What a day!

After another tough night, the morning came and we had another wonderful Owl Baby Shower! There is just something about celebrating these little ones, that is the best feeling in the world. Every little baby should have someone that is exited for happy about their upcoming birth!

Look at this cute diaper cake that my friend made and she made sweet lanterns too!

Then our other friend made these too cute little birds in their nests! What talented ladies!

Then Amy and Angie came over for dinner, after that we went to the a World Wide Women's Conference at church. It was wonderful, here are some of my notes ...

"The 2 most important days of a women's life are the day she was born and the day she realizes why!" 

We are daughters of God. What will you do each day to live as a child of God?

Because you are His child, He knows you and who you will become. 

Phillipines 4:13

The trials and problems in life, have things to teach us. We need to trust in Him. And pray to Him for strength an understanding.

Remember the Holy Ghost will help you hear the message that is right for you. 

There is enough that doesn't go right in life that's sad, meloncholy, so we should focus on the bright, happy things in life and be cheerful. 

Faith leads to Hope. 

You need to realize you have a choice each day to be said and discouraged or to have faith and be hopeful.

Open your eyes to the happiness in each day.

Remember Eternity is made up of NOWS!
Everything leads to LOVE!
When we serve others wer are happy and feel the Pure love of Christ. 

Let Faith fortify our every day choices!

You can see what we watched HERE:

 Then we decided to go to Michaels for a bit! ( isn't there always something you need at Michaels?) :)

I was trying to tell our friend that I don't smile until you count to 3 .... you can tell by the top photo, she didn't count to 3! :)

Fun to have Angie come with us, the night would have been totally complete if my daughter Lauren and daughter in law Krystal was with us. At least we know they got to watch Women's Conference in Idaho and Texas at the same time...that was sorta like we were together.
Anyway it was a wonderful day and it was a blessing!
Good Night dear friends!

Memories... some times the same, but not always!

There are memories that we are have from our childhood, some are good and some are bad. It's about both of those that I would like to talk about tonight.
My youngest brother and I were 10 years apart. One day not too many years ago, I was telling someone how crazy I was about him when he was little. I felt like I was his 2nd Mother because I loved him so much. Well, he was around when I was telling that and just started laughing. I asked why? His response was classic "well, I don't remember ONLY good times, I remember when you pinned me up against the wall and threatened me over something ". My mouth dropped opened. It seemed for every good memory that I had, he had one that was not so good. How could that be, I thought I was the best Big Sister ever?
 It is true good or bad, even little memories can last a life time! :)

The other night Amy called and shared with me...how bad her day had gone. After thinking about what I could do, I called her back and told her that when she and the girls came over on Friday, IF she would bring some fresh picked Blackberries, then I would make her a pie. Just hearing my offer seemed to cheer her up. I was glad ( not knowing that we would make the pies yesterday during the hottest part of the day)! What a sacrifice! But that's what we Mom's do...right? :)
Either way, I was thrilled to read her FB post about it last night. ( Well except for the part where she said I wouldn't let them come in until their buckets were full! ) I guess this is just another example of different Memories! :)

'My Mom sure knows how to cheer me up! 😄 Baking blackberry pies (my absolute favorite) together after a rough day yesterday. Just the smell brings back childhood memories of blackberry picking! My Mom would always tell us, "You can't come in until your bucket is full!" 😆 Then she would reward us by baking a pie for dessert! Yum!"

Even though it was hot, it was fun having Amy and the girls helping me in the kitchen ( I'm still cleaning up flour and blackberries though ).
Still I am glad that she had a great memories of her childhood while we were cooking, I have to admit...I did too!

When I was a little girl, I can still remember making pies with my Mom, Aunt Ina, and both of my Grandmothers. Actually, Blackberry pie is what I asked for and had every year on my birthday. 

But this happy thought could be gone in a minute if you asked my kids about the sweets and food they ate when they were little! It is too funny to hear them talk about all the natural stuff we did. I will have to ask them to write them down, they are pretty funny. But laugh if you want, because as soon as each of my kids have gotten married and started their own families, they have started to go back to the more Natural Way we used to do things! They want to help their children be healthy by the things that they feed them NEWS FLASH... so did I! 

So memories are not always the same, I guess memories are about as varied as people are.. but still I am glad that I did give my kids at least SOME GOOD MEMORIES!!!
Good Night dear friends!

What do I want to be when I grow up? "HAPPY!"

I loved this article from a Mom to her Daughter. I am assuming the Mother isn't that old...if her child is only 3, but what wisdom she has already learned! I think these Life Lessons, are good for your daughter, granddaughter, son, grandson, niece, nephew, husband, friend and especially for yourself! Take the time to read them, they are a great reminder of what we all should want to be when we grow up...and that is HAPPY!
Good Night dear friends!

My Dear C-Monkey,

In your 3 years of living on this planet you have already learned so much. You’ve learned how to walk, run, climb, and dance. You’ve learned how to say “please” and “thank you” …and how to throw an impressive tantrum. You’ve learned that life isn’t always fair, that sharing isn’t always easy, and that bedtime comes too early every day (for you).

There is plenty more lessons life has to offer; plenty more things for your inquisitive mind and curious heart to learn. In my own 30+ years on this earth I’ve had my share of lessons, too… some learned through hard work and dedication, others learned through failure and mistakes.

I’ve learned that I can’t control you or force you to fit into some preconceived ideal. To be honest, many of my parenthood expectations have been shattered by the beautiful reality that you are your own person, and have been from the very beginning. That reality has taught me more about love, patience, and what really matters most in life… so thank you. I’m sure I’ll need constant reminders, so please be patient.

Even though I can’t (nor desire to) control you, I can hopefully teach you. As I look to your future I have many questions and concerns. I wonder how you’ll adapt to social pressures, maneuver through difficult circumstances, and mold your life with the unique and diverse experiences awaiting you.

I don’t pretend to know all the answers, but I do know that there are some things that matter more than others. My hope is that you can sift through the unimportant to help you create the life of your dreams… whatever they may be.

31 Life Lessons for a Happy Life

1. Comparisons will steal your joy.

The temptation to base your own value by comparing how much better or worse your situation is than the person next to you will rob you of happiness. Worrying about what others think of you will poison your heart.

Value what you bring to the world. And then give that same gift to others by valuing their unique strengths and beauties. There are a millions ways to be beautiful, wise, talented, and useful in this world. Don’t fall victim to a life of shallow comparisons. There is no need for it.

2. Make food your friend.

People have turned food into some sort of enemy, plaguing certain foods with villain-like qualities. We are made to feel ashamed when eating certain things. We are celebrated for “turning down temptation” or being diligent in highly restrictive diets.

Please, don’t turn food into an enemy. Don’t attach feelings of guilt, shame, or fear to the thing that should nourish your body. Choose good foods as often as you can, but enjoy the pleasure of community and celebration when the time is appropriate. Don’t diet.Don’t count calories. Just eat good food and worry about more important things in your life.

3. Wear comfortable shoes.

Forget the heels. They’re bad for your posture, bad for your feet, and most women look ridiculous walking in them. If you really like wearing them, fine… but keep them for special occasions and always have a pair of comfortable shoes nearby. Comfortable shoes will ensure you feel good enough to MOVE. Don’t believe the hype that heels make you look more powerful or more sexy… trust me, they are just silly shoes.

4. Love unconditionally.

There’s enough hate in the world, and not enough love.

5. Never forget: You have the ability to change the world.

Whether you want to be a powerful politician or a powerful stay-at-home mother, you have the ability to change the world in both small and large ways.

6. Don’t be afraid to take risks, but do so wisely.

Risks are a part of life. But there are good and bad risks. Don’t risk your life by driving recklessly. Don’t risk your life’s earnings on a slot machine. These are dumb risks.

The risk of failure, vulnerability, looking stupid, or making mistakes for the chance achieve greatness are risks worth taking. Relationships, passions, and incredible opportunities are usually only realized through risk.

7. Your body is a miracle. Love it deeply. Be comfortable in your own skin.

Look yourself in the mirror every day and recognize how amazing you are. Take care of your body. Cherish your strengths. Value wholeness instead of picking out insignificant “flaws.” Tell yourself you are beautiful. I will remind you, too. Believe it always.

8. Find friends who make you a better person. Let go of toxic relationships.

True friends will love you. They will make you feel good. They will be on your side, challenge you if they need to, and never try to make you feel less than a whole person. If a friend doesn’t do those things, let them go. There are billions of wonderful people in the world, don’t waste time on anyone who makes you feel otherwise.

9. Shine with optimism.

There is so much cynicism, anger, and entitlement in the world. Be a beacon of light through hope and optimism. Good things are attracted to good things. Challenges will come no matter what, but those who choose to see the bright side are just happier. It’s that simple.

10. Failing is one of life’s greatest gifts.

Our current education system is majorly broken. And one of the problems is the fear of failure that is instilled in our minds from the very beginning. Failure is one of life’s greatest teachers if we are willing to listen, learn, and progress forward. Never, ever, EVER be afraid of failing. True greatness only ever comes from learning from our mistakes.

11. You are so much more than what you do. Take time to learn who you really are.

Whether you choose to be a hair stylist, farmer, lawyer, doctor, or retail store clerk… you will always be more than what you do. You will always be more than a job title. That’s true for your actions as well. We all make mistakes (see #10 for a reminder), but they don’t define us.

12. Let kindness be your default.

Be kind to others. Be kind to yourself. A simple rule that we far too often forget.

13. Be happy.

Happiness is a choice. It’s also a practice. Choose happiness. That doesn’t mean you can’t feel and express other emotions… after all, we can only really know happiness if we know misery. Allow yourself to feel every emotion deeply, but don’t dwell on the negative. Make happy your home base.

14. Know I am here for you… No matter what.

Always.

15. Find your core, and then explore your edges.

Take time to find your core beliefs, your core purpose. Discover the fundamental principles that keep you stable, connected, and strong. Then move out and explore the world. Go beyond your comfort zone. Expand your understanding, knowing that your core beliefs will give you the power to stay connected to yourself as you practice walking in other people’s shoes (just not their heels).

16. Breathe deeply. Learn the power of being.

Take time to meditate daily. Learn to listen to your breath. Value the art of being still, of mindfulness, of simply being. Reminder yourself daily: We are human beings, not human doings.

17. Have fun.

Laugh. Be silly. Be creative. Play. These are the traits that allow children to master new skills, explore the world, and enjoy life. Unfortunately the qualities of fun are undervalued in the adult world. Find the fun in everything.

18. Question everything.

Yes, everything.

19. Don’t be ashamed of abundance.

Happiness, peace, and love are far more important than any paycheck. But also recognize that abundance comes in many forms, including financial abundance. Don’t be ashamed to seek wealth. Maintain an attitude of abundance; that there is enough for everyone. And then do good with the abundance you are blessed with. Never be ashamed of it.

20. Use your voice.

Speak your truth, tell your story. Help others tell their stories, too. Stories change people. Stories connect us. Stories transcend time. We need to hear the good stories of the world, and not just what the news or Hollywood decides to share.

21. Spend time outside everyday.

Nature heals. Nature enlivens. Nature gives us so much. Get outside as much as possible. (Barefoot, is even better.)

22. There is a fine balance between what you can and cannot control. Be okay with both.

You can not control others. You can not control the weather. And there will be many situations where the outcome is simply out of your control. Be okay with that. Sometimes when we let go of our need to control we find the greatest freedom in the world.

You can control your actions, reactions, and attitude. Be gracious, forgiving, and adaptable.

23. Forget makeup.

You may not believe me on this one, but trust me: You don’t need it. There is power in taking a stand against a world that tells us we need to spend billions of dollars on toxic crap to cover our face. Of course, if you choose to wear it I’ll still think you’re beautiful, but try taking a day off every now and then and realize how beautiful you are on your own.

24. Be powerful, gentle, strong, and delicate.

You are a magnificently complicated creature who can be powerful, strong, gentle, and delicate all at the same time. Power doesn’t mean aggressive. Delicate doesn’t mean weak. Be firm in your ability to be a force for good without giving up the ability to connect with lightness.

25. Don’t worry about what you’re going to be when you grow up.

People are obsessed with this question. Know that you can be anything you want, and it can change all the time… even in your thirties, forties, and beyond. When asked what you want to be, tell them you want to be happy.

26. Have vision. Take action. Be passionate. Be patient.

This is the recipe for success. You won’t get very far without all four. Know where you want to go, move in that direction, find your “why” to keep your going, and be patient as life will often throw detours and obstacles along the way. And remember to enjoy the ride. Life isn’t at the end of your goals. It’s happening right now.

27. Don’t underestimate the power of stress or sleep.

Forget all the debates about which nutrient is more important or what food you should avoid. Keep your stress down and get enough sleep and you’ll be doing better than most people. Learn how to breathe, manage, and adapt. Only sacrifice your sleep for the most precious things… like your own daughter some day.

28. Learn when to lead and when to follow.

The biggest problem is when people don’t do either and just sit around waiting for something to happen. Sometimes you’ll be called to lead, other times you’ll be needed to follow. Lead with love, passion, and a whole lot of wisdom. Follow with your heart and gut.

29. Nourish your soul.

You know I have a thing for healthy living, but as important as it is to nourish your body you also have to nourish your soul.  Foster your faith. Pray daily. Stand for something. Believe.

30. Remember: You are enough, just the way you are.

Repeat as needed.

31. Come home often.

I want you to have the courage and curiosity to explore this big world, both literally and figuratively. But make sure you come home to me every now and then (both literally and figuratively). I will do my best to ensure our home is a safe haven, a place where you’ll be loved and encouraged. There will always be hugs, love, and cookies.

Love always,

Mom

I found it HERE:

Weekend!

So grateful that my flu is finally gone. I was able to go out for our Date Night Friday night. A nice dinner at a new restraurant, it was a Christmas gift from our kids! What a treat. Then Saturday I got to spend the day with Amy. It isn't very often we get to spend time together all by ourselves, but John was a trooper and keep the girls all day so we could have some Mother/ Daughter time. We went to a Jewelry show in Tacoma with our friend.  Here is some of the new jewelry that they were showing.

I was pretty wiped out after being gone for the day! Then today the girls, John and Amy came to church with us. After church they spent the rest of the day here. Jeff and I were so glad, it had been about 2 weeks since we had seen the girls. Poor Audrey was starting a terrible cold, but here was a photo that Amy took a couple of days ago. Can't believe how big she is getting. And look at those sweet cheeks.

Everyone else left tonight except Jenny. She is going to do a 2 Day Sleep over with us! Yeah!
It was a nice weekend! Grateful to feel better so we can do things with the kids.
Hope you had a nice weekend too!
Good night dear friends!

Fatherhood

Fatherhood is not always what you expect it to be. This was an incredible story of a man, whose wife gave him he best and last gift she had to give. Read it ...it is an amazing story about a DAD, who chooses to keep going against amazing heartache. Read more of his story HERE:
Hope you have a great day dear friends!

Extraordinary events stir in the world of medicine. A mother who certainly have died were still able to give birth to tiny baby perfectly. This news was suddenly spread everywhere and became the subject of conversation in the medical world.

Is Mahmoud Soliman, 29. He never imagined could face the sadness and happiness into one. His beloved wife, Jayne Soliman, 41, went for ever. And instead, he got a beautiful baby girl who was born from the womb of his wife.

Touching, Aya Jayne, thus the name of the infant, born two days after Jayne was pronounced dead as a result of his brain could not function anymore. Thanks to Aya medical aid can be delivered safely.

Jayne pregnancy actually not problematic. But at age pregnancy at 25 weeks, he suddenly fainted, after complaining of headaches.

Soon Mahmoud rushed to hospital John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. But a few hours later, the doctors declared brain of former England national skiing ace is already dead.

The team of doctors tried to help the heart throb Jayne to stay with a variety of equipment. This effort is being done so that the baby in the stomach Jayne can be helped. Jayne was given two large doses of steroids so that the baby can grow a heart. And finally, Aya Jayne can be delivered safely by caesarean section.

After removed from the uterus Jayne, Aya was placed on the shoulders of his mother to give a little time for the two to meet.

After that Aya immediately rushed to the intensive care unit. While Mahmoud given the opportunity to say goodbye to his wife, a doctor before turning off his life support equipment.

"The doctor said there was nothing they could do for Jayne. But they need to stay strong for our unborn child, "recalls Mahmoud.

"She's very petite, small fighter like his mother," said Mahmoud who ceaselessly shed tears while holding his daughter.

 

Found this photo and story HERE:

Aya word is derived from Arabic which means miracle. That is the name chosen Jayne while still alive.

"When Aya adult, I would say how much her mother loved her. I will tell you everything. This is Jayne desire to have a baby and be a good mother, "said Mahmoud.

Found the story here:

Butterfly Kisses

Now you may know the Kenny Rodger's song Butterfly Kisses ( not sure if he wrote it ) about the love of a Dad with his little girl. Well, if you do and love it, then this short video is for you...

Find it here:
 WARNING...get the tissues out and ready!

I loved this reminder of how special a relationship can be with a Dad and his girls, and it won't be too long before Jeff will be dancing with Lauren at her wedding! I never had that type of relationship with my Dad but oh how I wished I would have. Doesn't every little girl and grown up girl, want to be cherished by her Dad?
But as I have said before, how grateful I am that Jeff has become that type of Dad to each of our kids. They are blessed!
It's Date Night and I have this terribly handsome man waiting to take me out...gotta go!
Good night dear friends!

Do as I say, not as I do!

This past week since I have been sick, I have been going over and over in my head, what I have done wrong to have my body so run down that I got sick. Now you are probably thinking "Lynn, don't you remember the days when you got sick a lot?" Well, I do and I actually changed a lot of things in my life to focus on taking care of myself. I learned that through doing that and being more in balance and not running faster than I should, that I was a lot healthier and able to actually serve and give more. Now fast forward that 3 years... and here I am doing a LOT of things, and not actually paying attention to myself or my needs as much. Still all the time requiring a lot out my physical and emotional bank account. Those two things are not a good combination for me or my body and so ....here I am a week later and still feeling bad with this cold.
So when my daughter sent this quote to me the other day, it made me realize that someone probably wrote this for me or maybe even knew me. Or at least she sent this to me because she knows that her Mother hasn't quite learned this lesson yet. Smart girl, just hope she learns from her MOM to do as I say and not as I do. At least until I start doing the right thing in the future.
Good night dear friends!


"I want you to think of your life as an hourglass. You know there are thousands of grains of sand in the top of the hourglass; and they all pass slowly and evenly through the narrow neck in the middle. Nothing you or I could do will make more than one grain of sand pass through this narrow neck without impairing the hourglass. You and I and everyone else are like this hourglass. When we start in the morning, there are hundreds of tasks which we feel that we must accomplish that day, but if we do not take them one at a time and let them pass through the day slowly and evenly, as do the grains of sand passing through..., then we are bound to break our own physical or mental structure."

A Father's love and commitment!

I just loved this story, probably because I love to write notes and cards. I do think they make a difference, this story proves that they really do!  Read it ( but have tissues near by).
Have a great day dear friends!

Father with cancer communicates with 14-year-old daughter through napkins. 

                  

For Garth Callaghan of Glen Allen, Va., writing simple notes on napkins for his daughter’s lunch did not initially seem like an important component of her meal, but nine years later, he feels differently.
“[When Emma] started public school, either my wife or I would put a note in her lunchbox from time to time. It wasn’t a daily occurrence, and it was just really simple, like, ‘Have a great day,’ ‘We love you,’ ‘Good luck on your test,’ really basic, simple things,” Callaghan said in an interview with the Deseret News. “(But) as she became older … she started treating the napkin notes as if (they) were a required part of her lunchbox. She would often check in her lunchbox, and if there wasn’t a napkin note written, she’d come by with a lunchbox in her hand and kind of open it up and say, ‘Napkin note?’ That told me that there was something there, that there was something that was just as important as water in her lunch.”
After recognizing his now 14-year-old daughter’s positive reaction to his napkin notes, Callaghan began putting more effort into the messages.
“Between work and school and homework and sports and all these other things that are in our lives, we only have a couple of times a day that we can actually connect,” Callaghan said. “There’s the time that we drive her to school, we’ve got five or 10 minutes in the car. We have hopefully meal times, so we have hopefully half an hour or 45 minutes together as a family for dinner. And then we always make time with her at bedtime … so creating that additional moment of lunch, of her opening up her lunchbox and thinking about her dad, thinking about something that I’ve written, because she knows that that quote or that saying … generally has a purpose, even if it’s only a micro-moment … it’s really, really important to our family.”
But the role of napkin notes became even more meaningful when Callaghan was diagnosed with kidney cancer two years ago.
“I have been battling cancer for a couple of years now. … I’m not going to die from it, not this time, I mean. I may eventually, but not this time. But things like this just solidify my belief that as a dad, for myself, I owe it to my daughter to do whatever I can to impart wisdom, my philosophy on life, how to be a good person in the world, whatever I can, and one of the ways she’s receptive to it is napkin notes,” Callaghan said.
“If I sit down and talk with her about how to be a good friend, it’s a little bit of a more difficult conversation than if I write a couple of sentences on a napkin on how to be a good friend.”
As the primary lunch-maker in his home, Callaghan believes that when parents include “napkin notes” in their children's lunches, the notes can make a positive difference.
“It’s such a simple act, it just takes a few seconds a day, but if I can get one parent more to do this, I’m convinced that that relationship between that parent and that child is going to be a stronger relationship,” he said.
Emma Callaghan also values the napkin notes. She began gluing the notes from her father in a book to keep them as a physical reminder of her father.
“The reporter (with the Richmond Times) asked (Emma) why she had been saving the quotes … and putting them into a little book, and she said, ‘My dad was really sick and I was trying to save a piece of him,’” Callaghan said. “She had never expressed that to me, and it just completely blew me away.”
For Callaghan, the physicality of the napkin notes resonates with his daughter more than an email or text message.
“I know (writing out napkin notes) sounds crazy because I’m a computer guy, and I love apps, I love texts and I love iPhones and everything like that, but there’s absolutely something humbling and down-to-earth about writing a real note,” he said. “It’s tangible, it’s something she can hold, and, frankly, she turned it into her own thing where she started saving them.”
Since sharing his experience, Callaghan has received positive feedback on his Napkin Notes Facebook page.
“You are going to ROCK 3rd grade! We love you. — Mom & Dad,” Ariane Herrholz Grabill wrote for her child on the Napkin Notes Facebook page. “It’s not poetic, but it’s the first of many,” she wrote about the napkin.
After realizing the power a note can hold for someone, Callaghan began sending napkin notes in the mail to people who could use some encouragement.
“I don’t believe that this is the solution to all the world’s ills, and world peace isn’t suddenly going to come about because parents are doing napkin notes, but maybe our individual relationships will get a lot better,” Callaghan said. “I am very purpose-driven with this. I really feel that this is something that is so simple, and so easy to do, and will make such a difference in their child’s life.”

I found this wonderful story HERE:

Just because we can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't real!

Great example of how to truly have compassion for things we have never gone through. Understanding and support are vital in these situations!
Great article, hope you take the time to read it!

Wright Words: Bigfoot, unicorns and anxiety disorders aren't all imaginary

                 

Jadi Wright, 14, poses for her mother during a recent photo shoot in Berryville, Va. She is successfully coping with anxiety.

Kodi Wright Photography

 

One year ago, if a friend had told me he was suffering from anxiety so debilitating it prevented him from working, studying, speaking in public or even being alone, I might have suggested it was a figment of his imagination.

One year ago, if a friend had told me he was suffering from anxiety so debilitating it prevented him from working, studying, speaking in public or even being alone, I might have suggested it was a figment of his imagination.
Panic attacks? Please. Take a deep breath, pal.
Can’t sleep? Come on. Count more sheep. Better yet, count more unicorns, since they have a lot in common with your little imagined problem.
In related news, I’ve never been nominated for “buddy of the year.”
To that hypothetical friend suffering from anxiety-related disorders, I owe you an apology. Because so much has changed in the past year, I hardly recognize my own naive, inconsiderate memories. Anxiety didn’t just knock on our front door — it joined the family.
My new understanding began last fall when, without obvious trigger or explanation, my 14-year-old daughter, Jadi, began experiencing anxiety about being away from home or being away from a parent. Unless Mom or Dad accompanied her, it was difficult to attend school, church, etc. By the time Christmas break ended, she was unable to walk back into the building without panic attacks so serious they brought tears to her eyes — and ours.
While I began to research the world of anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and panic disorders, and even post-traumatic stress, my wife did the only thing she could think of to help our daughter continue progressing.
My wife enrolled in the eighth grade.
For the second semester of the school year, Jadi was never in the building without her mother. At first, Mom sat in the classroom. Later, she moved to a desk in the hallway where Jadi could see her. Finally, she set up shop in the library and spent the entire school day there as Jadi moved from class to class, occasionally stopping by to check in.
They walked into the building together at 8 a.m. and walked out at 3 p.m. — a seven-hour day. The axiom “parenting is a full-time job” had a whole new meaning in our home.
My wife’s willingness to sacrifice her time, friends, responsibilities, work and hobbies from January to June is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen. If our acts of kindness are truly recorded in heaven, the angels have gone to volumes II, III and IV on my wife’s edition.
As the two of them adjusted to their new reality and Jadi began receiving professional help to better understand her trials, I dove into researching this world that previously seemed as fictional as one of my books.
The view on the other side of my foggy ignorance was staggering.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders affect roughly 40 million adults each year. That’s approximately 18 percent of all American adults, nearly one in five.
Obviously, fear and uncertainly chase our teens, too. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that about 8 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder. Of these, only 18 percent receive health care.
Though the numbers were a surprise, nothing pried my eyes open more than meeting so many faces of anxiety. The more I opened up and sought counsel, the more I discovered that among those 40 million sufferers are many of the people I love most in this world: family members, neighbors and people I both work and worship with.
A conversation with the woman who edits most of my articles at the Deseret News, Brooke Porter, revealed that she, too, suffers and seeks regular care. She’s been open about her challenges and shared her trial with the world in a popular, praiseworthy KSL column.

One young friend of mine preparing to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was diagnosed with a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder that has remapped his life in ways he couldn’t have imagined. I'm certain that by leaning on professional and heavenly wisdom, he’ll overcome.
Those aware of our daughter’s struggles often ask how she’s doing. After an anxious summer, Jadi walked into high school with all the other terrified freshmen. With the love of a supportive older sister, as well as good friends who share her values and believe in her, she’s found a place for herself in an institution that has humbled millions.
Perhaps the greatest evidence of her growth and healing is this very column. She is willing to go on record with her challenges with the hope and prayer that someone might benefit from knowing they are not alone.
One year ago, if my daughter told me she would suffer from anxiety so debilitating it would prevent her from working, studying, speaking in public or even being alone, and that she was willing to share her struggles with the world, I might have suggested it was a figment of her imagination.
I’ve learned a lot at the feet of anxiety this year. I’ve learned anxiety and its related illnesses are as real as broken bones and ear infections. I’ve learned that many around me are suffering with things I cannot always see and almost always do not understand. But my failure to understand doesn’t make their suffering any less painful.
Finally, I’ve learned I don’t owe an apology to my hypothetical friend — I owe it to a real one.
I read the story here:

A Father's Love!

This is an incredible story of the love between a Father and his daughter.
 Watch it and see!
 

 You can find it here:
Good night dear friends!

You make me smile!

How could it be 30 years since this beautiful girl came into the world? I was almost 24 years old, and even though I had done a lot of babysitting in my life...I had no idea how to be a MOM. My pregnancy seemed to go on and on forever. She came 10 days late, and after hours of difficult labor...I wasn't progressing at all and so they figured the baby was just too big. Having never been in the hospital overnight or for any surgeries...I was scared to death when the Doctor suggested that we would probably have to do a C-section. They put me under for the surgery, and all I can remember is that Jeff and the nurses kept trying to wake me up from the best sleep I had ever had, and they kept saying "Amy is here, and she weighed 10lbs and 1oz. I thought to myself...yeah right. Then they placed this beautiful dark hair, big girl in my arms.
Along with Motherhood sometimes comes the WORRY part of your heart. I worried if I knew what each cry meant, it didn't seem to be something that I knew right away. I wondered if most Mother's got the handbook ( that everyone thinks comes automatically when you become a Mother ), but since I had a C-section, maybe someone forgot to give me mine. But when Amy cried, everyone including Jeff would always ask me what was wrong with her?  I remember thinking to myself, "I have no idea, no one gave me the handbook!"
Some of you might ask when I finally figured out what she was crying about or needed? Well, I don't remember the exact day, but gradually, after a lot of prayer and tears... I slowly and instinctively knew what she needed. And each child after that just got easier and quicker to learn about. So yes, Motherhood is a life long process and the prayers and tears never really end. You pray for their safety, you pray that the world will be kind to them, you pray for good friends for them, you pray for them to make the right choices and on and on. The tears come with each success, whether it is a first step, a new tooth, being potty trained and some tears come with skinned knees, broken hearts and leaving home for the first time. So yes, the heart has to really be in shape to handle being a Mother.
Amy continues to be our happy child, even though she is a grown woman. It is rare to see her down, she makes almost anything in life more fun with her laughter and her smile. She like the other kids when they grew up, became our friends too...what a blessing that has been. So grateful Amy came into our family30 years ago today, and even though I still have the scar to prove it...we wouldn't  trade her for the world!
Happy Birthday Amy Girl! You make me smile!

Kindness is Contagious

I really do  believe that Kindness is Contagious.  Hope you had a great day!

Good night dear friends!

Kindness is Contagious

My 9-year-old daughter and I were flying from our home in Charlotte,
North Carolina, to spend a week with my husband in Miami, Florida. Mike
had been in Florida for five months working for an Internet start-up
company. We were excited about the trip because we had seen him only five
times in five months, and Kallie missed her dad terribly.
As usual on the Charlotte-to-Miami flight, the plane was totally full.
I had noticed a troop of Boy Scouts at the gate and commented to my
daughter that if anything happened, we would be OK with all those Scouts
on our flight! Little did I know....
Because we did not get our boarding passes until we arrived at the
gate, Kallie and I could not get seats together and were separated by the
aisle. That wasn't such a big deal, except that Kallie was nervous about
the trip and had counted on my reading to her the whole way. Trying to
read across the aisle would be a challenge.
When the two passengers who shared my row boarded the plane, I asked
if they would switch places with Kallie and me, so that we could be
together and so that she could sit next to the window. They refused,
saying they thought they should stay in their assigned seats. Meanwhile,
a mother and her three children were in a panic several rows ahead of us.
There had been a mistake in their boarding passes, the whole family had
been split up.
The passengers in her row also refused to move elsewhere. The mother
could hold her baby, but her 6-year-old son and his older brother had
been scattered around the plane. She was very concerned about the younger
boy sitting with strangers. She was in tears, yet nobody offered to help
her.
Suddenly the Scout leader stood up and said, "Ma'am, I think we can
help you." He then spent five minutes rearranging his group so that
adequate space was available for the family. The boys followed his
directions cheerfully and without complaint, and the mother's relief was
obvious.
Kallie, however, was beginning to panic at the thought of not being
next to a window or her mother. I told her that there wasn't anything I
could do; we would have to sit where we were. Amazingly, the man sitting
next to the Scoutmaster (not a Scout himself), turned around to me and
asked, "Would you and your daughter like our seats?" referring to himself
and the Scoutmaster. He said he was cramped in the window seat and would
really prefer the aisle. We traded seats and continued our trip, very
much relieved to be together and watch the scenery from Kallie's window
seat.
Would that man have offered us his seat if the Scouts hadn't done so
for the mom and her children? I don't know. But I do know that kindness
is contagious, and good deeds beget good deeds!

by Phyllis Yearick

 

“If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble”.  ~Bob Hope

“Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'’  ~Jesse Jackson

“Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are.”  ~Author Unknown

Last song

Jeff and I watched this movie the other night, the message was really good and it was pretty darn clean. Those aren’t easy to find any more. I guess what I loved about it the most was, how the daughter and father made up with each other before it was too late. The parents in this story had divorced and it was mostly about how divorce effects everyone in the family…but especially the children. I have to admit, that I am very grateful that I knew my Mom and Dad loved each other, it just seemed normal but now a days… Divorce is the normal. I have met many people throughout my life who are the children from a divorce, it takes quite a toll on them and leaves some really nasty scars.

The movie made you think about how much power a parent has over a child, I don’t mean physical power, but the emotions that are tied into a Mother and child relationship and a Father and child relationship. I think what I liked the most about this movie was the lessons that were learned by the daughter, so maybe she will live her life making different choices, and not repeating the same mistakes. I tell my kids all the time that they should be better husbands, wives, Mothers and Fathers than we are. Although we are truly trying our best, our kids should keep getting better each generation, learning from their parents mistakes.

I was never really close to my Dad, how I wished I would have been. He has passed on, but still I wish we could have figured out how to have a Father –Daughter relationship that was good, uplifting and healthy.  I know he did the best he could but… still I think every girl would like to have a Dad to love, cherish and protect her, I think every girl needs that.

I feel grateful each day for Jeff, he is that type of Father to our kids and they know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that their Dad loves them. What a blessing that is. Our oldest son and his wife are expecting their first baby in March and I can’t wait to see him as a Father, he will be great. He is a righteous man and has such a loving heart, he will be a good Dad …and his children will be well loved!

So if you are looking for  a good tear jerker movie that is pretty clean, this I is a good one for you.
Good night dear friends!

 

"People make mistakes, even the ones we love. We forgive, and keep moving forward."

 

"Love is Fragile and Sometimes were Not The Best Caretakers."

“Sometimes you have to be apart from the people you love, but that doesn't make you love them any less. Sometimes it makes you love them more.”

“The love of a family is life's greatest blessing”

Paintbrush or Mask

For years as a victim of abuse, I wore a mask ( a smile, a happy face ) so that others wouldn't really know the real me. It took me years to take my mask off and I couldn't really do that without learning to love the person who was under the mask...ME!  I still struggle every now and then with my self esteem, I know who I am ...a daughter of God, but sometimes when life hits me hard and I start to forget alittle. I am what they call a WORK in PROCESS. I believe we all are to some degree. I believe that is why we are here on earth, to learn and grow from our problems and trials. I believe that life gets better when we learn to love the person under the mask or like this poem describes it...the paint!

I hope all of us will try to show our true colors, our real self and keep company of true friends, who really love us and accept us! May we all remember more often...who we are and hold up our heads proudly to be... beautiful, talented, wonderful daughters of a Heavenly  Father who loves us!!!

The Paintbrush

I keep my paint brush with me
Wherever I may go,
In case I need to cover up
So the real me doesn't show.

I'm so afraid to show you me,
Afraid of what you'll do - that
You might laugh or say mean things.
I'm afraid I might lose you.

I'd like to remove all my paint coats
To show you the real, true me,
But I want you to try and understand,
I need you to accept what you see.

So if you'll be patient and close your eyes,
I'll strip off all my coats real slow.
Please understand how much it hurts
To let the real me show.

Now my coats are all stripped off.
I feel naked, bare and cold,
And if you still love me with all that you see,
You are my friend, pure as gold.

I need to save my paint brush, though,
And hold it in my hand,
I want to keep it handy
In case someone doesn't understand.

So please protect me, my dear friend
And thanks for loving me true,
But please let me keep my paint brush with me
Until I love me, too.

Author is either Bettie B. Youngs or David, Wizard of Oz

 

"Happiness is:  Looking in a mirror and like what you see." ~Author Unknown

"When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you." ~Lao-Tzu

'You gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face. You must do that which we think we cannot."   ~Eleanor Roosevelt