Wednesday night was Young Women's New Beginnings night. For those who don't know, it's when the Young Women's group at my church (girls 12-18) come together to talk about the Young Women's Personal Progress program. Personal Progress is a system set up that encourages and teaches the girls how to make, set, and achieve goals based on the Young Women's values of Faith, Divine Nature, Individual Worth, Knowledge, Choice and Accountability, Good Works, Integrity, and Virtue. Wednesday night is also Activity Day Girls for the girls aged 8-11 (which now includes Laney). So twice a month I take Laney along with me to church, where she goes to her activities and I go to mine.
On this particular Wednesday we were having our New Beginnings. It was very inspiring and moving to hear about setting goals, working towards eternally important things like having faith, getting to the temple, and the other values. By the end of the night I was very overwhelmed with the spirit, testifying to me about the great blessings of the gospel. In the middle of this, I was also coordinating Laney's upcoming baptism with another mother who has a child that will be baptized at the same time. Since her baptism was on my mind, I was a little emotional talking to my fellow Young Women leaders. I was making sure to invite plenty of the kids Laney is friends with in her Sunday School class, so she can see them there on her important day, supporting her great decision. I begin to openly cry while I was talking to my friend Emily, because I was explaining to her that I remember my baptismal day very clearly. What I don't remember are all the talks, the songs, or the snacks. What I do remember is my best friend was crying and my mother was consoling her. I asked my mother why my friend was crying and my mom told me it was because she was so happy for me because being baptized is so important. I've had that memory my entire life. Being so young I thought I understood the baptismal promises, I thought I was ready. But as a mother, I know that I so moved, not only due to my baptismal promises, but also because I had a good friend who was there, to be with me and to support me.
I was telling all of this to Emily and I could barely control myself, and she gave me a hug and we kinda moved on in the conversation. A few minutes later, I was gathering up my things and Laney to go home. Laney saw I had tears still left in my eyes, and asked me very concerned, "What's the matter, mommy? Did they kick you out?" Ah, my darling daughter, always concerned about if everyone is happy, fitting in and being treated kindly. You're a jewel.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Today's Inspiration
Sometimes it gets tiring, and you can feel like stopping. Today I read this (not for the first time), and remembered why we try again day after day:
"There’d been a storm, and tens of thousands of starfish had been washed onto a beach. A man walked the beach, saddened to see all the dying creatures. Up ahead, he saw another man. The man was tossing starfish back into the ocean.
“You can’t save all these starfish,” the first man said. “What does it matter?”
The second man turned to the first. He leaned over, picked up a starfish, and cast it into the sea.
“Well,” he told the first man, “it mattered to that one.”
I'm now recommitted to working hard and making a difference, helping people one at a time. Just because it's not about changing the world, but about helping people change their world.
"There’d been a storm, and tens of thousands of starfish had been washed onto a beach. A man walked the beach, saddened to see all the dying creatures. Up ahead, he saw another man. The man was tossing starfish back into the ocean.
“You can’t save all these starfish,” the first man said. “What does it matter?”
The second man turned to the first. He leaned over, picked up a starfish, and cast it into the sea.
“Well,” he told the first man, “it mattered to that one.”
I'm now recommitted to working hard and making a difference, helping people one at a time. Just because it's not about changing the world, but about helping people change their world.
Monday, February 13, 2012
ARLIN
You know when you meet a new couple, and sometimes the pieces of the individuals don't seem to be the piece you would have put together in the couple? Yet, somehow, the couple works really well together, and compliments each other and just is? You ever wonder what someone sees in their other half? Ever been asked what you see in your partner? Ever just think to yourself, these are the things I love about my spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend? I have. Probably to most of those. I think about Arlin all the time. I think about why I love him, why he works for me, what I see in him, what he does for my family, how he loves me, why we work, and yes, even why he drives me crazy sometimes.
Seeing as it's almost Valentine's Day (a holiday I abhor, and we skip at my house), I thought I would put in writing the things I love most about Arlin. The things that no one gets to see but me, the things that make him wonderful, and make me grateful that he's mine. So, here we go, Ahem:
Things I Love About Arlin
1. He's funny - he seriously makes me laugh all the time, and I need a sense of humor to lighten myself up. He can even make me laugh when I want to wring his little neck. That's some talent!
2. He's kind to no end - He is always thinking of others. He likes to drop notes to old friends, send people who are sick flowers, give change to the needy, give rides to the helpless, you get the idea. He doesn't think about how it will take away from himself to help others, he just sees a need and helps.
3. He's a great dad - He is willing to watch the girls whenever I need him. He stays home with them when he is not at work, and can do it day after day. He makes up games to play with them, and crawls around on the floor. He is quick to say I love you to the girls, and quick to make sure they treat mom respectfully too.
4. He's laid back - I can be OCD when I want to. AND even when I don't want to be. He's always there encouraging me to lighten up and don't sweat the stuff that doesn't matter. He lets me have my way when he knows to me it matters and when my OCD monster can't settle down.
5. He tells me I'm beautiful - All the time. He tells me he loves me, and that I'm his number one. It's been 10 years in a few months, since we have been married, and he still makes me feel like I'm the best girl he's ever met.
6. He's willing to admit it when he is wrong - He changes when he's wrong, and he fesses up to mistakes. That takes quite a man.
7. He speaks my language - We think on the same wavelength about a lot of things, and it's comforting to know I'm not the only one who thinks 3/4 of the world is insane!
8. He forgets my mistakes - As far as I can tell he doesn't hold a grudge. He's way better than me in that department! I need to emulate him a little more there.
9. He has an intense sense of loyalty - Even to those who don't deserve it. But I have to admire him for always doing what he thinks is right, no matter the actions of those other fools who do not deserve him.
10. He has a pure heart - He might disagree with me on this one, but I think he has a pure heart. He tries to live according to his actions and not as a hypocrite, who likes things in theory and doesn't follow rules themselves. If he doesn't live it, he doesn't preach it to others.
Now, these are not my top 10, but theses are 10 of my hundreds of reasons that I think Arlin is the cat's meow. I'm super grateful to have him in my life, and even more super grateful he puts up with me in my moods and hormones. He's the best, and I apologize to the other ladies out there who cannot have him. Sorry ladies! I just love him!
Seeing as it's almost Valentine's Day (a holiday I abhor, and we skip at my house), I thought I would put in writing the things I love most about Arlin. The things that no one gets to see but me, the things that make him wonderful, and make me grateful that he's mine. So, here we go, Ahem:
Things I Love About Arlin
1. He's funny - he seriously makes me laugh all the time, and I need a sense of humor to lighten myself up. He can even make me laugh when I want to wring his little neck. That's some talent!
2. He's kind to no end - He is always thinking of others. He likes to drop notes to old friends, send people who are sick flowers, give change to the needy, give rides to the helpless, you get the idea. He doesn't think about how it will take away from himself to help others, he just sees a need and helps.
3. He's a great dad - He is willing to watch the girls whenever I need him. He stays home with them when he is not at work, and can do it day after day. He makes up games to play with them, and crawls around on the floor. He is quick to say I love you to the girls, and quick to make sure they treat mom respectfully too.
4. He's laid back - I can be OCD when I want to. AND even when I don't want to be. He's always there encouraging me to lighten up and don't sweat the stuff that doesn't matter. He lets me have my way when he knows to me it matters and when my OCD monster can't settle down.
5. He tells me I'm beautiful - All the time. He tells me he loves me, and that I'm his number one. It's been 10 years in a few months, since we have been married, and he still makes me feel like I'm the best girl he's ever met.
6. He's willing to admit it when he is wrong - He changes when he's wrong, and he fesses up to mistakes. That takes quite a man.
7. He speaks my language - We think on the same wavelength about a lot of things, and it's comforting to know I'm not the only one who thinks 3/4 of the world is insane!
8. He forgets my mistakes - As far as I can tell he doesn't hold a grudge. He's way better than me in that department! I need to emulate him a little more there.
9. He has an intense sense of loyalty - Even to those who don't deserve it. But I have to admire him for always doing what he thinks is right, no matter the actions of those other fools who do not deserve him.
10. He has a pure heart - He might disagree with me on this one, but I think he has a pure heart. He tries to live according to his actions and not as a hypocrite, who likes things in theory and doesn't follow rules themselves. If he doesn't live it, he doesn't preach it to others.
Now, these are not my top 10, but theses are 10 of my hundreds of reasons that I think Arlin is the cat's meow. I'm super grateful to have him in my life, and even more super grateful he puts up with me in my moods and hormones. He's the best, and I apologize to the other ladies out there who cannot have him. Sorry ladies! I just love him!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Ah, She's Growing Up ... and I'm NOT Ready!!!
My little Laney is getting older and I just can't believe it! She's 8, almost 9, and she's going away from the kid stage and entering into the preteen stage. I always thought that stage started around 11 / 12, but nope, it starts around age 9 for girls. Laney is starting to talk about getting a phone or a ipod, she wants her own computer, a fancy wardrobe (sometimes, though getting her to brush her hair is torture), she is starting to use deodorant, and she's finally starting to ask those questions about her body chaning. I know all the answers, I even remember the exact talk my mother had with me and the things she used to explain it all to me. I just don't want to face these issues with her. Things like:
1. Body changes
2. Drugs
3. Bullies
4. Bad friends
5. Sex
6. Dating
Etc., etc., etc. It's all so daunting and makes you feel like there are right and wrong ways to present the material to a child, so they can understand the importance of their decisions, the blessings of having a body, the effect friends have on our lives for good/bad. I wish I could just put my thoughts in her head, but I know she has to grow into this understanding little by little and piece by piece. I pray about taking advantage of the opportunities to teach as they arrive.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Lindsay is ready for potty training. I'm ready for her to be ready, but I also would love it if she just kinda taught herself. LOL I'm not looking forward to spending several days/weeks talking and asking about going to the potty. We've started the process already, and she does use the potty some, but we have a lot of work to do to make it a change for her.
My babies are growing up. I can't believe it! I'm happy/sad and excited for them and us. It's great.
1. Body changes
2. Drugs
3. Bullies
4. Bad friends
5. Sex
6. Dating
Etc., etc., etc. It's all so daunting and makes you feel like there are right and wrong ways to present the material to a child, so they can understand the importance of their decisions, the blessings of having a body, the effect friends have on our lives for good/bad. I wish I could just put my thoughts in her head, but I know she has to grow into this understanding little by little and piece by piece. I pray about taking advantage of the opportunities to teach as they arrive.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Lindsay is ready for potty training. I'm ready for her to be ready, but I also would love it if she just kinda taught herself. LOL I'm not looking forward to spending several days/weeks talking and asking about going to the potty. We've started the process already, and she does use the potty some, but we have a lot of work to do to make it a change for her.
My babies are growing up. I can't believe it! I'm happy/sad and excited for them and us. It's great.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Is it a Trial, a Consequence, or a Result of Disobedience?
I keep thinking about things I need to do to make myself better, my family better, our lives better. I think there are several things I just to need to move on past and memories I need to let go. People I need to forgive and put away from my mind because they are stopping me from being the person I want to be. It's hard to determine when the things in life that happen to us are trials, consequences, or results of disobedience? And yes, I've prayed to know, but I guess sometimes it doesn't matter, I still need to deal and develop. President James E. Faust said,
"All of us suffer some injuries from experiences that seem to have no rhyme or reason. We cannot understand or explain them. We may never know why some things happen in this life. The reason for some of our suffering is known only to the Lord. But because it happens, it must be endured. President Howard W. Hunter said that “God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see.”
President Brigham Young offered this profound insight that at least some of our suffering has a purpose when he said: “Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings will be suffered to come upon the few, to prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord. … Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation.”"
Read his entire talk here. I'm grateful for trial, grateful for consequences (they prove there is justice and that there is a purpose here), and even for punishment (it gets me back to where I need to be). I just wish sometimes it was easier to tell apart one from the other.
"All of us suffer some injuries from experiences that seem to have no rhyme or reason. We cannot understand or explain them. We may never know why some things happen in this life. The reason for some of our suffering is known only to the Lord. But because it happens, it must be endured. President Howard W. Hunter said that “God knows what we do not know and sees what we do not see.”
President Brigham Young offered this profound insight that at least some of our suffering has a purpose when he said: “Every calamity that can come upon mortal beings will be suffered to come upon the few, to prepare them to enjoy the presence of the Lord. … Every trial and experience you have passed through is necessary for your salvation.”"
Read his entire talk here. I'm grateful for trial, grateful for consequences (they prove there is justice and that there is a purpose here), and even for punishment (it gets me back to where I need to be). I just wish sometimes it was easier to tell apart one from the other.
Monday, January 16, 2012
This Little Light of Mine
I am going to get around to posting some more recent pictures of the girls, I promise. In the mean time, I want to tell you some fairly funny things Laney has been telling me lately:
1: While changing a very yucky diaper of Lindsay's, Laney sits next to me and says, "It's a good thing we didn't have a son." Of course I respond with, "Why?" and her reply is, "Cause then you'd have to touch IT."
2: While working on chores at home on the weekend with Laney she says, "I wish we were at Grandma's house already." "Why is that?," I ask. "Because her house is more fun than here."
3: Lindsay is 2, so in being 2 she says a lot of No. Lately she says, "No Japanese!" (Um...yeah, I have no idea!)
4: For about 6 months now Lindsay has been very angry at the birds around town. Not sure how it started, or even the why, but anytime she sees birds she frantically waves her arm in the air in a shooing motion and says, "Go away birds!" or "Get outta here birds!" And she means it.
5: Laney is 8 and we've been talking about prayer, obedience, repentance and the like a lot lately, in effort to help her with her accountability. I've talked to her about hearing answers to her prayers and the such, but I think she has been thinking about it a lot because yesterday at church she told me, "Mom I know how to hear Heavenly Father when he talks to me. I say words to him, but not out loud, and without moving my lips and I told him 'I Love You' and I heard him say 'And I Love You' back to me."
6: My new name from Lindsay, "Mommom". One word, again, no idea because she does say Mama and they do sound differently.
7: Laney had a conduct note sent home from school for talking in class. She is definitely a little chatty and we've talked about it several times before, so in addition to no television over the weekend, Arlin had her write 'I will not talk in school' 100 times. (He's very old school when he's trying not to be a spanker). She wrote her sentences, served her time and we're on to a new week. Or so I thought, until she brought a sheet of paper up to me that had 'I will not talk' written 65 times. She told me she needed a head start in case Arlin told her to write sentences again the next time she was in trouble. hahahahah I think she missed the point there!
1: While changing a very yucky diaper of Lindsay's, Laney sits next to me and says, "It's a good thing we didn't have a son." Of course I respond with, "Why?" and her reply is, "Cause then you'd have to touch IT."
2: While working on chores at home on the weekend with Laney she says, "I wish we were at Grandma's house already." "Why is that?," I ask. "Because her house is more fun than here."
3: Lindsay is 2, so in being 2 she says a lot of No. Lately she says, "No Japanese!" (Um...yeah, I have no idea!)
4: For about 6 months now Lindsay has been very angry at the birds around town. Not sure how it started, or even the why, but anytime she sees birds she frantically waves her arm in the air in a shooing motion and says, "Go away birds!" or "Get outta here birds!" And she means it.
5: Laney is 8 and we've been talking about prayer, obedience, repentance and the like a lot lately, in effort to help her with her accountability. I've talked to her about hearing answers to her prayers and the such, but I think she has been thinking about it a lot because yesterday at church she told me, "Mom I know how to hear Heavenly Father when he talks to me. I say words to him, but not out loud, and without moving my lips and I told him 'I Love You' and I heard him say 'And I Love You' back to me."
6: My new name from Lindsay, "Mommom". One word, again, no idea because she does say Mama and they do sound differently.
7: Laney had a conduct note sent home from school for talking in class. She is definitely a little chatty and we've talked about it several times before, so in addition to no television over the weekend, Arlin had her write 'I will not talk in school' 100 times. (He's very old school when he's trying not to be a spanker). She wrote her sentences, served her time and we're on to a new week. Or so I thought, until she brought a sheet of paper up to me that had 'I will not talk' written 65 times. She told me she needed a head start in case Arlin told her to write sentences again the next time she was in trouble. hahahahah I think she missed the point there!
Friday, January 13, 2012
Got My Mind on My Money and My Money on My Mind
One employed spouse tends to make you take a hard look at money. We are technically able to pay our bills, but it's a squeaky kind of thing. I'm super grateful to be able to pay them too. This time a year ago, not so much on making bills. We've come a long way, baby. BUT the entire point of this post is really to bring up a idea Arlin and I saw on television the other day...a monthly financial fast. I was very impressed with the length the family would go to in order to keep their financial fast. And I must admit, we were both inspired and are thinking of putting a financial fast in place in our family. Here's how it works (according to my understanding of the show): for a predetermined time period you do not spend money. For this family, it was once a month, they have a week where they "fast" and do not spend money for an entire week during the month. It was crazy watching their extremes...they would run out of shampoo and use the little mini freebie shampoos you get from a hotel, and they would scrounge for loose change in their couch, around air machines at gas stations, etc. to pick up dinner if they ran out of food around the house. It was crazy.
I'm not sure we'll dig for change around air machines, but there are weeks where we can not get those extra groceries that we want just cause we have a craving, not go out to eat, not do any movies at the redbox, or just not spend the money. It's amazing how much money leaves your wallet in small drips as opposed to large gushes. I'm hoping we do institute a week or at least several days of financial fasting at our house. I'd like to see how it changes things and maybe it will help us curb bad habits in our other weeks.
I'm not sure we'll dig for change around air machines, but there are weeks where we can not get those extra groceries that we want just cause we have a craving, not go out to eat, not do any movies at the redbox, or just not spend the money. It's amazing how much money leaves your wallet in small drips as opposed to large gushes. I'm hoping we do institute a week or at least several days of financial fasting at our house. I'd like to see how it changes things and maybe it will help us curb bad habits in our other weeks.
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