40 years

I'm now 5 months into my 40th year.  Forty, sounds so mature and accomplished like I should know what I'm doing by now. Unfortunately, I'm experiencing what I was told would happen, the more I live, learn, experience the less I feel I know. I'd like to think that what I'm experiencing is wisdom but I'm not going to give myself that much credit.

My parents were 40-ish when I came on the scene and by the time I could comprehend their life before me and their experiences they would share with me it seemed they had really lived.  They'd lived in Hawaii, owned a horse, lived in a house with a swimming pool, owned dogs I'd never met and traveled a lot, just to name a few of their experiences together. But then there were their childhood stories too; hunting in the hills of West Virginia, playing jokes on siblings, family owned diners in Oregon and long lost porcelain dolls.   There definitely had been a lot of living that had happened before and outside of the mountain home where I grew up. I was just sure I'd never get to do, or become, or have anything exciting.

Here I am looking back over my 40 years and by george I have a lot to be grateful for and there sure is a lot I've gotten to do, be and experience. It would seem I've had a lot of excitement too. I've really lived.
What stories of my childhood have I shared with my kids? Hiking in the mountains behind our house, being followed by a bobcat, playing night-games with all of the neighbor kids, taking my brother's bike without permission and completely totaling it by crashing into a tree, traveling to West Virginia, New York, Washington DC, Nauvoo, and Gettysburg.
Married life has brought 9 moves in 18 years (not nearly as many as my parents...(military)) and I've gotten to travel outside of the United States, twice. We haven't owned a horse or a house with a swimming pool and the only dogs we've had were after all of our kids were born, and I'm okay with that. Undoubtedly life has been good to me.

I've decided I really like 40. I feel good in my skin and that's a good feeling.

Looking forward 40 years is a funny undertaking. Our kids will be 57, 56, 53, 50, 47 and they could all possibly be grandparents! I most likely will be a great-grandparent!
That's kind of an exciting and perplexing thought.
I was talking through this issue with Rose and Hannah we decided it was funny we'd all be old together. I guess I kind of seem old to them now.
I decided there are a few things I need to remember when I'm 80+ years old.

• Please just get hearing aides. Everyone will be happier if you do. (However, hopefully they will find a way to fix hearing loss by then)
• Keep using the stairs, even when it's hard, it'll keep you around longer.
• Walk everyday. Don't stop moving.
• Dance everyday.
• Please pay attention to your blood sugar, I know it's a pain, just do it.
• Exercise your brain too, read and memorize.
• Go to the doctor if you're sick. Again, I know it's a pain but please just do it.
• Let your kids/grandkids plan and host family events.
• Don't be afraid to stop driving.

I'm sure I'll think of a few more, it's a list in progress.

I'm so happy with the life I've lived so far. It really has gone as a flash. There are times I miss simpler moments the ones before the kids had school assignments and soccer and music classes and dance classes and everything else....The funny thing is I'm pretty sure in a few short years I will miss the busy moments too, the evenings where we run from activity to activity and stay up late working on homework and finishing laundry.

Each moment has shaped and is shaping me and when I reach the end I'm pretty sure I'm going to look back and treasure each one.

That makes me so excited for the next 40+ years.

My Grandma S. told me once she wanted to live until she was 100 and die the next day just so she could say she'd lived to be 100.  She passed away 2 weeks before her 100th birthday. I say that totally counts.

I've decided I want to do the same thing, live to be 100 and die the next day.

In the mean time.

"...we would do well to slow down a little, proceed at the optimum speed for our circumstances, focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most."

Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Oct.2010, Of Things That Matter Most

This is my motto.

Brigham City Temple

We were able to take the kids to the Brigham City Temple open house the Monday before school started. We arrived at the parking lot at 7:30 am and we surprised at how many people were already there.
The whole family absolutely loved it and the kids were particularly impressed.
In the sealing room I told Mr.Man and Sweet Cheeks that that was the room people were married in.
S.C. said, "Really? It's so beautiful! Can I get married here?"
I of course said yes.
Then she said, "Thank you mom!" then a couple of seconds later, "When I get married here will you drive me here?"
Me, "Sure!"
S.C., "You will? Oh, thank you so much mom! Thank you!"
She keeps talking about when she gets married there and I of course love it!

We were all impressed with the peach blossom motif that was carried throughout the temple. From the blossom stained glass windows to the blossoms on the light fixtures. There was not a single detail forgotten.

About a month ago MDH and I had the opportunity to help clean the Bountiful Temple. Before our group received our cleaning assignments and instructions we had a devotional with some of the temple staff. They pointed out that some of our jobs may seem tedious and unnecessary because we might be cleaning something that doesn't look dirty or someplace that no one will ever see.
But it was necessary and important so that the House of the Lord never would become dirty.
I was particularly touched by that thought.
One could take that thought a step further and apply it to our homes or even ourselves, the temple of our spirits.
Am I taking care of every part? The seen and unseen? It takes effort and care everyday.
Which reminds me of one of my favorite poems by Henry Wodsworth Longfellow

The Builders.

All are architects of Fate,
Working in these walls of Time;
Some with massive deeds and great,
Some with ornaments of rhyme.

Nothing useless is, or low;
Each thing in its place is best;
And what seems but idle show
Strengthens and supports the rest.

For the structure that we raise,
Time is with materials filled;
Our to-days and yesterdays
Are the blocks with which we build.

Truly shape and fashion these;
Leave no yawning gaps between;
Think not, because no man sees,
Such things will remain unseen.

In the elder days of Art,
Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part;
For the Gods see everywhere.

Let us do our work as well,
Both the unseen and the seen;
Make the house, where Gods may dwell,
Beautiful, entire, and clean.

Else our lives are incomplete,
Standing in these walls of Time,
Broken stairways, where the feet
Stumble as they seek to climb.

Build to-day, then, strong and sure,
With a firm and ample base;
And ascending and secure
Shall to-morrow find its place.

Thus alone can we attain
To those turrets, where the eye
Sees the world as one vast plain,
And one boundless reach of sky

He's Creative

This cute kid of mine had a birthday this week. 

I got to go to his class and "spotlight" him.

On the wall were "superstar" papers on each of the children in the class. So of course I read the one about my boy.

There were lots of fun facts he filled out about himself but the ones that caught my eye were;

The thing people like best about me is, "I'm creative"

The thing I like best about me is, "I'm creative"

Seriously, how awesome is that? It made my heart smile.

I truly feel that we all have the desire to create deep inside us and creation or being creative can bring great happiness and fulfilment.

You may think you don’t have talents, but that is a false assumption, for we all have talents and gifts, every one of us.  The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter. -Dieter F. Uchtdorf-

To many, being creative only means something in the cultural, performing or visual arts. I think there is so much more to it than that. We can be creative every day and it's as simple as finding a new way of looking at a problem.

So, yes, I am proud of my boy for recognizing and feeling proud that he's creative and I hope he never forgets it!

To Save a Life....

To save a life the doctors are giving my father poison.

It sounds wrong.

I pray it's right.

But that's what they do when your body is full of things that shouldn't be there. Things that they don't know how or why, exactly, started growing. They just did.

It feels wrong to set and watch your father's face grow paler by the second as the poison slowly drips through the tube, through the needle and into his vein.

It is wrong.

But I pray that it will become right.

He was the first man in my life.

I adore him.

He is strong, resourceful, patient, loving, thoughtful, honest, handsome, intimidating (at times, if he needs to be), courageous, peaceful, smart, fun, funny, studious, kind, doting, clean, and safe.

And he's sick.

I'd rather it be me.

He's glad it's him. That's just how he is.

I've wondered if it's easier to loose your hair when you don't have much.

He claims that it will be, with a smile and twinkle in his eye.

From where I stand he's facing this challenge much the same as I'm sure he has all of the challenges of his life.

With quiet resolute strength.

I haven't heard him ask why. May be he has.

Without a doubt I have.

In my minds eye I see him 34 years ago, black wavy hair and pale blue eyes opening the door for me to climb into our old red Volkswagen.

It was a Saturday and we were going to put gas in the car. Somehow I talked him into taking me to the toy store. I walked out of the store with a new dress for my Barbie doll, it was pink and lace and he thought it was just as beautiful as I did.

Then it was off to the gas station. A trip to the gas station wasn't complete without a bottle of  orange soda pop and some crackers.

Arms full of treats and Barbie dresses I remember setting next to him and looking up in awe at how handsome he was. I told him thank you and how much I loved him.

I remember I was sure he didn't understand exactly how much I loved him because I didn't know the words or how to arrange those words so he could understand.

Now here I am three decades later and I feel the same way. I haven't learned the right words to properly express my love, adoration, appreciation and gratitude in  a way that truly encompasses my feelings about and for my father.

His life has been spent in service to his family, his neighbors and his country. It has given him understanding that is spoken in the kind depths of his eyes and the soft curve of a smile that never completely leaves his face.

Time and experience have made my dad even more handsome than he was when I was 3 or even when he was 30.

What would I do to save a life.....his life?

Anything......

Everything......

I pray......I love.....

and I watch as they give him poison.

I Remember....

I was 27.
I was a wife and a mother of 3.
My husband was getting ready for work and turned on the national news.
He came in to the bedroom and said, "I think an airplane just hit into one of the Twin Towers in New York. I think we might be under attack."
We?
As in our country? As in here on our soil? As in our brothers and sisters of one nation under God?
I didn't want my husband to go to work.
My heart ached for the families left behind.
I was afraid.
It's funny how a moment, a day can be branded in your memory. How you know you will never forget where you were and how sick you felt. And how you knew your world, your country would never be the same.
I found hope in the resilience of our spirit of community and in the humble faces turned to a Father in Heaven who is mindful of all.
And I found peace in the words of a living prophet who speaks for the Lord today.

President Gorden B. Hinkley, Sunday Morning session of General Conf. 2001.
As I read his words again today I can remember the spirit whispering peace to my heart.

We are people of peace. We are followers of the Christ who was and is the Prince of Peace. But there are times when we must stand up for right and decency, for freedom and civilization, just as Moroni rallied his people in his day to the defense of their wives, their children, and the cause of liberty (see Alma 48:10).

On the Larry King television broadcast the other night, I was asked what I think of those who, in the name of their religion, carry out such infamous activities. I replied, “Religion offers no shield for wickedness, for evil, for those kinds of things. The God in whom I believe does not foster this kind of action. He is a God of mercy. He is a God of love. He is a God of peace and reassurance, and I look to Him in times such as this as a comfort and a source of strength.”....

Great are the promises concerning this land of America. We are told unequivocally that it “is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ” (Ether 2:12). This is the crux of the entire matter—obedience to the commandments of God.

The Constitution under which we live, and which has not only blessed us but has become a model for other constitutions, is our God-inspired national safeguard ensuring freedom and liberty, justice and equality before the law.....

Now, brothers and sisters, we must do our duty, whatever that duty might be. Peace may be denied for a season. Some of our liberties may be curtailed. We may be inconvenienced. We may even be called on to suffer in one way or another. But God our Eternal Father will watch over this nation and all of the civilized world who look to Him. He has declared, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 33:12). Our safety lies in repentance. Our strength comes of obedience to the commandments of God.

Let us be prayerful. Let us pray for righteousness. Let us pray for the forces of good. Let us reach out to help men and women of goodwill, whatever their religious persuasion and wherever they live. Let us stand firm against evil, both at home and abroad. Let us live worthy of the blessings of heaven, reforming our lives where necessary and looking to Him, the Father of us all. He has said, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10).

Are these perilous times? They are. But there is no need to fear. We can have peace in our hearts and peace in our homes. We can be an influence for good in this world, every one of us.

Read the whole talk here.

What I've Learned

Sometimes you think you know what you want.

You focus with all of your might and mind and energy and you try to make it work.

Even when it takes so much....you are strong you will make it work...

You are a pin point of focused concentration and determination.

The ability to be such is a gift.

But somehow your goal keeps slipping.

And you realize it wasn't meant to stay firmly in your grasp it wasn't meant to work for you this time.

Then you take a step back.

And you take a good long look at the bigger picture. When you see how beautifully everything fits together with your new perspective and how blessed you truly are you're glad that sometimes things don't work-out.  But most of all you're full of gratitude for a loving Heavenly Father who sees the bigger picture of all life and helps you discover the bigger picture of your life.

That's what I've learned....lately.

Our Life

I wish I could say in my blogging absence we've been relaxing with a nice cool drink of lemonade.

But I haven't.

You see in the past couple of weeks we've

❀ hosted 2 birthday parties for 2 of our children.

1 Mr.Man. (Indiana Jones Party + 10 boys = good times)

1 Banana. (cookout on our family property, games, golfing, campfire + 5 girls = good times)

❀I've also been doing double duty with my church assignments.

1 Young Women

1 Cub Scouts

❀We even helped our oldest paint and redecorate her room.

❀And I'm working on Halloween costumes 1 down 3 more to go.....Luckily my son who had the Indiana Jones party wants to dress as Indiana Jones for Halloween so that's all taken care of....

❀MDH also started back to school.

Oh yeah.....

❀ (most importantly to the kids) We adopted a dog. (She's an outside dog and already trained so not too much stress there!)

❀And I've been trying (unsuccessfully) to keep up with Etsy Shop orders......

So there you have it......our life in 7 bullet Flower Points.

But never fear there is a lemonade with a comfy place to relax and put our feet up just around the corner (in 30+ years or so) I can just feel it.

Treasures.....a flash-back friday

My parents cleaned out their attic and basement earlier this year.

As a result my attic and basement are now full of my old junk and their old ping-pong table (which we love!!!).

Some of it has been fun to go through....old dance costumes, letterman's sweater (I didn't want a jacket.), old school papers, childhood diaries, etc.

.....some of it not so much.....junk my kids think they need to keep, embarrassing old school photos/assignments and notes to friends, etc.

.....some of it I'm keeping....

...and some of it has made it's way to D.I./Goodwill and some to the trash.

However, I did find two treasures that are not leaving my possession under any circumstance. Even if they aren't necessarily mine....they are now.

Treasure #1 the car pictured above. It belonged to my oldest brothers so I'm guessing it's late 1950's early 1960's. I love it. I remember playing with it too. Currently it's setting on a shelf and it makes me smile when I walk by. But I have let my little ones play with it....just a tiny bit.....the love it too.

Treasure #2 my dad's freshman button from college. It's still blue and gold (although faded) and you can see his name (barely) written in his own hand.....circa 1947.

When I asked my dad about it he said he had to wear that button and a matching blue and gold tie and beanie every day to class. I was curious to see if he still had the beanie and tie, he told me "Somehow the beanie got "lost","  a couple of days after he got it and he hadn't seen the tie in years.

I was a little disappointed because it would have been great to put all three in a shadow box with a picture of my dad but at least I have the button.

With these two treasures in mind I've been finding it nearly impossible to thin out my boy's toys and some other things that have been hanging around.

We need the space and less clutter but a lot of those things have good memories for the boys.

Maybe I'll put them in a box and when they have a house of their own I'll call them on the phone and say, "Boys, come get your stuff out of my attic." and then they can deal with it.

I guess, now I know why I inherited so many boxes of my childhood stuff these past few months.....

By the Numbers

(Photo by my brother, June 2005)

If it were simply about the numbers it'd look something like this.

What started with 1 boy and 1 girl

Continues 55 years later.

Numerous moves and homes

18 states lived in

Approximately 14 countries visited while serving our country

1 LDS mission served

4 sons + 4 daughters-in-law,2 daughters + 2 sons-in-law = 6 Temple marriages =

12 grandsons

19 granddaughters

6 great-grandchildren

But it's not just about the numbers because there have been uncountable

Prayers offered

Laughs shared

Tears shed

Hands held

Games played

Hugs given

Meals prepared and shared

Lessons learned

Help bestowed

Stories told

Scrapes and Illnesses healed

Examples lived

Testimonies entrusted

and a

Legacy Endowed.

We love you Mom and Dad!

Happy Anniversary!

Waxing Philosophical

I've been thinking, it's been a very long time since I've been asked, while shopping, "Are all of those children yours?!"

And then been told, "But you look so young!"

This could be because

A) we now live in a place were a family of 7 is considered a small family.

OR

B)  I just don't look that young any more.

I'm going with A. It's just easier on my ego. ;0)

Dear Bike Thief

Click on the picture for a little easier read!

This little email forward spoke to me.

I've never had my bike stolen

but

I did have my clothes stolen (including shoes) way back in the day (1992)

while I was performing @ WSU (dancing)

They did leave my wallet and took my car keys out of my pants pocket, so I wasn't penniless and stranded.

That was thoughtful.

But still, I was mad!!!

That was my favorite outfit.

I tried to make myself feel better by saying they must have really needed some clothes and shoes.

Inside I was thinking

I hope the clothes don't fit (size 2 pants- wow wouldn't that be nice now)!

So,

If this is a real poster made by a real boy who had his bike stolen (never can tell on these email forwards) I feel for him and I hope he got a new bike!

i owe it all to----

Dr. Seuss
The author to beat all authors.
When I was 4 or 5 my dad bought me this book.
I loved it like no other.
I had everyone........everyone read it to me.

Not in Latin.....(sigh)....but I know I would have loved it in any language.
This was also the first book I ever read by myself.
I'm sure it was because I already had it memorized.
I heard my dad telling my kids ,the other day, he learned to read by reading the funnies in the newspaper. And that got me to thinking about good old Dr. Seuss. I figure I owe a lot to him.
Because he introduced me to a fascinating world of funny colored food and foxes in boxes I've also discovered green rolling hills in the English countryside, heroes and heroines who are brave and sometimes tragic, and how exhilarating it can be to ride a wild horse in the hills of Australia.
Ah the adventures I've been on through reading.
It's funny too, how certain books, like certain smells or songs, can bring back vivid memories and sometimes it's fun to softly follow those memories where ever they may lead.

The Foot Book
"Left foot, left foot, right foot, right..... Feet in the morning and feet at night..."
Is just one such book.
When our oldest was born we received about 3 copies of this book free in the mail.
We being new parents and not having built up our library of children's literature...yet.. read said book to our young offspring.
She - LOVED - IT!
10 - 25 - 40 times a day we'd read this book to her.
She had it memorized before she could speak (which she started doing around 10 months, I thought that was normal.)
By 11 or 12 months she could quote the whole book.
Needless to say we started hiding it, but she'd always find it and ask us to read it again.
Now she's a literature lunatic ;-)

MDH gave me
Oh the Places You'll Go
our first Christmas together (married) and this started a great tradition of him giving me a children's picture book every year. I LOVE that tradition.
I had no idea how true this book would be to our life together though.

Today I'm celebrating my love for literature.
I probably should have saved this post until Dr. Seuss' birthday but I have no idea when that is, maybe February I don't know.
My point is I'm glad my parents found something that inspired me to keep reading and discovering the treasures within printed words.
If kids can find something that captures their imagination they'll keep reading.
Even if it's not GREAT LITERATURE as long as they're reading they can't loose.
And let your kids see and hear you reading......they'll be intrigued and want to try it out. Truthfully what child doesn't think the sun, moon and stars revolves around their parents?
I wish I could say all of my reading has made me a great speller and writer, sadly no such luck. But, I'd like to think I'm better than I would have been if I didn't love to read.
Now that would be scary.
And, lucky for me blogger at least has spell check.
Now,
Go,
Find a child
and
Read to him/her!
GO!
YOU CAN DO IT ON A TRAIN, YOU CAN DO IT IN THE RAIN.
YOU CAN DO IT HERE AND THERE, YOU CAN DO IT ANYWHERE!!!!

House Hunt UPDATE

Well, we think we've found our house!!!!
Our offer was accepted Saturday. Now it's onto inspection and appraisal.
Closing will be around Thanksgiving.
We still have a few days to back-out, if we want.
With this being a buyers market it's almost like we have too many options.
Not good for someone who hates to make decisions.
I feel like I'm being extra picky because we want to get this just right.
This decision is going to stick for quite some time. Our kids need the stability.
OH SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!!!! TELL US WE'VE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION!!!!!
I really like this house though!

one weird thing among many

One weird thing, as I hit the one month until my 35th b-day day and begin to contemplate my impending doom ---um---I mean age, is that I don't feel much older than 18.......Aside from a few aches and pains in my joints (probably a result of dance abuse when I was 18), a few gray hairs, a stray wrinkle here and there, a stray 20 pounds here and there, and 5 kids you'd never know I wasn't 18.
But then I look at my nieces and nephews who seem to think they need to get older and do grown-up things like......GET MARRIED ......and I'm reminded that I'm OLD---er....than they are so I must be getting old.
Above we have my sister's oldest daughter and her husband. Aren't they cute?
This fall another niece and nephew (brother & sister) got married within 3 weeks of each other.
Their poor (literally) parents!
Life moves on.
I'm loving every second of it.
But while everyone else gets older I declare I will be 35/18 FOREVER!!!!!!

Another chapter comes to a close.....

The Facts:

• Our family is moving to Utah.
• MDH got a job there.
• It's going to be a very quick move.
• The job application/interview/offer process was very quick.
• This is the right thing for our family to do.
• We will be closer to extended family.
• We will be living with my parents until we find a house.
• Doodle will be baptized there on August 9th.

The Feelings:

Three years ago when we moved here if someone had told me when it came time for our family to move again I would be just as sad about leaving this town as the others I had grown to love I would have laughed. I would have said, what's to love about a city on the edge of the desert with so many casinos? But, I've found a place in my heart for our biggest little city, there are so many things to love. (and just so you know the casinos are so easy to ignore and forget about) Our friends here are kind and thoughtful, caring and faithful, and oh so dear. The scenery is diverse and beautiful. We've found some of the greatest fishing and hiking spots ever, that are close and easy to get to. We've made some great memories, our youngest was born here. The kids have truly loved getting to participate in musicals and art contests, soccer, ballet and the science fair. And, we can't forget about scouts and all of the great friends we've met there. We've started some fun traditions like our President's Day San Fran trip, our July trip to Tahoe, and our Sept. trip to Apple hill.

But, the time has come for us to move on and start a new chapter in our family's book. The chapter to come will be full of family, new adventures, new friends and LOTS and LOTS of Utah Peaches. It is with mixed emotions we face our new future and our excitement to be close to family again is tempered by sadness at leaving our new family here. We know this is the right thing for us to do. We have been prompted by the Lord to make this move and He has ALWAYS taken care of our family as we have followed his promptings. He has gently cradled our family in His hands as we have traveled through adventures and trials and we know He will continue to do so.