The Overacheiver SUPER Mom/Woman

My life has never been dull. Ever. As a child growing up, we moved every year. I went to 14 different schools. I didn't watch much TV...I played outside, read, designed clothes for paper dolls, made clothes for my Barbie and baby dolls. Oh...once in awhile I did homework. I've also made clothes for myself since I was 12. I rode my bike all over creation when I was a teenager. My gosh, some days riding at least ten miles or more. Sometimes with a couple of friends...but just sometimes. Even though I was active, I spent my time alone. Wherever I was, I was alone, but doing something. Always busy, rarely idle.
Things haven't changed much...
When I got married, I filled the first few months unpacking boxes. When the piano arrived, I was thankful for the solace I would get from playing. That is something I have always been thankful for. No matter what my mood, I could play and it brought such peace. I miss my piano...maybe this summer we will reunite. =)
Even though this overachiever thing was somewhat present in my youth, it didn't really kick in until I had children...growing up, I just slowly added "achievements" to my repertoire. First the basics: drawing, sewing, embroidery, crocheting, knitting, weaving, jewelry making...until now, 50 years later, my list has come to include, but isn't limited to: advanced crocheting, knitting, one-stroke and tole painting, scrap-booking, card making, beading, wood crafts, calligraphy and decorative lettering, stained glass painting, latch hook, counted cross-stitch, embroidery, crewel, needlepoint and plastic canvas, quilting, drawing, sewing, decoupage, flower arranging, jewelry making, cake decorating, framed wall decor, origami, etching, felt crafts and other general crafts, t-shirt painting and decorating, decorating in general, architectural drawing, landscaping and gardening, baking, cooking, genealogy and family history, writing, auto repair to some extent, various other mechanics (such as lawn mowers, weed whackers, etc), general repairs around the house (such as rewiring lamps, toasters, outlets, replacing toilets, etc)...and never being afraid to try some other new thing.
So, with all of these "achievements" and knowledge, I had to do something with it. Sort of. I had children. By the time I had my fourth child, the oldest was 5 1/2 and the other two were not quite 2 and 4. I took on the four children next door as well as one across the street. Everywhere I went I had 9 children...two that were six, three that were 4, two - that were two years old, and the two babies. Here's where the overachiever part starts....They went with me everywhere. I was a mother quail, herding these children to the market, library, DMV, park, church meetings, and anywhere else I had to go on any certain day. OH...there were also two other children I watched for about 1/2 an hour before school. Did I get things done. I was always making clothes. Matching dresses for the girls and myself. Matching shirts for the boys and Bruce. Costumes for various things. I loved making the costumes and they had some awesome ones. Callings at church and visiting teaching. Baking and decorating cakes for birthdays and cookies for holidays. Doing laundry and cleaning. Until the late 80's. Then the kids did their own laundry. When the girls decided to do the "Punky Brewster" thing and wear at least two pairs of socks a day...which was twenty pairs by the end of the school week, not including the ten pairs the boys wore, I said that was enough...and they began doing their own laundry. =) We also had "school" time. I would sit them all at the table and teach them to write, draw, etc. We had reading time after lunch. Then they would all take a nap. They learned manners and to help out. We had fun. I was insane! No, not really. I loved it. All of my life I wanted to be a mom. I wanted to be the best mom and have a wonderful time.
As the kids grew, there were other demands. Life changed. When their dad moved on, I had to learn to do other things. For the most part, out of necessity, and for another part, lack of funding. The toilet in the front bathroom cracked...somehow, we never knew how, but it needed to be replaced. Not wanting to "bother" anyone, I went out and bought one, and replaced it. I became thankful for the "DYI" books I had purchased.
There was never a dull moment in our home. Maybe we were all ADD or ADHD...or WHATEVER, but we were all, always busy. There were piano lessons, clogging lessons, swimming lesson, for all of them. There were recitals, concerts, baseball games, football games, swim meets, etc.
I was an organizer. The five of us would hold family council. Part of it would entail gripes, etc. Part of it was planning our week. Another part is where we would plan out our menus. Each of the kids would plan four meals for dinner. Write down what was needed for those meals, and then we would make a list, go through the coupons and then we would ALL go to the market. Each of them would have a cart. One for meats and produce. One for frozen things, etc. Once for canned goods and such. One for misc. items. They learned the "art" of shopping and buying. Which was more economical, better for you, better buy. They were always in "class". Life became a learning ground where I was always teaching them something. At the park, it was different plants. That happened almost everywhere there were plants/trees/bushes, etc. They learned different breeds of dogs, horses, and all the animals. At the beach, we went to the tide pools and they learned about that. I took every opportunity to teach them any thing I could. I loved it. We traveled to all kinds of places and did all sorts of things. It was great. I LOVED every minute of it and wouldn't change a thing.
When they were in high school, we had proms, home-comings, etc. It wasn't often, but wasn't unusual for Jenny to get up on the morning of the dance and say she hadn't found a dress and we needed to get fabric. She knows what I am capable of and was not and is not afraid to ask me to do something on the spur of the moment. While a small part of me is apprehensive and wonders, "What the heck is she thinking", a huge part of me is up for the challenge. We would go to the fabric store, get the patten, fabric, etc...go home, cut, sew and be ready for the dance that night.
THIS is the purpose for writing this. Fifteen, plus years have passed since this time, and while I am a lot older, a larger part of me thinks, "what the heck" and yet I am still up for the challenge. Wednesday, February 16th, about 10:00 pm, Jenny and Ashley came over with some fabric and patterns. No, they didn't need the dress the next day. AND Jenny just wanted me to "help" her make the dress..."when could I get with her to do it?" EGADS!!! I work 12 plus hours a day with two jobs and she rarely has time for anything. To get together would be next to impossible. So, the overachiever in me said, "Just leave it here and I will do it."
The next morning before leaving for work at 7:30 I laid out the dress. I had washed the fabric the night before. Then between jobs, I cut the dress out. This was Thursday. Friday morning before leaving for work at 7:30, I cut out the lining for the dress. Then after work on Friday I went to get the petticoat fabric from Jenny at her work. I got home and started sewing the dress at five; stopping for an hour to fetch a zipper from the store. They arrived about 8:00 that evening. I was just finishing the petticoat. Ashley tried on the dress and LOVED it! "Why don't you sew for people???" EGADS!!! She is funny! As they left at 9:30, I left to go out and eat with friends/coworkers from Michaels!
All of the kids, at various times call me to do something they KNOW I can do. They are not above asking the virtually impossible of me. I don't think they would ask anyone else. They just know or figure I can do it. AND the overachiever SUPER mom/woman is up for the challenge. Most of the time I pull it off. Jessica has asked me several times to come and help her with some project, and I'll go over after working all day and help her till after midnight. I believe this is what a mother does...or at least the overachiever SUPER mom/woman does... =) AND I don't mind. I'm thankful to be needed and thankful they still look to me to help them. It's awesome. The boys ask too...and Katie.
I am also the overachiever worker. At Michaels, because there isn't a craft in there that I don't do, I know where almost everything is...as long as they haven't moved it the night before, which happens now and again, and I have to hunt for it. My coworkers count on me to know where something is. The customers count on me to know or help them find things. Especially those I know. Now, at the school where I am working, they are finding out that I "know" how to do things...and I am quickly being asked to do various things.
AND what do I get in return???? Well, some of the adjectives that family, friends and customers use to describe me are: Awesome, the Bomb (at first I wasn't sure about this), incredible, wonderful, smart, fun, helpful, hard-working, great, marvelous, etc. One customer, after a long search for something she wanted, cried when I found it. That was a bit over-whelming. She thanked me profusely. I just love to help others. I love doing. I love serving others in whatever way I can. Since I have taken the time to learn so many things, I guess the overachiever in me gets a kick out of seeing if I can do it.
So, here's the kicker...I've wondered this now for some time. This is who I am. I'm not this way to impress anyone. Most people I meet on a daily basis don't even know these things. They are characteristics and traits that God blessed me with. I am thankful to Him for allowing me to know and do these things. I am who I am because of Him. I help where I can, do what I can and go on my way. I am thankful to be appreciated. It's nice to have others think I am amazing...even though I know from whence my amazingness comes from. Somewhere, before I came here, I guess I signed up for all of this. I must have made a promise. But did I promise to do it without a husband? Why, If I am so darned awesome, would he leave me with four little children? Why did I have to raise them alone? AND why if I am so amazing has someone else not jumped into my life. This is the puzzle I've been pondering....any thoughts????

Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Ima.
Ima who?
I'ma going to be a GRANDMA! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I found out about two and a half weeks ago. It has been REALLY hard not to say anything. BUT I promised I would wait.
To say I am excited is an understatement. Jessica told me today that she is going to "share" the news tomorrow in RS during the "happy chatter". So, I will be able to share it.
So, this kingdom is going to grow. Everyone seems to be excited. This is the first grandchild for us, but I think it's the first for Jason's family too...It's wonderful. I know that one day there will be many grandchildren, so this is the start...or rather the continuation!!! They weren't going to find out if it was a boy or a girl, but have changed their minds....so....we shall see.
Their first appointment is the 11th of October...

Another bit of wisdom about yards and children 11 November 2009

Hope nobody takes ANY offense to this. It isn't meant that way. It was merely an observation I made as I silently worked outdoors.
While working in the yard the better part of the morning, I was mindful of how incredibly alike our yards are to the raising our children.
Plants, in order for them to grow them right and thrive, need MANY things. We put curbing in, of some sort, to keep the grass out of the flowerbeds. We build trellises for climbing plants to climb on. We even attach them so they stay in place and don't go wild. We prune and trim to keep them neat, as well as growing properly. We plant them in places where they will thrive. We water, feed and nurture. Too much of each and there are problems. I even talk to mine. =D We weed, to keep the evil out of the good. Sometimes we must prune back severely when something has been allowed to do it's own thing. Sometimes we transplant. We re-pot. Sometimes we put a cage around a plant to keep things from destroying it, or to help it grow straight. Sometime we use a pole and wires to keep it straight. Some days we come in dirty, with splinters, sore back, blisters, cuts, scrapes, and various other war wounds from "straightening" out our yards, gardens and flower beds. BUT when we do all that we can, then we can look at what we have done, and see the fruits of our labor.
Children are no different. They too need MANY things in order to grow and thrive. We give them rules to guide them and keep them in place. We build things for them to climb and play on. We watch and protect them so they don't fall. We clothe them, bathe them and keep them neat and tidy...well most of the time. They do need to get dirty for mud pies and such. Just as plants thrive in certain places, we take our children to places where they can learn. We allow them to experience life or the lives of others by encouraging them to read, go to museums, zoos, camping, car races, beaches, historic sites, observatories, etc. etc. etc. When we are pregnant, we strive to do things that will help this infant we are carrying. We see that our children are receiving the proper nutrition. Not too much junk. Moderation in all things. =D We talk to them. Listen to them. Help them to figure things out. We guide them around things that can harm them. Weed the "crap" out of their lives by explaining those things that are harmful to them...and those things that are good for them. We teach them the "should nots" in life, not the "can nots". For we can do anything, but sometimes we "should not" do some things. Sometimes severe discipline is necessary...Tough LOVE is the hardest part of being a parent, but worth it. Enabling is so harmful. Sometimes "grounding" is necessary. We have "instruction manuals" that are there to help us, when we don't know what to do. At the end of the day, we may be weary from all the why questions. We may be tired from all the "run-around" that we get. We may have run around doing many things. We may have heartache watching them make mistakes. Heartache that reaches our very souls. We may experience pain as we guide them in the ways they should go...only to have them fight back and resist with greater strength than we possess. We may have battle wounds that are not visible, but more than worth it. For in the end, if we have cared for, taught, disciplined, nurtured and loved them, we will be able to sit back and relish in what we have done. Granted there may not be perfection, but there is joy, there are memories, and there are blessings beyond your wildest imagination. The fruits of your labors are incredible. The hard work is worth it. It's AWESOME!!!

Cultures and Crafts and Character...ALL with "flaws" 11 November 2009

After living the first eight years of my life in Hawaii with the Polynesians and their culture, we moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico. My mother became fascinated with the Native Americans, and began to collect pottery, rugs, and jewelry. The jewelry was, for the most part, Zuni. Their jewelry is very elaborate in design. The rugs were usually Navajo, but not necessarily. I was always fascinated by the rugs; each different in design and no two alike. Being a "textile" person, even as a child, I wondered about the meanings, if any to the design, and how they were made. It was here and then, as an eight year old child, that I learned something of the beliefs of these Native Americans. Each rug had a "flaw" if you will. Something that made it imperfect. I was told that the Native Americans believe in a higher being. A being who is perfect. When they make their "crafts" they intentionally put a flaw in it, as to pay homage to this great God, who is perfect. This shows that they are not yet perfect, but striving to become like God, who is perfect. They do not want to appear better than God, or perfect. So, they make their "flaw" if you will. These "flaws" as sometimes so small, they difficult to find.
As I craft, in the many ways I find to keep myself out of trouble, I am reminded of this tradition all the time. Many compliment my works. No one may see the "flaws" that are there. I know they are there. I know right where they are. I am reminded of these flaws each time I look at that piece of work. (HAHA. I've heard people say that about some things...or people. What a "piece of work"...sorry...off the track.) Sometimes the "flaws" stick out like a sore thumb. Nevertheless, I continue to craft, to push forward in perfection. The older I get, and the older the piece is, I may forget where these "flaws" are and really have to search for them.
In life, we sometimes miss the beauty of the work, looking for the "flaws" in it. We all have "flaws" in our character. NO one is with out these "flaws", whatever they may be. Sometimes they are more than apparent, other times we can not see them. A friend once said to me, If our faults or flaws "were a colored fog that surrounded us, each of us would have one." Those aren't her exact words, but close. So, as each of us meets another, don't look for the flaws...don't say with sarcasm, what a piece of work. Just look at the beauty. Give a compliment. Enjoy the work that is there. Understand that a work of perfection is in process.

Traditions...old, new, family, etc. 30 October 2009

Traditions can be GREAT...and not so great!
When I was growing up, there are only a few traditions I can remember...or want to remember.
The first eight years of my life I lived in Hawaii. The women in the ward...incredible Hawaiian women/"sisters" would prepare things for the "annual" bazaar. I cam to appreciate Hawaiian applique quilts. Also, hand work such as embroidery, and such. I remember going to the guava fields, when I was small, with these "sisters" and picking guavas to be juiced for Ward Activities and dinners. Every year, for the Fourth of July, the ward would have a parade from the church to the beach. There were outrigger canoe races, fishing nets, roast pig (from the pits), and TONS of food. Then we would watch the fireworks explode from Flat Island and not only shine in the sky, BUT reflect in the water! This is one of my most precious memories!
As a child I don't remember hunting Easter eggs, or anything "Easterish". Christmas traditions were another thing. My dad would put the lights on the tree, my mom the ornaments, and then my dad would patiently hang the "OLD STYLE" foil tinsel. We made gingerbread men and sugar cookies. After decorating them, we delivered them to a few friends in those old sandwich bags made of wax paper! Mailed Christmas cards were opened when my dad got home from work every day. That way we read them together. The night before Christmas we got to pick one gift and open it. We also drove around and looked at the lights. We had Christmas stockings, but they were only for show. They were never filled with anything. A few of our Christmases were spent with relatives on the mainland. I don't remember doing Thanksgiving at all. As a child, I can remember dressing up for Halloween three times and going Trick or Treating. When I was five (a gypsy)...12 (a Hobo)...and 14 (an actress). We never carved pumpkins when I was growing up. I don't ever remember doing this. I rarely had a birthday party. I recall photos of one when I was three and five. I shared my fourth with my favorite cousin, who shares the same birthday. BUT we moved every year, and it was always right around my birthday, so...no festivities. I had a party when I was ten. Another when I was 12 and a family dinner when I was 16. Debbie and I have shared two since then. My kids have had a few parties for me! My 50th was AWESOME and every one since then has been GREAT!
We moved almost every year after that. Some traditions lingered, some disappeared, and new ones emerged.
I took a class at BYU Education Week in August of 2008. It was on Family Traditions and taught by V-Ann Ludlow. (http://newsnet.byu.edu/story.cfm/69214) What an incredible class. She told of how as a newlywed, she and her husband had MANY different ideas on traditions and what they were going to do and what they weren't going to do. How they had combined some traditions and how they have created new ones over the years. She was incredible. I took some of her ideas and have incorporated them in our family.
When I got married, Bruce had his idea of "traditions" and I mine.
For New Year's we ALWAYS watched the Rose Parade when I was growing up. That is a tradition I still do. I would love one day to see the floats in person!
On Valentine's day, the kids and I made Valentine's. We had a lot of fun creating cards for each other.
I have been known to make Groundhog day cards too...
We always have Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick's Day. My dad's birthday was the 19th, and we also celebrated it too.
His family did Easter Egg hunts, so our children grew up hunting eggs...or baskets full of things and eggs. We spent many years going to California for Easter to be with Bruce's Grandmother (GRANNY) and the rest of his relatives. The same for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Birthdays were a BIG thing with our children. They had a whole week of birthday festivities! Birthdays were very special and we made them very special. I recently bought a "birthday" plate, which the birthday person will get to eat off of on their special day.
Fourth of July, we spent at the Silverbowl. Bruce was always doing the fireworks show that the City Firemen put on. The show was ALWAYS spectacular, and the 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays.
Bruce came from a family where they carved pumpkins for Halloween, so...our children grew up carving pumpkins and still do; sometimes they each carve several . Costumes were a BIG thing too. Every year I seemed to create even more fantastic costumes than the last. I love to sew and costumes were elaborate and incredible! We still love to dress up, and sometimes do several parties, just so we can dress up several times!
Thanksgiving was never overlooked! We ALWAYS had food to feed hundreds. The feast was incredible and so good. We always said what we were thankful for too.
When the kids were older, we decided that going to California for Christmas, etc. was getting to be too much. We started our own tradition as a family. We did drive around and look at lights. Hondo Ct. was one of our favorites! It was absolutely incredible. We also had our Nativity story, using the scriptures and the Nativity set. They opened once gift. In the morning, their stockings were filled to the brim. They could open that first, if we weren't up yet, and eat whatever was in there, or play with whatever. After I found out that the kids opened ALL of their gifts while I had gone out, we started a NEW tradition. NONE of the gifts had their names on them. I would choose a movie, and pick characters from that movie to replace each of their names. It was fun and there wasn't so much of, "MINE are BIGGER" or "I have more that you" type of talk. We made tons of Christmas Candy and Cookies. The kids received a new Christmas ornament from their Grandma Griz each year.
New Year's Eve, came and went...I don't remember much of that. Usually fell asleep. In the last few years though I have gotten together with friends and played games...all of us in our pajamas! That's been fun.
All of these traditions have enriched our lives; yet there are others. At church we always have activities for various holidays...Easter, Pioneer Day, Fall/Halloween, Christmas, as well RS functions. Having moved so many times in my life, I have had the opportunity to experience MANY different activities for these special occasions.
I remember my first experience with the Chicken salad (with GRAPES) on a croissant! It seemed as though EVERY time there was an RS function, that was served!!! I always thought, "WHO PUTS GRAPES WITH CHICKEN AND THEN PUTS IT ON A CROISSANT?!?!?!?!?!" GADS!!! I hated it. Well, after 45 years, I can eat it! It's not that bad. Different, but not bad. There have been some AWESOME programs I have witnessed over the years through RS. Fall Socials, Spring Socials...and then the CRAFT day!
Each ward has brought new ideas for parties, and fun. We've had Road Shows! Those were fun. Plays, Talent Shows, and just plain zaniness!!! Each ward having something new and inventive. I am thankful for the variety over the years. Something new...something fun.
When we first went to St. Joseph, they had never heard of "ice blocking!" Now that is a tradition in their ward!
We've had Carnivals for Halloween. One year we did a lip sync thing where each auxiliary had a song they had to dress up for and lip sync. Songs like The Monster Mash, Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, Ghost Busters, Thriller, The Addams Family theme...were just a few of them.
They have an annual football game on Thanksgiving day...The TURKEY BOWL!!! The YM vs. the Elders Quorum and HP Group! (I wanted to say the Old Men, but I fall in to this age group!) It was a lot of fun and even though sometimes it was 32 degrees or less, they still played and had a LOT of fun! It was something the guys looked forward to each year.
We have done MANY a Christmas Pageant or play! Caroling, etc. Never the same thing twice in a row. This year in our ward, we are going to be doing something for others! I am excited and looking forward to giving.
One of the things our family did that was most special, was to pick 15 families and do a sort of "Christmas Surprise." Each night, for ten nights, we would deliver 15 "treats" anonymously to the families we picked out. Bobby would go to the door and quietly leave the "treats" and race back to the car! It was unbelievable fun!!! We picked one family in particular. The mother had cancer and it was her last Christmas. My children learned again the value of giving...
I love traditions...YET, I am also up for new things. I'm thankful for all of the incredible experiences I have had over the years, and look forward to new ones...as well as favorites.
This year we are doing something new for Thanksgiving. Mike and Katie are having it in their home. They have invited ALL the family members. I am looking forward to this new, exciting tradition!!!

As Sisters in Zion 26 September 2009

I wrote about the RS several notes ago. Well, tonight was the General RS Broadcast from Salt Lake City. The entire meeting was broadcast by satellite all over the world, through the awesomeness of technology, in over 50 languages to over 150 countries. As I sat there with 390 sisters from my stake, I thought about my "sisters" all over the world. How I love them. I have literally hundreds of sisters all over the world, in places like: California, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Missouri, Texas, Croatia, New York, and Pennsylvania...and more I'm sure. As we sang, I knew that, you too, were singing the same songs. We share the same beliefs, faith and songs. We have joys, challenges, trials, blessings. We are daughters of God. We are blessed with gifts and talents. We strive to have charity towards one another. We belong to the largest and oldest woman's organizations in the world. We each serve in various callings throughout the church...voluntarily. We give of our time and talents. We serve people we know, and those we may never meet.
I am thankful to have this sisterhood in my life. I know that I am loved, not only by these "sisters" but by a loving Heavenly Father and His son. Our Savior and Redeemer. I am so blessed!!!

What the Sabbath Day means to me 20th September 2009

I work, at the moment, about 60-70 hours a week. More than anything, I look forward to the Sabbath day. The word Sabbath literally means to cease or rest; I take it from our labors of the week. This is my day to rest. I rest from most of the things I do all week. I have chosen to make the Sabbath day different from all of the other days of the week. I strive to make it sacred and holy. These are some of the references I have used to set goals for how I want to observe the sabbath day.
Exodus 20: 8-11 reads--"remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all they work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor they son, nor they daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within they gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
Isaiah 58:13 & 14--"If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, thy holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shat thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places on the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it."
So when is the sabbath day...well...in the old testament, it was the seventh day (seven being a sacred number), but no name is given to it, as far as a named day of the week. In the new testament, the sabbath day was changed to the first day of the week in commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ. Acts 20:7--"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight." Note: There are other references to "the LORD's day" other than just this one.
From the Bible Dictionary(Authorized King James Version with explanatory notes and cross references to the standard works of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, c.1979, pg. 765)--"The importance of a sacred day for man to rest from his temporal labors, contemplate the word of the Lord, and assemble for public worship is a major item in a person's spiritual development. Furthermore, a decay in the national religious life always follows any tendency toward carelessness in the matter of Sabbath observance. The existence of a weekly holy day is a most important safeguard; it leaves a constant reminder to the individual of his need for spiritual sustenance and his duty before God, and serves as a witness to the world that there is such a thing as revealed religion.
The change from observing the last day of the week to the first day of the week is not so important as is the concept and principle of the Sabbath. In either case, the Sabbath was symbolic of the mighty works of God, i.e., the creation of the earth, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead."
To confuse us even more, some calendars have Sunday as the first day of the week, some have it as the last day of the week. Most Christians and Jews choose Sunday in commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, while Muslims choose Friday and yet others choose Saturday. It doesn't really matter, in my opinion. A day set aside to worship the LORD is what is important.
As for me, I have chosen a myriad of ways to observe the Sabbath, on Sunday. I don't shop on Sunday. I don't work on Sunday. No laundry. No dishes. No mowing the lawn. No washing the car. No vacuuming, and I think you see the pattern forming here. I don't go out to eat on Sunday; for if I shop or go out to eat, I am, in essence, requiring someone else to work on the Sabbath. Sunday was a family day when my children were growing up. They played with their friends all week long, but on Sunday, they stayed in the house and we were together as a family. They didn't go out and play. If we were camping or something like that, we stayed in camp.
So, what do I do? I go to church for one. Renewing my baptismal covenants by taking the sacrament. Listening and reflecting on the talks, hymns, music and lessons. I write letters. Do genealogy. Rest. Read my scriptures or something church related. Spend time with the family. I don't listen to the radio (local stations) to or from church. If I watch TV, I strive to make it something uplifting; something that won't take away from the spirit. Something religiously based. To me the sabbath day is a very sacred and holy day. It is the LORD'S day. It is the day that I show my love and respect for Him who gave everything for me. Who sacrificed ALL for me. It is my day to sacrifice the things I do all week in thanks and remembrance to Him.
These are my feelings and what I do. They in no way reflect what one has to do. It is what I choose to do. Periodically, I reflect on what else I can do to show my love and thanks. I am always looking for new ways to do this. New ways to show my love, respect, thanks and gratitude.
So that's the scoop from this corner.