Gardens, life...food for thought on 25 April 2010

B.V. gave a talk in church today, mentioning a few things about his garden and life. Things I think I'm going to expand on.
I love to garden. I love digging in the dirt, planting seeds or plants, and watching them grow...hopefully. Gardening is something that involves FAITH. I have planted many gardens in my life. I had a garden when my children were growing. There are MANY things to be learned from gardening...and not just about sowing and reaping--vegetables, fruits and herbs...or what ever.
The first thing you need is the soil. Several gardeners I know have their own "special" dirt mixes. I have a recipe for soil. I got it from D. M. My son Mike also has his own recipe. WHICH seems to be working...Seeds need good soil. Without the proper soil, the seeds will not grow as intended. This is true in life also, as we read in the parable of the sower. Matthew 13:3-8 "...Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold." While this parable is in reference to hearing the word of GOD, the concept is the same.
You need good seeds too. Old seeds may not always germinate. Sometimes you can help the seeds along so they will germinate sooner. By placing them in water overnight, it softens the shell, husk, or pod, making it sprout sooner. Just as teaching a child from infancy will enable them to learn things easier when they start school
Planing depth is very important also. If you plant the seed too deep, the seed will take longer to appear...if indeed it does. Planting the seeds requires just the right depth. Not too deep or shallow. Same thing with life. If you give someone more information than they are ready for, getting too "deep," they may not understand what you are saying all.
Then comes the hard part. The waiting. While you wait, many things take place. Keeping the birds or cats from eating or digging up the seeds. I love birds AND cats, but they can undermine the best of plans. Just as Satan can undermine the good intentions of parents. There are also the dreaded WEEDS that will get into your garden...more of Satan's minions! If you don't keep up on them, they will overtake the precious plants you want to grow and choke them out. Satan will do the same thing with our children...and us. We must take care what we let grow in our lives. Some things look harmful, until they get overgrown and we ave become so used to them we no longer see the harm they are doing. GET the weeds while they are small. DON'T let them become overgrown!
Most gardeners do NOT want chemicals in their gardens. Preferring their vegetables, fruits and herbs to be "free" from contaminants. Yet in life, there are some who would contaminate their own bodies with drugs...whether it is alcohol, tobacco, drugs, etc. OR it could be other things. Idol worship...I'm not just talking about plastic or metal figurines. I'm talking about far more than that. These are things we put BEFORE our families, children, spouses...things like sports or sports figures, television shows, movies, work, movie stars, computer or video games, etc. I think you can see where this is going. I don't want anything unnatural taking over my garden any more than I want the unnatural taking over my life. I want to be in control. I don't want to be controlled. I want only what I plant in my garden. So, anything that comes up that isn't what should be there...is removed. I pull it out and get rid of it.
I do my best to protect my seedlings. I water, nurture, protect and care for that which I have planted. Much in the same way that I raised my children. You do everything you can to see that they grow and develop they way you intend them to. Just like in Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
In the end, you will be able to enjoy that which you have sowed. I have enjoyed many a garden, and I REALLY enjoy my children!
Since Mike and I have planted a garden, I will periodically add photos...he's already been eating some of the things we planted. Life is good!

Since I already have an album titled Mike's Herb Garden...you can check it out when I add more photos...shortly.

Most of you know...

Most of you know that I was adopted. (NOTE: If you didn't know...well, there is a news flash for you.) I have known for as long as I can remember. I also have known, for almost as long, that I have two older half brothers. In the early '80's, I "found" my birth mother, and have kept in touch over the years, calling, writing, sending photos of the kids, and me. BUT, I still didn't know the rest of the family. Well...I had talked to a sister-in-law about twenty five years ago. Then the oldest half brother in the last few years. He never knew about me, and wasn't sure how to take it. I could understand his feelings about it I had known forever, and he had not. He didn't understand the secrecy, and why no one ever said anything. I had no clue about that.
Last Thursday I got a call from my nieces that my birth mother had died. Would I come to the funeral. I immediately said, "Yes." So, Tuesday after work, I left for California. For days, so many feelings and emotions raced through my mind. I was anxious, nervous, apprehensive, afraid...but I kept driving. I got to the house in the early evening. A nephew, two nieces and a great-nephew were there...and my oldest half brother, Lance. He seemed to have a lot of the same feelings. But, he shook my hand, and then hugged me. And we talked...and talked...and talked...I'm not sure of his feelings, but I felt like I had known him my whole life. AND through our talking, found that our lives had crossed many times over the years.
We went to breakfast the next morning, then I got to go through years of photos...Yes...I look just like my mother. If I had a scanner, I would scan the photo I brought home. More are coming, but copies needed to be made. We all met at "Uncle" Joe's and "Aunt" Frances' house before the funeral. This is where I met my other half brother. When I came in, he too shook my hand and then hugged me. He said he was "glad to meet me" and "hoped we would have a future".
At the cemetery, "Aunt" Frances seemed to look at me a lot. At least every time I looked at her, she was looking at me. I took photos of other family headstones before the service; my half sister, Shelly, who died in 1996, my "Aunt" Corinne, and "Grandma Esther. As the service began, I was doing okay. Then John, Shelly's husband, started to tell about Joanna...when she was born, where, what kind of person she was, her likes, etc. FiNALLY, I knew why I was different, why I am me. I am her. He could have been reading about me. I am just like her. Not just in looks, but in everything else. I asked for a copy of the service, and he gave it to me. I am going to make a scrapbook of her. I met other nephews and another niece. All of them are fun and were very glad to meet me.
Back to Joe and Frances' home for a luncheon after the service. Talking and visiting with the other half brother, Dana. It was wonderful. BUT none of the cousins know who I am, OR Joe and Frances. (Or so we thought.) When everyone got ready to leave, I asked if we could get some photos. I meant just of us, but we got together as a HUGE group. As we were setting up cameras, etc. one woman, Chris (I found out later she is a cousin), looked at me,pointed and asked, "Who are you?" I just replied, "Joleen" and then someone said that we all needed to move closer together and smile. So, that was dropped. We did get several photos, and I will post them.
I talked to one of the nieces yesterday. She said that after I left, Chris told my sister-in-law, "She sure looks a LOT like Lance." To which Janice said, "She sure does" and walked away. BUT while others were in the other room, Frances told Lance and Dana that she knew who I was the minute I started walking up the hill at the cemetery. She is the "confidant" that Joanna had all these years. She is the one who knew everything about me. So, Frances knows and said she would tell her family later.
I finally have the older brothers I always wanted. They have invited me to be a part of their lives. They have taken me in. Life is good. =D

Lance, Joleen and Dana

"Uncle" Joe, Bria and Dana

Aiden and Leia

Vernon, Leia, Bria and Aiden

Lance II, Leia, Aiden, Lance, Amanda, Daniel, Janice, Joleen, Vernon, Dana and Bria

Gloria Steinem...and me

Several years ago I was sitting on a bench, in the hallway at MWSU, waiting for class to start. I was just reading when this woman walked by, stopped, turned around and came back and stopped in front of me. I looked up and she just stared at me. I had no clue who she was, and then she said, "Are you Gloria Steinem?" I replied, "No," and she was stunned. I think she really wanted me to be. Gloria Steinem, by the way is 21 years older than me....but this person was far younger than me, so anyone older than her, probably would all be the same age...old. Now, this isn't the first person to ask me that. The reason that I am writing this is because today, right in the middle of an interview, the interviewer asked me, "Has anyone ever told you that you look JUST like Gloria Steinem?" I laughed...and told him, "Yes...many times." Too funny. So, I went online and found some photos of her...

...what do you think???

Family, friendship, and friends

So, where to begin. Well, last night the comment was made, by one of my friends, " that I have a LOT of friends". Now, by most standards, that being "friends" my age, I'm sure I do have a LOT of friends on here. BUT, by the standards of some of my friends, that may not be true. There are some who have over a thousand!!! HOLY COW!!!
How did I get SO many friends? I pondered this for awhile, but not long. It really didn't take a LOT of thinking. WHICH was a darn good thing! I'm not a relic, or as old as a dinosaur, but I'm older than most of my "friends" on here.
So, where did they all come from? I seem to have this myriad of "friends." My first friends here on Facebook were, of course, my children. I probably wouldn't even have gotten on here, but for them. Checking out their photos,lives, etc. Moms do that when they don't live close. AND now I'm friends with their friends...
Next group. I've moved a LOT in my life, and gathered some friends here and some there. When I say a LOT, what I mean is, I lived in at least 15 different houses, and went to 14 different school...Unless you count college. Since some of them are fellow students from MWSU, I guess we'd better. So, that's 15 different educational establishments. OH wait. I also went to COW TECH!!! Pierce College, or Winnetka Tech! =D I know there are "friends" out there smiling at that! While I don't know where ALL of those "friends" are, I have found many. One friend, who I knew in high school, read one of my notes and found that we went to 1st grade together! WOW!!! AND the schools weren't even in the same state! In fact, we went to 1st grade at Kailua Elementary School in Hawaii and then both graduated from Agoura High School in California. SMALL world. Maybe if I keep searching, I will find even more friends from my past.
Working in a high school, you become "friends" with many of the students. In fact, the more they "need" your help with research, etc., the more they become your "friend". AND I have enjoyed working with ALL of them. We don't chat or talk often, but I read their posts and check out what they are doing. Some have gone on to colleges and universities. Some have families of their own. Some play pro football! They are doing ALL kinds of things and it's so fun to watch them grow and do things. I love it.
Some of these "friends" are still students. I do a LOT of substitute teaching, and several of the students wanted to be my "friend." I feel like I'm starting to sound like Mr. Rogers!
Many of my "friends" are my church friends. Since I belong to a world wide church, I have friends everywhere. Every time we moved, or I moved, going to church would bring new friends. Some of them I also went to school with. I'm also friends with some of their mothers, or their children in some cases! The church is like my second family. WELL, actually they are far more closer than family even. NOT my children, but sibling...we'll just leave that alone.
I have friends who were my professors! That's been fun.
Friends who are or were co-workers, either from Michaels Arts & Crafts, or schools I've worked in, or "ARVEY Paper and Office Products...how can I help you?" And other places as well.
Some of my "friends" are FAMILY! Cousins, second cousins, cousins once or twice removed. Aunts, nieces, nephews, ETC!!! I also have a daughter and son in-law. I'm "friends" with some of their family members.
SOME of my friends are relatives of my ex-husband! Or Ex-boyfriends. How weird is that?! One was the first wife of my ex-brother-in-law.
Sometimes when it asks for the relationship between you and a friend...well, let's just say that sometimes it's REALLY COMPLICATED!!!!!!! I mean REALLY!!!
My "friends" include all of the above people, but are not limited to just those groups. I have read other "friends'" walls, and made comments. There are times when my "friends" friends ask to be my friend! "Would you like to be my friend?" OR Farmtown..."Won't you be my neighbor?"
So, where am I going with all of these "friends"? I don't know. BUT I got to thinking about all of these people the last few nights. Why do we have friends? I don't even see some of these people. BUT out of the blue, one of them...a student or past student...will see I'm on, say HI and chat for a few minutes, or ask how to do a certain assignment. OR a formula for math. I chatted with one of my friends who is on a mission with her husband...in Croatia! It's AWESOME! I've probably chatted with you!!!
Friends are AWESOME people. I'm sure all of you have gotten emails about what friends are, what they do, what they will do, etc. I was separated for about five years. During that time there were eight of my friends, a few of them are on here, or their kids are, who helped me through an incredibly HARD time in my life. I had four little children, and they made SURE, for years, that I went out at least once a month. "The Eight of Us" and we were formerly known, would go eat and then go to a movie. THEN we decided to be "secret sisters" and draw names every Christmas. Then during the next year, each month we would do special things for that "secret sister when we would get together. They got me through that hard time.
There are several of my "friends" on here who helped me through hard times, special times, horrible times. There are friends on here who too classes with me and studied with me. There are friends on here I have NEVER even met. BUT have gotten to know. Ohhhhhhh...and then there are the guy friends that I had such crushes on... =D Sorry...no names!
Friends are interesting, fun, compassionate, silly, goofy, serious, caring, concerned, loving...and the list goes on.
Here I am...I have never smoked, done "drugs" or imbibed in alcohol. I am what they would have called "accomplished" in the Jane Austin Era. I paint, draw, play the piano (guitar and KAZOO!!! WOOHOO), knit, crochet, embroider, crewel, quilt, garden, build things, bake and cook. I love sports...playing them and watching them. I LOVE FAST cars. Not so much fast guys! ;) I love animals, ALL kinds of animals. Well, not so much opossums. They ARE VERY UGLY. I LOVE cowboys, riding horses, and dressing like a cowboy. I'll even say that I like to line dance. BUT I draw the line at country music. So sue me! Laughing out loud can be heard here!!! =D I do love to dance though. Salsa, Ballroom, Swing, etc. I am a DANCING FOOL! Or just a fool...BUT I LOVE life and LOVE to have fun, sans the booze, smoke and drugs. I love to play games; board games of all sorts, card games, puzzles, crossword, sudoku, you name it. I love it. I love to read. I love to write poetry, stories, notes, lists, letters to people. YEAH...the kind you put in an envelope, address it, put a stamp on it and stick it in a mail box. AND then the mailman or mail woman (we must be politically correct...NOT) picks it up and off it goes. AND by the way, I always remember the mail person when I bake! Especially at Christmas. After all, we're "friends" too. =D I love to quilt and sew. I don't just mean sew a button on. I mean SEW! I have designed clothes, costumes, etc. for years. I made a lined coat when I was 14. It was awesome. I made my clothes when I was in jr. high and high school. Much to the dismay of my children, I made matching outfits for holidays. I just found out they weren't too keen on that. OH well! What can you do. The pictures are cute though. They smiled dutifully. I love to tinker with cars. I've helped to rebuild many an engine. I know engines, trannys, etc. Love going to car races. Love the whine of a blower and the purr of strong engine. Nothing beats the sound of a Harley! I'm sure there's more that I love. Children. Love em! Traveling...want to. I love to learn. Love education. Most all music...not so much country...did I say that. I'm sure I did. =D I love to decorate. I love to scrapbook. I do genealogy. I am VERY religious. I live my religion 24 hours a day. My beliefs are what make me ME! Betcha didn't know that...or maybe some of you did.
Do ALL of my friends do ALL of these things??? GADS NO!!! Most of them don't do half of this. Some can't even believe that I do all of this. BUT I do. Does it hurt our friendship? I don't think so. If anything it enriches our friendships. Some of my friends quilt. Some do genealogy. Some scrapbook. Some sew. Some garden. I have things in common with most of my friends.
What are friends? They are people. Some are "like" family, even though they aren't. Some friends you talk to the same way you would talk to your family. Sadly, some friends you talk to "BETTER" than you would talk to your family! Nicer...I'm sure you know what I mean. You say what you want to friends.
True friends tolerate us. For the most part. They know our foibles, relate, and overlook things. They accept you...and you accept them. THAT'S what makes it work. Sometimes you share a lot of commonalities, sometimes only one or two. I have friends who are vegetarian. Do they get on me when I eat a meat. NO. I have friends who are of many different religious backgrounds: Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, etc. I have many friends who do NOT believe in God. I have some who believe in "a" God, but they are unsure of anything after that. If we talk religion, it's because they ask. I answer. Religion fascinates me. There are things about the Buddhist religion that I love. There are things about other religions that I can appreciate. Some of those things strengthen my own beliefs.
We learn from each other. We have all had MANY "life" experiences. We have learned lessons that have helped us to move on. We have learned, sometimes the hard way. I have learned things I NEVER thought I would have to learn. I find it hard to look back sometimes and visualize things I've been through. But we get through them...we learn from them. AND then because we LOVE our friends, sometimes when we see them going through things that we have gone through, we share. Sharing is a good thing. Especially if it's mutual! We share because we LOVE. We share because we care. We share because we DON'T want them to get hurt like we did. It is our compassion for our friends that sometimes puts us in positions of compromise. Do we share because we love and care...taking a chance. Or do we keep quiet...waiting...hoping..

.that they don't have to go through what we went through. I know in raising and teaching children, that I have learned a lot about child raising. Some days I see parents and children and I just want to say.....but I refrain. AND I think...should I butt in? Should I just let them find out where that's going to lead? It's a tough call...There are a LOT of tough calls in life, and in friendships. Do I? Don't I? Hmmmm.....
We don't judge each other. We accept. OR we don't. Another tough call. We help when asked. We do things sometimes because we feel like it.
Friends are there when you need them. Sometimes they are there when you don't! You have friendships because you LOVE that certain person. Or at least like them a lot. Friendships bond people for many reasons and in many ways.
Yes, I'm glad I have a lot of friends. I feel incredibly blessed that so many people what to be my friend or are my friend.
I think I put this poem in another note, but it's worth repeating...
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came her date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

My friendships are one of the biggest blessings in my life. I appreciate all of my friendships. Life is too short. Appreciate your friends. Love your friends. Forgive your friends when and if there is ever a time that you should. Cherish your friends.
Like I said in the beginning. I won't tag any friends...I'd have to tag you ALL!!!

Music, Moments and Memories...it doesn't get any weirder

I listen to the radio. Yep. I have a car that has NO CD player. I'm at the mercy of DJ's when I drive. BUT, it has it's bonuses. For instance, as I drive along, singing and tapping my fingers, SOMETIMES I do get out of control and actually "seat dance" as I drive, a song will come on. A song that will take me somewhere. OR some place in time.
When I was growing up, we listened to a lot of music in our home. Big Band, Classical, Jazz, and such. I love music, and music can touch me in so many ways. It is rare that a hymn, Christmas Carol, or Patriotic song doesn't make me tear up or cry. Anyway...
...as I drive along in my own little world with my thoughts and music, I have started a list of these songs.
My dad loved Harry Belafonte, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Roger Miller, and other similar artists. Some women artists such as Lena Horne.
Runaway always reminds me of my cousin Allen. He loved that song.
Debbie and I used to pretend we were going to be the next Supremes....songs like that remind me of her. They bought a Juke box from my dad in the late 60's. It was awesome. We would sing and dance and thought we were HOT!!! =D
When ever I hear Magic Carpet Ride, I think of my 8th grade Art class at Orchard Mesa Jr. High. My teacher, Mrs. West, always had the radio on in class. I loved that song. This was in 1968. I still love it.
In 9th grade choir at Fruita Jr. High one of the songs we did was Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme.
An early boyfriend had a band...I think I may have mentioned this before. Anyway, he played a lot of CCR songs, so...when one of those comes on, I immediately think of him. He also used to sing Angel of the morning to me...BUT that doesn't come on as much as CCR...THANK goodness.
Dave liked Chicago.
For some reason, of which I have ABSOLUTELY no clue, I associate Without You by Nilsson to Dennis. I was a senior and he was a jr. We rode the same bus, and he was cute, but other than talk a few times, like I said, no clue why I associate this song with him. BUT I do.
In my jr. year English class with Mr. Yerxa, he had us "try to figure out" what Bob Dylan was writing about in the song Subterranean Homesick Blues.
Denny liked Eddie Rabbit's I Love a Rainy Night.
Bruce liked the House of the Rising Sun and The Letter (which I taped him singing in the shower!). I now relate the Low Rider song to him as that's the song that plays when he calls Jenny. There are MANY other songs that remind me of Bruce...Ally Oop. Beach Boys. Carpenters. And others.
Solitary Man reminds me of Bobby. BUT then so does Strangers in the Night. I don't know where he heard it or what, but there for awhile he was singing it. AND he does a GREAT White Christmas!!! Whenever we sing The Spirit of God, I think of him too.
There are songs that make me think of Mikey, but I'm not sure why. However, at his wedding he and I danced the mother/son dance to Brown Eyed Girl. So, I think of his and Katie's wedding when that comes on. Two songs from church are Armies of Helaman and Secret Prayer.
When I hear the song Tiny Dancer, I think of Jenny in her little pink tutu. I think she was about five or six years old. There are some from church that remind me of her...I'm Trying to be Like Jesus.
There are songs that remind me of Jessica, BUT I hear them at church. One of them is I Stand All Amazed. Another is Families Can Be Together Forever. I still remember her trying so hard one night to sing this song when she was in YW and they were doing some program. Tears streaming down her beautiful face. I cried with her. I knew what she was feeling...no one else had a clue.
Natalie Cole and Engelbert Humperdinck remind me of Doug, as well as the CD Greater Than Us All.
A Child's Prayer reminds me of Chelsea.
Johnny Cash songs, as well as a good corny joke, remind me of John Foley.
For some reason, in one of his lectures, Dr. Greiert told the class he liked the Rolling Stones. So, you guessed it...when the Stones come on, Dr. Greiert is there.
Dr. Trifan played in the band Blood, Sweat and Tears. So, when one of those songs comes on, I think of his lectures and him.
Odd stuff this music.
NOW to the other things I think of when certain songs come on! Monday, Monday should ONLY be played on Monday. Ruby Tuesday on Tuesday. Rain songs on rainy days. SUNNY...yes. On sunny days. Rainy Days and Mondays...on a rainy Monday. I'm sure you see where I am going with all of this. Play the appropriate song on the day it's about...or the weather. Whatever. Get it together.
So, these are my thoughts on this tonight.....

Mother's day 2010

...we of course listened to the talks on Mothers day. Once from a teenager's point of view. The other two from the "husband/son" point of view, given by the 1st counselor Chris Black and the other from Bishop Skouson. I was impressed with the bishop. His mother just died on May 2nd. He told of some fun memories of her. Seven children, a broken "new" washer, and a trip to Sears with all the children and MANY piles of laundry. The story was much more in depth and I enjoyed it. He also shared this, which I went online and found...

Mother's Day? When's Payday?
Guest Author - Terrie Lynn Bittner

Friday comes and no one hands you a paycheck, a performance review or even a compliment. A weekend break is not looming. The kids have chicken pox, the teens are issuing a declaration of independence, and the baby just learned the word “No!” When, oh when, is payday?

Mothers soon learn that the beautiful child in her weary arms is not the perfect child she envisioned. For some this comes immediately, when a doctor tells the parent that something is wrong. For others, the realization comes gradually, when the beautiful baby keeps you up all night, laughs when you scold or likes Daddy better than you for a little while. Our child’s personality becomes clearer as the days progress, and we begin to know that children did indeed live before they came to our home, and packed their pre-formed personalities into their celestial suitcase.

Even that knowledge, however, doesn’t keep us from doubting ourselves. When we do everything “just right” and our child doesn’t respond “just right” we wonder where we went wrong. Why can’t our children sit quietly in church, the way Sister Matthew’s do? Why don’t our children keep their rooms clean the way Cathy’s do? Why don’t our children get good grades, the way Alexandra’s do? We begin to suspect that everyone but us has a secret method of raising children, and that their methods are all better than ours.

The truth is, however, that there are no perfect parents and no perfect families. That perfect family on the front row of the church may have challenges you can never guess. In fact, it’s certain they do. They have sorrows, and worries and days that don’t go right. We all do. Every child, every family that really tries, does some things right, and some things wrong, and children put forth their own personalities and practice free agency no matter how hard we try.

The child who drives his Primary teacher crazy because he won’t stay in his chair may also be the one who notices an older woman standing in a corner and brings her a chair. Sitting still might not be his strength, no matter how hard his parents tried to teach it to him. The messages about kindness, however, got through. The child who can’t keep his room clean may create breathtaking works of art. The neatness lessons didn’t take, but the ones about valuing your creativity did.

We send hundreds of messages to our children every day. Some take. Some don’t. While we must continue to send all the proper messages and take the proper actions to turn our children into good, moral, loving adults, we know that our children will choose which ones they will adopt now, which they will remember and keep later, and which will simply never be a part of their lives. Our job is to teach real children, not to create robots.

So when is payday? Payday comes in small doses, here and there, when we least expect it. It comes when we overhear our child, who would never say so in front of us, tell a friend that her mom is totally cool. It comes when our child gets lost in a good book. It comes when our child shares a heartfelt testimony of those principles we hold most dear. It comes when our child puts aside his natural tendencies to selfishness and helps another.

Sometimes our children are adults and parents themselves before they appreciate who we are and what we did. Our best paychecks come when our children are grown and we can see who they have become. It’s only then, many years after you think you have retired, that you get that perfect paycheck: “Mom, all those years…you were right.”

Happy Mother’s Day.

Thanks to my children for choosing me to be your mother! I love all of you!!!

Selling a house???

Well, I as most of you know, I'm trying to sell my house in St. Joseph, MO. I went online today to find an LDS Realtor, and went to this website: http://www.liahonarealtors.com/ A guy called me in less than ten minutes!!! We talked...I was impressed!