Always together!

An article the other day on the news was this...Together 74 years, Kirkland couple die less than a day apart. It was an amazing story. Their kids told about how close their parents were, the only thing they didn't like to do together was watch sports. She was a die hard fan, and she thought he was way to critical. I thought of their kids, what a legacy they left them!  In a world where some people think of marriage, as something disposable. I think that couple gave their kids one of the greatest gifts they could give. The love and happiness of their parents, a sure foundation for them to grow, and a perfect example of how every day in your marriage you have to work at it together. Marriage is hard ...but oh so worth it!
I have to admit, I have always hoped that Jeff and I would go near the same time. I can't imagine my heart ever being the same without him. He is my best friend, and the love of my life. Yes, that was an amazing story and even more amazing that they got to have 74 years together, I could only hope for that much time with Jeff.
Good night dear friends!

“Sometimes we can take offense so easily. On other occasions we are too stubborn to accept a sincere apology. Who will subordinate ego, pride, and hurt—then step forward with ‘I am truly sorry! Let’s be as we once were: friends. Let’s not pass to future generations the grievances, the anger of our time’? Let’s remove any hidden wedges that can do nothing but destroy.”  ~ Thomas S. Monson

"It is far more difficult to be of one heart and mind than to be physically one. This unity of heart and mind is manifest in sincere expressions of 'I appreciate you' and 'I am proud of you.' Such domestic harmony results from forgiving and forgetting, essential elements of a maturing marriage relationship. Someone has said that we 'should keep [our] eyes wide open before marriage, and half shut afterward.' True charity ought to begin in marriage, for it is a relationship that must be rebuilt every day." ~ James E. Faust

“Let us not live a life … that would bring regret. … It is not going to matter very much how much money you made, what kind of a house you lived in, what kind of a car you drove, the size of your bank account—any of those things. What is going to matter is that dear woman who has walked with you side by side as your companion through all of the years of life and those children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren and their faithfulness and their looking to you … with respect and love and deference and kindness.” ~ Gordon B. Hinckley

filling big shoes!

I think all of us at some point in our lives feel like we will never be able to fill the big shoes, of other's who have gone before us. This photo of my granddaughters standing in their Daddy and Mommy's shoes reminded me of that.I remember as a young girl looking a new Mom's and wondering how they could handle and juggle all that Motherhood gave you, plus life? Then as a young Mom myself, I remember wondering how I could ever love another child or handle the extra responsibility that it would take to have two kids?

Then as I have gotten older I realize that life happens to all of us, and that is exactly how we fill the big shoes. We keep going, keep breathing, keep trying, keep asking for help and ...day by day, month by month and year by year, we grow and develop into who we are suppose to be.

Tonight one of friend's stop by to say hi, because she and her family were in town. She is the same age as my kids and became like one of the family, years ago when she was in High School. As I watched her and listened to her, I realize how much she has grown in those 10 or so years. She is truly and amazing young lady, wife, Mother, daughter and friend.

How grateful I am to have her in our life! I really am grateful for all the people in our life who have become like members of our family. They truly make life special. It makes me realize how much we all can help each other grow, if we will but take the time and effort that goes with it. Yes, time and experience is all we need to become WHO WE REALLY NEED TO BE!  Growth, change is necessary and sometimes a bit painful, but...soooo worth it!

Good night dear friends!

"Life is simple, it's just not easy."  ~Author Unknown

"Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished.  If you're alive, it isn't."  ~Richard Bach

"To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else."  ~Emily Dickinson

Getting used to the dark!

When I was a young girl, I worked in a pre-school for Handicapped Children. We would have to do home visits often, to see if there were things that could be changed in their homes, to help the children's progress. It was heartbreaking to go into those apartments or trailers, the situation these kids lived in...were often of abuse and neglect. Sometimes we had to get CPS involved, and they tried to get the kids out of these homes and away from their abusers.Each time the child didn't want to leave. I wondered why they wouldn't want to get out of these situations and once CPS worker said "it is familiar to them, this is all they have ever known, leaving the situation seems worse because it is the unknown". Heartbreaking is the only way to explain it.

When I read this survivor's story from the Chainbreakers Foundation, I wanted to share it. I remember well, getting used to the dark (as a child of incest). It isn't until you get out of that situation, into the light ...that you realize how bad your situation and perception was. This story is to ...once again help all of us to surround ourselves by light, and also to bring that light to anyone around us who is still suffering in the dark! (If you need information on how to help a friend or loved one, please go to this web site below...)

A Dark Room

http://www.chainbreakerfoundation.com/

The light switch goes off. It’s dark. I can hardly make out shapes and objects. All I have to do is wait. Sit frozen and wait until I can start to see again. Just a small wait in the dark and things start to become a little more clear, a little more comfortable. There is my nightstand; there are the piles of clothes on the floor. Why did I leave my closet door open again?

After a while I can see so “well,” I hardly notice that it is dark. My eyes have adjusted. I can freely and contently move about the room; things appear normal. I can see so clearly again. There is almost no notice to the darkness that has taken over the room.

My mind jumps to all those comments. Comments that enrage me; “Tamara, your room is a mess. Come out into the light.”

The light? What are they talking about? I can see just fine. My eyes are adjusted to the dark. Things are clear to me. Things make sense in the dark. I have learned how to get from one place to the next without tripping. Dark is normal for me.

It happens. Someday cracks the door open. That small amount of light allows me to see the things that I couldn’t see in the dark. There are my headphones I have been looking for, what is a bag of crackers doing on the floor?

I then become lucky. Winning a million dollar lottery lucky.

That same door that kept people out for so long, comes down. The hinges ripped out from the wall socket. The door is destroyed. Not only is the light pouring in, the blinds are then opened and I am introduced to sunshine. Sunshine?? Sunshine??? I have been longing for sunshine.

It is at this moment I see the room I have been sitting in for 10 years. This room is chaos. Things are turned upside down, broken, nothing has a place. How can I let my children live like this? Broken glass is all around me. How could I possibly be sitting in this place for so long and not have noticed? I feel stupid, embarrassed.

. . .

I crave light. I crave sunshine. It’s been so long. I finally have realized how to answer the question, “If things were that bad, why did you stick around for so long?” The truth; I had no idea I had been sitting in a dark room for 10 years. I got lucky. I got lucky that somebody pushed down that door and allowed me see the light. I love you Deneka Strom!!   You forever will be my angel!   ~ Tamara Chamberlain

 

"We cannot liberate victims; we can only educate them.
  They must liberate themselves."

Shine your light!

 

I loved this video, so true.
Tooth is throbbing, the root canal re-do went well. Hoping now the infection goes away and the tooth settles down. Sorry this isn't much of a post tonight but...watch the video...it is motivating!

Good night dear friends!

http://vimeo.com/23736742

"Who is more foolish, the child afraid of the dark or the man afraid of the light?"  ~Maurice Freehill

Only a $10.00 depression!

When I was pregnant with Amy, the Dr told me that he thought she was so big, that maybe we got the dates wrong. He said you might be seeing this baby in April and so being a first time Mom to be, I believed him. Well, it is hard to just wait for a baby to come, you try to keep busy and not think of it, but those last weeks are unbelievable to say the least.

April came and left, and May came and each week when I went for my check up the Doctor would tell me things like, well she isn't dropping, she isn't showing any signs of getting ready and so on and so forth. I was  devastated. What about this April baby I was suppose to have? After each Doctor appointment I would be so discourage that I would stop by the fabric or craft store to buy some supplies, to make something else for the baby's room which just was a project to keep my mind and hands busy. When I would call Jeff and tell him the bad news about having to wait longer, he would always say "How much did  your depression cost us today?" "Was it a $5.00 depression or a $10.00 depression?" * Just a side note here, I am not making light of real depression, I have been there and it isn't funny at all, this is just the word we used in this situation *

I sorta felt like calling Jeff today and saying well I had a $17.00 depression after going to the Doctor. Actually I really liked my new Doctor and she had great insight and wisdom. She seemed to think the thing that I was worried about... isn't going to be a problem, but took tests and we will have the results back in a few days. Whew, at least I cleared that hurdle today, now I have to clear and handle the root canal re-do tomorrow. This Doctor also told me that I need to get my colonoscopy and have my thyroid checked by a specialist, just to be safe and so I guess I have a few more hurdles to clear in the future. Well, I am just grateful to  have another day to even have hurdles to clear. Life seems to be all about the journey and things that happen to us. Some of our greatest lessons, are also some of the hardest.

"Thank you for your faith and prayers, I need to head to bed and get some sleep. Good night dear friends!"

"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
- Helen Keller

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Hard earned Wisdom!

As I am getting older, I am beginning to feel like I am wising up,,, just a little. Things that normally would have tripped me up, seem just like another hurdle I have to clear. I actually used to run track and I did the hurdles, they are not easy to clear. If by a fraction of an inch, you don't bring your foot up with your leg, your toe can hit the hurdle and knock it down... and usually you go with it.
Life has given me a few hurdles, some I have cleared, and some I haven't. This week has a few hurdles that I must jump, I pray that I will rise up enough to clear them. Seems so simple, but it's not. So I will remember this Serenity Prayer and remember who to call on for help and courage! Night dear friends!

The Serenity Prayer
By Reinhold Neibuhr

God grant that I might have
The courage to change the things I can,
The serenity to accept the things I cannot,
And the wisdom to know the difference

" Sometimes, struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets."  ~ Frederick Douglass

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom, and deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning.”

A Mother's Heart

   Tonight at a meeting, I was able to talk for a moment to a friend of mine whose son got very sick a couple of years ago and they never could figure out why. Her son now is doing great and healthy again. I was just curious how they found their answers and how she as a Mom, handle all of it. It was nice to talk to another Mother, heart to heart. She knew exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned Lee and how we still don't know what is going on and the frustrations that come with that. Now Lee hasn't had an attack in almost 7 weeks, but the concern is definitely still there because we don't have any real answers.
   I shared with her the number of times I have pleaded with the Lord to let me have the problems, not my son. She knew the exact feeling and concern I was talking about. I asked finally how they got his problem diagnosed and to my surprise she said " we didn't, it just went away". Then she added "looking at the young man my son has become today, I realized all those things made him who he is". She knew that the Lord taught him things during that time that he might not have learned in any other way.
   So she really didn't have any real answer for me, she just gave me a hug and said " I will keep you guys in my prayers". I thought what a wonderful gift it was tonight to connect heart to heart with another Mom and to be reminded that our Heavenly Father is in charge, and we just need to have faith and know that everything will just work out. I needed that wisdom and insight tonight, and I needed that hug too!

Good night dear friends!

"I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.  They have clung to me all my life."  ~Abraham Lincoln

"If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been."  ~Robert Brault

"Grown don't mean nothing to a mother.  A child is a child.  They get bigger, older, but grown?  What's that suppose to mean?  In my heart it don't mean a thing."  ~Toni Morrison

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree"

In my case, I guess I could change this well known saying to go like this.."The apples didn't fall far from the tree". When my kids were little, I ran a business out of our home, actually I did a lot of different businesses from our home. But of course the one that I did the most of was a craft business ( shocking I know ).  Anyway, ever since the kids were little... they saw their Mom either drawing, sanding, painting, sewing or using a glue gun. It was something I could do from home and still be a full time Mom. There were many nights right before a particular craft show, that I would ask Amy and Brad to help me finish some projects. They did a great job and I thought we had the perfect set up ...until they would complain about how tired they were or wanted to do something else instead. Then when Lee and Lauren came along, the whole business thing got a whole lot harder with 2 little ones running around. Life was busy and full and sometimes hard. I had to stop the business before too long so that the kids wouldn't turn me in to Child Labor Laws...just joking!  Anyway, back to the Apples...I smiled as my daughter Amy and my son Brad, emailed me and shared their new business web sites and blogs. Here they are artistic, talented and creative. The only difference from me and them is the Internet. They are so much more computer savvy than I ever was, and that has opened up a whole world (literally) of opportunities to them.

So here are their sites when you can, stop in and take a look...

Amy's is...       www.blueeyedcarrots.etsy.com 

and Brad's is... http://bradwoodarddesign.com 

Also you can see Lauren's photography blog...
www.adayinwashington.blogspot.com 

And of course you know mine...  www.mandieandmedesigns.com

It is fun to see these apples still growing and developing! Who would have thought they would have come this far from all that work they did as kids? :)

"Anyone can count the number of seeds in an apple, but only God can count the number of apples in a seed." ~Robert H. Schuller

"Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another." ~ Marva Collins

"Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve." ~- Mary Kay Ash

"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Loss!

Our daughter Lauren has been home from college about 2 weeks now. She wasn't suppose to start back up at her old job ( at a book store in Bellevue ) until the fall. But on Monday she got a call, saying that they needed her right away. Then they explained that one of her co-workers had passed away over the weekend. We still don't know how she died, but she was a wife and a Mother and she was only in her late 30's or early 40's. What a tragedy!

Then a dear friend of mine called this week and told me that her Grandmother had passed away. Her circumstances were a lot different. She had lived a good long life and even though her death was a surprise, she was more than ready to go and be reunited with her sweet husband who had been gone for quite some time.

Death and trials, disease and struggles are tough on anyone. I am always interested in how people make it through times like these? I read this sweet quote today and then I was reminded again, how people not only make it through times like these, but become stronger and more faithful because of it.

"CHRIST WALKED THE PATH EVERY MORTAL IS CALLED TO WALK SO THAT HE WOULD KNOW HOW TO SUCCOR AND STRENGTHEN US IN OUR MOST DIFFICULT TIMES. HE KNOWS THE DEEPEST AND MOST PERSONAL BURDENS WE CARRY. HE KNOWS THE MOST PUBLIC AND POIGNANT PAINS WE BEAR. HE DESCENDED BELOW ALL SUCH GRIEF IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT LIFT US ABOVE IT. THERE IS NO ANGUISH OR SORROW OR SADNESS IN LIFE THAT HE HAS NOT SUFFERED IN OUR BEHALF AND BORNE AWAY UPON HIS OWN VALIANT AND COMPASSIONATE SHOULDERS."  ~ Jeffrey R. Holland

So for now, I will keep both of these families in my thoughts and prayers ...and hope that they can find peace and healing from our Savior. It makes me realize, not to take my relationships and time with my loved ones for granted. I need to say 'I LOVE YOU' more often! So good night dear friends, thank you for being such an important part in my life. And please remember you are LOVED!

"To live in hearts we leave behind
Is not to die."  ~Thomas Campbell

"Life is eternal, and love is immortal,
and death is only a horizon;
and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight." ~Rossiter Worthington Raymond

"For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity."  ~William Penn

What is prayer to you?

   I went to the specialist today to find out about my abscessed tooth. I prayed before I went in, that I would know if he was the right one to help me. I also prayed that he would be able to diagnosis me correctly.  Then I prayed that I would have the courage to get another root canal, and last but not least, I prayed that my infection would not return.
   Now I know that was a lot of praying you might say, but to be honest ...that was only one subject that I was praying about today. there were a whole lot more. I have always like the scripture in the book of Psalms 55:17-18 ...where we are told to pray in the evening, morning and noon. I like how it reminds how to pray for peace and help in our daily battles. Now that is exactly what I need every day!

   I love how the Bible Dictionary explains what prayer is..." PRAYER IS  THE ACT BY WHICH THE WILL OF THE FATHER AND THE WILL OF THE CHILD ARE BROUGHT INTO CORRESPONDENCE WITH EACH OTHER. THE OBJECT TO PRAYER IS NOT TO CHANGE THE WILL OF GOD, BUT TO SECURE FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OTHERS BLESSINGS THAT GOD IS ALREADY WILLING TO GRANT, BUT THAT ARE MADE CONDITIONAL ON OUR ASKING FOR THEM."

   That is what prayer is to me, and how grateful I am for it!

 

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"   ~Corrie Ten Boom

"...the strait and narrow path, though clearly marked, is a path, not a freeway nor an escalator. Indeed, there are times when the only way the strait and narrow path can be followed is on one's knees!"
--Neal A. Maxwell, "A Brother Offended," Ensign, May 1982

"No earthly authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator. There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. There is no limit on the number of times or how long we can pray each day. There is no quota of how many needs we wish to pray for in each prayer. We do not need to go through secretaries or make an appointment to reach the throne of grace. He is reachable at any time and any place."
--James E. Faust, "The Lifeline of Prayer," Ensign, May 2002

"Never assume that you can make it alone. You need the help of the Lord. Never hesitate to get on your knees in some private place and speak with Him. What a marvelous and wonderful thing is prayer. Think of it. We can actually speak with our Father in Heaven. He will hear and respond, but we need to listen to that response. Nothing is too serious and nothing too unimportant to share with Him."
--Gordon B. Hinckley "Stay on the High Road," Ensign, May 2004

In our Hearts

Last night for Family Home Evening, we helped clean out someone's home. Our friend lost her Mother and we were helping her go through all her stuff, and try to set things up so she could have an Estate Sale. She said that her Mother had lived in that home for 30 years, and  you could tell that by all the things that she had accumulated. I thought as we went through things, how sad it is in a way, that these things that meant so much to her but don't have the same value to those around her. Of course some things did and were very precious to her family, but we weren't really dealing with that we were dealing with all the stuff in her cupboards and garage.

It made me realize that I need to go through my stuff and see what I really need and then try to find a home for the rest, that I probably don't need. My friend's heart is breaking, it seems sometimes the circumstances are such that you just have to keep going, planning things like the funeral, reading the will, dividing things up, worrying about selling the family home and on and on. It doesn't seem fair that some of that can't wait until you are properly done mourning for your loved one. But that is not the way it is, some things have to be done right now. I saw how her heart was breaking and how tired she was. We were glad to help in some small way. I found this poem and it made me glad that death doesn't take away our love and memories of them. I am glad that they always stay in our hearts. Good night dear friends!

In Our Hearts
Author Unknown

We thought of you with love today,
But that is nothing new.

We thought about you yesterday,
And the days before that, too.

We think of you in silence.
We often speak your name.

Now all we have is memories,
And your picture in a frame.

Your memory is our keepsake,
With which we'll never part.

God has you in His Keeping.
We have you in our Heart.

 

"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up -- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had."

- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

"Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal."  ~From a headstone in Ireland

Struggling!

I am sorry that I didn't write last night. I had a wonderful Sabbath Day and so I really had a lot of things to share. But I really have been struggling for a couple of days and so I didn't know if I had anything uplifting to say. I have a few appointments that are coming up that are worrying me some. We still don't know what is going on with Lee's health and that ways a bit heavy on my heart. My tooth is still bothering me and Jeff just left for a week long business trip. So it could be one of any of these things that I am struggling with I guess?

There is a heaviness in my heart that I can't seem to get to go away. Sometimes I get feelings like this, right before something bad happens. I have prayed and prayed to know what the feeling is about and of course I try to remind the Lord that I have had so many trials already, and that I don't think I can handle any more right now.

As I even type this, I realize what a silly thing it is to counsel the Lord. I don't know better than He does, I just feel like I have been doing so much better, my health has been getting better and I have been out and about more than I have in a long time. I just feel like I am starting to really live again, and I can't handle any big trauma right now. Then I read this quote today and realized I need to have more faith and trust. I will share this quote with you, in hopes that like me...we will all realize who is in charge and that if we will rely on our God, He will make us equal, to any difficulty that comes  our way. I do know this to be true, I just forget sometimes!

"ON THIS UPWARD AND SOMETIMES HAZARDOUS JOURNEY, EACH OF US MEETS OUR SHARE OF DAILY CHALLENGES. IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL, AS WE PEER THROUGH THE NARROW LENS OF SELF-INTEREST, WE MAY FEEL THAT LIFE IS BRINGINS US MORE THAN OUR FAIR SHARE OF TRIALS- THAT SOME HOW OTHERS SEEM TO BE GETTING OFF MORE LIGHTLY.

BUT THE TESTS OF LIFE ARE TAILORED FOR OUR OWN BEST INTEREST, AND ALL WILL FACE THE BURDENS BEST SUITED TO THEIR OWN MORTAL EXPERIENCE. IN THE END WE WILL REALIZE THAT GOD IS MERCIFUL AS WELL AS JUST AND THAT ALL THE RULES ARE FAIR. WE CAN BE REASSURED THAT OUR CHALLENGES WILL BE THE ONE WE NEEDED, AND CONQUERING THEM WILL BRING BLESSINGS WE COULD HAVE RECEIVED IN NO OTHER WAY."

"FAITH MAKES THINGS POSSIBLE...NOT EASY!"

Home again!

I flew home today, and boy did if feel good to see Jeff and the kids again. I love seeing my family and friends when I travel, but it is always good to come HOME. I forget how much I love my home and how grateful I am for it. I am pretty tired from the trip, but wanted to post something for you tonight. So this will be short and sweet. I hope you enjoy it, I know most of it is common sense... but sometimes it is the SIMPLE things in life that get over looked.

Good night dear friends!

Work hard at what you like to do and try to overcome all obstacles
Laugh at your mistakes and praise yourself for learning from them
Pick some flowers and appreciate the beauty of nature
Say hello to strangers and enjoy the people you know
Don't be afraid to show your emotions laughing and crying make you feel better
Love your friends and family with your entire being they are the most important part of your life
Feel the calmness on a quiet sunny day
Find a rainbow and live your world of dreams always remember life is better than it seems

"Where we love is home - home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts."  ~Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

"Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest."
~Henry Van Dyke

Childlike

I love to watch how children make friends so easily. Tonight we went to a park to watch my niece and nephew-in-law play tennis. While we were there, my other niece and her daughter ( my great-niece ) went over to the play ground. As we were standing there talking... a little girl in a purple sun dress and about 7 years old, came up to me and asked if I would be her friend. I said " Yes, what is your name my new friend?" Without hesitation she said " My name is Rapunzel Taylor". To which I quickly replied " Really my name is Cinderella " , she smiled and said "really?". Then we went on to play for a little while before I had to go.

Yes, we would all do better if we were a little more childlike, a little more willing to accept everyone as they are...a friend that we just haven't met yet! I am grateful to my new friend Rapunzel Taylor for asking me to be her new friend! It made me happy tonight! Good night to all my new friends, and my old friends!

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

"The world is as many times new as there are children in our lives."  ~Robert Brault

"Little girls have a magic all their own."  ~ Unknown

"Yes, you're the fairest of them all."  ~ Unknown

Spiritual lifeguards

I still don't feel quite like myself today, so I will just share an article that I read from Jason W. Wright. He writes a weekly column that you can find here...

http://jasonfwright.com/column/help-wanted-spiritual-lifeguards.html

He is great writer and very inspiring, hope you enjoy it! Good night dear friends.

 

Help wanted: Spiritual lifeguards

July 27, 2011

 

Last week my family took a long-awaited “dinger.” The term was introduced to me by a good buddy who often takes his large family on shorter trips - “dingers” - which typically last just a night or two. If Disney for a week is a “vacation,” then a trip to a nearby theme park or the beach for two nights is a “dinger.”

We spent the first night of our dinger at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, Va. It's a recipe for complete awesomeness. One part hotel, one part all-you-can-eat buffet and one part indoor water park with slides so scary even my older kids wouldn’t ride most of them.

Not wanting to waste a dime, or, more importantly, an opportunity to scream like a 10-year-old, I rode the bigger slides all by myself. Imagine the looks a 40-year-old man gets standing at the top of a tall tower carrying a raft and waiting his turn to ride “Alberta Falls.” The term “stranger danger” comes to mind.

The rest of my pack spent much of its day safely on the ground enjoying the wave pool. Every 10 minutes, motors beneath the five-foot deep end chug and churn waves up to three-feet high. It’s everything you want in a beach without the sand and jellyfish.

When I finally joined the gang in the wave pool, I couldn’t help but notice the lifeguards. As we swam and bobbed up and down in the water, young men and women walked the edges of the pool in a definitive pattern, rotating positions and seemingly checking trouble spots every few seconds.

They were, quite simply, the most vigilant lifeguards I’ve ever seen. Not a pint of water in the pool went unattended or unnoticed. Later, while enjoying the lazy river, I observed the same intense attention by a different crew. Lifeguards appeared to own 15 to 20 feet of responsibility on the winding river that twisted its way through the park. With eyes wide open, they paced their respective areas scanning the water, bending down to check blind spots on curves, then circling back again.

I asked my wife during lunch if she’d noticed the lifeguards’ incredible watchfulness. Her look said, “Really? I’m a mother. I noticed before anyone ever dipped a toe.” All afternoon and evening we commented back and forth on the professionalism of the young men and women tasked with keeping our children safe and accounted for.

The next day we drove on to Virginia Beach for another exciting dinger day, but my mind was still on the lifeguards at Great Wolf Lodge.

The final day of our journey took us to Richmond., Va., for a fun night at a modern, New York City studio apartment-style hotel. We had a great time, but I still couldn’t stop thinking about what I’d observed two days earlier.

As parents, we draw lines to protect our young ones from obvious danger. I remember well a neighbor years ago who painted a thick line at the bottom of her driveway and added above it in white spray paint: “Mom’s Line of Peril.” The implication was obvious.

We lock up guns and keep knives out of reach. We design and distribute medicine and cleaning bottles with childproof safety features. We bark at our loved ones to buckle up before we ever put the car in gear.

There we go, back and forth along the poolside of life, checking high-risk spots.

I was stunned and impressed by the lifeguards’ attention to the physical safety of my children. But what about their spiritual safety? Am I an equally vigilant spiritual lifeguard?

Do I scold them for playing with matches, but then invite them to the couch for a filthy television show that could inflict as much or more harm?

Do I insist they wear a helmet, but ignore the music they purchase for their iPods?

Do I encourage them to drink water instead of soda, or to eat more vegetables, or to take their vitamins, but ignore the text messages they send or the language they use?

After school each day, do I double back like a watchful lifeguard and check again on my children? Do I ask, “How was your day? How are your friends? Are you happy? Do you need to talk?”

The answer is yes, I do those things, but not nearly as often nor as well as I should.

We're home now. The dinger is done and we're back in the rhythm of life, but I pray my family never forgets the fun they had and the memories they made.

I pray they are grateful for and never forget the lifeguards who so brilliantly watched over and protected their physical safety.

But more importantly, I pray I never forget the prompting that I need to become a more effective spiritual lifeguard.

Will you join me?

 

"We cannot and we must not allow the school, community,
television, or even Church organizations to establish our children's
values. The Lord has placed this duty with mothers and fathers. It is one
from which we cannot escape and one that cannot be delegated. Others may
help, but parents remain accountable. Therefore, we must guard the sanctity
of our homes, because that is where children develop their values,
attitudes, and habits for everyday living." ~ M. Russell Ballard

The power of FEAR!

Well, I am still struggling with abscess tooth. I am a bit discouraged that I got sick while on vacation, not exactly what I was planning to do. I slept most of the day, trying to get off the pain medicine because it is tearing up my stomach. I am starting to feel a bit better tonight, but laying very low. So of course the only thing that I have done lately is watch yet another movie...this one was called THE VILLAGE written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan 

The movie was about ... The population of a small isolated  countryside village believe that their alliance with the mysterious creatures that inhabit the forest around them is coming to an end.

It reminds you how powerful fear can be, and how some people use it to control others. The movie was good, scary and powerful ...I think about how we can pass on knowledge... or fear to the next generation.

I hope I feel better tomorrow and I will be more motivating! Good night dear friends.

 

"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear." ~ Mark Twain

"Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom." ~Bertrand Russell

"Fear is only as deep as the mind allows." ~Japanese Proverb

Pain, pain and more pain!

For the past few days I have had a toothache, I have tried to just ignore it for two reasons. One... because I am on vacation and far from my dentist and two...because I checked which tooth it is, and it is root canal and a crown so I figured it couldn't really be this tooth. I couldn't take the pain and throbbing much more so I called my dentist yesterday. I had a really rough night, up almost every 3-4 hours and took 3 Advil and kept heating up my rice bag. This morning I finally got a hold of my dentist, he checked my records and asked me some questions...he is pretty sure that my root canal has gone bad, and that I have an acute abscess!.
So he suggested that I get into my sister-in-laws dentist, he was so nice to get me in so quickly and basically said the same thing that my dentist told me. He gave me prescriptions for two antibiotics and a pain killer. He told me to not travel for a few days and to stay low. So that is what I did all day laid low and prayed that I would be able to handle the pain until the infection starts to leave. I don't ever remember having a toothache like this before.

I really don't have a lot of happy or motivational things to say tonight, I just hurt too bad. I did however watch the movie Secretariat today, and I loved the moral of the story. The only bad thing about it was...the horse in the movie got sick and he had an abscess too, that is too weird. But I did listen to the words to one of the songs and so that will be my inspiration for tonight.

IT'S WHO YOU ARE

It's not the price
It's not the game
It's not the score
It's not the fame
Whatever road looks way too far
It's not what you have
It's who you are
It's not how fast
It's not how far
It's not of cheers
It's who you are
In darkest night
You make your sun
You choose your race
And then you run
It's never the glory
It's never the score
It's not about seeing about who's less and who's more
'Cause when you find out how fast and how far
You'll know it's not how much you have
It's who you are
You lose the moon
Then be a star
It's not too soon
Be who you are
Whatever road looks way too far
It's not what you have
It's who you are
It's never the glory
It's never the score
It's not seeing about seeing
Who's less and who's more
'Cause when you find out how fast and how far
You'll know it's not how much you have
It's who you are
When you have found
How fast you can run
Then you have found
Your place in the sun,
It won't be just you that you'll find
Has made the run and the climb
It's everyone
It's never the glory
It's never the score
It's not seeing about seeing
Who's less and who's more
'Cause when you find out how fast and how far
you'll know it's not how much you have
It's who you are
It's who you are
Learning to bend and not to break
Living to give more than you take
Dying to live
Living to try
Feet on the ground
Dreams in the sky
It's never how much you have
It's who you are

Red headed temper?

Have you ever wondered where some statements, or so called well known facts, or even some habits originated from?  Like for instance, that all red heads have fiery tempers? When I know some red heads that don't . Or the comments that are made about blondes all being dumb. Or even other habits or traditions that are passed down. Like when you make a statement and then you knock on wood so you don't jinx yourself. Things like that...I have always wondered where they came from and why we keep doing them, even when we don't believe them?  Most of them are harmless but I notice that even I say and do those things many times, then I stop and realize that I just made a blanket statement or that I just knocked on wood too and I am not even superstitious. I guess some of them are just habits, but many times I have thought I probably shouldn't pass them on to another generation.
I thought about this subject when my daughter had this photo of my granddaughter, Jenny on her blog. She is fiery and she is a red head, then I quickly remember our little Lauren and her hair was brunette, and she was one fiery toddler too...so that proves that some of things are just ....passed on ...stuff, not necessarily true or correct... just passed on. It does make one stop and think though of the power of our thoughts and actions. Sometimes I wonder if the person (who first said you have to knock on wood so that you won't bring back bad luck to you or whatever the reason is behind that) knows what a powerful thing they did, because it has continued on for years? I wish I could come up with something positive that the whole world would just pick up and do every time they encountered something negative. Wonder what that would be?  Oh well, just food for thought tonight!

"Superstitions are habits rather than beliefs."  ~ Marlene Dietrich

"You'll find superstition a contagious thing. Some people let it get the better of them."  ~ Curt Siodmak

Family!

Today Jeff and I drove to see one of his sisters, who he hadn't seen in over 6 years. We were not quite sure what the reunion would be like. We hadn't seen her children in probably 10 years or more, and I was really hoping that they would be there. Funny how family things can be the best or the worst in life. I guess that is because of the closeness you do or do not have. Anyway, I am happy to say that it went well, and all of her kids were there too. It was her birthday and so we just wanted her to know that she was thought of and loved.

Jeff and I were thrilled to see the kids, I hardly knew them...they had grown up so much. It was nice to catch up on each other's life and to just give them and hug and let them know we loved them. We also took photos and exchanged email address, in hopes that it won't be another 10 years before we connect again. I am not sure if things will really change between the siblings, but there was definitely an effort made by them to show her they cared.

Life is all about choices isn't it? Think I already wrote a whole post on this, but it is so true. I am glad we made the choice to go see her and her family. I have really missed her kids. I think all in all, it was a positive experience and that is exactly what we were praying for.

Good night dear friends!

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one." ~Jane Howard

"Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in."   ~ Robert Frost

"To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right"   – Confucius.

No news but good news!

  As I mentioned Jeff and I are at a family reunion. Last night we stayed at a beautiful home up in the mountains, it was wonderful but we had no inter-net access for me to write my blog, and that is why yesterday you didn't hear from me at all. Not that I think the whole world waits by their computers ...to see what Lynn Woodard has to say, each day. But I myself miss sharing some of my thoughts and life with you, and I need the motivational thoughts probably more than any of you do. So I was sorry that I couldn't write last night.
   Well, it is late and I need to get to bed. We are visiting more family tomorrow. Some of the family had to leave tonight, it was hard to say good-bye. We all really had a great time and we feel blessed we could come and spend this time together.
   Another reason that I felt bad for not being able to write last night is because I have some REALLY GOOD NEWS TO SHARE WITH YOU!!! Jeff and I are going to be grandparents again!!! Our son Brad and his wife Krystal are expecting and we just couldn't be more excited! I am telling you that these grand babies...are the best!!!
   So even though I can't write much, I could hardly wait to share my GOOD NEWS with you. Good night dear friends and thank you for always being there!!!

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things, hope, a dream of possibilities."

"A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bank balance smaller, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for."

"A baby is born with a need to be loved -- and never outgrows it."
Frank A. Clark

Choices!

Life is full of choices, that is obvious... but I do like the idea that some choices are better than others. Last night I had to make a choice, to do my bills, pack and get some sleep or...write my blog. Not that my blog takes me that long to write, but sometimes I do put quite a bit of time and effort, trying to find or think of something that is positive and motivating. Jeff and I flew out EARLY this morning to his family reunion. I knew all day yesterday that I had certain things that had to be done, and certain things that I just wanted to do. It is funny but when I get really nervous or stressed on trying to get something done, I usually start sewing. I know that is probably not the choice that I should have made but I did. Also, Amy and the girls came over to see me, and since I will be gone for 10 days, I think the choice to spend time with them was .....one of my better choices yesterday. Nevertheless by 11:30 last night, I still wasn't packed and hadn't done my blog. I don't like writing in a hurry and so I made the choice to go to bed and get a little bit of sleep instead of writing.

I remember once seeing a demonstration where a girl put 6 eggs in a jar and they fit just perfectly and she talked about the eggs being the important things in our lives. Then she showed us a bag of rice, which was to represent all the little things that we do every day in our lives. She then demonstrated if you put all the rice in first, then try to fit in the 6 eggs, there isn't enough room. The moral of the story ( so to speak ) is that if we fill our lives with all the little busy things that we do every day, then we may not have the time or ( space ) for the important things. Life is all about choices. It was a great and since I am a very visual learner, it is something that I will always remember.

Hope you are well and have a good night dear friends!

“No one else can ever make your choices for you. Your choices are yours alone. They are as much a part of you as every breath you will take, every moment of your life.”

“There may be a thousand little choices in a day. All of them count.”

“You cannot manage your life if you do not manage your self. You cannot manage your self if you do not manage your choices. Manage your choices, and you will manage your life.”

Good Advice!

This was a cute story with good advice for all of us! Enjoy!

How To Deal With Crayon Boxes and...

One of the memories that I will always have about when I was in Kindergarten, was the day my friend taught me about crayon boxes. She was my first real friend, and my best friend at the time. One day we were coloring, and she let me borrow crayons from her huge 64-count box. I thought they were so cool. My little 24-count box was nothing compared to hers.

As we were coloring, I reached over to put a crayon back in the box. If any of you have ever used crayons, you know that sometimes they don't go back in as easy as they came out, and that sometimes you end up with a huge bulge in the box. Well, that's what happened with this particular crayon.

I kept trying to force back in the box so it would fit, and my friend didn't like that too much, since it was her crayon box. She started throwing a fit and I remember her yelling, "Don't force it!" Then she continued to give me a demonstration on how you push the other crayons out of the way to make room for the other one going back into the box.

As we were growing up, we continued to stay good friends in grade school. I remember always teasing her about it, and she said she never remembered that day really, but I know it really happened, because I think it was the first time she ever yelled at me.

When we entered high school, things started to change, like they most often do. We still talked when we got the chance, but we started to make our own friends. We've stayed in touch, always saying hi in the halls and everything, but we weren't the same best friends we were in Kindergarten.

Just this year, my sophomore year, things really started to change for me. So many different things happened, I felt like I was lost in the world. I didn't know what to do or who I could turn to.

Then one day my friend came to my locker after school because she saw that I had been crying after spending the afternoon in the guidance office. She asked me what was wrong and I knew I could trust her, so I told her everything that was going on in my life. I told her this in a 7 page note and gave it to her in school.

A couple periods later she had stopped me in the halls and gave me a note and told me how she understood and everything. She wrote me and told me how I just need some time for things to get worked out, and that everything will be okay. At the end of the note, she wrote one of the sweetest things anyone has ever said to me. She wrote at the end: "I'll give you the same advice I gave you back when we were in Kindergarten: Don't Force It!"

When I read that it put a smile on my face, the first smile that I had cracked in awhile. I told her that I appreciated the note totally. It's funny that out of all the things people have said to me and tried to help me, those words she wrote in the note were the most inspirational.

It's weird that 10 years later the advice she had given me in kindergarten would help me out so much now. She can't give me a demonstration on how to push things away, like the crayons, but she made me open up my eyes, just like she did when she yelled at me in kindergarten.  --- Permission to reprint --- Jill, Age 16 --- Iowa

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."  ~ Maria Robinson

“Life is 10% of what you make it and 90% of how you take it.”

Importance of WATER!

I read an article the other day that really made me realize the importance of water, one of the simple pleasures in life that I take for granted too often. The article was great and made me think of our dependence on water and especially clean water. I also love the reminder of our dependence on the Savior.  Hope you enjoy it! Good night!

"My employment takes me to communities all over the world where people do not have access to clean water. Our group works with local governments and residents to provide maintainable sources of pure, life-sustaining water such as wells and spring or rain captures.
These water projects offer a significant improvement in the quality of life. Health drastically improves because of clean water stops the contraction of typhoid, cholera, and other water-borne diseases. The economy also improves because parents and children who previously spent their time carrying water can now pursue employment and education. Even in communities with numerous and wide-ranging problems, people always say that clean water is what they would like most.
The Savior spent His earthly ministry in a time and place where people relied on well for water. As He taught the woman at the well by saying that "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst" ( John 4:14) was He also teaching us that His gospel quenches--permanently--our most basic needs? I believe so."
I will always be grateful to a woman in Kenya, Africa, who taught me about the willingness to work to obtain water. I met her at a celebration following the installation of a well in her community. With gratitude she told me that the new well would cut her daily nine-mile trip to get water to a one -mile trip. She was overjoyed at the opportunity that would now be hers."
I couldn't help but think  how I would feel if I had to walk a mile to get water. I was impressed that she put everything--from  housework to gardening--aside while she made her journey to fetch water. She knew she couldn't complete the other tasks without that water. I thought about how heavy her burden was. Carrying water takes strength and endurance. Yet, for the sake of her family, she was willing to walk nine-miles every day to get it.
I wonder if we who get clean water from taps in our homes sometimes expect to come unto Christ with the same ease as turning a knob to get a glass of water. Or are we willing to put aside other tasks, even important ones, to seek to know Jesus Christ and His Father?
I know that the well of living water the Savior offers us never runs dry and is pure and life sustaining. When we come to Him with an empty cup, He will fill it, often beyond our capacity to receive. He is truly living water, a manifestation of the love of God.  ~ Matthew Heaps http://lds.org/ensign/2011/07/drink-deeply-of-the-living-water?lang=eng

 

"We turn with hope...to Him who walked the dusty paths of villages we now reverently call the Holy Land, to Him who caused the blind to see, the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, and the dead to live. To Him who tenderly and lovingly assured us, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life'(John 14:6)."  --The New Era, April 1991

"Even though the tasks of life become heavy, and although sorrow thrusts a drooping burden upon us, the light that emanates from our Savior beckons us on, undismayed."  ~Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

The importance of YOU!

I just loved this essay, it speaks volumes and a great reminder for me ....to believe in myself!
Because there is no one out there quite like me. ( My Mother used to say that very same thing about me, but she said it with a different expression!)

I hope you enjoy it, good night dear friend!

Steps To Happiness  

Author Unknown

Everybody Knows:
You can't be all things to all people.
You can't do all things at once.
You can't do all things equally well.
You can't do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.
So:
You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first, and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others,
Because no one else is in the contest of *being you*.
Then:
You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due.
And you'll be a most vital mortal.
Dare To Believe:
That you are a wonderful, unique person.
That you are a once-in-all-history event.
That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish.
And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.

"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe." -Anatole France

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

"To move ahead you need to believe in yourself...have conviction in your beliefs and the confidence to execute those beliefs."   ~Adlin Sinclair

 

Beautiful day for a wedding!

Not quite a year ago, a dear friend of mine lost her battle with cancer. She was my age and both of us had been survivors at the same time... twice. I have mentioned on more than one occasion how hard it still is for me to see her sweet family or go to their family events. But since I am so close to her daughter I just had to be there for her. I decided that probably it would be best if we just went to the reception, I don't think I could have handled the wedding. My heart still aches for her sweet family. Our friend looked beautiful, she was the perfect bride, I should know we have had a few of them in our family! :) Everyone looked happy except her Grandmother, she was crying most of the time. I tried to talked to her but I just kept tearing up myself. They say that for a Mother to lose a child is one of the toughest heartaches.

When we woke up to rain, I thought of this song as she was getting ready for her wedding. I feel sure that her Mom was close and watching over her and her sweet family. Yes, I believe Heaven is much closer than we think and I am grateful that it is.

I was also grateful to see that the weather cleared up in time for the wedding and reception.

Title: Mark Wills - Holes In The Floor Of Heaven lyrics


One day shy of 8 years old, grandma passed away.
I was a broken hearted little boy, blowin out that birthday cake.
How I cried when the sky let go, with a cold and lonesome rain,
Momma smiled said don't be sad child, grandma's watchin you today.
<Chorous>
Cuz there holes in the floor of heaven and her tears are pourin down
thats how you know she's watchin, wishing she could be here now.
and sometimes if your lonley , just remember she can see,
there's holes in the floor of heaven, and she's watchin over you and me.
Season's come and seasons go, nothing stays the same.
I grew up , fell in love , met a girl who took my name.
Year by Year, made a life in this sleepy little town.
I thought we'd grow old together , lord I sure do miss her now!
<Chrous >
But there's holes in the floor of heaven, and her tears are pourin down.
Thats how I know she's watchin , wishing she could be here now.
And sometimes when i'm lonley, I remember she can see,
there's holes in the floor of heaven, and she's watchin over you and me.
Well my little girl is 23, I walk her down the aisle,
Its a shame her mom can't be here now, to see her lovely smile.
They throw the rice, I catch her eye, As the rain starts comin down.
She takes my hand says daddy don't be sad ,Cuz I know Momma is watchin now.
And there's holes in the floor of heaven, and her tears are pourin down.
thats how you know she's watchin , wishin she could be here now. And sometimes when i'm lonely, I remember she can see,
Yes, there's holes in the floor of heaven , and she's watchin over you and me.
Watchin over you and me
Watchin over you and me
Watchin over you and me.

"A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you."
~Author Unknown

"Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be."  ~Robert Browning

Sleep over at Nana's!

Once a month, Angie comes over to my house for a Sleep Over. It is her time to just be with me and not have to compete with her sister. I gave her and Jenny a suitcase with wheels a while ago,  and they just love packing things into their suitcase and dragging them around. Jenny isn't old enough yet to do a Sleep Over with Nana yet... but it won't be long.

Sunday night was Angie's night to come over, her whole family was already over here for a birthday party for her Dad. About 8:00 pm  she reminded her parents that it was late and that they should probably go home and get Jenny to bed. She is pretty protective of her Sleep Over time.

When they first came over for dinner I told her to just take her suitcase into Lauren's room and we would set it all up after her Mom and Dad left. But just minutes after she arrived, she told me that our room was ready. Here is what I found!

 

Her pajamas were laid out with slippers included. She had tomorrow's outfit laid out on the baby bed. She had on the night stand 3 stuffed animals and one toy and blanket. On the bed she laid her scriptures. Her suitcase on the floor was zipped back up and then her favorite pig was on the floor, with a pillow and blanket...yes, this girl gets serious about her Sleep Over at Nana's. I know she is only 5, but I do hope she remembers these special days we have together.

By 9:00 pm she was ready for bed and we did all the nightly routine, song, scriptures, prayers, sip of water and brushing her teeth and then she was ready. She told me not to stay up too long because we had lots to do the next day. At 6:00 am she woke me up and was almost bouncing she said "Nana, wake up it is our Sleep Over Day and we have lots to do, are you ready to go down to the sewing room?" I smiled sleepily, and tried to explain to her that it was too early and that we should go back to bed and sleep some more. Then I reminded her not to wake me up until the clock had a number 9 on it! She did just that, she was just too cute.

How blessed I feel that I live close enough to my grandchildren to play a big part in their lives right now, I know that might not always be the case with all of them, but for sure we are going to have some traditions to hold on to and continue for all of our future grandchildren. ( Not that I am hinting or anything ! :)

Good night dear friends!

"A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television."  ~Unknown

"Our grandchildren accept us for ourselves, without rebuke or effort to change us, as no one in our entire lives has ever done, not our parents, siblings, spouses, friends - and hardly ever our own grown children."  ~Ruth Goode

"There's no place like home except Nana's!"

"Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete." ~Marcy DeMaree

Pete and Repeat

When I was a little girl, my grandmother always used the phrase  ...Pete and Repeat!

She would say it when you did the same thing as someone else, like my brother would come in tattling and then I would come in tattling, she would always say..."Here comes Pete and Repeat". I thought about this when I saw my youngest granddaughter holding her phone up to her ear, like her Uncle Lee was doing. It was so cute, she is just at that parrot stage or as Grandma would have said it.. the Pete and Repeat stage. Every day Jenny is coming up with new words that she hears from us then she repeats it a million times, cute to me... but sometimes annoying to her family!

 

Some times I wish we were more like little children...good little listeners and imitating the good we see others do all around us. Yes, those little children are such great teachers!

 

“We are apt to forget that children watch examples better than they listen to preaching.” ~ Roy L. Smith

“To bring up a child in the way he should go, travel that way yourself once in a while.”  ~ Josh Billings

“My father didn’t tell me how to live, he lived, and let me watch him do it.” ~ Clarence Budinton Kelland

Everyone needs a wise Grandmother like this.

What a sweet story!  "When wisdom comes with age, and is shared with love...it's a wonderful thing!"  ~ Lynn Woodard

GRANDMA'S CAKE BAKING

A little boy is telling his Grandma how "everything" is going wrong: school, family problems, and severe health problems in the family. Meanwhile, Grandma is baking a cake. She asks her grandson if he would like a snack, which of course he does.
"Here, have some cooking oil," she says. "Yuck" says the boy. "Then how about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Grandma!" he replies. "Would you prefer some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?" she asks.
"Grandma, those are all yucky!" he replied. To which Grandma replies: "Yes, all those things seem to taste bad all by themselves. But when they are mixed together in the right amounts and the right manner, they make a delicious cake!"
She continued, "God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!"
"God is crazy about you," says Grandma, "If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. When you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart. And what about the Christmas gift He sent you in Bethlehem and that Friday at Calvary? Face it; He's crazy about you."

--- Author Unknown

"Be happy. It's one way of being wise."

"It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace"

"A grandparent has the wisdom of long experience and the love of an understanding heart"

52 years old and still counting!

Someone asked me today if I am worried about being 52 years old? I just smiled and said  "I am just glad to still be here, the numbers aren't important to me, except that I get to keep adding one more each year. Yes, I was grateful to have another birthday to celebrate with my family. I am grateful that so many of my friends called and sent me birthday wishes. Yes, I have a lot to celebrate on my 52nd birthday today!  I have the opportunity to have another year with my family and friends and I am healthy. I am in less pain than I have been in years, plus I am able to be teaching and working at the Quilt Shop some. So even though I didn't get to  have all of my family around me for my special day (which is the only other wish I had ), Amy and Lee made sure that they had it covered and they did a wonderful job!

Just take a look at these faces...don't they look like they have everything in control?

It was a great day, thanks so much for all your love and wishes, it was a great day!

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

"Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative."

The Stolen Life

My earliest memory was at the age of 5, and I remember with such clarity being abused by my grandfather.The physical abuse continued until I was 11 years old, the verbal and emotional abuse went on until I was married and moved away. I have spoken many times on this blog about being a Survivor, and what that means...in hopes that anyone else out there who has been abused will realize it is not their fault and that they too can survive horrible and tragic experiences. Better than that, they can some day be happy, strong and a better person because what they have overcome.
Tonight as I was getting ready to write my blog, I saw on the headlines of the news that on CBS there was to be an interview with Kaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped as a child and abused and locked up for 18 years from a very sick man and his wife. Now I will tell you right away that we turned our TV off years ago and it has been one of the best decisions, we have more time to talk, more time to read, more time to hang out together but probably one of the best reasons I can think of is...we no longer have garbage coming in our home through the TV. We watch movies that we pick out and to be honest with you, I keep up with the news through the internet and so I am not oblivious to the world events but... I do guard myself from all the terrible stories that are out there.
For some reason tonight I felt impelled to watch the ABC interview with this sweet survivor...Jaycee Dugard. I am not sure why, I usually can't handle things like that, because they trigger some terrible memories that I have. I guess what made me want to watch it, is because this girl has taken something terrible and made it into a stronger and happier her. She never gave up hope and a couple of comments that she and her Mother gave were very touching.
Mother..."“I could hear her crying, not with my ears, but with my heart. I could feel her pain, not with my body, but again with my heart. Completely unbearable and debilitating.”
Jaycee..."It is important to look at what happened to me, to stare it down until it can't scare me any more."
Jaycee..."Survival is your strength ...not  your shame!"

They say that her book, which tells all will be coming out next week called THE STOLEN LIFE, I will not read it because just the 45 mins or so that I saw tonight was more than enough. I just realize how grateful that I am, that I survived, that I have grown enough in wisdom to realize I don't have to live in fear any more. Fear for me or for my children. I used to cry at night when all the kids were little, for fear that there would be no way I could possibly keep all of them safe at all times. I felt like that as their Mother that was my job to protect them, the love that I had for them made me realize that I would do anything to keep them safe. For years I struggled with the fact that I wasn't protected.
But many years, tears, counseling, prayers later, and understanding I realize that I can do all that I can do and ask my Heavenly Father to do the rest. I don't have to carry that unbelievable burden alone, I realized that I never had really been alone, even when I thought no one would ever find out that I was being abused, I never hesitated to pray and ask for strength and courage and hope. I am proud to hear another Survivor speak out, and hopefully help someone else out there. That is exactly what I have been trying to do for 28 years, tell my story and share my testimony of hope, love and survival. Understanding that you are never really alone, is a huge blessing.
Need to now turn off the thoughts in my head from this and head, say my prayers of gratitude that I am who I am today, healthy, happy and safe!   Good night dear friends!

"What do we live for; if it is not to make life less difficult to each other?"  ~T.S. Eliot
"It is never too late to be what you might have been."  ~ George Eliot

Donating her hair!

My oldest granddaughter Angie got her hair cut this week. She and her Mommy talked about how people donate their hair to children who don't have any. Angie seemed to understand that and she was excited about getting her hair cut. I was wondering if at the last minute she would change her mind, but she didn't.

Here she is before and after! She came to my house right after to show me her hair and the first thing she said to me was " Nana, don't you think some little girl is going to be really excited when she gets my beautiful strawberry blonde hair?" What could I say but "Yes, I am sure she will be really excited and grateful"...I know that I am.

And a little child shall lead thee...

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

"The world is as many times new as there are children in our lives."  ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

"Children make you want to start life over."  ~Muhammad Ali

Stuff, Stuff and More Stuff!

Well, it is late and I am so tired that I don't think I should write very much, who knows if I will make any sense. I have been reorganizing my Sewing Room, it isn't a very big room so...you probably wouldn't think it would take someone so long to do that but...you have never seen my stuff! So of course I had to call in the World's Greatest Organizer...my daughter Amy. She is so amazing with taking a room full of STUFF and organizing it in a way that is amazing and functional. I love it even thought it's not quite done. But I am finished for the night, I noticed about a half hour ago that I just took stuff from one box and put it into another box. I didn't sort through it or decide if I wanted it or not; instead I just moved it from one area and then when I looked around, there it was again...just in a different location. I think that is a sign I really needed to stop.

I will try and finish it up tomorrow, I have a lot of sewing to do for work so...I had better get it organized soon. I also found a lot of my quilt tops that are completed but I just haven't quilted them. So I decided that I am not going to buy any more material for myself, until I start knocking out some of these quilts. I have got to make sure that I start finishing these projects before I begin another...what a concept. Good night dear friends!

 

"Quilters aren't greedy, they're just materialistic."

“Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
~Roman Catholic Saint Francis of Assisi

"When life gives you scraps - make a quilt."

Yet another road...

Our son Lee, has been suffering from severe muscle cramps. This has been going on for years and we finally thought we had found out what it was. We weren't sure if it was some internally or not. For the past year and half, we have been in and out of the Doctor's office, Emergency room, Specialist's office, Chiropractor and Hospital for CT scans, X-rays and Ultrasounds. All of which haven't really given us specific solutions.
I wrote on Mother's Day that we thought we had finally got a diagnosis...Psoas Muscle Spasms, we were thrilled to at least find out what it was and go forward. The problem is, although it looked for sure that this was our problem and an easy fix...2 months later, we are realizing, the attacks aren't going away and we still are not sure what is causing them.

Two weeks ago, Lee went to a church youth camp for 3 days. During that time, he had 3 attacks, 2 small ones and 1 big attack. The doctor and nurse that were there, witnessed them and promptly told Jeff and I that they did not think this was muscle attacks that Lee was having and suggested that we take him in for further testing right away.

Am I scared? YES! I am struggling with the NOT KNOWING what it is, so once again we are going down another road in search for the right answers. It has been hard on Lee, he has not been able to get a job because of this and many other areas of his life are restricted and have been put on hold, until we get this figured out. He is more frustrated than scared, I am glad about that. I pray that soon we will find the right answer and more importantly...be able to find a cure for this. It is hard watching your child suffer. I would rather it be me any day, but that is not how life works.

So we will continue going down road after road, until we finally find the right answer...please keep us in your prayers, we could sure use them.

"I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future."  ~Author Unknown

"It is only when we silent the blaring sounds of our daily existence that we can finally hear the whispers of truth that life reveals to us, as it stands knocking on the doorsteps of our hearts."  ~K.T. Jong

Smile!

A smile, so simple...so important!

BEHIND A SMILE

Do you ever wonder what people are feeling when they smile? Do they smile because they're happy or do they smile because they want people to believe they're happy? Maybe they smile because they want you to smile and be happy.
A smile can touch a person's life in ways you can never imagine. It's infectious and can cause a chain reaction. It can be memorable to someone you pass on the street or the mall or driving... and it only takes a split second to smile and forget, yet... to someone that needed it, it can last a lifetime. Maybe I should smile more often.

--- Written in 2003 by Delilah B.

"Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day."  ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

"The world always looks brighter from behind a smile."  ~Author Unknown

"A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks."  ~Charles Gordy

Happy 4th of July!!!

Just finished a BBQ with some neighbors and friends. What a beautiful day it has been. Full sunshine and in the 70's ...perfect! Now it is getting dark and Angie is waiting for Nana to come out and watch the fireworks with her. You can see so many good ones right from our deck! Hope you have a wonderful 4th of July and like me are grateful for this wonderful country we live in.

Ok, gotta go it is time to see booming fireworks...good night dear friends!

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; . . . . We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors . . . [they] transmitted them to us with care and diligence."
Samuel Adams

"Under the law of nature, all men are born free, every one comes into the world with a right to his own person, which includes the liberty of moving and using it at his own will. This is what is called personal liberty, and is given him by the Author."  ~ Thomas Jefferson

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." - Thomas Paine

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." - Benjamin Franklin

What kind of legacy are you leaving?

Today in church, one of the teachers spoke of LEGACY, and asked  us what type of legacy we are leaving for our children and their children. It was an incredible lesson on the importance of learning and growing from the obstacles that come in our lives. Each one of them is to teach us something.

Then stories were read from some of the pioneers and what their trials and tribulations taught them in their life. Here is a poem that was written about the pioneers.

                They cut desire into short lengths
                And fed it to the hungry fire of courage.
                Long after -when the flames died -
                Molten gold gleamed in the ashes.
                They gathered it into bruised palms
                And handed it to their children
                And their children’s children.  ~ Vilate Chamberlain Raile

This poem reminds me of the scripture in 1st Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire....

I think that is so true, just like the poem talked about the experiences that we have that are from trials and problems, if we learn and grow from them, if we stay hopeful and rely on the Lord, if we don't give up but keep going...that is the GOLD that we are going to pass down to our children and our children's children.
We have talked about this subject often in our home during some of the trials that we have gone through. I have asked myself as a Mother, have I taught the kids to be strong, courageous and faithful? Have I taught them to rely on the Lord for strength, courage and hope? Do they know that no matter what happens to them in life ...that they can handle it ( with the Lord's help) ?

Life is hard and I personally know that some times things look too BIG for me to handle, I cry and get scared, I get discouraged and doubtful. I know my kids have seen me go through these feelings, but the real question is...will they remember that I got back up, said my prayers, asked our Savior to help me carry my burdens; and did I show them that I was stronger and better because of what I learned along the way? I pray that I have and that I will continue to do so.
It was a great lesson for our family today.
Good night dear friends!

 

"The choices we make about the lives we live determine the kinds of legacies we leave."  ~ Tavis Smiley 

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow." ~Anonymous

“We know that women who have deep appreciation for the past will be concerned about shaping a righteous future.”  ~ Spencer W. Kimball

Christmas in July!

It is hard to believe that July is already here. Today I was able to teach at the Quilt Shop and of course...we did Christmas in July, I taught how to make these cute stockings. It reminds that I need to start preparing for Christmas now, so that I don't have to make the holidays so rushed.

I am surprised how much faster these past year has gone by, probably because I was starting to have my health back, and able to start working some at the Quilt Shop. I love teaching again, I have taught art classes for years, I love having the chance to meet soooo many incredible women and share my love for quilting. I think my Grandmother and Aunt would have be so excited for me. They are the ones who helped me develop these talents, when I was just a little girl.

Most of all, I am just grateful to be here and feeling good enough to do things that I love, with the people I love ! That is no small thing!   Good night dear friends.

 

"Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back."  ~ Harvey MacKay

"Difficult times have helped me to understand better than before, how infinitely rich and beautiful life is in every way, and that so many thing that one goes worrying about are of no importance whatsoever..."   ~ Isak Dinesen

" Somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you. And the more you spend in blessing the poor and lonely and sad, the more of your heart's possessing returns to you glad."  ~ John Greenleaf