In Search of the Empty Nest...

The End

2009-09-30T17:34:00.002-04:00

Hi, I'm Mary. My blog is over there on the sidebar. I'm Liz's youngest daughter. If you're reading this blog, it's likely you know who I am already.

My mom shared everything with me. I checked her e-mail for her sometimes, I ordered books for her from the library when she was too busy to sit down and take care of those things herself, and so this explains why I am here, now, and able to speak with you all.

My mother was a wonderful woman. Fortunately and unfortunately, our Father in Heaven thought so as well. He brought her home with him yesterday afternoon. And she is no longer with us.

This all happened very quickly, and was very unexpected. I apologize to those of you who haven't heard yet and are reading it here for the first time.

My family and I appreciate all of the calls that have been made and all of the people who have visited so far.

This will be the only blog I will ever put here on this site. I think the only person who would ever be able to contribute anything of worth here would be my mother. I will continue blogging on my site, and my e-mail is there in case anyone has any questions.

I'm sure my mother would have wanted me to say goodbye to all of you for her. I'll be moderating comments and things on this blog, but other than that, this will be the last post ever put here unless I find it appropriate to post any un-completed drafts.

I'm keeping this blog here so that others may enjoy the insight she has given, and the wonderful thoughts that she has shared with so many since it's creation.

If you'd like to know more about what happened, I hope this will help.

http://medi-medi-mary.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-last-day.html

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom......

2009-09-30T00:59:00.001-04:00

To be home alone is a haven.

But of what use is a haven

without someone to share it?

--Liz Armbruster

A Flood of Tears............

2009-09-24T07:49:00.003-04:00

There has been flooding in Georgia this week. Torrential rain fell over the weekend and on in to Monday. The first picture here is of kids being evacuated from Clarkdale Elementary School on Monday afternoon.......the second picture is the same school on Tuesday morning......

I don't know any of these children, but I know the school.

I spent 13 years living across the street from this small, neighborhood school. When I moved into the house I was a young mom with 3 children, ages 4, 2 1/2 and 1. When we left Georgia 13 years later, I was a much more seasoned and experienced mother of 6 children, and every one of them had attended this school.

Though it's been 9 years since we lived there, we still have many, many fond memories of Clarkdale. I would venture to say that at least one of my grown children still has their 5th grade, graduating class t-shirt from Clarkdale. It was a great school to grow up with. An anomaly in today's world of education, the school had only about 400 students from Kindergarten to 5th grade. The class sizes were kept small and they would work together on many projects to help and encourage one another. It was a family as well as a school. After all these years, they still have the same Principal and many of the same teachers.

News reports say the the school will most likely not re-open. The damage was too severe, and the fear of future flooding dictates that they re-build elsewhere.

This video shows the damage more extensively than the pictures. Around the 1 minute mark the camera pans past a yellow house. That's the house my family called home for so many years.

http://www.wsbtv.com/video/21068665/index.html

They say that home is where the heart is.....I found out this week that at least part of my heart is still in Georgia.

I'm Thinking RB's..............

2009-09-22T13:46:00.003-04:00

I have a blog friend named Robert Brault. He goes by 'rb' when he comments on my blog, or on his own blog, for that matter. You should check him out if you ever need a good quote on.....well, just about anything!

Need a good quote about parents?

I'm thinking RB's:

"If you have a dad, you have a hope,

and if you have a mom, you have a prayer."

On marriage?

I'm thinking RB's:

"Marriage is nature's way of ensuring

that a woman picks up

some mothering experience

before she has her first child."

On friendship?

I'm thinking RB's:

"Friends never ask
favors of their friendship.
They ask favors of each other,
making it clear that their
friendship is not at stake."

So, the next time you need a good quote. Remember to think RB's!! Just be sure to tell him that I sent you!

Thoughts on Mortality.......

2009-09-19T17:01:00.006-04:00

Written By Lizabeth Armbruster on September 19th, 2009

_____________________________________

At what point in your life do you start wondering if you'll still be around for your next birthday?

Is it when you hear the doctor say the word 'cancer'?

Is it when you start 'getting up there' in age?

Is it when a guy in your office dies unexpectedly of a heart attack at 50?

I don't mean to spread gloom and doom. I'm not trying to be morbid. It's just something that's been on my mind. At what point in your life do you realize that any upcoming birthdays may be limited in number?

I have an aunt that I visited with recently. She told me that she'll be 91 on her next birthday. Obviously, she plans to be around for it. But is she planning on being here in 5 years? 10? She must certainly know that her time is limited.

I have a friend who recieved a diagnosis of cancer last year. At the time, she was 54. It was pronounced 'very aggressive' and needed immediate treatment. Did she wonder if she'd be here for her 55th? (By the way, she underwent the aggressive treatment and is doing great!)

A man I know at church just underwent a quadruple by-pass. He is probably in his late 50's early 60's. Did he wonder if he'd make it through the surgery?

I turned 51 this year. I realize that to some of you that's fairly young. (Though some of you probably think it's pretty old, too!) I, myself, think that 51 is young. Then I remember that my mother was only 2 years older than I am now when she died of cancer. And that makes me feel old. I consider how quickly the years have flown. And wonder what I've done with them. I remember some of them quite clearly....others not so much. And I realize that my time is limited. I'm pretty sure that I have at least another good 30 years or so. Maybe even 40. But I know I'm on the downhill side of the slope.

_____________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

(This post was written by my mother exactly 10 days before she passed away. I found it as a draft, and decided to post it for her, for all of you. I think the Lord prepares us for things we don't see coming, in ways that we never realize until we look back upon them. I'm greatful that she had written this, and hope that it provides as much comfort for you as it has for me.
Much love, Mary)

The 5 Senses of Memory........

2009-09-17T07:02:00.001-04:00

I spent almost a week visiting family in Minnesota. While there I was bombarded on every side by memories. It was almost overwhelming. I was on memory overload. Here's what I came up with:

Minnesota Memories

What does a memory taste like?
Like Tom Thumb donuts,
and Swedish Rye Bread,
and cousin Wendy's chocolate chip cookies.

What does a memory sound like?
Like my brother's laugh,

and the call of the loon,
and the train whistle on an early summer morning,

What does a memory smell like?
Like cardamom seeds,
and lilac bushes,
and my dad's aftershave.

What does a memory look like?
Like old family photos,
and Bert, the Buffalo,
and a sailboat on the lake.

What does a memory feel like?
Like my dad's whiskers,
and a hug from my sister,
and the warm summer breeze.

How about you? What do your memories taste like? Smell like. Look like. Feel like. And sound like. Share a memory with me. And let me know you remember any of the same things I do.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom, My Own.........

2009-09-16T07:53:00.002-04:00

Privacy is an illusion.

We only think it exists,
the same way we think that
the puppy in the shop window
will remain a puppy forever.

Or that someday, the children
will actually remember
when it's their turn to do the dishes.

Privacy is a wish, a hope, a dream.
But, in the end
It's only an illusion.

--Liz Armbruster

Are those Christmas Bells I hear.....?

2009-09-14T00:34:00.001-04:00

The kids are back in school. There is a slight (very welcome) chill in the air. I've flipped my calendar to September. And panic is setting in.

Because these things are all signs that Christmas is just around the corner. We have entered "The Season".

Never mind that I still have 4 birthdays to celebrate between now and Christmas. Never mind that we still have Halloween and Thanksgiving yet to come. Nevermind that I am ahead of even the most ardent retailer in my Christmas quest. I'm still worried about Christmas.

My worries? Will Jacob be able to come home for Christmas? If he can come, how much will I have to pay for a ticket to get him here? What do you get for the man who has everything and needs nothing? (my dad) Or for the kid who has everything, wants for nothing, but still needs something to open on Christmas morning?

I'm done shopping for Mary. I've actually been done with her for months (shopping, I mean!). And I have gotten a few little things here and there for the boys in my life.

But what if I get inspired and want to make something for someone for Christmas? If that's the case, then the ispiration had better come soon! It takes time to put these things together, you know. And what if I buy the wrong size? Or the wrong color? Or the wrong game?

You can see where this might be an issue. Maybe I'll just go on strike this Christmas. Maybe we'll just relax, enjoy each other's company, watch a movie and eat take out. Nah.....It'll never happen.

Now if you'll excuse me....I think I have to go call Travelocity.

Obama's School Speech.....

2009-09-11T12:03:00.003-04:00

Obama spoke on Tuesday to school children all across the nation.

Parents were nervous before the speech. What would he talk about? Would he indoctrinate our children? Would there be brain-washing involved?

In Minnesota, where I was visiting over the weekend, people were upset because the speech was due to take place on the first day of school. Teachers are trying to organize their classes, get to know their students, establish routines.

As a result of all these things, many schools chose to 'opt out'. I don't know yet if my grandson watched the speech, but I know that my two high school boys did not. One of the schools did tape the speech and is planning on showing it today. Only students with parental permission may watch it. My other son wasn't even given the choice.

I am bothered by this. I know that I've complained once or twice about Obama. And I will be the first to say that I don't agree with a lot of the things that he's doing. BUT....he is the President of the United States!! The Commander in Chief. The Top Dog.

I don't see where individual school administrators get away with NOT showing his speech. It makes me angry that they made the decision for all parents that this speech would not be appropriate for our children to watch. It is my opinion (and that's usually what you get here) that ALL schools should have shown the speech. I think they had an obligation to show the speech. As I said before, by NOT showing it, they took away my children's right to hear their president address them in a school setting. If parent's don't want their kids to see it, they can send a note to the school or keep them home. But that is the PARENT'S decision, not the school's.

I think that if parents are that concerned about a President's speech, then they should watch it, too. Talk to their children about it. Maybe even watch it with their children, then have a back and forth discussion about it. Not just his school address, but all his speeches. We need to be raising children who are aware, not hidden away. Who can see through rhetoric and politics and pick out the important information. Who can respect the office of president even when they may not agree with some of his policies.

I watched the speech on the internet. We will probably watch it again over the weekend...as a family. And talk about it together. I think Obama did a great job. I think he was right on track with the message he gave the kids. I may even pull a couple of quotes from his speech and post them on my kitchen cabinets (that's where I post things I want my kids to see day-after-day).

And how about we let the schools be schools and the parents be parents.

I'm B-a-a-a-a-ck..........

2009-09-10T16:32:00.002-04:00

I realize that it's been quite a while since I've posted. There are a number of reasons for this.

1. I really haven't had much to say lately.....lucky you!

2. I've been busy getting the kids back into the school routine. Sam started August 10th, Peter on August 19th, and Mary on the 24th. Can we not coordinate this people??!!

3. I was out of town. I went to the lovely, air-conditioned, state of Minnesota, where I ate state fair mini-donuts, went to the Mall of America, spent a wonderful afternoon on a lake, and visited with family. Most importantly, my 85 year old father. He is doing remarkably well, thanks for asking. He has Parkinson's, so is a little shaky and moves a little slower than he used to, but all in all, I think he's doing great!! (I also spent time with two brothers, one sister, a BIL, a SIL, and and various nieces, nephews, a couple of cousins and an aunt.)

But now.....I'm back. The kids are going strong in school, vacation is over, and I may just have a thing or two to say about a variety of subjects.

So, if you're up for it.......I'll keep on writing, you keep on reading. And let's have some fun!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-08-26T07:52:00.004-04:00

Time you enjoyed wasting,

was not wasted.

--John Lennon

Hostage Situation......

2009-08-24T05:23:00.001-04:00

I am currently involved in a hostage situation. I have been sent the ransom note. The demands have been made. But I don't do well with hostage type demands. So I don't think I'll be playing their game. There will be no pay-off. Here is what is being held hostage:

These are Peter and Sam's senior pictures. There are several other poses as well, and in all of them my boys are handsome, adorable, cute and charming. I would love to have them all!!

The hostage demands are as follows:

The 'If-you-really-love-your-child-and-want-enough-pictures-to-share-with-everyone-they've-ever-met-including-the-mailman' package is $575.00.

The Senior Special: 'yes-your-kid-is-cute-but-we'll-only-give-you-enough-decent-sized-pics-for-close-family-members-and-enough-wallet-pics-to-choke-a-horse' is only $395. It includes 80 wallet sized pics and a 'wallet box' to keep the 70 or so that will never be given out.

The 'you-must-not-like-your-child-very-much-we-have-people-spend-more-money-than-this-on-pictures-of-their-dogs' is a mere $150. This includes 2-5x7's, 4-4x5's and 24 wallets, all of one pose.

If you choose not to buy a package, you can always choose to buy the pictures 'ala carte' where you pay $38 for 8 wallets or $54 for an 8x10.

There are several other packages to choose from, but the cheapest one is $150. Do you know how many groceries I can buy for $150???!!

So......I will not be buying senior pictures. Sorry, boys, but I love you SO MUCH that I'd rather feed you than bend to the mafia-like demands of Lifetouch Photography. (And who did THEY pay off for this monopoly they have on school pictures?? We really need another player in this game!)

And for those who were hoping to get senior pictures of my boys.....take a good look at the pics I've posted, because that's as close as you're gonna get!

Sorry, Mr. Postman, I hope you'll still bring me my mail!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom....My Own!!

2009-08-19T09:51:00.004-04:00

"The first day of school......

where children breathe a sigh of regret

and parents breathe a sigh of relief."
--Liz Armbruster

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own....

2009-08-12T12:12:00.005-04:00

Grown-ups never

understand anything

by themselves,

and it is exhausting

for children

to have to

provide explanations

over and over again.

--The Little Prince

Call Your Mother!!!

2009-08-11T05:38:00.000-04:00

Stop whatever you're doing right now and call your mother!

Early morning. Blog surfing.

I was catching up on some blogs that I'd missed while on vacation. In one of them, this young mom was talking about friendship. Specifically, women and the bond of friendship. It was when she said that she chatted with her mom about the topic that I unexpectedly lost it.

My mother died when I was 19. That means she's been gone more than 30 years. You'd think that I'd be over it by now, but no, when I read that line about my friend chatting with her mom about something I started bawling. Sitting at the computer, early Sunday morning, crying my eyes out because of all the missed 'mom' conversations.

I hate that I don't have a mom to talk to about things.

I hate that I can't call my mother when something important.......exciting.........tragic.........scary........mundane
happens in my life.

I hate it when other people take their mothers for granted. Mothers should NEVER be taken for granted. They are a privilege, a blessing, a gift. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but your mother WILL NOT always be there.

Your mom may not be perfect (guess what....you're not either!) But she is your mom. And she did the best she could. So, take a minute. Call your mom. Tell her your sorry for any heartache you've caused over the years. For all the gray hairs you put on her head. And tell her you love her. She deserves that much.

Vacation!!

2009-08-10T05:51:00.000-04:00

Since everyone is so interested in what we did and where we went on vacation, I thought I'd share some pictures..... (click to enlarge them!)

Day 1 was travel...........

Day two was BUSY!!

Zion's Overlook:

Navajo Lake:

Cedar Breaks:

Brian Head Peak:

Parawan Gap Petroglyphs:

And then...............

We went to the Harry Potter movie.

More to come!! (I'll bet you can't wait!)

When Boys Get Bored......

2009-08-08T08:35:00.006-04:00

Peter was feeling restless yesterday.

Jacob was gone.

Sam was working on some school stuff (he starts school on Monday).

His friends were all either busy or out of town.

How did he solve this dilemma?

Let's just say I can't wait for school to start!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-08-05T05:27:00.000-04:00

"The chief cause of failure and unhappiness

is trading what we want most

for what we want at the moment."

--Zig Ziglar

A Captive Audience........

2009-08-04T05:55:00.000-04:00

Even though we flew out to Utah for our trip, we spent innumerable hours in a car together. On our first day, after a 2 hour flight to Houston and a 3 hour flight to Salt Lake, we rented a car, stuffed in 14 bags and 7 people and drove 4 hours to Cedar City. Beyond that, we had to drive almost everywhere we went. Up Cedar Canyon, down to Zion's National Park, over to Parawon Gap. We put 1400 miles on the rental car in a week's time.

All that time in the car makes for some interesting conversations. Here are some of the topics that were batted around as we racked up the miles:

Freckles. Mesa vs. Plateau. Hairy legs. Spiderman vs. Batman. Tumbleweeds. Mountains. President Obama. Smelly feet. Harry Potter. Dust devils. Climbing ability. Cloud shapes (elephants, sharks, etc.) Wild horses. Music. Personal taste in music (or the lack thereof.) Cemetaries. Motorcycles. Smelly feet. Miley Cyrus. Crypt burial vs. in-ground burial. Rock slides. Ironman. And my personal favorite: What is succotash? And why is it 'sufferin'?

There were also the inevitable 'sing-alongs'. Joe and I were serenaded by everything from the 'Full House' theme song, to Whitney Houston, Enrique Iglesias, Michael Jackson (and the Jackson 5), Goo Goo Dolls, Train, James Taylor, Beach Boys, and Toni Braxton. I have video, but am under oath not to post it. (You can thank me later.)

All things considered, I think I came out of this experience fairly sane. Truth be told, we had a blast. I think the kids will remember this trip for a long time.

Now if only I could get that song out of my head.

Eagle Scout Court of Honor.....

2009-08-03T08:38:00.006-04:00

I know that I've already posted about Sam and Peter becoming Eagle Scouts, but they just had their Eagle Court of Honor on July 18th (right before our vacation) so I thought I'd better write about that, too.

It was an awesome program. Our new scoutmaster, Russ Jones, conducted. The 11 year old Scouts did the flag ceremony. Reuben Aiton and Bishop Terry both spoke. We had an Eagle's nest that had about a dozen men/young men in it. Scott Smith gave the Eagle Charge, and Tapie Rohm shared a story. It was a night full of memories for Sam and Peter. Memories of campouts past, adventures shared, and friendships formed. I am so proud of my boys and know that this accomplishment will stay with them throughout their lives.

Congratulations, boys!! I love you!

Note to Self.......

2009-07-24T06:11:00.001-04:00

Because I seem to be the only one reading my blog, I am writing myself a note.

Dear Self,

Please forgive the absence of new blogs over the next week. I will be out of town. I am going to Utah to visit family and friends. The majority of my time will be spent in southern Utah, in the small, charming town of Cedar City. My time in CC will include side trips to Zion's National Park, Bryce Canyon, and wherever else I choose to go. I will be spending a day or two in the Provo/Orem/SLC area near the end of next week. After which I will return home filled with peace and a renewed energy with which to face a new school year and a house that STILL needs to be perfected and placed on the market. I will also return with stories to tell, pictures to share, and videos of my boys climbing mountains and being amazing.
Thank you, self, for your patience while I am gone.

Love,
Me

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-07-22T06:35:00.000-04:00

"After all, what are parents for if not for storing stuff you don't need."

--Mary Armbruster

Just for a Moment.......

2009-07-20T08:20:00.003-04:00

It was Friday. But it could have been any one of a hundred Saturdays from my childhood.

The clink of the coins in the change machine.

The swish of the water as it filled the washers.

The hum of the dryers.

The warm summer breeze flowing through the doors flung wide, front and back.

The stained, worn linoleum.

The tired vending machine.

The easy conversation of strangers.

Folding clothes.

Matching socks.

Feeding quarters into machines hungry for more.

Watching the wash spin....first in the washer, with suds so thick I can hardly see anything else. Then in the dryer, fresh and clean.

The dryer beeps, signaling the end of the cycle. My load is done. Still damp, but dry enough to fold and take home. Yet, the air is thick with the memories of those childhood Saturdays. I'm not ready to leave yet. So I feed another quarter into the dryer, and settle back......while the world goes on without me........just for a moment.

Double Standard???

2009-07-16T07:51:00.004-04:00

So, maybe I'm a little more accomodating when it comes to my grandkids......

Sirius and Sabian were over for a couple of days. When I was preparing dinner, Sirius asked if he could have chicken noodle soup instead because he didn't like what we were having. Then Sabian asked if he could have a sandwich instead...

My son, Jacob: "No way, this is what's for dinner, you eat this or you eat nothing!"

Me: "Of course you can!"

Not only did they get what they wanted for dinner, but I stood at the kitchen counter picking the celery bits out of Sirius's soup.....

What can I say? It's a grandmother's job to make sure those kids are happy!! And how could I say no to those two!

Sabian (left) is 4 years old. Sirius (right) is almost 6 years old.

Cookies? Or Paint?

2009-07-07T22:23:00.001-04:00

So, here's my question.............

If I make chocolate chip cookies while my house is being painted.....

Will the paint absorb the smell of the cookies so my house always smells like freshly baked cookies?

Or.........

Will my cookies taste like paint?

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-07-01T09:51:00.003-04:00

"As you seek new opportunity, keep in mind that the sun does not usually reappear on the horizon where last seen."

--Robert Brault

I have to admit that I have trouble with this one. I tend to look back with fondness and longing at opportunities and experiences past.

Forgetting sometimes that new adventures lay ahead. Forgetting that the much loved times gone by were once new and frightening as well.

I hesitate to step out of my comfort zone. I cling to the past, having to be dragged into the future as a child has to be peeled off of a parent on the first day of school.

Thanks, rb, for the reminder. A reminder that adventure awaits ahead and all that's left behind me are memories.

Validation.....

2009-06-26T14:20:00.000-04:00

Validate:

1. to make valid; substantiate; confirm: Time validated our suspicions.

2. to give legal force to; legalize.

3. to give official sanction, confirmation, or approval to, as elected officials, election procedures, documents, etc.: to validate a passport.

I've been thinking a lot about the word 'validate' lately. Validate. Validation. Validated. Validating.

It started when Mary had jury duty. We were discussing where she should park when she went downtown and I commented that she should probably park in the court approved lot because then the court would most likely 'validate' her parking stub.

I then started to think of all the things we 'validate'......

--parking stubs

--passports

--legal documents

And then I began to wonder why we validate parking but we don't validate each other.......why don't we validate our friends, neighbors, family members? While thinking about this, I came across this video. It's kind of long, but WELL WORTH watching.

By the way......I think you're awesome!!

Memory Lane.........

2009-06-25T07:46:00.004-04:00

I've been feeling a bit melancholy lately. I've been thinking about days gone by....things that I used to have, do, etc. And indulging myself a little bit in missing those things. So, lucky you, if you choose to read this, you get to walk with me down the proverbial 'memory lane'.

One of my favorite childhood memories is waking up to the sounds of the trains passing. The train track was right behind my house. It was house, back yard (big back yard), pond, then train tracks. If I woke up early enough to hear the first train whistle then I could jump out of bed, get dressed, and run down the path to the tracks early enough to put a penny on the track before the train got there. Then I would sit back on the path and wait for the train. The train almost always stopped when it got to my part of the track. That's because the end of the train would stretch far enough down the track to reach into town where it would unload lumber at the little lumber yard in town. The train would be stopped for maybe 30 minutes. Plenty of time to climb aboard. We would climb the ladders on the side of the cars, play on, around and under the train. We always knew when it was getting ready to start up again so we had plenty of time to jump off and get to safely back on the path. When the train had gone we would gather our pennies and maybe some coal that it had dropped and wander back home for breakfast.

I miss the lake house, too. When I was about 10 my parent's bought a lake house. It was about an hour drive from our house to the lake. We would go mostly on weekends, but often stayed longer. The lake house was a different world for us. There was one phone and it was a party line (shared with someone else) so we rarely used it. My mother declared early on that there would be NO TV at the lake, so on the days that it rained we would have marathon Monopoly games, get our exercise by pumping on the player piano or do puzzles. Outside, there was swimming, fishing, canoeing, water-skiing, a rope swing over the lake, mini-bikes to ride in the field or just laying in the hammock and listening to the water lap the shore. After my mom died my dad couldn't bear to go to the lake house any more....the memories were too much. I loved going there for the same reason. I could still feel her there. My dad sold the place to my oldest brother and that was that. It wasn't my lake house anymore. It changed the feel of the place and I couldn't go there anymore either.

It was a different world when I was a kid. The world was a safer place and we had SO much freedom. From the time I was about 7 or 8 years old we would walk the train tracks into town (or ride our bikes on a VERY busy road and across a VERY 'rickety' bridge!!)

We would spend the day in town, maybe going to Excelsior Beach to swim and buy Popsicles from the little concession stand, or go to a Saturday matinee movie. We would pay $1 for a movie ticket, small drink and popcorn. And sometimes, if we stayed after the movie to help clean up the theater, the manager would give us a free candy bar!! There was always a Saturday matinee. It was usually a cartoon movie or a cowboy one, and we would come out of the theater into the bright afternoon sunlight.

There was also an amusement park in our little town. We would need about $4-5 for that. But could spend hours there with that amount of money. Tickets were about $.10 and each ride was only 2 or 3 tickets. There was one ride where you would sit in a swing and it would swing out over the lake. There was a carousel, a wooden roller coaster, a ferris wheel, bumber cars and a fun house. We didn't go there as often as it was so expensive, but we did go a couple of times a month in the summer.

There was very little adult supervision. Mom would just give us a dollar for the movie and send us on our way. We would be gone for hours. Wandering around town, checking out the library, or the bakery, or the Ben Franklin store where you could buy almost anything you could ever need/want. Then, once we were tired we would ride or walk back home, usually in time for dinner.

I miss those childhood days. I sometimes long for them. I didn't have any worries in those days. No real challenges. Life was an adventure. The dangers of the railroad tracks or the 'rickety' bridge were very real, yet we ignored the dangers and lived for the adventure. I wish I could have the same bravado that I did when I was 8.

Maybe I'll give it a try!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.......

2009-06-24T07:12:00.004-04:00

As if you could kill time without injuring eternity!

--Henry David Thoreau

Reality Television......

2009-06-23T15:14:00.003-04:00

I don't watch reality TV. I'm not judging anyone who does, I'm just not into it. I watched the first couple of seasons of Survivor, but then it got old. I run across some shows when I'm flipping channels so I'm familiar with some of them.

Jon and Kate? Yeah, I've heard of them. I know they have 8 children. I know that they have announced a separation and possible divorce. Not that anyone cares, but here's what I think......

Sorry, Jon and Kate. You don't get to separate. You don't get to get divorced. You have no right to. Instead, you have obligations. You have 8 children that you chose to bring into this world. None of your problems are their fault. They should not have to pay the price for your stupidity. They deserve to be raise by both parents in a stable home.

I don't care about your personal happiness. I think you need to man up, honor your vows, renew your commitment to one another and raise your family. And I think you need to do it in private. I hope that you've set aside some of the millions that you've earned by parading your clan in front of the public. Now close the door, say goodbye to your adoring fans, and try actually being parents instead of actors. Your "fans" may be sad to see you go, but you owe infinitely more to your children than you do to your adoring public.

I know that it will be hard to live day-to-day without the cameras recording your every move for posterity. Without all the fan mail and millions of $$ rolling in. And how will you get by without the network paying for your vacations? But, maybe your family time will mean more when it's actually family time and not prime time.

Now cut your losses, and go be a family.

A Letter to Laura.....

2009-06-12T09:15:00.003-04:00

This is my daughter, Laura. She is 25!!! today. Laura is my most independent child. She is strong and vibrant, smart and sassy, lovely and loving.

In honor of her birthday, I decided to write her a letter:

Dear Laura,

Thank you.......for 25 awesome years.

Thanks for the countless soccer games....in the rain, snow, stifling heat of a Georgia summer......I miss those days.

Thanks for the adventure of watching you grow...from a willfull wild child to a tough look-out-world-here-she-comes teenager to the lovely young woman that you are today.

Thanks for the memories that come flooding back when I think of your growing up years.....I know that we had our challenges, but looking back all I can remember are the good times. And there are plenty of those to remember!!

Thanks for being an awesome daughter. I am proud to be your mom and be able to claim you as my own. I love you, my dear, and I hope you have an AWESOME birthday!!

Love Always,
Mom

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-06-10T06:23:00.002-04:00

I'm thinking of posting this in my kitchen to encourage my kids to help more around the house. I get SO tired of the words: "It's not my job"

Whenever you see a job to do,

ask yourself these two questions:

If not by me - by whom?

If not now - when?

--Arthur Lagueux

Diabolical Plan - Part 1..............

2009-06-08T06:46:00.001-04:00

Remember my concern about keeping my kids busy this summer?

I think I've got an idea.

Last week Jacob and Peter spent the entire week working on the yard. Their dad offered them an undisclosed amount of money to rake, weed, and mulch the 'natural area' in our backyard. It's a pretty big area and it needed LOTS of work. It kept them outside and busy most of the week. And they did a great job, too.

My plan for this week is even better. I signed up the four still at home (Jacob, Mary, Sam and Peter) to help out with Cub Scout Day Camp. They will spend the week serving as Den Leaders and Den Chiefs for a bunch of cub scouts. They will be gone every day from 8 until about 4:30.

I figure that if they can't find paying jobs, then I will find non-paying jobs for them. The next week, Mary will be volunteering at our church Girl's Camp for the week (that one is a sleepover camp!) And I may just send Jacob to Boy Scout camp in July if he is still unemployed. If this doesn't make them want to get 'real' jobs, I don't know what will!!

I wonder what other organizations need help this summer........

Incongruous........

2009-06-05T14:41:00.002-04:00

Is it wrong that when you look in my fridge you see these.......

right next to this?............

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own......

2009-06-03T07:13:00.003-04:00

Even if you are on the right track,

you will get run over if you just stand there.

--Arthur Godfrey

Dreams.....

2009-06-01T08:21:00.004-04:00

Seven words that make me want to run from the room....

"So I had this dream last night...."

I secretly HATE, (yes, HATE!) to listen to people's dreams.

When I share a dream with someone, it's usually a two or three liner: "I had this weird dream. So-and-so shot himself. I wonder where that came from." And then I'm done. I move on with my life.

When other people share dreams with me they D-R-A-G on interminably. Just the other morning my husband started to share his dream with me (I can blog about this because I know he doesn't read my blog!) Something about govenment conspiracies and death taxes. And on. And on. And on. After 20 minutes I interrupted him.......

Me: You know....my dreams are usually a lot shorter than this.
Him: Yeah, I know, it was a really long dream!

10 minutes later.....

Me: I usually don't remember much about my dreams once I'm awake.
Him: Sometimes that happens to me, too.

another 15 minutes later.......

Me: Maybe you should just write a book.

I try to be patient. I really do. But you can never accurately describe the feelings, emotions, and drama of a dream. It's one of those "you had to be there" things. Unless I happen to have the same dream I'm just not going to get it. No matter how long you drag it out.

I try to seem interested. But I'm really planning dinner menus in my head and wondering how much mulch it's going to take to do the back yard area.

I'm not sure how Joe's dream ended. I hope it ended happily, but with government conspiracies one can never be sure. He lost me when he started talking about drug lords and secret bank accounts.

I wish everyone sweet dreams. But please, don't share them with me.

Fly Like An Eagle.............

2009-05-29T08:07:00.004-04:00

Peter has been a busy boy!! Just last night he had his Eagle Scout Board of Review. This means that Peter is now officially an Eagle Scout!!

We are so proud of Peter. Statistics say that only 2% of boys that get involved in Scouting ever make it to the rank of Eagle!

For his Eagle Project, Peter ran an Emergency Preparedness Fair for the community. He had the Red Cross come, as well as CERT (community emergency response team), the Fire Department, and the Blood Drive people. He had booths set up to talk about water purification, 72-hour kits, long term food storage and first aid. The Blood drive people collected 31 pints of blood! It was a big project, involving lots of people, but Peter organized it all and did a GREAT JOB!!

He was pretty nervous last night at his Board of Review. As was I in the waiting room! He was in with the Board for about 30 minutes with the three reviewers grilling him. Then they sent him out while they conferred for about 15 minutes. We were called back in and they told him what a good job he'd done, how they were impressed by his answers and would be proud to have him represent the BSA (Boy Scouts of America) as an Eagle Scout. They read us a poem about the Eagle leaving the nest (I almost cried!) then shook hands all around and sent us on our way.

Peter, we are proud of you and the man you are becoming. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to see what you accomplish next!!

<----Peter in the middle, his Scoutmaster, Reuben Aiton on the far right. The other three are the ones who conducted his Board of Review. (this is the first time we saw them smiling! They were a pretty tough group!)

Video Games.......

2009-05-28T09:24:00.004-04:00

Okay, so I got this package in the mail yesterday. My birthday is on Sunday. I figured that it might be a birthday gift so I briefly considered not opening it until Sunday. That lasted about 15 seconds. After all, maybe it wasn't a birthday gift, maybe it was.......umm.....ummm...... something else that needed to be opened immediately.

Turns out it was a birthday gift. From my brother, Peter. He sent me a Wii Fit. I have been wanting to try one for a while now, and oh, my gosh, is it ever fun!!

I realize, of course, that I'm old, and that video games are typically for the young, but I happen to like video games. To me, video games are the great equalizer between me and my kids. I mean, really, I used to be able to run faster than my kids, beat them at arm wrestling, do more sit-ups, push ups, etc. Those days are long gone. They can outlast, outrun, outplay me anyday. Not so with video games. In video games I can actually challenge my kids on a level playing field.

I'm really good at Brain Age (a mother's day gift from two of my boys), pretty good at Mario Kart (one of my favorites!), not bad at the 'old school' Sonic games, and I've been working on my drumming skills on Rock Band (I've still got a ways to go on that one!)

Now that I (we) have Wii Fit, we have even more challenges to do together. We've had it less than 24 hours and so far Jacob has the high score on the Ski Jump and Ski Slalom, Sam is best at Soccer Heading and Tight Rope Walk, and I hold the high score in Table Tilt and Hula Hoop. Yes, we've already logged quite a bit of time on the Wii Fit.

Now if I could only find the time to get the laundry done.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-05-27T09:01:00.002-04:00

Deep summer

is when laziness

finds respectability.

~Sam Keen

Summer....

2009-05-26T08:41:00.002-04:00

Summer is fast approaching. Sam is already done with school. Peter has just 8 more days. I'm starting to panic.

My kids idea of a perfect summer is unlimited video games, pool time, and sleep. I like summer to be just a little more productive than that. Last year I tried to have a S.M.A.R.T. summer. It flopped. I'm not sure what to do this year. We do have several activities planned. Scout camp and things like that, but we will still have plenty of down time. I have learned over the years that too much down time leads to kids that are cranky, argumentative, and bored.

So, I'm coming to you for help. What can I do (or have my kids do) that will be fun, productive and inexpensive? Any ideas??

Memorial Day...........

2009-05-25T09:32:00.004-04:00

Memorial Day.

A day to remember.
But the question has become...remember what?

Remember to grab the lifejackets on your way to the lake?
Or remember to stop for flowers on your way to the cemetery.

Remember to get charcoal for the grill?
Or remember to lower your flag to half-mast.

Remember that you signed up to bring the potato salad?
Or remember those who gave their lives so you can live yours.

It used to be that Memorial Day was just that...a memorial day.
A day to remember those thousands who have died in service to our country.
There were parades and ceremonies and speeches.

Now, it's a three-day weekend, kids-out-of-school, let's-go-to-the-lake, I-wonder-why-that-person-is-flying-their-flag-today holiday.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all about three-day weekends. I miss the go-to-the-lake days of my youth. I love a good barbecue, and having the kids out of school for an extra day.

But let's at least take a moment. Sit down with the kids and remind them why they have this day off. Why some people are flying their flags. Why there is still a parade or two. Why those old men at the park are wearing their ill-fitting, out-of-date uniforms and looking at the flag with a tear in their eye.

Let's at least drive past the cemetery on the way to the lake and look at the rows and rows of white tombstones...each with a small flag waving in the breeze.

Let's talk to our kids about sacrifice, and duty, and love of country, and loss of life. Let's plant the seed of patriotism in their hearts so they can pass the legacy on to their children. Remind them why their grandfathers went to war. And their great-grandfathers, too. Why young men and women are still going to war today. And dying today.

Teach them to respect those who serve. Teach them to remember those they never knew. And if you want to make it more personal.....just read about Donn Sweet. And let Donn, as one man, represent the thousands who performed similar acts of heroism.

And then.......go have fun at the lake!

A Favor For Mary.....

2009-05-22T07:23:00.003-04:00

My daughter, Mary, has entered a contest and needs your votes to win. The contest was to design a twitter background for Paperback Swap. Here is the link. You are only allowed to vote once. Please share this with your friends so they can vote for Mary, too. Her design is the one with a blue bird standing on a red book (pictured above). Her name is listed as 'medimedimary'.

Thanks, everybody!! Remember to give her a 5-Star rating!!

Judging Books by Their Covers.......

2009-05-22T05:52:00.002-04:00

They say that you should never judge a book by it's cover.

Then, how exactly should we judge a book?

I think we need ratings on books. I don't really care how we rate them. It can be the same rating system we have for movies: G, PG, PG-13, R. Or we can use the system used by some cable television systems: V(violence), S(sexual content), L(language).

Whatever I need a rating to tell me if the book has bad language. There is some language that I find offensive. I need a rating to tell me about sexual content. I do not need to know all the details!! Some books are almost pornographic in their descriptions. Yet we are not warned ahead of time!

I hate to spend money on a book only to find out later that it should have had an "R" rating on the cover! I have thrown away more than a few books because of their content. (I don't donate them because I don't want to subject others to things that are offensive to me!) So.....being that books don't come with ratings...how do we decide which ones are 'safe' so to speak?

I am currently looking for a 'new author'. I tend to find authors that I enjoy, and then read everything they've ever written until I run out and have to start my search again.

I like Clive Cussler, Dick Francis, David Baldacci, Robin Cook.

Please tell me some of your favorite authors. If I don't find something soon, it's going to be a L-O-N-G summer!

Six Word Stories....Are Such Fun....

2009-05-18T06:24:00.000-04:00

I heard about 'Six Word Stories' a while ago and I've been wanting to try it out. The premise is simple: tell a story using only 6 words.

Supposedly, sometime in the 1920's, Ernest Hemingway was challenged to write a such a story. He wrote, "For sale. Baby shoes. Never worn."

You can find out more about Six Word Stories here.

Here are some of mine:

Rode Bike, fell, bled, tried again.

Childhood. Freedom, adventures, friends, innocence, home.

Afraid of change, I stay put.

To go home again, I write.

Mom, can I? Please say no.

Free agency is much too expensive.

How did you get this number?

Once a brother, now a stranger.

Lake house. Where summer never ends.

I really had fun with this. It's almost addictive. I'm sure that you are much more creative than this....so show me what you've got!!

Consequences.........

2009-05-14T11:57:00.004-04:00

I'd like to introduce my 'Slave-for-a-Day'. This is Peter. Peter is my slave boy today. It's noon and so far he has cleaned 2 bathrooms, started a load of laundry, whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies, and is now out in the backyard raking and killing weeds. I have not yet decided what wonders await him after lunch.

What, you may ask, did Peter do to deserve this? Let me tell you......

Yesterday morning as Peter sat in his Geometry class he grew restless. Class was only half over, he was bored, he was hot, he was thirsty. (He could have been doing his classwork, but what's the fun in that?)

Peter decided that he needed some fresh air. So, without asking anyone, or saying anything, he just stood up and walked out of class. Now, if you've been in a high school recently, you'll know that there really isn't much fresh air in the hallways. So, Peter not only left class, he left the building. He was going to go right back in. He was sure he wouldn't be missed. Unfortunately for Peter, the door locked behind him and he was now locked out of the school. This meant that he had to walk all the way around the school and come back in the front door.

When you come in the front door of his school, it leads you directly to the Front Office so that people can check in when they are late to school. So, Peter walks in to the Front Office and the lady behind the desk asks him what he's doing. He explained to her that he had just left class for a minute. He just needed some fresh air. She was not very understanding. And neither was his Geometry teacher when the lady called him to tell him that Peter was now in the office. (He thought that Peter had just gone to the restroom, and would be right back.)

Which is why I got a phone call from an Assistant Administrator yesterday morning telling me that Peter would be suspended today for: skipping class, disrupting class, and leaving the building without permission.

And that's how I got my Slave-for-a-Day.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own....

2009-05-13T07:51:00.003-04:00

I originally read this in an Atlanta newspaper in 1998. I've kept it and made copies through the years (in case I lose the original!) I didn't know who the author was until today.

Her name is Oriah Mountain Dreamer, though that is not the name she was born with. Apparently, she has now written a book to go with this prose-poem. You can read more about her here.

The Invitation

It doesn’t interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for

and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool

for love, for your dream,

for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me what planets are squaring your moon...

I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow,

if you have been opened by life’s betrayals

or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,

without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own,

if you can dance with wildness,

and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes

without cautioning us to be careful, to be realistic,

to remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn’t interest me if the story you are telling me is true.

I want to know if you can disappoint another

to be true to yourself.

If you can bear the accusation of betrayal

and not betray your own soul.

If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty

even when it is not pretty every day.

And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,

yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake

and shout to the silver of the full moon,“Yes.”

It doesn’t interest me to know where you live,

or how much money you have.

I want to know if you can get up

after the night of grief and despair,

weary and bruised to the bone,

and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn’t interest me who you know,

or how you came to be here.

I want to know if you will stand

in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn’t interest me where or what or with whom you have studied.

I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself

and if you truly like the company

you keep in the empty moments.

--Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Mothers I have Loved.....

2009-05-10T07:45:00.004-04:00

I've been thinking about Mother's Day this week. Thinking about how much I miss my mother...(who has been gone for 31 years now.) Thinking about myself as a mother, my daughter as a mother, and other mothers who have touch my life...

So Happy Mother's Day to those gone on ahead and those still here:

To my mother: Thanks for the memories.......the Sunday dinners, the family gatherings, the bedtime stories, the Christmas mornings, the movies we saw together, the endless miles of driving, the nurturing, the spoiling, the example, the love. I miss you, Mom.

To my Grandma Patch: Thank you for listening to the missionaries, and bringing the Gospel into our lives, for raising my Father to be such a hard-working, righteous, kind and loving man, for spending so many Christmases with us in Minnesota, for the life stories and the poems you left us, for the lessons of hard-work and perseverance, of getting up when life knocks you down and moving forward in faith. I miss you, Grandma.

To my Grandma Strom: Thank you for being there during my growing up years. For your toughness and resilience. For your courage to come to a strange new land and leave behind everything you'd ever known to start anew. For your no-nonsense approach to life and your example of working hard and playing hard. For your love. I miss you, Grandma.

To my daughter, Eleanor: Thank you for making me a grandmother. For bringing those two sweet boys into our family. Thank you for raising them to be responsible and brilliant and loving. I love you, Eleanor.

To my mother-in-law, Mitzi: Thanks for raising a wonderful son. For being a wonderful grandmother to my children. Thank you for your love and energy and willingness to help. Thanks for your example to my children of service to the Lord. We miss you, Mitzi.

To Lois: Lois is not my mother, but the mother of my best friend growing up. Lois was and remains my 'other mother'. Considering the amount of time I spent at their home growing up, she had a great hand in raising me and instilling certain values in my life. Thanks, Lois, for putting up with me, for loving me in spite of my short-comings. For your sharing, and caring, your endless patience and understanding, your unconditional love. I love you, and wish we lived closer so we could visit more often. I hope you have a great Mother's Day!

This list could go on and on, as there as endless women who have influenced my life by their actions and examples. So, to all the women in my life:

Happy Mother's Day!!

Desire vs. Reality......

2009-05-08T06:42:00.007-04:00

I discovered (long ago) that wanting something does not equal having something. Wanting your children to get along will not make it so. Wanting a job will not get you hired. Wanting to be good at something will not mean that you will be good at something.

For instance, I want very much to be 'crafty'. I want to cross-stitch and quilt and sew. I want people to come into my cozy home and exclaim "Oh, did you make that?!" and be able to glance humbly at the wall-hanging, or quilt, or tapestry and say "Oh, that? It was nothing."

I want to be an amazing photographer. Oh, I've taken some good pictures in my lifetime, but I want to take the kind that people will pay hundreds of dollars for and be amazed at how I captured the light or the mood or the expression on a child's face.

I want to scrapbook. I want each of my children to have an amazing book (or several) to look at and remember all the fun times they had growing up. The vacations, the school plays, the Christmas mornings. It's not going to happen.

I also want very much to be able to play a musical instrument. I'm thinking maybe the piano....or the guitar....or maybe the drums. (Rock Band on the Wii is giving me a false sense of hope for my budding musical aspirations.)

Unfortunately, simply wanting these things will not make them happen. Procrastination is my constant companion. I am forever considering projects, dreaming of projects, even starting projects....but they never get finished.

I give you exhibit A: I started this project when I was a Beehive in MIA. MIA stood for Mutual Improvement Association. It was the youth group at my church consisting of the boys and girls between 12 an 18. The Beehives were the 12-13 year old girls. (This organization still exists today, but it's simply called 'Mutual' now) This means that I started this project sometime around 1970. I take it out every once in a while, and think how nice it will look when it's framed and hanging in a place of honor in my home.....then I pack it back up again for another 5-10 years. But I never give up hope. I still believe that 'someday' I will finish it.

Exhibit B:

Here is my quilt project. I bought this 'quilt-block-of-the-month' kit back in 1997. I was convinced that I would find time to do just one block a month! I actually started the first block, but the pieces didn't line up the way I wanted them to (ie: perfectly) so I packed it up again. It's also on the 'someday' list.

As far as the scrapbooking goes, well, let's just say it's on the back burner. When Mary was about 5 (she just turned 21) she came to me asking where she was in the scant photo albums that I had patched together. I told her that she wasn't in there because those pictures were taken before she was born. (At the time I had 6 children under 10, I barely had time to shower in those days!) She gave me her most horrified expression and replied: "You took pictures before I was born!!" I ended up buying her a 4 X 6 photo album at the dollar store, handing her a shoebox full of pictures and telling her to make her own photo book. (a testament to the fabulous mother that I am!) She did make her own, and still has it today and continues to add pictures. Maybe I should just get her the rest of the supplies and put her to work!!

I could go on and on, but it seems that blogs are about the only things that I have learned how to finish!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-05-06T06:33:00.000-04:00

You can't

build

a reputation

on what

you are

going to do.

--Henry Ford

Delete.....

2009-05-05T06:19:00.001-04:00

I deleted someone from my life the other day......to be honest, I deleted several someones. The relationships just weren't working for my anymore.

When I first got into 'blogging', I was on a roll. I went skipping from blog to blog looking for something interesting. I would read the blog of a friend, then the blogs belonging to friends-of-that-friend. I was insatiable. I collected blogs of interest: cooking blogs, quilting blogs, preparedness blogs, crafts-for-kids blogs.....well, you get the idea. I was a blog-a-holic. I even blogged about my budding blog addiction here.

I realized that I had a problem when I had to check my blog list every day. I would get mad at the kids for wanting to get on the computer, wanting dinner, wanting to be driven to school. Selfish children.....couldn't I have a few minutes peace to check my blogs!! I was spending more than 30 minutes of my time every day checking the blogs of people I don't even know!!

Granted, I do feel like some of these people have become my friends. I comment on their blogs, they comment on mine. We're friends on Facebook now, and even e-mail once in a while. But many of the blogs I read, too many, were just time wasters. I realized that with all the millions of blogs out there, no matter how interesting and informative they may be, they were still just time wasters.

So, it was time for them to go. Most of them, I couldn't remember why I started reading them in the first place. They'll never know they've been deleted from my life. There will be no hurt feelings. I've kept the ones that I find most interesting, and the ones where I feel like we've developed a friendship. But the list is much shorter now.

If only it were that easy in the real world. Delete the relationships that don't work (with no hurt feelings!) Free ourselves of obligatory relationships. And only keep the ones that bring us joy.

I feel better having cleaned out my blog list. And maybe now, my kids will get to school on time!

(No.....this is NOT about you....I love you, and hope that we are friends forever!!)

Happy May Day! (not MAYDAY!!)

2009-05-01T09:51:00.003-04:00

May Day. Not to be confused with MAYDAY!! It is NOT a cry for help or a signal of distress. Simply a celebration of May. It used to have more historical significance....and if you really care you may read up on it here, but I sincerely doubt you'll bother.

May 1st. May Day. How many of you remember, or ever celebrated May Day? For those of you younger than me, May Day is May 1st. It is generally celebrated by dancing around the Maypole and hanging May Baskets on people's doorknobs. When I was small, I remember making little baskets and filling them with flowers or notes, then doing the ding-dong-ditch to my neighbors and surprising them with May Day greetings.

Growing up in Minnesota, May Day was also a sort of end-of-winter celebration as well. We were usually done with snow by May 1st. Spring had sprung and we were ready for the flowers to bloom and the temperature to finally make it's way above 40. May in Minnesota is a re-birth.

Having lived in the South for over 20 years now, I'd forgotten. Spring comes early in the South and stays late! By the time May rolls around, the Dogwoods are done blooming, people have gardens planted and producing, and that one day of snow we had in January or February is long forgotten.

I think I appreciated May more when I lived in Minnesota. May was a hint....a promise of the brief summer season that was fast approaching. It was the promise of June, the freedom from school for a season and chasing fireflies in the early evening. The promise of a never-ending July of fireworks and swimming and fishing at the lake house. The promise of August. Family vacations and camping out under the stars. A time for making memories.

So, Happy May Day!! I hope all your dreams of summer come true. Now go hang a May Basket on someone's door and make their day!!

Chrysler......

2009-04-30T06:24:00.000-04:00

I heard that Chrysler was whining the other day. Something about how they're going to have to file bankrupcy if things keep going the way they are. Chrysler, who has already recieved 4 BILLION government dollars, says that there are three things that need to happen for them to avoid bankrupcy:

1. They'll need MORE government money.
2. They need to close a deal with Fiat.
3. They will need to have some of their debts forgiven.

#1: More government money:

ABC News reports that the Obama administration has told Chrysler that if they close the deal with Fiat by month's end, they will provide the company with another $6 Billion. Along with up to $500 million in 'working capital' while they restructure.

My thoughts: why would the government continue to throw good money after bad?? If Chrysler is a sinking ship, so be it. Companies fail every day, you can't bail out everybody. If you're going to spend the bailout money anyways, use it as severence pay to all those losing their jobs when Chrysler goes under. I'll bet that a quarter to a half million dollars each would keep food on the table until they found other jobs.

#2: The Fiat Deal:

Why in the world would Fiat want to form an alliance with a failing US Automaker?? Well, why not, if the US govenment is going to keep throwing money at them!

My thoughts: Fiat!! Run!! Save yourselves!! There has got to be a better way for you to help your business than by jumping ONTO a sinking ship. Who makes your business decisions, anyways?! If joining forces with a bankrupt company is his idea of a good business deal......well, let's just say that you may have personnel issues!

#3: Debt Forgiveness:

Daimler has already agreed to forgive repayment of a $1.5 Billion loan and make 3 annual $200 million payments into Chrysler's pension plans beginning this year.

My thoughts: Until these companies start forgiving the debts of Joe Car Owner, they have no grounds for even asking for debt forgiveness!! I say that everybody whose auto loan is held by Chrysler gets their debt forgiven before the government gives them another dime!! Let Chrysler lead by example, then we'll talk.

Conclusion:

If Chrysler made a product that the American people actually wanted, they wouldn't be in this position. Why would we bail them out so they can continue to make a crappy product and provide crappy customer service? If the ship is sinking, then it's sinking for a reason. Play the funeral dirge and let it go. Maybe if we actually let one of the big automakers die, the others will notice and try harder to meet the real needs of the consumers: quality product, good customer service, affordable transportation. (Maybe they should ask Honda and Toyota how it's done!)

Sunrise, Sunset.........

2009-04-29T11:04:00.000-04:00

I'm feeling very 'Fiddler on the Roof' today. I seems like just recently I had a houseful of little ones. Today, my youngest daughter and my youngest son had a birthday. Mary is 21 now, and Peter is 16. (Yes, they share a birthday. We couldn't figure out what to give Mary the year she turned 5, so we gave her a brother. They call each other 'birthday buddies')

When did this happen!?

How did this happen!?

Oh, I know that people told me it would happen.

'Enjoy them while they're small.' '

They grow up so fast.'

Of course, I didn't believe them. Those toddler years seemed to last forever. I had 6 children in 10 years. Chaos was status quo back then. It was like living in the eye of the storm. Looking back I'm not sure how I survived it. My life today seems almost boring.

I miss the days of little ones underfoot. I miss the sticky kisses and the skinned knees. Nowadays, my boys tower over me and I'm dealing with broken legs and collarbones. (Trust me, the skinned knees were easier!)

But they grew up, with or without my permission. So, Mary....Peter.....this song (or at least a part of it) is for you......

Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older

When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday

When they were small?

Sunrise, sunset Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears

Happy Birthday, birthday buddies! I love you bunches and bunches! Hope you have a great day!

Virtual Worlds...

2009-04-28T06:44:00.003-04:00

I don't get the whole 'virtual world' of gaming that's going on today. Maybe it's because I'm getting older, though some of my 'old' friends seem to be getting into the game.

I had an invitaion on Facebook the other day to join in a game called "Yoville". It sounded a little like Dr. Suess to me, but I thought that if my friends are playing, maybe it would be fun. I was wrong!

So far, I have learned very little about how to play. I have created a character, and now I spend my time either in my virtual apartment, or I go to work.

I don't know how to interact with people on the game.

I haven't figured out how to decorate my apartment.

I can't even sit on my own couch!

My friends send me 'messages' that say nothing but 'cc'. After 15 or 20 of those, I messaged someone back and asked what it meant. "Coin Collecting" was the cryptic reply. Apparently, you get coins for messaging, but why not a real message? Why not, "Hi, how's it going?"

My virtual world has a gym.....I don't go to the gym in the real world, what makes you think I'm going to use a virtual gym?

My virtual world has a coffee shop.....I don't drink coffee. Why would I want a virtual latte?

My virtual world has a factory......all I do is punch a timeclock and I get credit for working......I know it doesn't work like that in the real world!

I know people who spend hours every day in their virtual worlds. They make virtual friends and have virtual fun. They build virtual lives in a computer world. It just makes no sense to me. I like to interact with real people and go real places. I do like games, just not virtual ones.

Monopoly anyone? I call dibs on the Top Hat!

What Next?!

2009-04-24T05:56:00.004-04:00

What do these two things have in common?

They are both being given out at the drive thru at my bank.

If I drive through with a kid, they give the kid a sucker.

If I drive through with a dog, they give the dog a biscuit.

Mary is hoping that the next time she's with me at the drive thru they're handing out Patrick Dempsey!!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own....

2009-04-22T07:48:00.002-04:00

The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser -

in case you thought optimism was dead.

--Robert Brault

The Stash.....

2009-04-21T10:20:00.002-04:00

I come by it honestly. "The Stash." I got it from my mother. My mother would buy gifts FAR in advance of when she would need them.

By the time the that Kristin and Jennie, the two oldest granddaughters, were 2 years old, my mother had dresses stashed for them that were sizes 6-8.

"But, mom..", I'd say, "they're only 2!! Why are you buying a size 6?"

"Oh", she'd reply, "these dresses are so adorable! And besides, they'll grow into them!"

She would also buy presents for other people's children. Just because. She would buy dresses, or hair ribbons or outfits or other surprises. Just for fun.

So I guess you could say that my gift of Stash was inherited.

When my kids were small, I'd shop the after Christmas sales and stock up on 'friend presents'. That way, when someone got invited to a birthday party and needed a gift we'd just go to my closet and pick something out. I had puzzles, games, toys....I always figured it was better to spend ahead and get 80-90% off than to wait for the last minute and overspend!

I also started the Christmas shopping for my kids months in advance. I once got an awesome remote control car for Jacob (I think he was about 8) that had an original price tag of over $60 for only $15. Granted, that meant that I had to hide it for 9-10 months, but it was well worth it. My only problem was: where to keep everything, and remembering that I'd bought it!

I still Stash today. I'm already done Christmas shopping for Mary. And I hit Kohl's 90% off racks today and picked up a couple of other Christmas gifts. I'm not sure who they're for yet, but it will all work out. And just think of the money I've saved!! Between Mary's Stash, and the things I bought today, I've saved close to $200!! (I'll have to make sure Joe reads this when he starts complaining about how much I spend on Christmas!)

I have to redeem myself here by saying that I don't just buy randomly, and I really don't go overboard. It's not like I have to have an outside storage unit to hide everything. And I don't have things stashed for Chrismas 2012!! Just one year at a time. I think it helps my budget to spread the cost out over an entire year instead of just the month of December. And because December in my house includes two birthdays I need all the help I can get!

So if anyone knows of any great deals out there, send them my way! After all, there are only 247 days until Christmas!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own......

2009-04-14T21:35:00.003-04:00

A quote from the movie, Shenandoah--

If we don't try

we don't do.

And if we don't do,

why are we here on this Earth?

Behind the Mask.......

2009-04-14T10:40:00.004-04:00

A friend of mine on Facebook wrote recently:

"I'm thankful for my role model's strength as she endures a burden I wish she did not have to go through. I'm glad that her faith is strong and that she knows all will be well. All my love dear friend."

In the comment section, I replied: "Thank you"

She was not amused and wrote back: "You can be my role model, but I really don't think you want to go through the burden."

In retrospect, it occurs to me that this response tell me a lot about myself as well as my friend.

About me, it says that I'm wearing well the mask that so many of us wear around our friends/acquaintances.....the mask that says "I'm doing fine, thank you!"

About my friend, it says that she really has no idea about the trials/burdens that I am facing in my life right now, and she is content to believe the mask.

This raises more than a few questions:

Why do we wear the mask, and why do we allow our friends to wear it??

Why is it that so many of us insist on carrying our burdens alone when there are so many around us that are willing/able to help??

Who among us would not be willing to help if our friends told us the truth: "you know, I'm really struggling with some things right now. I could use a friend to talk to."

I think that we wear the mask because we are too prideful to ask for help when we need it. We percieve asking as a sign of weakness instead of a sign of humility. Yet, if your friend came to you and shared her trials, wouldn't your first response be "How can I help you through this?" We want to serve one another, yet we don't want to be served.

We allow others to wear the mask because we don't want them to know that we see through the illusion. If they want to pretend and handle things themselves, then we don't want to interfere. We don't want to overstep our boundaries. So, even though we may know that everything is not okay, we let them pretend.

As far as carrying our burdens alone, how often do we hesitate to go to our Bishops or Home/Visiting Teachers thinking 'I don't want to burden them with this, they have enough to worry about' or 'I don't want to take them away from their family, I can handle this' Yet, aren't these the very people that God has charged with our care? Isn't that the beauty of the gospel, that we have people to turn to when we need help? And who among us hasn't heard the saying that God sometimes uses other people to answer our prayers. And that doesn't only mean calling the Elder's Quorum when someone is moving in/out of the ward!!

But, so often, we continue to carry the burdens alone, and wonder why nobody notices that we're struggling. Is it any wonder they don't notice, when all the while we continue to smile and say: "I'm great, how about you?"

So, in an effort to remove the mask, I'm going to lay it out there......."You know, I'm really struggling with some things in my life right now, and I could sure use your thoughts and prayers." There....I said it. I can't/won't go into details, as I'm not certain who reads this blog, but my prayers alone aren't cutting it. So, if you wouldn't mind putting me on your 'prayer list', I would be grateful. Maybe sometime in the (hopefully not too) distant future, we can talk more about this and I can let you know that everything turned out for the best.

Thanks. I feel better already!

Virtual Friends.....

2009-04-04T22:21:00.004-04:00

So, my husband and two of my boys were at a church meeting tonight. Jacob (having had surgery on his collarbone yesterday) was sleeping, and Mary was playing video games. It was a nice peaceful evening, the computer was available, so I decided to catch up on some blog reading.

I was in the middle of this blog, when my husband and boys walked in from their meeting. My husband looks at the blog and says: "So, who's that?" To which I replied, "Um...... well..... I don't actually know her, but her name is Celia and she has 4 kids (I named them all) and this is her husband, Carl. But it's okay for me to read her blog because she's the friend of a friend so she's kind of my friend too!"

It sounded lame, even as I said it. Joe just shook his head and walked away. I shouted after him..."It's okay to have 'virtual friends', you know! It's not like I don't have any 'real life' friends!"

So, now I've decided that I need to come up with cover stories for all those blogs I read. For instance....Celia and I have been best friends since college (never mind that Celia was probably 8 year old when I was in college!) I could say something like "Oh, come on honey, don't tell me that you don't remember Celia! She was in our Business Law class!"

Other 'virtual friends' could be:
--'an old friend from high school'
--'she was in my ward growing up'
--'I met her when I served at Girl's Camp that one year'
--'oh, her? She in the other ward'
--'my mom's cousin's daughter'

You can see that I obviously need help here.....

.......your assignment??

Plausible cover stories. I'll be waiting.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own....

2009-04-01T06:03:00.000-04:00

Winston Churchill wrote:

"To every person there comes that special moment

when he is tapped on the shoulder

to do a very special thing unique to him.

What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared

for the work that would be his finest hour."

Nothing like a relaxing walk.....

2009-03-30T18:48:00.005-04:00

Dinner was done. Kitchen was clean. It was only 5:45 and the beautiful evening was calling me to come out and play. Here's how the next hour played out:

"I'm going for a little walk. Anyone want to come?"
(Guess which kid wanted to come. The one in a cast.)

"Peter, you're in a cast. I don't know that you can go on a walk."

"Okay, then I'll just ride a bike."
Great plan. Except that after struggling to get the bike out of the garage we discover that his bike has a broken seat.

"Maybe I could ride Eleanor's bike."
Manuvering carefully between the van, the other two bikes, and the garage wall, we finally get the other bike out. Two flat tires.

"Maybe they're not really flat. Maybe they just need to be pumped up."
By now, I'm losing my desire to take a walk, but I'm trying really hard to be patient. The kid has been cooped up in a splint or cast for a month now, he's stir crazy and just wants to get some exercise and fresh air.

So we pump up the tires. Once around the cul-de-sac tells us that, while it's not ideal, it might work. So, off we go. Me walking, him riding.

Half way down the street:
"This seat is really uncomfortable."
(I bite my tongue and keep walking.)

Down the street and around the corner.
"These pedals are spiky!"
"Well, maybe you should have worn a shoe on the other foot."
(one foot in a cast, the other with just a sock on)

Down to the next cul-de-sac.
"These gears are really messed up. I don't think I can ride this thing."

I tried to keep smiling as I asked what his plan was for getting himself and the bike back to the house.
"Maybe Mary could drive down and pick me up."

Which is how I ended up walking slowly home with a bike whose tires were steadily losing air and had crappy gears and spiky pedals.

Next time, I'm sneaking out the door and leaving the kids a note.

On Leaving the Nest......

2009-03-28T08:33:00.004-04:00

Okay.....I know that my blog is titled "In Search of the Empty Nest"....but I'm not sure that I meant it. Some people (my children) have taken offense to the title, and are actually trying to leave!! So, I think a little clarification is in order.........

1. It is the natural order of things that children are born into a family. They grow up together in a loving home where they are nourished body and soul. They are educated in the ways of the world (like how to clean a bathroom and do their own laundry and maybe even cook a meal and do dishes!) Then at some point (hopefully before they are 30!!) they leave the comfort of the nest and go off to build their own nest and make their way in the world.

2. It is important to remember the family that you have left behind. They have, after all, invested YEARS of their lives into your well being and, as such, have a vested interest in you. You must 'touch base' on occasion. Phone calls work well for this purpose, as do letters, pictures, and personal visits.

3. Don't forget about your brothers and sisters. They also have a vested interest in you and your well being. You need to develop and maintain a close relationship with them. They can be your best friends in the years to come and will give you someone to reminisce with in later years. After all, who else can you talk to about the time that Eleanor broke her toe playing baseball barefoot in the backyard? Or the time that Laura cut her hand with the knife trying to show us that "it's not that sharp!" Or, who else will know what you're talking about when you say "Where's Goka?" Who else, but your brothers and sisters, can you talk to about anything that starts with "remember that time?" You NEED your brothers and sisters, and they NEED you!! (Remember Roo? The giant mud pit? The creek? Clarkdale? The freedom of the neighborhood? Big Red?)

4. Work hard!! I know that we made your life very comfortable and easy while you were here, but it's a big, bad world out there, and you'll need to work hard to make it. The days of "Mom, what's for dinner?" are gone. You want dinner, you make dinner. The same goes for "Mom. can you wash my blue shirt while I'm at school today?" You want your blue shirt washed? I hate to be the one to tell you, but there is no "laundry fairy"!! You're on you own. (I must interject here that my children have actually been doing their own laundry for years, but I thought I would add this for general purposes--you're welcome)

5. Don't forget to pray!! And know that those of us left here at home pray for you every day. We pray for your safety. And that you'll make good choices. And that you will know how much we love you and miss you. Prayer can and will be a shield and protection against the harshness of the world. Prayer will help you choose the right. Just think of it as the Ultimate GPS...How can you possibly go wrong if you listen to that little voice telling you what path to take? Remember that you have a Heavenly Father, too, and he also has a vested interest in you and loves you more than you will ever know.

6. You OWE ME!! Don't ever forget this one!! I'm (sort of) kidding, of course, but think about it...who else in this world would have carried you for 9 months and given birth to you? Who else would have spent all those years wiping your nose (and your behind!) Who else would pick you up when you fall, gently wash your scrapes and cuts, give you a kiss and a band-aid and send you back out there to conquer the backyard? Who else would stay up until all hours of the night making cookies or cupcakes for the class (think 'Day of the Dead' cookies!) Or stay up all night working with you to perfect your science project? ONLY YOUR MOTHER.

7. Be forgiving. When you get mad at me (and you will!) remember that I did my best. I wasn't right all the time, and you won't be either when you get to be a parent. But everything that I did, I did out of love for you. So when you think back on what some may call our 'disfunctional family', think back with love and forgiveness in your heart. Remember the times that I forgave your mistakes. The play-doh on the carpet, the broken dishes, the spilled milk. You were just learning, and guess what.....So was I. Learning how to be a parent just as you were learning how to be a kid. In that sense, we sort of grew up together.

So, go easy on me.

I know that someday you will all be grown and gone. They say that I will miss the chaos and the fingerprints on the walls and the towels on the floor. I don't know.....maybe I will. Maybe I will sit down and have a good cry the first time I clean a room and it stays clean for more than 15 minutes. Maybe I won't know what to do when the laundry is caught up and I no longer have to buy a 5 lb roast for Sunday dinner.

Yes, someday I'll have that empty nest. But for now.....I think I'll revel in the madness a little longer. Trying to write a blog with 'Super Smash Bros.' as background music. Stepping over the Hot Wheels cars and the blocks on the livingroom floor. Juggling school schedules and doctor appointments and scouts.

Thanks for making my life an adventure. I wouldn't trade it for anything!!

Some 'remember whens?' for my brothers and sisters:

--remember the time that Renn got Rice Krispies up his nose because Paul made him laugh so hard at the breakfast table?

--remember when Kati got busted for sneaking out of the house to go to Danceland after Dad told her "absolutely not"!

--remember Paul's broken arm/leg? And the time he stepped on a pitchfork?

--remember Grandma Irma riding the mini-bike at the lake house?

--remember when Mom fell into the pond in our backyard?

--remember the awesome sledding paths that Renn/Paul used to make?

--remember putting pennies on the train track?

So...Mike, Kati, Renn, Paul, Peter.....what are your 'remember whens'?

A Brotherly Birthday Blog........

2009-03-27T10:01:00.005-04:00

A L-O-N-G time ago....in a land far away (Minnesota)...my brother, Peter W. Patch, was born. (Under penalty of death, I am not at liberty to divulge the middle name) To say the least, Peter is not just any brother....he is an AWESOME brother. Through the years Peter has been many things to me: a brother, a best friend, a confidant, a conspirator, a therapist.....the list could go on and on. Let's just say that Peter is one of the reason that I am who I am today (now you know who to blame!)

So...happy birthday, Peter!! I love you and wish I could be there to share some cake and ice cream with you. Hope you have a great day!!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-03-18T08:35:00.003-04:00

"If you can solve your problem,
then what is the need of worrying?
If you cannot solve it,
then what if the use of worrying?"

--Shantideva

Ahh....the wisdom of the Buddhists......

Jacob.....

2009-03-16T06:16:00.000-04:00

I mentioned a month or so ago that Jacob had gone out to Utah.

He had trouble finding a job and missed his family (at least that's my story) so he came home again about 10 days ago.

Because Jacob knows how bored I am on the weekends (remember Peter's accident two weeks ago?) he took pity on me last Friday (the 13th!!) and broke his collarbone. That's just the kind of guy he is.....always thinking of others. 'Hmm...mom might be bored this weekend....what can I do to liven things up? I know, maybe if I break a bone!!' Here is his x-ray for your viewing pleasure....

So, now I have two broken boys. Peter was back at the Doc last Wednesday, and things are looking good enough with his leg that they put a cast on. The doc is still not sure that he won't need surgery, but for now, it looks like he might be okay. He will still need a cast for 4-6 weeks, but that's loads better than the surgery option where recovery can take months.

Back to Jacob.....He went snowboarding with a friend on Friday up in N.C. I reminded him as he walked out the door that he has no health insurance and to be careful (I know, I know....it's all my fault!!) He called me about 2 in the afternoon, FROM THE HOSPITAL, to let me know. (My theory has always been that if my kid is capable of calling me after an accident, that's good news. Much better than a stranger calling me to tell me about it.) Luckily, he had a friend with him who was able to stay with him at the hospital and deliver him home after he was released. As you can see from the x-ray, he did a good job breaking the collarbone. His shoulder is hurting, too, as is his knee, but hopefully those will be okay. Apparently, they don't do much for broken collarbones. He has a sling, but that's about it. He should be okay in 4-5 weeks.

Do you think I should take up a collection at the grocery store to help pay his ER bill?

Happy Anniversary to ME!!

2009-03-13T06:37:00.005-04:00

Where were you 27 years ago today?

I was at an LDS Chapel in Midway, Utah getting married. Some said that it wouldn't last, as Joe and I had only known each other for about 6 months. My family didn't meet him until they showed up for the wedding.

Yet, here we are, 27 years, 6 children, 2 grandchildren, 8 moves, 5 states, countless trials and countless joys later, still together.

Happy Anniversary, Honey.....I love you!!

Going Bananas......

2009-03-12T06:38:00.003-04:00

I have been dying for banana bread lately (no nuts, thank you). To that end, I have been buying bananas. I have bought dozens of bananas over the last few weeks in the hopes that some of them would go bad and I would be forced to smash them and bake them into bread, but my darn kids keep eating them!! How am I supposed to make banana bread if my kids keep eating the bananas!!

I can't very well tell them NOT to eat the bananas....after all, they're good for you, what with the potassium and all. And, really, isn't it better for them to be eating bananas than cookies or ice cream?

So, here I sit, with my banana bread cravings unfulfilled. Maybe I'll just hide the next bunch.

The Dreaded 'To-Do' List........

2009-03-06T06:27:00.000-05:00

You know how sometimes, in the morning, you make a list of 'things to do today', and then you NEVER finish the list and you feel like such a loser? I mean, the list certainly seemed reasonable and do-able when you wrote it, so what did you do all day that you couldn't finish the stupid list???

I have a solution: Write the list at night instead of in the morning. Sit down before you go to bed and list all the things you did that day: laundry, carpool, dishes, etc. Then, (this is the good part!) CHECK THEM OFF!! You will be amazed at how much you accomplished! And how good you feel about yourself. Go ahead, give it a try!

You're welcome!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-03-04T07:59:00.002-05:00

Another Michael Jordon quote:

"Some people want it to happen,
some wish it would happen,
others make it happen."
--Michael Jordon

Which one are you?

Snow Day 2009.....

2009-03-03T07:49:00.009-05:00

Yes, we actually had snow here in SC! Peter could not enjoy it because of the broken leg, Mary thought it was too cold to go out, so Sam is the only one who had fun in the sun (and snow). School was closed yesterday, and again today (We've got 4 inches!! of snow, people, how can you expect us to go to school when there are 4 inches of snow on the ground!!) Here are a few pics for you to enjoy......Notice that Sam has bare feet, it was actually fairly warm later in the day, and he was SO excited to be able to shovel snow. He had a blast shoveling our driveway and walkway. (This is what comes of raising kids in the south!)

Peter's Not-So-Excellent Adventure.....

2009-03-02T08:18:00.010-05:00

On Saturday, Peter rode in or on: his bike, a car, a wheelbarrow, a wheelchair, a stretcher, a gurney, and an ambulance.

Peter is an active kid. He likes cross-country, track, and parkour. He would rather be outside at the park or the creek than inside with video games or television. So he was bored and stir crazy when it rained Friday and Saturday. By Saturday afternoon he couldn't take it anymore. "Please, Mom, can I go to the park with Luis for a while?" Since it wasn't raining that hard, I secured a promise from him that he'd be careful, and off he went.

While grocery shopping a couple of hours later, I got a phone call. "This is Mr. P, one of your neighbors, I'm here at the creek with your son, and he thinks he may have broken his leg."

Apparently, climbing, running, and jumping on and off things are NOT good rainy day activities. Peter had been trying to climb up onto a drainage pipe that runs near the creek (in the woods), realized that he couldn't get up there, and dropped to the ground. Now, Peter has done similar 'moves' dozens of times with no consequence. But combine rain, mud, and an errant branch upon landing and you end up with a broken leg.

He and Luis figured out it was broken when A) They heard the crack when Peter landed, and B) Peter lifted up his leg and the foot flopped to one side. Peter stayed in the mud and rain while Luis went for help. This is where Mr. P comes in. He rushed to the scene, surveyed the situation, called us, then ran back to his house for a wheelbarrow. By the time we arrived he had Peter in the wheelbarrow and was wheeling him across the field to our car. One blessing, two emergency rooms, one ambulance, two x-rays, a cat scan, some sedatives, a gurney ride, a stretcher ride, two wheelchair rides, a splint and 7 1/2 hours later, he was home again.

Peter, not being one to do things half-way, broke both of the bones in his lower right leg. The fibula was broken vertically (they may have used the term 'shattered' in the first ER), and the tibia was broken horizontally (basically a 1/2 inch slab sheared off the bottom).

His leg is splinted right now while the swelling subsides, and we go to the orthopedic doc on Wednesday to find out whether or not he needs surgery. He may need a couple of screws put in to hold the bones together. Or, (we hope and pray!) they may say that the bones are placed well and just put a cast on it. Either way, Track season is over for Peter, and he faces a long road to recovery. I have to say, he's taking it pretty well. He is being a very 'patient patient'. He's not at all happy about the situation, but he knows there's nothing to be done about it now, so he's got to live with it.

I'll keep you updated on his progress, but in the meantime, here are some pictures for you....

LOST!! (parking lot edition)

2009-02-27T05:31:00.000-05:00

So, when I came out of Walmart the other day I saw this woman wandering around the parking lot.

She strode confidently down the same row that I was parked in, then suddenly stopped, looked around, and realized that she had no idea where she had parked. She stood there for a minute, then nodded to herself and strode confidently over to the next row. She was back about 20 seconds later looking more confused than ever.

I rolled my window down and asked her if she would like a ride around the parking lot, assuring her that the same thing has happened to me, and that my 'Spiderman' Antenna ball is the only thing that lets me know when I've gotten the right car! She basically said thanks, but no thanks, then said that she now remembered where she had parked and strode off confidently in the other direction.

As I pulled out, she was slowly and sheepishly walking back to the original row and looking ever more lost and confused.

I wonder if she's still there.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-02-25T05:23:00.001-05:00

Considering my failure rate as of late.....I must be destined for success soon!!

Go West, Young Man, Go West!!

2009-02-23T07:45:00.003-05:00

Jacob has decided to move to Utah. He left two weeks ago and made the L-O-N-G drive from South Carolina to Cedar City. It only took him 4 days. Of course, he had to stop in Memphis to visit friends, and then again in Las Vegas (where he served his mission) for more visiting.

He is currently living with his Grandfather in Cedar City, looking for work and trying to decide if Cedar is the place for him. If not, he has other options in the Provo/Orem area. So far, in his Utah adventure, he has gone snowboarding at Brianhead and driven his Grandfather to Salt Lake City for a doctor's appointment.

His decision to move west was prompted by the facts that A) He had no job here and jobs seem to be pretty scarce right now, B) He was tired of living at home, and C) The 'dating pool' here consists of about 3 people. You can tell by the picture that he has literally been climbing the walls since he returned from his mission a year and a half ago.

So he's off to the land of 'Zion' to seek his fortune and make his way in the world. We miss him, but wish him luck on his quest. Jacob.....we love you, and hope you find what you're looking for!!

(P.S. If anyone knows of any jobs available in Cedar City or Provo/Orem let me know, I've got just the guy for the job!!)

Street Creds......

2009-02-20T05:43:00.001-05:00

What does it take for an artist/musician to have 'street creds'? Is it the tattoos? The gold tooth? The number of arrests? Or women? Or cars? Or fights? Is it the 'Bling'? The way they walk? Or talk? Do you have to be 'ghetto' to have street creds? I've never quite understood it.

I've never paid much attention to L.L. Cool J. Had you asked me, I probably wouldn't even have been able to tell you what kind of musician he is. Not that I didn't like him, I just wasn't familiar with him or his music. (To tell you the truth, I'm still not!) The same is true for a lot of other musicians as well..... James Blunt, Hootie and the Blowfish, REM, Goo Goo Dolls, Chris Brown. I had heard of these artists, and listened to some of their music, but really didn't give them much thought.

So why would I list them together like this? There is a variety of music represented here. Well, here's the connection that gives them all 'street creds' in my book. 'Sesame Street' creds, anyways. They have all appeared/performed on Sesame Street. Now, they may have their faults, and maybe I don't like some of their music or lyrics or whatever else.....but you can't be ALL bad if you've been on Sesame Street!! How tough can you be if you hang out with muppets? To me, any grown man who can get down on a kid's level and sing with Elmo and the gang, must have some good in them.

So, there you have it.....my list of musicians/artists with some real 'street creds'.

The Mirror of Erised.....

2009-02-18T05:48:00.001-05:00

In the first Harry Potter book Harry discovers the 'Mirror of Erised'. It's an enchanted mirror where the person who looks into the mirror sees his or her greatest desire. Harry sees himself surrounded by his parents and other family. Ron Weasley sees himself as a Quidditch champion holding the House Cup.

As I was reading the book the other day, and came across the chapter about the mirror, I had this thought.....what if we had a mirror like this? But one that would show us what lies on the other side of the veil. A mirror where the veil could be lifted. Where we could see our loved ones.....those who have already been here and gone, and those yet to come. We could see our Heavenly home. Our Heavenly Father. And we could feel their strength added to our own. How much easier would it be for us to fulfill our earthly mission if we could see the Heavenly help that is there for us.

It reminded me of this quote by Jeffrey R. Holland:

"In the gospel of Jesus Christ you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike--and they will--you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed."
--"For Times of Trouble," BYU Speeches, 1980

I think that I may print this quote, and put it on my mirror. Maybe I'll never see the 'chariots of fire', but I know that they are there, just the same. Because an Apostle of the Lord told me so.

Blimey!!

2009-02-16T07:40:00.005-05:00

It's official.....my brother and his wife will be serving their mission in London, England! I can't wait to start planning my vacation! London is the perfect hub for family genealogy, and I know they will have a wonderful adventure there. They are scheduled to leave sometime in July.

Breaking up is hard to do......

2009-02-13T08:50:00.002-05:00

So I met this guy yesterday....(yes, I know I'm married, just keep reading!) He seemed nice enough, but it turned out he was very 'hands on'. He was moving W-A-Y too fast for my taste, and demanded to not only see me twice yesterday, but today as well and then wants to meet 2 - 3 times a week after this. His exact words were......'Monday is much too long to wait, I need to see you tomorrow.' So now I have to break up with him. I don't have time to meet with this guy today, much less 2 -3 times a week!! So, my question for you is.....how do you break up with a Chiropractor??

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own....

2009-02-11T07:20:00.001-05:00

"Noble and great. Courageous and determined. Faithful and fearless. That is who you are and who you have always been. And understanding it can change your life, because this knowledge carries a confidence that cannot be duplicated any other way."

--Sheri Dew

With friends like that............

2009-02-09T05:40:00.000-05:00

Do you ever wonder who your true friends are? Me, too. And isn't it sad sometimes when you find out that those people that you have considered friends really aren't?

I had an experience not too long ago that brought home to me a suspicion that I've had for a while now.......this person is not really my friend.

It's sad, because I really thought they might be. And as hard as it is for me to open my heart to someone and let them inside my heart and my head and my life, it's disappointing to know that I've once again opened myself up to someone who didn't deserve it, someone who just doesn't care.

Oh, well. Another life lesson learned.

My Answer: The Lake House.......

2009-02-06T05:49:00.000-05:00

50 People, 1 Question.......an interesting idea and an even more interesting video. My answer to the question is 'The Lake House', and thinking about it almost brought me to tears. For those of you who have known me more than 25 years or so, the answer will make perfect sense. What's your answer?

(*Disclaimer: I found this video on the blog of my niece's daughter. Since very few of you read that blog and this one, I thought it was safe to post it here as well. I hope you don't mind, Becky. If you do, I'm sorry, and promise never to do it again.)

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own......

2009-02-04T05:32:00.001-05:00

"Never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be."

--Clementine Paddleford

Good advice, I think......(and not directed at anyone in particular, just so you know!)

For Mary.....

2009-02-03T10:31:00.004-05:00

Mary has been job searching again. She found what has been called "The Best Job in the World". She immediately began researching the job and has put in an application. Now, she needs your help. If her video gets rated high enough, it will bump her up higher on the list of applicants and give her a better shot at the job. I'm posting this e-mail that she sent out, and I'm hoping that my blogging friends can help by forwarding it on or posting about it to help spread the word. Please help my girl get this job. Then I can go to Australia and visit her! (You can come, too!) Here you go:

Hey all! This is Mary Armbruster! Your friendly neighborhood . . . friend?

I usually don't send out a mass e-mail. And this doesn't reaaally count seeing as I picked out the people I know and could trust to help me out. I mean, that's what e-mail is for, right? Keeping in touch with friends so that you can have their backs wheneva? True story!

So- On to the reason I'm e-mailing you all.

I applied for a job awhile ago. It's a job that I applied for in Queensland, Australia. I've told some of you about it. For those who I haven't told:

Queensland Tourism is trying to increase. . . well, Tourism to Queensland! So in order to do that, one of their marketing agencies (most likely) has come up with a way to do just that!
They're offering a job. This job is being called the best job in the world. The successful applicant will go to Hamilton Island (which is in the Great Barrier Reef- think finding nemo) for a total of 6 months.

The island caretaker (job title) will be responsible for feeding fish, getting mail, being a spokesperson for the island, and recording their experiences. The Caretaker will take pictures of their adventures scuba diving, snorkeling, and pretty much just being a tourist on the island and blog about it!

I sent in a video to the site on Monday, January 19th, and just got an e-mail back from them today with a link to my video!

So what I'd love for you all to do is help me to get this job by voting my video 5/5 stars! I do honestly believe that I am the perfect person for this job, and would love the experience. I know I can count on all of you to help me out! I know there are plenty of times we've each helped each-other out. And I apologize if this e-mail isn't exactly close and personal like I know you all deserve. But I'd really appreciate all of your co-operation for this thing! Because I beleive that I actually might have a chance with this!

Here's the link to the site. Just click on the link and watch my video! If you think I deserve it, cick on the fifth star to give it a good rating!

http://www.islandreefjob.com/#/applicants/watch/MW0k5w29kzE

Thanks guys! I appreciate your time and your friendship!

Sincerely,

Mary Armbruster.

(p.s.- Hahaha, wow. This is the most excited e-mail I've ever written. Look at all those exclamation marks. Hee hee, overdone? Maybe. But exclamation marks look cool. They're my favorite of all the punctuation marks. Don't be jealous question marks.)

(p.p.s.- haha pp. Also- sent it twice because the first time, there was no subject or link to the video, so I apologize for any inconvenience!)

So, there you have it......Mary's e-mail. Please check it out and give her a '5 Star' rating!! The girl needs a job, and how cool would it be to have this job on a resume!! W-A-Y cool, I think!!

Happy Birthday!!

2009-02-02T08:12:00.004-05:00

While today is Groundhog Day, and the world is focused on whether or not the groundhog will see his shadow (here in SC, he already has - 6 more weeks of winter for us!) at our house we are focused on this adorable boy......my grandson, Sabian.

Today is Sabian's birthday. He is now 4 years old. Just so you know, Sabian is awesome. He has such a sweet spirit. He is kind, loving and generous. If there were only one cookie left in all the world, he would give it to YOU. He is also snuggly, has a great sense of humor, and gives great back rubs.

Happy Birthday, Sabian!! I love you bunches and bunches!! I hope you have an awesome day!

technology...

2009-01-30T05:04:00.002-05:00

I love technology. (Even though I am severely technologically challenged) I can barely turn on my computer. Yet, I have 3 e-mail accounts (I only use one) ,a Facebook account, a Twitter that I rarely update, 4 Yahoo groups, and a Flickr account. I guess you could say that I am 'accountable' for the time I spend on the computer!?

I started out, a long time ago, in a city far away, with just one, simple e-mail account. It was a way to keep in touch with those far away, and since I'm lousy at writing letters it seemed like a good solution. Besides, I'm into instant gratification, and letters take W-A-Y too long to get where they're going! And then you have to wait and wonder if anyone is EVER going to write back!

Now, I play scrabble with my friends, do genealogy, write letters, create fabulous Eagle Scout Project books (think: scrapbooking), e-mail friends far and near, check school schedules, blog, organize pictures, shop for Christmas and birthday gifts, and most recently.....chat.

I'd never 'chatted' before with one of my friends, when, just the other day, I was on the computer checking my Facebook (wow, I either sound really dorky, or really cool, I can't tell which!) when up popped a message from a friend far away. She happened to be on the computer at a ridiculously early hour as well (no doubt trying to get in some computer time before the kids took over for the day, like me) We hadn't talked in months, and we spend about 10 minutes just 'chatting' and catching up. It was so nice. Then our respective children needed attention, so we said goodbye and signed off.

I think I might like this new-fangled computer thing. It sure beats the pony-express.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own....

2009-01-28T06:37:00.001-05:00

Don't wish me happiness-I don't expect to be happy it's gotten beyond that, somehow. Wish me courage and strength and a sense of humor-I will need them all.
--Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Let's just say things have been tough around here lately.

Baby Shower Blues......

2009-01-26T06:14:00.000-05:00

I went to a Baby Shower a week or so ago. I feel like I need to say something about baby showers, but I don't want to hurt any feelings, so let me just start by saying a great time was had by all.

What I'm wondering is......what happened to the days of gathering in someone's home, playing silly games, having cake and punch, and just visiting with one another? This shower was held at a restaurant. It seems to be a growing trend. At least in my ward (read: congregation) I have been to at least three baby showers, one birthday party, and one going away party that have been held at restaurants. While they are fun, they tend to be expensive. Mary came with me to the latest shower, so I ended up paying for two dinners instead of just one. With tip, it ended up costing $36. That, plus the cost of a gift, and we're looking at some serious budget concerns.

I understand that it's inconvenient to have 25-30 people in your home, and maybe that's why people are choosing to do it this way. Or maybe it's the headache of organizing, planning, set-up, and clean-up. Either way, I think I'll pass on the next 'outing'. I'll still get a gift for the mom-to-be, birthday boy, or friend that's moving far away.....but I think I'll just deliver it in person.

My Big Brother.....

2009-01-23T05:25:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of my brother, Renn, and his wife, Deanne. He has just been called to serve as a Mission President. Basically, this means that he and his wife will spend three years being in charge of a particular region of the world and the LDS missionaries that serve in that region. He has no idea where he will be serving, only that it will be an English speaking mission. That really leaves the field wide open. He could end up somewhere in the USA, Canada, Europe, or on some remote island in the middle of the Pacific. They find out where they will be going sometime in February and they leave to serve sometime in July.

Having grown up with Renn, it's sometimes hard to reconcile the boy he was with the man he has become. I have to say, he lived life a little on the wild side when he was a teenager. (not as much as my brother, Paul, did, mind you, but let's just say he's probably got some stories to tell!) All in all, though, he turned out to be a pretty awesome guy. I don't know that I've ever told him, but I'm proud of who he is, the man he has become, and I'm glad that I am lucky enough to call him my brother.

Way to go, Renn. I hope that you and Deanne find true joy in service, grow closer to our Heavenly Father, and have a grand adventure!

The Inauguration....Loved it and Loathed it

2009-01-22T09:36:00.004-05:00

Okay, I wrote Wednesday's post before the inauguration. So here is an update....

I loved.....
--Aretha....she was a nice touch, and she certainly made the song her own.
--Opening prayer...l-o-n-g winded, but nice.
--Yo-Yo Ma and others....very cool!
--I also loved the energy of those gathered there. It truly was history in the making, even though I didn't vote for the guy.
--Watching his daughters. Those two are way cute. I hope they come away from this experience unscathed.
--Okay....I'll say it....I even enjoyed his speech. I love that he wrote it himself, didn't use notes, and his delivery was great. I may not have voted for him, and I definitely don't agree with a LOT of his ideas/policies, but he is a dynamic speaker. I just hope he can deliver.

I Loathed:

--Closing prayer...anytime someone takes the stand to give a prayer and has notes?? you know you are in trouble. It was way too self-serving to be considered a real prayer.

All in all, I still think we're in for an interesting ride. He has high hopes, but I am fairly cynical by nature. I'm not sure he knows what he's really up against. He's young, and ambitious, but also naive and inexperienced. I am encouraged that he considers himself to be a Christian and believes in the power of prayer. I know that I will be praying for God to guide his choices and actions. I hope that you do the same.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own......

2009-01-21T06:29:00.001-05:00

"Over the last 15 months, we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states? I think one left to go. "
--Barack Obama

How does that saying go?? Out of the frying pan and into the fire? This is going to be a long 4 years!

Really??!!

2009-01-19T05:26:00.000-05:00

Have you ever been trying to get your house ready for company and you end up stuffing things in a bedroom because "nobody will be going in there anyway"? (ummm......me neither, but I've heard of people doing it!)

When I was small, my mother would tell me to make my bed, clean my room, wash behind my ears. I never understood any of this, since I was the only one who would be in my bed or in my room, and no one ever looked behind my ears to see if they were clean (except for my mother!)

Now that I am older, I have a better understanding of why to do those things. I feel more at peace when my bed is made, my room is clean and neat, and I know that there's nothing growing behind my ears.

As an adult, I am a big proponent of clean. I love clean. (you'll notice I didn't say I love TO clean, just that I love clean!) I love to relax in a freshly cleaned room. I love to be able to walk across a child's bedroom to tuck them in without endangering my life by stepping on legos, blocks, and hot wheels. But I think that some people go overboard with it. Some people spend their entire lives cleaning and forget to spend time living. I am NOT one of them. My home has that 'lived in' look. We definitely do more 'living' than cleaning.

Now.....back to that "room" that no one is ever going to see. No one. Not company. Not family. Not me. Not you. Okay, maybe the medical examiner when I'm dead. My point is......is it really neccessary to clean my colon???? There are all kinds of advertisements today for products to help you have a clean colon. WHAT!!?? First of all....how do you know that it's not clean? My colon may very well be sparkling clean for all you know! Second....if you do decide to clean your colon, how will you know that it worked? When I clean a bathroom mirror, I can see the results. Not so with colon cleanser. Third....if I let you get away with making me think I need to clean my colon.....where will the madness stop? Will the next product on the market be 'sparkling spleen'?

Let's not get carried away here, people.

Arranged Marriages.......

2009-01-09T05:52:00.001-05:00

When I was young my mother took me to see 'Fiddler on the Roof'. I loved the movie. I still do. I loved how the father, Tevye, had conversations with God as he went about his daily chores. I loved how the family was (mostly) happy, even though they had nothing and were dirt poor. I loved how the daughters rebelled against the tradition of arranged marriages and made their own choices about who they would love/marry/spend their life with.

Now that I am grown I see things a little differently. I still love the relationship between Tevye and his Heavenly Father. I, too, have conversations with God as I go about my day. I am, however, rethinking the rebellious daughters and the merits of arranged marriage.

I've come to the conclusion that there is something to be said for arranged marriages. I mean really, think about it. How much perspective can hormone-ravaged young people have? Can't we, as older and wiser adults, see further into the future and better predict the outcome of a certain match? Young people see only themselves and a Disney-esque future of "happily ever after". We (older and wiser) see families, extended families, support systems, future speed bumps and roadblocks. We have perspective!!

Yes, arranged marriages are the way to go. Having 4 children (okay, fine....young adults) of marrying age I can see that my work is cut out for me. I can easily see who might (or more importantly...might NOT) be a good match for my kids. (No, Mary, I don't have anyone picked out for you) I base these choices on maturity, reliability, perceived compatibility, family background and yes, attractiveness. (after all, who wants ugly grandchildren!)

I haven't yet figured out how to get my kids to go along with this plan....I raised them all to think for themselves. In retrospect, that may be my downfall. I can sympathize with Tevye and his strong-willed daughters.

Wish me luck!!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2009-01-07T05:52:00.000-05:00

"We want you to be ready with your personal storehouses filled with at least a year's supply. You don't argue why it cannot be done; you just plan to organize and get it done."

---Spencer W. Kimball (Aug. 1976)

Just in case you don't have a new year's resolution yet......

Pictures of the Savior.....

2009-01-05T09:21:00.003-05:00

I copied this post from my-best-friend-I've-never-met, at Crazyland. She said that I could score a free copy of one of these pics and I believed her, but the offer ends at NOON TODAY (not sure which time zone) I was told to copy and paste, I did, but the pics didn't come out. You'll have to go to Crazyland to see the original post, but here is what I was able to copy:

"I wanted to share these beautiful pictures and what the artist has to say about each one of them! Everyone can win a FREE signed 8x10 print of your choice (out of the three prints shown), by copying and posting to your blog or website this whole post! After you post, then send an e-mail to David (contact@bowman-art.com) with your website or blog address telling him you posted it and that you read about this offer on my blog. Also send him your name and mailing address and he will send your signed 8x10 print of your choice.

David Bowman: has had a passion for art ever since he could pick up a pencil. He loves creating images of the Savior that inspire and uplift. Along with his Christian fine art, David has also written and illustrated a series of scripture storybooks for children titled "Who's Your Hero". Check out his website at www.bowman-art.com to see more of his precious art.

"Innocence"The Savior tells us we need to become as little children to inherit the kingdom of God. I've often wondered what it is about little children Jesus loves most, and I think its their innocence. They are clean slates, seeing the world and others through untarnished eyes. Their hearts are pure, without the baggage of cynicism and self-doubt. In this piece, I've tried to imagine how a child would act upon meeting the Master for the first time. Without reservation or inhibition, I think he would simply want to play with Him. He would be at complete ease, allowing his pure little heart to soak in the love and laughter of His pure, infinite heart. Its no wonder Christ delights in these little ones and sets them up to be our examples.

"Security"One of the greatest human needs is a sense of security. In all aspects of life, we naturally gravitate towards anything that makes us feel safe. In this piece, I wanted to convey a sense of complete peace and calm like only the Savior can provide. It's a security that allows us to rest assured, without fear or worry, when we put ourselves trustingly in His arms. Little children have that inherent kind of trust in their parents, so it's fitting that the man and girl who modeled for "Security" are actually father and daughter. They generatedthe exact feel I was looking for.

"My Child"This piece conveys an intimate, up-close-and-personal feeling of the Savior's love. Notice how all the lines draw your attention and point towards Jesus' face in the center. I chose the name "My Child" because the only thing that could compare (even remotely) to Christ's compassion for us is the love of a parent for his/her child. This image is also intended to put things in perspective. Above all, we are God's children first. He allows us the privilege of experiencing parenthood for ourselves and we are entrusted to be the mothers and fathers of His children here on earth."

Be sure to check this out, these are beautiful pictures of the Savior. I can't decide which one I want!!

Government Bailouts....

2009-01-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

All I can say is: Thank goodness for Govenment Bailouts!!

You heard me...Thank goodness!!

In case you live under a rock, let me help you out. There is a crisis situation in America. It may very well be the first big challenge of the Obama administration, though most likely it will be blamed on Bush. We know that this crisis is coming. The airwaves have been full of chatter about it. It may even be considered a 'RED' on the threat level advisory system. We even have a date that this crisis will unfold: February 17, 2009.

That's right. February 17, 2009. Only 43 days until it hits. It will be a Tuesday. Where will you be? Have you made your evacuation plans? Is your fallout shelter ready? Don't wait until it's too late to prepare....

On that fateful day......television will make the switch from analog to digital!!!

Those of you with cable or satellite tv will be okay. Don't panic. But make sure that you have room in your home for those unfortunates who fail to prepare. According to a news story today (really, a NEWS STORY?? This deserves NEWS coverage??), more that 8 million people (possibly up to 50 million) have not yet prepared for 'the switch'. And they are woefully unprepared for the impending doom.

Thankfully, the govenment is prepared. They have set aside $1.34 BILLION (plus another $160 million for administrative costs) to send out Converter Box Coupons to the millions of Americans who would otherwise have to choose one of the following options: shell out the $40 themselves, sign up for cable/satellite, or, heaven forbid.....DO WITHOUT TELEVISION!!! But even the govenment is starting to panic as the fateful date draws near.....it seems that the $1.34 BILLION might not be enough. They may need another $330 MILLION to assure that everyone is taken care of.

I don't know about you, but I don't remember anything in the Constitution about our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of a good television picture. Why is the govenment involved in this at all? Why not put those government (read: Taxpayer) dollars to work elsewhere.....like into the education system perhaps. But no, we must make sure that every American has a clear digital picture when they turn on their television.

So, in case you get left out in the cold, don't say I didn't warn you.....just dust off those old board games, puzzles, and cards and get ready for some good old fashioned family time.

Who knows, you may even find time to read a book!

A New Year........

2009-01-01T09:43:00.004-05:00

I love the first day of a 'New Year'.

The days and months that will follow are still filled with possibilities and potential. I have not yet made any major parenting mistakes. I have yet to put my foot in my mouth. I haven't hurt anyone's feelings or neglected my church callings. The new year is still pristine and perfect, like new fallen snow.

I love to sit at the dawn of a new year and ponder. What changes will this new year bring? What adventures await? Surely there will be disappointments and sorrow. Those are to be expected. But just as sure will be the pure unadulterated moments of joy, love and happiness.

I try not to expect too much of a new year. I have expectations, to be sure, but I don't want to pressure the new year to be something it cannot ever be. As President Hinckley once said: "Do not set goals far beyond your capacity to achieve..."

So, what might some of our adventures be for this new year?

A move to Macon? Another Eagle Scout? Weddings? Funerals? New Callings? New friends?

Only time will tell. I only hope that I will have the strength to meet the challenges that come my way and that I will appreciate and recognize the blessings (they sometimes come in disguise, you know.) I hope that I can stay the course and help my children to do the same. I hope that I can renew aquaintances and deepen friendships. That I can hold tight to those people who uplift me, and let go of those who drag me down.

So.....to one and all.....happy new year, happy ponderings, happy comings and happy goings, happy days, happy nights.............and mostof all........happy life.

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own.....

2008-12-31T06:28:00.002-05:00

I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year

'Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.'

And he replied, 'Go into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way!'

So I went forth and finding the Hand of God

Trod gladly into the night

He led me towards the hills

And the breaking of day in the lone east.

So heart be still!

What need our human life to know

If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things

Both high and low,

God hideth his intention."

--Minnie Louise Haskins

I found this written in one of my Grandmother's journals. I love this poem......it is my hope that I/we can go forward into this new year with trust in God's plan. As this poem says.."What need our human life to know, If God hath comprehension?"

Happy New Year!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom Not My Own...(Christmas Edition)

2008-12-24T10:55:00.007-05:00

How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, his precepts! O! 'tis easier to keep Holidays than Commandments.
--Benjamin Franklin

Merry Christmas to all!!

Eagle Scout!!

2008-12-22T03:04:00.005-05:00

It's official.....Sam is an Eagle Scout!

We had been waiting around for his paperwork to make it's way through the red tape of the council office when we got a phone call Thursday afternoon. It was Sam's Scoutmaster saying that he had just gotten an e-mail from the council guy wanting to know if we could do the Board of Review (BOR) that evening!! So we spent a frantic afternoon putting together 3 extra copies of his project (each board member wanted their own to look at) and getting the last couple of Merit Badge patches glued on to his sash.

It was an anxious time for me as I waited for Sam. (I was not allowed in the room during the BOR.) Then more anxious as Sam and I waited together while the Board deliberated his fate. Then they called us in and congratulated Sam on earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He grinned ear to ear, I almost cried (tears of both joy and relief), they read us a nice poem about being an Eagle, signed his book and sent us on our way. Now we just need to wait for Peter to be finished and we'll schedule a Court of Honor for the two of them.

Sam's project was Bat Houses. We live in a neighborhood with several bat colonies. The bats were nesting in people's homes/attics, and other undesirable places, so Sam built and installed 10 Bat Houses around the neighborhood. They were occupied almost immedietely. It was a really fun (but l-o-n-g drawn out) process.

So, congratulations, Sam!! I can't wait to see what you accomplish next!!