Insults......In German?

I have decided to have a German interpreter with me as well. This I feel would be far more effective for hurling angry comments at those who annoy me.

Look at me, building my own entourage. I might have to consider wardrobe changes.

Bad News........In French

I've decided that I will now be accompanied by a french interpreter at all times. I believe this will be a much more pleasant way of getting bad news. (You never know when it will hit you.) I figure, once I've heard unpleasant information in my native tongue the negativity of the event will be lessened by the repetition of said information in the sweet sound of the soft french language. (I'd even settle for Portuguese if no french interpreter were to be found.) I suppose this is my equivalent of wearing rose colored glasses but far more fun. Yes, I believe this will be a very welcome addition to my life. At the very least, I'll have someone to carry my purse.

Fight Club

As a mother of three boys I knew this day would come. We have now navigated our way through our first fist fight. (For grandmas who are reading this, it was minor and no one was physically hurt. But pride on the other hand...)

Apparently my son (who shall remain unnamed) was mouthing off and got a little verbal argument going. I guess that was enough for him and he threw the first punch only to get it handed to him by the other kid. Our delinquent came home in tears and relayed his version of the story to his dad. Of course my husband listened to the story and did a little detective work on his own. According to one of our other sons, our instigator deserved what he got. My husband followed DEF CON 4 procedure by explaining the reasons we do not start fist fights and sent the twerp to bed.

I am really surprised that I am not more upset about this. First of all, my child likes to talk smack and I think that since he got his pride handed to him in a paper bag, this was a good lesson learned. Second, there is a part of me that wants to kick the other kid's butt myself. He's a punk and I can't say the thought hasn't crossed my mind. (Of course, there are laws against that and well, I don't want to go to jail.) I guess I can say that now I truly feel like I have been inducted into the "Mother of Boys" club!

Politics Alert!

Tomorrow is the Caucus/Mass meeting day! Check your county website to find out your precinct number and meeting location. We need knowledgeable, aware people to run for delegate positions. This is the grass roots, rubber-meets-the-road part of politics. The folks that get elected tomorrow will shape elections for the next two years. Be active, be involved!

My House

I had the thought today that at my house there are always dishes in the sink and crumbs on the floor. There is always laundry to be done and dust on the piano. And all too often, the toilet doesn't get flushed. At my house there is always noisy wrestling and an ongoing search for clean socks. There is homework and violin practice and soccer game weekends.
At my house there are Bar B Q's, birthday parties and late nights with friends. There are game nights and dinner groups and backyard get-togethers. And sometimes, when I notice the dust on the floor and piano because I haven't had time to clean or sigh with exasperation at having to flush the toilet for someone else I am grateful that my days are filled with the sounds of children, that I have good friends and that I am needed.

A Christ Centered Easter

We have begun celebrating the week of Easter today (technically it started yesterday but we used yesterday's lesson for today's scripture study). I purchased a book called "A Christ Centered Easter" a few years ago and I've used it most years since. For our scripture study today we talked about Palm Sunday and what the significance of that event was. We also started an LOA wall or, Love One Another wall. All week everyone can write reasons we love one another on the poster board and on Easter we will read them. Some of the other things we have planned:

Monday: "The Easter Story in Eggs"
Tuesday: "Parable Charades"
Wednesday: "Parable of the 10 Virgins", make oil lamps
Thursday: discuss the last supper and have our own nice dinner
Friday: "Easter Cookies", these cookies become hollow like the tomb
Saturday: The Easter bunny comes
Sunday: Wake the kids up to "Handel's Messiah", have a "Plan of Salvation Treasure Hunt" on Easter afternoon


I'm really excited for this week and I hope that my children get more out of Easter than just a stomach ache. I don't know that Easter is associated with Christ like Christmas is. After all, Christmas happened so that Easter could. And Easter happened so that we could all have eternal life. I think it's important to teach children that Christmas and Easter were both part of Christ's life and that each was important to our lives here on earth and our lives after. I hope you all have a happy Easter week!





Here is the recipe for Easter Cookies, even my 10 year old likes doing this activity.
You need:
1 C whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 Egg whites
pinch salt
1 C sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape and Bible


Preheat oven to 300 F. Place pecans in zipper bag and let children beat then with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman soldiers. read John 19:1-3

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. into a mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life. Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 C sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matt. 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and "seal" the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

Go to bed! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22

On Easter Morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are Hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9

A Fantastic Tool

I remembered last night that my faith is another tool of the Lord. Just like I can use my hands to help others, I can use my faith also. And just like any muscle, the more it's used, the stronger it gets. I think we often forget that faith is an actual force or energy. In a world that is so big and yet so connected I often feel inadequate to help those who are far from me. I have often found that when I feel helpless to help others in need I can turn to the Lord to bridge the distance. Some may say "well look at all the bad in the world. There is no way that your prayers are doing anything." I would say, not enough people are praying. Imagine the good that could be done in the world through the force of faith!

Scripture Power!

My daughter loves to sing songs she learns in nursery. One of her favorites is "Scripture Power". We sang that this morning along with "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "I am a Child of God" (or Gone, if you say it like her) and it was so fun. I loved the words to the song "Scripture Power" and thought about how important it is to draw from the scriptures each day to really give us strength and the power to make good choices. I hope that my children will come to appreciate that truth as well. I am grateful for little bits of comfort and wisdom that come at seeming random moments, from scripture references. Sometimes the guidance comes from reading, sometimes it comes from remembering past studies and sometimes it come from others(like the Galatians 1:10 reference from Annie yesterday. It was most helpful and poignant.) I am feeling very grateful today for the scriptures.

Here are some of the words to "Scripture Power"

Scripture power, keeps me safe from sin
Scripture power is the power to win
Scripture power, everyday I need
The power that I get each time I read.

I Have Issues

Okay, so that may not be news to anyone who knows me but really, I think I'm getting better with age. Lately though, I've wondered about one crappy personality trait that has reared it's ugly head. I have spent so much time thinking about how to overcome this because it really alters my behavior. I find it so disturbing that I can accomplish so much, try so hard and still find serious faults in myself. And not only that, I feel that others notice them equally visibly as well. What bothers me the most is that my insecurity causes me to be defensive to any who appears judgemental or threatening. It alters everything when it flares up and I find that navigating life at those times seems excruciatingly daunting. It's hard to know when to stick up for an idea or plan when I'm so concerned about what other people think. It's irritating to feel the constant need to prove myself.

Looking back, I'm making great strides but I know there is a long path of self evaluation and growth ahead. I envy those who feel confident without personal quid pro quo. I know that people like that exist because I've met them and had this conversation. It is my ultimate goal to someday wake up and feel like I'm good enough and centered enough that I can be the force of good I want to be. Until then, I'll keep doing my best to learn from my mistakes and congratulate myself on the awesome things I can do.

It's Long Enough!

Finally, we got our first piggy tails in. I have opened up a whole new world of possibilities and I'm scared! Isn't she too cute!

Don't Run With That!!

I've had about a million ideas come a go for a blog post but I just have not had time to create anything of substance so instead, I'll fill your precious "free time" with senseless, disturbing kid photos.


Mommy and Daddy are NOT kidding when they say “NEVER run with sharp objects!”
See, this is what happens when you run with a fork!
I bet the kid switches to a spoon!!!

Faithful Thoughts Part II/Lula Mae

I have to say I'm glad the topic is showing love to our family not feeling love for our family. I think it's easier to "fake it till you make it" sometimes when it comes to kids. I'm sure I'll say many of the same things that the other ladies have said so I'll keep it brief.

When Colby and I first got married we adopted a scripture from the Doctrine and Covenants (a book of scripture in the LDS Church) that states: "Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou has reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy." (D&C 121:43) Now let me make it clear that the "sharpness" quoted here is not a condoning of yelling or physical punishment. I think this scripture sums it up well, if we don't show love to our children they may come to esteem us as their enemies. I think evidence of this abounds in today's society.

Showing love comes in many forms, Lisa and Annie have both addressed many of them very well. I'd like to add in detail that setting boundaries and consequences are other ways to show children we care.

When we, as mothers find out we are expecting a child our first thoughts are of cradling that infant in our arms and smothering him/her with innumerable kisses but I think that many times when we finally hold those babies as two year olds we find it increasingly difficult to "stand our ground" when it comes to teaching them basics like sharing and appropriate behavior. I know that my daughter (at the wonderful age of two now) tests my endurance like none of my other children have. She yells, hollers and screams far more aggressively than her brothers ever did. My first instinct is to give her what she wants. Just make it stop. But I'm also smart enough as a mother of three older boys to know that a tantrum from a two year old is nothing compared to the smoldering standoff a ten year old can throw at you.

I know children will test the limits throughout their lives at home but can we imagine what our children would be like if there were no limits? Imagine driving on the freeway without lanes or a city without a police force? Chaos would rule. The difference between being a police officer and being a mom is that when a child "breaks the law" I have the great opportunity to show love and mercy. That is what makes the greatest difference. When all is said and done after an episode, I try to make a point of giving my children hugs and telling them repeatedly that I love them. I want them to know that this show of affection is not out of guilt but out of deep concern for their well being and a fierce love for their sweet spirit. In the end, I think I'm figuring this all out as I go along. Sometimes I get it right, other times I hope I haven't done irreparable damage to my kids. Ultimately I think if I'm truly seeking Heavenly Father's guidance and doing my best things will work out for the best. Here's hoping!

Faithful Thoughts/Part II from Lisa

Thanks for your great thoughts, Annie. I have been thinking a lot about what I wanted to write for this topic--how we show love to our families--yet I don't think I've managed to come up with anything earth-shattering. For me, showing love to my family takes work, even though I feel love all of the time. I really have to make a conscious effort to make sure that my loved ones KNOW they are my loved ones. With my children I experience that a lot--but when it comes down to it, I want them to know, without any doubts, that I love them. I want them to know that I expect great things from them because they have that capacity. I want them to feel appreciated and understood. For Valentine's Day we usually get t-shirts at Old Navy that profess to the world that it's a day of love... and we give each other candies or other treats and write little notes of love. This year Ryan went all out and did so much for me for Valentine's Day--love letters, a mix CD, and gift certificates to all my favorite places. I love getting gifts (must be my love language?) but I am figuring out that it's not just the things we do or give to each other that really show our love. Gifts are nice, and particularly when they are thoughtful and meaningful gifts. I am increasingly grateful though for the ways that Ryan and my children show their love to me on a regular basis. Ryan listens to me. He works hard to provide for our family. He takes the time (every day) to rub my feet or my back. He holds my hand when we are walking together. He vocalizes his love often. My children serve me and each other in the ways that they can. They tell me with their words and actions that they love me. They want to be good and they want to be obedient, and this is another way that they show their love. In that spirit, the ways that I show love to my family members include: listening to them, being there for them (physically there as well as emotionally there), teaching them and helping them recognize when they are learning and growing, encouraging them, praising them, working with them, playing with them, and by telling them of my love for them. I really believe that my children and husband can feel that they are loved. When Ryan tells me he loves me, I can honestly say, "I know you do" because he shows it in so many ways. I hope that my children know that we love them, not just because we tell them, but because we show them in all that we do for them and with them.