HERO

It's Date night, so here is a motivational thought for you!
Good night dear friends!

Creative Woman

"Being Creative is not a single act, but the act of living itself. The creative Woman is on fire with imagination, ignited by the certainty of her relationship with a living God and her surety of purpose. She lives in freedom, not measuring herself by the lives around her. She takes calculated risks, understanding the value of going beyond the horizon of the known and coming back to report what she has discovered. She tackles life’s challenges, with heart, hands and faith."  ~Author Unknown

 I love this quote.. when I feel really creative, it does make me feel happy. I do think it is important to see the talents that we have, are God given. I really do believe they are. I am grateful for the talents I have, as well as my children's talents. I am still trying to learn though how not to measure myself up against others, that is a hard one for me. But the longer that I work at the Quilt Shop; the more I appreciate all of our differences and talents. That is what makes the store unique and great, because we are all good at totally different things and that reaches out to more people; because we all have different talents and tastes. 

I do feel blessed that for 30 years I got to be a stay home Mom. And during those 30 years, my talents are something that kept me grounded and some times... sane. It was the one thing that didn't get undone by the morning. No matter how hard I tried, the dishes, the house, the laundry and so on, ALWAYS got undone, messy or dirty again before the next day; and that is when I would start all over again! So yes, developing different and creative talents really made a difference in my life then...and still does.

Today was a work day ( at home ), I really love to create new ideas and sew new things...it makes me happy and it makes me feel fulfilled and grateful! It also makes me happy when I see my own kids developing and using their talents ...to better the world. I am truly blessed!

 I believe the parable in Matthew 25 about the servants being given talents, is important for us to remember. We need to remember "where much is given, much is expected". I think that we are to develop and us our talents to bless the lives of others.

 “God has endowed us with talents and time, with  talents, abilities and with opportunities to use and develop them in his service."  ~ Spencer W. Kimball 

 “Neglect not the gift that is in thee” (1 Timothy 4:14).

Are we prepared?

   Today my car broke down, right when I was at the Post Office mailing some letters and of course buying MORE stamps. When I came back to the car it was dead. Lucky for me the kids were home and had the other car so they picked me up. Tonight after Jeff got home and we had dinner, we went back to the car to see if we could jump it... no luck. We finally ended up calling our Roadside Assistance that we have through our insurance policy ( glad we decided to get that ). At one point the guy asked us if we had a hammer ( no of course we didn't ), he finally found one in his truck and they tapped the starter some to see if that would help.. but ...it didn't. Then when he was under the car, he asked Jeff and I if we had a flashlight ( this time the answer was YES but, the batteries were dead ). At this point I thought to myself, aren't you the Roadside Assistance person, shouldn't you have a flashlight? I probably thought that just so I wouldn't have to have the guilty feelings of being UNPREPARED! In the end, he couldn't do anything about it and neither could we. WE decided not to have it towed and Jeff will try and work some more on it tomorrow. Lucky for us, he is the Ultimate Handy Man...he usually can fix anything!
   For Christmas last year, I gave my kids some Emergency Preparedness items. They laughed at some of them but still I felt good that I was helping them get more prepared. That must be a Motherhood thing, to want to make sure your kids have as many things as they could possibly need during an EMERGENCY! Oh well, some day they will appreciate me...I just hope I am still alive when they get around to telling me that! :)
It is a good reminder though to me, that even when you have gotten things prepared  in life that you still need to periodically check and see if what you have... is still in working order or is useful. That would have been helpful tonight, if we would have checked that flashlight before it got dark! I am sure there is even a deeper lesson here for me to learn... but I am too tired to figure it out.
   Will try and go through my cars tomorrow and see what I need to add batteries to, or put in the car. For now we are at least home safe and sound and have one more working car... plus Jeff and I had a whole hour by ourselves to talk...yes, life is still good, maybe a little inconvenient but good!
   Night dear friends!

P. S. this isn't a photo of my car, it was just a neat one that Lauren took for her photo class. If this was my car, I beat I would have even more problems than  it not starting!  :)

"A great attitude does much more than turn on the lights in our world; it seems to magically connect us to all sorts of serendipitous opportunities that were somehow absent before we changed."  ~Earl Nightingale

Teach the children!

I believe that it is vital that every child, be taught to believe in themselves and in their true worth. When they understand and know that, nothing in the world can hurt them!
 
" Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy."   ~Norman Vincent Peale, author

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."   ~Eleanor Roosevelt

"It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not."   ~Anonymous

I saw that going differently in my mind?

   The other night I told you about the Baby Shower we had for a dear friend, right? What I didn't tell you, is what happened earlier in the day that changed some of the plans for the Shower. I love to work in the dirt and plant flowers and vegetables. I don't really even mind doing yard work, but all of that usually gets me in trouble with my back and I pay for it, for days. Jeff and the kids aren't that crazy about yard work and it shows around here. I mean Lee cuts the grass  ( I mean weeds  ) each week, because it is the only green thing out there.
   I knew the shower was coming up and we really hadn't cleaned up the back yard or planted any vegetables for the Spring. We did manage to get in flowers on the front porch and they do look great, if I do say so myself.
   So I thought the night before the Shower, that if I got some plants and soil and stuff for them, that I could get it all planted the day of the Shower. My thought was that we could actually even hold the Shower on the deck, the weather would be perfect for it. I just wanted my yard and poor little garden to look like someone cared.
   That day Jenny and Angie were over and they love planting and working in the garden with me, so I really wasn't alone. Even the kids pitched in at one point, (probably because they thought I was going to be in no shape by the Shower if they didn't help).
Well, with every one's help, we got it done. It looked great, and I could just see how fun and beautiful it was going to be for the Shower, except I forgot one thing!!!! ONE BIG THING! I had to put COMPOST which had fertilizer in it, and so the smell was awful! As soon as you walked out on the deck, you almost felt like you could lean over the railing and see the cows and chickens...at least that is what it smelt like. We laughed about it sooooooooooooo hard. How could I over look something that BIG? I really did see that going differently in my mind? I had the best intentions. Long story...short? We didn't go outside or even open in of the back windows or doors. The Shower went fine... but for the next few days, we didn't really enjoy how beautiful my flowers and plants looked on the deck on in the back yard, because we couldn't stand the smell! I love farms but...this was ridiculous!
   Good night dear friends!
 

"Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing 
that life is made up of little things."  - Frank A. Clark

 
"A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable 
but more useful than a life spent doing nothing."- George Bernard Shaw

Note to self..." I am ENOUGH! "

   I have always found it interesting that we usually judge others by just what we see and thinking we know the whole picture. The pressure to look, feel, have or be like someone else is huge in today's society. We are measuring ourselves against things that are not real some of the time and the other half, we admire or want to have or be like others...never really know what life is like behind closed doors.
When I was in Junior High, in the summer we would go to our pool that was in the town. I didn't know how to swim but really there was so many people in there,  you couldn't really swim anyway... so I didn't really worry. But one day all my friends dared me to go over into the deep end, they even went under the rope and then stood up and said " Lynn, it is just the same on this side. See we are standing up, it is ok, so come on over!" So being the insecure teenager that I was...I took the dare.
    As I was standing there and talking to a friend and quiet proud to be in the DEEP END, someone accidently pushed me and I slipped down the incline of the deep end. As I frantically tried to get back up, there was just a sea of legs and no one seemed to even notice me. How true is that in life also...friends try to get us to do things ( that we know we shouldn't ) and then when we do and fail, they never seem to be around to pick you up or support you. I now can almost hear my Grandmother say "Lynn, friends like that...aren't friends at all! " So true Grandma.
   I don't know how long I was under the water, but long enough to drink half of the pool and be scared to death of deep water for the next 30 years or so.
   What made me think of this is today, someone at church made a comment about our family and how they wonder if they could even measure up to us or something along that line. I smiled but wanted to say..."You really wouldn't feel that way if you really knew us. We are just as normal as the next family. We struggle, we argue at times, we make mistakes, we get disappointed in each other but...we just keep trying, we keep saying we are sorry, we keep trying again to do what is right, we try hard to be there for each other. We try again to get back to doing what we know we should be doing. The bottom line is, I don't want people to think the Woodards are better than anyone else.
   I have always said that I wish we could all wear a wipe off board on our backs...and on that wipe off board would be everything that has happened to us for the past week. I just think we would be less hard on ourselves if we really saw that each person is fighting their own battle. I think I would even treat them better or at least be more understanding IF we knew that this week, they were diagnosed with Cancer, lost a dear friend, or their husband lost his job. Or if their teenager was giving them a run for their money, or a friend of many years got offended and won't speak to them. Whatever the scenario is..I think we would be less critical of ourselves and more compassionate to others. There have been many times that we have gone through something as a family, the only reason I didn't share it may be because I didn't want to be judged or even worse...I thought I was the only Mother who had ever had to deal with this! That simply isn't true. Life is hard, really hard but...oh so worth it.
   As I am getting older, I don't take Dares any more ( my Grandmother would be glad of that ) but I want to try and and not compare myself as much, and just try to be the best LYNN WOODARD that I can be. And remember that is enough!
   Word of Wisdom for me especially.
   Good night dear friends!
 

“You were put on this earth to achieve your greatest self, to live out your purpose, and to do it fearlessly.”
― Steve Maraboli

 " There comes a time in your life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh. Forget the bad, and focus on the good. Love the people who treat you right, pray for the ones who don't. Life is too short be anything but happy. Falling down is a part of life, getting back up is living."  ~ Jose N. Harris

Open House/ Birthday party!

Snakes and Snails and...

Dinosaur tails...that's what these little girls are made of!
Today was Amy and John's Open House or House warming party. They love their new home and were excited to have their friends and family come visit. We also officially celebrated Jenny's 3rd birthday! She had a dinosaur party. I am telling you, these girls have loved monsters, dinosaurs, dragons, snakes and bugs since they were little. Their cousin Kai is going to love playing with them.
I smile when I see how different their little spirits are inside of them! You would never know by looking them that they are such tomboys! I love it! I love that they are their own little people, and love life so much.
I think as Grandparents, you almost enjoy it more...why?
Probably because you finally have some time to think and are getting more that a few hours of sleep every night! We feel blessed! Good night dear friends!




"May you touch fireflies and stars, dance with fairies and talk to the man in the moon, may you grow up with gracious hearts and people who care, welcome to the world little one, it’s been waiting for you"

 "No matter how many birthdays come and go, you'll always be my little girls."

It's Date Night!

I have two little hands!

 I love this photo, that Lauren did of a friend of ours that was expecting last year. We had a baby shower for her and we had so much fun. I was looking up the origin of baby showers and here is what I found...

 The origin of baby showers can’t be pointed out exactly, but many people believed this practice dates back to the ancient times. During the Victorian Era, the baby shower was simply a tea party, held in the afternoon. The guests were the closest female friends of the mother-to-be, and they gather together to talk, to wish the new mommy good luck and give small gifts for the child. It was a simple and quaint event
Today, baby showers are considered one of the most important celebrations for parents. Of course, how this party is planned and celebrate has changed over time. Although many old baby shower traditions are still widely seen, new ones have also emerged.

 Tonight we did another baby shower for a friend (haven't had time yet to download the photos). She is having another little boy and so she really didn't need anything, but everyone still wanted to come celebrate with her. Amy and I love to do themes for our parties. We kept trying to think of a fun and new theme for her. Finally, I realized that when she goes to church with  her little boy, she doesn't have a lot of quiet things for him to do and play with. You know a whole bag of tricks that will entertain him and keep him happy and more quiet (everyone should have one of these). Actually he is really good in church, but still they get restless and tired.
So the theme we had was I HAVE TWO LITTLE HANDS, it was actually part of a little song that they teach the kids in Primary. It went well, we just decorated with her favorite colors, red and blue. I sewed a diaper bag/ tote for her ...to put all  the quiet toys in, and then we had finger foods for the refreshments. It was  really nice and she told me more than once, how loved she felt. We were glad, that is exactly why you do showers, to help them feel love and accepted.  I will end with the words of that cute song..

1. I have two little hands, folded snugly and tight.
They are tiny and weak, yet they know what is right.
During all the long hours till daylight is through,
There is plenty indeed for my two hands to do.

2. Kind Father, I thank thee for two little hands
And ask thee to bless them till each understands
That children can only be happy all day
When two little hands have learned how to obey.

Improvise actions as suggested by the words.

Words: Bertha A. Kleinman, 1877–1971
Music: William Frederick Hanson, 1887–1969

Now I am going to take my TWO LITTLE HANDS and head to bed. Good night dear friends!

Falling in love

I love this quote and it is not until I have been married for over 20 some years to the same person ... before I really understood it.

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times -- always with the same person.”
― Mignon McLaughlin

 Jeff and I just had our 30th Wedding Anniversary this past June, haven't even really celebrated it yet. I smile because this quote it so true. There are times in our marriage that I feel like we fell out of love for each other. It didn't last long, but long enough to realize you didn't want life to go on like that. Marriage is hard and most of the time you have to give 150 %, and some days even more. When Jeff and I are truly thinking of each other and are connected, there doesn't seem like anything  we couldn't handle. The synergy together is unstoppable. Yet, when we are struggling, it is usually because we took our eyes off of each other and were focused more on ourselves. That is never a good thing.

Lauren the other day, asked if we wanted to have her do photos of us for our 30th anniversary, we of course said yes! She isn't home with us very often to do this. So it was fun. I have never really liked taking photos but realize that I should because that will be memories for the next generation, plus I love them too! 

I might have mentioned this before but when a dear friend of mine lost her battle with cancer, I went to her funeral and was sooooooooooo touched by the slide show they did of her life. They had photos of many moments with their Mom or wife. She was serious in some and other ones she was just funny or being silly. I remember making a promise then that I would learn to love myself more, enough to take photos and to let my family have memories of me WITH THEM! And so I think doing this photo shoot with Lauren helped...maybe because I was taking them with my BEST FRIEND!  Good night dear friends!

 

" I knew that forever was in your eyes the moment I saw you smile."  ~Unknown

  " Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything."
Aaron Siskind

"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

--------------------

The power of touch!

When our daughter Amy graduated from Ashmead College for massage, our eyes were opened up the power of touch. As she learned more and more about the body...so did we. The only bad part is when the family gets together, poor Amy is the one every body goes to for their aches and pains! :) She is amazing though.
 For the last few weeks I have been getting massages since I got rear ended. It really helps out a lot on the pain of my neck and back. I am always amazed at our bodies and how everything we need has already been provided for us. So tonight I need to rest some, because the massages wipe me out! It releases toxics from your body and some time it takes a bit for you to get that all cleared out.  But I listed what the benefits are...just in case some of you haven't ever tried it for yourself! If any of you have stress in your life... you have got to try a massage!


The Benefits Of Massage
What exactly are the benefits of receiving massage or bodywork treatments? Useful for all of the conditions listed below and more, massage can:

• Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
• Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
• Ease medication dependence.
• Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body's natural defense system.
• Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
• Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
• Improve the condition of the body's largest organ—the skin.
• Increase joint flexibility.
• Lessen depression and anxiety.
• Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
• Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
• Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
• Reduce spasms and cramping.
• Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
• Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.
• Relieve migraine pain.

A Powerful Ally
There's no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of the adjectives we assign to it (pampering, rejuvenating, therapeutic) or the reasons we seek it out (a luxurious treat, stress relief, pain management), massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your healthcare regimen.

Experts estimate that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, internally and externally, than high stress. While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into:

• Decreased anxiety.
• Enhanced sleep quality.
• Greater energy.
• Improved concentration.
• Increased circulation.
• Reduced fatigue.

Furthermore, clients often report a sense of perspective and clarity after receiving a massage. The emotional balance bodywork provides can often be just as vital and valuable as the more tangible physical benefits.

Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the tensions of modern lifestyles. Consequently, the medical community is actively embracing bodywork, and massage is becoming an integral part of hospice care and neonatal intensive care units. Many hospitals are also incorporating on-site massage practitioners and even spas to treat postsurgery or pain patients as part of the recovery process.


"It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has."  -Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.)

"I started practicing yoga. I started learning some hands-on healing stuff. And I found really good chiropractors, really good massage therapists, and what I found is I've been able to actually peel off layers of trauma on my body and actually move better now than I did."  ~Ricky Williams

99 Balloons

 A dear friend of mine, showed me this youtube today called 99 Balloons.
It was an endearing video, and was the perfect example of the depth of a parents love.
Hope you enjoy it... get your tissues ready!
You can watch it HERE:


 “What it's like to be a parent: It's one of the hardest things you'll ever do but in exchange it teaches you the meaning of unconditional love.”
― Nicholas Sparks
 “When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.”
― Mitch Albom

Prayer...it does work!

I just got off the phone with a dear family member that I haven't connected with for a long time. When we both realized what time it was and how longed we talked, we laughed and said we better head for bed. Then I remembered I hadn't even written my blog today. So since it is no longer today ... but tomorrow now or whatever you call it, I will leave you with this Question that I saw the other day. I realize that many times in my life, I have spent way more time talking about a situation or a problem, instead of praying the same amount about it. I do believe in the power of prayer, I do know it works. Glad to have this simple reminder tonight...or today? :)

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one's weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart. ~Mahatma Gandhi

Age is Just a Number!

 I love this story, kids are such heros to me! They believe in themselves, they keep trying and they believe in miracles. Something we should all try to remember more often!
Good night dear friends!

The 17-Year-Old Pilot
Kimberly Anyadike

When Kimberly Anyadike was little, her heroes were superheroes. "I'd see Superman or Wonder Woman flying on TV and think, 'That's so cool!'" she says. "My brother and sister and I would tie towels around our necks for capes and run around the house jumping off the couches and banisters. Every year I would ask Santa for a jet pack." In an after-school program at Tomorrow's Aeronautical Museum in Compton, California, the 12-year-old took a spin in a single-engine Cessna 172. Midflight, she was thrilled when the instructor handed her the controls. "Afterward my mom asked if I wanted to take flying lessons, and I said, 'Yes!'"

Three years later, in 2009, Anyadike became the youngest African-American female in history to pilot a round-trip, coast-to-coast flight. (Her chaperone for all 7,000 miles was Major Levi Thornhill, one of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen, the African-American pilots whose heroism in World War II inspired Anyadike's record-setting journey.) "Flying over Texas was the most fun because there were a lot of summer rainstorms," Anyadike says. "I wasn't scared—I'm never scared. I just focus. And before every flight, I pray."

Anyadike plans to become a cardiovascular surgeon after college, but for now the big goal is earning a couple of licenses this summer—pilot's and driver's. "When I'm flying, I'm in control. I trust myself," she says. "The sound of the engine, the movement of the propeller—it's like gravity gets suspended. It's as if you're closer to heaven." Or to being a superhero. —Marcia Desanctis

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/money/Age-Defying-Women#ixzz23xpE2QZd

Watch her fly HERE:   http://wn.com/15_year_old_aviator,_kimberly_anyadike,_makes_her_historic_transcontinental_flight

“Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue, and the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true”

 Lyman Frank Baum quotes

 “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.”

Date night!

It is Date night, so we are going out! ( Wonder if I can ever get a photo without Jeff making a crazy face?)

Actually if you knew his brother, you would say it runs in the family! :)

Good night dear friends!

Kathi Goertzen...an inspiration!

 

This week I saw in the news, that Kathi Goertzen has lost her battle with brain cancer. I was amazed at the fighter and survivor she has been doing that long battle. People like her are an inspiration to me! I love to see people who continue to live and give, right up till the end. I love to see survivors that aren't afraid to talk about their faith and beliefs, that get them through some of the toughest trials. I pray that her legacy for the family (who is left to go on with their lives without her), will be to carry that same type of enthusiasm for life, love for others and a smile not matter what life throws at them. It is a great example to us all!

Thank you Kathi for your example, may we all enjoy each moment of life that we get!

Good night dear friends!

Beloved anchor Kathi Goertzen dies

This undated photo provided by KOMO-TV shows longtime Seattle television news anchor Kathi Goertzen, who died Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, in Seattle. Goertzen had fought a lengthy battle with brain tumors. (AP Photo/Courtesy KOMO-TV)

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Iconic KOMO News anchor Kathi Goertzen has died after a long battle with brain tumors. "Our co-worker, our angel, our precious friend, Kathi Goertzen, died today, surrounded by her loving family," wrote KOMO News Director Holly Gauntt.
"The long fight against the tumors that have ravaged her brain is over. She is at peace now, comfortable and surrounded by all that is good."
Goertzen grew up in Seattle and graduated from Queen Anne High School before attending Washington State University. She'd planned to be a veterinarian before shifting her focus to journalism.
Goertzen joined KOMO TV in 1980, becoming a weekend anchor in 1982 before moving to weekday anchor in 1984. She was the first local news anchor to report live from the Brandenburg Gate during the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Goertzen became one of the best known celebrity's in the Northwest and worked for a number of charitable organizations.
In 1998 she was first diagnosed with a non-cancerous tumor that damaged the nerves controlling her speech and swallowing.
Among her many contributions was leading a $43 million capital campaign for the YWCA of Seattle, King and Snohomish counties as board president for the organization.
She had surgery and returned to work within a month, but the tumor re-grew in 2005. A series of surgeries left her unable to anchor.
>>>Donate to the Kathi Goertzen Foundation here
"It's been a rough road, as you know. I was diagnosed with this, atypical meningioma, more than 10 years ago and I've had several surgeries and radiation and tried lots of different drugs and I've lost cranial nerve that controls my face and my hearing and my voice and my balance," she said in a recent KOMO story.
"There is no more pain and suffering. We hope you find comfort in the words she spoke when talking about this day," Gauntt wrote.
"I'm not afraid to die. I have a great belief, a great faith there's more. There's more to me, there's more to this life," Goertzen said prior to her death.
"She was one of the sweetest, most impressive people I've ever known," said KIRO's Dori Monson.
KIRO's Ursula Reutin profiled Goertzen in a recent feature.
"I just kept telling her 'Kathi, do you realize what an inspiration you are to so many?'" says Reutin.
Goertzen won five Emmy Awards and one Edward R. Murrow award, priding herself on her ability to carry a breaking-news broadcast without a script, according to the Seattle Times.
Goertzen is survived by her husband, Rick Jewett, two daughters, Alexa Jarvis and Andrea Jewett, and her mother and father, Irma and Don Goertzen, all of Seattle. She was 54.
"My heart is with the family, friends and colleagues of Kathi Goertzen. She had countless fans, not just in Seattle, but around the globe, and was one of the finest people I knew. She was a terrific journalist because she cared deeply about her work and the people it touched. She had passion and it showed. She put her heart and soul into every story, and was a warm and welcome presence at the anchor desk every evening, said Governor Christine Gregoire in a statement.
"As her fight against brain tumors waged on, we saw yet another side of Kathi. She was courageous, fearless and inspirational. Not afraid to share her own story, she remained strong, with that beautiful smile, to the end.
 Found this story Here:

 "What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us."
-Henry David Thoreau

Jenny is 3 !

Jenny turned three today, still can't believe where the time has gone. She came out with red hair and big blue eyes, and with a fun personality. In many ways she reminds me of Lauren when she was little, always into something, constant motion and with a huge imagination and attitude! :)  I think this could be her motto...

 "Not all those who wander, are lost! "  ~ J. R. R. Tolkien

After work today, I started immediately making her Birthday gift, we had already bought her dinosaur PJ's and then she wanted a dinosaur tail. She and Angie have been into dinosaurs for over a year now. Funny huh?

So here are the faces of our Miss Jenny !

From the time she was little, she hasn't loved the camera quite like Angie did. If she does not want to pose, she will let 

you know... even at an early age! But get her in the right mood and she will do anything!

Her faces are hilarious! Here she is above, playing with her little dinosaurs in her play house. And here she is tonight, tying on her new dinosaur tail that I made her... she could even make it wiggle!

Good night sweet Jenny! How grateful we are that you are in our family! We love ya!

"It is a happy talent to know how to play."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

" Always jump in the puddles!  Always skip alongside the flowers.  The only fights worth fighting are the pillow and food varieties."  ~Terri Guillemets

 

" Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."  ~Charles R. Swindoll

Importance of extended family!

My Mom was only 70 years old when she passed away. My youngest brother Ty, had only 2 of his 4 kids by then. They don't remember my Mom very well  ( their Grandma Lou ). I have really tried to stay close to his kids and tried to fill the void that not having a Grandma left. I am super close to many of my nieces and nephews, and for that I am very grateful. Here are some of the photos of our trip...
( This is my nephew Luke and I, at the Howdy Party for my niece's wedding. It was a party to have both sides of the family have fun and get to know each other...it was neat! )

Here is where the Howdy Party dinner was held, look at that view. It was held at Snow Basin, Needles Lodge, we had to go up by a tram, it was beautiful!

Here is the bull that they brought up for everyone who was brave enough to ride. I will show you photos of me even riding it. I know you don't believe it but...I have pictures to prove it! Here on the left, is some of my family watching and supporting us.

I think that in today's world where there are so many things that are dividing the family that it is vital that we do all that we can to strengthen and defend them. Having close relationships to our extended family can be a true blessing! And I am very grateful for that. 

Good night dear friends!

 "Our most basic institution of family desperately needs help and support from the extended family and the public institutions that surround us. Brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents and cousins can make a powerful difference in the lives of children. Remember that the expression of love and encouragement from an extended family member will often provide the right influence and help a child at a critical time."  
~ M. Russell Ballard

To Believe!

Since we all just got home today, and my granddaughters are doing a Sleep Over, I have decided to share  a song that my dear friend sent to me. It is amazing and very motivating! What a talented young lady! To listen to it....go Here:
Good night dear friends!

I love this hymn!

We are still visiting in Utah for our nieces wedding, and so we went to church with them today. I loved one of the hymns that we sung. As I reread the words I was thinking... this is something I need to print out and put on my mirror.
Better  go pack, so I thought I would share this with you tonight. It is something I really need to remember on a daily basis.
Good night dear friends!
 

  Lord, I Would Follow Thee

1. Savior, may I learn to love thee,
Walk the path that thou hast shown,
Pause to help and lift another,
Finding strength beyond my own.
Savior, may I learn to love thee—

[Chorus]

Lord, I would follow thee.

2. Who am I to judge another
When I walk imperfectly?
In the quiet heart is hidden
Sorrow that the eye can’t see.
Who am I to judge another?

3. I would be my brother’s keeper;
I would learn the healer’s art.
To the wounded and the weary
I would show a gentle heart.
I would be my brother’s keeper—

4. Savior, may I love my brother
As I know thou lovest me,
Find in thee my strength, my beacon,
For thy servant I would be.
Savior, may I love my brother—

Text: Susan Evans McCloud, b. 1945. © 1985 IRI
Music: K. Newell Dayley, b. 1939. © 1985 IRI

A Nice and Normal Family!

We did Wedding stuff all day today. I saw lots of my family there. I watched as my family interacted with others and this thought came to my mind! :)
This has been a wonderful trip, non-stop but such a great
one! Wished the rest of our family could have been with us!
Good night dear friends!

Family what a blessing!

I am so sorry that I didn't mention that I was going on vacation. I actually thought that I would be able to still do my blog but we have been so busy, and haven't gotten in at night till late and I was beat. So here I am 2 days from doing a post and can't believe how much I miss doing it. It is a great experience for me to always be looking for something positive, uplifting or motivating to share with you. Thank you for that!
We are here in Utah with family for my niece's wedding. I am close to these kids and love that we have the chance to share their big moments in their lives with them. We have been going non stop and so I thought I would have a minute to write but realized the time and we are off to a concert tonight. Wedding tomorrow.
This quote has always meant a lot to me. It is something that I have dreamed off all of my life to have a family and Home like I do. And it is true...I am blessed!
Good night dear friends!

Keeping your standards

I loved this article by Jason Wright. My niece just graduated from Southern Virginia University. It was her car that my sister and law and I picked up and drove across the United States. I was able to visit the campus and so this article was really interesting to me. I hope that I can stand up for my standards like that, what a great example this actor is for me and I would assume, many others.
Good night dear friends!

Stage actress defies odds, wins high praise for high standards

Several weeks ago my wife and I sat on the second row for a performance of “110 in the Shade” at Southern Virginia University. The talent was superb and the music demanded that our toes tap from scene to scene. It was one of the finest college productions either of us had ever attended. Despite a talented cast from top to bottom, it didn’t take long for one particular actress to stand out. She was SVU graduate Amaree Cluff playing the lead role of Lizzie Curry. My wife and I both observed just how much the spotlight loved the dynamic actress. When she’s on stage, your eyes find her. When she’s not, you wonder when she’s coming back. After the curtain closed, an SVU administrator suggested I take the time to learn more about the actress who’d been invited back to headline the university’s summer show. “Amaree is really something,” he said. “And not just on stage." Always on the hunt for a good column subject, I contacted Cluff and asked if she’d be up for an interview. Several emails and text messages later, I grabbed a buddy and we met her at Panera Bread in Charlottesville, Va. Cluff is working on a Masters' of Fine Arts at the University of Virginia and was happy to share a few precious minutes between rehearsals for her latest production.

As our discussion unfolded, I discovered the spotlight doesn’t just love her; it follows her everywhere she goes.

Like all of us, Cluff has opportunities to betray her values every single day. But unlike most of us, she’s not just invited to — she’s expected to.

Given her environment, it shouldn't be surprising that Cluff has been accused of severely limiting herself by refusing to tackle offensive material and is often challenged to break out of her comfort zone. But to Cluff, that’s not an option. She doesn’t accept roles that would violate her core beliefs and have no redeeming value.

Cluff is a member of the local Charlottesville YSA Ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is bold about her faith, her standards and her limits. And she is keenly aware that she studies and works in an industry that sometimes tries to overlap the thick curtains of right and wrong.

But Cluff won’t be worn down or boxed in, and her courage is paying off.

Not only does she refuse roles, but once she flatly refused to audition for a show altogether, even though her program required it. But when she wondered if she’d hurt her standing within the department, she learned quite the opposite. The director said he admired her for it. Others have also come around, telling her they respect her professionalism and how she navigates the theater community with a set of values that doesn’t always fit in. Cluff has found that being open about her faith earns their respect.

The respect, I learned, is mutual. Cluff admires her talented peers in the highly-regarded MFA program and feels she's becoming a better, stronger actor because of this unique opportunity to study her craft.

I wondered how she’s learned to thrive among people with whom she disagrees on many moral, political and religious issues.

“They know I love them, no matter our disagreements. I’ve made love my ruling principle.”

I also wondered how she ended up in the theater. Why not a career on a safer stage? Why not explore other ways to express yourself?

Her passionate answer brought tears to her eyes. “Jason,” she began as put down her sandwich, “I have something to say to the world, and I don’t know how else to say it.” She almost sang the words, “I simply cannot say what I so deeply believe through any other medium.”

Cluff wiped tears from her eyes, looked across the table at me and added, “God is good!”

I think it’s the first time I’d felt the Spirit over ham and turkey.

Our conversation turned to her family and Cluff attributed her strength to her parents. “They are wonderful,” she gushed. Cluff says she works with people everyday that spend so much time pretending to be other people that they don’t know who they are anymore. “But not me. My parents helped me know who I am.”

The praise doesn't end with her parents, she also credits her professors at SVU for preparing her for the rigors of the theater and to stand brightly for righteousness in the middle of the stage. It's telling that four years after her graduation, they continue to serve as indispensable mentors.

I'm thankful to have met this inspiring actress, but not for her talent. I'm grateful to know there are young people like Amaree Cluff taking courageous stands when it would be easy not to and using God-given gifts righteously when the world wouldn't care otherwise.

Her tearfully delivered words will not be forgotten: “I simply cannot say what I so deeply believe through any other medium.”

Can I find the courage to do the same?

Can you?

You can read this article and more from Jason HERE:

 

“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.”  ~Khalil Gibran

 “You've got to have a dream, if you want to have a dream come true.”  ~Dennis Waitley

Dream Your Dreams!

Dream Your Dreams by Rebecca J. Burns

Close your eyes my little one
Close your eyes and dream
You can be anyone,
Anyone you dream
You can go anywhere,
do anything,
meet anyone
Just close your eyes and dream your dreams
Let your imagination take control
Take you on adventures never told
Just close your eyes my little one
Close your eyes and dream with me
You can fly above the mountains
You can swim beneath the sea
Its a great big world before us
Come along and dream with me
You can swing from every tree top
You can conquer every fear
There’s no need to be frightened
You’re not alone here in your dreams
Just open up your mind and let your dreams flow through
ts a great big world around us
Come on along and dream with me
I found the poem HERE:

"A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on."  ~ Carl Sandburg

'A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for."  ~ Anonymous

Great story, worth the read!

 My friend sent this great story to me, it is a bit long but worth the read. 

Good night dear friends!

At the prodding of my friends I am writing this story. My name is Mildred Honor and I am a former elementary school music teacher from Des Moines, Iowa .

I have always supplemented my income by teaching piano lessons - something I have done for over 30 years.

During those years I found that children have many levels of musical ability, and even though I have never had the pleasure of having a prodigy, I have taught some very talented students.

However, I have also had my share of what I call 'musically challenged' pupils - one such pupil being Robby..

Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a single mom) dropped him off for his first piano lesson. I prefer that students (especially boys) begin at an earlier age, which I explained to Robby. But Robby said that it had always been his mother's dream to hear him play the piano, so I took him as a student.

Well, Robby began his piano lessons and from the beginning I thought it was a hopeless endeavor. As much as Robby tried, he lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed his scales and some elementary piano pieces that I require all my students
to learn. Over the months he tried and tried while I listened and cringed and tried to encourage him.
At the end of each weekly lesson he
would always say 'My mom's going to hear me play someday'. But to me, it seemed hopeless, he just did not have any inborn ability.

I only knew his mother from a distance as she dropped Robby off or waited in her aged car to pick him up. She always waved and smiled, but never dropped in.

Then one day Robby stopped coming for his
lessons. I thought about calling him, but assumed that because of his lack of ability he had decided to pursue something else. I was also glad that he had stopped coming - he was a bad advertisement for my teaching!

Several weeks later I mailed a flyer recital to the students' homes. To my surprise, Robby (who had received a flyer) asked me if he could be in the recital. I told him that the recital was for current pupils and that
because he had dropped out, he really did not qualify.
He told me that his mother had been sick and unable to take him to his piano lessons,
but that he had been practicing. 'Please Miss Honor, I've just got to play' he insisted. I don't know what led me to allow him to play in the recital - perhaps it was his insistence or maybe something inside of me saying that it would be all right.

The night of the recital came and the high school gymnasium was packed with parents, relatives and friends. I put Robby last in the program, just before I was to come up and thank all the students and play a
finishing piece. I thought that any damage he might do would come at the end of the program and I could always salvage his poor performance through my 'curtain closer'.

Well, the recital went off without a hitch, the students had been practicing and it showed. Then Robby came up on the stage. His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked as though he had run an egg beater through it. 'Why wasn't he dressed up like the other students?' I thought. 'Why didn't his mother at least make him comb his hair for this
special night?'
Robby pulled out the piano bench, and I was surprised when he announced that he had chosen to play Mozart's Concerto No.
21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what I
heard next. His fingers were light on the keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories. He went from pianissimo to fortissimo, from allegro to virtuoso; his suspended chords that Mozart demands were magnificent!
Never had I heard Mozart played so well by anyone his age.

After six and a half minutes he ended in a grand crescendo, and everyone was on their feet in wild applause! Overcome and in tears, I ran up onstage and put my arms around Robby in joy. 'I have never heard you play like that Robby, how did you do it?
' Through the microphone Robby explained: 'Well, Miss Honor .... remember I told you that my mom was sick? Well, she actually had cancer and passed away this morning. And well ...... she was born deaf, so tonight was the first time she had ever heard me play, and I wanted to make it special.'

There wasn't a dry eye in the house that evening. As the people from Social Services led Robby from the stage to be placed in to foster care, I noticed that even their eyes were red and puffy. I thought to myself then how much richer my life had been for taking Robby as my pupil.

No, I have never had a prodigy, but that night I became a prodigy ....... of Robby. He was the teacher and I was the pupil, for he had taught me the meaning of perseverance and love and believing in yourself, and may be
even taking a chance on someone and you didn't know why.

Robby was killed years later in the senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murray Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April, 1995.

One Carrot or Apple at a time!

   I read this article in the magazine we get from Costco in the mail. The article was called ONE CARROT AT A TIME by Georgia Orcutt. It interested me because, it was about childhood obesity and one Mother's mission on how to help kids learn how to cook and eat nutritious food. They have a nonprofit magazine out called Chop Chop. The theory that she uses... is that if kids learn how to cook their own food and really understand how to take care of their own bodies, they will make better choices and be healthier. The founder and president is Sally Sampson, and she really feels like it is important to stock the the cupboards with healthy foods, so that they won't have so much junk tempting them all the time.
   I do believe that it makes a huge difference on what we have in our pantries and cupboards. When our kids were little we would ask them as they got older to cook one meal a week, that week they would help me make a store list and go shopping with me. It really did make them more appreciative of the meals I cooked, and we constantly went over why we need to eat more nutritious meals.
    Did they all appreciate it and follow it as they got older? Not necessarily when they were  in college on their own, but it did seem like something that they are gravitating back to, now that they are parents. So it was a great article and you can read more about Sally and her magazine HERE:. The recipes look yummy. I love to see when people strive hard to make a difference in the world. And even though they are just one person, they really are making a big difference, Sally is proof of that!
Well, tonight is Date night and I have a hot date, so I will get this off early. Have a good night dear friends!

“The greatest wealth is Health.”  ~Unknown
“Just because you’re not sick doesn’t mean you’re healthy”  ~Author Unknown
“True healthcare reform starts in your kitchen, not in Washington”  ~Anonymous

My son... The Dad!

How could time have passed so fast, that my oldest son Bradley is now a Father himself? There are many joys in Motherhood, but watching your children grow up and have children of their own...is one of the greatest! How proud I am of him! I knew when I married Jeff, that our children would have the best chance in life ever, because he would be the best Dad and example to them. And guess what? I was right! :)





"Until you have a son of your own... you will never know the joy, the love beyond feeling that resonates in the heart of a father as he looks upon his son. You will never know the sense of honor that makes a man want to be more than he is and to pass something good and hopeful into the hands of his son." ~ Kent Nerburn

"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." ~Clarence Budington Kelland

"The father who would taste the essence of his fatherhood must turn back from the plane of his experience, take with him the fruits of his journey and begin again beside his child, marching step by step over the same old road."  ~Angelo Patr

2012 London Summer Olympics!

 I have to admit, I love the effort, determination, and talent of those athletes who make it to the Olympics! We have missed watching it this year because for some reason our TV system isn't working. But I try to keep up with it through the internet. Of course when I read this story of Natalia from Poland, I was super impressed. I love it when you see someone with such a fighting spirit, that against all odds...they are going to succeed. Shouldn't we all be a little more like that? Anyway, it is a great story!
 Wanted to write early today, because Jeff was sick Friday and we missed our Date Night so...we are going out tonight! Yeah, I love Date Nights!

Natalia Partyka, a one-armed table tennis player from Poland, competed in the 2012 London Olympics.

What's impressive about Natalia Partyka is not that she qualified for the Olympics for the second time running -- scores of athletes have returned for the 2012 London Summer Olympics -- but that she is able to compete with her able-bodied peers despite her handicap.
Partyka was born without a right hand and forearm.
The 23-year-old Paralympian who hails from Poland made it to the final 32 in the women's singles table tennis event, but was eliminated after losing to the Netherlands' Jie Li. Partyka, who faced Li twice before and lost, will have a chance to redeem herself next Friday during the women's team table tennis tournament.
Partyka is one of two athletes, along with South African runner Oscar Pistorius, who will compete in both the Olympics and the Paralympics this year. Though she's never medaled at the Olympic Games, she took home gold for singles table tennis and silver for team during the 2008 and 2004 Paralympics.
Partyka's table tennis dreams stem from her childhood desire to beat her big sister. At 7, she followed her sister Sandra to a table tennis hall in Gdansk, Poland, and practiced gripping the paddle with her left hand, using the crook of her right elbow to serve the ball.
"Soon my sister’s trainer was telling me to come along to practice with my sister. It really excited me. We would play at home, bouncing the ball against walls and on the kitchen table," Partyka told MSNBC Today.
By 11, Partyka was heading to her first Paralympics, representing Poland. She was the youngest player to compete in any sport. Though she lost at the 2000 Paralympics, Partyka was eager to compete in Athens, where she won her first medal.
“I dream about achieving in the Olympics what I’ve achieved in the Paralympics. But I still have a long road ahead of me,” she said.
Partyka could potentially medal in women's team table tennis if Poland fairs well, but her Olympic dreams won't be fulfilled until she stands on the highest podium.
“There is nothing more beautiful than standing on the highest podium and listening to 'Dabrowski’s Mazurka,'” Poland’s national anthem, Partyka told MSNBC Today. "To hear that anthem, it would all have so much meaning. It's a beautiful moment where time stands still. That’s why it's worth fighting, and worth the sacrifice.” Read more HERE:

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." ~ Mahatma Gandi

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed." ~ Booker T. Washington