The Courtship
Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the courtship of your mother dear
She went to school at BYU
Where she learned, played did schoolwork too
Her cousin Sam was at Kimball Hall
Gordon, his roommate was your dad
He really wasn’t all so bad
How was she to know she was going to love fall
Tall, skinny, a big old tease
She gave him rides to grocery stores
Marriott Center tunnel singing
Sledding, movies, swing dancing always
Giving her piggy-back rides, kisses too
Holding hands, eating together,
Sharing themselves, talking of children
Talking of love, caring, working
Charming her with his words and songs
Impressing her with his art and talents
Sharing same goals, same love of God
So different, yet connected all the same
She met his parents, he met hers
To the SLC temple she would go
Ordinances towards salvation
Endowments from on High
Stress of school, preparations, so much rush
California after finals, a licence to obtain
Meeting down in San Diego, a beautiful Temple
No sleep too excited then anxiousness
The licence left back at Gordon’s home
Aquarium, Teawana, shopping while we wait
Luncheon first, still so much stress
Prayer, then peace, we are all there
The temple so beautiful so special
Surrounded by family, pictures and fun
Holding hands, no stress, no tension just peace
LaJolla for our honeymoon at Uncle Joe’s Condo
Their courtship continuing, their love growing
Their family growing, changing too
Forever in the eternities they’ll go forward
Towards God, each other and family

New year goals

Well, I have several New Years resolutions:
-I will exercise at least 4 times a week, eat lower calories and no cholesterol, feel healthy
(hopefully it won't take all year for the mirror to show the change as well)
-I will be prepared for Christmas this year, have a budget, cards done by Thanksgiving, presents made or bought before December, have a prepared, planned, peaceful holiday for once
(If this happens this will be miraculous, but maybe if I start now it will happen)
- I will write a short story, poem once a week
(It helps to have a writing group I meet with once a week)
- I will write a short novel, a children's book this year
(If I can get past my first block I experience after I always start this might happen)
- I will help my children to feel successful, happy and secure
(This might be the hardest one yet, a lot of help with homework, practice, consistency etc.)
- I will support my husband in his work and talents
(I gave him guitar lessons for Christmas so it is a start, he is so talented in many ways)
- I will read (or listen to) at least 2 books a month
(This is my luxury goal, for my own enjoyment I love to read)
- I will be a better friend, a better listener, a person who truly hears and sees
(To have friends you must be a friend, when I am more this way the happier I am and closer I feel to others)
- I will enjoy the beauties all around me
(I live so close to my beautiful mountains and there is so much beauty all around me I need to take more advantage of it and share this beauty with my family)
- I will enjoy my work and my life, I will put my priorities in my time and focus
(Isn't better time management what helps us feel happy and successful)
-I will get twice as organized this year
(each year out of necessity I become a more organized person, it is just more needed as our family grows and homework and a home)
I'd love to hear what some of your new years resolutions are

Wonderful things in my life

I've been in such a good mood lately and feeling productive and good about things lately and I was trying to think about what's been different this last week. One thing, I've been trying to read in the morning my scriptures or teachings of Joseph Smith and that has really help put my day in perspective and I find myself using my time better. I've also been listening to a book on tape while every time I am in the kitchen and I look forward to cleaning and cooking and doing stuff around the kitchen, I even deep cleaned my stove top just listening to the book.

Spending more quality time and focus on my children individually has helped me appreciate and feel closer to my children and I know in my heart I'm a good mom when I am taking that time with them. Also, after the holidays and illness it has been nice to start being more social and connecting with people again. Also we've found some more speech help for my son where we go together and sing songs and learn fun ways of working on his articulation.

I'm being more relaxed about some things in my parenting and more consistent with things that will matter in the long run. I'm trying to write more and let go of things in my life that don't build me up or help me feel positive and happy. Anyways, maybe some of these ideas will help you when the winter weather is upon us to help you feel positive too.

Putting back the sunshine

The sun shone yesterday, it seems when the sun shines it goes right into my heart and I have to have a happy day. I heard an amazing talk yesterday that really touched me. How our hearts can be mirrors where we are focusing on ourselves, our agendas, our problems, what we want. Yet, our hearts can be windows looking out truly seeing others and ourselves people of worth, but also allowing the sunshine of our Lord’s love to come into our hearts. I thought this was a wonderful way to think about things, to see others and to see ourselves.

If you ask my children: Are you beautiful? Are you smart? Are you special? Do I love you? Their response will be "yes", just plain "yes I am" they allow themselves to know they are of worth and they don’t question those wonderful things you tell them about themselves. How wonderful is that, why is it as adults we don’t allow ourselves to think well of ourselves. I’m not talking about conceit or pride or arrogance. Maybe we are afraid of becoming those things or being perceived that way, or maybe we have allow the negative to affect us, maybe we just can’t accept that we are of worth and we are special.

I have been focusing on giving each of my children significant one-on-one positive time, extra positive words, yet being consistent. It is amazing how this extreme praise and quality have helped my relationship with my son, by the end of this week he has already become so much less defiant and more willing to listen. I’ve always tried to give them positive and time, but I’m realizing at times in their life we they seem to be negative that is when I need to as a parent really lay on the positive and give them extra attention, and it is working. (Of course we will see how church goes today, but I am hopeful and it doesn’t matter, he is a wonderful child I feel more positive with myself when I am positive with others.)

Understanding in disguise

Lately my son has been having a hard time. He’s been more defiant, ignoring us, hurting his sisters, yelling, refusing to sit or be quiet in situations where it is needed. He does seem to do much better if we completely smother him with praise for anything he does do to be helpful or kind, if we give him a lot of one on one and lots of active attention. It is hard when he seems to do much better with his preschool teacher or others then he does with us, his parents.

Last night though, I realized something wonderful and special. I love him just as much when he is giving us a hard time as when he is cuddling and sweet and obedient. It is a nicer time with him, but I love him just as much either way. Parenting opened my eyes to how much more and even more perfect my Heavenly Father’s love is for me even when I’m hard to be with and being difficult. It gives me courage to continue to work with him, to have patience and try many ideas that I and others have thought of that might help.

I do think the extra praise and attention will be a key factor, along with the being consistent and following through. Right now he is playing at being a little doggie with his sisters and being so sweet, it is always easier at home, where I can control the environment more. It’s harder when you are at Church, a friends, or at a store and my husband and I will just have to work together to help him know how to be polite, appropriate and be the little boy I know his is and can be.

Sometimes its the storm before the calm

I completely was unaware that school started today. My neighbor came over and knocked hard on the door and let me know my phones weren't working (the children had taken the phone off the hook) and my husband wanted to let me know school had started (now why didn't he turn the car around and told me?). I felt so embarrassed, school had already been in session for a half-hour and my daughter was dressed in a strange combination of skirts and shorts, black rock boots and a dirty shirt.

Quickly this slow morning turned into frantic chaos: changing clothes, combing hair, thinking if she had enough lunch money left, adding up reading minutes, finding a coat and backpack, then running with her out the door so I could make sure she crossed the street safely. I sighed with relief when I walked back in the door, I called my mom to tell her of the adventure and she asked if my son had school today too (luckily it's afternoon preschool), and yes he did too though not quite so frantic.

It was quieter even to have only two children home, I had my brother and his little girl over to make a gingerbread house while my baby took a nap. I'm realizing I have to get to know him again, he is actually an adult not my little brother anymore and finishing up the first four years of med school. It is interesting sometimes it takes a little time to reconnect with family when you have been living away from each other and when you feel more connected then it seems like they have to go home.

My son got off on the bus by 12:35 and I had almost three hours with just the baby. I was able to run errands to Costco, pharmacy and the library including taking the time to select carefully books, computer games and videos that were just right for the kids instead of just putting in the basket everything they wanted and finding half of the materials were too advanced for the children, it was so wonderful and my baby loves the time driving about, getting in and out, and seeing new things when she is with me.

When I got home I had at least a half hour before the rush of the coming home and I knew I had so many phone calls to make lists to do and a house to clean, but for a moment I was just stunned, not knowing where to begin when I actually had some time on my hands, even the baby was asleep, it was such a peaceful calm. The calm after the storm.