Even with a full shopping cart, it was a Bigger Than Me Day!

I woke up this morning with my heart aching! I was sad. It kind of surprised me, that is not how I usually feel. I normally can hardly wait to wake up because I have so many great things I want to do with my day. I usually wake up happy and very grateful for each new day that I get. I usually realize how full and blessed my life is, but today was different. I tried all the things that I know my Mom would have told me to do today...if she were still here. I said my prayers and prayed to know what was wrong, I listed all my blessings down, I read my scriptures and I also did some service and still my heart just kept aching. I felt like bawling all day but didn't ( probably should have ).
 I had a visit from a dear friend and it felt good when she was here, but then the feeling came right back. 

I called a couple of friends and they convinced me that I was just tired from all the excitement of the last 2 weeks. That was probably a big part of it. My house has been full and happy for the last 2 weeks with kids home and getting ready for Lee and Caitlin's wedding reception. Now everyone has gone home and my house is quite ( too quite ). So I think missing my kids is a big part of it too!

But then it goes a bit deeper than that, I am overwhelmed at how far I still have to go on really getting LynnMade out there with a lot of visibility. We have started...but only scratched the surface on all we need to do to make this Business really soar. I think I am a bit overwhelmed at all that needs to be done. Probably I feel overwhelmed because it is all the Social Media stuff that I really don't understand much. This seems like I have bitten off more than I can chew! 

Also I am mourning a loss of a dear friend, there seems to be a hole in my heart that can't completely heal. After almost 40 years together, I guess that might be a normal feeling?

I am also still in the mess of trying to get to appointments for Physical Therapy, after this car accident and now we just found out that the person who ran the red light and hit me, is now saying they weren't claiming to be at fault at all. I don't like having to deal with those sort of things. Plus, it is just hard to hurt so much again!

Well, I didn't sit down and have a good cry, I just kept going today, I kept praying and kept counting and recounting the many, many blessings I have. 

We had someone over for dinner tonight and that felt good. I dropped a treat off to a dear friend and their family...that felt good.

I even video taped another free video for LynnMade.com ..and that felt good.
 Then I read this wonderful talk that I found HERE:

and I realized that I felt a bit better. 

Perspective is a wonderful thing! It was ok to had a tough day, everyone has them. But remembering that my Heavenly Father knows me, and is aware of my good days as well as my bad days, is quite a comforting feeling!
How grateful I am to remember to see the bigger picture. How grateful I am to know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are always there with me.. so that I don't have to do any Bigger Than Me Days alone! That makes me smile!

Good Night dear friends!

What a weekend!

Well, Jeff has had the flu off and on now for the past 3 weeks, finally Friday he went to the Dr. I have been doing pretty well till this past week and slowly I could feel my body starting to ache some and having some chills... and basically not feeling well myself. That is why I haven't posted for a few days, hard to be motivating when you feel so crummy!
Luckily I did accomplish a few things, trying to focus on the positive...right?
I finally got up my St. Patrick's Day stuff, better late than never!
I realize that I don't have a ton of stuff and for the past 2 years when I have put it up, I can't find the St. Patrick's Day quilt that I made. I have no idea where it would be. I always have it over this chair in the living room. So until it reappears, I decided to put my crocheted afghan over the chair, and then I made a pillow (out of the left over fabric I had from the quilt). At least it gives me a pop of color there in the chair!

 Then on Friday, I braved the storm to go over to Kamiakin Jr. High School, and take a photo of a mural that my son Bradley did 14 years ago, when he was in school there. How fun to see where Brad is now in his own business in Graphic Design (you can see his work HERE:),

and realize that he has been enjoying ART since he was very young! Humble beginnings!

By Saturday, I knew that this flu bug that was going around, had finally bit me! I was cold and chilled all day. All I wanted was some HOT Chicken Noodle Soup and to call my Mom! Funny how I miss her sooooo much more when I am sick!  My Mom's Birthday was this week, and oh I wish she was still with us. I wish she could have had more time with me, my kids and I would have loved her to meet my sweet grandbabies! She passed away 15 years ago this year and still... what I wouldn't give to pick up the phone and just call her and tell her about my day...like we used to!

Well, after a small pity party, I decided I was going to have to make the Chicken Soup myself, didn't want Jeff to do it... because he still has more germs than I do! :) 

Grateful that my Mom taught me how to cook, she was much better cook than I ever have been. But then again she enjoyed food more than me. I eat to live, instead of living to eat! 

Soon the whole house smelled like my Mom's kitchen and I some how felt... a bit better!

Can't say that I really accomplished anything else on Saturday other than my soup. I did crochet some but mostly I just slept or laid around ( something that I am not really good at! ) 

Sunday morning came and I had to make myself get out of bed and get ready for church. I am sure the time change didn't help!

But I was glad that I made it, because as always ...I am grateful for the Spiritual Uplift it gives me.

 A wind storm came through, while we were at church and I had heard on the radio about the High Wind Warnings. The lights flickered a couple of times but never went out. As soon as I got home I hurried and heated up our soup, just in case the electricity went off. We had no longer finished our lunch than ... the electricity did go off! 

Luckily it wasn't terribly cold because we have a Gas Fireplace down stairs. We also have a lot of laterns and so that helped. Our neighbor has a Generator, and he invited us to come over, so we did for an hour or so to charge our phones and get warm. So nice to have such a thoughtful and generous neighbors! We are very blessed! Still wonder if some day we should invest in a Generator? Not a cheap thing to do, that is for sure. 

All in all, it was a different weekend, not one I would have planned but... we survived and I know I need to just try and count my blessings instead of all my problems.

That reminds me of a song that my Mom always sang to us as kids, if we were down or complaining alot. Here are the lyrics for it...

Count Your Blessings 

1. 
   
2. 1. When upon life's billows you are tempest-tossed,
   When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
   Count your many blessings; name them one by one,
   And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
3. (Chorus)
   Count your blessings;
   Name them one by one.
   Count your blessings;
   See what God hath done.
   Count your blessings;
   Name them one by one.
   Count your many blessings;
   See what God hath done.
4. 2. Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
   Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
   Count your many blessings; ev'ry doubt will fly,
   And you will be singing as the days go by.
5. 3. When you look at others with their lands and gold,
   Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.
   Count your many blessings; money cannot buy
   Your reward in heaven nor your home on high.
6. 4. So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
   Do not be discouraged; God is over all.
   Count your many blessings; angels will attend,
   Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.
7. Text: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856-1922
   Music: Edwin O. Excell, 1851-1921


8. (I feel better just from reading the lyrics! Probably why Mom had us sing it so often! :) Mom's are so smart!)
9. 
   
10. 
    
11. 
    
12. 
    

Creating!

Since my Mom passed away over 16 years ago, I have tried to fill the void that she left with her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. I know I can't fill her shoes exactly, but I feel the need to at least try.
She was a great Grandmother, and she was a fabulous cook.
Now she didn't like to do crafts or sewing at all! But since I am not the cook she wa,s and I DO LOVE CRAFTS and CREATING...I have tried to make things for my Nieces, Nephews and now their kids. I think Mom would have liked that! I know she would have loved them!

Today my friend and I got together and created a  Reusable Bag. As of March 1st they are mandatory for our city!

 Then I finally finished the 2 afghans for my neice and nephew...they were suppose to be Valentine gifts... but maybe they will think they are Leap Day gifts. That way I wouldn't  be quite as late. Mailed them out today!

I also got the baby quilts I finished for my Mom's Great Grandsons and Great Granddaughter and mailed them out today. I love seeing them together...just makes me happy. Hopefully it made my Mom happy too!
I wondered now if I should have put my Mom's name on their quilt labels, so they will never forget her either?
I just keep trying to be the best Aunt Lynn, Great Aunt Lynn, Nana and adopted Nana or adopted Aunt Lynn as I can be. Every kid deserves to have a grandparent in their life!

Good Night dear friends!

Bittersweet!

Today was another tough day, my emotions are all over the board... and I am trying desperately to stay steady and consistent. I am trying to remember all the women who have been through Menopause and lived to tell about it! :) That gives me hope, but still I definitely don't feel like myself!

16 years ago today my Mother passed away. She had been real sick for months and we thought for sure that in September that would be our last few days with her. She held on for as long as she could, but on December 3rd around 8:30 am she took her last breath. I still am grateful that I was able to fly home in time, to be with her as she left for the other side. It was scary, it was inspiring, it was spiritual, it was a blessing and a loss like I have never felt before. It was truly Bittersweet!

I won't write more tonight other than to say...I am grateful for my Mother. She and I had been through many of the same experiences in our lives, and so that made our relationship complicated to say the least. But oh how I loved her!
 I can't wait to see her again and start another new and better life with her. So grateful for the knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ truly did come to this earth to be our example. And for the gift that He gave us to live again!
 Many people thought it was so sad that my Mom died when it was Christmas time. But I think that this is a blessing, because it is the most Wonderful Time of the Year! Knowing about the Christ child and His life and Mission, make Eternity not so far away! Which means, I will be with my sweet Mother again some day!
Good night dear friends!

Ok, maybe my Mom wouldn't be proud of me!

Now that I think about how much my Mom loved cooking, maybe she might not be so proud of me most of the time. First of all, I cooked a whole lot when my kids were home but it seems like I struggle with it now that it is just Jeff and I to cook for. I have talked to other Empty Nesters and I realized I am not the only one.
When my Mom passed away, we all wondered who were we going to call to get this or that recipe? Who would we talk to if one of our children was struggling or just to ask questions about life? I have wished many times that there was a phone number for Heaven. Of course if there was, I probably would have the phone lines busy all the time, trying to ask all my Mom sooo many questions. :)
So I had to have gotten points over the weekend cooking her favorite Ginger Snap cookies with Jenny! Obviously I made points with Jenny and all who we shared the cookies with though!

 Then I found the other day my Recipe Book, I haven't seen it in years! I don't know where it was all these years. It was a gift for my graduation from my Sister in law and brother. I got so excited because I had in there many of my Mom's recipes. Then I realized that most of my Mom's recipes are ones that I wouldn't really make any more. But still it did my heart good to see her recipes again!

Tonight I realized that my Mom probably wouldn't be very proud of me tonight. Jeff and I were just about to have dinner ...it was Eggplant Sandwiches ( no it wasn't a recipe from my Mom :) Anyway, Jeff and I were opening up the home made Pesto on our sandwiches, when we realized that the pesto had mold on the top of it. We both just looked at it and realized it was just too late to try and make new Pesto and we didn't have anything else ready to eat. 

So Jeff just scrapped off the top and the mold, we then took some of these...

Acidophilus...(it's what you take if you get food poisoning)! Then we at our Eggplant Sandwiches!
 I am not thinking my Mom would have been very proud of me tonight! :)
Oh well, luckily I do have other talents!

Good Night dear friends!

My Mom would be proud...I think?

Today is Sunday one of my favorite days. I love going to church and spiritually getting recharged and reminded of the things that my Heavenly Father wants me to do. My mission ...so to speak.
I especially loved today, because Jenny got to spend 3 nights with us for her Sleep Over. She is always sooo excited just to hang with Jeff ( Poppa ) and I. In her prayer over dinner she said " thank you for letting me do a sleep over at Nana and Poppa who love me and I love them" Talk about melting your heart! Just knowing that we can make a difference in each of our grandchildren's lives, is sooooo worth it!

On the way home from church we were talking about what we could do today? I mentioned that maybe we could bake something to take to our neighbors, and for some of our friends who had Birthdays recently. Then Jenny said "Nana, do you even know how to make cookies?" I had to laugh, I always try to sew, crochet and create in lots of ways with the girls when they come over but I don't do a lot of baking... just because of all the sugar, which I try hard to stay away from.
I thought oh my, Mom wound be ashamed of me for not baking a lot with them. Cooking was her passion and the way she served many. It also was comforting to her.  Mine is not eatting or baking, it is creating with my sewing, quilting or crocheting...that is comforting to me and a lot better for my body :)
So you guessed what we did next? We got out the White Death ( white sugar ), Jenny is pointing to the label on the sugar container, but she doesn't know how to read yet, so she doesn't really think that was as funny as her Mom thought it was when she first saw it! But the label  didn't really scare off my kids at all. They just think their Mom is weird ( that's hard to imagine huh? )


I decided to teach her how to make my Mom's famous Ginger Snap Cookies, Mom really was well  known for her cookies, cakes, fudge and more. She was an amazing cook!

Then after we made them and got them in the oven, Jenny just watched them the whole time. Ok, by the way she is acting, maybe I should cook with her more often?:) She watched them carefully and was soooo excited when they were out and cooled ...so she could taste one!

As we were talking about these being my Mom's favorite recipe, Jenny said " I think my Grandma Johnson would be proud of me for liking Sugar and her yummy cookies" That is probably true? I think she would have been proud of me too! 

My whole house smelled like my childhood home at Christmas time! So grateful that I have had the time to spend with Jenny and to share a recipe that has been handed down from my sweet talented Mom to me. Oh how I miss her! And man, she would have loved all of her great-grandchildren! 

Got a photo of Oakley today, wearing the new headband I crocheted for her, today at church. Isn't she getting big? How I love creating for my grandkids and family and friends!

I loved the lesson that was taught in church today. Here are some of the notes about it. It made me grateful for the journey stories of my life! 

Here is a story from Dieter F. Uchtdorf...

"I grew up in Zwickau, in the former East Germany. When I was about 11 years old, my father fell under increased scrutiny as a political dissenter, and my parents felt that the only safe choice for our family would be to flee to West Germany. It was decided that the safest plan was to leave at different times and follow different routes to the West, leaving all our belongings behind.

Since my father was at greatest risk, he took the quickest journey, through Berlin. My older brothers headed north, and each found his own way west. My sister—who would have been the age of many of you here today—together with Helga Fassmann, her teacher in Young Women, and some others took a train that passed briefly through West Germany. They paid a porter to unlock one of the doors for them, and after the train crossed the West German border, they jumped from the moving train to freedom. How I admired my sister for her courage.

I was the youngest child, and my mother decided that she and I would walk across a mountain range separating the two countries. I remember that she packed a lunch as if we were going for a hike or a picnic in the mountains.

We took a train as far as we could and then walked for long hours, getting ever closer to the West German border. The borders were tightly controlled, but we had a map and knew of a time and a place where it might be safe to cross. I could sense my mother’s anxiety. She observed the area intensely to see if we were being followed. With each step, her legs and knees seemed to become weaker. I helped carry her heavy bag filled with food, vital documents, and family photos as we climbed up one last, long hill. Surely, she thought, we had passed the border by now. When she finally felt safe, we sat down and started to eat our picnic lunch. For the first time that day, I’m sure, she breathed more easily.

It was only then that we noticed the border sign. It was still far ahead of us! We were having our picnic on the wrong side of the border. We were still in East Germany!

Border guards could show up any moment!

My mother frantically packed up our lunch, and we hurried up the hillside as quickly as we could. This time we didn’t dare stop until we knew with certainty that we had reached the other side of the border.

Even though each member of our family had taken very different routes and experienced very different hardships along the way, eventually all of us made it to safety. We were finally reunited as a family. What a glorious day that was!

There will always be things to complain about—things that don’t seem to go quite right. You can spend your days feeling sad, alone, misunderstood, or unwanted. But that isn’t the journey you had hoped for, and it’s not the journey Heavenly Father sent you to take. Remember, you are truly a daughter of God!

With this in mind, I invite you to walk confidently and joyfully. Yes, the road has bumps and detours and even some hazards. But don’t focus on them. Look for the happiness your Father in Heaven has prepared for you in every step of your journey. Happiness is the destination, but it’s also the path. “Peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come” is what He promises.¹¹ That is why He commands us to “be of good cheer.”

As you joyfully use the map your loving Father has provided for your journey, it will lead you to holy places and you will rise to your supernal potential. You will grow into the daughter of God you hoped you would become."

I believe that every life is a collection of individual “journey stories.”

You can read the rest of the talk HERE:
Yes, today was a great day!
Good night dear friends!

My Mom believed in me!

Marc Mero is a man on a mission, here is what he has to say about his Mom believing in him. Watch it here:
Truly every Mother hopes to have each kid feel their love for them. And with that love, see them go on and become someone who will change the world... just by being their personal best.

Marc's Mission statement for his company is ...

"Our Mission of Champion of Choices, Inc. is to empower students to make healthy and positive choices that lead to lifelong success, initiating personal and social change to make a difference in themselves and their communities."

Read more about his company HERE:

Hope you enjoyed this!
Night dear friends!

Moments, Memories and My Mom

It feels sorta a lot like Christmas in our home right now. All the hustle and bustle with  family and friends gathering in. How grateful I am for these Moments in our lives, that will forever become great Memories for our family.
I am not sure how I missed having Cooking as one of my talents ...but I did!
I eat to live and never have lived to eat. Doesn't mean I don't appreciate good food... because I do, but cooking has become less and less appealing to me, especially since Jeff and I are Empty Nesters now.
But my Mother truly had that Cooking Talent and it was a GIFT to many! She was Famous for her Lemon Jello Cake! Everyone hoped that she would make it if they were coming to our house to eat. If someone was really sick and needed a meal, she always made a Lemon Jello Cake to go with it. She also brought it to families who had just lost a loved one. Many jokingly called it Ludy's Funeral Cake, they said it was simply to die for! :)
So Amy made a Lemon Jello Cake for Lauren's wedding shower. Lauren was quite young when she passed away, but it still brought great memories of my Mom ( Grandma Lou ) to all of us. Oh how she would have loved to been here to celebrate the wedding with all of us. She loved her Grandchildren and her Great Grandchildren so much. I wish she could have met my 4 sweet grand-babies, and seen all my kids as they were growing up.
Yes, I miss her every day! How blessed I am to know that we someday will be together again! I am grateful that Families Can Be Forever!



Good night dear friends!

What a great day!

Today I got up and felt better than I had in a LONG time, I tried to stay low and not over do anything. Still I was so excited, I felt like I had more energy and was excited about things again. I actually went downstairs for the first time in a long time, and worked on something in my Sewing Studio ( ok room, but studio does sound better don't you think ?).
Then the day got even better, my doorbell rang and when I went to get it ...there was a lady delivering flowers to my door. I smiled as she was walking away and said "thanks I probably should leave them on my porch, they look better than my dying Christmas greenery". She just smiled and said that she wondered if something had been wrong. We talked for a minute and then she left and I brought the flowers in. I was so surprised when I read the note it said..."Mom would be proud of you as a Mother and a Grandmother, Love your brothers " I couldn't believe it, how sweet for them to send me flowers, I know they had been worried about me...but to send flowers and have them to arrive on Mom's Birthday, was even more thoughtful. It made my day!
When I was 40 years old, my Mom passed away. I remember thinking that I was way to young to lose my Mom...who do you call when you have questions about raising your kids, or for an old family recipe and most important who would check on me when I am having a bad day or sick (and she would know that without anyone telling her)? I think most of all, I miss that she never got to see my kids grow up, she would have loved what a difference in the world they are making. And I wouldn't even mind if she would have stayed around long enough to meet my grandchildren...she would have loved them for sure. She loved being a Grandmother more than anything. I really do miss her!
So today was a great day and it ended up a surprise for Jeff too! Because I even made dinner...it was a shocker to him, but I know he was just happy to see me feeling better and having a least a couple of things go back to normal...so am I!
Good night dear friends, oh and here are my beautiful flowers!

My red headed Gingerbreads!

I think it is much easier to work hard on something, when you do it for someone you love. That is probably why I have such a fun time making matching seasonal outfits for the girls. I just finished their Gingerbread outfits ( look below), they really like the skirts they can twirl in. And even though they compete in almost everything, they still like having the matching outfits ( go figure ).

Tonight I am sitting here at home alone. Jeff is gone, Lee is out on a date, Lauren is at work and I have Kenny G Christmas music playing in the background…now doesn’t that just sound like a perfect setting to feel lonely in? I am missing my boy Bradley and his wife Krystal pretty bad, I guess that is normal for Mom’s. They live in California and Krystal is expecting their first baby, and it’s a boy! We can hardly wait till he gets here, still how I wish magically we could all be together for Christmas.  I am missing Lauren and Lee already ( and they aren’t even gone yet ). They keep this house full of laughter and fun, it certainly will be quiet without them here.

This time of year I always think of my Mom and Dad (who have already finished their mission here on earth). Oh how I wish I could just pick up the phone and hear my Mom’s voice, I really miss her. She would have loved meeting these cute little red heads! As for my Dad, we weren’t very close at all, but he taught me to love giving and Christmas, that is one time he was always happy. He gave gifts to everyone, he would start from Thanksgiving on… all the way through Christmas. He and Mom were always making gift baskets for everyone, my Dad had a million friends (guess I inherited that from him ). So the holidays were always special, and living on a farm seemed to make everything even more magical. We had our own sleigh riding hill ( that my Dad had cleared and made just for that ). Actually it was for tubing, it was way to steep for sleds. Still everyone wanted to come tubing at the Johnson’s farm. My Mom would have warm Gingerbread cookies ready with Hot Chocolate for everyone.

As we got older Mom would always call to see how many of her kids could make it home for the Holidays, now I find myself doing the same things. I cry when I hear the song…"I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS”. Yes, I get very homesick this time of year for my kids, family and friends. So I guess it’s a real good thing that I am going with Jeff and Lauren and Lee  when they head off for college in a couple of weeks. I will stay in Utah while they head off to Idaho, but at least I won’t be here by myself. When we come home to an empty house, at least we will be together.

Many of you who are already Empty Nesters, have shared tips on  how to survive being Empty Nesters and what some of the feelings we will go through, thanks for that advice…it really did help. The truth is though, like everything else…many things we have to just go through (that is where the lessons are learned ), but still it can be tough and I realize that. So thanks for your good advice.

Well, I have got to quit sitting here and thinking to much and get to work, there are lots more gifts to make! Good night dear friends!

 

“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given, when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.”     ~Joan Winmill Brown

“Time was with most of us, when Christmas Day, encircling all our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and everyone round the Christmas fire, and make the little picture shining in our bright young eyes, complete.”     ~  Charles Dickens

“Christmas is a time when you get homesick -- even when you're home.”   ~ Carol Nelson

The feeling of home, family and love!

I flew in last night to Salt Lake City, Utah to come and visit my family that is here. One of my niece's had her first baby and so Aunt Lynn needed to come and see her. I also got to stay with my sister-in-law Shirley who is the closest thing I can imagine what a sister feels like. I have some friends that I feel that close to too and it is a wonderful feeling. Since I never had sisters, I can only wonder what it is like. Shirley was one of my room mates during our college years and quickly became one of my best friends. I thought that if I introduced her to my brother... then if they got married, she would get to stay in the family and we would always be together. It worked and we have been close ever since. That was over 30 years ago!

It is always hard for me to leave home, I worry about the family and what I need to be doing but...as my kids get older and more responsible, it is getting less stressful. I was grateful that I finally healed from the flu, so that I could come and see everyone, the icing on the cake is...that it's Christmas time!

My mom died 9 years ago today, I sorta feel in some ways, that I am trying to take her place in these kid's lives.I get sad to realize that they don't have a grandma or great grandma on our side. My mom was big about being with her family, she loved each new daughter-in-law, new baby, new husband or wife that came into our family. Like I mentioned before, one of her all time favorite Christmas songs was I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS.  As I spent the day with this new little great niece,and as I saw how excited my other niece's were that I was here, it did my heart good. I only wish that I was that close to all my nieces and nephews but I do think at least they know that their Aunt Lynn loves them and would do anything for them. Yes, as I felt how much they loved and missed me today, I realized that HOME is more than just one place, it is wherever your family is and I felt blessed to be so loved. So tonight, I thought I would learn a bit more about my mom's favorite song and remember to try and follow in her footsteps of staying close to her family. I miss my mom, I miss that see never got to meet so many of these sweet little ones that have come, since she has been gone. She was a proud grandmother and mother, everyone knew that about her. And so... I am trying to be the same.

I hope at this wonderful time of the year that we will try to show are appreciation for our family, the love that we have and also be grateful for the homes that we have made. Good night dear friends!

I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

I'm dreamin' tonight of a place I love
Even more then I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light beams
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams
If only in my dreams

In 1943, this song joined "White Christmas" to become one of America's most popular holiday songs. The recording by Bing Crosby shot to the top ten of the record charts that year and became a holiday musical tradition in the United States. The idea of being home for Christmas originated in World War I when soldiers at first thought that the war would be quick and they would return by Christmastime. This inevitably did not happen, hence the line "if only in my dreams".

Pain vs Service

I have heard my whole life that if you are hurting, frustrated or depressed...the best thing you can do is serve someone else. In doing so we forget (for maybe only a minute or so) our problems, pains and frustrations. It gives us a clearer view on life and it's true meaning.

I have always loved the Bible, I love reading and learning more about Christ and the type of life that He lived. I never have to wonder really what to do or say, because He simply has already shown us the way! One of my favorite scriptures is in the book of St. John 13:4-9, 15-17. It is where Christ washes the feet of his disciples. The disciples of course feel that they are not worthy for Him to do that. Knowing who He was, they felt like they should be the one giving the service to Him. His response in these verses is what I love the most. He told them that He was doing it as an example for them. He reminded them that the servant is not great then his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. He also reminded them that it was important to know these things but more important... to do them!

"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile."  ~Albert Einstein

Last night Lauren and I went over and gave Amy a foot massage and a pedicure (since she can't reach her feet). I know that she felt a bit uncomfortable with us serving her like that. I probably would have felt the same. She kept mentioning how bad her feet looked and how embarrassed she was at how swollen they were. She obviously was struggling with our gift to her. That is what was running through her head but I have to admit, my thoughts were much different.

I have been in a lot of pain the past few weeks with my back ( for some reason, worse than normal ) I am also having some pain and worrying about my swelling in my surgery site ( lymphodemia ) but I was so excited and forgot all about that, when I realized that we could do this gift of service for Amy last night. Yes, my back and chest still hurt, but what I was thinking sitting down there on the floor last night, was how proud I was of my daughter. How much I loved her and if I could in any way help her to relax, feel better and more loved... then I was determined to do it. I rubbed her swollen feet and I remembered ( years ago ) rubbing lotion on her little dry feet in the hospital, just after she was born. How proud I was of her last night for being brave and strong, pregnancy and especially the last few weeks....are not easy thing! I was glad to be her mom, I truly love her and would do that and anything else to serve her. And I was happy doing it! ( Sore, and still hurting, but happy!) I was grateful for an hour or so, to be able to think of something and someone else.

 

I hope we will all think of more ways that we can serve, I promise you it will ALWAYS make you feel better inside! Thank  you to each of  you that have served me and my family throughout the years

 

"Things don’t have to be good for you to be great."  ~ unknown

"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little."  ~ Edmund Burke

"I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now and not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again"~ William Penn

Growing up!

Perspective is a wonderful thing. I watch my granddaughter tell us the other day that she needed her diaper changed. When I asked her why she didn't want to wear the new Big Girl panties that her mommy bought, her reply was..."No Nana, I don't want to wear those because they just drip".  I know that Amy feels like Angie will never be potty trained. Now that I am a Nana, I realize that just don't worry too much about things like that. I am sure it is because I have a different perspective, I know it will happen when she is truly ready. I remember well the days that my kids were little and I truly never thought that I would ever get them potty trained, eating on their own, sleeping through the night and on and one. Now when I hear my daughter as a mom worry about those things, I just want to say...."don't worry about it too much, it will happen and before you know it they will be all grown up."

Our daughter Lauren just graduated from High School in June (this is her and her brother Lee), I thought my heart would break...how could she already be that old? It seemed like yesterday that she was at the store with me and arguing with me about which diapers she wanted me to buy. (I thought if she was old enough to talk about that, then she was old enough to be potty trained) And now I look at her graduated, having a photography business of her own, creating and designing her own cards, writing and heading off to college in January... and I wonder again, where did the time go?

I know I should be used to it, she is my third child to grow up and leave. But it doesn't make any difference each one that leaves, is a definite void in our home and in our hearts. So to all your young moms out there, please take the time to try and enjoy every moment of your sweet kids. The time goes by so fast, before you know it your heart will ache with the thought of them growing up and moving on. This motherhood thing is much harder than it looks but like I have said before, it is the BEST JOB IN THE WORLD!

"Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other. It embraces judgment, discernment, comprehension. It is the gestalt or oneness, and integrated wholeness."  ~ Stephen R. Covey

I will end with this cute story that shows that perspective can even be found in our little ones!

A four year old was at the pediatrician for a check up. As the doctor looked down her ears with an otoscope, he asked, "Do you think I'll find Big Bird in here?" The little girl stayed silent. Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I'll find the Cookie Monster down there?" Again, the little girl was silent. Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heart beat, he asked, "Do you think I'll hear Barney in there?" "Oh, no!" the little girl replied. "Jesus is in my heart. Barney's on my underpants."

Love your children

This morning I dropped Lee and Lauren off at Church Camp for 3 days. It was funny, because right when I got ready to tell them good-bye, my eyes got a bit misty. They both said at the same time " oh mom, we are only going to be gone for 3 days!" then they laughed at me. Well that surely changed the MOMENT.

Silly as it seems, but I have always had a hard time seeing my kids leave home, whether it if for a few days, for camp, college, marriage and anything in between. I think it is a mother thing? I love my kids and all my life that is what I dreamed of...to be a MOM! I couldn't imagine a better job in the world! It is true... there are days that it is much harder than probably any other job, and yes...the pay isn't too good either, but the benefits are worth it. Seeing your kids happy, successful and making a difference in the world it well....better than anything I could ever imagine. And now I am a NANA, I can hardly put into words how great that feels!

So with this thought, I will leave you with this story that was in the Reader's Digest about children.  I hope we as parents... will remember that our choices, habits, behaviors and attitudes definitely have a profound impact on our kids. If we would remember this more often, I am sure we would try and make better choices.

Good night and thank you for all the help you have been to Jeff and I, in raising our kids! 

 

Love the Children
by Steve Goodier 
Some advice I heard several years ago has inspired me to constantly give my best to my children. The advice, surprisingly, came from someone who was not a parent at all, but rather a nun. It was offered by Mother Teresa shortly after she made a speech about her work with the sick and dying and her efforts to help orphans in India. Following her address, a member of the audience stood and asked, "You have done so much to make the world a better place. What can we do?" He clearly wanted to assist in her work.
Mother Teresa smiled and said simply, "Love your children."
The questioner looked perplexed and seemed about to speak again when Mother Teresa raised her hand. "There are other things you can do," she said, "but that is the best. Love your children. Love your children as much as you can. That is the best."
I can't help but believe that her advice, if followed by all parents and all adults in all places at all times, will transform our world in a generation. Just love the children - all the children. Love them as much as you can. That is best.

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."             ~Stacia Tauscher

Optimism!

I read this article that was interviewing Michael J. Fox about his life and dealing with Parkinson's Disease. It interested me, because my mom had Parkinson's too. I found his attitude to be refreshing and a wonderful reminder to me... to make each day count and to be optimistic.

How do you think you helped yourself accept the diagnosis?

I think it is humility and saying "I can't negotiate this. I can't use who I am in the world to get out from under this." Humility is always a good thing. It's always a good thing to be humbled by circumstances so you can then come from a sincere place to try to deal with them.

Once I started to calm everything down, it was just living with the diagnosis and then allowing myself to accept and educate myself about it. I [spoke] to doctors and scientists, and then also concentrated on my family and realized that I didn't have to fear the effect on them. I kind of projected all my worries onto them and thought they must have the same doubts or the same concerns that I had--without giving them a chance to tell me how they really felt. And when I did, they were great. I mean, [my wife] Tracy was unbelievable. But my first assumption was who'd want to deal with this if they didn't have to?

How do you stay so optimistic?

Well, because the world is just so full of possibilities. I was in Mexico a couple of years ago, and we were hiking on a trail on the Yucatan Peninsula. We had a guide, and he showed us this tree on one side of the path that had this red sap. And he said, "If you see this sap, this tree, don't touch it because it'll burn you. It's really caustic and it's acidic and it'll burn your flesh." And then we walked a little bit further down the trail, and there was a tree on the other side that was a black tree and had a black tar. And he said, "This tar heals burns."

And I just thought, well, that's the world—for everything that'll burn you, there's something that'll heal your burns. So I just stay on that side of the path.

I see possibilities in everything. For everything that's taken away, something of greater value has been given. As big as my problems are, as big as Parkinson's is, for example, it can't take up that much space in a world that has so much capacity for good stuff. It just doesn't. I just don't let it take up that much room.

Do you think one can always be both optimistic and realistic?

Absolutely.

Aren't they sometimes at odds?

No, I don't think so. I mean, I think it's okay, obviously, to acknowledge obstacles and setbacks and problems and issues. But as long as you're dealing with the truth, you're in good shape. I find as long as I acknowledge the truth of something, then that's it. I know what it is and then I can operate. But if I overestimate the downside of something or the challenge of something and I get too obsessed about the difficulty of it, then I don't leave enough room to be open to the upside, the possibility.

So I think you definitely have to acknowledge the fact of something. If something isn't a movable object, then you have to start thinking about getting around it. But you can't do that until you acknowledge it and take its full measure and understand its true weight.

Where do you most often find happiness?

In my family, in being with my wife and my kids. If at any moment of stress or tension or whatever I could close my eyes and be anywhere, it'd be with them. That's just never ending. I just get so much joy from my family.

What inspires you?

I think just every new day, just waking up. I wake up curious every day and every day I'm surprised by something. And if I can just recognize that surprise every day and say, "Oh, that's a new thing, that's a new gift that I got today that I didn't even know about yesterday," it keeps me going. It keeps me more than going. It keeps me enthusiastic and grateful.

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” ~Winston Churchill

" For myself I am an optimist- it does not seem to be much use being anything else" ~ Winston Churchill

"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself." ~ Unknown

I hope you enjoyed the article! Good night dear friends!