SO SHE NOTICED

This is good.  I must document.  *Warning PG-13*

Little Lyssie Lou and I were hangin' on the couch for a bit, trying to get her to take a quick nap.  She laid her head on my lap and then a few minutes later sat up and leaned on me with my arm around her.  She then looked up after a moment and proceeded to push on my "pillow"  and said

"Hey?  You have a big private"...  and then noticed the other one...looked at me again and said

"Hey you have two big privates.  They are like balls.  How come they're not bigger like big bouncy balls?"...

"Hey, how come I don't have big privates?"...now looking down at herself.

Sad thing is, MY big "privates" go along with MY big body!  But I am glad we had our little talk and that she knows now when she becomes a mommy she will have fluffies too.

OREGON BLOOMING

My sister in law, Heather took the most BEAUTIFUL photo's of the spring flowers in Oregon on her walk the other day. If you LOVE flowers like I do, this will definately make your heart HAPPY. Check it out! (click her name)

S'MORE PLEASE?

We watched our neighbors kids the other night for a little while. Thanks to them for doing the same for us last week . The weather has been sunny but with a pretty chilly breeze this weekend. The kids wanted S'mores, so we smooshed 'em together and mmm they were ooey, gooey, tasty.

Ok. S'more than one got burned though, Travesty!

It's been fun to feel a little more settled into our house this Spring. It's been just over a year, and we are starting to enjoy the yard more. (You know you are when you can take time to lay down on the grass at dusk and tickle kids and look up at the clouds in the sky passing by). Gotta love that. Well the garden is officially underway, we need to plant tomatoes next week along with our peppers. We have a little 3 foot fence now framing the front of the garden. Hopefully I will get an arbor someday to arch the entry. Maybe grow some raspberries around it or something. (Can I even do that?) Anyway, with a few trees being planted and others already budding, Spring is here and with that a beauty and sense of renewal that replenishes my soul. So here's to S'more of the simple moments we like to enjoy in life.

Planting Asparagus with helping hands.  Did ya know it takes 3yrs to grow?  Thanks G-pa!

DOCUMENTING

Just documenting a few of our boy's comments and quirks.

First off, I am sad to say that Ty gets embarrassed by Todd and I now in public. Sometimes we are so uncool. Like when he is at the bus stop and I pull up in the car and see that his shoe is untied. (no, he still can't tie his shoes.) Anyway, I knew he might be embarrassed, so I didn't call out that I wanted to tie his shoe for him (dah) but when I even said, Hi, hey come here for a minute. He was so shy and embarrassed that I had even pulled up. But I wasn't too uncool to have him want to snuggle during the Jazz game.

Secondly, We were in the yard again tonight for a bit and it was pretty cold. Tyson wanted to go out with out a jacket. I said no way. He said he was fine, banter banter.

I then said "Hey, I'm your mom and it is my job to take care of you and make sure that you are warm even when you don't want to be."

He said "Mom, that's NOT your job. Your job is to clean the house. If you don't do it, I won't pay you." (we've been working on allowance money and extra job earning money lessons lately.)

Well, I set him straight on the difference between at least two of the hats that I wear. Housekeeper? Mom? Maid? Mom?

He walked out with his jacket ON!

Thirdly, we came in to watch a bit of the Jazz game and we had made some Cinnamon Pull-a-parts that were baking while we were outside. We sat down and I gave him some with a glass of milk. A few seconds later, he had guzzled the milk and asked for more. He said..

Milk is SOO good...when you REALLY,REALLY need it, like with those brownies you make, mom. ( I thought, yep, & my Cinnamon Pull-a-parts!...score.) He even ate the chunks of tomato tonight in his "healthier" chili.

Ok, one last one.

Funny that a "too cool" first grader and his "too cool" friend are in the car with me and say they have been playing house at recess. Jersey girl is the mom named Mamacita, Tyson is the dad, Papa Poo, and the other two boys are the twins, Baby Goo, and Baby Loo. Hello? How did they go from playing football and basketball to playing HOUSE at recess?

CHRISTIAN

All my brothers know I have a favorite..."Cause he's their favorite too! Anyone who knows Christian, knows why. I have many old neighbors and friends who ask how he is, and remember the undeniable light that shines through his eyes. My mom says that our friends, neighbors and babysitters we definitely angels from heaven.  Christian just celebrated his 28th Birthday in March.

I still remember my dad sitting with my older brother and me in our living room, I was 6 at the time. They explained to us that our little brother was very special. That he had been born paralyzed from the chest down. That meant he could not feel his legs and he would never be able to walk. I don't remember what else was really said, but my mother and father do. They said that Carson who was 8 yrs. at the time said, "That's ok. I will just put him in the wagon and pull him where he needs to go"

And that's just what we did. He was such a cute little baby. With dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. He spent the first few months of his life in the hospital. (*Laura, I think it was your father-in-law who delivered him.) He was then sent to Primary Children's Hospital. The Dr's didn't think he would make it through the first night. Then probably not the first week, or a month, or two. And then even if he did, he would never sit up, never talk, never do anything really.

He was born with Spina Bifida. This is a neuro tube defect where it results in an incomplete formation of the spinal cord and also results in the vertebrae in the back not fully formed over the spinal cord. It usually leaves that part of the back open. In simple cases, it could be only an inch on the back, and you'd never know someone had it. But in Christian's case, his back was open from the shoulder blades down to his lower back. He also ended up with part of the highway between the two lobes of his brain missing.  And only one kidney.  When he came home from the hospital after he was born, his back bone looked like a football cut in half and placed under his skin.He came home from one of his first back surgeries with shiny little white buttons down his back. At least 6 or 7. Real buttons! They had straightened his back and sewn it back together.

Anyway, this little guy was a fighter. How could he not be with all the love his parents and 4 older siblings smothered him with. And yet he has been the light of our life's since day one. He first learned to smile, then to laugh, then to sit, then to scoot, then to play jokes, then to speak...to write his name...to read...

Now that I am a mother, I recognize the unconditional love that we have for our own children. I can see why my mother has always said Christian has never been her biggest trial. My mother and father had 5 children under the age of 8 with the youngest two only 11 months apart. Yes, Shawn was only 11 months when she had Christian, and my father was serving in the bishopric. All of this and they were only 28 and 29 years old. And still my mother says of those years "although it has been difficult and one of the greatest physical challenges, "Having Christian has been like waking up to Christmas Everyday.  I just never knew what surprises I was going to get" She says watching him learn and grow and think and play has been a treat and a present to her soul.

I saw this picture today while I went through some photos. I wanted to post it and tell Christian how much I love him. He has been the constant and undeniable spirit from which much of my faith and strength in my Heavenly father and Savior have come from. My eyes have also welled many times as I have watched my brothers, and husband, and parents, teachers and even strangers literally carry the physical mangled weight of this guy's body on their backs in and out of his wheelchair, car, or even up flights of stairs, so that he could participate in life with the circles of people he loves.

My parents knew right away that Christian was the name that would suit him best. And that he truly is.

 

GREAT FIND

Thank You Lacie for posting this on your Blog.  Great one to pass on.

THE STORY OF LIFE:

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor, coworker, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger), but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.
Everything happens for a reason. Nothing happens by chance or by means of good luck. Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved, straight, flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are probably the most poignant and important ones. If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious when you open your heart. If someone loves you, love them back unconditionally, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.
Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen.
Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don't believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make of your life anything you wish. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets. Most importantly !!! If you love someone tell him or her, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.
And learn a lesson in life each day that you live.

by unknown

CLINT ELMER FUND

My brother's dear friend Clint has 3 to 6 months to live.  He is in his early 30's and has a cancerous tumor wrapped around his heart and lungs.  They took him in for surgery last week, and closed him up without operating.  It was just too risky.  He is recuperating now and will go home for the next few months. 

Cameron said his one wish is to travel back to Virginia to see the Civil War sights.  There has been a fund set up for Clint at Zions Bank.  I told Cameron I would get the word out and we'll see what we can do.

Too often, people pass away without warning.  There is no, "one last wish"  I also have come to realize that $10 does go along way, when 10 people donate.  And it's not always about the person with the hardest or most difficult trial, it's one person at a time, and doing what I/we can do to help.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in donating, or knows someone who can, here is the info.  Thank You.

Donations can be made at Zions Bank to the

The Clint Elmer Donation Fund

Check By Mail:
Zions Direct - Operations
One South Main Street - 17th Floor
Attn: Donation Processing
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

 

*Or to make online donation from your Zions Bank Account click here.

http://www.zionsbank.com/zd_serv_charitable_giving.jsp

To check validity of fund you may call Zions Bank at  800-524-8875

QUOTE

I found this quote that one of my VT game me a while ago.  It was a good reminder of what/who I need to try to be like.

******************************

"Those who are filled with the love of Christ

do not seek to force others to do better;

They inspire others to do better. 

Indeed inspire them to the pursuit of God. 

We need to extend the hand of friendship. 

We need to be kinder, more gentle,

more forgiving and slower to anger"

******************************

Howard W. Hunter

HOLD ME

I don't know about you, but for me, even at 33 I still remember the days of being held as a little child by  my parents. The comfort that only it could bring. No matter how old we get, we will always be a parent's memory of their "little" child.

I love these two pictures. Tyson (almost 2) was sleepy after a long Christmas holiday, and Alyssa (about 18 mo.) was too, after church on Father's Day.

DON'T PASS IT UP

Grandpa Clark, Tyson, Alyssa, Grandpa John

If I had a dime for every time I've heard someone say "I wish I had a picture of that" or "I should have taken a picture while I had the chance" I would be very rich, not just with money, but with the memories that were captured with that photo.

Tyson and Alyssa's Grandparents live in different cities, and I can count on one hand the times they have been in the same place at the same time. So tonight I would not take for granted.

Tonight was just a quick happen chance of both Grandpa's showing up at our house within the same time frame for a few minutes. I have had genealogy and ancestry on my mind lately, and so my first instinct was, I am getting a picture for Tyson and Alyssa with both of these men in it. It will be a wonderful treasure for years to come. I know that My children will be thankful that I did.

Thank you Grandpa John and Grandpa Clark. We love you both and are so grateful and blessed to be your posterity. You both have great qualities and wisdom that we can draw from and take into our lives to make us better people because we have known you.

HERITAGE

Here are a few photos I came across from members on my side of the family. I have some more of Todd's side and mine that I will be posting from time to time. It's fun to see what physical characteristics, if any are passed down.

This is my maternal Grandpa Hart and 2 of his children, my mother, Suzanne & Brother Perry.

My maternal Grandpa Hart My mother Suzanne

My maternal Grandma Jane

My paternal Grandma Olive My Father, Clark

ENCHANTED

 

So our family is just getting to this movie, where I know most of you have probably seen it in the theatre or easily by now. However, my kids loved it. I had to take a picture of the kids trying to get quality time with their daddy while watching it with him. They couldn't get close enough. It made me smile. I loved looking at them and realizing that for Todd and me it has been almost 17 years, , to the month that we had Our True Love's First Kiss.  At The State Capitol.

Little did we know...

I count that as one of my greatest blessings.

Love ya honey, always have, always will.

HOPE

Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life.

Hope implies a certain amount of despair, wanting, wishing, suffering or perseverance —

Believing that a better or positive outcome is possible

even when there is some evidence to the contrary.

* This is one of my favorite pictures in my home. It is Titled "Delicate Balance" by Greg Olsen. The scripture that is mounted with it states this.

I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you hope and a future. -Jeremiah 24:11

My friend is giving a talk on Hope next week . We briefly started to discuss how little we really know about the true meaning of hope. It has much more spiritual relevance than I ever thought. It make more sense now when I hear

Faith, Hope, and Charity...with out these...

HEAVEN SENT ME A COP

PUTT, PUTT, FIZZ, FIZZ...crap! I seriously ran out of gas!  (stop laughing, Angie)  The last time I did this was on the freeway 6 years ago when I was 8 months pregnant with Tyson.  Luck of the draw then was that I sat for 30 minutes and finally one of Todd's friends and coworker recognized our car and stopped. SO EMBARASSING.  I had a cell phone, but it seriously died while ringing and having Todd's VM message start.  Then it was dead, no message left. I knew I should have gotten off the exit not even 1/2 a mile back, but nope, I didn't.  So dumb. (Ang, I said stop laughing.)

However this time was a more interesting one for me.  It was actually one of my faith building moments believe it or not.  I'll explain why towards the end.  For the past year or so, I have tried to keep a habit of not letting my gas tank drop below half.  Because my Mom told me to.  I am starting to listen to her now, realizing finally, Mother's do know best. Well, this week I let it drop too low.  I knew on Wednesday I was being lazy, but didn't stop.  Then Thursday night it was pretty low and I still went to the soccer game and so forth.  I still didn't fill up afterward, I was rushing home for Todd to head to his Soccer game.  Of course, he took my car, and still came home without gassing it up either. 

So this morning I went to take Alyssa to tumbling and saw the light on, and new it wasn't filled up, and that there was even less gas now then the night before.  I dropped her off, Which was closer than the gas station and then headed up the road to fill up.  I had to cross over the overpass with 4 stoplights.  As I was rearing up the ramp, I felt the fuel injection go out.  Crap!  Then it went something like a little fuel injection here, a little fuel injection there, ...here a little...there a little...almost up the hill but no, it was fizzling fast.  I thought "that's just great."  I cannot walk on my sprained ankle across an over pass with stoplights and construction. 

Then I spotted him, the cool D.A.R.E. cop car coming up behind me in the next lane.  I rolled my window down as fast as it would go and flailed my arm trying to get his attention.  I was still just barely sputting along.  He rolled his window down and I yelled "I'm out of gas, just follow me"  basically ordering him.  Which I felt really stupid for, but could NOT deal with this on my own.  Anyway, I had just enough coasting in me at that point to crest the top of the pass, at that point I was passing the stoplights, riding on the shoulder, if there even was one, and doing this at about 5 miles per hr.  I  was completely coasting at that point.  The gas was gone.  I was only able to  cross through the lights because the cop was behind me otherwise I would have had to stop at one of the red lights and that would have been it.  So luckily I gained a little speed on the way down, half way driving on the shoulder.  I put my hazards on and blinkered to get from the right lane over to the left hand turning lane.  I was about 40 feet from the light to turn left and then right to enter the station...at that point I completely stalled.  The cop pulled behind me and I said again, I am out of gas, it quit completely.  He said well, let's give you a push.  I felt SO dumb.  He went back to his car for a second and then I tried to start my car one last time before I put it in neutral.  Well it started.  At the bottom of the hill we lucked out with the gas pooling just enough to start up again after it was just in fumes.  I asked him if I should try to see if I could go further, "yep... the less pushing for me," he said.  I was able to go slow and make it to the light and then it turned red.   There were like 4 or 5 cars there, and then the cop turned his lights on and pulled in front of me and escorted me across the intersection, stopping traffic and got me to the station.  I WAS SO EMBARASSED!   HOW DUMB is that, I seriously ran out of gas, and stalled looking at the gas station.  I bet that cop thought it was a great one to tell for the day.

SO, with a full tank of gas, I was off for the day! 

As for the faith building aspect of this experience for me, it is as simple as this.  For the past few months, While Alyssa has been at tumbling on Fridays, I have headed home for 30 minutes and spent some quiet time just "meditating" no music, no TV no computer, just quiet, eyes closed...you know.  Really taking time to think about specific things weighing on my mind.  Well, with in the past few months after 4 or 5 of these Fridays, I have had some unique faith building experiences that were direct answers to my specific prayers on those specific days.  And oddly enough they were answers that were fulfilled with in hrs of my prayers.  No Question about it.  I have come to look forward to this short little amount of time to ponder at the end of the week, before the weekend.  Of course knowing I needed gas this Friday, I knew I had to go fill up, and would not have enough time to head home for my "island of time".  So when I started to lose the fuel in my car and knew I wouldn't make it to the station, I about died.  I just PRAYED, like we all do in that circumstance.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, OH NO, NO, PLEASE, you know the drill, with half a sarcasm in my voice, yet knowing my whole heart was pleading.  I've also had some unusual anxiety lately so with that and my sprained ankle I knew I couldn't be left on the side of the busy road on the top of an on ramp bridge.  The thought was unbearable.  This was one time, I couldn't physically walk it, and knew I would panic just having to wait for someone to pull over and help.  Anyway, I calmed down for a quick second and under my breath mumbled to God that I had the faith that I would be ok, and that He would take care of this for me.  I really believed in Him and knew I was panicking and that I needed to trust the situation.  Well, with in a matter of seconds, that is when I looked in the rear view mirror and saw the cop behind me.  The only thing I can really think is, seriously, how often are we really driving down the street with a cop car present.  For me, not so often.  Rarely I should say.  I was able to coast across the lanes, with his escort.  Embarrassingly, but Thankfully.  To have this happen on a Friday, during the time I have now come to crave alone with my Father in Heaven was faith building for me.  He knew where my heart was, and he had mercy on my lesson of being lazy and not filling up when I knew I should have earlier.  This was another unique experience that has happened to co-inside with thoughts and prayers.  Also so other events the rest of the day, re-confirmed this. 

This has reminded me, that even when I'm lazy and don't always heed the warning signs, the Lord has mercy and is just.  My lesson was in having Faith in Him today, not in Him punishing me with something I could not handle today.  He knew where my heart was.

"WHAT A GREAT KID" COUPONS

I found this super cute coupon book at a Hallmark store last summer. The kids have gone wild for these. All Todd or I have to say is "You'll earn points for a coupon" and they're there. Tyson just loves earning points, the more the better. So we make each coupon worth usually 400 points.

Ty and Alyssa get points for anything from running to get jammies on with in 2 minutes, to helping out in the yard, or once in a while even just playing quietly together while Daddy and I need to do something else for a few minutes. But that would only earn them maybe 10 or 15 points. Sometimes we even have complete coupon days, where they really need to behave for the whole day to earn an "extra" bonus coupon. They really do get excited. We have been surprised.

We have a rule that they can only accumulate 3 or 4 coupons at a time, before they have to redeem one. We usually let them redeem 2 or 3 a month. So we watch how many points we are giving out and kinda gage where they are at to pace it.

It was originally going to be just for Tyson, since I thought Alyssa was to young to grasp the concept at 2 1/2...but Tyson insisted she got to earn them to. For the first few days, Tyson would always run and grab Alyssa and say, "come help me do this, we get points for coupons, and then mom and dad will bring you breakfast in bed."

Now all you Scrapbookers I'm sure could make your own coupons, but this was only $5.95 and came with 52 coupons. And they were really cute ideas. The best thing is when they redeem them, I keep them so that we can reuse them. Some of them are favorites. Here are a few examples.

*Rerun! Wear your favorite article of clothing one more time before it disappears into the laundry

*This coupon good for one movie rental of your choice, with popcorn

*Night Owl Bonus or Stay up extra late one night. (how late and when to be negotiated)

*Redeem coupon for your favorite ice cream.

*You get to choose the Pizza toppings next time we order in.

*With this coupon you can name the family activity of your choice. (choose your favorite board game, card game, sport, or activity)

*This entitles you to bring a friend along.

*This coupon entitles you to one half hour of undivided attention form mom or dad. All eyes are on you.

*You choose your favorite take out and we will bring it to you with a smile.

*For one day, everyone in the family will have to salute you every time you walk in the room.

*Good for a sleep over with ----- many friends.

*Good for one week to double your allowance.

Anyway, these really have been a great motivator for our kids, and if we threaten to have a coupon taken away, it really gets their attention to. By the way, you can et them at Smith's Market in Farmington too.

SECRET DEEDS STAR

While I'm posting on the subject of things our family does. I want to document a couple more that have really worked for us. We received this darling Star Wand for Christmas back in 2004 from one of our neighbors. It came with a darling little poem, which I can't believe I didn't keep a copy of.

Anyway, this little star has been a joy to have. The concept of this little Sharing Star is to have someone start by doing a kind deed for another member of the family. After the deed is done, simply place the star on the person's pillow or leave it in the place where you did the deed, for the family member to find. Then it is that person's turn to continue with a deed for someone else.

The fun thing about this Star Wand, is that is has been going around in our family for a few years now. When we moved, I had it put away, and sure enough once I unpacked it, somehow it started up again just by laying there in my room. We all do kind deeds for one another, but this has been a simple reminder for us, when we aren't necessarily thinking about it. When a parent hears from their child "Mom, aren't you going to do something nice? You've had the star for a few days." Sometimes it will be forgotten by a family member, and they will not pass it on, so it sits, or gets put in the toy box, and Mom or Dad sometimes get busy and put it on the shelf, or by the magazine rack. But it is only a matter of a few days or weeks once in a while, even a month will go by...and then, sure enough, it is "found" again by someone. And once again a kind act is gentle done, and the surprise of the Secret Deeds Star is alive.

PS. I Actually took this idea and used it for a Sharing Time. I punched out little red paper stars and attach them to a brown paper wand. I thought of it last minute, so next time I would have attached them to popcicle sticks. Anyway, each of the kids got one to take home and do a kind deed for a family member.

OUR FAMILY APPRECIATION BOX

For a little over a month now, our Family Appreciation Box has been going strong. Tyson came home from school one day and had a few notes in his backpack from anonymous friends at school. In his class they started an appreciation box, where they can leave messages to others, Thanking them for different acts of kindness or whatnots.

Tyson came to Todd and me about a week later and said he had a great idea for our family. That we should start one of our own. I thought it would be a great idea and a nice addition to our FHE night each week where we could read the notes.

It has really been a lot of fun to see how many notes are in there. Alyssa usually draws some pictures for each of us. Tyson comes up with some good ones. The one's he writes for Alyssa are as simple as "Thanks for carrying my drink upstairs" to "Thanks for respecting me in sharing time" (when he gave his talk) we thought that was a cute one. It is also a suggestions and questions box too.

HERO'S TRIBUTE CONT.

APRIL HERO BULLETIN BOARD

The Theme this month is Student Heroes. I chose to keep it general for all the students to celebrate being heroes. You can't really tell by the picture, but those crazy things are mirrors. It could have been better planned out. But it is up...it is done. Some months, that's gotta count for something. Once again for those who asked about previous month's boards, the year in review is in my January post.