New and Last Dispensation

Well I got lucky and was asked to substitute in my ward Relief Society, Lesson # 44. It was thrilling to read Joseph Smith's animated vocabulary as he spoke of his and our day. The verbage is still resonating in me and called me up short as to my attitude and energies. I felt blessed to get to recommit to "The Kingdom of God or nothing!"

I can't wait to meet him for I am absolutely amazed at what young Joseph did with such gladness in his countenance considering his circumstances. Being hated and mocked everywhere you are, and having friends betray and hate you, I have some limited experience with. However I have only my imagination to rely on when thinking of hot tar and feathering. Added routinely having my home invaded, risking lives of my loved ones, and being threatened, chased, imprisoned, starved, tortured, whipped and poisoned are all things that would send me over the "edge".
And still he kept on shining his light to the world and loving and forgiving. Let me share the words I felt challenged to achieve and be motivated by.

untiring zeal

joyful anticipation

peculiar delight

worthy of archangels

welding together

unite our energies

not idle spectators

magnitude and grandeur

having endured

passed through privations

fired the souls

mighty operations

great, glorious and sublime

etc.

I hope to better live with my trials and circumstances. To enjoy less murmuring and grumbling with this attitude adjustment and again receive all things with gladness. I WILL Follow the Prophet!

Cecily

At the moment she was born life was never to be the same again!! Such a Blessing! Just in time to not be a Halloween baby Cecily came to us as a 'Miracle' (she was a trick and a treat), which we had not understood until the whole ward confessed their prayer vigil that this one would be 'A Girl'.

Things changed quickly; Jim got in touch with his kinder and gentler voice and actions. The boys became more aware of those differences causing Pete as a 6th grader to note, 'Girls get special treatment'. The word he used was 'favored'.

Sweet cheeks Cecily was anything but favored at home, but she became a tough girl that whined less than most, and sang enough to bring swarms of complaints from her brothers.

In her 21st year we will miss the joy, gladness, peace-making of her here, as she rushes off to share her engaging personality with the Spainards. She is going to learn more than she is ready for, but her lifelong toughness and male-heavy environment will bless her to 'go the distance'.

As her testimony of 'hard' continues to develop into a splendid preparatory lesson her homelife produced, she will be sorely missed. And the estrogen levels here will be compensated for by her little nieces. No one can get enough 'female energy' in their life, you go girl! Bless on!!!

Halloween Haunts

Is there a harder day for mom's to step up and create miracles than this Dubious holiday we call Halloween? Entire industries thrive because of this day and they want, no, mandate that we participate. Escaping town is an option if you're a grinch.

We are free not to celebrate, you may say, but that is a scar on your children if you're not careful. (I won't bring up those goulish scars and tooth decay right now). I did know a family that refused carving pumpkins, seeing that as degenerate. I have never been that ruthless.

Are we free,... to avoid the 'Brash' Halloween things? Yes, if it's not what you want; don't do it. But childhood warrants some pretend and make-believe and when, if not in childhood?
So my original premise is this: you must save, plan, organize months in advance, shop wisely and well. You may escape without buying those spendy Disney suits, nice name-brand candy, fanciful decorations. But unavoidibly you need to participate.

My hat is off to those having 6 or more kids to get ready, making it respectable, (cool enough that the kids are happy), with a budget that doesn't seem like early Christmas. Then calmly face the face paint, hair color additions or hot masks, and accessories, and finally creative bundling, when it's freezing cold outdoors. (This part particularly was very depressing as a child for me, I can still remember ruining my 'look' with boots, leggings, and hat and gloves).

But in the end most scars fade and perhaps this may explain my warning and end of my rant. Someone once said, "all you need is to get dry ice in a caldron and you'll not have to worry", doubting the simplicity of that, get a black and orange feather boa, and get by... at least your husband will be impressed!

Finding Happiness

Well tonight Chris taught a great FHE on 'Finding Happiness'. He posed a question," how do you make yourself happy, what do you do to make happy come into your life?

I want you to think about that too. What do we do when we are low, to feel better? Other than Chocolate and sweets it was an interesting question. He said I gave the best answer. I hope you give the best answer too!

His text was from Bro. Scott's Ed Week address August 1997. I hope you have a happy week! And go ahead find happiness...

Good news

Good news for the economy?! My family tells me the Yankee win means things are looking up. I guess they have the thing figured out! All I know is every night there's a playoff game I need to make and give out more food, and stay up longer, and get up earlier, and get to bed later, spend more money on my budget and wear out finally to get a good nights sleep before it starts again.
It's a rat race around here, everyone has the family manners down, (or lack thereof) reminiscent of "Dogs and Cats living together.....' whew!
In the end it's good work and though I often feel invisible here, seldom feel heard or listened to by my own, they have all married fabulous folks and families.
I also often feel like; "I'm a stranger here" and "have wandered from a more exalted sphere".
Many years from this night we will cherish the results of the games far less than the company we kept and fun memories of these nights.
With the exhaustion behind me and the bad moods gone with enough sleep, I hope we'll remember the new snack mix was a hit, 'the pooled "Celebration Sundaes on Sunday". The pumpkin carving amid the cheers and gasps of the viewers, the lap visits of little Sadie and Izze, the special guest Bubba, and lots of people all talking at once. Our trademark.

I Am A Dinosaur

Well last night I wrote the greatest entry yet. When I asked Jim to proof read he said, "It sounds pretty victimy to me." So I was sad, and then he told me to take out my comic "even." And when I tried to edit that out as per his instruction, my worst fear was realized... It blew out of the system. Just as my first ever attempt at blogging blew out. Wasted brilliance. Bummer.

This is my attempt to re-write that entry because Cecily discovered my blog and thought I was funny. AND became my first follower. Thanks Cecily for all you do. Including being scribe for this. Not to mention helping me the day I came home from my appendix operation.

My sweet Cecily found the origional I AM A DINOSAUR.

So in the end "even" as no one appears to be looking for my skills. I followed the Brethren, and am afraid I'm feeling almost extinct. Here's hoping somewhere, sometime, someone will exume this deceased spirit and use it as fuel for the future, you go mothers!

The even is for you Jim, and Dave!

Am I A Dinosaur?

I have followed counsel, I have stayed at home to raise, nurture, and nourish my family. I have experimented with inborn skill and attempted to add talent and knowledge at least yearly. I have admitted my wrongs to most of you and have repented (probably not often enough). Now I find myself with minimal hours earned in the social security system. And my talents are not that marketable since I left the workplace in 1975. Typing is a newly acquired skill? (I actually typed tuped and tyoed). I have learned to use the mouse and cursor, to underline and make BOLD print, admittedly I have a lot yet to learn and these skills are second nature to children who seem born to compute!
Now my dilemma is this; where are all the employers who want a middle aged mom who can react to crisis in an instant, and want someone with the master skills of distraction and pattern interuption? Not to even mention adaptability accumen that can create something from nothing (surprizing the most fussy diners), all the while brainstormimg brilliant campaign slogans while nursing an infant, monitoring a tantrum, and folding and stacking laundry. I HAVE skills but where is the market for these?

Or am I just a dinosaur, unneeded now, but perhaps my fodder will help make fuel for the future? I guess that's a contribution that will be meaningful a few generations from where I exist. And I hope someone will remember the Suzisaur.

Eloise is born!

August 31st Eloise is born in Logan. Twelve hours later we took these pictures. You can truly see the joy in these faces. Eight pounds two ounces, twenty inches long, and dark hair. Priceless.

Eloise is born!

If one picture says a thousand words, this says so much! What a fabulous event took place this week!
We are beyond thrilled that this little soul has chosen us!

Kids!!! To keep us young at heart!!!

Nothing's quite so great as being a grandmother to "practically perfect" Grandchildren!

Happy Birthday Mother

Today would have been my Mother's 80th Birthday! She's been gone 20 years. The time has flown by and my,... have we ever missed her in so many ways! We often feel her presence though, most especially in Thunder and Lightening. Thanks for all you taught me Mother, you did the Very Best you knew how to do in everything. And history will show that it was pretty amazing too all you were able to accomplish feeling the way you did! We love and miss you, Happy Birthday and Have another peice of white coconut cake wherever you are!

Feeling Fine

When you get to 50 a lot more reference is given to health in coversations. Then at 55 it seems to take another leap in references made. Most of those get more personal and I'm tired of that. I making a goal to give the reply, "fine" when asked no matter what the Truth is. This will open up new vista's for me and will keep me much quieter generally.

Clueless in South Jordan

I just keep hitting keys on this thing and teaching myself how to use it. One of these days Pete and his wife will show me how and then I'll have pictures too.
Forgive the "typo's", I'm lucky to just have a computer available now.!@?!

The Holidays are behind us now...??

Well 'tis a small thing that I do to be a Sister-in-Zion to all of my family, but that small thing started about when Pete and Bekah moved in in August and ended when Mark left for school in Hawaii, Jan. 1st. It was a long run and a good time. Sometimes funner than others, "the poor in-law children" had to put up with my lack of structure, but random rules like not walking around eating, and then letting 160+ people eat all through the house and not ask them to "please wash after eating" caused some questions. We had some 1-nighters, and some almost-strangers, and even Grandpa Leonard stayed over for the 1st time in this house! It was a great holiday that seemed to go on forever and if anyone will help undecorate in January we really will stop celebrating! Until then come by, everyone is welcome to whatever we have, and it's always a party! Right now were serving soup, bread and cookies, sorry the turkey and prime-rib went fast.Please Hurry, can't wait to see you too!! Oh happy new year!