Funny Friday

The Background:
My daughter got an "iPod" (actually an MP3 player) for Christmas.
It records voices.

We downloaded what they have recorded thus far onto our computer.

The Setting:
The one below was recorded during a car ride as they sat at the back.
About a year ago.
I have super-spazzy girls.
That's pretty much all you need to know.

And you just might be seeing more of these. We have hours of laughter.

Thoughtful Thursday

Mirror, mirror on the wall
Who is the fairest of them all?
Last week I held my 7 week old up to the mirror for the first time.
A miraculous thing happened.
He smiled! Really big.
Perhaps it was gas, though I doubt it.
Perhaps he thought he saw a friend.
Perhaps, and more believably, he is so happy to be here
enjoying this body for the first time
and so new to him.
Seeing this beautiful being that is him.
It reminded me
To smile in the mirror.
Because what I have, though not perfect, is
undeniably
and indefinitely
beautiful.
So what happens to us over time?
Why does our mind distort the image looking back?
Will it be distorted for him in time?
I hope not.
Don't believe Hollywood, my boy.
Love your imperfections that make you unique.
So. . . .
What did YOU see in the mirror today?

Turnback Tuesday

We are all a bit crazy about this girl.



Happy Birthday! You are officially no longer a teenager!

Sunday Reflection

There is nothing that pierces me to my core as deeply as this song does. I don't know if there has ever been a time when I have heard it and not been moved to tears. It speaks to my soul. It nudges me continually down the path I should be on --closer to my Savior. Even when I am "prone to wander" I know where I SHOULD be and what I SHOULD be doing. Out of all the versions that have been done, I think this is my favorite. Powerfully moving. Not only to those hearing it, but those singing it (note the emotion of those singing it toward the end). Click play and just try and not be moved. I dare you. And loud. It will speak to you too, if you will allow it. Here are a few of my favorite lines:

I hope, by thy good pleasure
safely to arrive at Home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God.
He, to rescue me from danger,
interposed His precious blood.

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above.

For my Broter

To a brother. . . . .

. . . . who has always been able to get me to do anything he wants.



. . . .who always looks "cool" when everyone else around him looks like a bunch of clowns

. . . . who loves, loves, loves babies

. . . . who will whip you into shape should you double-cross him



. . . . who gets high on music and adventure




. . . . who actually thinks he is Elvis




. . . . and who knows how to give a real good fake belly-laugh
Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

Summertime

Sunday's "True" Reflection

If you will watch this video, toward the end you will realize why I titled this post as such. I LOVE this message. It is so important, so needed in our society today. My friend put this on her blog a few days ago and I just had to use it as my Sunday thought. (Thanks Trace!) Imagine if we can really BELIEVE and KNOW who we really are! So many plastic surgeons would be out of jobs! The "need" for the newest clothes, the latest fad, the tannest skin, the thinnest body--all of it would float away into oblivion. So much of the shallow marketing tactics targeting the insecure wouldn't work! But, probably the most advantageous, if I can really believe who I am as a mother, imagine what sort of impact that will have on my children. What a gift that would be to them! I struggle with many insecurities myself and this is an awesome reminder of what is true, what is important, and what is real in this short life we have.

Funny Friday

Story #1
So my 5-year old is OBSESSED with our new little baby and is constantly in his face, kissing him, holding his hands and pretty much all over him (yes, even when I'm trying to nurse! Annoying? Um, yeah). So of course he was there when the baby started to find his voice for the first time. He was looking at me, cooing and making those sweet noises that babies do when suddenly my 5-year old gasped, "Mom, what did he say?" totally convinced that he said something intelligent. He followed this with, "Mommy, do you speak baby?"

Story #2:
We have been trying extra hard in our family to work on making "good choices" so we've had several conversations over the past few days about good choices vs. bad choices. Hanging on the garage door as it goes up? Bad choice. Smacking sister in the face with the light-saber? Again, bad choice. Picking up after yourself after you are finished coloring? Good choice. Cleaning your room? Again, good choice. We were having lunch the other day when my same 5-year old jumped up from the table and started running away, distracted by something else. "Uh oh. . . ." I sang. He quickly responded by running back to his half-eaten lunch and said, " I am under YOUR command Mom."
Dang straight, my boy, dang straight!

Thoughtful Thursday

My "very right-winged" friend (her words, not mine) posted this on her FB status today and it has me thinking quite a bit today. This man definitely has an agenda, don't you think? It's seems so to me and it terrifies me to think where we are headed as long as he heads down his self-driven course. I may get a bunch of tomato-throwing comments for having such opinions, but at least I am able to exercise my Constitutional rights! (For now!) Heck, maybe Obama will see this post and have me arrested BEFORE I actually do anything, just because I'm not his No. 1 fan and heaven forbid he feel threatened by me for being such. How can he, or anyone else for that matter, think it is okay to condemn the person before the act is committed? Are we protected at all by our Constitutional rights and freedoms anymore? Does the Constitution exist anymore in our current forms of government? I never saw Minority Report, but the premise of it is appalling. There was a talk given by Rex Lee, president of Brigham Young University that is wonderfully-written. Although it is quite lengthy, it is still worth reading if you have the time. And if not, at least read the section entitled The Limitation of Government. The founding fathers made the Constitution to be the end-all of any newly-developed law. The buck stops there. It SHOULD be, but sadly, our government doesn't treat it as such. Can we just get back to defending our rights laid out in this inspired document? Rex Lee said, in the document mentioned above, that "Scriptures ancient and modern tell us that there is something we can do to contribute to the cause of freedom in this land governed by a constitution--a constitution established by the hands of wise men raised up by God for that very purpose." What are you contributing to your cause of freedom?

Turnback Tuesday

I firmly believe in vacations. There are precious family memories created during those respite days away, where you don't have the responsibilities of home or work looming over you and all you have to focus on is one another. The summer of 2008, we took our family trip to northern Utah. Though we had little money, we made the best of it and had a blast. We stayed in some run-down hotel in Ogden, visited some great museums like the Union Station Railroad Museum, the Hill Aerospace Museum and the very cool Treehouse Children's Museum and topped it off by camping at Bear Lake. It was a lot of fun to be had. The picture is from the Treehouse Museum and it is one of my favorites from the entire trip. It seems to highlight my kids' varied personalities and shows just how much fun we were all having. If you haven't had the opportunity to go to this museum, I suggest GO! It is so much fun! Where are you going this summer? Happy Vacating!

My Sunday Thoughts

I've been pondering lately about raising my 5 children in this world. How do I do it successfully? How do I shield them from ugliness? When I've watched so many of those I love dearly, yes even myself, struggle with the age-old obstacle of deciding what is right and what is wrong on a daily basis, how do I teach them? I am so imperfect myself. The world is full of so many gruesome, distorted things, warped minds of people ever-being influenced by evil, many of whom are successfully tainting the purity, the confidence, the innocence of the very young ones. How is it that I am given the heavy burden of raising and instructing them, safeguarding not only their bodies, but their minds, their souls? It seems the "worldliness" of this world is only getting worse, so much more so than even 10 or 20 years ago. I admit it. I'm scared spitless for what lies ahead for them.

I went to listen to my cousin speak in church today. He just returned from a mission in France. Wow. What an amazing, stalwart man he has become. Just like his two older brothers.
Then there is my aunt Colleen, his mother. She gives the BEST hugs. She is also gentle, meek, quiet, polite, soft-spoken and has the cutest, most contagious, quiet giggle you will ever hear on anyone over 50--all traits passed on to her children (save for the giggle). I wondered, how do I change my nature? How can I be more like that? Sadly, I'm just not. My Uncle Daryn is not only a successful dentist, but the bishop of their ward. Looking at them all, you would never think they have had a bad day in their life. The truth is, they have had many dark days, many tears. They lost two daughters, one from SIDS and the other was hit by a car at 7 years old, not to mention the innumerable miscarriages my aunt had. I have always looked up to this family, their strength. Through it all they carry with them the Light of Christ, the Love of God. I can't help but wonder how they have done it? How have they raised 3 boys and 1 daughter to be so incredible, staying true to everything they have been taught and know is right?

I think that Love is what makes all the difference. After all, it is the first and second great commandments. Today my cousin quoted his mission president and it has stuck with me all day. He said, "There are two types of people in this world: those you already love and those you don't know yet." I love that! Just like that, we should love everyone. It should be simple enough, right? Sometimes it is just not that easy. That means if I have issue with someone, it is 100% my responsibility to change that. If I don't feel love for someone, shame on me--my heart needs to change, not theirs. Another "Aha" moment for me.

Love is what will change me. Love is what my children need to feel. Love is what will teach them and safeguard them. Christ is Love. It was so awesome today, sitting at a table with my cousins, with family, laughing and sharing stories. It was a taste of heaven and a comfort knowing that our relationships will never end. Our laughter, our conversations will continue into the eternities because that is how far we are bound. I know it.

Family is where it's at! And I LOVE my family!

Thanks for enduring my Sunday's ramblings. . . .