Note to Self:

Even when it is only 2 days 'til Thanksgiving, I still needed this reminder today. Glad I have this fun banner the kids and I made yesterday (to savor the last of the warm weather!) Thanks to Family Fun for the idea!

The Promise

I was asked to speak at our Enrichment meeting this past week. The topic: Mary the Mother of Christ. The Relief Society gave me over 2 months to prepare, so I had lots of time to do lots of reading and pondering. I'm usually one to write out everything and then read my talks when speaking in Sacrament meeting...I figure if it's good enough for the Apostles in General Conference, it's good enough for me. But, in this smaller setting I felt like I didn't want to read everything verbatim so I spent a lot of time "practicing" (ie. talking to myself, much to the curiosity of my kiddies), so I'd have it down. I felt like I had a pretty solid "body" of remarks but just didn't know how to end the talk, so I wrote "testimony" at the bottom and hoped I'd come up with something.

The night came. I was nervous, but felt I'd done much to prepare. It was going okay... The audience was a little hard to read, but no one was throwing rotten fruit or getting up to leave---good sign! I didn't know if I was making sense to anyone, but I figured I didn't have much choice but to finish what I'd prepared, so on I went. Then, I came to the end...to the word "testimony" and the part I hadn't practiced. I looked at this beautiful painting, by Morgan Weistling, I had borrowed from my sister and set up at the front of the room.

And, it came: I recalled my own "Christmas baby," born 3 years ago at this special time of year. I talked about the kinship I'd felt to Mary at that time; the wonder of that special feeling only a newborn can bring into your home, coupled with the spirit of HIS season. And I realized, in the very moment I was sharing it in front of this group of women, that not only was Mary celebrating the beginning of her own family and her new experience as a mother, but she was rejoicing in the fulfillment of the promise of the Messiah. This baby was her King.

I'm thankful that there is One who always keeps His promises.

"For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say."
---D&C 100:6

I'm Worried...

I'm a first-rate worrier... just ask my husband. I am claiming non-responsibility for this trait, as my mom and grandma are even MORE worried than I am. I must have inherited it. Anyway, I'll try not to share ALL my worries here, but I'm unabashedly asking for advice, so I thought this was the best place to air my concerns:

First off...I need to apologize if all my past posts have popped up as 'new' on subscriber lists. I just spend the last few minutes going though my posts and editing out my kids' names. This was after I Googled the small bits of personal information I've shared on my blog and instantly found me...too easy! I've always been a little worried about privacy online...there are too many wack-o's out there. So, I've avoided using our last name, listing locations or other specifics. But, after reading this post and all the comments about blog and internet safety, I decided I had better error on the side of caution. Does anyone else have safety tips to share?

I can't imagine that my blog will be free from my kid's pics, but I'm thinking of changing the resolution of blog photos so they aren't very blow-up-able. Good idea or will it not make a difference??

Just so GREAT!

Don’t you love how you get “greater” the older you get? With age, you can become a great aunt, a great grandparent, or be remembered in future generations as a great great great … You just get greater and GREATER---in title at least!

My grandparents, my children’s great-grandparents, really are GREAT. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last week and I’ve been thinking about the greatness of it all: the longevity of their marriage, the joy they bring to their family and the way they still, after many years of service, find ways to bless the lives of their neighbors and ward members.

So, in honor of their anniversary, I thought I’d share some of the reasons why I think Grandpa and Grandma O. are great:

• It's great to know your greats: I love that my children know and love their great-grandparents. I have so few memories of MY greats. I know they were wonderful from the stories I’ve heard, but I’m so glad my children get the first-hand experience of knowing and loving their great-grandparents.
  
• They are great liars! Don’t get me wrong---they are both people of much integrity, but they always have a way of focusing on the positive, on the GREAT, and looking past the not-so-good…especially in other people. When I’m in their home, I’m the BEST mother, the GREATEST daughter, the MOST creative, the MOST organized, the BEST company, etc, etc, etc. Of course I know they are fibbing just a bit (sometimes a lot). But, their choice to emphasize the good makes me want to live up to those compliments. I always leave their house with a boost of self-confidence and the desire to be great.
• I love that, being 80 years removed from early childhood, they still know how to play. Their house is not a stuffy, old-folks-home but one of my kids’ favorite places to be. Grandma will sit tubside, pretending right along as Dal and Kate play submarine in her big (empty) Jacuzzi tub. She teaches Dallin to crochet stocking caps. She lets Kate give her birds a bath in the sink. And, Grandma Great is the best at making up new, silly games! We always laugh at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
  
• They are always good for a treat. Grandpa keeps his deep freeze full of grocery-store sale ice cream and Grandma's cupboard is stocked with Costco-sized bags of gummy bears, M&Ms, licorice, dried fruit and nuts. Their willingness to satisfy your sweet tooth is indicative of the generosity they've exhibited throughout their lives, sharing their resources, time, and talents with all who cross their way.
  
• I love that they delight in small things and small people. It is so fun to watch Grandma and Kate put together a puzzle or see Dallin’s grin as Grandpa takes him for a spin on his Jazzy Motor Scooter. They never (seem) to tire of watching the kids sing a song, do a summersault or play the “rhyming game.”
  
• They are faith-filled. Both are committed to the Church and continually seek for further gospel learning. I walked into the back room the other day to see Grandpa reading “Our Search for Happiness” and studying all the cross references in the scriptures along with it. The first time I brought Dallin to meet his great grandparents, he was 3 months old and a medical miracle. When she saw my little baby, Grandma immediately started to cry, kiss his face, and say, “I’ve prayed so much for you!” Their faith has impacted many in our family.
• I am Grandma’s favorite. I’m fully aware that every other cousin in my family thinks the same thing. The best thing is…they are her favorite, too. Grandma has an amazing ability to have LOTS of favorites and both Grandma and Grandpa make friends of all ages and types, from all over the world.
  

I could go on and on...there is so much I love about my grandparents. When all is said and done, however, the thing I love the most about them is that they are MINE and I love to claim them. They have lived a life and left a legacy for me; they are examples to follow and disciples to emulate.

I love you Grandpa & Grandma!

P.S. Don't you think it is great that, at age 85, they are computer literate and will be able to read this blog post? Like I said...they are great!

A Gift

Sunny days are doubly glorious when they are a gift, not a given.

Here we are a whole week into November. I’m supposed to be thinking about shopping, Christmas cards, turkey dinners and apple pie. Instead, I took my kids to the park.

Ahhhhh!

The lawn was covered in leaves. We played chase. We built a leaf pile. We jumped in. And, we LOVED the marvelous “crunch” all that fun made.

'Tis the Season

My kids are super excited to finally be able to eat pomegranates, or as Kate calls them, pom-it-gram-its. Mmmm!


My favorite dish at Thanksgiving dinner isn't the turkey or stuffing....it is Mom's salad, made with pomegranates.


Aunt Fay’s Thanksgiving Day Apple Salad
3-4 apples, various types, peeled and chopped (I like granny smith and golden delicious)
1 pomegranate, peeled and seeded
2 pears, peeled and chopped
1 bunch red grapes, halved
1 large can mandarin orange slices, drained
2-3 bananas, sliced
3/4 – 1 pint whipping cream chopped
nuts (optional)

Toss fruit together in large bowl. Whip cream with beaters until thick. Add sugar to taste. Stir cream into fruit until covered. Sprinkle nuts on top, if desired.

My 'Why?' Guy

I had an epiphany the other day. A family was seated behind us in Church and I could hear the conversation between the little girl, Alexis, and her mom as the bishop announced that after sacrament meeting, the primary children should stay in the chapel.

Alexis, to her mom: Do I have to stay here?
Mom (whispering): yes.
Alexis: Will my teacher stay with me?
Mom (whispering): yes.
Alexis: Why do I have to stay?
Mom (whispering): Because you are in the primary. Shhhh!

As the meeting continued, other announcements, things the speaker said, and things she observed around her caused Alexis to ask her mom different questions. Mid-meeting, her mom had to go up and sing in the choir, at which point Alexis started asking her DAD the questions. This time she was standing directly behind me, pummeling her dad with her queries:

Alexis: Where is mom going?
Dad (whispering): To sing in the choir
Alexis: Will she come back here?
Dad (whispering): yes
Alexis: Why does mom sing in the choir?

I turned around and, smiling, whispered to Alexis, “You must be four years old! My little guy asks almost as many questions as you do!”

As the words came out of my mouth a light went on in my head! Mr. D DOES ask a lot of questions. And it IS a product of his age. For some reason it just hadn’t dawned on me until this moment. For the past little while I’ve reached each evening feeling completely exhausted. I’m not so much physically tired as just worn down. I couldn’t figure out what was triggering my grumpies until I realized how much I could relate to the church-time plight of Alexis’ parents! I am pounded, peppered, plundered with questions non-stop, all day long! Dallin wants to know EVERYTHING! And, of course, his favorite question is “why?” Even when there isn’t a really good reason “why,” or I've already stated it, Mr. D wants to know what it is.

Me: Honey, if you don’t get your jacket on you’ll get cold outside.
D.: Why?
Me (in my head, hopefully, but too often out loud): ARGHHH! Didn’t I just say why?

Since my realization in church, I’ve been trying to figure out what other moms of non-napping, question-asking 4-year-olds do to save their sanity. Alexis’ mom says they try and change the subject when the questions get too much or too un-answerable. For example, instead of answering a question, she’ll just say, “Hey, Alexis, did you just see that cute dog?” My cousin helps her son look up the things he is interested in on the internet. Together, they’ve learned about all kinds of things and helped quench his thirst to know it all. I’ve noticed my sister’s response to her son is often, “I’m not sure. What do YOU think?” He usually comes up with something and recognizes his own power to figure stuff out. As for myself, I’ve just tried to realize that the cause of my weariness is just a current part of who my growing and changing boy is. So, I try not to let it bug me too much and if I’m getting a little TOO many “why?”s, I’ve simply said, “Hey D, I’m not sure the answers to all your questions right now. Can you save them for another time?” And, surprisingly, it works…sometimes.

Wonder why?