Inspiring...

Inspiring

As I've mentioned before, I do not watch much TV but I do enjoy Oprah whenever I get the chance, usually a few times a week. And today I happen to catch 45 minutes of the show while I made dinner.

I turned it on just in time to see one of the most inspiring things I've ever seen in my life. It is the "Last Lecture" given by Professor Randy Pausch who teaches at Carnegie-Mellon University. It was his "last" lecture because he is dying of pancreatic cancer and only has a couple of months to live.

He gave his "last lecture" on Oprah and he says some very important things in there about living and living the best life possible and it just inspired me and motivated me about as much as only very important things have. Make the opportunity to check it out, I guarantee you you will NOT be sorry!!

Go here and click on the link that says "Watch Randy's Last Lecture."

This guy has an attitude that is one I hope to adopt. I just kept thinking as I watched, How could the Lord take such an amazing teacher/person from this earth. We need him around so we can learn more from him.

Time Out

Time Out

Friday and Saturday I went to Time Out for Women sponsored by Deseret Book. A girlfriend asked me if I wanted to work the event for a free ticket, so I did. 2 other friends also did it.

We had to get there 2 hours early each day and then stay late by almost an hour. I would probably do it again, but I have to say the early hour on Saturday about killed me off!

I did get to see some great performances and listen to some great talks and music. On Friday, Mary Ellen Edmunds spoke and Jenny Oaks Baker performed the violin. And then Jenny's nephew Jared Oaks played the piano while Jenny was at the violin. I have to say Jenny Oaks Baker ROCKED the house!! She was EXCELLENT!!! I had seen her perform at Womens Conference in Provo, in May but she was much better at performing this time around. There is no disputing her absolute accuracy in playing the music!

On Saturday, I listened to Viginia Hinckley Pearce; Richard Holzapfel, a professor of Religion; Dean Hughes, BYU Professor and author; Pamela Hansen, who wrote Running with Angels; Daryl Hoole, who is like the flylady for our parents generation; and Kenneth Cope performed 4 times on Saturday.

Kenneth Cope signed my cd (which this one is probably my least favorite of his albums, my favorite is his new one Face to Face which isn't all that new. But he is working on a new one called Son of Man and I was interested to learn he is the Bishop in his current ward).


I love Kenneth Cope's music. Of all the LDS artists he is by far my favorite. But I was interested to find that he is not as great at performing as his cd's sound. I spoke with him several times and he is so laid back and down to earth.

As it turned out, instead of working the Will Call desk, I was ushering and was assigned to be right up next to all the Presenters. In addition, I got VIP seating for being a volunteer and I was able to sit right behind all the one's presenting too.

So I had several opportunities to just small talk with all the "famous ones." In talking to Sister Pearce I learned what a hard-working, busy lady she is. Also she definitely looks like her father's daughter. She has his wit and sense of humor! She is such a great lady whom I admire.

She also told us that her Dad, President Hinckley, is doing well health-wise. He does rely on his cane more than he used to but the most difficult thing for him is his hearing, but he is 97 years old! Also we learned that Jenny Oaks Baker is Dallin H. Oaks' daughter. And Jared Oaks is his Grandson.

I also talked to Dean Hughes on a couple of occasions. He was so down to earth and easy to converse with. And he gave a great talk on Competition and how it is not good for us. You know, competing with other women or people who we think have life better than us.

No more glasses

LASIK

I never had to wear eyeglasses until I was in 9th grade in high school. Then I only needed them rarely for driving and when I sat at the back of the classroom. Crazy me, I always wanted glasses when I was younger because my older sister had worn them since 1st grade and I was jealous.

Well, finally when I needed them in 9th grade they were not my favorite thing and I hardly ever wore them and subsequently rarely put them on. By the time I was a Freshman in college I decided I wanted contacts. I couldn't get away without my glasses on as much for distances like I could when I was younger.

So I went into the mall and got contacts. The first few times of wearing the contacts they took forever to put in and they were not so comfortable to wear. I had a roommate teach me lessons, the most important of which was to never wipe your wet finger on a tissue before inserting the lens because then all those little fuzzies get all over the contact and are torture on the eyes!! Another thing she taught me was to always put the same one in first.

Well, because I did not like wearing glasses I wore my contacts pretty much every day for the next 15 years or so. I did go through one short spell of not wearing them after I had my first baby but my inspiring friend Julie, at BYU, told me about how she didn't want to let herself go after having her first baby and so she was determined to keep wearing her contacts even though the glasses were much easier!

So I stuck with my contacts until last year on September 1st when I had LASIK. I remember being so nervous. We had put money away in our HSA all year to pay for it. I had my surgery and everything went well and I've been glasses free ever since.

Laren with his glasses on. This was the first one I came acrossed that he was wearing them in. A close up would've been better.

Well, today is the big day for Laren! He is going in for LASIK. He did not have to regularly wear glasses except for driving until about 5 years ago. And he has never worn contacts. So he is anxious to rid himself of his glasses. I actually think he looks great in glasses. But he doesn't like the way they look on him or the hassle of them and not being able to wear sunglasses, etc...

He's Here!

Zackery is here!!

Zack

Yesterday morning we got the call from Doug, my brother-in-law, at 7:30 am saying that Kallie (my sister) had had her baby!! Kallie wasn't due until November 11th, but we had talked on the phone a few times the past few days and she was losing her mucous plug and had lots of cramping. She really wanted to make it to 37 weeks, but not enough to agree on letting the doctor give her Tributalene when she went to the hospital in labor night before last! I can't blame her there, I would say that is too little too late!

Labor and Delivery went well. Zack weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20 inches long and is very healthy. He is the CUTEST baby I have seen since I had my own babies!! ;) He has quite a bit of short blonde hair, blonde eyebrows and eyelashes. He looks a lot like the Clawson side of the family but overall I would say he is a mix of both sides.

I took Kallie up a gift, some flowers and a pizza (from Costco that her husband and kids could cook later for dinner) early in the day with my 2 younger kids. I did not hold Zack at that first visit because Dakota, Kassidy and Drew had just arrived and I wanted them to get in their first loves with their new baby brother. I realized as I was making the hour journey back home for parent teacher conferences that I forgot my purse at the hospital. It had my cell phone, my wallet, drivers license and you know, pretty much all that is sacred to me in it!!

So it was a great excuse to go back up after Parent Teacher Conferences and get it. This time I left Tyler with Laren because he'd been a typical two year old and I was getting a bit frazzled. Laren had his meeting at the Stake Center but was willing to take Tyler along. So I took my very excited 4 older kids with me so they could see their newest cousin. Rilyn was especially happy she got to see Zack twice!

The only sad part in all of this is, is that I forgot my camera! Kayla did remind me that I could use my cell phone to take pictures with it and so I did get a couple on that and thanks to you Crysty for helping me out so I could post a picture here! Though the quality is severely lacking, he is not only cute but such a sweetie too. Very calm, at least so far!

On my mind

This is what has been on my mind lately...

This comes from a talk given by Ezra Taft Benson, in 1987. I'm grateful to have the guidance and direction outlined in this talk to help me to be a better Mother.

1. First, take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are either coming or going--when they leave and return from school--when they leave and return from dates--when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen. In Proverbs we read: "A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame" (Proverbs 29:15). Among the greatest concerns in our society are the millions of latchkey children who come home daily to empty houses unsupervised by working parents.


2. Second, mothers, take time to be a real friend to your children. Listen to your children, really listen. Talk with them, laugh and joke with them, sing with them, play with them, cry with them, hug them, honestly praise them. Yes, regularly spend unrushed one-on-one time with each child. Be a real friend to your children.


3. Third, mothers, take time to read to your children. Starting from the cradle, read to your sons and daughters. Remember what the poet said, "You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be--I had a mother who read to me" (Strickland Gillilan, "The Reading Mother"). You will plant a love for good literature and a real love for the scriptures if you will read to your children regularly.


4. Fourth, take time to pray with your children. Family prayers, under the direction of the father, should be held morning and night. Have your children feel of your faith as you call down the blessings of heaven upon them. Paraphrasing the word of James: "The . . . fervent prayer of a righteous [mother ] availeth much" (James 5: 16 ). Have your children participate in family and personal prayers and rejoice in their sweet utterances to their Father in Heaven.

5. Fifth, take time to have a meaningful weekly [family] home evening. With your husband presiding, participate in a spiritual and an uplifting home evening each week. Have your children actively involved. Teach them correct principles. Make this one of your great family traditions. Remember the marvelous promise made by President Joseph F. Smith when home evenings were first introduced to the Church: "If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influences and temptations which beset them." This wonderful promise is still in effect today.


6. Sixth, take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible. This is a challenge as the children get older and lives get busier. But happy conversation, sharing of the day's plans and activities, and special teaching moments occur at mealtime because mothers and fathers and children work at it.


7. Seventh, take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family. Individual scripture reading is important, but family scripture reading is vital. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family will especially bring increased spirituality into your home and will give both parents and children the power to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion. I promise you that the Book of Mormon will change the lives of your family.


8. Eighth, take time to do things together as a family. Make family outings and picnics and birthday celebrations and trips special times and memory builders. Whenever possible, attend as a family, events where one of the family members is involved, such as a school play, a ball game, a talk, a recital. Attend Church meetings together and sit together as a family when you can. Mothers who help families pray and play together will stay together and will bless children's lives forever.


9. Ninth, mothers, take time to teach your children. Catch the teaching moments. This can be done anytime during the day--at mealtime, in casual settings, or at special sit-down times together, at the foot of the bed at the end of the day, or during an early morning walk together. Mothers, you are your children's best teacher. Don't shift this precious responsibility to day-care centers or babysitters. A mother's love and prayerful concern for her children are her most important ingredients in teaching her own.

Teach children gospel principles. Teach them it pays to be good. Teach them there is no safety in sin. Teach them a love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and a testimony of its divinity.
Teach your sons and daughters modesty and teach them to respect manhood and womanhood. Teach your children sexual purity, proper dating standards, temple marriage, missionary service, and the importance of accepting and magnifying Church callings.

Teach them a love for work and the value of a good education.

Teach them the importance of the right kind of entertainment, including appropriate movies, and videos, and music, and books, and magazines. Discuss the evils of pornography and drugs and teach them the value of living the clean life.

Yes, mothers, teach your children the gospel in your own home, at your own fireside. This is the most effective teaching that your children will ever receive. This is the Lord's way of teaching. The Church cannot teach like you can. The school cannot. The day-care center cannot. But you can, and the Lord will sustain you. Your children will remember your teachings forever, and when they are old, they will not depart from them. They will call you blessed--their truly angel mother.

Mothers, this kind of heavenly, motherly teaching takes time--lots of time. It cannot be done effectively part time. It must be done all the time in order to save and exalt your children. This is your divine calling.


10. Tenth and finally, mothers, take the time to truly love your children. A mother's unqualified love approaches Christlike love.


Okay, so less time blogging and less time on the computer has meant more time organizing my home and spending more time with my kiddo's who I love more than anything!! For me, I need structure and something to guide me as to what exactly I need to be doing. That is why I love the talk referenced above because it gives me those guidelines. I think the message is very timely, even in 2007 despite it being given 20 years ago.

I'm glad it says it will take time, because that has been something to discourage me is that it takes so much time it feels like it's constantly an unfinished job. But because it addresses that, I am becoming more okay with the fact that this work will not be accomplished while I have children at home, that it will take years and that is okay -- that's the way it is supposed to be.

I have a brief version of these 10 ways to be a better Mother posted in my kitchen where I review it frequently and give myself a mental check on them to see if I'm accomplishing all that I need to in this regard. I will admit I'm not nearly as good as it as I want to be. But I will keep trying.

My Fall Decor

A tour around some of my Fall Decor...

A witch. I love cute witches!!

My Cornucopia table centerpiece from Costco.

I got this actually to serve rolls in at dinner with a cloth napkin inside of it, but I thought it was so pretty I had to "display" it in my kitchen. It was a "Fall" item though, that I recently found so I included it in my "Tour."

An Autumn Floral Swag for my front door. This came from Hobby Lobby as did most of these things.

One of my scarecrows.

My Pumpkin Squash that caused the "argument" with the store clerk over the sale price.

More Pumpkins and yes, my turkeys are up there too.

My fence post Pumpkins that I made at Craft Night. There is an incredible mother of 14 in our ward that has a weekly craft night at her house. This is what she taught a couple of weeks ago.

My ghost and black cat. I prefer the classic Autumn decor and not all the other stuff so much but my kids REALLY love some of this type of stuff, so it is a must for their sake!! :)

And this GIVE THANKS sign I may leave up all year. It was a new find for me at Hobby Lobby and now I think our store here is already sold out. But I just love it and how it reminds me to have Gratitude.

Fourty-five

1.) Are you taller than your mother?**No, we are exactly the same height.

2.) What color is your car?**a tannish brown.

3.) What is the closest thing to you that is red?**The red dry erase marker sitting here on my desk.

4.) What is your ringtone?**It used to be the T-mobile jingle until my daughter changed it and now it's some kind of music that sounds more like noise.

5) Are you sick?**No.

6) What color is your favorite pillow? We have a rusty red throw pillow with gold fringing on it in our family room that I like a lot.

7) Favorite video game?**I don't play video games.

8) Nap today?**No.

9) Gold or silver?**Silver

10) Is there an animal that creeps you out?**Snakes and mice

11) The last person you rode an elevator with?**Tyler, my 2 year old.

12) Did you go ice skating as a kid?**Yes, my good friend Amy who is serving in Iraq and I used to go Ice Skating all the time at Asa Wood Elementary - the school I lived right behind and the same school she lived right in front of.

13) Last person you had an argument with.**The clerk at Hobby Lobby yesterday, she thought something wasn't on sale that the ad said was. Why are sales at Hobby Lobby so subjective?

14) Ever have stitches?**4 episiotomies, and one tear - from when I had Tyler too quick for the doctor to get there so I had no episiotomy and tore. At least it gave the doctor a reason to collect his $3k for "delivering" Tyler, even though he wasn't there until 30 minutes after Tyler was outside of my uterus, cord cut and all!

15) Favorite non alcoholic drink?**Water, though sometimes it gets boring right now I'm enjoying it.

16) How long ago did you kiss someone?**A few hours ago I kissed Tyler. He is very kissable!

17) What is something that you want to do before you die?**Serve a mission or 2 or 3 or 5 with Laren.

18) Ever caught something on fire?**Yes, I caught my brand new Gunny Sack Dress Jacket and blouse on fire cooking Ramen Noodles when I was about 12. Thankfully my Dad and brother came to my rescue and my skin just got a little singed but not burned! (ETA - Why did they call them Gunny Sack, they were BEAUTIFUL! Nothing resembling a Gunny Sack!!)

19) Ever seen a ghost?**Well, if you count the one on my shelf -- yes.

20) Ever seen the northern lights?**Yes.

21) Do you know how to use chopsticks?**Yes. I’m just not that good with them.

22) Something good that happened today?**I went to another Hobby Lobby and got the item I wanted for the SALE price!! It was a wire Pumpkin for my mantle, by the way.

23) Are you worried about something you can’t control?**Yes, like if this glass block project for Super Saturday will turn out. The wonderful Mother of 14 who offered to drill the holes for the lights is using WD-40 and a drill press to get them done faster - I'm worried the WD-40 will not be able to be cleaned out.

24) Do you take daily meds?**nope

25) Ever been in a fight?**Yes, with my sister when I was a kid, my brothers too. And I was threatened to be beat up 2 times once in Jr. High and once in High School for supposedly stealing someone else's boyfriend - which I didn't do.

26) Wearing nail polish?**no

27) Favorite color?**green

28) Innie or outie?**Innie

29) Ever used a rolling pin?**at least every Thanksgiving for homemade pie and sometimes a few other times a year for homemade pizza.

30) Sweet or sour?**Sweet AND sour

31) Sun or Moon?**The sun.

32) What shoes did you wear today?**The same brown one's I blogged about while doing the elliptical in them several months ago.

33) Favorite eye color of the opposite sex?**Blue, because that is the color of my Sweetie's eyes.

34) Most important quality in a relationship.**Honesty.

35) FavoriteChic Flick movie?**Dirty Dancing.

36) Time of day that you were born?**6:30pm

37) Do you know your blood type?**AB positive

38) What would you spend 500 dollars on right now?**Some Home Decor stuff.

39) Name something annoying in public transit?**That it takes my husband up to an hour to get home from work on it.

40) Did you grow up in a city or in the country?**A small town of around 5,000. I guess you could say it was country living, we did live on about 4 acres.

41) Consider going on a reality show for a large amount of money?**It would depend on the show but probably not.

42. Flown in your dreams?**Not that I remember

43. Hugs or kisses?**Both

44) Ten dollars to spend in a dollar store. What on?**Miscellaneous stuff - right now probably Halloween stuff or dish soap or stuff like that.

45) Slurpee flavor?**Blue raspberry.