A Goal

I decided there are not enough books with a religious theme or moral attached. I'm particularly surprized at the lack of Christmas books with even a mention of Christ even at the religious bookstores. So I announcing to the world (maybe that will help keep me motivated) I'm going to write a Christmas book with some religion in it. The basic idea at this point a mother sitting on the couch with her children and they ask her questions and she tells them stories of Jesus, maybe a song the mother makes up to tell a story or a poem included as well, since poetry comes easier to me. So those are my thoughts at this point. I was strenghtened by reading an article in the Ensign about goals and how it is Satan who discourages us and makes us think we can't accomplish things. I've always wanted to write and I need to keep to those goals and not let Satan discourage me.

Feeling better

I don't remember the last time we've had a set of illness like we've had the last two months, it is so nice for us to all go to church together today, it seems like it has been a long time. It is so nice to be able to get out of the house and socialize and even though it is freezing we've gone for walks and enjoyed the outdoors and the sun shining in the cold.

Being sick always helps motivate you to keep yourself healthy and appreciate our bodies. My son just read me five books, easy real early reader books but it is so exciting. A whole new world opens with reading and you get to experience another person's life through a book, sparks imagination and learning, he even said he wants to learn piano now and I have to try to hide how excited I am.

My oldest just earned over 100 smiley faces so she got a bike, not a little kid bike anymore and it hit me how she is growing up too fast. She is tall for her age, of course, so I feel this growing up too fast even more. I have a hard time finding little girl clothes for her and she wants to be so independent. She still likes me to sing to her every night and likes to read with me even though she protests at first.

My baby's little feet patter all over the house, running here and there. Wants to take a bath all the time loves playing in the water and is sad she can't go in when we take her siblings to swim lessons. I love taking her for walks and her attention span has grown where I can read her more interesting books. I love doing music with the kids, it was inspiring to hear how some of the best academic schools in the country require music and the fine arts in large quanities to the kids in those schools and help me keep to my commitment to require my kids to take music lessons.

Anyways, its nice to feel better, to feel the sun on our faces, to not turn into permanent hermits and to be able to go to church again.

Tuesday afternoon in March

Wind blown freshness sweeps the quiet day
Chimes tinkle across the street
A solitary ‘helicopter’ and leaf surrenders its way to earth

Snow tips the mountain tops, stalwart frozen sure
Yet, in the valley movement beneath the imposing stillness
Growth beneath the ground, children running on forgotten grass

Sunshine blue sky with wispy clouds pattern shadows on the mountain
A cry as children fall, band aids, noses wiped, kisses, loves
The yellow bus comes, matching the post-winter colors, my boy off to school

Preparing for writing group, computer keys click and pause
A house gone quiet, a hum of a computer, blinking of the answering machine
Reflection and peace a moment like a prayer on a quiet afternoon in March