When You Write Your Own Biography, There's No One To Blame But Yourself!

I have been reading the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin and it's quite a hoot. I have developed the opinion that while he is one of those folks I enjoy reading about, I would have found his company rather irritatingly obnoxious. I know the anecdote about telling a cranky woman how she'd still be ugly in the morning made me laugh but I can't help thinking that the reason the woman was cranky was because she had to sit next to him at dinner in the first place. Sufficed to say, he was kind of a jerk and ultimately the exception to the belief that our founding fathers were all deeply religious. Mr. Franklin took great pains to hone his debating abilities at the expense of many a religious professor.

My favorite story thus far? When he makes a deal with a dear friend; whichever of the two should pass from this life first, he must return in a friendly manner to enlighten the other on the experience of being on the other side.

Talk about confidence!

Prayer for 2011

My sister sent this to me via email the other day and I thought it was pretty funny. So... here ya go!

Dear God,

For 2011, all I ask for is a big fat bank account and a slim body. Please do not mix up the two like you did last year.

Amen

On With The Old

I've decided I need to make some new friends. I've got my sights set on some elderly women in my neighborhood church congregation and although they don't know it yet, they are about to get the shock and awe friendship campaign.

While I adore my friends who are my age, I've decided I need to add some friends who have a little more experience in life. I need some ladies who can teach me from a different perspective and so I shall begin by baking cookies and stopping by the home of a cute little widow down the street. I have asked my Relief Society President if this was a good idea and she assured me that the women with whom I plan to visit will enjoy the "intrusion".

I suppose my motives are not purely altruistic, in fact they are down right selfish. After the year from hell, I'd like to know how other women have survived. I want to know how a woman gets up in the morning after her husband passes. I want to know what a woman can do when a child messes up their life by making bad choices. I want to rummage around in the experiences no longer available in my lifetime and perhaps travel in time by the only means available, through the stories of someone else.

So here's to my search for new friends, may it be fruitful and educational in the least and ultimately, may I be lucky enough to learn some things that make me better.

Safe With You

I had the chance to visit with a friend today. It was a great time to sit for a relaxing chat and I enjoyed her company very much. As women we need those moments, our spirits crave them. It's when one spirit is comfortable in the company of another that the greatest happiness is achieved. The best kind of friend is one who promises to keep your spirit safe.

Preparing the Stones

After reading the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon the other night I was touched by the story of the Brother of Jared. Here was a man who had been commanded to do something he had never tried, something that was most certainly dangerous and laden with discomfort. Crossing an ocean in a "prototype" vessel without knowing the duration of the trip must have been daunting in and of itself, add to that the thought of doing so in darkness, I can't imagine what fears he and his people had.

In the scripture, he comes to the Lord with great humility and presents "sixteen stones" that were "transparent, like unto glass" which he had made. The whole idea behind the stones was that if he gave the Lord something to work with, the Lord would make something better out of them. Not knowing how this would be accomplished, the Brother of Jared asks God to light the stones to allow he and his family to cross the ocean with light.

While reading this story I was struck with the idea that I had the opportunity to present "stones" of my own to the Lord. I realized that it was up to me to study out a solution to a problem I was facing, do the work to prepare a path and then ask the Lord to help make it possible by lighting my way. My solution was simple, in fact it wasn't so much an idea as it was the realization of an opportunity and I felt that it would be acceptable to Him. After prayer and a visit to the temple I presented my plan to the Lord, asking that he help me by "smoothing out the edges" and lighting my way. It has been an enlightening experience to know that because I am His child, I have the opportunity to ask for His help, no matter how simple or unexplainable it may be and expect that He will hear my prayer.

The "I'm Sorry" Coupon

Our Scripture study this morning was on Justice and Mercy. Here is how I taught my children.


Life is a big box discount store!

Every person gets a membership, purchased with the choice to follow God and come to earth. With this membership comes the opportunity to peruse the isles stocked with every choice we can imagine. There is also the condition that everyone must treat their fellow shoppers with kindness, help out where they can and do their best. Along the way we will be offered coupons. These are free to every shopper and there is no limit to how many each can have. The coupons are handed out at all shopping hours and they are all the same, each printed with the words "I'm sorry". Some shoppers put theme in their pockets, others lose them during their trip, still others throw them in the trash without a second thought.

Shoppers each have their own unique experience. Some cruise along choosing every product they can get their hands on. Others search through the goods selecting only those things they think they can afford. It's a shopping experience beyond compare, complete with free samples! All shoppers fill their baskets with whatever goods they have the inclination and time to grab and everyone gets to choose for themselves the items they will buy. Some have short trips, others wander the isles for what seems like an eternity. But however long or short the visit, everyone must check out.

This is what makes the big box store of life different; no one can pay their bill! Upon learning this, some will try to put their goods back on the shelf. "There are no returns here" says the clerk! Everything is purchased on an "as is" basis and there are no exceptions. Some will say; "What a dirty trick. I came here because I was told this would be a great experience, this isn't fair to let me shop and know I can't pay the bill. What's the deal?"

And that is when they will see Him, the One who can help them with the clerk. Some will be relieved at His presence, others will want to hide. It will seem as though the big box store is very small and that everyone can hear what He will say to them. It is simply this; that He has paid the bill and they are free to carry on if they will give him all their "I'm sorry" coupons. He assures the shopper that He has paid enough and that he has worked out a deal with the clerk, all He needs is the coupons.

Each patron will search through their pockets, purses and bags, hoping to find enough "I'm sorry" coupons to get the deal. Some will have enough, some will not and it will be at this moment when they look back into the big box store of life and wonder if they did all they could to prepare to meet Him at check out.

Let us every day choose the best items to buy in our store of life and collect as many "I'm sorry" coupons as we can so when it's our turn to settle the balance we are worthy to use His offering to the clerk on our behalf.

Golden Opportunity

So it's the Golden Globes tomorrow! I used to get really excited for Hollywood awards shows until a few years ago when the acceptance speeches tended toward pleading the case for same sex marriage. While I intellectually understand the need for voices to be heard and I respect everyone's right to speak their mind, I'm sick to death of having what I refer to as the "Gay Agenda" constantly rammed down my throat. Enough with the "I'm Gay and glad I escaped from the religious people" speeches. Constantly throwing your ideals in my face doesn't make me change my mind. Why is it that some in the entertainment industry constantly feel the need to make everything about a cause? Seriously, you don't see CEO's of major corporations jumping on national TV every six months to give an emotional plea for tax cuts? (maybe we should make the Super Bowl half time show a debate between bailed out banks and small business america?) Let's leave the political ear-boxing to the politicians. Heaven knows we have enough of that to go around.

Can't we just have an awards show where people say, "Thank you for appreciating the work I do"? That's why I watch!

Why I Like Modified Extended Day

I live in an area where there are a great deal of kids. I mean, alot! Our local elementary school has over 1,000 students and it continues to grow yearly. In fact, this year's total may be over 1,100. With that great strain on the time and staff at the school we currently function on what is called the "extended day" model. About half the student body comes at 8:00 am and the rest come at 9:15 and there are class switches during the day to accommodate students on both tracks. Then the early track leaves at 2:15 pm and the later track leaves at 3:30. There is a whole, complicated class movement schedule during the day and it's complexity alludes me so I memorize only those tracks that affect my children.

As far as the success of the current model, our students rank quite high in the school district in test scores. (Our school district is one of the more successful in the state so, without actual numbers I'm going out on a limb and suggest that we do well state wide also.) Across the board; math, reading and social sciences, the kids do quite well (80+ percentile) and so I think extended has served pretty well as a daily routine.

However, having been present in a meeting about this very subject and seen the two programs compared side by side, I am leaning to the new "modified extended day" model for a few different reasons.

The first being that class size will actually be slightly reduced. Granted, class size will only be reduced by one or two but what I love about this model is that for 30-45 minutes every day, there will only be 11 (approx.) students in the class allowing for focused, one on one teacher/student interaction.

The second being this; that the focus of study will be on core subjects (math, reading etc.) In a world where U.S. students are falling far behind global averages, it seems that it is time to really get our kids off on the right foot, so to speak, with strong backgrounds in the basics. Don't get me wrong, I love art and music. My degree is in Humanities! But these are not tested subjects. They enhance learning, absolutely and these subjects will still be included in the curriculum but will be limited to twice a week instead of everyday. The Modified model will add much needed minutes to math, which is drastically short already, and (based on hours) it will add the equivalent of 1/3 of the school year to reading/literacy.

There are flexibilities in both models but I feel it is better to focus on core subjects and integrate non-tested ones than the other way around.

So, there ya go. I hope that the vote by faculty and staff result in a similar decision!

New Eyes

My son got his first pair of glasses yesterday. He informed me just before Christmas that he couldn't see very well. So, during the break we had his eyes checked and sure enough, the Optometrist said that if my son was older and trying to get his license, he would have failed.

Needless to say, the glasses came yesterday and it has been fun to watch him look at things in a new way for the past 24 hours. He caught me off guard a few times when he mentioned things he could see. Things like blind slats on the windows of our neighbors, local landmarks from a distance, and even detailed leaves on trees.

His enthusiasm for these new things has surprised me because I had no idea he couldn't see them in the first place. Just goes to show you never know how things look to someone else.

Who the Heck is Shira Tehrani?

I looked all over to find out about the person to whom this quote is attributed but could not find anything. I still enjoyed the thought.

"You can't do anything about the length of your life, but you can do something about it's width and depth."

-Shira Tehrani

Why Not

My daughter is dressed in head to toe fuchsia with a ballet tutu today. Sometimes I think five year olds might have a better grip on fashion than adults. If your mom says it's clean and it fits, wear it!

Here's hoping we all have a fuchsia tutu day!!

How It's Meant To Be

As I was ironing a million shirts today, my youngest son came in to chat. We listened to music and had a good old time and it occurred to me, perhaps the reason stay-at-home moms have so many mundane jobs around the house is so that we will stay in one place long enough for our kiddos to actually be able to talk to us.

Which Came First?

Upon examining a world map my son questioned me by asking "why are so many islands named after restaurants?"

I replied by asking "what do you mean?"

"Well, like McDonald and Campbell?"

"Honey, McDonald and Campbell are names that have been around a lot longer than McDonald's chain and Campbell's soup."

"oh"

Rock On!

Dropped the last of my family off at the airport today. My dad was the final Christmas guest to head home after the holidays and with his departure, the 2011 "what will this year bring" worries set in. It struck me as funny that even as an adult, with a 37th birthday lurking around the corner, sometimes you feel safer with your dad.

I love my family (the one I was born into and the one I married into) and can't thank them enough for all their optimism for this upcoming year! Who could worry with such words of encouragement and hope? And so I will pass it on, pay it forward as it may be, to you!

You're gonna rock it in 2011! Do your best, work hard and include the Lord and the future will bring blessings unimaginable. Now, go and succeed!!!

Fill 'Er Up

So I am a complete loss when family comes to town. I eat too much, sleep too little and avoid work at all costs! It was a glorious time to wake up late, come down stairs looking like an oversized teenager and see around my table many of the faces I saw every morning growing up. What was even better was the new faces that have been added to the group and have become part of the experience I call my life.

In the early days of my adulthood, I didn't enjoy this gathering of my past. So focused was I on asserting my individuality that I couldn't appreciate moments like these and their ability to fill me. Maybe what they say about getting older is true, you appreciate more of the simple things. Whatever it may be, I'm happy to say I am starting this new year with a full tank!