff's ship. Make no mistake about that!!!

Julie B. Beck Women's Conference 2010

2010-06-09T15:47:00.002-06:00

I hope you will take the time to listen to Julie B. Beck's talk at the 2010 Women's Conference. Here is the link: http://www.byutv.org/watch/175-1401

Her advice is sound and strong and I can say that she knows what she is talking about. Please take the time to listen to it often. You can also find it to print for those of you that like to read something over and over again.

Best wishes!

What Can I Do on the Sabbath?

2010-06-08T06:28:00.000-06:00

The Sabbath came and I was not successful in doing much differently than I usually do as per my quest detailed in June 6 blog. Because my sweet little granddaughter was visiting & sick, I did not breech the subject of “no T.V.” We watched the Gnome Mobile and Curious George (probably Sabbath appropriate). I am not giving up, however. In fact, last night at our family home evening group, I told of my dilemma— “I want to keep the Sabbath Day holy in a better way.” Here is the best advice I think anyone could have given me.

Approach the Sabbath Day with a list of appropriate things that CAN be done. The logical reasoning behind this is that if children (or anyone for that matter) are continually told what they cannot do, they will eventually rebel. By nature, people need to know positives—things that they can do. We need to give them ideas and possibilities.

Does this make sense? I am confident that this is a truth that can be applied to many situations in our families. “Tell me what I can do—not what I can’t do.”

The Lord has commanded us to keep the Sabbath day holy. Truly this requires determination and ever-guarded diligence. The world, today, is full of distractions and is not always helpful in our efforts to observe this law and we must be ever-watchful because of this. To help your family, create the above mentioned list of “Sabbath Cans.” Perhaps you could make a “Sunday Brightener Box” containing ideas for Sabbath activities. You might include reading Church magazines, visiting grandparents or shut-ins, writing someone (like missionaries), playing games, etc. Be prayerful about this. What might be appropriate to me may very well be inappropriate to you. Your Sabbath choices are between you, your spouse, your children and the Lord.

Happy Sabbath

2010-06-06T08:19:00.001-06:00

Ahhh! The Sabbath, a day of rest. I think of this day as a day set apart from my regular routine—this makes the day restful. Yes, I feel free to rest my body with a nap. But a change is as good as a rest. I ask myself, “What can I do today that will bring me closer to my Savior?” Or, “What can I do today that will draw me closer to my family and friends?” Always, it comes down to using the day’s time wisely, with prudence, for this time is precious to me.

If my family is gathered around me, it is a good day or so I used to think. Now, being together is not enough for often they may be with me after church; but we are in front of the television watching an appropriate movie (I hope). But alas, being in the same room together does not mean we are interacting with one another—spending time with one another.

If any of my dear readers are like me, do you sometimes feel so tired that you are grateful for the T.V. to entertain so that you can catch a few winks? It has occurred to me that this is the routine. We eat together and then put on a good movie and in minutes the children are playing and the adults are mesmerized to the screen or sawing logs. I see this as my family’s problem—we’re together in body mass but interaction is limited on the Sabbath. I have even had different family members say, “Hey! It’s the Sabbath. I am relaxing.” How do we overcome this restful“ addiction?” I can only see one way. Resist with all the energy of our souls and force ourselves to get up out of the chair and become like the children (isn’t there a scripture about this?)—play with them. Everyone has to be united in this effort. Mom can’t be the only one to initiate this. Dad can’t do a solo. Today, unite! Establish goals for interaction with one another (husband and wife, father and child, mother and child, the whole family). Allow T.V. only for a really special program.

I would love to hear how you spend your Sabbaths. Perhaps someone could give me ideas on how to overcome our restful habits. Time with family is precious. I know this. I just want more quality and quantity time. How about you?

Our Nation WILL Stand!!!

2010-06-05T06:16:00.002-06:00

With all the negatives that are around us, it is good to remember that we must have hope not fear and faith not worry. A good friend of mine (Dorothy Loveridge) sent me the quotes below. I had the thought that these thoughts should be ever-present in our minds. The best thing we can do for our spouse and our children is to trust that our leaders know what they are talking about and establish homes of positive remarks regarding the future of our nation. May we never forget to pray morning and night that our faith will overcome all worry and that we will truly trust in the Lord.

BRUCE R. McCONKIE

“It is our firm conviction as a people that the stars and stripes will be waving triumphantly in the breeze, as a symbol of the greatness and stability of the United States of America , when the Lord comes. This nation was established to be the Lord’s base of operations in this final gospel dispensation. From it the gospel is to go to every other nation and people. The greater its influence among the nations of the world, the more rapidly the gospel spreads. But the Lord has told us that all nations, the United States included, shall cease to be when he comes” (The Millennial Messiah, 491).

JOSEPH SMITH
We are fast approaching that moment prophesied by Joseph Smith when he said: ‘Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction” (Church Historian’s Office, Salt Lake City, July 19, 1840) (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 623 - 624).

JOSEPH SMITH
Words of James Burgess: “In the month of May 1843, several miles east of Nauvoo, the Nauvoo Legion was on parade and review, at the close of which Joseph Smith made some remarks upon our condition as a people and upon our future prospects, contrasting our present condition with our past trials and persecutions by the hands of our enemies; also upon the Constitution and government of the United States, stating that the time would come when the Constitution and government would hang by a brittle thread and would be ready to fall into other hands, but this people, will step forth and save it. . . .I, James Burgess, was present and testify to the above” (The Words of Joseph Smith, 279).

EZRA TAFT BENSON
The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith there would be an attempt to overthrow the country by destroying the Constitution. Joseph Smith predicted that the time would come when the Constitution would hang, as it were, by a thread, and at that time ‘this people will step forth and save it from the threatened destruction’ (Journal of Discourses, 7:15). It is my conviction that the elders of Israel, widely spread over the nation, will at that crucial time successfully rally the righteous of our country and provide the necessary balance of strength to save the institutions of constitutional government” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 618 - 619).

There are some extraordinary and very timely thoughts from President Harold B. Lee (speaking in October 1973)

President Lee:

Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail. This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the New Jerusalem. . . . This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple.

We are living in a time of great crisis. The Country is torn with scandal and with criticism, with faultfinding and condemnation. There are those who have downgraded the image of this nation as probably never before in the history of the country.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. . . . It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through.

We must be on the optimistic side. This is a great nation; this is a great country; this is the most favored of all lands. While it is true that there are dangers and difficulties that lie ahead of us, we must not assume that we are going to stand by and watch the country go to ruin. We should not be heard to predict ills and calamities for the nation. On the contrary, we should be providing optimistic support for the nation.

You must remember . . . that this church is one of the most powerful agencies for the progress of the world, and we should . . . all sound with one voice. We must tell the world how we feel about this land and this nation and should bear our testimonies about the great mission and destiny that it has.

If we do this, we will help turn the tide of this great country and lessen the influence of the pessimists. We must be careful that we do not say or do anything that will further weaken the country. It is the negative, pessimistic comments about the nation that do as much harm as anything to the country today. We who carry these sacred responsibilities must preach the gospel of peace, and peace can only come by overcoming the things of the world. Now, we must be the dynamic force that will help turn the tide of fear and pessimism.

(Excerpts from a talk given at Ricks College Devotional Assembly, “Have Faith in America,” October 26, 1973, and printed in two sources:Ye Are the Light of the World: Selected Sermons and Writings of Harold B. Lee, 340, 350-351, and The Teachings of Harold B. Lee, edited by Clyde J. Williams, 365-366.)

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

2010-06-04T05:34:00.003-06:00

I've often wondered if a person could make their own microwave popcorn bags. Yesterday I found out that they can. Here's a recipe I found. Just think of the savings you can have with this one. Teach your children to make it too. Try it tonight as you gather your family together and play games.

It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Put 1/4 cup popcorn in a brown paper bag. Fold top over a few times and tape it.
2. Place in microwave folded side up for 2 to 3 minutes or until there is 5 seconds between pops.
3. Eat plain or add flavors (such as salt, butter, sugar, etc.)

Can use a tsp. of olive oil & 1/2 tsp. of popcorn salt.

Note: If the folds are tight, no tape or staples are needed. If you do not use oil, you can reuse the bag.

Fridge List

2010-06-03T10:02:00.003-06:00

Make a list of things to do that require little or no supervision from mom or dad and put it on the fridge. When one of your children starts whining and moans “I’m b-o-r-e-d!” He or she can choose from the list. The trick or rule is: Once they are referred to the list, they HAVE to do something on the list before they bother mom or dad again. The last item on the list should always be "Take a nap". Sometimes children just don't realize they are tired until they see this!

Here’s a list to get you started (I found part of this list on the internet but it had no name associated with it to give credit.):

1. Decorate the back patio with sidewalk chalk
2. Make a daisy chain (or dandelions)
3. Take some blank paper and envelopes and decorate your own stationary
4. Get some magazines out of recycling and make a collage
5. Get out your Faith in God book/Duty to God and check something off
6. Paint the dog's toenails
7. Make a border for your room with continuous paper
8. Play with Barbies/Airplanes
9. Measure 10 things with a ruler
10. Get out your last year's school things and play school
11. Make a calendar
12. Decorate bookmarks, "laminate" with clear packing tape
13. Write a poem about something in the yard
14. Blow bubbles or take a bubble bath
15. Make a key tag to hang on your backpack - bead animal, letter beads with your name,or a scripture verse on construction paper then laminated with tape and a hole poked through
16. Make cookies (from a mix, with easy-bake oven, or from scratch). Share them with a neighbor
17. Organize sock drawer
18. Write a play and produce it
19. Make a castle from toilet paper tubes and boxes in recycling
20. Write a letter to a cousin or grandma
21. Write a talk, color pictures to go with it
22. Find a scripture verse you like and type it on the computer/typewriter or write with fancy letters and color
23. Make 9 Bees and write Gordon B. Hinckley's "Be's" on them, hide them for Family Home Evening
24. Play with toy soldiers outside
25. Make a snack with fruit and vegetables
26. Take pictures with digital camera (with permission)
27. Call a friend
28. Look up your favorite animal in the encyclopedia or dictionary
29. Find your house on a map
30. Make a boredom kit for the car or for a friend. Include word searches, "mad libs", drawings to color, and supplies if you have them
31. Fluff up all the pillows in the house
32. Make a birthday card for a friend
33. Play with legos/duplos/building sets/Lincoln logs/Tinkertoy
34. Play a game (Chutes and Ladders, Checkers)
35. Make a list of movies/books you own. Put them in alphabetical order. Make a list of movies/books you would like to own.
36. Make a Christmas/Birthday list
37. Make animals out of pipe cleaners
38. Change your bed
39. Have a picnic
40. Read a book
41. Make something with Origami paper
42. Pick some flowers in the yard, put in vase
43. Do a secret good deed :)
44. Look in your Scout book and decide on something you can finish today/Work on your collection
45. Decorate old socks for a puppet show
46. Sing a song
47. Clean out a drawer; give items to someone in need
48. Play a musical instrument in the house or outside.
49. look at old pictures or scrapbooks
50. Visit an elderly neighbor or someone that is ill
51. Make up a recipe and share it with the family
52. Lay on the grass and look at the clouds and make a list of all the items you can find in the clouds
53. Go for a bicycle ride
54. Take a bath
55. Take a nap

Now, consider your children's interests and add to this list. I think I'll go take a bath.

Give Your Family the Gift of Your Time—That’s Really What It’s All About!

2010-06-02T06:48:00.001-06:00

Well, the vacation and down time are over and it’s time to get back to my love of sharing ideas of what I think could help families grow stronger.

I may repeat some ideas on a regular basis and that’s because I think we all need reminders—a shot in the arm—a pick-me-up. Hey, we need to read our scriptures daily and go to church to get reminders, don’t we? And I know from experience that I may have read a scripture a hundred times and then, all of a sudden one day, I may get a totally different insight to the scripture’s message. We’ve all experienced this I’m sure. So, here are a few reminders:

1) Always put your family first (and that includes your spouse). 2) Have Family Home Evening weekly. This is a must. 3) Eat together as a family at least once a day. Be prepared with questions to stimulate positive conversation. 4) Spend time individually with each family member on a regular basis. Be creative—have dates. 5) Support one another with hobbies and interests. Go to recitals, sporting events, classes or lessons. Share in one another’s interests. 6) Work together then play together. 7) Keep communication open and friendly. Be available to talk with your children at bedtime or whenever opportunities surface. 8) Avoid built-in babysitters—T.V., computers, electronic games. These are “black holes” that valuable time gets lost in. 9) Plan excursions. Everyone gets excited when they have something to look forward to. 10) Find things that you family can enjoy together such a reading, camping, sporting events, arts and crafts, cooking, art, bicycling and do them together. 11) Never forget to pray together and study scriptures together. 12) Have the rule that everyone goes to church every week and shares (upon the return home) something that they learned or enjoyed at church.

The Cycle of Life

2010-05-28T14:59:00.003-06:00

I've been wondering ever since last night when we witnessed first hand a part of nature that is amazing and yet sad, if animals can move on after loosing their little ones. When a mother dog or cat have their babies taken from them, do they mourn the loss? When an aged animal dies, do other animals that knew it, feel the loss, too.

Last night, a mother grizzly and her two cubs killed a baby elk. The mother elk chased back and forth for quite some time after the baby was taken down. Everyone was in awe with this natural thing of nature and it was pretty fun seeing the baby cubs. But I couldn't help wonder if the mother elk hurt badly inside by her heart.

This morning we ran into a man (Jim)we met a couple of days ago as we were looking for wolves. We told him about our grizzly experience and I told him how I wondered about the animals' feelings. He referred me to a book "The Emotional Feelings of Animals" by Marc Beckoff (I hope this is right). Jim said that evidence shows that animals do have feelings and they have their way of showing respect for the dead. I thought, perhaps, this is a subject that parents could explore and teach their children about. Just a suggestion. I know I want to gain perspective.

The Adventures of Yellowstone

2010-05-27T08:09:00.002-06:00

We've been having a lovely time in Yellowstone. I would recommend this trip to anyone who has a love of outdoor life and the animal kingdom. Also, if you want a chance to get to know your family better, confinement in a car for 8 or more hours gives you that chance. That's my suggestion today. Plan vacations with your family often.

Thus far, we have enjoyed seeing many bear. One sighting on Sunday with Grandpa and Grandma Bennett (before Joey and Michelle arrived) we saw a mother grizzly with 4 cubs. A man told us that this is only the 4th known quad births since 1945. Wow! That day we saw black bear and cubs twice and another grizzly.

Of course, we have seen elk, moose, deer, buffalo, mountain goats, marmot, squirrels, muskrat, geese, pelicans, cranes, osprey, and much scenery. The weather has been cooperative with snow, rain, sun, wind, and cooler temperatures.

We were sad when grandpa and grandma announced yesterday morning that they were going home in time to see Roger before he leaves on his trip. I think grandpa just can't sit still for many days before he gets antsy.

Best wish to all. The vacations teach you a lot about loved ones and it certainly helps teach one how to open up and communicate more. Love to all.

101 Ways to Praise Your Child

2010-05-22T04:09:00.001-06:00

Yesterday I gave you 101 ways to be a child. Now, today, I give you 101 ways to praise your child:

Wow, Way to go, Super, You’re Special, Outstanding, Excellent, Great, Good, Neat, Well Done, Remarkable, I knew you could do it, I’m proud of you, Fantastic, Super Star, Nice work, Looking good, You’re on top of it, Beautiful, Now you’re flying, You’re catching on, Now You’ve got it, You’re incredible, Bravo, You’re fantastic, Hurray for you, You’re on target, You’re on your way, How nice, How smart, Good job, That’s incredible, Hot dog, Dynamite, You’re beautiful, You’re unique, Nothing can stop you now, Good for you, I like you, You’re a winner, Remarkable job, Beautiful work, Spectacular, You’re spectacular, You’re darling, You’re precious, Great discovery, You’ve discovered the secret, You figured it out, Fantastic job, Hip, hip, hurray, Bingo, Magnificent, Marvelous, Terrific, You’re important, Phenomenal, You’re sensational, Super work, Creative job, super job, Out of this world, Exceptional performance, You’re a real trooper, You are responsible, You are exciting, You learned it right, What an imagination, What a good listener, You are fun, You’re growing up, You tried hard, You care, Beautiful sharing, Outstanding performance, You’re a good friend, I trust you, You’re important, You mean a lot to me, You make me happy, you belong, You’ve got a friend, You make me laugh, You brighten my day, Good listening, I respect you, You mean the world to me, That’s correct, You’re a joy, You’re a treasure, You’re wonderful, You’re perfect, Awesome, A+ job, You’re A-O-K my buddy, You made my day, That’s the best, A big hug, A big kiss, “I love you.”

PS: Remember, a smile is worth 1000 words!

101 Ways to be a Child

2010-05-21T06:20:00.001-06:00

We are told we should become as little children so I am always searching for ways to do so. I thought you might enjoy a trip down imagination’s lane with these ideas I found in an old school teacher’s looseleaf at the very front of the book.

Climb trees, Blow bubbles, Play in Sandboxes, Make mud pies, Pick Four-leaf Clovers, Take Naps, Fingerpaint, Cut my own hair, fight dragons, Drink lemonade, Go barefoot, Make prank phone calls, Jump rope, Consult imaginary friends, Save pennies, Take bubble bathes, Read Dr. Suess, Have sleep-overs, Pick apples, Walk in the rain, Be Tarzan, Be a princess, Shoot BB guns, Play kissing tag, Sing in the shower, Look at the sky, Have picnics, Feed the ducks, Build snowmen, Shout as loud as I want, Smell flowers, Fall down and get up, Go to the beach, Leave my clothes on the floor, Daydream, Play cowboys and Indians, Have show and tell, Stay up late, Act sill, Ride bikes, Wander around, Eat dessert before dinner, Dance, Color on walls, Roll down grassy hills, watch cartoons, Be spontaneous, Ice skate, Visit the zoo, Ask lots of questions, Play practical jokes, Swing on swings, Run through sprinklers, Listen to music, Find the end of rainbows, Eat Lucky Charms, Build hideouts, love, Make friends with the other kids on the block, Share, Have grass fights, Build sandcastles, Search for hidden treasure, Lick icicles, Collect spiders, Make believe, Sleep in, Run up the down escalator, Watch scary movies, Jump, Play hopscotch, Fight pirates, Celebrate birthday parties, Have pillow fights, Do nothing, Play hide and seek, Eat ice cream cones, Run in wild fields, Count stars, Ride the carousel, Jump in mud puddles, Buy toys, Climb in dryers, Tell ghost stories, Fly kites, Be a clown, Play with matches, Dress up, Say hello to everyone, Eat Jello with my fingers, Go to the park, Leave my bed unmade, Eat cotton candy, Feel joy, Talk with animals, Wear yesterday’s socks, Pick dandelions, Keep secrets, Learn new stuff, Laugh and cry, Hold hands, Follow my heart.

How are you doing? I have concluded that there is still a lot of kid in me and I bet there is in you, too!

A Zest For Life

2010-05-20T09:37:00.001-06:00

I am writing this to women but it could be adapted to a man with the use of a little imagination on his part.

We all know women who have that “special glow.” They can walk in a room and people feel better. People are drawn to these women like bees to a flower; attracted by their joyous attitudes and loving smiles. These women are not party girls nor are they necessarily beautiful. Such women are often quiet and you would not look twice at them in a crowd. But there is something that draws you to these kind of women. They warm your heart—make you feel better about life. These women embrace life with their whole hearts—with passion!

Ask yourself: Am I a woman of passion? Do I embrace life with my whole heart? Do I love God with all of my being? Or, do I hang back, lukewarm and afraid to fully commit myself to the adventure of living? Here are some ways you can embrace life and cultivate passion:

1) Appreciate life itself. Enjoy the details of God’s Creation. Rejoice in the small things as well as the large. Look around you and see how amazing and wondrous life is.
2) Seek out new experiences. Live your life as an adventure—never let it become a routine chore. Always be open to learning something new.
3) Be active, not passive. Don’t sit around and let life pass you by. Join in. Don’t sit back and complain. Get up out of your chair and play. Try an experiment. See if you can go 24 hours without complaining. Then, make a gratitude list with the title “I Am Thankful For…”on a sheet of paper with three headings underneath the title and across the top: “Things,” “People,” “Other.” List what you are thankful for as they apply to each heading. After you have made your list, read it four times in a twenty-four hour period. Really try to sense the gratitude you should feel for all that you have.
4) Cultivate beauty. Plant a garden. Put flowers on your kitchen table. Buy something you consider lovely and wear it proudly. Go to a museum or and art gallery. Take up a new hobby such as painting or quilting. Create beauty as well as enjoying it.
5) Reach out to others. Smile often. Get to know people who are different from you . Appreciate and enjoy their differences. Really listen when you are in a conversation. Give each person your full attention—including your children and your husband. Show affection. Be encouraging.
6) Add spice and color to your days. Try new foods, new recipes from exotic places. Learn new forms of exercise. Get in touch with your body. Stretch your body. Break up your routine. Surprise your husband by planning a date. Give him a gift for no occasion— “just because….” Be spontaneous and do something fun on the spur of the moment.
7) Lighten up. In other words cultivate your sense of humor. Laugh more. Take to heart the biblical command to “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
8) Share your blessings with others.
9) Never be afraid to be passionate about your faith. Love God with your whole heart, mind, body, and spirit. He will be your never-failing source of passion and zest for life.

Here are just a few things you might consider doing: 1) Sign up for a class in a subject that intrigues you. 2) Create a new recipe. 3) Try a new restaurant or order a new dish the next time you go out to eat. 4) Throw a party for all your friends—just to celebrate life. 5) Read a travel book or adventure story. 6) Plan a trip to an exotic locale that you would love to see.

How will doing any or all of the above apply to strengthening your family? Well, let me just say, “If mamma ain’t happy there ain’t nobody goin’ to be happy.” Or as my husband says, “Happy wife, happy life.” Or, “When your cup is full, you can better share with others.” (Please note that some of my thoughts come from inspiration from a little book entitled, “Checklist for Life For Women, pp. 158-160)

What Can I Learn From a Child?

2010-05-19T05:54:00.001-06:00

This morning as I read from the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 3:18-19, about becoming as a little child, I had the thought, "blessed are they that have little children in their midst; and wise are they that take the time to be with them, play with them, try to understand them and learn from them." They are our teachers (if we will let them)—here to teach us how to become what Heavenly Father would have us be—submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things that Father sees fit to inflict upon us.

For a long time I have known—if you want to learn about someone, you spend time in their home. The same holds true to learn how to become like a little child, one must spend time with children doing the things that they do.

Many of us have this blessed gift right before us and we fail to see it. Cherish the gift and enjoy it!

Something to Think About; Something to Talk About

2010-05-18T06:14:00.001-06:00

As I read the following scriptures and commentary this morning, I thought that it was something to remember and apply and teach to our families on a regular basis—we must never forget:

“And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him. And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?” (Mosiah 2: 23-24)

To go with this, I read the following by Joseph F. Smith:

“I believe that one of the greatest sins of which the inhabitants of the earth are guilty today is the sin of ingratitude, the want of acknowledgement, on their part, of God and his right to govern and control. We see a man raised up with extraordinary gifts, or with great intelligence, and he is instrumental in developing some great principle. He and the world ascribe his great genius and wisdom to himself, He attributes his success to his own energies, labor and mental capacity. He does not acknowledge the hand of God in anything connected with his success, but ignores him altogether and takes the honor to himself; this will apply to almost all the world. In all the great modern discoveries in science, in the arts, in mechanics, and in all material advancement of the age, the world says, ‘We have done it.’ The individual says, ‘I have done it,’ and he gives no honor or credit to God. Now, I read in the revelations through Joseph Smith, the prophet, that because of this, God is not pleased with the inhabitants of the earth but is angry with them because they will not acknowledge his hand in all things.” (Gospel Doctrine pp. 270-71)

Brigham Young said:

“We are not our own, we are bought with a price, we are the Lord’s; our time, our talents, our gold and silver, our wheat and fine flour, our wine and our oil, our cattle, and all there is on this earth that we have in our possession is the Lord’s….
“...There is no man who ever made a sacrifice on this earth for the Kingdom of heaven, that I know anything about, except the Savior. He drank the bitter cup to the dregs, and tasted for every man and for every woman, and redeemed the earth and all things upon it. But he was God in the flesh, or he could not have endured it. ‘But we suffer, we sacrifice, we give something, we have preached so long.’ What for? ‘Why, for the Lord.’ I would not give the ashes of a rye straw for the man who feels that he is making sacrifice for God. We are doing this for our own happiness, welfare and exaltation, and for nobody else’s. This is the fact, and what we do, we do for the salvation of the inhabitants of the earth, not for the salvation of the heavens, the angels, or the Gods.” (Discourses of Brigham Young, pp. 176-77)

A Project With Each of Your Children or Grandchildren

2010-05-17T07:44:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I had a delightful time in an effort to complete a five-generation pedigree chart on a few of my family lines. The time spent was so pleasurable that I was amazed that five hours had passed without even an urge to eat or sleep or move around. Now, this morning, the thought struck me for a wonderful activity with your children.

Why not prepare a pedigree chart for each of them to display in their bedroom. One could make it as simple or as eloquent (with pictures, etc.) as desired. The fun of doing it together is what I am envisioning. There are so many internet sites that would enable you to find records and pictures of ancestors. I found success by Googling names that I knew and wallaaaa… there was the name. Of course, not every name was easy to find, but I did have lots of success. In fact, just for fun, I followed one name through and it carried me almost exactly to 1000 AD! (Of course I had to write them all down on the back of my poster-size pedigree chart for future reference.)

I am confident your children will be amazed with the names, dates and places of birth and deaths that you will find about your ancestors. I can’t wait to tell my Rachael Ann about an ancestor with the name of Rachel Ann Canarda. She was born in Tennessee in 1813. I didn’t even know we had ancestors from Tennessee!

Anyway, you get the idea I hope. Spend some pleasurable time making these pedigree charts with your children or grandchildren and I know you’ll never have any regrets.

Plan a Fox and the Hound Night (Perhaps for Family Home Evening tomorrow night)

2010-05-16T06:01:00.001-06:00

First, watch the Movie “The Fox and the Hound. Be sure to include popcorn or other treats. After the movie play this new version (to me) of a very old game—Checkers. It’s called “Fox and Hounds.” Perhaps you could have a tournament to see who can win as the Fox the most. Here’s the details:

What You Need:
Checker board
5 checkers (1 of one color and 4 of the second color)
Instructions:

1) First, decide who will be the fox (a single checker of one color) and who will be the hounds (4 checkers of the second color). Set up the “hounds” on one end of the board on black squares. The “fox” can choose any of the black squares in the row at the opposite end of the game board.

2) The pieces are moved diagonally as in checkers, one square at a time, but the hounds can only go forward, while the fox can go backward too. There's no jumping or capturing; the fox is always up against four hounds. Turns are taken alternately by the fox and then one of the hounds.

3) The hounds win by trapping the fox (so he can't make any more moves); the fox wins by evading the hounds and making his way to one of the hounds' home squares.

You may need more than one Checkers games if you have multiple family members that can play. I have also thought that multiple players could be the hounds in a game and turns could be taken in a rotation basis. (One hound, then the fox, then a different hound, then the fox, then yet again, another hound and then the fox. And so on.) This would take team work on the part of the different hounds. But hey, in a real fox hunt, everyone has to cooperate to catch the fox, too. I don’t know if this would work since I have no multiple family members at my home right now but I think it could be pretty fun.

Some Good Questions to Ask Yourself Often

2010-05-15T07:48:00.003-06:00

Here’s are some questions I think everyone should ask herself:

“If I don't change what I'm doing each day, will I ever get what I want or achieve the goals I have for myself or my family?”

More Specifically: “Are my daily actions bringing me closer to my goals?” If not, don't expect things to change anytime soon.

What are your goals for yourself and for your family? If you don't know, take time, today, to get them firmly planted in your mind. Better yet, write them down, make a plan to accomplish them. Give yourself a target date to accomplish them. And then, always remember the check-up question that I first asked.

Enough said, today.

Scavenger Hunt a Room

2010-05-14T05:56:00.000-06:00

My purpose in writing, so often, is to give ideas that are quick and easy and that can add to spontaneous family interaction. I don’t know that it matters how quirky the idea may seem, the important thing is that time be spent together as a family having fun, being silly, and never too critical. Just laugh—have fun—be together. Keeping these things in mind here’s today’s idea.

This could be instigated by a parent but I’ll bet your children will soon be wanting to create their own scavenger hunts in different rooms of the house (and I can picture some of my sweet, great nephews creating them at the cabin, in the chapel [but let’s be reverent], or at Grandma’s).

Here’s a list of things to look for in a room. (You may wish to adapt it to your room.) Challenge each child to find at least one answer to every question:
1) What is made of wood? 2) What is made of plastic? 3) What is made of metal? 4) What is taller than you are? 5) What is shorter than you are? 6) Can you find something that starts with the letter “J?” 7) Find something that is orange. 8) Can you name something that has corners? 9) What has wheels? 10) Can you find something that is too heavy for you to lift by yourself? 11) Is there something in the room that you can see through? 12) Can you find something that locks? 13) Can you find something that buttons? 14) Can you find something that is rough? 15) Can you find something that is round? 16) Can you find something that hangs?

Parents, be sure to help younger children participate. Also, be sure to allow time for everyone to share what they found at the end of the activity. Older siblings could certainly create their own scavenger hunts—even out doors in the yard.

Another Activity for Summertime Fun

2010-05-13T05:12:00.001-06:00

We’ll call this “Library Book Hunt.” This activity will help keep your child’s reading skills up to par for the return to school in the fall. Here’s what you do. On a 3 x 5 card make a form that says “In the library, I want to find a book about: (Then list the following) an animal, an athlete, a detective, a monster, a mystery, an outer space adventure, United States History, a scientist, a famous person, a family, a holiday, a place I would like to travel, an ocean adventure, and other (child’s choice). Now, make as many cards as there are children and give one to each of them. Have them put their names on their cards. Then, by the subject they wish to borrow a book about, have them put a check mark. It’s now time to go to the library.

Ask the librarian to explain the basic layout of the room, then let your children inspect the shelves until they each find the type of book they indicated they wanted on their 3 x 5 card.

This would be a really nice one-on-one activity for mom or dad to go on with just one child at a time. Repeat visits during the summer would help your child complete the project I described on May 7, 2010.

We’ll make good readers out of them yet!

— “What’s in Your Name” Game for families with children that can read and write.

2010-05-12T05:40:00.000-06:00

Start out by asking your children, “What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you do?” The answer: "Your name!"

Now, write down all participating family member’s names (first and last) on the top of individual papers. Mix them up and pass one name to each participant. If someone gets his own name, trade it with someone else. Now the fun begins.

With a set time period, challenge participants to create as many words as they can from the letters in the name at the top of their paper.

After the set time period has elapsed, have each participant read the words he was able to find.

If you wanted to, you could then talk about names and your family name and how important it is to live so that the name is always thought of “for good.”

How Much Work Should a Child Work if a Good Child Should Work Could?

2010-05-11T05:40:00.001-06:00

I know, the title is pretty lame, but I thought of it after watching a Wood Chuck in our yard today. (I’m writing this on Saturday.) My son, Shaun, was working (hard) on a project and the wood chuck was diverting Shaun’s attention from the work that needed to be done. I thought of the tongue twister, “How much wood would a wood chuck, chuck, if a wood chuck could chuck wood?”

I had already decided that I would write about our family’s policy for work when our children were growing up. And since there have been many a time we have been asked why our children are such hard workers, I thought I might share our policy.

When our children were in school, their main jobs were to be sure that homework was done because that was their work. In addition, 1/2 hour chore was required each day. During the summer, 1 hour of work was required each day. (Of course, Sunday was and is always observed as a day of rest.) On Saturdays, everyone worked until the work was done and then we played together if plans were such or the children were free to play the things of their choice. If they complained of boredom, they were warned that we could find something more for them to do if they wanted to complain. Thus, they learned to use their free time with discretion. If we announced, “the ox is in the mire,” that meant everyone was needed for a longer period of time and everyone pitched in. Our children would sometimes complain that their friends didn’t have to work but we tried to teach our children that life is not a free ride and since they were a part of our family they needed to work, too. We had to remind them once in a while that if dad or mom decided to quit working, and if other families parents quit working, society would pretty much fall apart. If the children claimed to be too tired or sick to work, we insisted that they must stay in bed and act the part of a sick person. Truly, if the children felt well, it wasn’t long until they wanted to be up helping with the work because it surely beat staying in bed all day.

When the children were old enough to do laundry, they were responsible for their own laundry. Of course, this meant that sometimes the washer and dryer were used non-stop on Saturdays and when the children were teens, clothes were laundered more frequently than we parents thought necessary, but laundry was certainly not a big deal for them when they went to college, on missions, or got married. Cooking was encouraged as soon as the children could read and understand how to follow a recipe. And, if they made messes while cooking, they knew they had to help clean them up, too.

When our sons were old enough, they went to work with Jeff occasionally. (We were blessed to have our own business.) When they turned 16, they worked whenever they could to earn money for their expenses.

I guess our children’s confidence waxed strong in the area of work because it was always part of their life and they learned how much could be accomplished in just 1/2 hour or 1 hour a day. Like anything else, steady and slow accomplishes the goal.

Family Home Evening--The Responsibility of Choice

2010-05-10T06:25:00.005-06:00

Once a month I make a Family Home Evening Lesson to share with those who are in my church. I thought others may benefit from this, too. I apologize to those in my church who may have already used this lesson. Here it is:

LESSON IDEA:“The Responsibility of Choice” Please adjust lessons to age, time & needs of your family members.
Hymn #240, “Know This, That Every Soul Is Free”
Scriptures to Reference: Moses 4:1, 3; Moses3:15-17; Moses 5:15.

David O. McKay said the above “three passages demonstrate three fundamentals of life. First, that the Lord considered man’s free agency, his right to choose, so vital that he permitted what is referred to as a war in heaven; so vital that those who were with him in the spirit world had their choice to follow the dictator, known as the Evil One.

“The second was the privilege that those first parents had to take upon themselves mortality. You may choose, but remember, if you choose to take upon yourselves that mortality referred to as The Fall, then you shut yourselves out from his presence and you ‘shall surely die.’

“Third, Adam heard the voice of God ‘toward the garden.’ And the Lord gave him commandments, and said: ‘Offer unto me (Unto God) the firstlings of your flocks,’ and by inference we conclude ‘the best that you raise in the garden and the field.’ See what that means in developing spirituality? The first of the flock is the most luscious, the most tender, the best fleece. Selfishness, the animal nature, would say, ‘I want that,’ but God, knowing that the highest purpose of man is to develop the spirit within him, said, ‘Give the firstlings to God, thinking not of self, but of something higher.’ What a sublime purpose! What an essential purpose! It was as if the Lord said: ‘You who live in the earth need the experience to know good from evil, and to live not for yourself but for God. Whatever you do, do in his name. Therein is glimpsed the whole purpose of life.’” (Stepping Stones to an Abundant Life, pp 47-49.)

Goethe said, “Life is a quarry, out of which we are to mold and chisel and complete a character.”
We can choose but we must always remember, “For inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, ye have done it unto me.” (D&C 42:38) We can choose:
1) Selfishness or we can deny ourselves for the good of others.
2) Indulgence of appetite, passion, or we can develop restraint & self-control.
3) Licentiousness or chastity.
4) We can encourage hate or develop love.
5) We can practice cruelty or we can be kind.
6) We can be cynical or we can be sanguine—hopeful.
7) We can be traitorous—disloyal to those who love us, to our country, to the Church or to God or we can choose to be loyal.
8) We can be deceitful or we can be honest and have “our word be our bond.”
9) We can be slanderous or we can control our tongue.

No matter what problem you face in your daily life, always remember:

You are the person who has to decide
Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside.
You are the person who makes up your mind
Whether you’ll lead or will linger behind
Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s far
Or just be contented to stay where you are.

Whatever it is you are wanting to be,
Remember, to fashion the choice you are free.
Kindly or selfish, or gentle or strong,
Keeping the right way or taking the wrong,
Careless of honor or guarding your pride, All these are questions which you must decide.

Yours the selection, whichever you do;
The thing men call character’s all up to you.
(author unknown)

At this point in the lesson, you might ask family members if the world would be a better place if everyone tried to live the above 9 positive sides of the choices listed. If they can see that doing good to others, having self-control, being chaste, kind, etc. would make the world a better place, you can bear testimony that these things are true and right because the world would be a better place and our Father in Heaven and Jesus would be very pleased.

Refreshment idea: Make two or three desserts for family members to choose from. Tell them they can only choose one. Make all desserts look nice but make one particularly attractive and appealing. In this dessert add salt instead of sugar. Then, when one or all family members eat this, point out that they chose it. Make the comparison that there are always choices to be made in life and often the things that seem to be the funnest, most adventurous, most beautiful, etc. can be very appealing. One must be prayerful and cautious and look for possible consequences for choices that face them. A guide might be to ask themselves: “What would Jesus do?” “Would my choice help make the world a better, safer place?”

Guide for Responsible Decision Making

1- Define the problem.
2- Explore the alternatives.
3- Apply criteria for responsible decision making to each alternative:

***Would the results of my decision be healthful?
***Would the results of my decision be safe?
***Would the results of my decision be legal?
***Would the results of my decision show respect for others?
***Would the results of my decision follow my parent’s or guardian’s guidelines?

4- Identify values.
5- Make a prayerful, responsible decision and act upon it.
6- Evaluate your actions.

A CHANCE FOR THE FAMILY TO INTERACT:

Prepare in advance:
A Pot of soup or stew.
Attach spoons to arm-length dowels or get enough arm-length wooden spoons for each family member. Be prepared to attach a spoon to each family member’s arm by tying or taping the spoons above the elbow and on the forearm thus making it impossible to bend the elbow (You’ll understand why in a minute).
Read the following story so that you can understand the purpose for the long spoons.
Without telling family members the story, invite them to eat their soup or stew. Have fun with this. Take pictures, laugh, enjoy.
Later, you can share the story if needed. And if there are those that never thought of helping each other, assure them that that’s why we are still on earth—to learn from our experience. Ask them what they might do to assure that if a similar experience occurs in a real-life situation, that they will “think” to put others before themselves.

STORY (author unknown): A man had a dream that he had a conversation with the Lord and he asked, “Lord, I would like to know what Heaven and Hell are like.” So, the Lord led the man to two doors.

He opened one of the doors and the man looked in. In the middle of the room was a large round table. In the middle of the table was a large pot of stew which smelled delicious and made the man’s mouth water.

The people sitting around the table were thin and sickly. They appeared to be famished. They were holding spoons with very long handles that were strapped to their arms and each found it possible to reach into the pot of stew and take a spoonful. But, because the handle was long and attached to the length of their arms, they could not get the spoons back into their mouths.

The man shuddered at the sight of their misery and suffering.

The Lord said, “You have seen Hell.”

The Lord led the man to the next room and opened the door. Everything in the room appeared to be the same. There was the large round table with the large pot of stew which made the man’s mouth water. The people were equipped with the same long-handled spoons, but here the people were well-nourished and plump and they were laughing and talking. The man turned to the Lord and said, “I don’t understand.”

“It is simple,” said the Lord. “It requires but one skill. You see they have learned to feed each other, while the greedy think only of themselves.” Again, it’s all about CHOICE!

Ask yourself: Which position would I find myself in? Remember, when Christ died on the cross, he was thinking of you. Remember, “I will always share my spoon with you.”

Lazy Lady Stew

2 lbs. cubed stew meat
10 oz. pkg. frozen peas or 16 oz can of tiny peas
1 C sliced carrots
2 onions, chopped
2 potatoes, pared and sliced
1 tsp. salt
Dash of pepper
1 can cream of tomato soup
1/2 soup can water
1 bay leaf

Serves 4: Mix all ingredients in a large casserole. Cook, covered, in a 275 degree oven for 6 hours. The stew meat can be put in frozen, but increase the cooking time by 1 hour. Not only is this stew delicious, but it is unbelievably easy. Serve with Home Style Cornbread and a green salad. (You can easily double or triple these proportions and feed a crowd.)

Home Style Cornbread

1 C yellow cornmeal
1 C flour
1/4 C sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C milk
1 egg
1/4 C vegetable oil

Make 1 dozen muffins, 14 corn sticks or 1 8-inch square pan: Mix cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add milk, egg and shortening and beat until smooth. Pour into greased or lined muffin tins, or corn stick pans and bake at 425 degrees 15-20 minutes. It can also be baked in a greased 8-inch square pan at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

A Book Of Their Own In No Time At All

2010-05-09T05:51:00.001-06:00

I have few regrets concerning my life. Today, however, I do wish to share one thing that I wish I would have had the insight to do—to follow through on, and that is helping each of my children to start a journal, a book written by them in their handwriting, illustrated by them, told in their own words.

It really would have been quite simple if I had established a time each day or each week for journaling and made that time sacred. I think...no...I know I was always too focused on “get the work done so we can relax and watch a good show on television or a movie in the VCR.” (Here’s the subject of the blasted TV again. My! It’s a time waster!)

At any rate, I know I don’t remember the shows we watched; but I surely would like to remember some of the things my children said and the things they did. I would love to read from a journal that they wrote. And, I am sure my children would like to read about their experiences and thoughts of childhood, too.

A few weeks ago, I found a box of things my daughter, Michelle, kept from her school years. There were little books her teachers had had her make that were so precious. As I read some of her thoughts in her childhood handwriting, I had the thought that I had no idea she was really concerned about certain things. In recent years she has told me of her childhood concerns and I had wondered how exact Michelle’s memory really was; but now, here I found these concerns written down and they had been real.

So, take some advice from someone that can tell you what you will regret if your children grow up too soon and you have no record of their childhood from their perspective. Have your children start journaling! Be firm on this. Have your whole family start sitting down together with a journal in front of each person and have each family member write about his day and or week. Encourage each writer to record personal experiences, funny incidents, scary moments, exciting times, hopes and wishes, unusual dreams, personal thoughts, things learned in school, holiday fun and summertime happenings.

If you are faithful in daily or weekly writing time, it won’t be long before each family member will have written a book. Then, I know you will have no regrets.

A Mother's Day Gift

2010-05-08T05:17:00.002-06:00

This would be neat for children to make for mothers or your family could work together and make them for the grandmas in their lives. It is really quite simple and very inexpensive but it could be a treasure for a long time.

Flower Pot Bell

What you’ll need:
small clay pot
large wooden bead
string or twine
paint
flat wooden paddle to catch the wind

Directions:
Turn the clay pot upside down and decorate with acrylic paints. Be creative! The kids hand prints, a simple picture, fun designs, anything goes! (Hint: paint pens or markers are as easy to use) Even little your littlest scribbler can enjoy decorating his upside-down pot! (Optional: spray with craft sealant to preserve for years to come!)

To assemble: Loop the twine and make a BIG knot in it. Run the loop through the hole of the pot so that it can be used for hanging your wind bell. Run the other end of the twine through the wooden bead so that the bead will clack against the insides of the pot. Make a hole in the flat paddle and insert the end of the string and tie to keep in place. (This "paddle" can be a flat wooden shape sold at craft stores or a used lid from a canning jar—anything that will catch the wind - why not paint it, too?!) Hang your wind bell and enjoy!

Make Plans for Summertime Reading

2010-05-07T07:05:00.001-06:00

I think the following idea (if followed through with) would be very beneficial for your child and the outcome would be a treasure to be talked about and remembered for years to come.

Get a sketch pad or binder with blank paper for each child. Have art supplies ready for all. Now, have your children read books of their choosing during the summer. Each time your child finishes reading a book, ask him to write down the book’s title and author. Then have him draw his favorite scene from the story. As each picture is completed, add it to the child's binder.

This binder will grow thicker as more and more books are read and illustrations are made. Can you imagine Grandma admiring the creative work? Can you imagine your child’s sense of accomplishment as he reviews all the books read and pictures drawn. Over a period of time, your budding artist may even see improvement in his art ability. I wish I would have had this motivation as a child. I loved to draw but could never think of new things to draw. Books could really give way to your child’s imagination with drawing.

DOOR TRIVIA

2010-05-06T10:40:00.002-06:00

This might be something fun and that you might wish to start planning for school’s end and summertime stimulation. Post different trivia questions on a main door in your home (perhaps the drinking glass cupboard door). Challenge your children to find the an answer to that day’s question by the following evening for dinner. Then, have an enjoyable table conversation about what was learned. Of course, in the beginning you may need to give help in teaching your children how to investigate, but hey, isn’t this your goal—to have more ways to interact positively with your children? This has many benefits for the doing. Your child has something fun and stimulating to do each day. He keeps his mind open to learning. You will have things to talk about around the dinner table. As already mentioned, you will have a motivation for positive interaction.

To make this even more fun, you could create a rewards program if the reward of “learning” is not enough. 1) If you have more than one child participating, participants of each day could have their name put in box for a drawing that is held weekly or monthly. 2) You could have a prize box for participants to choose from. 3) The winning child of the day could be excused from a chore. 4) Coupons could be earned by a point system and then redeemed when earned. I guess part of the fun of this idea is for you to decide what would best fit the needs of your family. Even the “door question” could be made specifically for each child in the family according to age and you could color code the child’s question thus older children’s questions could be harder than younger children’s questions.

Now, here is a list of possible questions you might ask (just to get your brain flowing):

1) Where was George Washington born? 2) How old is Mickey Mouse? 3) What is the world’s longest river? 4) What is the world’s tallest mountain? 5) How many Presidents of the United States have their been? 6) How heavy was the heaviest person in the world? 7) Why do people’s voices changes when the breath in helium? 8) Why do people hiccup? 9) Why do leaves change color in the fall? 10) What famous people share your birthday?

One Way to a Man’s Heart

2010-05-05T06:38:00.003-06:00

Today is my sweetheart, Jeff’s, birthday. Of all he could have asked for, for his birthday, he wants me to make him his chicken pot pie. It’s really quite simple to make but this is the pie he raves about. When I make it, he does something that he has never done for any other meal—he talks about it for a few days past the pleasure of it. Through the years, I have often asked Jeff what he would like for dinner and he has always said, “Anything.” Now, if I ask him, he will say, “How about one of your fantastic meat pies?” Thus, today I share a pie recipe that is a direct way to my man’s heart. Maybe your sweetheart will love it too!

Chicken Pot Pie:
2 C cubed cooked chicken (or turkey)
1 C sliced carrots
1 C chopped onions
1 can cream of chicken soup
Milk (to brush on pie crust)
1/4 C chopped celery
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/4 C butter
1 C diced potatoes
1 can of corn or frozen corn
Pastry for 2 crusts (When I have limited time, I buy pre-made crusts in the refrigerator section of the store. Now, making the pie is not so overwhelming, either.)

In a frying pan, melt the butter and add the thyme and pepper. Add the carrots, onions, celery and potatoes. Turn frequently. Sauté until carrots and potatoes are almost tender. Stir in soup, chicken and corn. Add filling to a 9” pastry-lined pie dish. Lay the other pastry on top. (Be sure to vent.) Brush top pastry with milk (This makes the top golden brown when baked.) Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Enjoy! Serves 4 people if your husband loves it like mine does or 8 people if they can control themselves.

Note, if there is too much filling, save the leftovers for lunch the next day. They are great without a crust.

Additional Note: I love to make a beef version by frying 1 lb. of hamburger with the onions. I then add the butter and seasonings and all of the vegetables and fry them until tender. I then add the can of soup or about 2 cups of brown gravy. (Jeff likes the brown gravy.) Instead of corn I might add peas. Jeff loves this version, too.

I hope this will add to your collection of recipes that lead you to your man’s heart. Oh, and I love it, too!!!

Travel Fun and Interaction

2010-05-04T05:45:00.004-06:00

I think the reason I love to get in a car with my family and go is because I then have them confined for a period of time. This means real togetherness. Travel time (anywhere) can be valuable if one recognizes the blessings of it and takes advantage of it. So, here are two suggestions.

1) Carry a small hymn book & a booklet of camp songs and silly songs. I keep mine in the glove compartment. Just sing, and sing and sing!

2) Make a Travel Fun Pack. Here’s what I would suggest you put in it: A) a ball (small and bouncy) B) a sewing kit for quick repairs, C) paper, pencils, pens, crayons, etc. D) finger puppets, E) a deck or two of cards, F) magnets, G) a yo-yo, g) travel games, H) a small mirror, I) snacks (make sure you rotate these often and that they are good in heat) J) a list of quick, interactive travel games to remind you what can be played. K) a few book to read, L) an almanac, M) Story CD’s—just be sure you turn the story off once in a while and talk about the story’s message. N) A flashlight. O)Some water, P) Some blankets. Q) Anything else that applies to the "likes" of your family. ***Please note that this is not a list of things for an emergency kit for your car. These are ideas for your family to have on hand for travel fun and added pleasure.

Family Time Together

2010-05-03T06:41:00.000-06:00

If you ask a child, “What make your family happy?” He might answer, “When we get along.” More often than not, however, a child will answer, “When we do things together.” Surprisingly, because this is such a simple way to develop unity and solve the “when we get along” need, we overlook the solution of “doing things together.”

Here are a few questions to help you evaluate what your family could do to improve in the area of Family Time Together:

1) Are we spending family time in the way we would like? 2) If not, how would we like to spend our time together? 3) What things are preventing us from spending time together? 4) Are there things that we can change so that more time can be spent together as a family? 5) Could we calendar family time together? (Ah hah! Family Home Evening Night!) 6) Could we work on consistency?

Now, for a list of things one might consider for making the most out of your family time together:

1) Whenever possible, eat meals together as a family every day. Encourage conversation while eating (see Conversation Jar Idea). Make this a time where everyone is encouraged to slow down. 2) Exercise together as a family. Be it dancing, biking, hiking, walking, great satisfaction and memories will be created. 3) Play games together instead of watching television. 4) Establish family-favorite movies to be watched together as a family. Be sure to talk about “why” the movie is special—what message it gives, and have healthy snacks to go along with the show. 5) Find ways for your family to do community service together. 6) Have family projects and family chores where everyone works together. Have a family garden, family dusting, family pick-up. When the grandchildren come, I hear a song, “Clean-up, clean-up, everybody clean-up.” Soon, all of the grandchildren, mom and dad, and even grandma and grandpa start helping to pick up toys. Why do family chores together? Well, if you’re in the same room together, you’re bound to talk and play more with one another. I used to assign different rooms for each of my children to clean. If I had it to do over, I would have all of us work together—from cleaning rooms to washing dishes. Hey, I’m still amazed that there are more ways to “see things differently.” I love remembering, “There are more than two sides to a coin.” What do you think?

Some Helps for Children with Special Needs

2010-05-02T07:54:00.001-06:00

“Playgroups are a great opportunity for a child with a physical disability to gain a little more motivation to move and to mimic the movements of other children. The child with a physical disability may need some Velcro to keep his hands on the handlebars of the tricycle and maybe his feet on the pedals, and then, certainly, a caregiver should be very close by while the child is riding on the ride-on toy. A child may need Velcro on a glove to help her catch a ball. Or a particular size paddle to help her bat at a beach ball. The idea is that the adult thinks ahead about the equipment so the child with the disability will be able to participate.” (Kristi Sayers Menear; Ph.D., CAPE Assistant Professor of Human Studies at the University of Alabama at Birmingham)

I use the above as an introduction to “Special Needs” children. Because of my interest in “Special Needs” children brought on because of my grandson, Joe, I have learned that there is a natural love for nature that comes to these children. Without fail, if we have been in a store with Joe and then wheel him outside, he senses the fresh air coming and perhaps the rays of the sun in his face. He becomes animated with joy and begins to laugh the minute we burst into the fresh air—and it doesn’t matter how cold it is. I thought it was just his special spirit but I have since read that even children with ADHD “find their symptom decreased with any kind of direct exposure to nature,” Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, has said and concludes, “We’re beginning to learn that playing outdoors in nature increases the ability of a child to pay attention.” Everyone needs fresh air and sunshine. May I just say here, spend more time outside.

For children with slowed physical abilities, consider substituting a silk scarf in place of a ball to slow the falling effects of an object (now, the scarf), thus allowing a child more time to catch. Here, success, however it’s accomplished, is the goal. Be creative and be an advocate for your special needs child. If you aren’t his advocate, who will be?

One thing I have learned with Joe is that “Special Needs” children don’t break. They love to be played with, to rough-house a little. Joe loves the motion of dancing and the rhythm from music. He loves to tease and loves animation from me as I say, “Joe, what the heck are you doing? Are you teasing Grandma?” We do this over and over again because he requires repetition.
I feel I really connect with Joe when I can forget all that is around me and just “play” with him. I become a little child, too. I forget what others might think and I just have fun with him. This has been an important lesson for me. Who cares if I might look silly to those looking on? For those few special moments I have with Joe, nothing else matters. The joy he expresses by laughing and clapping his hands tells me we are friends and have made a connection. And for me there is no greater joy.

2010-05-02T07:21:00.000-06:00

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On Growing a Child's Brain

2010-05-01T06:12:00.001-06:00

“When they get to school, the teachers tell us today’s children can’t negotiate; they’re having trouble with social conversations. They’re having trouble because they’re accustomed to just pushing a button and the machine they’re on just reacting to them. The other thing that’s declining now is fantasy play, the ability to imagine, the ability to think up new scenarios, new stories, new ideas, and new concepts in your own head. Kids are having all these stories brought to them so vividly on the screen that they’re not playing imaginatively themselves; and this has got to be a great loss in terms of the future of creativity of the people in this country.” (Jane M. Healy, Ph.D. educational psychologist and author of Your Child’s Growing Mind)

Let’s not wait until our children are in school to decide television should be limited. Also, let’s not wait until our children are in school for them to begin learning different concepts that could and should be learned at home.

For example, you can start teaching your wee babe basic mathematics by counting everything that is familiar to him. Start with his body. Talk to him. Say, “This is your mouth. This is your ear. Oh, you have another ear! Here is your nose. These are your toes.” Count them, “One, two, three, for five toes!” Count actions such as blinking eyes, climbing stairs, “One, two, three stairs.” Count everything with your child: toys, blocks, bites of food eaten, books, steps, people, chairs, etc.

Always talk to your baby and tell him what he is experiencing—what he is tasting, what he is smelling, what he is feeling. If your are tickling his back, tell him that is what you are doing.

Why is it important to do these things? Picture a little seed for each of your child’s 100 billion brain cells. As the child is exposed to a variety of stimulating experiences, each cell is capable of sprouting up to 20,000 different branches to store the new information. So, in a way, the child literally grows his own brain. So, with this in mind, you are helping your child grow his brain if you try to give him every opportunity to develop it through his play (which is really a child’s work). See “Learning Fundamentals,” by Colin Rose and Gordon Dryden; pg. 10.

2010-04-30T05:50:00.004-06:00

Penelope Leach, Ph.D. (Psychologist and author of Your Baby and Child) said, “If you’ve been around kids, particularly young kids, for any length of time, [you know] it’s absolutely true that all the most important things in life are learned through play.”

Now, my question is, is there enough play going on when a child sits in front of a television or a video game? Kids are mesmerized by television and video games. Thus, stuck to the “Boob tube,” they make less demands on their parents time and this gives parents the freedom to play the things they want to play. Ahhh! Could this be true? Yes, I’ve been there and done that. Perhaps not consciously, but the T.V. can be a great babysitter. Is that really what you want for your child--your grandchild? If so, then read no further. If you want a list of things you and your child can do to minimize time spent in front of the screen, here’s some things your child and you can do together:
1) As my mother-in-law used to call it, “water your toes.” Turn on the hose, fill a bucket, paint the sidewalk with water, make handprints with water, splash water. Use a cup and count how many cups of water are in the bucket 2) As you kick a ball, feel the wind in your face or the warm sun on your face, neck, head. 3) Chase each other. Include friends in a game of tag. 4) Have a tea party—even with your son(s). Dress up and let children pretend they’re adults. 5) Learn how to bounce and dribble a ball. 6) Wear each other out learning how to jump rope again. 7) Lift up rocks and boards and find creatures under them. Look at them through a magnifier. 8) Catch grasshoppers, frogs, lady bugs, ants. What do their bodies feel like—smooth, slimy, rough? 9) Make some mud and squish your hands and toes in it. Make mud pies. Let the mud dry on your skin. How does it feel. (I was just thinking the children are such a wonderful excuse to play and be a kid again.) 10) Find caterpillars and learn about them as you touch them. 11) Pull up grass by its roots and eat the white end of the root and pretend that you’ll never run out of food as long as there’s “grass-root soup” to be made. (Make sure no chemicals or fertilizers have put on the lawn recently.) 12) Blow up balloons and then let the air out slowly. Be animated by the sounds they make. Let them fly. 13) Fill balloons with water and...you know the rest. Does your child? 14) Roll and tumble on the ground. This will lead to acrobatics. 15) Play in sand—make sandcastles, sift sand, bury each other in the sand. 16) Play on swings and gliders. Talk about what going high does to the tummy. 17) Have jumping time and hopping time and skipping time. 18) Find a hill (not too big) and roll down it. 19) Take turns being pulled in a wagon. Carry treasures in a wagon. 20) Find a little stream or ditch and let different things float down it. What things float or sink? 21) Practice taking turns drinking water from a hose, crossing tricky bars, going down slides, putting pieces to a puzzle together. 22) Get large boxes and have fun pretending you’re in a spaceship, a car, a jail, a boat, etc. 23) In winter, make snowmen, angels in the snow, catch snowflakes on your tongue but never stick your tongue on frozen metal. 24) In Spring, take a close look at blossoms from a tree. 25) In summer, enjoy fresh produce from a garden you work together on. 26) In Fall, study leaves and critters that are preparing for winter.

In conclusion, Just play for the joy of it all. Oh, and check out www.intermountainlive.org for some humorous reminders about our lifestyles.

For Everyone that knows I love Noah’s Ark. Here’s a good one!

2010-04-29T06:23:00.003-06:00

I couldn't resist sharing the following story today. I found no author to give credit to and the site said it could be used as a free public domain. Thus, because of my love for Noah's Ark stories, I am sharing this to add some fiction, some truth, and some humor.

In the year 2010, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said: “Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save two of every living thing along with a few good humans.”

He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, “You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.” Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard-- but no Ark.

”Noah!” He roared, “I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?”

“Forgive me, Lord,” begged Noah, “but things have changed. “I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighborhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision. Then the Department of Transportation demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other over-head obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.

“Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go! When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodations were too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space. Then the EPA ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood. I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew. Immigration and Naturalization are checking the green-card status of most of the people who want to work. The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.

“To make matters worse, the IRS seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species. So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.”

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, “You mean you're not going to destroy the world?”

“No,” said the Lord. “Looks like the government beat me to it.”

Kvetching

2010-04-28T05:27:00.001-06:00

What is it? It sounds like some form of ball game doesn’t it? I think it would be a good name for a game. Actually, kvetching is Yiddish for “complaining.” Is it good or is it bad? I think it can be either. Are parents allowed kvetching? Should children be allowed to kvetch? I think it all depends on whether or not the kvetching is constructive. Everyone needs the chance to vent—to get things out in the open. The old adage, “children are to be seen and not heard,” is offensive to me. Good, effective communication skills are the hardest things to learn. Why try to quiet children when they are trying to make their challenges known?

Since the word “complaining” is so commonplace in our English language, could “kvetching” be used as a clue word between parent and child or parent to parent, that “Hey, I really need you to listen to me!” A child might say, “Hey dad. I need to do some kvetching.” Dad’s ears perk up and he says, “Okay, let’s hear what you have to say.” This sounds simple, but it would get my attention.

Perhaps a few other things could be considered when it comes to kvetching. 1) For every item that is complained about, the complainer has to have 2 things that he/she can speak well of. 2) As children get older, they need to come to you with a list of possible solutions to the things they are kvetching about. 3) Encourage the child to keep a “Kvetching Journal” wherein he/she writes down the things that disturb him/her. I learned this secret a long time ago: If something is bothering me, I will brood over it trying to remember why I am justified in being upset. Amazingly, as soon as I write everything down, my mind relaxes because it isn’t trying to remember all of its justifications for upset, and moves on. Rarely do I have to refer back to the journal entry because I forget about the upset and have solved the problem while evaluating it on paper.

I hesitate to do so, but here’s wishing you—HAPPY KVETCHING!!!

Happy Birthday to two special people today!

2010-04-27T09:15:00.001-06:00

I want to wish two special people a wonderful birthday today. Happy birthday to my niece Kelly and to my granddaughter, Sophie. I wish you both a wonderful day. I love you.

Teach Children to Save

2010-04-27T05:49:00.003-06:00

Today is "National Teach Children to Save" day. As I saw this on my calendar, I had the thought that this is one thing that is probably ignored quite a bit by today's society. All around us are the enticements to satisfy a want with the mentality that the things we want are "needs." I do not profess that I know how to teach children to save because I know how easy it is to ask myself, "Is this a need or is it a want?" When I conclude that it is a want, I still will usually buy it with the justification that I will do better next time. How many of us are like this? And, what is the solution?

In my parent's day, they didn't use credit cards. Thus, when the money ran out, the buying power was gone. I think the adage was, "No mun, no fun."

Perhaps it all comes down to teaching children to have integrity with themselves. If they can ask themselves, "Is it a need? Is it a want? Can I live without it?" and then be honest with themselves when the answer to all three questions is "no." They will learn a self-discipline that will help them throughout their lives.

Another rule a child might give him or herself would be to wait at least 24 hours after deciding that he/she wants to buy an item and see if the item is still important to him/her.

Benjamin Franklin said, "A penny saved is a penny earned." This is so true. Perhaps you could have some fun with this idea and have your child make a bank in which he deposits every penny that he resists spending on something and after a period of time let him count it and evaluate the importance of how much money he/she has saved. I know I have been amazed at how much money collects in a jar when I always put my change in it.

Instant gratification becomes a weakness for all of us. We can set an example for our children by teaching them that we can resist our "toys and goodies" too. Once again, I think I will work on practicing what I preach.

A Salute to Nature

2010-04-26T05:54:00.005-06:00

May I suggest you take your family on a hike and have a picnic. For the picnic, use only those foods that come directly from the earth. Yes, that means fresh fruits and vegetables. My, they will taste good after hiking for a while. Be sure to have a happy conversation about the things you are able to observe around you while eating (Count your blessings.) If you love music as I do, be sure and sing some songs, too.

As far as the hike goes, make sure everyone that is able carry his/her own backpack with his/her food in it. Be sure to carry a sketchbook and art pencils, too. Then, after your picnic, allow everyone time to draw something they observe in nature. Thus the beginnings of your Family Nature Book. Be sure to date the drawings and give credit to each creator. Take time to find out "why?" the artist chose his/her subject.

Plan to do this in each season of the year. It could become a great tradition and part of your Family Home Evenings.

Oh, and one more thing, pass on the lesson that your parents probably taught you when you were young: "We always leave the picnic area cleaner than we found it."

Who said the following?

2010-04-25T15:37:00.006-06:00

I thought it would be fun to see if anyone could guess who said all of the following quotes. The same person said them all and I think he or she pretty much says it all about how I feel about the home, too.

"I look upon the home as the basis from which radiate all good influences. If, in every home in the land, there were a competent father and a helpful mother, our officers of the law would have much less to do in protecting society from the lawless."

"Homes are made permanent through love. Though you neglect some of your business, though you neglect some of your cattle, though you fail to produce full crops, study to hold your children's love."

"In every well-ordered home in the Church, the glad free spirit of childhood is led to honor its country and to worship its God; and every man sees in the home the nucleus of eternal companionship and everlasting life."

"The relationship of the children to the parents should be one which would enable those children to carry out ideal citizenship as they become related to the neighborhood, the Church, and to the larger forms of society. Be extremely careful of those activities which require you to be away from your small children. The secret of good citizenship lies in the home. The secret of instilling faith in God, faith in his Son, the Redeemer of the world, faith in the organizations of the Church, lies in the home. There it is centered."

"The home is truly the basic unit of society, and parenthood is next to Godhead. Let us see that our home is such that if an angel called, he would be pleased to remain."

"In no better way can high achievement in life be better realized than in excelling in the art of home building. In that kind of home we may experience on earth a taste of heaven."

"Would you have a strong and virile nation?--then keep your homes pure. Would you reduce delinquency and crime?--lessen the number of broken homes. It is time that civilized peoples realize that the home largely determines whether children shall be of high or low character. Home-building, therefore, should be the paramount purpose of parents and of the nation. The secret of good citizenship lies in the home."

"I praise God for the instructions he has given his people regarding the sacredness, the sanctity, and permanence of the family relationship and the home. We are living in a most momentous age. We see on every hand manifestations of commotion. The world seemingly is stirred as it has never been stirred before. In the midst of this world of confusion, the home, the fundamental institution of society, is also threatened. One of the highest ideals of life is to keep secure and free from sorrow the homes of the Church and of the nation."

I am making this a contest. In "comments" tell me who you think said all of the above quotes. If you guess correctly and if more than one person guesses correctly, I will put you name in a drawing and give you a game if your name is chosen. Of course, you will need to identify yourself and give me information so that I can get the game to you. Have fun.

Blessings of a Wonderful Man in Your Life

2010-04-24T06:30:00.003-06:00

I've been thinking a lot about the different roles men and women play. I am impressed with the thought that we women do not always take the time to appreciate all that our husbands do for us--that we take for granted--that we expect as every-day, routine things. Maybe I'm just one of the lucky few that has a husband that gets up every day and goes to work without expressing dread. He works long and hard at work and then, when he comes home he asks me what I would like to do. If I have nothing in mind then he says, "I think I'll go out and work in the yard (greenhouse or garden)then."

If I have something I want to do, then my husband readily makes himself ready for my heart's desire. I am amazed how kind and compassionate a man can be. You would think that after a long day's work that a man might say, "I've done my work now let me alone. I want to do my own thing." I know I'm not saying this very well but if a man takes his family, work and church responsibilities seriously, there just isn't very much time left for him to do things that are for his personal gratification. Good men seem to give their all for those they love. They don't think of themselves first and foremost do they?

Today, I would like to encourage that a little more empathy be given to that wonderful man in your life. Think of things that you can do to build him up. Can you express a little more appreciation? Can you make sure you fix him good, nutritious meals? When he arrives home, will you drop everything you're doing and greet him with excitement because he's home? Perhaps you could find interest in his interests and be by his side a little more. With a prayer in your heart, brainstorm on ways that you can lighten your sweetheart's burdens. Don't take him and all that he does for granted even one more day. Evaluate on paper all that he does for you, your family and others and I know you will feel deep gratitude for the blessings of a wonderful man in your life. Now, I must go and take my own advice.

"Caughtcha”

2010-04-23T10:18:00.003-06:00

At my son-in-law’s work, his bosses have and incentive program to encourage workers to be at their best all the time. It’s called “Caught ya.’” Basically the bosses give out tickets when they see good work, extra effort, good attitude, etc. The employees then put their tickets into a drawing container. The bosses pick and choose when they want to have their “Caught ya’” day (no one ever knows when it’s going to be). But on that day there is great excitement because great prizes are handed out to those employees that have their tickets drawn.

Well, this got me thinking. Wouldn’t it be great fun to have a “Caughtcha” tradition in your family? Oh, it could really be BIG! Parents could brainstorm on what behavior, work, attitudes, goals accomplished, etc. that they wanted their children to focus on. Then, they could have another brainstorm session on prizes to be given at random drawings. These could be coupons for back rubs, an outing, a game of the child’s choice, help with a project or cleaning a room, etc. You get the idea. Even your children could submit prize coupons for things they would like to do for other members of the family that win. I guess if your budget allows, you could even purchase grand prizes of toys and games, books or art supplies, etc. Or you could have a prize bag with a coupon that gives the winning child a chance to choose from the prize bag. You would also have to decide how you wanted "Caughcha" tickets to be given—just by mom and dad. Could children suggest siblings that have done something nice? I first thought that everyone could submit tickets for their siblings but Rachael said the siblings would scheme and say, “I’ll put your name in if you’ll put my name in.” Rachael’s probably right. So, again, you can think all of these things through on your own.

I can see great benefits for this type of tradition. First, think of the service family members could give to others if they made up coupons to add to the prize box. Also, children may not get instant gratification for good behavior so they must learn patience. "Caughtcha" would get everyone focusing on the good of others. And, everyone would have something to look forward to on a regular basis. Anyway, it’s just an idea but I would love to try it if I were in that stage of life still. Oh and one more thing:

It’s “Turn off the T.V. Week.” I found a neat site to go to for more ideas for you and your family to investigate for good times together:

http://family.go.com/entertainment/pkg-tv-turnoff/

Focus on the Ten Commandments

2010-04-22T05:40:00.003-06:00

Would you agree with me as an adult, that the things we learned as children are remembered much better than those things that we try to remember now? I can remember phone numbers, mathematical equations, the Articles of Faith, people’s names, and dates from my childhood. But ask me to remember a phone number or a scripture I’ve tried to memorize in recent days that I’ve worked on for a week, and I would be hard pressed to do so.

For some reason I never had the occasion when I was young to commit to memory the Ten Commandments. I have tried to memorize them and their order in my adulthood but they do not stay with me. So, I am suggesting that families spend time learning (memorizing) the Ten Commandments. Bless your young children with the opportunity to really remember the Ten Commandments (And maybe even the 1st and great commandment and the 2nd that is like unto it) and then in a week or so play this game:

HOT BRICKS
Played like Hot Potato except you pass around a toy brick (Lego or block) and the person that is holding it when the timer rings (or music is stopped) has to state one of the 10 commandments. If they can't give one, they are out.

Final Questions for “It’s all About You !”

2010-04-21T05:14:00.002-06:00

SPENDING TIME:
1) To what organizations have you belonged? List those important to you.
2) What community projects have you worked on? What volunteer work have you ever done?
3) Did you ever make a float for a parade? Were you ever in a parade?
4) To what political party have you belonged? Why? Have you been actively involved in politics? (campaigning, candidate, supporter, etc.)
5) Tell about your health. Have you ever been hospitalized? Why? Did you ever have to use crutches or a wheelchair? What illnesses have you had? Do you wear glasses or a hearing aid? When did you begin to wear them? Do you have any ailments now? Explain.
6) What was your first full-time job? How much did you earn? What were your responsibilities?
7) What other employment have you had? Whom did you work for and for how long? What were your responsibilities? What work have you liked best? Are you retired? When? Was it a big adjustment?
8) Have you had any hobbies? What are they? Do you have any collections (stamps, coins, rocks, embroidery, etc.)?
9) Have you traveled? How many states have you been in? Countries? Have you been on a ship, plane, train, bus? Explain. What was the biggest rip taken as an adult? When, where, and with whom?
10) Have you ever met anyone famous? Tell about it.
11) What moments do you remember most? Tell about one of your sad/happy times. Tell about your most embarrassing moments. What was one of your proudest times? When were you the most frightened? What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?
12) Have you ever seen or been in a disaster? What kind? When? Where? Have you ever been in a flood? Fire? Hurricane? Car accident?
13) Have you ever served in the military or been involved in wartime service? What kind? When and where?
14) What do you do with your time now? What do you want to accomplish before your life is over?
15) Have you lived through historical events? Tell about some of them-first man on the moon, Kennedy assassination, Pearl Harbor, The Cold War, WWII, Berlin Wall built and torn down, the Depressions, major inventions developed, etc.

CHILDREN:
1) What are your children’s names? When and where were they born? Tell about it and how you felt when you found out. How did you choose their names? Are any of the names “family names” passed from one generation to the next?
2) What was each child like as a baby? Cute? Cranky? Did he/she ever get spanked? 3) What chores did she/he have to do? Did you give him/her an allowance? Did he/she behave in school? What grades? What did he/she like to do best? Did he/she keep a clean room? Did he/she do something special to surprise you?
3)What are some of your favorite memories of your family life when your children were growing up?
4) In what ways did you raise your children as you had been raised? In what ways did you raise them differently?
5) What has been most difficult or trying for you as a parent? What was the least difficult?
6) How did you feel when all your children left home?
7) Do you worry about your children?
8) Do you have any grandchildren? How many? How did you feel when you found out you were going to be a grandparent for the first time? How did you find out? How many great-grandchildren do you have? What do you like best about being a grandparent?

FEELINGS:
1) Do you believe in God? Why?
2) To what religion do you belong? Do you go to church regularly? What is it like in your church? What do they teach you? Are you a teacher?
3) Were you baptized? How, when where? Tell about it.
4) Have you ever gone on a mission? Where? Tell about it.
5) Have you ever had any spiritual experiences? Tell about them.
6) Do you believe in life after death? Are you afraid to die?
7) Write your testimony of your religious beliefs.
8) What are some of your favorite scriptures and quotes?
9) What are some of your favorite books?
10) As you look back, do you have any favorite years? What made them so special? Is there a time you would like to live over?
11) What do you value most in a friend? Who are some of your dearest friends? Tell about them.
12) What issues or causes have you felt strongly about?
13) In times of trouble, who or what has helped you pull through?
14) What major happenings in the world have affected your life most?
15) How do you feel about the future?
16) What advice can you give?
17) What is your creed for living a good life?

President Spencer W. Kimball said: “I urge all of the people of this church to give serious attention to their family histories, to encourage their parents and grandparents to write their journals, and let no family go into eternity without having left their memoirs for their children, their grandchildren, and their posterity. This is a duty and a responsibility.” May 1978 Ensign, pg. 4

Even More of More of “It’s All About You!”

2010-04-20T05:25:00.002-06:00

TRADITIONS-HOLIDAYS:
1) Tell about your family traditions. Food, music, reading, etc.
2) What were the traditional or favorite recipes served at family gatherings?
3) Did you have family reunions? Tell about them.
4) What did you do on New Year’s Eve?
5) Tell about Valentine’s Day. Did you make valentines? How did you deliver them? Did you have a valentine box at school? Did you ever get flowers or candy?
6) Tell about Easter. Did you dye eggs? How? Did you hide eggs and Easter baskets? Did you go to church?
7) Tell about decoration or Memorial Day. Did you take flowers to the cemetery?
8) Tell about the Fourth of July. Did you have fireworks? Did your family have a picnic?
9) Tell about Halloween. What did you wear for costumes? Did you make your own? Buy one? Did you have a party? Did you play tricks on anyone or visa versa? Were you scared of ghosts, goblins, and witches? Did you go trick-or treating?
10) Tell about Thanksgiving. Did you have a turkey. What else? Who came to dinner? Did you go somewhere besides home to eat?
11) Tell about Christmas. Did you celebrate it? Did Santa visit your house? Did you ever see or talk to him? Did you write him letters? Did you hang a stocking? What did Santa leave in it? What time did you get up in the morning? Did you have a tree? Buy it? Cut it? What were the decorations like? What gifts did you get and give? Tell about your most memorable Christmas. Tell about Christmas Eve. Was it hard to get to sleep? Did you have a nativity scene and talk about Jesus?
12) How did you celebrate your birthdays? Did you ever have a party? Tell about it or them. Which birthday do you remember most?
13) What was the best gift you ever received when you were growing up? What was the best gift you ever gave?
14) Where there any other traditional events celebrated in your home? What family traditions have been most meaningful to you?

DATING/MARRIAGE:
1) How old were you when you started dating? Tell about your first date. Did you date a lot? Did your parents have to approve of your dates? Tell about your first kiss. Did you think you were popular? Were you ever shy? What did you think about yourself? Were you engaged more than once?
2) How did you meet your mate? How old were you? What attracted you to him/her? Tell about your courtship. Where did you go on dates? Describe him/her. Tell about the proposal and engagement ring. How long did you go together before you were engaged? How long were you engaged?
3) When and where was the wedding? What did you wear? What is your strongest memory from your wedding? Who was there (in general)? Tell about your honeymoon.
4) What was your adjustment to marriage? Were there any surprises?
5) Did you know how to cook when you were first married? Were there any cooking disasters?
6) What work did you do to make a living? Did you both work?
7) Tell a favorite story or two about your mate.
8) Have you been married more than once? If so, when, why, and to whom?
9) How are times different then than now? Entertainment, cleaning house, chores, toys, transportation, money/economy, working, cooking, raising a family, shopping.
10) What do we have now that you didn’t have then?
11) What did you have then that we don’t have now?
12) Tell about the home(s) you have lived in. Your first, second, etc. Where have you most enjoyed living and why?
13) Did you and your mate ever disagree about anything? Did you sulk, pout, or argue? How did you solve your problems?

If you can't follow through with these questions and interviews now, please be sure to copy and paste them for your future reference. These questions are great starters!

Even More of “It’s All About You!”

2010-04-19T04:24:00.002-06:00

More questions to help complete a personal history. (This is going to be such a treasure! I’m excited for your family.)

GRAMMAR SCHOOL:
1) What was the name of your school, where was it, and what did it look like? How did you get there? Walk, ride? How far was it from your house? Were you ever late?
2) What did you do at recess? What games did you play? Did you ever have a Maypole or a field day? What was the playground like? What was lunchtime like? School or sack lunch? Where did you eat?
3) Did you ever play hookey? Tell about it.
4) What classes or subjects do you remember? Did you have homework? How much? What kind of grades did you get? What were your favorite/worst classes or subjects?
5)What teachers do you remember? Did you have a mean/good teacher? Were you ever teacher’s pet?
6) In what activities did you participate? Were you ever on a school team? If you were a member of a club(s), what was it? Were you ever involved in music or drama? Were you in the school band? Did you go to school dances? Were you involved in sports?
7) What did you like best about school? What did you like least?
8) What honors did you receive? Were you ever a school or class officer? Did you receive awards or prizes for achievements in athletics, scholarship, etc.?
9) What songs or dances were popular?
10) What kind of clothing did you wear? Were there fads? How were they different than clothes worn by young people today?

JR. HIGH SCHOOL:
Repeat the same questions that were given in Grammar School with this one additional question:

1) What did you do on Jr. High Graduation Night? What did you wear? Did you have a date?

HIGH SCHOOL:

Again, all of the questions are the same except for this one:

1) What did you do on High School Graduation Night? What did you wear? Did you have a date?

POST HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION:
1) Did you attend school after high school? Where? How long? What was your major course of study? Did you graduate? What honors or degrees did you earn? Did you belong to a sorority or fraternity?
3) Apart from school, what have been your most important learning experiences?

More of “It’s All About You!”

2010-04-18T06:36:00.003-06:00

How’s your determination to get answers to yesterday’s questions going? Still thinking about the need to do so? If you’re answer is “yes,” don’t feel bad, you’re not alone. Here are a few more questions. (I just had a thought that maybe you could add some of these questions to your “conversation jar.” You’re children love to here about your life, too!) Well, here’s the questions.

GROWING UP:
1) When you were a young child, what did you look like? What was your hair color? Did you have freckles? Were you fat or skinny? When you were a teenager, what did you look like?
2)What is the very first thing you remember?
3)Where did you live? What do you remember about your home(s)? Draw a floor plan of your home(s). How big was your yard? How many rooms did your home have? Did you have a barn or other buildings? Was there an attic or creepy room that scared you? Draw a map of your neighborhood and where your friends lived.
4) How big was your room? What did it look like? Did you have to share it? Could you keep it messy if you wanted?
5) How many people lived in your house? Did relatives come to visit? Did they stay long?
6) What appliances did you have in your home (for cooking, washing, heating, etc.)? Did you have electricity or did you use lamps? Did you have an indoor bathroom or an outhouse?
7) What was your favorite thing in the whole house? Did you save anything?
8) Were you ever punished? Why and how were you punished? Where was your favorite place to go when you were sad or angry? Did you ever run away from home or just hide from your parents? Why? Were you ever grounded? Did you ever talk back to your parents or other adults?
9) What was your bedtime? Did you ever have sleepovers? Tell about them.
10) Who pulled your teeth? How was it done? How much did the Tooth Fairy leave for a tooth?
11) Did you live where there was snow? Did you make snowmen? What other things did you do in the snow?
12) Did you have best friends? Name and describe them. Did you have fights and secrets?
13) Were you ever teased? How and who did it? Was there a bully who picked on you?
14) What household chores did you have to do? What kind of work have you done for pay? How much did you earn? What responsibilities did you have?
15) Was your mom a good cook? What were some thing you had to eat? Did you have a special place at the table? What were your favorite foods? What were your least favorite foods?
16) Did you have any pets? Tell about them. What were their names.
17) What did you do for fun? What games did you play? Did you have a favorite toy or toys?
18) Were you ever sick? Tell about it. Were you afraid of doctors or shots? Did you ever go to the hospital? Have you had stitches or broken bones? Did you have your tonsils out? Were you ever quarantined? What medicines did your mother give you? Did you ever have warts?
19) Did you have any favorite books or stories? Did you go to the library?
20) What did you want to be when your grew up? What did your parents want you to do or be?
21) Do you remember how much things cost? What years? (clothes, toys, food, gasoline, movies, stamps, etc.)
22) Did you get an allowance? How did you spend your money? What could you buy for a quarter?
23) How old were you when you learned to drive? How often did you get to take the family car? What kind of car was it? Did you have your own car?
24) Who most influenced your thinking? At what age? Why? Did you have a mentor-someone you admired and followed?
25) As a teenager, how did you get along with your parents? Your brothers and? Did you like being a teenager?
26) When did you move away from home? Where did you go and why?
27) What types of recreation did you enjoy? Did you go swimming, fishing, skating, state fair, amusement parks, camping, traveling? Tell about it.

Tomorrow I will give you questions about “Grammar School,” “Jr. High School,” “High School,” and “Post High School Education.”

It’s All About YOU!

2010-04-17T06:07:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I promised you that I would give you some questions to help you get information from your grandparents about their lives. Here’s the first set of questions. (I want to give credit to Lindsay Powell for these questions that I found in a manual entitled 2008 Family History Fair. It had no copyright.) During the next few days you might consider saving these questions for they would help you get your history recorded and even your children’s history, too. Wouldn’t it be lovely to make the “beginnings” of your children’s histories in the form of a little book that has these questions provided? (Just an idea!)

YOU:
1) What is your full name? Were you named after someone? Did you have a nickname? What was it? How did you get it?
2) What is your birth date? Where were you born (city, county, state, country)? Were you born in a hospital or at home? Was there anything unusual about the circumstances of your birth? Do you know how much it cost for your delivery, Dr. and hospital stay? What was your weight and length? Did you have hair?

FAMILY:
1) From what country did your ancestors migrate? When was it? Where did they settle? When and where were they born? What ship did they travel on?
2)What is your father’s name? What is his birth date and place? What do you remember most about him from your childhood? What did he look like (body build, hair and eye color, etc.)? What work did he do? Is he still alive? If not, when , where, and how did he die?
3) What is your mother’s name? What is her birth date and place? What do you remember most about her from your childhood? What did she look like(body build, hair color and length, eye color, etc.)? Did she work outside the home. What did she do at home? Is she still alive? If not, when where, and how did she die?
4) How many brothers and sisters did you have? Give their full names, nicknames, birth and death dates & places in the order they were born. (Include children who died early in life or at birth.) Where did they fit in?
5)How did you spend your time together? Did you ever take vacations with your family? Where did you go? Tell about some vacations that you remember.
6) To which family members did you feel closest to. Why?
7) Was “English” the only language spoken in your home? If not, what other language was spoken and by whom?
8) What part did religion play in your life? Did you attend church regularly? Of what church did you belong?
8) Did your family have enough money? Was it ever a concern to you?
10) What were one or two of the worst times in your family life?
11) What were one or two of the best times in your family life?
12) Are their any family heirlooms that have been passed from one generation to another?

Tomorrow I will provide questions for “Growing Up.” Have an historical day.

Wow…! Grandpa and Grandma, Please Tell Me More!!!

2010-04-16T05:23:00.000-06:00

How much do your children know about their grandparents’ younger years? Do you realize that their history offers one of the richest sources of tradition and identity within your family? Children are a captive audience if you can get grandpa to tell about his favorite childhood activities or if you can get grandma to tell about her first “crush.” Schedule time to visit grandparents or to have them come to your home. Have dinner and use your conversation jar to stimulate questions. Perhaps you could even make up some questions that are made specifically with the grandparents’ histories in mind. (Be sure to let the grandparents know in advance that you will be fishing for stories from their background.) Maybe you will want to wait until after dinner to begin the sharing time. Get comfy and cozy with pillows and blankets and start asking questions. Before you know it, you’ll be laughing and hoping that you can remember every detail of the stories you are told. Thus, you might consider recording the stories if your grandparents grant you permission.

Tomorrow & the next few days, I will share some questions you might ask to get a complete history from anyone—but it would be especially nice for you to record grandparents’ answers for your Family History Record.

Family Activity Fun Box

2010-04-15T08:13:00.004-06:00

I am sure, if you are like me, usually you don’t mind fixing dinner if you know what you want to prepare. The challenge is in the decision of “What shall I fix?” I think the same holds true with spending quality time with your family. If you can’t think of something to do, you allow television or other non-planned things to take over the time you could spend together as a family. So, what can you do to prevent this? How about making a Family Activity Fun Box.

I’m sure I don’t need to give you suggestions but I will anyway because it will help me get mine done for times when my grandchildren are here. I think I’ll use a cute box and have fun decorating it. (Your children can help you, too.) Think of all the activities you would like to do with your family and write them on slips of paper. During this step be sure to include family members. Some of the things I would like to do will be different than yours because my grandchildren range from the ages of 9 years-old to newborn. Here are some suggestions to get you thinking: 1) bowling, 2)read a book aloud 3) play “hot/cold” 4) go for a walk 5) swing 6) play in a sandbox 7)hide treasures in the sandbox and then allow everyone time to dig for “buried treasure 8) have pizza delivered and play a game 9) make cookies and take them to a neighbor 10) lay on the ground and look at the stars by night or the clouds by day.

Be sure to replenish the slips of paper either by replacing them or by adding to the box as family members come up with more ideas. Truly, if you don’t have alternative ideas for filling your time, the unwanted fillers will monopolize your family’s time.

Family Focus Game

2010-04-13T16:10:00.004-06:00

Here's my blog for today. It's in a JPeg file for you to open in another page and print. Or just click on it. It will then give you a page where you can go into edit, then "select all", then in edit again you can command "copy". At this point you can go in to your favorite word processing program and in edit of that program you can command to "paste." At this point enlarge it to fit your page and print. This is a great game or activity for large groups including extended family. Get Grandpa and Grandma to play. Use it in Family Home Evening.

Hooray! It's Daddy Day!

2010-04-13T07:37:00.000-06:00

The other day I mentioned that Jeff gave each of our children (individually & when they were little) 1/2 hour every Sunday to play whatever they wanted to play. Sometimes he played Barbies or with dolls. Sometimes he played games. Sometimes he wrestled. Sometimes I would find him answering questions that the child would have. I found that the bonding between Jeff and each of the children was amazing. I don’t think any of them have ever forgotten the love that was felt during those times. So, with Dad’s in mind, I’ve been wondering what Dad’s could do (or Mom’s) to create quality time with their children. Here are a few ideas: 1) Pack a picnic and go for a surprise outing to your favorite place—the back yard, the canyon, a park, Grandma’s. 2) Go to Deseret Industries or other discount or Seconds store and allow your child to find a “Theme” treasure—a book on animals, an amazing cooking utensil, a game for “memory’s sake,” an outfit for “An Evening of Dancing” 3) go to a ball game, fishing, hiking, a nature walk, digging for worms. 4) go to the library and explore a child’s interest with him or her. 5) listen to different types of music and dance and/or sing, too! 6) Ask questions like, “What’s the most important job in the world?” or “Who is your hero?” 7) Lay on a blanket on a cloudy day and find different shapes in the clouds. Don’t forget to listen to your child’s ideas as they start to flow freely. 8) Make something with “Dad’s tools!” 9) Read a book together. Show enthusiasm by reading the book faithfully each day or night as pre-determined. Be sure to review the previous reading day’s pages. 10) Dad, you could also make of list of things you want your child to know in the next year and then systematically work on these. 11) Work on a scrapbook.

No more "Boo Hoos" because of the "Tube!"

2010-04-12T06:22:00.000-06:00

I received the following as an email the other day from my dear friend Carol. (Thanks Carol!) I have no idea whether this really happened but surely it could have. I sense that there are many children all over the world that feel television, computers, and the telephone are all competition for attention they need so badly. Read this and let me know what you think:

A teacher from Primary School asks her students to write an essay about what they would like God to do for them. At the end of the day while marking the essays, she read one that made her very emotional.
Her husband, that had just walked in, saw her crying and asked her, “What happened?”

She answered, “Read this. It's one of my student's essays.”

“Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special: Make me into a television.
I want to take its place. Live like the TV in my house. Have my own special place, and have my family around ME . To be taken seriously when I talk....I want to be the center of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions. I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives when it is not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. And I want
my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me... And... I want my brothers to fight to be with me... I want to feel that family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some time with me. And last but not least, make it that I can make them all happy and entertain them...Lord I don't ask you for much... I just want to live like every TV.”

At that moment the husband said:
“My goodness, poor kid. What horrible parents!”

She looked up at him and said, “That essay is our son's!!!” Author Unknown

Have you ever tried removing the television for an extended period of time? While we were raising our family, we eliminated television for extended periods of time several times. It didn’t hurt the children one bit. In fact, it seemed like those times were more blissful and our family was connected. Usually we would justify returning to the television so that we could watch General Conference.

General Conference ended last week and so we have a six-month period where television can be eliminated. What a perfect time for a family experiment. What can your family do without television? Here’s what I thought of: 1) Plan, plant, weed & water, & harvest a garden together. 2) Go for walks, hikes, or runs together. 3) Spruce up your yard. 4) Have cooking school. 5) Sing songs. 6) Learn how to play instruments together. 7) Make popcorn balls. 8) Visit friends and loved ones. 9) Go to a nearby canyon or park and have a picnic. 10) Play games. 11) Make a family video. 12) Have a puppet show. 13) Play with play dough. 14) Make collages of seeds, grains, or things you can find from your yard. 15) Read stories together. 16) Have a talent show. 17) Catch grasshoppers. 18) Do a project or craft together. 19) Play music and dance and be silly together. 20) Do service projects together. 21) Work on merit badges with your sons or value experiences with your daughters. 22) exercise together. 23) Get on the floor and play with your tiny ones. 24) Visit local museums, libraries, parks, etc. 25) Draw (scribble) together. 26)Go for bikes rides. 27) And, don’t forget to get your children’s ideas for things you can do together & write them down.

I hope I’ll be seeing you on one of your evening’s outings since you’ll now make time to visit. Put me on your list, okay? We would love to see you!!!

Play Together, Stay Together

2010-04-11T06:16:00.001-06:00

I can’t remember how many times I have heard, “A family that plays together stays together.” (Okay, I’ve also heard it put, “A family that prays together stays together,” too.) But just ask yourself these questions and apply them to my favorite question that I ask myself to determine if something is true: “If people of the world would do this, would the world be a better place to raise my family in?” If you can answer with an exclamation, “Yes!” Then, in my opinion, it’s a pretty good idea to try and apply the idea.

So, with the above in mind, consider playing with your children. Children are a great excuse “to play.” My mother is staying with me right now and she said yesterday when a few of my grandchildren were playing, “I wish I could be your grandchild. I want to play, too.” I told her she could play, too. And almost she cried, “I can’t. It’s too hard to get up and down.” Trust me, I know the years pass all too quickly. Soon, I will be in my mother’s position and my children will be in mine. But perhaps if I can take learning from what my mother said, I can stay younger by continuing to play with my grandchildren. Parents, you too can play with your children. Turn off the television. Turn of the video games (at least for a while) and test the benefits of playing (spending quality time) with your children. Kids talk when they play, and they don’t have to get your attention because they already have it if you’re playing with them. Some of my children still talk about the season of our lives when Jeff (my husband) devoted 1/2 hour every Sunday by playing with each child doing whatever they wanted to do. (Happy memories—not of what they played but that dad played with them.) I am sure you have many inside Board Games and card games. Play them often when outside weather encourages it. With Spring here may I suggest some outside activities: walks, hide and seek, croquet, badminton, tennis, basketball, any kind of ball, hopscotch, jump rope, roller skating, hiking, gardening, exploring, learning outdoor cooking skills, biking. You get the idea. Please, just spend lots of time with your children. I know you will never be sorry.

Conversation Ball (An Object Lesson) & Lovely Thoughts for Your Conversation Jars

2010-04-10T07:07:00.004-06:00

Getting conversations rolling during dinner may be difficult; especially if you have older children that have learned that they don’t have to talk if they don’t want to. So here’s an idea to help you bring the point home on the importance of learning to converse with one another: 1) Gather several balls. 2) Have family members sit on the floor on the opposite side of the room. 3) Throw the balls to individuals with the instruction to “catch it and hold it in your lap.” 4) When all have balls in their laps, just sit and look at them for a moment or two until someone asks you what point you are trying to make. 5) At this point say, “It really isn’t much of a game until you throw the ball back to me is it? Then point out that conversation also requires people to toss their ideas back and forth to one another. Point out that if your “catch” another person’s comment but fail to return a comment of your own, it is like holding the ball in you lap. The game is dead-ended. 6) Now, practice “throwing” words back and forth with family members. You might ask, “Joe, Did you have a good time with Grandma, today ?” If Joe responds, Yes,” then he has caught your words but has failed to return any words back to me. If Joe responds with, “Yes, we had ice cream!” Joe has learned to return the conversation ball. 7) Be sure to point out how well family members are playing conversation ball during the passing days.

Although I could supply you with lots more conversation questions for your Conversation Jars, I got thinking in the night that good quotes are fun to talk about, too. So, look up “conversation starters” on Google if you want more of them. Here now, I will include some lovely quotes that might add meaningful conversations to your meals (They can be copied and then pasted into your word processor. Print them up, cut them and add them to your Conversation Jar:

You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along’….You must do the thing you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt

Sometimes God calms the storm raging around us, and sometimes He calms us and lets the storm rage on.

To Have striven, to have made an effort, to have been true to certain ideals—this alone is worth the struggle. We are here to add what we can to, not to get what we can from life.—Sir William Osler

This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, in its place is something that you have left behind...let it be something good!

Security is not born of inexhaustible wealth but of unquenchable faith. Spencer W. Kimball

A heart stitched with prayer is more precious to God than a tapestry of gold.

God made you as you are in order to use you as He planned.

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. Helen Keller

Worldly hope is wishful thinking, gentle dreaming of fairies, magic wands, and limitless credit card balances. Christ-centered hope focuses on the truth that with God nothing is impossible.

The Lord saved for now those spirits who would have the courage and determination to face the world, and all the powers of the evil one and who would build up the Zion of our God, fearless of all consequences. George Q. Cannon

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. Mark Twain

There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day. Alexander Woolcott

We can do no great things; only small things with great love.
Mother Teresa

Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity. Henry Van Dyke

You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love. Henry Drummond

I think that God means that we shall do more than we have yet done in furtherance of his plans and he will open the way for our doing. Abraham Lincoln

Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity. Margaret D. Nadauld

We salute you, sisters, for the joy that is yours as you rejoice in a baby’s first smile and as you listen with eager ear to a child’s first day at school which bespeaks a special selflessness. Women, more quickly than others, will understand the possible dangers when the word self is militantly placed before other words like fulfillment. You rock a sobbing child without wondering if today’s world is passing you by, because you know you hold tomorrow tightly in your arms. Neal A. Maxwell.

The right way to pray for the answer to all your problems is to feel and know that the Indwelling God knows only the answer. Because this is true, you will only know the answer and recall the truth: God never faileth. Joseph Murphy

Time is really all we have. And every individual has an equal portion of it. The trick is to get more out of what is available to us. Gordon B. Hinckley

Truly, there is nothing more vital to our success and our happiness here in mortality that learning to hear the voice of the Spirit, for it is the Spirit who reveals to us our identity-which isn’t just who we are, but who we have always been. Sheri L. Dew

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is bliss, taste it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is a promise, fulfill it. Life is sorrow, overcome it. Life is a song, sing it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is a tragedy, confront it. Life is an adventure, dare it. Life is luck, make it. Life is too precious, do not destroy it. Life is life, fight for it. Mother Teresa

There is no obstacle too great, no challenge too difficult, if we have faith. Gordon B. Hinckley

Self trust is the essence of heroism. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Only the Lord can compare crosses, but all crosses are easier to carry when we keep moving. Neal A. Maxwell

For the faithful, our finest hours are sometimes during or just following our darkest hours. Neal A. Maxwell

Be glad of life, because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars. Henry Van Dyke

Solitude is bearable only with god. Andre’ Gide

You can’t do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about its width and depth. Shira Tehrani

The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook. William James

If...we truly want the best for our sons and daughters, we would want for them—not status—but more meekness, mercy, love, patience, and submissiveness. Neal A. Maxwell

With every ounce of...obedience comes a bushel of blessings. Neal A. Maxwell

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt

If you suffer pain and heartache, for the good that you have done, God has honored you and blessed you, to become just like His son. Peter G. Czerny

Motherhood is not what was left over after our Father blessed His sons with priesthood ordination. It was the most ennobling endowment He could give His daughters, a sacred trust that gave women an unparalleled role in helping His children keep their second estate. Sheri L. Dew

Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as real strength. Ralph Sockman

I wonder sometimes if we realize the importance of music. I wonder if we know that the Lord himself is concerned about it. Pres. George Albert Smith

We must be clear about our most crucial role as women if we hope to stand steadfast and immovable regarding the issues that swirl around our gender. For Satan has declared war on motherhood. He knows that those who rock the cradle can rock his earthly empire. And he knows that without righteous mothers loving and leading the next generation, the kingdom of God will fail. Sheri L. Dew

To withdraw into our private sanctuaries not only deprives others of our love, our talents, and our service, but it also deprives us of chances to serve, to love, and to be loved. Neal A. Maxwell

I am asking that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we “accentuate the positive.” I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort. Gordon B. Hinckley

All my life I’ve wanted to be somebody. But I see now I should have been more specific. Jane Wagner

I attribute my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education which I received from my mother. George Washington

Don’t let life discourage you. Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was. Richard L. Evans

God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability! Neal A. Maxwell

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power. Abraham Lincoln

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is. Albert Einstein

We can do no great things—only small things with great love. Mother Teresa

Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it. Helen Keller

Here is a test to find out whether your mission in life is complete. If you’re alive, it isn’t. Richard Bach

Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night. Thomas Fuller

If wickedness never was happiness, then righteousness never was misery.

I do not pray for success. I ask for faithfulness. Mother Teresa

Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in my pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return. Mary Jean Iron

And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. Abraham Lincoln

Only God can fully know what absolute honesty is. Therefore each of us has to conceive what this great ideal may be to the best of our ability. Bill W.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. Mother Teresa

What you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to someone else. But what you are will be yours forever. Henry Van Dyke

Most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be. Abraham Lincoln

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Mother Teresa

If we find nothing of interest where we are, we are likely to find little of lasting interest where we wish to go. Edwin Way Teale

The greatest happiness you can have is knowing that you do not necessarily require happiness. William Saroyan

Be such a man, and live such a life, that if every man were such as you, and every life a life like yours, this earth would be God’s Paradise. Phillips Brooks

We are each of us angels with only one wing, & we can only fly by embracing one another. Luciano de Crescenzo

When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice. Cherokee Expression

We should not complain about our own life’s not being a rose garden when we remember who wore the crown of thorns. Neal A. Maxwell

Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Harold Whitman

We are more than what we do, much more than what we accomplish...far more than what we possess. William Arthur Ward

We are not human beings on a spiritual journey. We are spiritual beings on a human journey. Steven R. Covey

It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that make happiness. Charles Spurgeon

When you’re having a genuine bad hair day and someone says, “Have a nice day,” simply respond with, “Thanks, but I’ve made other plans!”

Virtue and morality surely must be true principles of God; otherwise, why would we feel so badly when those we love are not virtuous or morally clean? Lori Nelson Bennett

Inspiration comes more as a feeling than as a sound. Elder Boyd K. Packer

It is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint...to have the manifestations of the spirit every day of our lives. Pres. Lorenzo Snow

Every man has the privilege to exercise these gifts and these privileges in the conduct of his own affairs; in bringing up his children in the way they should go; in the management of his business, or whatever he does. It is his right to enjoy the spirit of revelation and of inspiration to do the right thing, to be wise and prudent, just and good, in everything that he does. Pres. Harold B. Lee

Because it raises our spirits and helps us resist evil and seek good, the feeling of uplift that is communicated by reading the scriptures or by enjoying wholesome music, art, or literature is a distinct function (as well as a form) of revelation. Dallin H. Oaks

Restraint is one of the most common functions of revelation. It often comes by surprise. Even though we have not asked for revelation or guidance on a particular subject, if we are keeping the commandments of God and living in tune with his Spirit, a restraining force will steer us away from things we should not do. Dallin H. Oaks

A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas...and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation. Prophet Joseph Smith

All of us are entitled to the spirit of prophecy & of revelation in our lives, both for our personal affairs & in our ministry. The prayerful study & pondering of the holy scriptures will do as much , or more than any other single thing, to bring that spirit, the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation, into our lives. Elder Bruce R. McConkie

Conversation Starters

2010-04-09T07:25:00.002-06:00

Yesterday I promised that I would give ideas on conversation starters. I’ve been collecting them for years. As a parent, you might want to keep a few basic questions printed on a 3X5 card to enable you to have conversations with your children privately or collectively while in the car, at the dinner table or at bedtime. Here’s a short list to choose from for your 3X5 card:

If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

What was the __________ (choose one: most challenging, funniest, most surprising, most amazing) thing that happened to you today?

Tell me your favorite joke.

What was the nicest thing you did for someone else today? How did it make you feel? What was the nicest thing that someone else did for you today? How did it make you feel?

If you were writing a Blog about your day, what would the title be?

Describe your day in three words.

Describe “the perfect day,” from the time you wake up until you go to bed.

In two minutes, tell me as much about your day as you can.

Teach me one thing that you learned today that you think I don’t know.

If you were the President of the United States, name one thing that you would change about our country immediately.

What do you think the world needs—right now?

If you were given $1000, how would you spend it?

What can I do for you that would make your life better?

If you were on a deserted island for a year and you could choose one thing to have with you, what would you want?

If you could invent something that would make life better, what would it be?

In your opinion, what is the greatest invention ever made?

If you could visit with a person from history, who would it be? Why?

If you could be an Olympian, what sport would you like to participate in?

If you were to loose one of your senses and you could choose which one it was, which sense do you think you would choose? Why? If it had to be sight or hearing, which one?

Why do so many people enjoy going to the Disney parks?

If you could go on a vacation anywhere in the United States, where would you go?

If you could make a movie, what would it be about? What type would it be? (Drama, history, comedy, mystery?)

Now for questions to put in your Conversation Jar. Let’s start with the humorous conversation starters that I have been saving. Perhaps you can come up with more humorous ones as well and maybe even find some that younger children will enjoy. Consider printing these conversations starters with humor on green paper (or color of your choice), then when the family seems to need humor, someone can be instructed to pull out a “green” slip of paper for that evening’s conversation around the dinner table. Here’s the humorous list:

Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety-one?

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one out of five enjoys it?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages? Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?

If people from Poland are called Poles, then why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a racecar is not called a racist?

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and dry cleaners depressed?

If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

Do Lipton Tea employees take 'coffee breaks?

I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use. Toothpicks?

Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

Is it true that you never really learn to swear until you learn to drive?

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

Whatever happened to Preparations A through G?

As income tax time approaches, did you ever notice: When you put the two words 'The' and 'IRS' together, it spells... 'THEIRS'?

Now copy and paste these ideas into your word processor. I make 3 columns with mine (you get more to a page that way), and print them, cut them up a put them in a cute little jar or box. Start your fun conversations tonight. (Even older couples can use the stimulation for conversations.) I’ll include more conversation starters tomorrow. Until then, enjoy dinner at your home!

Shall We Gather 'Round the Dinner Table?

2010-04-08T08:21:00.000-06:00

I'll never forget while eating lunch with Michelle at Primary Children's Hospital I observed a little girl about Sophie's age (at that time Sophie was almost two), sitting quietly across from her mother, using a fork and eating her lunch. She didn't stand on her chair or get off of it over and over for that matter. She ate well and her mother would talk to her in a quiet, calm way. I was struck with the thought, "This little girl's family sits together as a family and eats their dinner together on a regular basis." Intrigued, I asked the mother if they did indeed eat often together as a family. The mother's eyes brightened as she said, "Yes, this is very important to me for my family." Michelle and I then had a lovely chat with this fine mother.

Now, with time to think about this important subject, "Eating together as a Family," I would like to share some ideas of why it is important and also things that can be done as we gather as a family around the table.

Dinnertime is often the only time a family has to be together. I think one would agree that it is important that at least once a day all members of the family sit down together and relax and find out what everybody's day has been like. Also, a little bit of effort put into making each meal special goes a long way toward health and contentment. As families get older, there will be times when a family member is absent. If we make dinnertime together a priority, however, we will have more times being together than not.

There is so much that can be done around the table. Here are a few ideas with no particular order of importance: 1) Have Culture or Ethnic nights. Let family members choose what they want to learn about. Plan assignments such as who will find recipes fitting the culture, who will prepare them, someone to find interesting facts about a culture, someone to find music from that culture to be listened to while eating, perhaps an after dinner craft related to the culture could be made. Be creative and enthused. This could become a favorite monthly event. 2) At some time during the day (preferably when the family is gathered for morning scriptures and prayer), have family members express their wish for "today." Write it down (So you might consider having a scribe). Then, at dinnertime, allow each family member time to share how or if their wish came to pass. The scribe could record a little bit of this and it could become a family journal about things learned and experienced. What a treasure this would be! 3)Have a "Scripture of the Week." Memorization could be rewarded. Values could be applied. Just think, 52 scriptures could be internalized in a year's time. Again, a record could be kept of which scriptures have been treasured. 4) Make a conversation jar and keep it as part of the centerpiece at your dinner table.(I'll give you a good start for this jar in my next blog.) Each night you could have someone pull out a question to be discussed by the entire family. Be sure to encourage "all" to participate. Keep a sense of humor (to me this is the most important rule) and never allow criticism or derogatory comments to be added by others while someone else is focusing on the question. (Manners are thus learned at the dinner table.) 5)Play different types of music during your meals and allow family members the time to discuss what the music does for their moods and the level of enjoyment the music allows them while eating their food. 6)Discuss important "news events" of the day. 7) Learn about a different value each week. Share experiences that you have learned about that value each evening.

Well, I am sure you can see the value of gathering 'round the dinner table. Don't just say, "I'll work on it." Remember and do it. The benefits will be great and you surely won't have any regrets.

Shall we gather 'round the table?

2010-04-06T07:27:00.004-06:00

In my mind, I've been wondering if families have lost an important opportunity to gather and enjoy one another on a regular basis because they no longer have sit-down meals together? Oh, they might eat together--in front of the television. (I know we do this far too often!) But, something is lost when a family fails to enjoy time together around the dinner table. Can you think of some benefits of eating at least one meal together as a family? Think about it and I will, too. Later, I will share some of my ideas on the benefits of togetherness at the table. Until then, enjoy the
following amazing little recipe that I think any fine cook would want to have for her family. The suggested variations make it fun. Enjoy!

Anytime Drop-in Biscuits

2 c flour
3 T sugar
4 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
2/3 c shortening
1 large egg
1 c milk

Mix dry ingredients together. Cut in shortening. Mix egg and milk, then add to flour-shortening mixture, and stir just till moist. Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls on greased baking sheet. Bake at 425 F for 10-12 minutes. For Breakfast: Make a well in top of unbaked biscuit and fill with teaspoon of fruit preserves. For lunch: Add 1/2 c of grated cheese to dry ingredients. For dinner: Add 1/2 c currants and 1/4 c chopped walnuts. OR: Make them pure and simple and eat with butter, gravy, honey, or absolutely no topping at all!

Kids DO SAY the dardest things!

2010-03-08T16:29:00.000-07:00

I just need to share this: Last night Shaun and Brooke came to visit. It had been a very enjoyable evening and I enjoyed every minute right up to the time they were packing up to go home. Macee began singing her "abc's" in a jumbled fashion saying "w, x, z," and "q, r, s," and then back to "a, b, c," and then "do you want to p?" Brooke and I began to laugh, of course. Oh, the innocence of a child!

Earlier, dear little Macee had come to me and asked me to rock her. Of course, I couldn't refuse. Sadly it didn't last long. She spied a child's wooden chair and asked if she could get it and set it next to me. She sat down and then looked at me seriously and said, "Gaamaa, I hold you now." I parroted her request and she affirmed that she wanted to hold me. So being the good grandma that I am(ha! ha!), I complied. She was so pleased to think that she could hold grandma.

Sweet blessings from Heaven

2010-03-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

I told Rachael that I should write a new blog but was at a loss at what I could write about. Without hesitation, Rachael said write about your 13th grandchild. What a good idea! Why didn't I think about that? Could it be because I'm so dizzy that it's hard to think?

Well, anyway, Xzander Richard Bennett was born yesterday. He is my 13th grandchild. He shares his birthday with his great Aunt Janine. What a special day. I think he looks just like his brothers. There are those that agree. I guess I should say I am thankful for cell phones, and texting, (modern tech.)because I would otherwise be unable to see this sweet baby until pictures are developed and sent by mail. I am thankful for the miracle of phones, too. If you can't be near loved ones, phones and computers make it so much more bearable.

Grandchildren are the light of each day. I find joy just thinking about them. They grow all too quickly (just like my children did), and I find there is not enough time for them or me to do all that I would like to do with them. I hope there are grandchildren (that are wee) in heaven when we no longer have to deal with the aging process or time--just enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!

The Old Fisherman

2009-12-05T07:44:00.000-07:00

This morning I took the opportunity to turn on some Christmas music and then re-type a story that I had received as a girl. The words of the story were badly faded and I wanted to capture them before they were lost forever. With the Christmas music reverently playing in the background, I thought as I typed the story, "This would make a perfect Christmas story! It portrays all of the elements of what Christ tried to teach us while he walked upon the earth: to love one another, to give our best, to have gratitude for the good and the bad, have compassion, and endure to the end." At first I thought I would save the story for "next year as a gift to loved ones and friends." But then the thought came, "No, share it now." So, here it is. Turn on some lovely, reverent Christmas music and bask in the true spirit of Christmas Charity:

The Old Fisherman

Our house was directly across the street from the clinic entrance of John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. We lived downstairs and rented the upstairs rooms to outpatients at the clinic.

One summer evening as I was fixing supper, there was a knock at the door, I opened it to see a truly awful looking old man.

“Why, he’s hardly taller than my eight-year old,” I thought as I stared at the stooped, shriveled body. But, the appalling thing was his face—lopsided from swelling; red and raw.

Yet his voice was pleasant as he said, “Good evening, I’ve come to see if you’ve a room for just one night. I came for a treatment this morning from the Eastern shore, and there’s no bus ‘till morning.”

He told me he’d been hunting for a room since noon but with no success. “I guess it’s my face. I know it looks terrible, but my doctor says with a few more treatments….”

For a moment I hesitated but his next words convinced me, “I could sleep in this rocking chair on the porch. My bus leaves early in the morning.”

I told him we would find him a bed, but to rest on the porch and talk for a few minutes. It didn’t take long to see that this old man had an oversized heart crowded into that tiny body.

He told me that he fished for a living to support his daughter, her five children, and her husband, who was hopelessly crippled from back injuries. He didn’t tell it by way of complaint; every other sentence was prefaced with a thanks to God for a blessing. He was grateful that no pain accompanied his disease, which was apparently a form of skin cancer. He thanked God for giving him the strength to keep going.

At bedtime, we put a camp cot in the children’s room for him. When I got up in the morning, the bed linens were neatly folded and the little man was out on the porch. He refused breakfast, but just before he left for his bus, haltingly, as if asking for a great favor, he said, “Could I please come back and stay the next time I have to have a treatment? I won’t put you out a bit...I can sleep fine in a chair.” He paused a moment and then added, “Your children made me feel at home. Grownups are bothered by my face, but children don’t seem to mind.”

I told him he was welcome to come again. And on his next trip he arrived a little after seven in the morning. As a gift, he brought a big fish and a quart of the largest oysters I had ever seen. He said he had shucked them that morning before he left so they would be nice and fresh. I know his bus left at four a.m. and wondered what time he had to get up in order to do this.

In the years he came to stay overnight with us, there was never a time that he did not bring us fish or oysters or vegetables from his garden.

Other times we received packages in the mail, always by special delivery; fish and oysters packed in a box of fresh young spinach or kale, every leaf carefully washed. Knowing that he must walk three miles to mail these, and how little money he had, made the gifts doubly precious.

When I received these little remembrances, I often thought of a comment our next door neighbor made after he left that first morning, “Did you keep that awful looking man last night? I turned him away. You can lose roomers by putting up such people.”

And maybe we did, once or twice, but oh! If they only could have know him perhaps their illnesses would have been easier to bear. I know our family always will be grateful to have known him; from him we learned what it was to accept the bad without complaint and the good with gratitude to God.

Recently I was visiting a friend who has a greenhouse. As she showed me her flowers we came to the most beautiful of all; a golden chrysanthemum, bursting with blooms. But to my great surprise it was growing in an old, dented, rusty bucket. I thought to myself, if this were my plant I’d put it in the loveliest container I had. My friend changed my mind.

“I ran short on pots,” she explained, “And knowing how beautiful this one would be, I thought it wouldn’t mind starting in this old pail. It’s just for a little while, ‘till I can put it out in the garden.”

She must have wondered why I laughed so delightedly, but I was imagining just such a scene in heaven. “Here’s an especially beautiful one,” God might have said when he came to the soul of the fisherman. “He won’t mind starting in the small body.”

But that’s behind now, long ago, and in God’s garden how tall this lovely soul must stand.

Author Unknown

2009-10-06T15:47:00.000-06:00

In spite of the sadness (very deep) of losing my dad this past month, and in spite of my mother having an accident just 9 days after dad's death, may I just say that this has been a beautiful Fall. I am learning so much. I have felt the influence of a loving Father in Heaven as he has allowed me to learn more about my Dad and his goodness. I have been reassured that I am blessed to be the one to spend so much time with my mother as she recovers and tries to settle Dad's affairs. Of course, by myself I would not have chosen to have my schedule changed every day, but I realize that I am experiencing things that I will never have the opportunity to learn from again. In quiet moments I have felt sweet assurances that all is well and that if I move forward in faith, everything (absolutely everything) will work out if I will just trust in the Lord and pray for His will to be done. I am content to wait upon the Lord and in my waiting I am enjoying glorious views of orange and red Alpine mountains with low clouds and snow capped vistas. I don't remember apples being juicier and crisper, nor do I remember greener tomato vines with big, luscious tomatoes.

I am blessed to be a new Grandma for the 12th time. Little Jaxton arrived on Sept. 24 and I think he's as cute as any baby ever born. He brings peace, too. I ask, "Why am I so blessed?"

When the children gather here with their little ones and show love and affection to "Gampa" or "new gammaw" (my mother) I feel as if my heart will burst with joy because of the love that is felt. Alas, isn't that what it's all about? Love? Love of God; Love of our neighbors; Love one another! Conference conveyed this message--Just love one another. It's easy for me to understand and do right now. It is good--it is the best!!!! God bless us--everyone!!!

Obituray of my father...

2009-09-16T21:30:00.000-06:00

Bruce Richard Nelson

1929 ~ 2009

Bruce Richard Nelson, 80, died peacefully while surrounded by loved ones on Monday, September 14, 2009 in Provo, Utah. Bruce was born May 22, 1929, the only child of Allen Richard and Ruby Johnson Nelson. Bruce is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 62 years, Earlene R Van Wagoner, 4 children, Allen Tommy, Salt Lake; Lyle Richard (Sherrie) American Fork; Lori (Jeffrey) Bennett, Alpine; Kari (Kurt) Schwendiman, Moscow, Idaho; 20 grandchildren. Bruce had a special relationship with each of his grandchildren. Each can tell of special times with Bruce and Earlene.

Bruce was an active member of the LDS Church, and served a mission with his wife in Omaha, Nebraska. He retired from Geneva Steel after 38 years of service.

The family wishes to express their love and gratitude to all who have shown love and compassion to Bruce during his years of battling illnesses. He loved you all and he felt his life was rich because you were "his friends."

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 18, 2009 at 11 am in the Anderson & Sons Mortuary Chapel, 49 E 100 N, American Fork. Visitations will be Thursday evening from 6 to 8 pm and Friday 9:30 to 10:45 am at the mortuary. Burial, Alpine City Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at andersonmortuary.com

A Week of Education?

2009-08-29T07:30:00.000-06:00

Surprise, I'm making another attempt at blogging. I don't spend time blogging because I spend too much of my computer time enjoying the blogs of others. There's some real talent and fun experiences out there in cyberspace.

The best thing I have done for myself lately is spending a week at Education Week. I even stayed in the dorms. I spent almost all of my time listening to inspiring teachers, studying my notes, my scriptures and reading. I came home with every intention for "change" Or would a better word be "improvement?" Alas, the minute I drove in our driveway I knew I was in trouble because it seemed as if an intentional maze was created to thwart any attempt to get in my house or to "leave the world behind." Scrap metal lay strewn on the driveway, a dumpster came next, this was followed by a dump truck in the middle of the driveway and rose bushes blocking the only way to drive around the truck. The motor home was still taking up a big portion of the driveway and because it was there, Zak and Rachael's cars were parked further out in the lane. "We have a used-car lot," the devil mimicked. Continuing on I found I had to drive on the grass to get around Jeff's Toyota. I opened the garage and there sat our red truck--smack-dab in the middle of the garage. Thus, I was unable to pull in the garage. I started to cry as the words came to my mind, "Welcome home, Lori." I should have gone in the house and secluded myself until I gained my composure, but because Michelle had called me just as I found the maze, I was on the phone with her and didn't think about the consequences of finding Jeff and crying. I will say no more on this subject other than I ruined his day. I am still so sorry!!! On the ride home from Provo all I really wanted to do when I got home was run to Jeff, throw my arms around him and thank him for allowing me to spend this wonderful week filling my cup to overflowing. So, my question is, "How do you leave the world behind you?" I am sorely lacking in my ability to figure this great "need" out. If anyone has any suggestions, please feel free to advise.

What's So funny?

2009-07-21T05:17:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I blogged. I guess I fail to see too much that would interest anyone. I guess I don't think about my life too much from day to day-I just try to keep busy and get things done along with trying to learn something new each day.

At any rate, this week I have the privilege of sorting fruit for S & R Fruit. I think it's great fun. Yesterday was my first day and when I was through, I was talkative (Jeff, Rachael and Zak thought it was pretty funny). But what started my talkativeness was a text message I received from Devan in Texas. He asked me "If you could have anything for Christmas, with no exceptions, what would you want?" I didn't know how to text him back so I called. He was at work but Heather wanted to know what I would answer.

I told her I would have their family move back to Utah. I then asked if that was the answer they expected. She replied, "Devan will call you back tomorrow." I then told Heather that Devan would have to call me back earlier than 1:30 because "I have to go to work." It was at this point that Rachael (who was listening) about busted a gut laughing. I didn't realize that I had said anything funny. Heather questioned, "You have to go to work? You have a job somewhere else besides Ben-Crete?" Rachael quickly said through her laughter, "That hit me so funny. I've never heard you say you 'have to go to work!'"

I think all of us must be bonkers to have something so trivial make everyone laugh so hard. Jeff got home about this time and asked what was going on. I told him about my conversation with Heather and how I had told her to have Devan call me before I had to go to work and Jeff started laughing, too. I guess the only thing funnier would be if I had to dress up and announced that I was going to work and the work away from home was permanent and not just a four day job.

I don't know who needs to get a life more--me or the ones that had a good laugh over something so non-funny.

Never hike alone.

2009-07-03T08:09:00.000-06:00

Rachael has been pestering me to share this experience I had while at the Bennett Family Reunion. A group of us (woman and children) hiked up Timp's trail about 2 miles. We were going to see some impressively glorious waterfalls. We had arrived and enjoyed the falls and rested while eating granola bars and drinking some water. It was at this point I realized I would soon need a restroom. I told Jillene that I thought I had better start back for a bathroom after inquiring whether everyone was ready to start back and she told me "no." I said that I must go then and jokingly said, "If you see me laying along the trail, pick me up and drag me back to camp." As I turned to go, the thought came, "You shouldn't go alone." So I turned back to Jillene and asked, "Do you think there is anyone else that needs to go now, too?" She responded, "No, go ahead."

I then had the dismissing thought, "Jillene is always alone. She would not think twice about going alone." So with that thought, I turned and went on my way with a quick prayer in my heart that I would be okay. I found myself analyzing how I was walking and what could happen to me while going down this good trail alone. I told myself to take my time and to step carefully.

Along the trail there are several waterfalls that cross it. Coming up the trail I was able to cross each watery area by stepping on stones. This was my plan for going down the trail too. As I came to one such waterway I saw a large boulder to step on. I thought, "This crossing will be easy enough. Just one step on the boulder and I will be across." As I stepped, however, the boulder teetered and as quick as a flash, I was toppled over the side of the mountain. It happened so fast I had no time to grasp for anything. Just...down I went. My little back pack purse cushioned my fall and caused me to stop--with my head down hill and my legs and feet uphill! I was in a predicament for sure for the mountain was very steep and each time I tried to right myself I started sliding down the mountain more. Remember, too, that I was laying in a waterfall's path. (It's pretty comical to me now but at the time I was scared and shaking and had to use the bathroom badly.)

I gradually maneuvered myself around so that my head was upright (I quickly realized that I had to move slowly or I slid further down the mountain), and then I was able to get footing on the side away from the waterfall's trail and climb up and onto the trail. Wet, shaking, thankful that I was not 200 feet down the side of the mountain and alive and relatively well for such a fall, I started back down the trail--needing to use the restroom worse. (Many people have asked me why I didn't go in the trees. Know this dear reader, the next time I would!!!)

Starting down the trail again, I saw moose tracks and remembered that Dale Chadwick had seen a baby moose and its mother 2 days before and then I remembered that moose are very threatening--especially with their young.

On top of this thought, I remembered that it was in this area last year that a little boy had been dragged from his tent and killed by a bear.

My thoughts were now to get down the trail as quickly and safely as I could. I wanted to run but I couldn't because I knew it wouldn't be safe and because I had an elbow that was throbbing and an ankle that hurt if I stepped on it at a wrong angle.

I decided to sing right out loud because I had remembered hearing that animals don't like to be startled. I figured if they heard my singing they would know to leave. And, for me, singing brings peace and comfort. So, for probably 2 miles I sang and raced down the mountain as fast as I dared with my aching body.

I made it to the bathroom with great relief (No pun intended). Can you believe there was no toilet paper? My back pack came to my rescue again. I had a couple of packages of tissue in it. Before finishing my hike to our campground, I washed my face, combed my hair and drank some water.

By this point I could hardly wait to get to my motor home, eat lunch and take a nap.

On the short distance back, I took one wrong path and had to retrace my steps in the Timpanoke campground. Then when I was a short distance from our camp, I saw a leather-clad, long-haired motorcycle man come up and out of the area I was headed for. I just about turned and went another way but then the man saw me. So I went straight toward him. He crossed the road and leaned on his motorcycle and watched me. So I turned toward him and said, "hello." He smiled and greeted me back. I then went down from the road onto the trail and hurried to camp. I didn't look back until I was far from motorcycle man. He still leaned on his bike watching me.

May I just say that I was grateful to get back to my motor home! I went in, locked the door, ate a sandwich and lay on my bed. This was at 12:30 and at 4:00 Rachael knocked on the door and I woke from a deep sleep.

I have thought about this experience and realize how blessed I was to make it back safely. No one should ever go off alone on a mountain trail. I could have fallen a couple of hundred feet and no one would have found me very easily. No one came back from the hike to our campground and checked to see if I made it back safely. (This should be something for me to remember.) The simplest, unsuspecting thing can happen (a boulder rocks beneath your weight & topples you over the side of the mountain even when you are being very cautious) and your life can change forever. I realize I was not alone, however, because I had prayed as I started the walk down the trail and asked Heavenly Father to protect me. He allowed a lesson but he did protect me. I am still amazed that I wasn't hurt worse.

Catching up while at the hospital

2009-06-17T10:57:00.001-06:00

Michelle and I are sitting in the family resource center at Primary's blogging. I haven't been on my computer in days. Rachael helps me out once in a while by posting a birthday wish or something because I am running here and there it seems. We never realized how much she would be needed for other things besides office work. She does so much for us all. We have the best "Aunt Nannie" in the world. I wish a big vacation on her--some time to call her own. I know she wonders sometimes if she has time for herself because she is always being asked to step up to the plate to tend or run an errand or feed the farm animals. I don't think she realizes that I know she must feel like she is on call 24/7--always at work and asked to do any or all that Jeff and I can't get to. And then, siblings ask for help and her routine is interrupted by change with their kids and holidays, and summer vacations. So, Rachael, I wish you a wonderful trip to India or Africa. And may it be for at least a month. No, wait, I would miss you too much.

At any rate, we have been to the University hospital this morning for Joe's kidney test. There is such a drastic difference in the atmospheres of both Primary's and University. Michelle giggles and laughs a lot at all of the differences. Smells are different, dress is different, eating and drinking styles are different. But, wherever you go, people are usually so very kind and helpful.

Someone just asked where the Urology Dept. is here at the hospital and Michelle (a walking hospital directory and nursing advisor now) was able to tell them where to go. The Staff worker (saying she has worked here 15 years) didn't even know where it was. Michelle thought that was pretty sad that she knows so much about this hospital by now. I think it's great that she has such a good memory.

A Lovely Morning

2009-06-07T08:38:00.000-06:00

I've been under the weather the past few days and couldn't find the energy to do much. This morning I decided I could at least read some of my favorite blog spots. They were so enjoyable to read. Thank you to everyone--sharing some of your heart-felt feelings and ideas helps me to feel like I can hang on. Don't get me wrong. I just have a bug of some sort==sore throat, tightness in my chest, dizzy when I get up, achy, and very, very tired. When I feel this way and see Jeff working from the time he gets up until he goes to bed, I feel really useless. Thank goodness we're not sick at the same time.

Anyway, thanks for GREAT blogs. The time you put into them is appreciated. I see great writing talent being shared. All the blogs could be compiled into a lovely book.

The good and the not so good

2009-05-21T16:51:00.000-06:00

Yesterday we got up at 3:30 a.m. and made the 2 hour drive to LaMar Valley. Our efforts were rewarded! We saw a moose, a grizzly bear, a black bear, a big horn sheep, and at least 14 wolves. It was so exciting to see the wolves taunt the buffalo and elk. After leaving the first 3 wolves, we saw others and then returned to the first ones. They had taken down a buffalo. Wow!!!

We got a book on the Yellowstone and we have decided that we have seen a large majority the different types of animals in Yellowstone with the exception of the very small critters.

We watched a coyote dive in the snow head-first and catch a rodent and eat it. We loved see the heavy bison meander down a trail to the river's edge and drink to its heart's content. We went to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone and looked for mountain lions that we were told lay in the sun on the cliffs in the afternoons. We didn't find them but we were amazed to spot a huge stick nest on the point of a cliff with an osprey in it.

Jeffrey and Macee get up in the morning and chorus: "Let's go find animals!!!" And off we go. The days have flown by. I thought by now I would be ready to head for home but we are still talking about getting up at 3:00 a.m. and going back to the LaMar Valley on one of remaining 2 days. My thoughts are with Joey and Michelle and dear Little Joe today. It's hard to feel good about having fun when I think about him at the hospital having his heavy chemo today thru Saturday. Thank goodness for Rachael being willing to step in for me since I got the days of this vacation mixed up with next week. Rachael is our right-hand person that is always so willing and capable of taking care of things while we are away. I am always amazed that the cows get out when she's in charge of things. Thanks to good neighbors and dear grandpa and grandma B for helping her get them back in. And again, thank you, Rachael, for all you do and all that you are.

3rd Time is the charm in West Yellowstone

2009-05-19T07:27:00.000-06:00

It's like deshavue (spelling?), or maybe a dream repeating itself--I'm back for the third time in a month at our West Yellowstone Resort. The only differences are the snow has melted a lot and it's much warmer. It's surprising what two weeks of sun can do to change the appearance of the land.

Jeff, Shaun and his family and I are having a wonderful time here. Yesterday, we went into the North part of Yellowstone. Much of the snow has melted causing the grasslands to be flooded. Animals abound at almost every turn indicating that they are rejoicing that a long, hard winter has passed. Baby bison tag behind their mothers, anxiously waiting for a chance to nurse. Wolves are helping the animal populace with their killings--especially golden eagles, ravens, ospray, coyotes, and smaller preditors. Wolves take their prey down (elk) along riverbanks. Three wolves had done this yesterday and we were able to watch the small preditors feast. Also, at a different location we were told that a bear and a wolf had a squirmish over the recent elk kill by another pack of wolves.

The wildlife we have seen are (I hope I can remember all of them): a black bear, 3 grizzles, antelope, herds and herds of buffalo, elk, wolf, coyote, bald eagles, golden eagle, ospray. I'm still looking for a moose and Shaun wants to see a beaver. We think we saw a beaver in the lake but it was so far away we could not confirm it.

Jeffrey and Macee are regular little travelers. They have the routine down. We stop, get out and enjoy the site and then back to the car, buckle up and "watch for animals!" We sing, I tell stories. They beg me over and over to repeat "One day when I came home from school my mother met me at the gate..." They giggle and giggle and squeal, "Again!" My throat gets so sore. But I'll do anything I can for little children or is it for me so that I can hear their joyous laughter? When I am in the presence of children I feel "true joy."

The 3rd time here is really the charm. We are having a wonderful time and I wish everyone could experience the wonder of it all.

Friends

2009-05-09T08:17:00.001-06:00

I have been thinking about my friends. Why have I been so blessed to have the wonderful people I know--in my life? I don't believe it's because I am a good friend. I want to be a good friend but that's a whole other issue. Sometimes I wonder if Heavenly Father is going to say, "I gave you the very best, Lori. You know that. You have nothing to complain about."

May I just say "thank you" to all my friends. You know who you are. Thank you for special walks, special talks in my living room, long talks with listening ears over the phone, homemade cards in the mail with very special sentiments, surprise visits, big hugs, shedding tears of joy or sadness because I am shedding tears, too. Dear friends, thank you for special e-mails, temple outings, visits over FOOD, visits at the hospital, teaching moments, for all that you share with me. And may I just say, because of the teachings of Jesus Christ, I am thankful that I have friends that I can talk to about Him, whom I love. Whether you are my friend in my family circle or my friend because we have developed bonds, I am forever grateful to know you and love you.

"A Glorious Day!"

2009-05-08T15:57:00.001-06:00

I don't believe I shall ever get over the beauties of a Spring Day after a long, hard winter. I love every single miracle of Spring--from baby cows and sheep in the pastures, to extremely fragrant lilacs that sneak out of existence as the heat increases. I even like the feel of squinting my eyes because of the brightness from the sun. In spite of all that's wrong in the world, Springtime is a reminder that there is much right and good, too. I choose to dwell on this.

Today, Rachael and I went to Fountain Green to see my parents. My Dad is not feeling well at all. He has no energy to get out in the sunshine. He insists that all the blinds stay closed. He seems to be pretty smiley as one talks to him, but there is not the confidence that he used to convey. I keep asking myself what I can do for him. He is still of sound mind and with Mom's help they both do okay. When does the adult child step in and say to the adult parent, "I think it's time some changes are made."? Mom does well but her stroke took a toll on her confidence, too. I know that know one knows what she has been through with the stroke and then trying to take care of Dad. I would welcome any advice. Someday, I will look back at see all of these experiences as opportunities for learning and understanding.

I meant to stick with my title. In spite of my worries, it has been a glorious day. The fact that I can even see my parents (both of them) is a glorious miracle. The fact that they are independent is amazing. The fact that they live in very favorable circumstances at their ages is a blessing. Yes, in spite of challenges, it is a glorious day and I know there will be many more to come no matter what life hands out. Now, go outside and have a glorious evening!!!

Where does the time go?

2009-05-03T07:43:00.000-06:00

Many years ago, today, I gave birth to my first child, Rachael. Little did I know the joy I was in for. Now, I am not saying that joy was all I experienced but I am saying that because of the opportunity of teaching, urging, exercising faith, trusting, exercising more faith, patience, etc., I now look at Rachael with joy in my heart because she is a loving and caring daughter, granddaughter, mother, wife, sister, aunt, and friend. She devotes "all" of her time to the building and lifting of others. In fact, she is not happy if she thinks anyone else is not happy. (And I believe this includes those she sees as "people that do not like her.") Rachael came as a "Ray of Sunshine" (her 1st Bishop dubbed her as this) and when the clouds cover her smile, all in her world are sad.

It seems like just yesterday I held her in my arms as I sat on our family room floor. I was brushing her downny-soft hair and talking to her. She was just barely a month old. She looked at me with her trusting, big blue eyes and I felt like she was trying to tell me something important. She smiled a great big smile and then, over the radio I heard that all worthy male members of the church could now hold the Priesthood. I said to Rachael, "Did you know that? You are alive on this special day!" Rachael smiled all the bigger and I held her close and knew that life would be special with her.

I don't know where all the time has gone since that special day. I do know that I would not trade it! I have learned much from Rachael and my 3 other very wonderful children. Almost, I can understand what love our Father in Heaven has for His children when I think about how much He must love me to send me here to this earthly school and to have allowed me to be the mother of such wonderful "individuals." I know that not everyone gets the opportunity to be a mother but I trust that there is a Divine Reason for this and that someday we will all understand that life is much more than just here on earth. My experience tells me that those who do not bear children on earth are usually more nurturing and caring than those of us who must learn through the bearing and rearing of children. I have the highest regard for those who have not bourne children but continue to bear the burdens of others. May you be blessed because you bless our lives.

It's green in Moscow

2009-05-01T08:07:00.000-06:00

After a lovely, l-o-n-g ride, we are finally in Moscow. It is greener than last week. In Montana, it's whiter--meaning there is a lot more snow. This time through we saw the huge elk herds that my Dad said we would see last week. We saw moose, fox, geese, deer, buffalo, antelope, big blue skies, cloud-framed, pine dotted mountains, overflowing rivers, budded trees, freshly plowed & rolling hills. Ahh, the beauties of Spring!

Last night we had fun with Kari, Kurt and their family. We went to a baseball practice, came home and ate snacks at 7:30 p.m. and then had grilled pork loin and fried potatoes at 10:30 p.m. Kari commented that she had tried to allow her day to be spontaneous and that she enjoyed it. I enjoyed it too. How long has it been since I was this spontaneous?

This morning after listening to my Book of Mormon on the i-pod, I lay in bed and listened to my Bobby Goldsboro music. It was most relaxing and a nice start to the day. I found myself composing my own songs in my head and I think I will try to get some of them down on paper. There must be something to spontenaiety.

We'll leave for the Spokane Temple this afternoon. I just know it's going to be a nice day.

On the Road Again....

2009-04-27T21:10:00.000-06:00

I just got back from Moscow, Idaho with my parents. Now, I will be going again for something very special. My sister, Kari and her husband, Kurt, will be sealed in the Spokane Temple on Friday. So, off I go again. Oh, my aching derriere!!! I am excited to spend time with Jeff, however. I wish other members of my family could go, but they will be keeping an eye on the old home front.

Jeff and I didn't get our winter trip this year so this will be nice to get off alone with him for a few days. The more I think about it, the more excited I get--just me and him alone. Jeff is so fun when I can get him to relax.

Oh, wait a minute, we did go to Disneyland this winter. (But we did not get off alone by ourselves--it was a family vacation.) We had a great time but I love my alone time. I've already said that haven't I? Well, you get the picture I'm sure...I love Jeff.

The Resort in West Yellowstone

2009-04-24T14:08:00.000-06:00

My, we thought our resort in Hamilton, Montana was nice but our condo in West Yellowstone is awesome. Of course, anyone that has been to a WorldMark Resort knows how the condos are. I can't wait to come again in May with Jeff, Shaun and Brooke. There is a lot of snow today and it is only 22 degrees. Mom and Dad were glad to get in our room at noon instead of the usual 4:00 check-in time. They are napping and watching old-time movies while I check out the accomodations. There is an indoor pool, game room, owner's lounge, hot tubs, etc.,etc.

Our ride to here was beautiful. We saw great herds elk all along the way and some Bison. Tomorrow we will go through Yellowstone to Afton unless the snow stops us. There is an 80% chance.

Well, not much more to tell. I have enjoyed being with my parents. The traveling is really hard on them and they just keep saying that this is the last time they are going to go. I almost believe them unless they do something to improve their health.

On the road again...

2009-04-21T06:10:00.000-06:00

I surely did have a wonderful day with my parents yesterday. We made it all the way to Hamilton, Montana. The roads were quiet and the scenery was invigorating. Every valley and vista testified that Spring is trying to dominate. Hurray!!! Today we will follow the Salmon River over to Kari's and Mom and Dad are excited to see it again. They claim the scenery will be better than yesterday's. I will be driving again. I think my Dad figures this is the last time he'll travel this way again and he wants to see everything that he can. I am happy that I can help make their trip a little more pleasureable. The wildlife we have seen so far are: turkey, mountain sheep or goats, elk, deer, geese, ducks, and moles. I hope to see a moose and bear since dad wants to go through Yellowstone on our way home. Yippee, skippy!!!! Well, I don't need to bore you with any more details, but I must say that time goes too quickly and my parents are aging quickly and I am thankful for this chance to be with them. Not everyone gets opportunies such as I, but if you dear readers can, spend as much time with your loved ones as possible for you never know when they may be called home.

What a Difference a Day Makes...or a Night?

2009-04-17T17:04:00.000-06:00

April 17, 2009--I want to thank everyone for your prayers in Joe's behalf. They were most certainly heard and answered because he got to come home from the hospital this afternoon. I still can't believe it since he was throwing up all through the night and had a nose bleed that scared the nurse and me. In less than 10 seconds after she had walked out of the room this morning, he and his bed were covered with blood. We were both amazed. These 2 problems alone would have kept him in the hospital but Michelle came and told the Dr. that she could handle the throwing up if that was all that was keeping him in the hospital. She has the doctors' trust and they know she is skilled at handling Joe's needs so I guess they decided he could go home.

Also, part of the miracle is how he improved from 5 a.m. until noon. I think part of it came as a result of his spirit being perked up by his love for music. Jeff got me an i pod for an early Mother's Day present because I had expressed over and over that I wanted a way to have music with me whenever I was with Joe. He loves to listen to and dance with music. I had an attachment for my i pod that is an external speaker for the i pod. I turned the music on to my Disney songs (156 of them) and laid it by Joe's pillow. Joe has wonderful hearing and rhythm and he began listening intently to every song. He first began smiling a lot. Then he started clapping to the music. Between each song he would calm, listen intently, and then...when the next song began he would laugh right out loud, clap his hands together and wiggle his legs up and down while his feet dragged across the bed. After several songs he started swinging his arms up and down and moving his legs in bicycle motions along the mattress. It was the same with every song. If there was a funny part in the song he would laugh right on cue. It was the funnest, most joyful thing to see this dear little boy being made happy by something so wonderful as music. I wish we were all so simple in our needs and in our enjoyment. I wish everyone could see what I have seen today. I know I am in such a hurry all of the time. I want to be efficient and get the most out of my day and I fail to see that simple is better--no, the very best and I love Joe for he has helped me to begin to see this.

Again, thank you for your prayers. Joe and his family are really doing pretty good and I am thankful for your love. Have a wonderful weekend. I think I am going to go and listen to my i pod and review my experience with Joe in my mind. I don't want to ever forget!!!

The phone really did ring early...

2009-04-16T11:13:00.001-06:00

I awoke to the phone ringing and thinking it was morning. The phone had it's familiar ring of "When Irish Eyes are Smiling." I knew it was Michelle. I was not alarmed because I thought it was probably 6:00 a.m. and it was Joe's birthday.(Instead it was 11:53 p.m.-not quite Joe's birthday.) Michelle said, "Guess where Joe is?" I didn't know. She told me he was in the emergency room. "No! Not for his birthday." Joe really scarred us this time. He was hypothermic with a temp of 95 degrees. Michelle had a feeling to check him because he had thrown up earlier. She found him non-responsive and his hands blue. Joey called 911 and Joe had his first ambulance ride. Yeah! Of course, the American Fork hospital would not keep him because of their inexperience with his many conditions, so a team was sent from Primary Children's Hospital and he was taken there. He was stable when they took him there but I guess he now has a temperature so he'll be there for a few days. So far, no tests reveal anything.

I went to Michelle's so that she could go to Joe before he left for Primary's and to get Joey so that he could go to the hospital. The roads at 12:30 a.m. were terrible. The snow was blowing northerly and horizontally so it was almost like a white-out. There were cars that had slid off. Fortunately police were assisting or I might have felt the need to stop. About 1 1/2 hours after I got to Michelle's she went to the A.F. Hospital (after they had decided what they were going to do with Joe). Michelle returned about 4:30 a.m. and got a few hours of sleep before the baby woke for a feeding. Earlier in the morning I had to feed him his second bottle feeding of his life. Wow! Can Gus guzzle. He drank 2 (2 oz) bottles in less than a minute (I swear and no exaggeration). At least after that he slept until about 6:30 a.m.--so about 4 hours. Now, Michelle has Gus and up at the hospital and we have Sophie here. Tonight I will stay with Joe so that Joey and Michelle can get a good night's rest. I can hardly wait to see little Joe. We have some singing and dancing to do together--our favorite activity for sure. Instead of birthday party today, we'll have to have a "Coming Home Party" like Michelle suggested.

Imagine yourself in a Dark Room, Unable to See...

2009-04-03T10:17:00.000-06:00

I have a dear friend whose mother died when she was just tiny. Now she is a mother and has expressed her wish that her mother were near by to talk to when she has discipline questions. I shared the following with her and thought that perhaps others would benefit too. So here is what I told her:

Picture yourself in the middle of dark, windowless, doorless room. You are sitting on a chair--confused and alone and you're wondering what the room is like. You crawl on the floor very slowly, feeling with your hands--hoping there are no sudden drops or hard things that you might bump into. Afterall you do not want to be hurt. You crawl until you reach the wall. Then you stand and feel around the walls and you go around the square of the walls. You become confident that you are safe with the boundary of the walls--there are no drops or bumps, but because it is dark, you are never sure you have covered all of the area between the walls and your chair. So, you keep testing to make sure the boundaries are safe. This applies to a young child's life. They will crawl and feel their way until they know their boundaries (the walls). Then they will will keep testing to make sure the boundaries haven't changed. As long as the boundaries do not change, they feel very secure and will behave better. If consistency changes, however, they will test to see if their boundaries have broadened. Once the child is older and can be reasoned with, of course the boundaries are made larger--but only after the child has proven to himself and you that they can handle the smaller boundaries. I hope this makes sense to you. It really helped me to make sure I stayed consistent at all costs. My child's future well-being depended upon it.

Feathers in the Wind

2009-04-02T17:44:00.000-06:00

I am not sorry for my April Fools story yesterday. But I am sad that Rachael has felt so badly that there were so many that became alarmed when she said I had been taken by the CIA. She has been ill ever since. I just returned from a bridal shower and Sisters from my Relief Society expressed they were glad to see me because they had not gotten the rest of the story or only parts of some of the story and so there was much confusion. It is amazing how words, like feathers scattered in the wind, really are hard to re-gather. I hope if someone comes up to me and asks me how things went with the CIA, that I will remember the story and be able to clear things up. Rachael doesn't think it's a story we will forget any time soon, but I fear with my memory of late, that I will forget the details. I guess that's the blessing of getting a wee bit older; forgetfulness helps ease the worries and anxieties that were forever on the forefront of my mind when I was younger. One thing's for sure, I am still not too old to learn or be reminded of some of life's lessons.

Gottcha!!

2009-04-01T09:58:00.000-06:00

I guess between my blog and Rachael's follow-up we are getting international calls. My blog is partially true (I did go onto the CIA site and my mother taught me to be honest)but I was not called at 6 a.m. and I am still home, enjoying the cold weather while I sit snuggly in my home. HAPPY APRIL FOOL'S DAY. I think Rachael and I had more fun and laughs and we are sorry if we gottcha too good. Have a wonderful day and know that we are still fond of all of you that fell for my little story that grew when Rachael read it.

A Phone Call at 6:00 a.m.

2009-04-01T07:48:00.000-06:00

I couldn't believe it when I received a phone call at 6:00 this morning. Caller ID said Washington, D.C. Who could be calling me from DC I wondered? The man on the other end asked me if I was the Lori Bennett that had been on the CIA website the day before yesterday. I was about to say, "no" even though I really had been. I asked myself, "Why would he want to know?" Thankfully my mother's teachings held true that honesty is the best policy so I didn't have to think too long about my answer, "Yes????" Now, here I must explain that I had found the site in one of those composition books on the front inside cover. I had searched "satellite," "United States," and "Uruguay" on the CIA site. I guess that was what got me in trouble. It was just a coincidence that I checked these 3 words ("satellite" was an example on the search list). I checked Uruguay because my brother went on a mission there and its name came to me. But apparently there is a major controversy going on between the U.S and Uruguay and Satellite useage. Uruguay (we think) is this quiet little country that just has conflict within its borders, but if I understand correctly, there is more going on. At any rate, the man asked me for all of this really pertinent information and I refused to give it to him because you never give information over the phone. He said quite crossly, "Lori, we will be in touch." Can I just say, my stomach barrometer is really stepped up a notch!!! Stay tuned for details. I must say, I feel really sick!!!

Something important to me

2009-03-25T06:28:00.000-06:00

As I reflected upon my scripture study this morning, I was once again reminded that there has been great sacrifices made so that we can have our scriptures. There have been sacrifices of time, fasting and prayer. There has been fear for one's life to preserve the records. Lives have been freely given and lives taken for the truths of the things contained in the scriptures. Children have suffered the loss of fathers and/or mothers who defended the sacred records. Individuals have gone without sleep, and food and comfort so that we could have the Book of Mormon today. In order to have our scriptures people have had to hide in caves, have had to feel inadequate in their ability to write or have sought worthiness to receive revelation. Individuals have left home, been spit upon, stoned, imprisoned for trying to bring the JOY of the gospel of Jesus Christ into the lives of those "who did not understand." I wonder if there are many of us today "who do not understand." In all of known history Satan has tried to keep sacred records from coming forth. Just read the Book of Mormon with the intent of understanding how important the records were and how hard Satan tried to thwart the keeping of the records, and you will soon see that we will never know all that has been done to give us our scriptures. Today, scriptures are miraculously available to us all; and yet, we are distracted from them by all of the entertainment that is available to us and by our "busy"ness with life. We have been given a precious gift from our Father in Heaven, and I pray that we are using it and showing Him that we are thankful for it. I think we can all do a little bit better.

Yum!

2009-03-24T17:58:00.000-06:00

May I just suggest that anyone that can, should go to Aunt Karla's Blog. She has given her recipes of chicken soup and chicken pot pie. If you want something good, this is it. Of course, I am not sure if it's the recipe or the cook that has the touch, but I'm excited to get her recipe.

I can safely guess that if the Bennett/Call blood flows in your veins, then you will be able to make this recipe just fine. That's my blog for today. It's a good one!!!

Fun morning

2009-03-20T15:00:00.000-06:00

The morning was wonderful except for one thing that I will tell now--before I tell the fun. Devan called and said he wanted me to know before I heard from someone else. Yesterday, at work, while training to hold prisoners in an arm lock, Devan moved his arm at a wrong angle and tore his rotter cuff. (sp?) At any rate, after many steps forward, this is a step backward and I can't help wondering what he and Heather are supposed to learn from this. I feel helpless from Utah, but he is in my prayers.

The fun began with a beautiful, sunshinny day. I just love the brightness and warmth after this past winter. I had a lovely talk with my parents while driving to Michelle's. I was going to give Michelle a surprise visit but she called and asked what we were doing today since she gave me the "day off" yesterday. I told Michelle this was a normal day off and since she took away my surprise of seeing her spontaneously I wasn't sure if I would come. She convinced me to come, however, because she needed milk and Joe is not allowed in public since is close to "0" in his important blood counts for fighting off infections. I think Michelle uses the word "nutriphenic". So, I drove to Michelle's. The instant I walked in the door, Miss Sophie said in her adult tone, "Hi Mamaw!!!" And then laughed with delight. She, Joe, and I played and laughed and giggled and tickled and crawled, and played "Ashes, ashes," for some time. I watched Michelle as she watched us and her face was alight with joy for her children. Now, anyone reading, I tell you, this is payback time. To see joy in your daughter's eyes as she experiences joy for her children has got to be as close to getting a glimpse of heaven while on earth that anyone can get. They are indeed, "Precious Moments."

Michelle and I ran errands mostly so we could get her and the kids out of the house for a moment. We ran to Joey's work to take him his phone, to the bank and then I sat in the car with Joe and Gus while Michelle took Miss Sophie in Target to get some size 1 diapers. Back at Joey's work we parted for the day but I felt so happy and blessed to know that Michelle and Joey are doing so well in spite of life's challenges.

Grandma's Magic Touch!

2009-03-18T21:35:00.000-06:00

When it comes to getting Joe to take a nap, no one is better at it than Grandma! With Michelle he plays too much. By himself he worries and pouts that he's not in with everyone else, but with Grandma he falls right to sleep! It was so cute yesterday when Mom and I were watching the kids, while Michelle took Gus to his 2 week check up, to walk in and find the two of them asleep. I don't know what Joe would do without his Grandma sometimes. He's just one more of us that would be lost without her!

Just keeping it real...

2009-03-18T21:26:00.000-06:00

In honor of Mom blogging I thought I would share a funny about her from the other day. She was warned that I might do this...I have resisted since Saturday! Saturday, I went upstairs and Mom was watching the movie Minority Report...I had forgotten the movie so I sat down to watch with her since Zak was still asleep and since it was nearly noon I just couldn't sleep any more. It got to the part where the gross doctor guy changes his eyes and leaves him alone in the filthy apartment. Do you all remember the part where he goes to eat the sandwich, but grabs a disgustingly moldy who-knows-what instead and spits it out? Well I did so I turned my head towards Mom who was totally engrossed in the show, which is NOT normal, she typically is playing a little hand held game or doing some Sudoku or reading or sleeping...NOT watching the movie. After watching her instead of the movie for a minute I understood why!!! She was so into the movie that when he spit out the yucky food she suddenly started to spit out saliva until I burst out laughing and she realized what she had done. We laughed so hard that we woke Zak up downstairs and have been laughing about it ever since...even if Mom is completely embarrassed! Mom...I love you!!! Thanks for telling me that I could share your embarrasing moment with the world even when I know you would have prefered it staying between us!