All About the Argyles

Life is like a wheel

2012-01-25T16:38:00.001-06:00

I am really enjoying the MORMON CHANNEL. Especially, I like a segment called "conversations" which is a collection of inspirational, well....conversations with general authorities and their wives and amazing members of the church that have overcome great obstacles. Today I heard a quote that resonated with me.

(I'm paraphrasing ): Joseph Smith made a statement once that life was like a wheel.

There are going to be times when we are at the top of the wheel and in a position to give someone at the bottom of the wheel a hand up and there are going to be times we are at the bottom of the wheel in NEED of a helping hand. Regardless, EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE is going to have bottom of the wheel moments during their lifetime.

The last few years have been bottom-of-the-wheel years. Whether it be health issues Brent was dealing with, financial trials, overwhelming medical bills, or just life feeling out of balance. We have leaned on friends and family and their prayers and fasting a great deal. We have , most importantly, felt the helping hand of our Savior.

I think our place on the wheel is about to change.

I feel it. Maybe it is just my new attempt to have a positive state of mind but I feel like the wheel is slowly turning and we are heading toward a better view. Hopefully, a view that will allow us to lend others a helping hand.

Brent started a new job and he is really excited about it.

They seem like a company that takes good care of their employees. The salary and benefits are such that it puts us in a better position to build our savings back up.

We have alot of ground to cover.

He also turned over a company he started last year over to some investors.

It has done really well but he just doesn't have the band width to keep growing it, work full time, develop the non-profit he started, and spend time with us, his family. He is keeping a percentage of ownership but the investors think they can make it into a very lucrative company in the next few years with the connections that they have. They want to build it and sell it in about three years.

He also was put in touch with a surgeon

at UT Southwest (by our friend, Dr. Rich Thrasher) that he met with yesterday. This Dr. comes highly credentialed and recommended and is interested in looking at doing a revolutionary surgery to help him get rid of his headache. There are so many variables still to be decided. He has to peruse over all of Bren't tests, read the study from the surgeon that pioneered this surgery in Phoenix, talk to his round table on rare diseases and get their ideas, and of course there is the awesome hurdle of talking to insurance about paying for it.

But I choose hope.

I choose hope because I can.
It feels better than choosing despair.
I have had many moments of despair in the last few years and I don't like it very much.

Financially, things are on the mend. Physically, I think Brent is in a place right now that he can handle whatever comes his way: healed or not healed. Atleast for now. That is enough.

I admit, I am anxious to enjoy the view from the top of the wheel.

We have adopted

2012-01-19T16:56:00.001-06:00

Brady has suffered the loss of two great grandfathers in the last few years. Men that he was especially close to. It has been a hard adjustment for a young boy who is strangely drawn toward the elderly. He was by far the kid -at;east of the 5 Argyles- that seemed most comfortable mingling with the residents at the assisted living center that my grandmother lived at. He looked forward to it.

Many times when we are out and about he notices white haired seniors and just can't refrain from going up and striking up a conversation.

It is no surprise then, that he found a grandfather to adopt in our ward. He has the most awesome of names. HERC (short for Hercules) Rainey. Every Sunday, Brady saves a seat in the pew for Brother Rainey and his sweet wife (Janette). He has been doing this for almost a year. Brother Rainey texts us when he or Janette are sick or out of town because he knows there is a very disappointed six year old waiting for him when he is not there.

a few factoids:

We have had them over for Sunday dinner.

They have had us over for Family Home Evening.

Herc makes THE MOST AMAZING brownies. Seriously. Probably the best I have ever tasted.

Janette is a maniac on the Wii sports ski board. (I kid you not!)

Herc can out hula hoop all of the Argyles.

People comment to us how wonderful it is that we live in the same ward as our parents. Then I explain to them that the Raineys are our adopted grandparents.

This Christmas Brady asked if we could find a matching bow tie that he could give to Brother Rainey and then they could wear them and be matching. (Brady is REALLY into bow ties and wears them often to church).

Brother Rainey had a big smile on his face and suggested that every fast sunday they could wear their bow ties together.

This relationship obviously helps fill a void for this little boy. I think it fills one for the Raineys too. Their grandchildren are scattered all over the country and they don't get to see them as much as they like.

Ward families are a beautiful thing that way.

the parable of the red gerber daisy :O)

2012-01-10T18:07:00.000-06:00

As I was pulling out of my driveway this weekend, I noticed this sweet little flower, doing it's best to push through and

bloom

amid all the deadness and debris it was growing amidst and way before it' season.

In a weird way, I think it is beautiful.

My kids thought I was a little crazy when I jumped out of the car, camera in hand, and took this picture. :O)

I was actually thinking earlier in the week, I wanted to go cut all my gerber daisy plants down to the soil because they looked so bad. Now I kinda smile every time I back out and see this

cute little red trooper.

Have you ever felt like you were in the crummiest of situations and

yet you realized (after the fact) it made you bloom and grow and BLOSSOM?

I have.

One time, many moons ago. Like ten years or so ago, my best friend was called to be the RS president. She decided to change the visiting teaching routes.

Unbeknownst to her, she assigned me to visit teach a sister in the ward that

-(and I am not over stating this)-

HATED

me.

Pretty much hated everything about me, even the ground I walked on.

I was horrified at the thought of having to call her every week, schedule an appointment, not to mention take her a spirit filled message!

I wanted SO badly to go to my friend (the RS president) and explain the situation to her and ask to be moved to someone else. I'm sure she would have. I think in my mind I thought it would be best for Sister Hater, not just me.

(I still have no idea why Sister Hater didn't call and have it switched herself.)

But EVERY SINGLE TIME I PRAYED about it -

And believe me, I prayed about it ALMOST every month-

the answer came back, "NO."

"That is not what you are supposed to do."

So I did it.

Every month I visited and taught her.

Every single month without fail.

It was painful. It was uncomfortable.

FOR TWO YEARS.

Over the course of that two years, she suffered some sadness and trial. Her grandparents (who also lived in the ward) passed away within months of each other. She was very close to them. It was heartbeaking for her. At one point she had a high risk pregnancy that forced her on bed rest for a long time.

Of course, she was not in a place where she was going to ever let me help her. But I found ways to help "behind the scenes". I made lots of food for the family dinner after both funerals. (She never knew). I suggested a midweek activity for my laurels (I was in yw at the time) to go over and clean her house top to bottom when she was on bedrest. The Laurel President made all the arrangements so she was none the wiser.

It felt like the right thing to do.

It felt good to serve her, even if she didn't know.
I think I even felt love for her at that point. I KNOW I felt some of the love that Heavenly Father had for her anyway.

That was one of the biggest growing experiences of my life.

Honestly.

I learned about turning the other cheek AND SMILING, and loving people when they don't really like you very much, and charity, and the true love of Christ.

And I will carry that experience and what I learned from it forever.

And Visiting teaching has felt like a breeze no matter what the situation since then. :O)

I love this scripture:

Matthew 5:46, 47

46 For if ye ^alove them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?

They are the Savior's words from the Sermon on the Mount. He is saying, it is easy to love people who love you (or are nice to you or who having sunny dispositions). Pretty much anyone can do that! (Even Publicans) It is the other people that we come across that are a challenge to be kind to and love that make us better people (thus the reward part).

I am so grateful Heavenly Father told me "no".

Over and over and over again.

and for inspired RS Presidents.

I don't think for a minute that was a coincidence.

The rules

2012-01-04T10:34:00.000-06:00

Zeus is our beloved great dane. He is about as ferocious as a mouse. But he is rather large. And he does get excited sometimes when he is eating his favorite snack or playing with his ball. We had a small incident over the break and had to remind the little kids of the "Zeus rules". Brady asked if he could write them down so that he would not forget. They are as follows:

"List of Rools for Zoos"

No llying on him

no playing with him (rough housing)

no tricking him with treats (teasing)

win somebody is givieng him a treat dont run towos him

Dont put yor face in his face

Getting a little crabby on his birthday

2012-01-04T10:24:00.002-06:00

We celebrated Tanner's sixteenth birthday at his favorite place, Joe's Crab shack.

He couldn't have been happier.

Jensen was a good sport. She doesn't particularly like fish or crab.

Fun times! I can't believe he is SIXTEEN!

A month of discouraging news but tender mercies

2011-12-30T22:16:00.000-06:00

I am a little ashamed to admit it but I started out this month questioning whether or not Heavenly Father will ever answer my prayers. Before you start freaking out thinking I am losing my testimony- DON'T.

I know he answers prayers.

He answers my children's prayers,

my friend's prayers,

the prayers of some of the sisters I visit teach.

There have been times I look back on in my life and vividly remember Him answering MY prayers and doing it rather quickly.

(Deciding whether or not to move to Prosper and whether or not I should marry Brent being two I can think of off the top of my head.)

BUT ... Brent and I have been praying for most of the same things now for several years. One of the biggies being that he would be healed.

Completely.

It was promised to him in one of his initial priesthood blessings when he was sick.

Sometimes, it FEELS like He isn't listening.

(Sidenote: This was probably brought on by the fact that he did not get into the Arizona study that we found so hopeful. We were bummed for awhile. Now we are trying to talk his neurosurgeon here in Dallas into doing it.)

But the other day Brent said something to me that resonated. Bigtime. From the moment that his headache came on he told me that he knew he had enough faith to be healed. He also said he could wait and be patient and do it when the Lord decided it was time. He has done that really well. He rarely gets discouraged. He doesn't suffer from depression - which blows his doctors away! They don't have very many patients with Chronic headache at the pain level that he does who don't also have to take depression meds. But Brent has never struggled with that.

Well the other day he said that he now realizes that

the test for him has not been whether or not he had the FAITH to be healed but whether or not he had the FAITH to NOT be healed.

Because I am telling you, that is ALOT harder.

But he does.

I know he does.

He has grown so much through this challenge.

They don't call them character builders

for nothing.

Heavenly Father doesn't answer our prayers the WAY we necessarily want him to.

But he does answer them.

And it is usually through another person.

He knows what is best long term. He knew in June of 2006 how much Brent would grow from this trial. He knew I would too. He knew our kids would become compassionate people by living in a home with someone who was chronically ill. He HAS answered our prayers by helping us through the last 5.5 years with tender mercies along the way. Big tender mercies like the fact that he has been able to work and provide for us, that he has not developed an addiction to the meds they have him on ....

This month he provided some more tender mercy to us by inspiring others to do anonymous things in our behalf that have completely been a blessing to us. There is no way anyone could have known to help us in this particular way had they not been inspired. We have felt so much love and support from our friends and ward family.

One night I was feeling particularly glum. Not depressed. I don't suffer from that either, btw. Just a little down about things - just for a moment. It was late. Christmas Eve. Around 1 am. All of a sudden I got a text from a dear friend that lives in another state that I haven't seen in 4 years. Stacey sent me an email in the middle of the night. Here is what she said:

Hello my friend!

How are you today this Christmas Eve?

Sleeping I hope.

I am waiting for some biscotti to bake the second time.

I saw a lovely new family picture on facebook.

You are so blessed!

I love you and miss you.

Take care of yourself.

You are more than worth it!

SOOOO simple. So quick. Probably took her all of five minutes, if that but It was exactly what I needed. It made my heart smile. I knew that Heavenly Father wanted to remind me of that and he sent Stacey a prompting to get me the message. I am so grateful for people who live close to the spirit. I am grateful for husbands that have faith, doctors who perform miracles through modern medicine, angels who leave gifts at front doors, and a Heavenly Father that hears and answers prayers. Yes, even mine.

16 on his 16th

2011-12-28T15:16:00.000-06:00

Here are 16 things I love about this sixteen year old on his sixteenth birthday.

He oozes integrity.

I can believe everything he tells me.

He has great hair. :O)

He is a terrific older brother to Brady

and steps in to help me with him when Brent is not around.

He NEVER complains

even when we ask him to take the trash out, which is sometimes multiple times a day.

He is a loyal friend.

I have seen it for myself over and over again and because of that...

He doesn't hesitate to speak up for those he loves,

even when it is not the popular thing to do.

He is a natural missionary.

We just had a convert baptism in our ward last month all because this boy was not afraid to talk about church with one of his friends from school.

He makes me laugh.

Hourly.

He is a momma's boy

preferring to hang out with me over ALMOST anyone. He has no qulams about walking out in public with his arm around me or holding my hand.

He is talented.

He plays guitar, piano, and swims a mean butterfly stroke.

He is a natural born leader.

He just is. He doesn't even try.

He makes friends easy.

He reminds me so much of my grandmother who was known for never having known a stranger.

He keeps his room tidier than anyone else in the house.

plus...He knows how to clean toilets and do dishes.

He lives realy really close to the Spirit.

Which is a blessing to his family, friends, and the young men in his Quorum because he is sensitive to their needs.

He is comfortable in his own skin

and doesn't want to be like everyone else or care about being associated with a particular group of people.

He bears a beautiful testimony on a pretty regular basis.

Ok. I know it's a little blasphemous but...Christmas is not my favorite time of year

2011-12-16T09:02:00.002-06:00

(Do you see the resemblance between me and this guy? Read on and you will...)

It's toooooo busy. Way tooo busy. And soooooooooooooooooo commecialized. And so expensive. I feel obligated to buy presents for alot of people who I barely know and some I don't especially like. I know, I know. Call me a scrooge. I'm really not. There are aspects of the Christmas holiday that I DO like.

I like the Christmas movies on Hallmark Channel

(despite the bad acting and sappy story lines.)

I like that people - strangers- smile more, seemingly anyway.

I like that my kids get to spend time with my Father

(we don't get to see him as much as I would like but he NEVER misses Christmas with us)

I like that my kids are home from school for a nice long break.

I like angel trees and anonymour donors and salvation army cans.

I like Christmas music.
(THIS christmas I am especially enjoying Micheal Buble's new CD.)

Tacky Christmas sweaters make me laugh.

My Aunt's Prime Rib she serves ONLY on Christmas Day.

(It is to DIE for. Really. I mean it. If I am ever on death row and the prison ward asks me what I want my last meal to be it is going to be her Prime Rib, my mom's twice baked potatoes, and a rather large slice of my grandmother's chocolate cake.)

but I digress...

Let me tell you what I don't like:

all the work of decorating
-and then after a week or two of it being out-

all the Christmas clutter

vacuuming up pine needles EVERYDAY

trying to figure out what to get for the person who has EVERYTHING

and for the person I BARELY know

or those who are like my brother and sister and are soooo hard to buy for because they are so dang PICKY

ALL the spending

ALL the shopping

the crowds at the mall

all the evening commitments -I think we had FIVE in the last week!

(although, I did enjoy that Cookie exchange this past Tuesday, that was kind of fun...)

I don't like the fact that I can never survive December without feeling like I am burning the candle at both ends. I'm worn out. Partly because of my last "dislike"..

all the BAD food associated with the holidays. When I eat bad, I feel icky for days.

Okay at the risk of being a TOTAL buzz- kill I'm gonna stop there.

I'll take a simple Easter or Valentine's Day or Thanksgiving ANYDAY over all the hubbub of Christmas. Honestly, since I'm up on my soap box I'll just go ahead and say it. I think it has become something the Savior would not necessarily want it to be. The world feels like it is super distracted from the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas.

Sunday our family is going to go to a local nursing care facility to sing Christmas Carols with some other awesome people that we know. I can't wait. So many of those people are sadly forgotten this time of year. The Savior was a perfect example of seeking out the 1 lost little sheep even when it came at the expense of the 99 that were truckin' along just fine. He went to the lepers and the outcast. People that everyone else avoided. It's my last ditch ever to not let the world take over our Christmas. I really hope it is the one thing that my kids will remember about Christmas 2011. That Spirit of serving others. And trying our best to spread a little Christmas Cheer, even those of us...hmmm hmmm, that don't have very much.

Charity that is not in a casserole

2011-12-14T16:52:00.004-06:00

This is my favorite story about charity. It's from one of my faves, Sister Sheri Dew. I have been thinking about it because of an experience I had last week. A painful one. It is a great reminder of what true charity looks like.

AT AGE THIRTY TWO, I WAS CALLED TO SERVE IN THE STAKE RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENCY, AND THE THREE OF US BONDED QUICKLY AS THE DEAREST OF FRIENDS. BECAUSE OF MY WORK SCHEDULE AND THE LARGE FAMILIES OF THE
PRESIDENT AND OTHER COUNSELOR, WE HELD PRESIDENCY MEETINGS ON
TUESDAYS AT THE UNEARTHLY HOUR OF 5:30 AM.
ONE MORNING, THE PRESIDENT RAISED AN ISSUE THAT FOR SOME REASON SET ME OFF.
I CLIMBED ON MY RAMEUMPTOM, DELIVERED A TIRADE, AND LEFT IN  A HUFF.
BUT AS I DROVE AWAY AND HEADED TOWARD WORK, MY HEART SANK.
I COULDN'T
BELIEVE I'D RESPONDED TO MY FRIENDS THAT WAY, AND I WAS DESPERATE TO APOLOGIZE.

BUT I FELT AS IF I NEEDED TO DO IT IN PERSON, WHICH I DETERMINED TO DO THAT VERY NIGHT. FINALLY EVENING CAME. I STOPPED AT HOME BRIEFLY TO PICK UP
SOMETHING, ONLY TO HAVE THE DOORBELL RING.

THERE STOOD MY TWO FRIENDS. CASSEROLES IN HAND.
THE MOTHERS OF FIFTEEN CHILDREN BETWEEN THEM HAD BROUGHT ME,
THE MOTHER OF NONE, DINNER.
"I’LL NEVER FORGET WHAT THEY SAID: THIS MORNING WASN'T LIKE YOU. YOU MUST BE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE. WE THOUGHT DINNER MIGHT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER."
TEARS FLOWED AS I APOLOGIZED, AND OUR FRIENDSHIP GREW INSTANTLY STRONGER.
IMAGINE WHAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN SAYING ALL DAY ?
THAT LITTLE BRAT. SHE'S NOT EVEN MARRIED. WHAT DOES SHE KNOW, SHE'S LUCKY TO EVEN BE IN THIS PRESIDENCY." THEY COULD HAVE WHIPPED THEMSELVES INTO A LATHER AND PUNISHED ME FOR DAYS.
-BUT THEY DIDN’T.
THEY DIDN'T GOSSIP.
THEY DIDN’T JUDGE.
THEY DID GIVE ME THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.
THAT DAY I SAW WHAT CHARITY LOOKS LIKE.
CHARITY WAS NOT, BY THE WAY, THE CASSEROLES. IT WAS MY FRIEND’S GENTLE
HANDLING OF MY MISTAKE,  AND THEIR WILLINGNESS TO ASSUME THE BEST AND
STEP FORWARD TO SOOTHE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS.”

rudolph cake pops

2011-12-13T18:00:00.003-06:00

We had a blast making these cute little Rudolph Cake pops last night.

The cast of characters: Candy wafers, red m and m's (noses), candy eyes, (i found these in the baking section at Target), a baked cake, a can of frosting, lollipop sticks, and light brown pipe cleaners.

Once you have baked the cake and let it cool, break it up to fine crumbs. It is easiest to do it with your hands.

Add some frosting from the can. One big scoop will make the pops more "cakey" and two big spoonfulls will make it more "fudgey".

Once it is all mixed in well, form balls. (One cake mix makes about 3.5 dozen)

Microwave your chocolate melts in 30 second segments and stir in between until completely melted. insert popsicle sticks into the balls, making a hole. Then pull it out, insert the tip of the lollipop stick into the melted chocolate and then back into the cake bal where the whole you created it. Once it hardens it helps "cement" it onto the stick. Wait a few minutes for it to let it dry and then completely immerse it into the melted chocolate. Let the excess chocolate drip off. Set it on wax paper to dry.

Once they have completely dried (maybe 15 minutes), add three more dots of melted chocolate to "glue" the eyes and nose into place.

Tie the pipe cleaners for ears!

They look really cute tied up in a can with cellophane.

no such thing as a little thing

2011-12-12T10:57:00.002-06:00

Just when you think life is never gonna change and trials are getting the best of you:

A friend smiles at you

or calls and checks on how you are doing

or grabs you in the hall and gives you a tug that lets you know you are loved

or your Bishop says just the right thing at tithing settlement

or you become painfully aware of others who have far less.

Just when you think that maybe Heavenly Father doesn't hear you:

someone has a prompting in your behalf

and is kind and generous in your time of need

and does it anonymously so that you can be sure to think the one who was REALLY behind it.

Thank you so much to the people in my life that help to make things better.

I love this quote from Emily Dickinson:

"Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things-a chance word, a tap on the shoulder, or a penny dropped on a newsstand-I am tempted to think . . . there are no little things."

My heart is full.

What in the world am I teaching my children?

2011-12-09T09:45:00.001-06:00

(I gave this talk at Stake Conference last month but wanted to remember it so I stuck it in here in my blog so that I will not forget this really important principle.)

What am I teaching my children? - NOT by what I SAY, but by whatthey see me DO.

There are countless examples in thescriptures of children who learn a great deal by watching righteous parents.

As Lehi left his home, “the landof his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things andtook nothing with him save it were his family, and provisions, and tents anddeparted into the wilderness…” Is there any doubt that Lehi’s sons knewexactly where worldy possessions ranked in his value system?

What about Isaac? What did he learn about his father, Abrahamby watching him? There are many examplesof Abraham’s obedience to the Lord’s will. I like the one in Genesis. We learn that God commanded Abraham tocircumcise every male in his household. Upon receiving that commandment,Abraham did not say, “Ok, I’ll be sure to get right on that the early part ofnext week.” Instead of procrastinating his obedience, Abraham went out andcomplied “in the selfsame day.” Isaac learned it was important to not only heedcommandments but to heed them quickly.

(secretly, I wonder if Isaac would have preferred Abraham procrastinate THAT one. OUCH!)

(oh...and they don't have a picture of Abraham circumcising himself or Isaac in the Gospel Art Picture Kit, in case you were wondering.)

What about Noah’s posterity? They watched as their father was mocked andridiculed for his propethicwarnings. I'm sure everyone in the community thought that Noah was crazy. Ark. Butdid he let the world’s opinion of him stop him from building an ark? What the world thought of him meant nothingto Noah, what he was more concerned with was honoring and obeying his GOD.

Lest we think that children only learn fromtheir Father’s examples, Let’s ponder upon the apostle Paul’s words to youngTimothy, who wrote in praise ofTimothy’s “unfeigned faith … , which dwelt first,” he said, “in thy grandmotherLois, and [in] thy mother Eunice.”⁴ “From [the days when thou wert] a child,” Paul said, “thouhast known the holy scriptures.”⁵ To be sure, Timothy – who went on to become a great missionaryfor the church in the OT grew up in a home where a love of the scriptures andfaith in God were priorities.

You and I are the same. Whether we want them to or not, out childrenare watching us. They learn much more from what we DO than what we SAY.

It has been said thatthree greatest teachers are example, example, and example.

Our children watch theway we deal with adversity, the way we resolve conflict with others, how wespend our free time, what we spend our money on, the attitude with which we servein callings, how we speak of others, and how we heed counsel from priesthoodleaders.

In October Conference,Sister Elaine Dalton (General YW President) taught us this concept. She spoke to Fathers ofdaughters in particular and said this:

“The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is tolove [her] mother.”¹ By the way you love her mother,you will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion,and devotion. She will learn from your example what to expect from young menand what qualities to seek in a future spouse. ....Did you know that your testimonyhas a powerful influence on your daughters? I knew my father had a testimony. Iknew he loved the Lord. And because my father loved the Lord, I did too. I knewhe cared about the widows because he took his vacation to paint the home of thewidow who lived next door. "

Actions speak louder than words.

Emerson said: “ Whatyou are thunders so loudly in my ears, I cannot hear what you say.”

IT givesMUSCLE to our teachings and testimony when we can back it up with action. Alma knew this when he counseled his son,Helaman. In Alma 36, Alma shares a beautiful testimony of hisexperiences and exhorts his son by saying, “I would that ye should do…” but ifyou read this passage of scripture, notice that almost every time Almaexpresses hope that Helaman will do these things he follows it up with “As Ihave done” or another phrase that is suitable to that situation.

If our children see us engaged in personalscripture study, fervently praying, selflessly serving others, turning offquestionable media that offends the Spirit, opening our mouth as membermissionaries, making temple worship a priority, and facing the challenges oflife with faith and hope – chances are excellent they will do those things too.

Likewise, we should never permit ourselvesto do anything that we are not willing to see our children do. If entertainmentis not suitable for our children, it is not suitable for us. We should refrain from gossip, murmuring,filling too much of our free time with meaningless activities, the use ofprofanity, and stirring up contention.

We arecommanded to LEAD the way, not POINT the way.

Satan wants to neutralize the power ofrighteous parents. He works overtimetrying to limit the amount of influence we have on our children, in particular– our teenagers. And he has some veryeffective ways of doing it. Because teenagers have an especially low tolerancefor hypocrisy, he knows if that if our youth see us making choices that arecontrary to the way we tell them to live, it nullifies the effect what we havetaught has on them.
Perhapsthis is what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he spoke of the qualities ofPriesthood leadership in the Doctrine and Covenants 121 when he said: that influence can be maintained ONLY “without hypocrisy and without guile”.

Anothereffective tactic Satan uses is to get our youth’s time so tied up withtechnology, peers, and extracurricular activities and OUR time so tied up withwork, worldly obligations, and yes – sometimes even church commitments – Wedon’t have any time to spend together. Theamount of time we spend with our children is directly proportional to theamount of influence we have on them. Theworld is an intense place full of mixed messages that generally run contrary towhat is taught in gospel centered homes. Persuasive marketing pervades and confuses them about where TRUEhappiness comes from. The more time theyspend out there listening to those messages, the more we compete to influencetheir lives.

As an example, when Brent was Bishop he was gone Tues, Wed, Thurs. nights and all day Sunday. Friday evenings were reserved for our date nights. That didn't feel like enough time with the kids who were only 7, 6, 2, and 1 for Brent. So we started the "daddy dates". Every Monday night after FHE he would take turns taking one of the kids out on a one on one date for about an hour. They would go get ice cream, play at the park, ride bikes, go to the church and shoot hoops. Whatever that child wanted to do with Dad. It was the highlight of their week. And his, I think.

In reality, one of the BEST examples we can set for our children is when they see us make mistakes but then activate the principles of repentanceand the power of the Atonement – they see us change and become more like ourSavior.

Here is the true story of a young 7^th grade girl whowrote this for the Ensign magazine.

““One day while we were reading our scriptures, we talked about howimportant it is for each of us to have our own knowledge and testimony—and thatwe must not put off asking Heavenly Father for this. That night I went to myroom and shut the door. I waited until everything was very quiet. Then I kneltdown by my bed and prayed. I asked Heavenly Father to please send me an angelto tell me for sure if the gospel was true. He answered that he would, and Iwas to get in bed and wait for the angel to come. I felt very peaceful andhappy, and I waited.

“The house was very still, and I think I had dropped off to sleep. Iwoke up when I heard a voice. It was Mother. She was kneeling beside my bedpraying. She was praying for me. I listened, and when she finished I touchedher hair so she would know I was awake. She put her arms around me and held meand her face was wet. She told me I had a Father in Heaven and that he lovedme. She said she was glad he had let me come to live in our family. She told mehe sent his own Son here to give his life so we could return to live with himif we obeyed his commandments. She told me to always remember that the gospelhad been restored, and I must live it so I could go back to my Father. “We held each other for a while,” Stephanie continued, “and thenMother left. After she left, Father in Heaven said to my mind, ‘I sent you yourangel.’”

(“LivingBy The Spirit” , Ensign August 1984, p. 15)

I'm thinking of a list of ways I want to be a better example to my children. Starting today.

Turning the other cheek

2011-12-07T08:54:00.001-06:00

I got some more practice at turning the other cheek today. Uuugghhh. It is so hard to do sometimes but I know it is what the Savior expects of us. I had to go back and read the counsel straight from his mouth.

27 ¶ But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

—Luke 6:27-31.

I dunno about you but this one has always been one of the harder ones for me. I have to really work at it. Counting to 10,000 helps.

I also tend to refer to this guy when someone has gotten me hot under the collar.

Elder David Bednar

(He is pretty much genuis.)

"When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However,

it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however,

you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation.

In many instances, choosing to be offended is a symptom of a much deeper and more serious spiritual malady.

The Savior is the greatest example of how we should respond to potentially offensive events or situations.

“And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men” (1 Nephi 19:9).

Through the strengthening power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, you and I can be blessed to avoid and triumph over offense. “

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165).

In some way and at some time, someone in this Church will do or say something that could be considered offensive. Such an event will surely happen to each and every one of us—and it certainly will occur more than once.

Though people may not intend to injure or offend us, they nonetheless can be inconsiderate and tactless. You and I cannot control the intentions or behavior of other people. However, we do determine how we will act. Please remember that you and I are agents endowed with moral agency, and we can choose not to be offended.

(Note from me: I LOVE this example he gives below:)

During a perilous period of war, an exchange of letters occurred between Moroni, the captain of the Nephite armies, and Pahoran, the chief judge and governor of the land. Moroni, whose army was suffering because of inadequate support from the government, wrote to Pahoran “by the way of condemnation” (Alma 60:2) and harshly accused him of thoughtlessness, slothfulness, and neglect. Pahoran might easily have resented Moroni and his message, but he chose not to take offense. Pahoran responded compassionately and described a rebellion against the government about which Moroni was not aware. And then he responded, “Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul. … And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart” (Alma 61:2, 9).

One of the greatest indicators of our own spiritual maturity is revealed in how we respond to the weaknesses, the inexperience, and the potentially offensive actions of others. A thing, an event, or an expression may be offensive, but you and I can choose not to be offended—and to say with Pahoran, “it mattereth not.”

I think Elder Bednar might have just called me "spiritually mature". Which makes me feel much better.

What a Prophet teaches me about ADVERSITY

2011-12-06T08:57:00.001-06:00

Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Adversity will be a constant or occasional companion for each of us throughout our lives. We cannot avoid it.

The only question is how we will react to it.

Will our adversities be stumbling blocks or stepping-stones?

Father Lehi taught his son Jacob that in order to bring to pass righteousness, the Lord’s plan allowed for wickedness. In order for God’s children to appreciate joy, they must also be subject to misery (see 2 Ne. 2:23). To accomplish the purposes of God, there must needs be “an opposition in all things” (2 Ne. 2:11). Our adversities are part of that opposition. Elder Howard W. Hunter explained the principle in a general conference address many years ago:

“We came to mortal life to encounter resistance. It was part of the plan for our eternal progress. Without temptation, sickness, pain, and sorrow, there could be no goodness, virtue, appreciation for well-being, or joy” (“God Will Have a Tried People,” Ensign, May 1980, 25).

The Lord uses adversities to send messages to his children.

They can turn our hearts to God.

Nephi was told that the natural enemies of his descendants would be “a scourge unto thy seed, to stir them up in remembrance of me” (2 Ne. 5:25).
The idea of a scourge to cause people to remember God reaffirms a familiar teaching in the 12th chapter of Hebrews: “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth” (Heb. 12:6). Even as adversities inflict mortal hardships, they can also be the means of leading men and women to eternal blessings.

I read of a ...contrast after the devastating hurricane that destroyed thousands of homes in Florida some years ago. A news account quoted two different persons who had suffered the same tragedy and received the same blessing: each of their homes had been totally destroyed, but each of their family members had been spared death or injury. One said that this tragedy had destroyed his faith; how, he asked, could God allow this to happen? The other said that the experience had strengthened his faith. God had been good to him, he said. Though the family’s home and possessions were lost, their lives were spared and they could rebuild the home. For one, the glass was half empty. For the other, the glass was half full. The gift of moral agency empowers each of us to choose how we will act when we suffer adversity.

Our responses will inevitably shape our souls and ultimately determine our status in eternity. Because opposition is divinely decreed for the purpose of helping us to grow, we have the assurance of God that in the long view of eternity it will not be allowed to overcome us if we persevere in faith. We will prevail. Like the mortal life of which they are a part, adversities are temporary.

What is permanent is what we become by the way we react to them.

Our adversities can be the means of obtaining blessings unobtainable without them.

How can adversities be for our good? Speaking in area conferences more than 20 years ago, President Ezra Taft Benson explained:

“It is not on the pinnacle of success and ease where men and women grow most. It is often down in the valley of heartache and disappointment and reverses where men and women grow into strong characters”

(in Conference Report, Stockholm Sweden Area Conference, 1974, 70).

“Every reversal can be turned to our benefit and blessing and can make us stronger, more courageous, more godlike”
(in Conference Report, Philippine Islands Area Conference, 1975, 11).

A few years ago I listened as a widow spoke in fast and testimony meeting. She told how she had lost her husband a year earlier. “He was a good man,” she said, adding, “I lived in his shadow.” Now that he was gone, she said she had to develop qualities in herself that were dormant during her husband’s lifetime. She expressed appreciation for that opportunity. Some might not understand that expression, but I do. I heard my own mother express a similar thought about the effect on her of losing her husband—my father—after only 11 years of marriage. To carry this point to an even more personal level, I know it was a blessing to be raised by a widowed mother whose children had to learn how to work, early and hard. As promised in the scriptures, the Lord consecrated her affliction for her gain (see 2 Ne. 2:2) and for the blessing of her children.

Thousands of years ago, Egyptian taskmasters afflicted the Israelites with heavy burdens. However, the Bible records, “the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew” (Ex. 1:12).

We may look on the shortage of money and the struggle to find rewarding employment as serious adversities. I remember such experiences and feelings, and I am unpersuaded that relative poverty and hard work are greater adversities than relative affluence and free time. You are all familiar with the cycles reported in the Book of Mormon in which prosperity led to complacency and pride and spiritual downfall and in which deprivations led to humility and spiritual growth. I believe that the easy way materially usually is not the best way spiritually. For many, though not all, material wealth and abundant free time are spiritual impediments.

If we face up to our individual adversities or hardships, they can become a source of blessing. God will not give us adversities we cannot handle, and he will bless us richly for patiently doing the best we can in the circumstances.

Elaine Cannon reminds us of an important way these blessings come and how we can make the most of them.
“When we are pushed, stung, defeated, embarrassed, hurt, rejected, tormented, forgotten—when we are in agony of spirit crying out ‘why me?’ we are in a position to learn something”

(Adversity, 47).

President Kimball gave us these inspired thoughts on the blessings of adversity:

“I’m grateful that my priesthood power is limited and used as the Lord sees fit to use it. I don’t want to heal all the sick—for sickness sometimes is a great blessing. People become angels through sickness. “Have you ever seen someone who has been helpless for so long that he has divested himself of every envy and jealousy and ugliness in his whole life, and who has perfected his life? I have. Have you seen mothers who have struggled with, perhaps, unfortunate children for years and years, and have become saints through it? … No pain suffered by man or woman upon the earth will be without its compensating effects if it be suffered in resignation and if it be met with patience” (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball [1982], 167–68).

I know that the consequences of the “furnace of affliction” bring eternal blessings. Those blessings are made possible because of the Resurrection and Atonement of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I know and testify to the truth of Alma’s teaching: “Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36:3).

Having a heck of a time seeing the shoreline...

2011-12-05T13:25:00.004-06:00

I ran across this post on the TOFW (Time Out For Women) blog. I love it. It articulates exactly how I feel.
Do you know the story of Florence Chadwick?

She was the first woman to swim the English Channel.
Both ways (England to France and France to England).
No. small. feat.

Two years later she attempted to be the first woman to swim the 21-miles from the Southern California coast to Catalina Island.
The water was 48 degrees.
The fog was thick.
Visibility? Nearly nada.

She finally quit.
Only to find out she was a half mile from her goal as she was pulled into the support boat.
A half mile.

When she was asked by reporters why she had quit when she was so close, Florence said:
"I was licked by the fog."

She swam 20.5 miles of her 21 mile journey.
And she quit.
Because she couldn't see the shoreline.

A similar thing had almost happened on her earlier attempt to swim the English Channel. The fog was too much and Florence became discouraged. But this time, when she wanted to be pulled into the boat, it was her father who pointed out how close she was to shore. Florence lifted her head, saw land, and finished what she started.

I’ve had times in my life when I’ve almost been licked by the fog.

It happened at mile 9 of the half marathon. And I walked the full mile.

I was so frustrated I couldn't run.
The cramp in my calf had started at 6.5 miles and by mile 9 it had done me in.
I was tired.
Every self doubt was coming at me full force.
I was done.
I knew I couldn’t quit.
But, I was done just the same—a paradox to be sure.

My running partner, Erin, was still by my side but I had hoped she would get to run the last bit at her pace. I knew she wanted to but I also knew she wasn't going to leave me in the state I was in. And while I was grateful for that, I knew somehow the state I was in wasn't going to leave me unless she did. For as perfect of a partner as she was from the beginning, I sensed I had to dig deep on this one. I had to do it because I was capable of doing it...not because someone was capable of getting me to do it.

We passed mile marker 10 and I told her to go.
I promised her I would be okay.
And I watched her run off ahead.

Then I hit "play" on my little nano.

A dear friend wanted to make sure I had “Walk on Water” by Christian artist Britt Nicole. But, he couldn't have known when it would play...how much I would need it. And truly, the song could not have been a more perfect expression of the Lord's complete awareness of me and the very spot I was in. The Lord knew what Mile 10 would be for me.

I knew He knew.
And, through the tears, I started to run (again).

There is a living God who knows our lives intimately.
Are you swimming towards a shoreline you cannot see?
Are you running towards a finish line that feels too far away?
The shoreline is there…the finish line is fixed. Trust He will help you get to it.

Because He will.

A little over five years ago I set out on an endurance swim of my own. Brent got sick, then unemployed, then we went through a substantial amount of savings paying for attorneys so that he would be allowed to work. Throughout all that we have suffered financial reversal and been faced with money issues that, quite frankly, I never thought we would have. None of it has been through our own doing. It has just been life happening.

Now we are dealing with another employer issue not paying us what they originally agreed to pay us. Life has been harder the last 6 months than it has in my entire life.

This morning I told Heavenly Father in my personal prayer that I was tired! If I could just see the shore line! I can't. I am fighting as hard as I can to not get discouraged. I know where discouragement comes from. Heavenly Father keeps telling me to choose to have Hope.

Some days are better than others. Today was not such a good one.

I'm tired.

He can fly!

2011-11-15T17:52:00.005-06:00

This is a boring post that is intended mostly for extended family and me.
Tanner was recognized in the Superintendent's weekly newsletter to parents this last Friday. He won second place in the butterfly and his relay team placed first.

Hard things and the worth of souls (this one is for Nancy and Amanda) :O)

2011-10-09T22:14:00.004-05:00

I have been watching something unfold between this beautiful girl and a young man at her school and it has reminded me of some important principles lately. I mentioned this in fast and testimony meeting today so I hate to be repetitive to those of you in my ward but it is something I want to remember. I need to document it here or I'll forget.

At the beginning of the school year, I noticed a boy who sits outside the middle school on a bench every morning. I typically have to drop McKinley off about 45 minutes before school starts because she is either having a student council meeting or guitar lessons. I noticed him there every day. He is always on the same bench. Alone. I have never seen him talking to anyone. I have never seen anyone acknowledge him as they walk in. I wondered why he doesn't join the rest of the kids in the cafeteria or gym before school. My motherly instinct told me it was probably because he didn't have any friends in there.

One morning during the second week of school, I asked McKinley if she would do me a favor and say hi to him as she walked in. She REALLY didn't want to. It's middle school - there is THAT whole dynamic. He is a boy and she is a girl. There is THAT whole dynamic. He is older than her. (She didn't KNOW him but recognized that he was in the grade above her). PLUS, throw into the equation that she is pretty darn shy.

This was asking her to step completely out of her comfort zone.

But I told her I thought he probably was a boy who needed a friend. SOMETHING told me that.

So she did.

I saw it happen as she walked. She picked up her hand, waved to him, smiled, and said "hi". It was a little akward. But he saw it.

I didn't really think much of it after that. But apparantly she kept doing this each day (without any prodding from her mom!)

Then I started noticing that this boy was anticipating her arrival. He knew that the girl in the White SUV would come about the same time every morning, walk by him with a smile on her face, wave, and say "hi". But after a few weeks he started saying hello to her before she even had a chance. It was sweet.

This past Friday, as I was driving away from the school after dropping her off, I noticed that she took the plunge and actually went over to him and sat down on the bench. I later found out that she sat and talked to him for awhile and asked him his name. My heart melted as I watched her interact with him from my rear view mirror.

Two thoughts came to my mind as I reflected on that little experience this week.

First:

It is really good to do hard things.

It doesn't matter if it is a spiritual, physical, social, or financial hard thing. It is good to do things that challenge us, pull us out of our comfort zone, force us to aim higher, or SSSTTTTRRRREEEETTTTCCCCHHHH us. No matter what it is. When we do hard things, we become more like our Heavenly Father.

Second:

The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

He loves us all. He doesn't care what size we are, what brand of clothes we wear, how much money we make. He doesn't value the CEOs more than the custodians or the Bishops more than the ward librarians. The God we worship is not a respecter of persons.

We shouldn't be either.

We should be mindful of the fact that ALL children are HIS children and should be treated with love and kindness. Especially the ones that are alone or needy or a little akward.

I am grateful for the blessing of watching that little exchange between McKinley and David (that is his name, btw) take place because it reminded me of some pretty important things that I want to remember.

One of the reasons I have not been bloggin' much

2011-09-25T18:31:00.010-05:00

I've been busy coaching these twelve adorable girls. We have so much fun and I love each and every one of them. Especially that cute blonde fourth grader and that beauitful brunette fifth grader.

Alzheimers through 10 year old eyes

2011-09-21T05:02:00.004-05:00

McKinley was given an assignment to choose a photograph from home and then write a paper about it. She chose this one.:

I
It is from an outing with her Great Grandmother that she affectionately calls, "Gigi". Gigi has had Alzheimers for many years now. Watching her progressively get worse, forget things, repeat herself and now have her personality changed in relatively drastic ways has been a real challenge for Kiki (as well as all my children, to comprehend. There were many summers we would spend taking Gigi out on "outings" to give her a day away from the group home setting she moved to in 2008. The kids loved to taker her to lunch and then to get her hair done or maybe window shopping a the mall. Gigi loved it too. Now, unfortunately, it is too hard to do even that. Here is a memory of one of those outings in McKinley's own words:

Am I having lunch with Gigi or Alzheimers?

Will she remember my name?

Maybe I should just listen.

I basically blocked out the whole lunch except for dessert.

"Mmmm", I moaned immediately after i bit into delicious red and blue jello with a tower of whipped cream on top.

Luby's cafe was my favorite when it came to jello.

Before, Gigi said she was not even hungry.

It was funny that her plate left not one bite.

I'll bet in 30 minutes she will forget that we ate.

I was happy to have lunch with her but where was she?

Where was her real smile?

Where was her laugh?

Where was the real her?

How does the sky fell so gray when it's bright blue?

I hope one more time I can see the real her.

i repent! and lunch box love notes

2011-09-18T20:59:00.006-05:00

Ok.

I REPENT.

I have been so negligent in blogging. I know noone really cares because none of you are really sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for my next post. But I do feel guilty as this is my way of keeping my family's history. I have just been heavily bombarded by other things that have had to take precedence. Good things. Meaningful things. Time consuming things. Some of them that I will blog about lata....Fact of the matter is: I know my limitations and so I had to sit back and evaluate what was most important and blogging got put on the back burner. I hope to do better in the coming weeks and plan to blog several times a week until I get caught up. I have been compiling a list of all the things I want to blog about so that I won't forget anything.

Anyway....

When I went to Brady's first grade meeting with his teacher, she mentioned how much the kids love to get notes in their lunch boxes to read. This is a challenge for me because most days I pack FIVE lunches. And it usually late at night. And I really need to get in bed so I can wake up with my seminary kids at 5am. And I am already dog tired. So the last thing I want to do is come up with an original thought for a love note.

So, I got a brainstorm that I thought was worth sharing. We tried this tonight and the 3 little ones and the oldest really got into this (Tanner was a good sport even though he is not much of a note writer.) I think it might just be one of the funnest Sabbath day type activities we have ever done.

It started with this stationary I found at Target. 200 colorful cardstock cards with a matching envelope for $13.00.

Then I made "sticks" out of fun foam with the name of each child in my family. Actually, because our kids take their lunches 4 days a week (and only buy 1), I wrote each child's name on 4 sticks. I stuck them in a pail so that they could draw one out.

(sorry, taken with an iphone.)

Then they wrote a note to whoever's name they drew out.

Actually my kids loved it so much that they wanted to do them all for the entire week so they wrote four notes a piece.

I keep the finished notes on a pail on our kitchen table so that when I am packing lunches, I can stick one in quick on the fly.Mission accomplished and they had fun doing it. Besides. when you are a 6 year old first grader it is waaaay funner to get a love note from your much cooler, 15 year old brother than your mom. :O)

Brady's big day

2011-07-10T20:56:00.007-05:00

Brady turned 6 last week.

We had a party with 25 kids at Pump it up.Brady with two cute boys from his soccer team, Jake and Raliegh.

Alivia, Reagan, and Jocelyn

Cole, Brady, and Taylor

Is this no the cutest cake ever? I wish I could say I made it, but I didn't. A FOURTEEN year old cake decorating QUEEN made it for me. Isn't she amazingly talented?

We went to Babe's Chicken after the party and had dinner and Brady was serenaded by three cute waitresses. Then we went home and opened presents from all his friends. I couldn't help but think that one of the best presents we have given him is moving him here 5 years ago to this area that has proved to be such a friend-filled area. Brady had a hard time picking which twenty five friends to invite. There are sooo many kids his age from church, the neighborhood, school, and soccer. What a blessing!

Here are SIX things about this SIX year old that I absolutely love.

1. He wants so badly to do the right thing. He is a huge RULE FOLLOWER.

2. He usually comes to my side of the bed in the morning when he first wakes up and climbs in bed for a morning "snuggle".

3. He is SUCH a HARD WORKER. He loves saturday chore auction and usually earns more money than his siblings.

4. I love to slisten to him read out loud. Such a smart boy.

5. He loves his dad. I'll admit it, he is kind of a Daddy's boy. He even wishes he was bald like his dad.

6. I love to hear him sing. When he does, he sings at the top of his lungs and belts it out like he is on a stage and means business!

BRADY MAX, I LOVE YOU!!!

Dad Day & Joe's Crab Shack 2011

2011-06-21T19:59:00.004-05:00

We have a family tradition of going to Joe's Crab shack every year the day before Father's Day. It is Brent's favorite and kinda pricey so we reserve it for special occasions. The kids have all come to love CRAB so it is a much awaited treat. Here are some pics.

I couldn't let the day go by without expressing my love and appreciation for the guy who fathers the children in our home and does so magnificently. He is such a shining example of what a dad should be. He is so patient, kind, helpful, and I happen to think he is a hottie to boot!

He is a SURVIVOR, no really.

2011-06-11T10:51:00.002-05:00

Well. Tanner is back from a week on an island with his fellow survivors. The Varsity and Venturing troops decided to have a LORD OF THE FLIES expeience for their high adventure this year. They canoed to an island, took 25 (alive) chickens, beans, rice, and a 130 lb pig with them. All they were armed with were spears that they made themselves. The leaders had knives to help cut up the kill once it was grillin' time.

Here is a picture from one of the leaders that went with Tanner, This was his bed for the week. Rest assured, more will be posted later this week.

Sometimes it takes a village

2011-06-05T22:32:00.002-05:00

Friday I was at an awards ceremony for one child when another called saying he was done with his finals and could I come pick him up?

I couldn't leave for awhile.

So another mom of a girl in the ward dropped him off.

Later a friend called telling me that she was in a bind and could I help her by picking her son (who just happens to be Tanner's best friend) up from school and dropping him off at his house?

I was happy to.

Every Sunday we save seats for the Raineys. Empty Nesters in our ward that my three youngest have adopted. Sunday just doesn't feel like Sunday to them if they are not sitting with the Raineys during sacrament meeting.

Jensen loves Sister Cordy's lessons. Sister Cordy has served very effectively as the Laurel teacher and has had a profound influence on my daughter. We raised our hands in a vote of thanks to release her today - with mixed feelings.

Sometimes it takes a village. The beautiful thing is, I am surrounded by so many wonderful ward family members who bless my life and the lives of my children. I am so grateful.

How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk.

2011-06-02T15:10:00.005-05:00

That is the title of one of my favorite books on parenting. There is a regular version for kids and then an updated version came out years later for teens. I have read them both and they are fantastic. Here are some of my best tips for getting your kids to talk. I am not sure where I read about them or heard about them.

Best, Worst, and "'learn today"

At dinner, we go around the table and each person tells their "best" and "worst" thing that happened that day and also 1 thing that they learned. I love this because it forces even the shy ones to talk. You would be amazed at the things you will learn with just this one little thing. Very often, they won't have a "worst" to share. That is fine. But they have to thin of a "best" and don't let them try to tell you they didn't learn anything that day. It is absolutely impossible NOT to learn something each day. Even if it is just that someone at school was sick or that they like sweet potatoes. that is something they learned!

Most of the time, I follow up on the "worsts" in private after dinner to see if it is something they want to talk about in more detail with me. It was through this little game that I have learned countless tidbits about my kiddos including bullies on the elementary school bus, an overbearing teacher, and a significant feeling of inadequacy that one the Argyle offspring was struggling with. We were able to nip all of them in the bud with a little dose of mom intervention. :O) I have even learned alot about my hubbys work and stresses he is dealing with.

"Would you rather...?"

You think of scenarios and ask them of the whole family and go around the dinner table answering one at a time.

Example:

Would you rather be the smartest person in your class or the prettiest?

Would you rather kiss a frog or eat a squid?

Would you rather have a wart on your face or chronic bad breath?

Weird, I know. But kids love it. Especially elementary age kids.

Table Talk
It is called "Table Talk". I made them EONS ago for all my YW for a lesson about improving family relations. Each little strip of paper has a question on it that you can ask of your family at dinner time.

For instance,

"If you had a million dollars given to you but you had to do something for someone else with it, how would you spend it?"

"Name an invention that you are most thankful for and why".

"What is your favorite thing about yourself and why?"

"What is something you can do better than your parents?"

Anyway, those are some tricks of the trade I use here that seem to work pretty well.

Give 'em a try.

No fair weather fans over here

2011-06-02T14:49:00.003-05:00

C'mon MAVS!

Beat the heat.

Grateful for good friends

2011-05-30T22:55:00.005-05:00

As a mom, are you ever just so grateful that your children are surrounded by good friends? That is one of the many blessings we have found since we have moved to Prosper. There is always an abundance of friends to play with. Friends who come from great homes where they have been taught character and integrity. My girls went to a birthday party last week and the hosting mom sent me these pics from the party. It made me smile. Especially the pictures of them "kissing frogs". :O)

Farewell to Carell party

2011-05-01T22:00:00.004-05:00

Tanner is a HUGE "Office" fan.

So are most of his friends.

Tanner, Kade, Dmitri, Tyler , Sean, and Dalton. (Dean came later)

Steve Carell is the star of "The Office" -or atleast has been until his departure this past thursday- so we had a "FAREWELL TO CARELL" party at our house.

There was even a litmus test. You had to know all the characters by name in order to be invited. Only SERIOUS office fans were allowed.

They ate dinner. (I had to take out a loan & Brent had to barbecue a few thousand chicken legs to feed 7 teenage boys.)

Laughed about their favorite episodes from "The Office".

Speculated about who would permanently replace Steve Carell.

And watched his final episode.

They even tolerated a few pictures from this obnoxious, blogging mother.

I am so gratified to know the caliber of young men Tanner chooses to associate with. Some he knows from church and some from school.

You know they are a good bunch when they leave their shoes at the door out of respect for our home even if we don't ask them too.

And they bring cake for dessert.

and they leave around 9:30 (the LDS ones) because they have seminary the next morning. Clearly they have their priorities straight.

I firmly believe in stealing great ideas

2011-04-27T14:34:00.010-05:00

I stole this from Shawni Polthier of "71 toes" (See right). She posted it on her kitchen wall before Thanksgiving. Let's face it, though - it is good to think about your many blessings all year round. I have too many windows and not enough wall space to post it up on my kitchen wall so I improvised and put it on my kitchen table. I think I actually like it better. The kids LOVE it. Some of them have gotten really artistic and colored little pictures too.

All you need is a roll of paper, markers, and some tape to secure it and you have a great way for your family to be mindful of some of the things/people they are grateful for before each meal.

I also love it because it encourages my kids to come sit in the kitchen and visit with me while I am prepping dinner, breakfast, etc. Its a great conversation starter,

a few worthy of mention are:

Sister Lloyd (YW leader)

Brother Romney (Tanner's Seminary Teacher)

Sister Ziminskas (Jensen's Sunday School Teacher)

Uptown Popcorn

Susie (McKinley's Best Friend)

Mavs

Jimmer Fredette

chocolate

rainbows

animals

MOM :O)

flowers

birthdays

nail polish

stuffing casserole

odds

2011-04-24T20:19:00.005-05:00

What are the odds that when you are getting a new roof, you might step on a roofing nail?

Apparantly pretty good.

Because I did.

After the fact, my roofer estimated that 12,000 nails came down with my old, hail damaged roof. They ended up all over my drive way, yard, and sidewalk.

I just happened to step on one.

It went through my flip flop. (Yes, I was wearing flip flops, not one of my better moments) It also went about an inch into the heel of my foot. In case you are wondering it hurts. It also makes for a really lame date night to spend it at the ER getting a tetanus shot.

And although I should be the one getting a note to release me from participating in P.E., I found this in Reagan's room.

Do you think the P.E. teacher fell for it?

When I asked Reagan about it she said that she lost the note I actually-validly- wrote for her so she wrote this one in it's place. Likely excuse.

Got trials?

2011-04-19T15:12:00.006-05:00

Then this is for you...

May he rest in peace.

2011-04-17T18:50:00.004-05:00

On Monday, April 11th @ about 1 AM we had visitors in the form of large wicked balls of ICE, (a.k.a hail.) We ran out to move cars inside to the garage.

(I don't know why we don't park in the garage, we are just lazy, it's not like we have alot of junk in there.)

When we saw the hail we changed our mind quickly.

Some of it was the size of a racquetball.

It was accompanied by 70 mile an hour winds.

We immediatlely ran back in the house to get kids up out of bed and move them to an area where there were no windows.

We waited out the storm.

The kids went back to bed.

We started calling insurance companies.

The next morning we saw this:

See the hail damage in the backboard?

It punched a hole clean through the plexiglass. Top left Dormar window (in the attic) broken.

Two windows to the garage were shattered.

Trampoline was damaged.

Playground and fence have little white spots all over them from being pelted by the hail.

Our skylight was broken in our kitchen.

We need to replace our roof.

The saddest part of all....

Our beloved, Clifford, was totalled.

Ironically, I posted a love letter to Clifford just last month. When we went to the dealership Saturday and said our last goodbyes, everyone got a little sad. We have so many sweet memories in this car. We posed for a last picture (sans Jensen who was at Jubilee Practice)...

We will rise from the ashes, however.

Roofers and contracters begin the restoration Tuesday. As a bonus, our playground and fence are going to geta nice strong power wash and re-stain and the kids get a new trampoline and basketball hoop.

What is it they say?

This TOO, will pass....

continue in patience

2011-04-12T15:14:00.006-05:00

A thankful Sunday

2011-04-10T19:58:00.003-05:00

Once a month we pull out the box of thank you notes and spend a few minutes writing someone a letter.

Each of us thinks about someone that we are grateful for, who has blessed our life in the last month or so and then we take a few minutes to tell them "thanks",

I try not to dictate who they should write to.

Contemplating the people in their lives who bless them is part of the beauty of this tradition.

Last week:

Tanner wrote to his seminary teacher. Brother Romney has been a huge influence in his life this last year and has taught him so much. He talks about his lessons all the time and looks forward to the 6am class every day because of him.

Reagan wrote a note to her Activity Day leader. Sister Doyle teaches the 8 year old girls and has done such a fantastic job, going above and beyond. Now that Reagan is 9 and has moved to the next class she wanted to let Tammie know how much she appreciated her time and effort.

Brady wrote a note to his Soccer Coach. This is the first year he has played and his coach is sooo patient with him and is nothing but positive to all the boys.

You might think this is kind of an odd thing to do but it means so much to people. It also is so good for to stop the busyness of life every once in awhile and contemplate the people that bless us.

Mr. MUSIC, himself

2011-04-03T18:39:00.003-05:00

On Friday, Brady was awarded the music award from Ms. Tucker. She sent me an email to tell me about it so I would be there and mentioned that he was getting it because he always sings so loud and has a great attitude. When I told him, he asked if he could wear his suit to the award ceremony since it was a special occasion. "Sure!" "Why not"? When they announced his name and he got up to walk to the stage there was an audible reaction from all the moms and grammies in the crowd, oohaing and ahhing about this cute lil guy in his suit... My friend, Audra, the awesome photographer was there with her super long lens and took these delightful pictures for me. Thanks Audra!

Always with her nose in a book

2011-04-01T17:54:00.004-05:00

And just one more thing about Reagan in case you haven't gotten your "Fix"this week...

Today Reagan won the READING award for her class.

(sorry for the horrible picture but atleast its documented for history.)

We are soooo

proud

but not soooo

surprised.

When I asked her WHY she thought Ms. Thornton had selected her to receive the reading award, she replied,

"Well maybe it's because I pretty much always have my nose in a book."

I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Celebrating 9 things on her ninth

2011-03-29T16:23:00.013-05:00

Here are nine of my favorite things about my favorite 9 year old (on the occasion of her 9th birthday)

#9: She is a gal that has ALOT of friends. Which gives me hope that maybe she is a good friend to others and that is why they love her so much and appear to always want to be around her. It was really hard for her to decide which FIFTEEN friends to invite to her birthday party!

#8: She is creative. She writes really creative stories and plays creative games with her friends when they come over. I am predicting a drama production or two in her future...

#7: She has lots of MOXIE.

#6: She likes to shop with me. It is so fun having a girl that enjoys shopping. Even WINDOW shopping. We love to do that together.

#5: She is laid back. She must get this from her Father.. I have only seen her cry one time over hurt feelings and that was because she was unusually tired. She tends to let things roll of her back.

#4: She is fun

#3: She is a great swimmer. I love to watch her swim the backstroke and the butterfly,

>#2: She is beautiful. More beautiful than I ever hoped she could be. She looks alot like her Aunt Lindsey.

#1: She is so comfortable in her own skin. She doesn't try to be like everyone else and is perfectly content being herself.

the happiness chronicles: 9 year old cars

2011-03-27T17:17:00.004-05:00

The other day a friend of mine was telling me how happy she was about her brand new, BEAUTIFUL car. I have to admit: It is GORGEOUS. It has all the bells and whistles you can possibly imagine. I know it will come in really handy for her and her rather large family when they hit the road this summer for vacations. They will be riding in the lap of luxury to say the least.

Several days later, a mutual friend of ours (Lets call her "Friend #2)" mentioned our other friend's new purchase. She also was impressed at how nice it is. So much so that Friend #2 said these exact words:

"I will be so happy when my lease is up and I can trade my car in for something like that..."

I have been thinking alot about that.

Here is my car.

We call him "Clifford", a name coined by my little brother -a few short days after we got him -who commented on how it was a BIG RED DOG. Clifford has been such a great car for the Argyle Family. He has been tried and true to us and has been virtually free of major repair problems. Oh sure. We have had the occasional belt or battery that needed to be replaced. BUT Clifford has been really reliable for us over the last 9 years. We have so many sweet memories of trips here and there, family vacations and road trips, bringing our last two babies home from the hospital, taking my now deceased grandfather around on hot summer day excursions to get him out of the house.

We joke that Clifford always get us the best parking spaces too. Brent laughs everytime we are trying to pull into the mall parking lot when it is three days before Christmas, or a sold out concert. It doesn't matter what the situation, Clifford always pulls right up and there is a perfect spot. He said I can never trade cars because I am doomed to have a car with bad parking Karma after 9 years with Clifford.

I have to say that having a nice, new beautiful car is so cool and I am glad for my friend who is so excited about having it.

But for me, I have decided NOT having a new car makes me happy. Is that weird?

I love all of the sweet memories that come to mind when I get in and turn the key, I love the smell of Clifford, the fact that I don't care if Tanner plays basketball outside right next to where Clifford is parked. So what if he dings the door? I love how easy it is to spot my bright red suburban in the busiest of parking lots. I love that my kids can see me coming from far away and get a big smile on their face cuz they know Mom is coming to pick them up. I love that Clifford has enough seats that we can always bring along a friend. I love Clifford especially for the day he kep us all safe when we were going full speed down the Tollway and hydroplaned and did several donuts. I still attribute the fact that we didn't roll to the powers that be.

And... I LOVE not having a car payment.

Clifford is ours,

We haven't had a car payment in so long, I think we probably never will again. It gives me so much peace of mind to know that we don't have to write a check each month to drive him. I was especially grateful for that in year 7 when Brent was unempoyed for 8 months.

There is so much to be said for staying out of debt and following the counsel of this guy.

President Gordon B. Hinckley

He repeated the words of some other wise guy many years ago but we try to remind ourselves of it frequently around here. He said, '

"Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without."

I can honestly say that "wearing it out" makes me happy. Here's to all the old car drivers out there that are wearing 'em out too.

placing dandelions on the altar

2011-03-09T15:04:00.006-06:00

Yesterday in institute class, the teacher shared this quote with us. It made me smile. It is from Elder Neal A. Maxwell. This guy.

I want to put it here for any time I might get a little frustrated with myself.

" Our perfect Father does not expect us to be perfect children yet. He had only one such Child. Meanwhile, therefore, sometimes with smudges on our cheeks, dirt on our hands, and shoes untied, stammeringly but smilingly we present God with a dandelion – as if it were an orchid or a rose! If for now the dandelion is the best we have to offer, He receives it, knowing what we may later place on the altar. It is good to remember how young we are spiritually.”

Elder Neal A. Maxwell
- That Ye May Believe [1992], 100

A happiness project

2011-02-27T18:20:00.004-06:00

I was at the nail salon getting a pedicure -ironically, something that makes me happy- when I stumbled on an article in a magazine. The article was written by a woman who wrote the book on happiness.

No, REALLY.

Here it is.

So the premise behind this "project" was that she felt she was missing out on happiness that was available to her because she was bogged down by duty, commitments, etc.

Can you relate?

So she decided to identify things that would bring her happiness AND researched things that statistically are supposed to bring people happiness according to studies and she assigned one thing to focus on each month of the year. As an experiment.

Not only did she find more happiness in her life through the experiment. She found more happiness in her life because her book became a NYT #1 bestseller. :O)

Just Kidding....

One of the things that she discovered through her research is that there is little correlation between cash and contentment. According to a recent study in the article, there is no emotional benefit to earning more than $75,000 a year.

Interesting...

I feel like I am letting this darned chronic illness of Brent's get the best of me lately. Living sith someone who is constantly in pain and having an insurance company who doesn't want to pay for the off-label use of the drug that could cure him can wear you out. I used to be happy all the time. I was KNOWN for always having a smile on my face. But 4 1/2 years of Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension affecting the person you love most in the world can have a little wear and tear on your emotional state.

So, I am embarking on a happiness project.!

I have thought of some things I might try. I made a long list.

March is exercise.

There are alot of emotional benefits to exercise.

Did you know that "For some people, exercising at high intensity three times a week for just 30 minutes at a time can provide the same benefits as some of the most powerful psychiatric medications"? The body releases a protein called "brain derived neurotrophic factor". Yoga was cited as also having additional calming (and happy-making) effects.

I stopped exercising around Christmas. I was so sick of exercising!!! Then I got sick and for a month took a long hiatus. Now, I realize that might be a factor. I used to be a die-hard worker-outer. now one of my BFFs has joined my gym and I am taking that as a sign. (Exercise is so much better with a buddy.)

Will you join me ...

and start a happiness project too?

We come here with our worth

2011-02-23T15:38:00.005-06:00

The Worth of a Soul by Liz Lemon Swindle

Several years ago I had an "aha moment" in a presidency meeting. My friend, and counselor, Christi was in charge of the spiritual thought to start us off. She told a story about her son. Jake had just started middle school - HUGE adjustment. He was having a particularly hard time in math. His father had been working with him for several nights in a row on a new concept that had just been introduced but he just wasn't getting it very well.

Christi could see after several days of this that he was growing more and more discouraged. Being the wise mom that she is, she saw this as a teaching opportunity. She sat down with him and said, "Jake, whether or not you can solve this particular kind of math problem doesn't really matter in the scheme of things. You came here to this earth with your worth, you don't have to earn it." Immediately, she could see that he felt better and Jake knew that everything was going to be ok.

What a powerful message! I need to be reminded of that. ALOT. I also have tried to communicate that to my kids as much as I possibly can. We live in a world that tells us that we have to earn our value. We need to be a size 6, a good provider, mother, hostess, wife, . We should be the best at everything we do so that we can impress others, receive loads of praise, and feel valued. That is the world's way.

Heavenly Father would have us know that we came here with our worth. We should strive to do our best, yes. But his grace is sufficient to make up where we lack. HE loves us unconditionally - just for trying.

I used to be such a perfectionist. I spent hours cleaning, cooking, helping children with homework (so they could be high achievers too), working in my calling, serving others. There were times I got so worn out that I had nothing left to offer. Then one day I realized it was not the best environment to live in. It wasn't what I wanted for my kids. It wasn't very peaceful. When you are a TRUE perfectionist, you never feel content.

With a lot of prayer and conscientious effort, I can happily say that I no longer feel like I have to do everything perfect. I probably have only a few things I do WELL. But I am a much happier person, knowing that I don't have to earn my worth. I came here with it. Perfectionism is overrated. Trust me, peace feels much better.

Just cuz I wanna have it documented next time they are at each other's throats

2011-02-16T15:24:00.003-06:00

What each Argyle wrote to the other Argyles:

(from Tanner)
to Jensen: "You are an awesome townsperson. (referring to her stint in the school play, Beauty and the Beast). "I love to watch you swim." (I think he is saying it is entertaining to watch her swim which doesn't sound like much of a compliment to me!)
to Brady: "you are so cool. I love your fun personality. You are a good little reader."
to McKinley: "Your an awesome point gaurd!"
to Reagan: "You are the coolest third grader I know. I love your swag."
To Dad: "Your an awesome Young Men's leader. I love your lessons ALOT!"
to Mom: "I love your warm personality. You always accomodate other people before yourself. and I like your pinky toes" (inside joke)

From Jensen:
to Mom: "I love to watch Law and Order with you."
to Brady: "I love when you read to me!"
to Reagan; "I love your confidence"
to McKinley: " I love that you are such a good big sister"
to Dad: "I love your chocolate chip pancakes"
to Tanner: " I love to hear you play the piano"

From McKinley:
to Tanner: " You have a great personality1"
to mom: "I love you because you take care of us and clean up after us"
to Jensen: "You are really good at sharing"
to Dad: "You are so sweet"
to Brady: " I love how you always want to play with me even when I am mean to you."
to Reagan: "You are so thoughtful"

from Reagan:
to Brady: "You always want to do something fun."
to Daddy: I love you because you go fishing with me."
to Mommy: "I love your sunggles"
to Jensen: " I love you because you are always doing the right thing"
to Tanner:I love you because you are smart and funny. You are also very fun to be with."
to McKinley: "You are always happy"

From Brady: (In his original "inventive" spelling)
to Dad: "I lic dad bcuz he cars" (I like Dad because he cares)
to Mom: "I lic Mom bcuz she max dinr"
to Tanner: "I lic Tanr bcuz he is smrt"
to Jensen: "I lic Jsen bcuz she pts on movies"
to McKinley: " I lic mcile bcuz she is nis"
to Reagan: "I lic Ragin bcuz she plas sopr smash bro wi mey" (super smash brother with me)

From Mom:
to Jensen: "You always have a smile on your face and a great attitude"
to Tanner: "You are a good example to aLL of us- especially me...and you make me laugh"
to McKinley: "You are so easy to love. You are one of the most tender-hearted people I know. I love to snuggle with you."
Reagan: "I love your moxie. You make me smile."
to Brady: "You are so smart. I love it when you read to me. You are also a good friend."
to Brent: "I love you because you love me unconditionally - even when I'm grouchy."

From Brent:
to Jensen: "Your honestly and integrity are an example to everyone. i love you"
to Tanner: "I love that you are spiritual Giant and that you know ans understand when you feel the Spirit. I love that you are not ashamed of the Gospel and stand for what you believe."
to McKinley: "You are so responsible and yet you love to have fun. I love that you are always wanting to do something, to get better, and to be the best that you can be."
to Reagan: "I love to watch you sing and dance. You are such a fun girl. You are alwasy the first to give me hugs and snuggles".
to Brady: "I love that you are such a daddy's boy. I love to fish and ride bikes with you."
to me: "I love that you are so patient. I am so grateful that you help me be a better person. I am also grateful for your compassion."

bowling for 26 please

2011-02-06T11:15:00.004-06:00

On Friday, the last day of the freeze, we were all feeling a little cabin fever. We were so glad to get a call from some good friends that invited us to go bowling. 8 adults, 16 children between us. We had a blast. I love these families and love their children to boot. It was a welcome reprieve from being shut ins. Saturday the same group went tubing on a neighborhood hill but I didn't get pictures. :O(

Tanner, getting his bowling face on.
Don't the boys look excited?
sweet, cute girls

How we spent the winter freeze of 2011

2011-02-03T16:52:00.012-06:00

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday school was cancelled due to frozen, icy roads. EVERYTHING was cancelled.

Honestly, I loved every minute of it. First of all, I was diagnosed Monday afternoon with "walking Pneumonia". The Dr. gave me a shot of antibiotic and a "Z pack" and told me to go home and rest. I laughed at him. It is pretty much impossible for a mother of 5 to rest. As I left his office, I thought of how I needed to order the desserts for "treat the teacher" for the elementary school, finish planning and purchasing items for the 3rd grade valentine party that I am in charge of the following week, prep for the presidency meeting I had on Thursday, catch up on no less than 7 loads of laundry, etc. You get the picture.

So the freeze was a gift for me. All of a sudden EVERYTHING was wiped off of my list temporarily. I spent the first day sleeping which felt WONDERFUL. The rest of the time we did this:

1. We cleaned the media room and play room from top to bottom. The kids did not even complain because we all worked together as a team and it only took about 30 minutes.

2. The girls and I watched this series.

It's Awesome.
We ate alot of this

with these

We built lots of these to stay warm.

We painted fingernails and toenails.

The boys painted Brent's office. (pictures coming soon)

Tanner was MIA for about 24 hours when he went to spend the night at his best buddy's house, Kade. That was a huge blessing because he was starting to get cabin fever.

We made valentines for everyone in the family. Then we "heart attacked" the kitchen cabinets with them.

we are the champions, literally

2011-02-02T10:44:00.003-06:00

Way to go Prosper Eagles! They won the men's and women's division at the district meet. Tanner was one of several who qualified for regionals next weekend. He swam the 200 m butterfly and the 200m Individual Medley (two of each stroke for those of you who are non-swimmers).

Sometimes OUR charity faileth

2011-02-01T19:46:00.005-06:00

Recently I was saddened to hear an unfair and uninformed public comment made about someone that I love. I was not offended. I was, however, grateful. Grateful because the person that was being judged was not present to hear the comment. I think it would have broken her heart.

It reminded me of this talk that I LOVE. I have listened to it so many times that I feel like I almost have it memorized. It is from Sister Sheri Dew. She gave it at a Women's conference at BYU when she was serving in the Relief Society General Presidency several years ago. I feel like it was written for me. I used to REALLY struggle with being judgemental. This talk changed alot of that for me. Now when I am tempted to make a judgement about someone, it almost immediately comes into my mind. Because this is an area that I know we all struggle, I thought it was well worth posting.

It is simply not for us to judge each
other. The Lord has reserved that right for
Himself, because only He knows our hearts and
understands the varying circumstances of our
lives. Principles and covenants are the same for
all of us. But the application of those principles
will differ from woman to woman. ...And His
approval is so much more vital than that of the
ward busybody.
Another kind of judging is more subtle
but equally destructive. How often do we
describe a sister with words like these: She's a
convert. She's been inactive. She's a Utah
Mormon. She's single. She's a stay‐at‐home
mom. When we label one another, we make
judgments that divide us from each other and
inevitably alienate us from the Lord. The
Nephites learned this lesson the hard way. After
the Savior appeared on this continent, those
converted to the gospel lived in harmony for
two hundred years. Because they loved God,
they also loved each other. And though
previously there had been Nephites and
Lamanites and Ishmaelites, there were now no
"‐ites," as the scriptures tell us (4 Nephi 1:17).
They were one. The result? There was not "a
happier people among all the people who had
been created by the hand of God" (4 Nephi
1:16). It wasn't until they again divided into
classes that Satan began to win many hearts.
The Nephites never recovered spiritually.
Can't we get rid of the "‐ites" among
us? Can't we avoid this "hardening of the
categories"? We gain nothing by segregating
ourselves based on superficial differences.
What we have in common‐particularly our
commitment to the same glorious cause‐is so
much more significant than any distinctions in
our individual lives. I think again of our sisters in
Africa. The fact that my life is completely
different from theirs didn't matter. When we
left that last meeting in Ghana, I wept because I
felt such a bond with them. We are our sister's
keeper. Heaven forbid that we would ever make
even one sister feel left out. If there is anyplace
in all the world where a woman should feel that
she belongs, it is in this Church.
None of us needs one more person
pointing out where we've fallen short. What we
do need are each other's compassion, prayers,
and support. What if we were to decide today
that we would make just one assumption about
each other‐that we are each doing the best we
can? And what if we were to try a little harder
to help each other? Imagine the cumulative
effect, not to mention the effect on us
spiritually. Followers of Christ who pray with all
the energy of their hearts to be filled with His
love, the pure love of Christ, will become like
Him (Moroni 7:48). As we are filled with this
love, we no longer feel envy or think evil of
others. That's because "charity never faileth"
(Moroni 7:46). Charity is demonstrated when
we give someone the benefit of the doubt, or
readily accept an apology, or refuse to pass
along a juicy piece of gossip. Might we this
evening in prayer contemplate grudges we need
to put behind us, jealousies we should let go,
and relationships we could improve by simply
laying our pride aside?

saying "I'm sorry" is a beautiful thing

2011-01-25T14:47:00.007-06:00

One sister hit another in anger and was sent to bed early. When the injured sister went to bed that night, she found this on her bed:

I love how Reagan signed her last name, just in case her sister was confused and thought ANOTHER Reagan might have snuck in her room to apologize. :O)

Saying "I'm sorry" really is a beautiful thing. It brings so much peace to the soul and casts away contention. Here are some great thoughts on the topic.

Grateful

2011-01-16T21:50:00.004-06:00

I have alot of weaknesses. I mean alot. But one blessing I have been given is a grateful heart. I have never really been one to be jealous or envious of what other people have. I am content more often than not. It is not hard for me to sit down at the end of the day and rattle off ten or twenty things that I am grateful for. A few weeks ago a friend gave me a gratitude journal. Gratitude journaling is something that I did years ago but for some reason -I can not remember why -I stopped. I have picked it up again. I think it is an excellent thing to do. I think we should be mindful of the blessings (great or small) that we are thankful for and express them to others when they are part of it. To help instill this in my kiddos, we have "Grateful Sunday" once a month. We each write a "love" note to someone that we are grateful for. A seminary teacher, yw leader, friend, relative, teacher from school. etc... It's a great sunday activity. Try it.

Things I am grateful for today;

1. Really thoughtful friends who inquired where I was today. (I was at ward onferences the last two weeks and several friends called and texted wondering what the deal was)

2. Whole Wheat chocolate chip pancakes

3. Tomorrow my kids are home from school so we get to play.

4. A roaring fire after sunday dinner. Secretly, I kinds think I married a pyromaniac.

5. My sister. I love her and I love spending time with her like I got to do all day Friday.

6. Children who obey.

7. Reagan's laugh.

8. Christi, Teri, and Dianne. The 3 A-MAZ-ING women that I get the priviledge of working with in my calling. They teach me so much.

9. A dear friend who is coming home tomorrow after a lengthy, scary hospital stay.

10. Family scripture study.

meet one of my favorite mormons

2011-01-14T17:43:00.002-06:00

Here is the video of one of my favorite bloggers that I follow, Shawni Polthier. (See www.71toes.blogspot.com) Go here http://mormon.org/people/ and press play. I highly recommend her blog.

surfing in december, texas style

2011-01-09T21:04:00.004-06:00

Our plan was to drop the boys off and go shop the mall while they surfed but it was so entertaining to watch them that we stayed and watched (and laughed) for the whole hour. They had so much fun. The wipeouts were the best part. The first surfer is Tanner. The second one is his good buddy, Kade.

Oh! how I love him...

2010-12-29T17:29:00.001-06:00

Happy Birthday to my favorite 15 year old in the whole wide world.

Cheer 2010

2010-11-28T13:06:00.011-06:00

This past fall I coached a cheer squad made up of Reagan and McKinley's friends. Six 4th graders and Six 3rd graders. They were the sweetest, cutest, funnest bunch of girls and we had such a good time. It was a lot of work but I think it was a memory that my girls will remember forever. Here are some pics from our photo shoot last month and throughout football season.

McKinley, age 10

Reagan, age 8

Reagan and her BFF, Alexa

McKinley and her BFF, Susie

FHE idea: Living after the manner of happiness

2010-11-07T19:00:00.004-06:00

2 Nephi 5: 27 "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness."

Those were Nephi's words. Why? What were they doing that made them live happily?

If you go back and start with vs 6 you can see 7 reasons why. This is a great FHE activity. See if your family can find them.

(vs. 6) Wherefore, it came to pass that I, Nephi, did take my family, and also Zoram and his family, and Sam, mine elder brother and his family, and Jacob and Joseph, my younger brethren, and also my sisters, and all those who would go with me. And all those who would go with me were those who believed in the warnings and the revelations of God; wherefore, they did hearken unto my words. (they were together with their families)

7 And we did take our tents and whatsoever things were possible for us, and did journey in the wilderness for the space of many days. And after we had journeyed for the space of many days we did pitch our tents.

8 And my people would that we should call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore, we did call it Nephi.

9 And all those who were with me did take upon them to call themselves the people of Nephi.

10 And we did observe to keep the judgments, and the statutes, and the commandments of the Lord in all things, according to the law of Moses. (Keeping the commandments)

11 And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind. (they had gardens and animals)

12 And I, Nephi, had also brought the records which were engraven upon the plates of brass; and also the ball, or compass, which was prepared for my father by the hand of the Lord, according to that which is written. (scriptures)

13 And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.

14 And I, Nephi, did take the sword of Laban, and after the manner of it did make many swords, lest by any means the people who were now called Lamanites should come upon us and destroy us; for I knew their hatred towards me and my children and those who were called my people. (they were prepared just in case something bad came upon them)

15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.

16 And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine. (temple attendance)

17 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands. (hard working people)

I know that these things are what make me happy too. My family, the gospel, being prepared and having peace of mind, going to the temple, reading my scriptures, and being anxiously engaged in good things that bless my family, home, and those around me are what make us happy. I love Nephi. I love the scriptures. I love having access to the fullness of the gospel.

IF I Lived in utah this is where I would be on September 30th

2010-09-26T19:46:00.002-05:00

homecoming 2010

2010-09-26T19:13:00.003-05:00

makin' mums

2010-09-19T18:25:00.005-05:00

Lindsey and Sharon (the best aunts in the world) helped me put some beautiful homecoming mums together for the girls this weekend. We had a nice mum-making weekend while all the boys watched football and went out on the boat with the kids. It was so fun. My sister, Lindsey, really out-did herself on Jensen's mum.. Granted, jensen will have to go see the chiropractor first thing Saturday morning after wearing her mum all day....THAT SUCKER IS HEAVY but it was GREATLY appreciated.

Sharon did a great job on Reagan's mum.

The finished products

your welcome

2010-09-05T20:33:00.006-05:00

This is how I keep my sanity in the morning,
When it is time to pack up lunches...

We call them the

"lunch-on-the-go baskets"

It goes a little something like this:

(today, I am a little low on treats but you get the idea)

It doesn't matter if you are a 5 year old or a 10th grader, you can pack up your own healthy lunch any day of the week with these simple instructions. Because I have 5 school kids that prefer homemade lunches, it can get a little crazy.

It could help you maintain your sanity every morning too.

Your welcome :O)

purely for posterity

2010-09-01T19:05:00.005-05:00

First Day of School 2010-2011
August 23rd 2010

Jensen, 10th grade

McKinley, 4th grade

Reagan, 3rd Grade

Tanner, 9th Grade

Brady, kindergarten

a last, fond look

2010-08-22T19:02:00.006-05:00

Before we pack lunches, set out clothes, and set our alarms for an early morning wake-up time;

we would like to reflect back on summer 2010.

"let's get crackin'..."

Dinner at joe's Crab shack in San Antonio was a highlight.

Everyone liked the 4D movie at Fiesta TX too.

We spent countless hours by the pool.

Cheer camp was a blast.

Jensen and Tanner had the time of their lives at EFY in Provo on the BYU Campus. Seriously folks. That was the best 1,000 dollars we spent all year. It made a huge impact on both of them.

Fun with Scooby Doo!

Gotta love some roller coaster action.

Reagan and Brady won these capes at the midway in San Antonio.

We caught some shows at Sea World

more rides at Sea World...

All in all it was great fun.

The end.

just call me Martha

2010-08-16T23:41:00.005-05:00

Actually, I'm not a big Martha Stewart fan. So don't. I never really feel very good about myself after I watch her show. She has more creativity in her pinky fingernail than I do in my whole body but...I am pretty proud of these centerpieces I did for our elementary school's "Welcome Back" luncheon for the teachers and staff. Each gift bucket has a different theme. They range in price from 17 to 30 dollars.

The "teacher tool kit" has essential teacher supplies like expo markers,

a gradebook, dry erase pens, etc...

The "Date Night in a Bucket" has a blockbuster card, sodas, popcorn, and candy.
Lots and lots of candy.

"Bubble bath in a bucket" has ...yep, you guessed it - bubble bath as well as all the goodies for a great bubble bath. Exfoliater, bath salts, a long armed brush, and of course a magazine.

"Chocolate Fix in a bucket" has tons of chocolate including King Size hershey bars and five GODIVA treats. Yum. Perfect for the girl experiencing PMS. :O)

"Essential Movie kit" (not completed quite yet) has an AMC gift card, popcorn, treats, etc....

"Queen for a Day" (also not a finished product but you get the idea, right?) has massager, sleep mask, lotion, chocolate and a Gift Certificate for a Pedicure. Oh! And a crown.

"Sonic Smile Bucket" has a Sonic Gift Card and a fake milkshake and banana split. I got the containers from Sonic and then filled them with colored paper confetti. This was a MUST as we don't have very many fast food places in our neck of the woods. Apparantly Sonic is a big hit with the teachers, though because it is just around the corner.

We are going to draw teacher names and give them away on Friday. Until then, they will make cute centerpieces for our tables. Don't you think?

Pulmonary Embolisms, Allstars, and pulling teeth

2010-08-08T19:10:00.007-05:00

Wednesday Brent woke me up in the middle of the night complaining of tightness in his chest and saying he could not catch a deep breath. He felt prompted to get to the ER right away. Tanner stayed with the lil guys (Jensen was away at Girl's camp) while I took him to the hospital. Originally, he thought he was having a heart attack. Nope. It turned out it was a Pulmonary Embolism. And not just one but two. yikes! The nurse told him he was a lucky man because most Pulmonay Embolisms are found in autopsies. It was scary. So....he was in the hospital for five days. We stayed up there most days visiting him but in the midst of his napping, 4 Argyle children did manage to swim at the ALLSTAR swim meet.

Jensen, Tanner, and Reagan qualified. Reagan swam the backstroke in the individual 50. Both of Tanner's relay teams qualified in freestyle and medley relay. Jensen qualified in both of her individual events (back and free). McKinley ended up swimming at the last minute for another girl her age who didn't show up for a relay. They represented well. It felt weird to be there at the meet without Brent. He normally would never miss something like that. :O( I got a little teary eyed thinking about it, right there in the stands. A sweet friend came over and hugged me about that time. I am so grateful for all the support we felt from our family and ward family during that difficult week. I would not have made it through without you. One of the coolest moments during the whole thing was when Brent got a visit from his own Army of Helaman on Sunday after church. The Priests and Teachers (the class he works with at church) all came to administer the Sacrament to him. All the nurses on the floor were in awe as 17 clean cut teenage boys with white shirts and ties walked reverently down the hospital corrider. It was a sight to behold. Brent said they immediately commented "it must be the Mormons." :O)

During the week he was in the hospital, Reagan had a loose tooth that was just itchin' to be pulled. Um... I don't pull teeth. I am absolutely grossed out by the human mouth so....Dad did it bedside with an IV in his arm and all. There is nothing that man can't do.

Money DOES NOT grow on trees, however...

2010-07-03T10:43:00.005-05:00

There are a few things that I feel strongly about. This is one of them: teaching my children that MONEY is associated with WORk. Aside from the occasional birthday cash they receive from aunts and grandparents, I want them to leave my home understanding that in order to get money you have to EARN it through WORK. NO handouts for being a good kid.

There are many things they are asked to do throughout the week; ie make beds, take trash out, help with dishes, meal preparation, etc... They do not get paid for these chores as they are expected of them as "Citizens of the Household".

On saturday mornings it is a different story. We clean the house from top to bottom. We scrub every floor, vacuum every room, straighten every room, wash and fold every bit of laundry, swish and swipe every bathroom. We do this so that on Sunday we can enjoy a day of rest and not feel overwhelmed on Monday morning. We have done this for as long as I can remember having children.

This helps motivate them to want to get up and get started. It is a chore chart that has the designated amount I am willing to pay for that particular job tucked into the envelope. When you complete that job and have it approved by Mom or Dad, you get the cash. You also get to move on to another job for that money. Notice the smile on Reagan's face? She likes money. She also likes to shop, go to movies, buy web kinz, and collect silly bands. I do not pay for those things. EVER. She does.

I believe that it is IMPOSSIBLE for children (or adults, for that matter) to learn money management without having money to manage. They can not and should not have money to manage unless they closely associate work with the acquisition of money.

Here are my favorite books on the subject:

I recommend them HIGHLY.

Cooper Cowboys 2010

2010-06-23T11:37:00.010-05:00

And they're off!

Here are some pics from the first two meets of the season.

Pre-Father's Day Crabfest

2010-06-20T18:08:00.005-05:00

If your dad loves these:

Then there is no better place to take him than
Joe's Crab Shack

McKinley. Reagan, and Brady got free ice cream for doing the line dances with the wait staff. Tanner looks upset because he didn't get free ice cream, even though he danced.

But he did get this.

A picture with "Brittany", (a Joe's waitress) and in his own words "the prettiest girl I have ever seen in my life".

We decided it would be a new Argyle tradition: the day -before-Father's Day Crabfest.

A tribute

2010-06-09T20:51:00.003-05:00

James Oliver Wood

May 14, 1927-June 5, 2010

My last's last

2010-05-28T12:38:00.004-05:00

I was sitting out on the stairs in our front yard waiting with Brady (also known as "the caboose")for his ride to preschool to come pick him up. Then, it hit me.

Today is his last day of preschool.

When school starts back up in the fall, he's going to have his own little list of school supplies to buy. His own little backpack, lunchbox. He will be gone all day with everyone else.

I got a little ....verklempt.

I sent him on his merry way and then came back in the house and broke down. I am going to miss him so much! For the last fifteen years I have always had a child in the house all day, every day.

Starting August 23rd, I won't. My life is about to change. Drastically.

Secretly, I would "red shirt" him in a heartbeat if I thought he wasn't ready to go.

But he is.

It's just that I'm not.

I give it an A+

2010-05-27T18:50:00.006-05:00

The end of the school year always brings with it the question, "What do I give to the teacher that goes above and beyond the call of duty?" You know, the ones that communicate love every minute of each day that your child is in her care? The one who challenges her to new heights? I saw something like this in family fun magazine and made my own version. I am so happy with how it turned out.

It says, "Someone bloomed because of me".

Each of the little clip art pictures has a gift card attached to the back of it. Things like Sonic, blockbuster, half price books, movie theater, etc..

Here is to all of the Mrs. Thorntons of the world. Thanks for a great year.

me, being mushy

2010-05-23T21:37:00.003-05:00

It will be 21 years next month. I can't believe how fast it has flown.

I am so grateful. I am a lucky girl. He loves me. unconditionally. Even on the days when I am full of girly hormones. Here's how I know it, lately:

whole-wheat chocolate chip pancakes

cleaning his office when it is my turn to host book club

head massages when I have a migraine

LIFETIME instead of the basketball game

letting me pick the "date night" restaurant

and flowers - "just cuz".
(to name a few)

I love him. unconditionally. I am a lucky girl.

The Army of Helaman

2010-05-04T11:09:00.004-05:00

This past Stake conference experience was one I hope to never forget. It started about 6 months ago. I remember sitting in our Stake Primary Presidency meeting, telling my counselors and secretary that I really wanted to talk to the Stake Presidency about having a Senior Primary Choir. I could tell by the look on their faces that they thought I was a little crazy. 2 hours on the pulpit? Sitting reverently? Not being a distraction?

When I talked to the member of the Stake Presidency over us about it, his response was similar. He questioned their ability to sit still the entire time. But he said he would talk to the rest of the Stake Presidency about it.

A week later he told me, "let's do this" We are totally on board. I was so excited! For two days I poured through songs trying to prayerfully select which ones to have the children sing. 2 songs needed to be chosen for prelude and two musical numbers during the meeting.

We made some posters to advertise the choir and scheduled the building for four practices. We were led to a wonderful primary chorister (a guy!) to lead the choir. We talked to him and his wife (she plays piano) and set the plan in place.

Afer the first few practices, I started to question whether or not this was going to work. The children sounded great. The music was absolutely beautiful. BUT. Somme of them (especially the little boys) were EXTREMELY wiggly. I grew worried and anxious.
We asked the kids to pray over the next few weeks that the spirit would be with them and that they would be reverent. They did.

And they were. it was one of the neatest experiences I have ever had. They brought such a beautiful spirit to the entire conference. Several of the leaders on the stand were in tears throughout the meeting as the children sang.

A few hours after the conference, I got this email from the area authority, Elder johnathan Roberts.

"Sister Argyle; Your primary children today were spectacular. They set the tone of the Sabbath for all of us. That was such a tender experience. Will you please let everyone who assisted know what a blessing it was to all of us? ..... Today, all I heard was righteous leaders and children worshiping with music. It was the united voice of angels! Perfect!

Hurrah for the children of Israel…literally.
Jonathan Roberts

I am so grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who helped these sweet children bear testimony through song. I have no doubt in my mind that they were able to sit quietly, (not to mention refrain from going to the bathroom for two hours), sing beautifully, and help enhance the Spirit of the meeting because of Him.

Whenever we are engaged in the Lord's work, he will always make up the difference. Even when we think we might not be up to the task. I saw it first-hand this weekend.

Reagan's "to do" list

2010-04-25T16:36:00.005-05:00

I found this in Reagan's room.

sigh...oh, to be an 8 year old again....

her to do list looks like a lot more fun than mine!

celebrating another birthday with another piercing :O)

2010-03-23T18:27:00.008-05:00

before
after

Thursday we celebrated the day that our lovely Reagan -Becca joined our family exactly 8 years ago. I guess technically the celebration began on Wednesday night at Tin Star (because Jensen and Tanner were going to be away at the trek on Reagan's actual birthday.) There was a balloon artist there and he was AMAZING! He made this for the birthday girl. And see below for the cool batman he made for Brady.
On Thursday we celebrated with lunch at BJs. YUM-MY! What's a birthday without a celebratory PAZOOKIE. Here is the birthday girl proving how great they really are.

Reagan just HAD to go to the mall and unload some birthday cash. She and McKinley splurged on these Zhu zhu pets.

Then it was off to the local walmart to get her ears pierced. Can you tell she was a little nervous about it?

Then we stopped off at Baskin Robbins for some ice cream.

We actually couldn't fit all the festivities in to one day so we went to see "Dieay of a Wimpy Kid" with Alexa (one of Reagan' s BFFS) and Jane (one of Kiki's BFFs) on Friday.
All in all I think our birthday girl had a grand three day celebration. Of course, the real celebration comes in april when she gets baptized. She can hardly wait!

baby bunnies

2010-03-15T17:09:00.004-05:00

Mrs. Janette (Brady's preschool teacher) found a nest of 5 brand new baby bunnies in her back yard. Apparantly they found a nest of bunnies last year too but...uh hum...it didn't end very well. Something about a neighboring dog finding the nest too..you get the picture. Anyway, in order to avoid a repeat of last year, she called us. She remembered that McKinley was an experienced bunny owner. Next thing you know we are hand feeding these little guys every five hours.... (sigh) and I thought my "nursing" days were over.

This is how I feel lately...

2010-02-21T17:13:00.003-06:00

The Girl in a Whirl
By “Dr. Sue” aka Vickie Gunther

Look at me, look at me, look at me now!

You could do what I do if you only knew how.

I study the scriptures one hour each day;

I bake, I upholster, I scrub, and I pray.

I always keep all the commandments completely;

I speak to my little ones gently and sweetly.

I help in their classrooms!

I sew all they wear!

I drive them to practice!

I cut all their hair!

I memorize names of the General Authorities;

I focus on things to be done by priorities.

I play the piano! I bless with my talents!

My toilets all sparkle!

My checkbooks all balance!

Each week every child gets a one-on-one date;

I attend all my meetings (on time! Never late!)

I’m taking a class on the teachings of Paul,But that is not all!

Oh, no. That is not all.

I track my bad habits ’til each is abolished;

Our t-shirts are ironed!

My toenails are polished!

Our family home evenings are always delightful;

The lessons I give are both fun and insightful.

I do genealogy faithfully, too.

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

I rise each day early, refreshed and awake;

I know all the names of each youth in my stake!

I read to my children!

I help all my neighbors!

I bless the community, too, with my labors.

I exercise and I cook menus gourmet;

My visiting teaching is done the first day!

(I also go do it for someone who missed hers.

It’s the least I can do for my cherished ward sisters.)

I chart resolutions and check off each goal;

I seek each “lost lamb” on my Primary roll.

I can home-grown produce each summer and fall.

But that is not all! Oh, no. That is not all.

I write in my journal!

I sing in the choir!

Each day, I write “thank you’s” to those I admire.

My sons were all Eagles when they were fourteen!

My kids get straight A’s!

And their bedrooms are clean!

I have a home business to help make some money;

I always look beautifully groomed for my honey.

I go to the temple at least once a week;

I change the car’s tires!

I fix the sink’s leak!

I grind my own wheat and I bake all our bread;

I have all our meals planned out six months ahead.

I make sure I rotate our two-years’ supply;

My shopping for Christmas is done by July!

These things are not hard;

It’s good if you do them;

You can if you try!

Just set goals and pursue them!

It’s easy to do all the things that I do!

If you plan and work smart, you can do them all, too!

It’s easy!” she said…and then she dropped dead.

Can you relate? Not that I am doing all those things. Heck, Im barely doing any of them. But I have been in a "whirl" trying to juggle a few too many balls and wear too many hats all at once. I had heard this poem before but was reminded of it when I visited a Ward Conference today. The Bishop read it over the pulpit and gave some very wise counsel. I think it was for me.

I am going to chelax with my family now. no guilt. no pressure.

songbird

2010-02-07T16:03:00.004-06:00

Jensen sang at her first UIL competition yesterday. She sang with the madrigal choir and then again in the solo category. They got a "1" which is the highest possible score. She got a "1" on her solo too. I am so happy with her for trying something new. Way to go Jensen! We love you so much and are so proud of the girl that you are.

The Help

2010-01-25T16:02:00.001-06:00

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
loved this book LOVED IT! there are 34 chapters and about a dozen uses of profanity so beware to the squeaky clean readers. I loved it. Very well written. Loved the characters. Interesting premise. Never read anything like it before.

Listen to my book club girls: I am picking this next time it is my turn to host so please dont steal my thunder!!!

View all my reviews >>

Pink Panthers

2010-01-23T20:16:00.001-06:00

Just had to post this picture of three really cute "pink panthers".

14 years of fun a.k.a I LOVE THIS KID!!!!

2010-01-10T19:07:00.008-06:00

Ever since Tanner came on the scene we have been laughing. He cracks me up constantly and gets funnier with every year. I adore my son. Whoever the girl is that finally nabs him is dang lucky. He has such a great disposition and he knows how to do dishes and clean toilets to boot. Last night he celebrated his 14th birthday with a few of his buddies at the Mavs/ Jazz game. Happy birthday baby boy! Thanks for 14 fun filled years!

New Year's Eve Dance

2010-01-03T15:02:00.005-06:00

My little sister, Lindsey, came over Thursday night to help me get Jensen and her friends ready for the big NYE dance! We did hair and makeup for two straight hours but it was fun! Just look at these beautiful babes.

It was Tanner's very first Stake Dance. Just for the record, he said he danced 16 times. (His mom gave him a lecture before he left about the importance of asking girls to dance - I guess it worked!)

Future Farmer of America

2009-12-13T16:01:00.003-06:00

McKinley is our animal LOVER. Currently she is the steward of 3 hermit crabs, 2 frogs, and 1 very large dog. Add to the mix: 4 bunnies that she is taking care of for a Future Farmers of America project. On Jan 9th she picks the three best bunnies to take to the Collin County Fair to be judged. She is doing such a great job! Every day she feeds them, waters them, exercises them, brushes them, and "handles" them so that they will be socialized for the judges when they are evaluated. It makes it especially nice that so many of her friends from school and church like to come over and help with the care of the bunnies. BTW, anyone interested in adopting a bunny after Jan. 9th, call me. We have homes for two of them already. :O)

Jensen's New Moon Bday party

2009-11-22T16:05:00.007-06:00

How cool was it that New Moon came out around the same time that Jensen was celebrating a birthday? We HAD to have a NEW MOON celebration! We ate snacks ("bloody cupcakes" and type A, O, and B flavored drinks), did crafts (t shirts and necklaces), and played the twilight board game. After that it was off to Studio Movie Grill for the show and some dinner. Good times! :O)

talented women

2009-11-08T16:17:00.004-06:00

I love talented women. I love to see other women who excel in hobbies and skills. I am rarely jealous (because those of you who know me are aware that I don't have a competitive bone in my body). I love to see friends knitting works of art, decorating beautiful homes, writing eloquent poetry. I love to hear women who can sit down and play ANYTHING on the piano or sing a perfectly-pitched song.

I have none of those talents. I just appreciate seeing it in others.

This is one of the most talented people I know of. I say "know of" because I don't know her personally. I have just followed her blog for a few years now. She is an amazing photographer and writes the most hillarious posts. She is also a a FABULOUS cook. I have tried several of her recipes and they have all been divine! (Not so healthy or low in fat, mind you, but really yummy.)

She finally got talked into doing a cookbook. It is out now. Here it is.

She is also coming to Big D for a book tour on Dec. 1st at 7pm to Borders. I hope to make it. If you are looking for a great gift idea for someone who has everything - this migh tbe just the thing you are looking for.

Penance for being a negligent mom :O)

2009-11-01T13:54:00.007-06:00

I was truly traumatized at the end of last year when I saw a picture of McKinley's class at the sock hop. She was the ONE AND ONLY GIRL NOT decked out in sock hop attire! I knew they were having a sock hop, they had advertised it heavily. But I thought it was one of those things like "pajama day" or "wear your favorite team jersey day" that was completely optional - take it or leave it. Little did I know that at our elementary school - sock hop is HUGE. Everyone goes all out for it! I felt so bad! (She actually told me that they year before she wasn't even allowed to be in the picture because she wasn't dressed in 50's attire!) Needless to say, I vowed to not let my little girls go another year UNsock-hop like. :O) Knowing that it came amidst a very busy time for me (planning Stake 11 year old campout, Stake Daddy Daughter Dance, hosting book club) I atleast had the forethought to enlist the help of a seamstress friend. We met her on a saturday and she let the girls pick out the color of their skirts. Didn't she do a great job?

Reagan and her friend, Alexa, at lunch on sock hop day
Thank you Sarah Rager, seamstress extraordinaire who made our poodle skirts!

They were so excited! My heart melted when Reagan gave me a HUGE hug and said "mom, thanks for getting us poodle skirts this year".

Sock Hop 2009

Miss America, Miss USA, and the Tracy from The Biggest Loser

2009-10-25T19:18:00.004-05:00

Saturday we went to Cooper's Fall Festival. It was a hoot. Reagan and McKinley won most original costume. They went as Miss USA and Miss America. the judge was Tracy from the Biggest Loser. (Tracy works out at my gym) I don't know if you watch that show but she is the one that is on the purple team and everyone hates her because she keeps winning all the challenges. Anyway, here are the two winners and the big loser. She HAS lost alot, BTW. She looks great!

Here is a picture of Brady as a cowboy (on his horse) too.

He didn't win the costume contest in his age group but I have to admit that the competition was pretty rough! The following day he won the contest at my grandparent's assissted living center. They had a TON of kids in costumes and I thought for sure there was not way he would beat out some of the other kids but he went up to the judge and "shot" her with his "guns" so I think he won by intimidation. :O)

Choose This Day

2009-10-18T20:18:00.001-05:00

Choose This Day

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Beautiful

2009-10-04T20:42:00.003-05:00

I had an "aha" moment this past week. I was frustrated with Jensen about something that , now, seems REALLY trivial. I heard this song by Cherie Call and I instantly thought of her. She completely embodies the sentiment in this song. Jensen doesn't care about makeup, trendy hairstyles, or "it" clothes. She is the "peacemaker" in our home and is constantly looking for ways to help me around the house. She NEVER complains. I am grateful to Heavenly Father who I believe answered my prayer one day this week by reminding me what a beautiful young lady she is and what truly makes us beautiful.

Look at all the signs, Look at all the shows

All the glamorous people who claim to know

What perfection is and what makes beauty stay

But when all the styles go out and the labels fade away

It's what you give that makes you beautiful

It's how you live that makes your dreams come true

Keep your faith in this world,

And let the light of the Lord shine through

That's what makes you beautiful

Nothing burns as bright, nothing shimmers so

As the smile of a friend when hope is running low

And how your hand feels warm when you dry a tear

Love is still in fashion at the end of every year

It's what you give that makes you beautiful

It's how you live that makes your dreams come true
Keep your faith in this world,
And let the light of the Lord shine through
That's what makes you beautiful

Even roses fade away in the snow
But the beauty in your heart can always grow

repeat Chorus