Christmas Poems

Lincoln and Rachel had a language arts assignment to write a poem using the letters
C-H-R-I-S-T-M-A-S.

Rachel did a lovely job:

Cherished family, joined together.

Hot Chocolate warms my spirit.

Rows of shimmering lights.

Isicles glimmering in the sun light.

Snow glistening on the roof top.

Time for loving.

"Merry Christmas", my neighbors wish.

A shiny ornament hanging on my tree.

Special time to share.

"How is your poem coming along?" I asked Linc as we shoveled snow.

"Great!" He smiled. "It's about you." "I'll finish it tomorrow and bring it home".

A poem dedicated to me? I said to myself. This is wonderful!

The next day, my eagerly awaited poem was hand delivered with pride.

I excitedly read it aloud.

Coke.

Really describes Mom, she's A

Holic!

Isn't it strange?

Two, too

Many,

Addicting,

Sweet drinks gone!

Wow Linc....

thanks...

We Were Fed

Last night we had a special family experience. It was our night to volunteer at the Food Bank as part of our 25 days of service.

We were asked to make deliveries to people who are unable to leave their homes. We split into two teams, Lincoln went with me and Mark took Rachel. We were each assigned four people to deliver to.

We assembled boxes of cheese, yogurt, juice, canned goods, and a frozen turkey breast. We also took non food items like a roll of gift wrap and a container of laundry soap.

We packed up our cars and Lincoln and I headed out to our first stop in Rose Park. The Food Bank was completely out of milk so we stopped at 7 Eleven to pick up four gallons. As we walked in, Linc noticed a big sign on the door that said, "Today Only Manager's Special: Milk 2 for 5.00".

We smiled at each other and commented about our good luck.

A few minutes later we arrived at Viola's home. Perhaps the tiniest house I have ever seen. Before we got out of the car, Lincoln looked at me and said, "Mom, I think this is going to make me feel really good."

Viola looked to be well into her eighties. She had bright red hair and a New York accent. She gave us a warm welcome and invited us into her humble little house.

Although the house was tidy, everything inside it was very old. The stove was rusted out in sections and she said that it no longer worked, "but" she said, pointing at the microwave, "that thing works great!"

She had a mini Christmas tree sitting on her windowsill, it reminded me of Charlie Brown's.

She had no family, no pictures of grandchildren, no one to talk to except her cat.

"Honey" she said to me "I need you to read some things for me."

At first I thought that she had misplaced her glasses but then I realized that she was illiterate. She had lived her entire life unable to read.

We went through her mail and the instructions on some of the food. I read her the information on her new prescription card and Linc did a few small tasks that she wanted done.

She thanked us over and over. As we were Leaving, she grabbed Lincoln and gave him a big kiss on the cheek.

When we got to the car, tears filled our eyes and love filled our hearts.

We continued with our other deliveries. The humility and gratitude of the recipients was touching. We kept checking in with Mark and Rach and they were having the same kinds of experiences.

It took us about three hours start to finish, then we met up with Mark and Rachel for a donut run. When we walked into the warmth of our own home, it felt a little different to us. We looked at our pantry and fridge with new eyes. We hugged each other and talked about how grateful we are to have all of our needs met.

We realized that in our effort to help feed the hungry, we were the ones fed. We gained more than we gave. We were captured by the true spirit of Christmas. We committed to make this a regular family activity.

The Food Bank has a great need for contributions and volunteers. If you have a few hours to spare, gather the family and make a few deliveries. Take it from me, you will be glad you did!

If you would like to help and you live near the Salt Lake area, you can contact Jenn @ 887-1266 or 978-2452.

Merry Christmas.

Thanks Roni, Jana & Co.

Last night was one of our favorite nights of the Christmas season.
We received this little delivery:





These delicacies are hand made by Roni, Jana & Company. They not only look professional, they are absolutely melt in your mouth,

out of this world,

knock your socks off,

to die for delicious.

Lincoln proposed that we choose our first chocolate in an orderly fashion, oldest to youngest.

That plan worked for me since I am older than Mark by four months.
Slightly suspicious in that Lincoln happens to be older than Rachel by two minutes.


Samantha didn't seem to mind going last...

Thanks for your hard work, Roni, Jana & Co.

We will enjoy every last bite!

Twelve Dates Of Christmas

What to get the husband for Christmas?
That is the question that has been swirling through my head for the past two weeks.

Mark loves gadgets and golf.
I thought about a new ipod but he said the old one works fine.
A Kindle would be fun but they are back ordered until February.
A new Garmin would be good but it just didn't seem like the right gift.

I moved on to the golf idea. But then I remembered Mark saying once that if there are two things in life that a guy should pick out for himself, they are golf clubs and tv's.

Hmmmm.Sigh.Groan.Tap Fingers.
What to do?

Completely stumped, I plopped down on the couch to spend a little time with my good friend, Oprah. I can usually count on her for some thought provoking ideas. The topic for that day was Christmas ideas that don't cost a lot.

A young couple talked about how they celebrate the "Twelve Dates of Christmas". They think of twelve things to do together, one per day. The idea is giving each other the gift of time.

I loved it!

So the past few days I have been busy plotting and planning. Some ideas don't cost anything, others have gifts attached. Some "dates" include the kids, others are for just the two of us.

I typed up each date then I went to the dollar store and bought pretty bags, cards and Christmas boxes to put them in. I added some sparkly ribbons and bows and put them under the tree. Mark gets to open one each day.

Here are our twelve dates:

1st date of Christmas: Everything we will need for a cozy night of Christmas movie watching. (pajama bottoms, warm tee shirt, new slippers, a big bowl for popcorn and a bottle of rootbeer)

2nd date: Dinner and bowling at Fat Cats for family night.

3rd date: A late night walk in the park. (New running shoes, warm socks, hat, gloves and scarf)
(Mugs and hot chocolate for when we get back)

4th date: I will drive down to his office and take him to lunch.

5th date: A Family drive to see the Christmas lights at Thanksgiving Point, we'll stop for a treat on the way home.

6th date: Your feet, my treat. (Items to give him a great massage)

7th date: An afternoon date. (A gift card for lunch and movie tickets)

8th date: Family game night. (A couple of new games and treats)

9th date: Dinner and family night at Temple Square. (A gift card for dinner and some thermals to wear outside)

10th date: This one involves a little romance so I'll keep it private. (wink,wink)

11th date: Christmas Eve... kids asleep...us curled up in front of the Christmas tree.

12th date: This gift is so top secret that I can't post at this time for fear that kids might stumble upon it. Let's just say it involves some place warm and sunny.

I also attached little love notes to each gift because sometimes those are the things that matter most.

I can't wait for Sunday.

Merry Christmas!

Sami the Red Nosed Reindeer

Sami, the red nosed reindeer, took a very nasty fall.

And if you would have seen it,

it probably would have made you bawl.

Wouldn't you know it, just in time for Christmas pictures.

....Aahhh, life with a one year old.

Gifts For Him

December is here!

It is a time to cherish family, express love to friends, make memories, honor traditions and most importantly, it is a time to remember the birth of a tiny baby. The Savior of the world.

I am pretty good at making memories with family and expressing gratitude for my friends and neighbors. I snap lots of pictures to preserve special moments and we do traditional things like making gingerbread houses and going to see the lights at Temple Square.

Yep, I do ok in those areas.

What I am not so great at is the most important part of the season, remembering the Savior.

Many Christmas nights I have felt a little twinge of disappointment in myself. I look around at all the gifts, the scraps of wrapping paper, remnants of a feast devoured earlier and I wonder....

what did I give Him?

Oh, we participate in Sub for Santa and other charitable causes and those things are good. But it seems that there should be something more, something deeper.

This Christmas I determined to do better. A couple of weeks ago I called a family meeting. I told everyone to come with six ideas for acts of service.

We gathered together and shared our ideas. We compiled a list and Mark made a calendar entitled 25 Days of Service. Some ideas are simple and don't cost anything like:

Say hi and smile all day. Look for kids who need a friend at recess.

Write thank you notes to primary teachers.

Other things on our list include buy pet supplies and deliver them to the Humane Society, take grandparents out to breakfast read and study about the life of Jesus.

My favorite is "Love at Home Mondays". We each take a person in the family to do little acts of kindness for all day. We rotate each week. Last week flowers were given, beds were secretly made, love notes were posted around the house.

We also have a top secret project that we are working on to be delivered Christmas Eve.

We started on December 1 and now we are a week in. It has been a sweet experience. While none of our ideas are grand or elaborate, small efforts have turned into a big dose of Christmas spirit. We find ourselves remembering Him more and thinking about ourselves less.

I am so very grateful for a child born in the humblest of circumstances. I can never thank him enough for His example, His life, His love. I want to know Him better. I want to do better.

If you have additional ideas that help put the Christ in Christmas, please share.

May this season be full of love, for Him.

Gratitude In Trials

Today I am feeling thankful. Not just the "casual thankful" feeling associated with the holiday. This is something deeper, more meaningful.

2008 hasn't been our easiest year. In April, Mark was told that after 17 years with the same company, he would lose his job in June. It was the type of blow that we didn't see coming. That kind of news has the ability to rob you of sleeping, eating and even breathing at moments.

Funny how trials are often our best teachers. It is in the midst of them that you discover who you really are and what you're made of. We spent the summer figuring that out. We leaned on each other more during that time than any other.

We made a commitment to stay optimistic. When I was down, he pulled me up. When he was down, I did the same. We stayed up late talking many nights. We took long walks. We set detailed goals. Our prayers as a couple became more sincere. We spent a lot of time in the Temple.

Most of all, we determined to be grateful. Now that I look back, I can see that gratitude is what got us through. We counted our many blessings and named them one by one just like the hymn says.

We looked at our three joys and felt so grateful that they are happy and healthy. An abundance of happiness and peace flooded over us.

We had some very good friends that we confided in and leaned on. They are like siblings to us now.

We felt grateful that we had followed the counsel of our church leaders to live within our means, avoid debt and save for a rainy day. This brought great comfort to us.

As the days turned to weeks and then months we tried to stay true to our promise of remaining positive.

We actually found ourselves being thankful for this trial and the lessons it was teaching us.

In August, Mark accepted another position with the same company. It has turned out to be a much better job than the one he left. They also gave him a substantial increase in pay which will help in achieving some of the goals we have set.

I am happy for the good job and the extra income but I am most thankful for the deeper lessons that came to us this year.

Lessons in faith, patience and empathy. Things that I wouldn't have learned otherwise, things that will stay with me and make me better.

Cheap Therapy Part 2

To the anonymous angel who left this on my door step.......

Thank you.

Cheap Therapy

Suppose you are a late thirty-something mother of three.

You spend most of your time taking care of the house, the kids, the husband.

You're pretty good about making sure everyone gets to their various lessons, practices and such. You mostly clean up messes, cook meals, do laundry and run children around town cheerfully and without complaint.

You are responsible for dropping off and picking up your husband's dry cleaning. Most of the time you even remember to visit redhanger.com for the monthly coupon.

It doesn't bother you that you don't even own clothes that should be professionally cleaned. Your wardrobe consists mainly of tee shirts, jeans and a semi-cool pair of brown Sketchers and you're ok with that, you really are.

Having a baby in the family has altered your previous life style. You don't get to the movie theater very often, so when you do go, it is kind of a big deal.

You plan for it, look forward to it, hey you might even wear something non-denim and put on a necklace for the occasion.

You swallow the eight bucks-per person- it costs to get in. You can even deal with the additional 6.00 for popcorn and 4.00 for a soda. When it comes to throwing down another 3.00 for a box of Whoppers, you happily oblige.

You see, Whoppers are the real reason you came. Oh sure you could have picked up a box of Whoppers from the dollar store, turned on the tv and camped out on your couch for two hours but everyone knows there is something morally wrong with that picture.

Because you arranged for a sitter, wore your khakis and a necklace, paid 30.00 to get in and because you absolutely deserve it, you take your 3,045 calorie treasure and excitedly find your seat.

You strategically place the Whopper box under the arm furthest from your husband. You hope he is so busy with popcorn that he forgets all about those little round balls of malted bliss.

During the previews you quietly open your precious box, your mouth watering in anticipation. Your personal rule is to grab two at a time. You see, Whoppers should not be chewed. They should always be savored, every serious Whopper connoisseur knows that.

But when you reach into the box, something alarming happens! The box is only about 1/2 full. You gasp, you shriek, it's all you can do to remain seated.

The movie starts, but there is no joy in it for you. Your consumer confidence in the Hersheys Company has been shaken. Why use such a big box only to fill it 1/2 full? It should be illegal. You think about asking for a refund or writing a letter of complaint. Maybe you should file a law suit, that would show 'em!

Your 1/2 box of Whoppers lasts about 1/2 of the movie. You try, but you can't help being irritated. It bothers you so much that you decide to write a blog about it.

You type your frustrations.
You take a deep breath.
You feel better.

Your friends read about your woes, they realize you are nuttier than they thought. They accept you for the Whopper-oholic that you are. All is right with the world once again.

Cheap therapy... works for me.

Book Worm Wannabe

I'm embarrassed to admit the following:

I am not a reader.

You know the Twilight books? I just heard about them a couple of months ago.

Harry Potter? Never got past #3.

The Work and the Glory? Volume one is sitting on the shelf under a pile of dust.


I don't know why I have never been one to read a lot because I really do love getting lost in a good book.

Maybe because I feel guilty when I sit around reading.

The old angel on one shoulder, devil on the other shoulder routine.
Angel: "You really should be folding laundry..."

Devil: "I will right after this chapter..."

Angel: "Get up and make your children some lunch..."

Devil: "They'll live.."

It happens every time.
I get hooked on the book and other things get neglected.
I can't be trusted to read responsibly.

Several weeks ago I turned over a new leaf, took up responsible reading.
Limiting it to free time only. I have managed to finish three books with the time I spend waiting in the car or at night after everyone is tucked in bed.

Reading has been fun and for the most part, guilt free.

Now I am in need of book suggestions. I know that many of you are avid readers and I want to be like you. Please send any recommendations my way, I'm open to most anything.

Thank you for your help and happy page turning.

Sincerely yours,
Kimberly, the book-worm wannabee.

Help Wanted

Help Wanted:

Someone to break into my house and steal the 20 or so pounds of Halloween candy that my twins collected.

Please come between the hours of 8:00 am - 3:00 pm as they are busy at school.

If you happen by when I'm home, don't worry you will not be reported to authorities.

On the contrary, you will probably receive a personal thank you note from my hips, thighs and the flabby area underneath my arms.

Thank you.

The American Dream

We have a new President!

No matter who got your vote yesterday, you had to be moved by the scenes across the country last night as people celebrated Barack Obama's victory.

History was made. People of all colors united. A feeling of optimism swept through cities everywhere.

My mom grew up in a small town in North Carolina. She remembers the black kids having to use different drinking fountains, different doors, sit in designated spots in the lunchroom.

We have come a long way in the last forty or so years.

The message sent to children last night is, anything is possible.

No excuses.
This truly is the land of opportunity.
Dream, work hard and you can achieve.

Tears of Sadness, Tears of Joy

Nineteen months ago.....

Last weekend.....

Welcome home Grandma & Grandpa!

Walmart on Halloween

Today I made a trip to a Walmart. It is one of my least favorite places to visit.
Walmart on a regular afternoon is not fun. Walmart on Halloween is a nightmare.

I realize there are no written rules about how to push a grocery cart but there should be.
Kids loaded up on too much candy were darting every which way.
Trying to navigate my way to the candy aisle took some guts, actually entering the candy aisle was down right scary.

By the time I found the twenty two items I had come for (thus disqualifying me from the express lane) I was mildly annoyed and more than ready to leave.

When I got in line the people in front of me had already put their things on the belt. They didn't have much so I thought it would go quickly.

I waited and waited.

After a few minutes the dad turned to me and said, "I'm very sorry this is taking so long, we just qualified for WIC today and this is our first time doing this."

His wife also apologized.
Their two little children sat there quietly as they sorted out the paperwork.

A sense of compassion and gratitude came over me.
I felt for them. These are hard times for many people. How humbling it must be to have to ask for help with food.

I also felt so grateful that we have plenty for our needs. I know I need to be much more generous with the things I have been given and I made a commitment right then to do better.

A little family, just trying to get by. Humility, patience, love for their kids.
Those are the things that came to my mind as I watched them today.

It was a good reminder to keep things in their proper perspective.
To remember to be kind, you never know the struggles that others may be experiencing. It made me wish I had been a little nicer and more patient back on the candy aisle.

I'm thankful for a little life lesson that came from visiting Walmart on Halloween.

Life Is Good

You can tell that things are going along pretty well when...

Your ten year old daughter wakes up singing and humming, falls asleep singing and humming and can often be heard singing and humming in the hours in between.

Your ten year old son has decided on his own that brushing teeth is a good thing! You pat yourself on the back when he wakes up out of a sound sleep and yells down to you that he forgot to brush. You can hardly beat the thrill of hearing him run to the bathroom, the water turn on, the sweet sound of his electric toothbrush doing its job.

Your one year old can now use the word "up" when she wants to be held. The number of times she pulls on your leg while crying or grunting is beginning to decrease.

You look at your calendar and realize that you have lunch with a new friend, a girls' night out with your life long BFFs and a dinner date with some of your favorite neighborhood friends all in the same week!

This is the view you get from your kitchen window...

You tuck yourself in bed with a good book at 9:00. Your husband skips Sports Center and joins you.

You curl up next to him,
close your eyes
and think of all the ways that ....

life is good.

That's What Sisters Are For

I am lucky to have four sisters, they are treasures to me.

One of my big regrets in life is that I wasn't nicer to them when we were young.

If I could turn back time, I would be different. I would let them wear my clothes, I would share my make-up, I would spend more weekends hanging out with them, I wouldn't complain about sharing a room, I would tell them how much I love them and thank them for their friendship.

Now that we are grown I recognize that I couldn't get by without them.

Our favorite missionaries (Mark's mom & dad) are coming home on November 1. I wanted to give their house a good, deep cleaning. After a few days of going at it on my own I realized it was a bigger job than I thought.

I sent out a quick email to my sisters. Within a couple of hours we had a date and time organized. Everyone showed up in pony tails and work clothes and we got busy....

Showers, toilets and mirrors were scrubbed spotless.

Blinds, windows and baseboards were tackled.

The place was dusted, wiped down and vacuumed top to bottom.

Baby Sister's husband even came to clean the things we couldn't reach.

My heart was touched as I watched my sisters happily working.

"That's what sisters are for" is what they said as they left.

Yep, I said to myself with a lump in my throat...

That's what sisters are for.

Go Sox

This is the scene at my house tonight....

Mark and the twins, decked out in their Red Sox duds, the mood serious, almost somber.

The ticket to the World Series is on the line and the Sox are down by two runs, bases loaded, top of the eighth.

Tensions are high, stomachs are knotted, any moment one of the three may break into tears.

"Would it really be so bad if they lost?" I asked innocently.
"Tampa Bay has never won a World Series, why not give them a chance?"

I was immediately scolded for such evil thoughts.

"MOM, how could you say that?" Lincoln scowled.

"How could you even THINK it?" Rachel asked in disbelief.

"Have you lost your mind?" Was Mark's reply.

Only one thing to say to all of that...
ummm, go sox....

Lessons In Growing

You know how we all pray for opportunities to learn, to grow, to be better?

I'm not talking about the small things that people try to work on, like being a more courteous driver or returning library books on time. I am talking about those bigger tests in life that come your way every once in a while.

I got one of those unique privileges for character improvement today.

This morning we realized that Mark's golf clubs have been stolen.
It was a very serious blow.

Golf clubs are personal things to guys, almost like family. I wouldn't be surprised if he has secretly issued each one its own name.

Some of the highest highs and some of the lowest lows have been felt on the golf course. Mark and his clubs have really been through a lot together.

Not to mention the fact that it has taken him a few Father's Days and birthdays to accumulate all that gear. About $1,200.00 worth of stuff gone, vanished, disappeared without a trace.

So what do you do at a time like this?
Anger was my first reaction. I can't stand a thief.

"Get a Job!" "Don't you know where people who steal go?"
is what I grumbled to the person responsible for this injustice.

Then the thought occurred to me that maybe that person needed money to make his rent or feed his family.

Either way, it doesn't really matter.

What matters is how we respond.
One of those darn opportunities for growth was starting to emerge.

"Pray for the person" is what kept coming to my mind.
"NO" I snapped back at myself.
"Pray"
"No"

Finally around lunchtime I was completely annoyed with the mental conversation going on in my head. The kids and I sat down to eat our leftovers. I offered to say the prayer.

Before I knew it, I was thanking God for blessing us with so much. I asked Him to help us to forgive the guy who took dad's clubs and to bless that man.

As I said those words I felt the agitation leave me. It was gone, vanished, disappeared without a trace- just like the clubs.

But this time, something good came to replace the thing that was gone...
peace.

Lincoln, the Wall St. Wannabe

A couple of weeks ago Mark gave Lincoln a simple lesson about the stock market. He showed him a few online tools to track the performance of various companies.

Since then, Linc has been enthralled by the whole idea of making money through investments.

He's been watching the ups and downs of the market like a hawk.

He understands symbols, quotes, how to diversify your portfolio, the international market and most of all, he understands that this a good time to buy.

Trust me when I say, he has done his homework on this.

After much research and effort, Lincoln has come up with two very hot stock tips and since you are my friends I am going to share them with you....

Put some money in
Dollar Tree and Family Dollar.

That's right, dollar stores are making money. Who knew?

According to Lincoln, over the past 26 weeks,
Dollar Tree is up 18.18%
Family Dollar is up 29.31%

While many other companies have taken a sharp nose dive,
the dollar stores are alive and well.

So there you have it, courtesy of a ten year old.
Who knows maybe maybe we'll see this kid on Wall Street someday.
Happy investing!

Patience Is.......

Patience is getting up early on a Saturday morning, to sit in the bitter cold, while your son plays a double header.

Patience is coming home to an afternoon of football. Keeping up with BYU and Utah including the post game shows on the radio. PS, who are these guys that call in? Get a hobby, fellas.

Patience is spending the evening watching the Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay. Your son and husband coaching from 2,000 miles away, your daughter cheering.

Most of all, patience is biting your tongue when not one item has been crossed of the "to do" list that you thoughtfully prepared for your husband.

Patience is giving him some credit for making a trip to Lowes and buying the large hook that he needs to remove the latest object that your one year old has flushed down the toilet.

Patience is going to bed with hopes that next Saturday you will not need
SO. MUCH. PATIENCE.

Dear Samantha Sunshine,

Dear Samantha Sunshine,

Today you are one.
I am very afraid that if I blink you will be twenty one.

Today you are new at walking, talking.
The world is full of discovery, curiosity and adventure.

Today you laugh and smile effortlessly, cares and worries are so far away.

Today your most joyful moments will be the twins arriving home from school and Daddy coming home from work, splashing around in the tub, snuggling with me after your nap.

Today you will follow right behind me. You will want to do everything that I am doing, I'll kneel down once in a while so that I can better understand your view of life.

Today I will close my eyes as I hold you tight. I will kiss your cheeks. I will tickle your toes.

I know this time is precious, fleeting. You won't always be a baby. We will never have these exact moments again.

I'll long for a way to freeze time and do it all again, I'll probably cry a little because I can't.

So for the next twenty or so years I will live in the moment. I will be grateful and enjoy each day as it comes.....

Most of all, I will try very hard not to blink.

Signs that a One Year Old May Be At Large In Your House

1. Mysterious items are being flushed down your toilets, your husband is getting slightly irritated at having to plunge and fish out said items.

2. The drawer with the ziplock bags cannot seem to stay closed.

3. Remote controls are found in top secret locations.

4. Your friends must stop by or email you because your phones are often off their hooks.

5. At the end of a long day, while running a relaxing bath, you notice remnants of oatmeal, spaghetti, mashed potatoes and peaches glued to the inside of your tub.

6. Cereal boxes are removed form the garbage and scavenged for remaining bits of cereal.

7. You have nearly given up trying to keep windows clean. Tiny fingerprints are your new window coverings.

8. You find yourself running around like a wild woman between the hours of 10:00 am - noon and 2:00 - 4:00 pm. You know that those are the only hours in the day that you will be able to get anything done.

9. You get more help than you really need doing the dishes.

9. The sound of little feet toddling behind you makes your heart melt. You discover your cheeks are sore from smiling.

10. You are greeted by a friendly "HI!" about a dozen times a day.

11. You can't get enough cuddles and kisses. When new words like ah oh, mine and cup are said, it is an exciting moment.

12. You find yourself tired at the end of the day. You can't wait to climb into bed, but not before humbly thanking the Lord for all the sweetness that has come to your life by having a one year old at large.

First Crush, First Dance

Dads and Daughters

I have a question....
What is the deal with daughters and their complete devotion to their dads?

Since the very day that Rachel was born she has been a daddy's girl.

When the twins were four months old Mark had to spend the week in Boston on a business trip. We dropped him off at the airport and the moment he got out of the car she started to cry.

The crying continued on and on, day after day.

I took her to the doctor. No ear infection, no fever, nothing wrong.
The crying continued. By day three Lincoln and I were both on the edge.

My neighbor came over and took the babies to her house one afternoon so that I could sleep. It was pretty much the longest week of my life.

Finally it was time to pick up Mark from the airport. Rachel screamed all the way there. Exhausted and exasperated I pulled up to the curb to help Mark load his bags.

He peeked inside the car. The moment Rachel saw him, the crying ceased. Instantly, immediately- no more crying.

Ten years later nothing has really changed. She cries when he goes out of town, she will stay awake waiting for him if he has a late night at church or work. He probably has enough love notes and pictures to fill a trunk.

Just about every day she tells him how handsome he is. She is fiercely protective of him. Don't even try to correct him, even if you say it in a friendly way, she will rush to his defense. Mark just smiles and gives me a wink.

She makes sure that her dad is always taken care of. She is in love with him. She truly, completely, whole heartedly adores him and I can't really blame her.

When we found out that we were expecting Samantha, Mark confessed that he would like another daughter. He cheered when we knew a little girl was on the way.

"Not all daughters are like Rachel", I warned.
"This type of devotion is rare".

Samantha is nearing one year old and guess what?

She cries when Mark leaves. During the day she crawls over to the garage door and bangs on it saying "Da-eee, Da-eee". She cuddles him, kisses him and gives him loves.

I see it, I know what's coming.
Rachel Jr, that's what.

My best friend Kirsten reassures me that her daughter is the same way. I've seen my friend Julie's daughters with their dad.

Mark is quick to remind me that me and my four sisters think that our dad is the smartest man on earth. Definitely smarter than our five husbands combined.

"That's different" I argue. "Our dad really is that smart!"

Apparently, this is not new or unique.

Don't get me wrong, I am not really complaining.
Just a simple question......

What is it with daughters and their dads?

Conversations With My Ten Year Old Daughter

Yesterday, after school....

Rach: Mom, I think someone is going to ask me to go out with him.

Me: Choke, gasp. WHAT? You mean like a boy?

Rach: Yes, Mom. (roll eyes, shake head slightly)

Me: WHO??

Rach: Jacob. (name has been changed to protect the not so innocent)

Me: Jacob? I thought he liked Daniella.

Rach: He did last week, but they broke up.

Me: (Holding back what I would like to say and instead saying)
Hmmmm what are you going to say to Jacob?

Rach: Mommmmm of course I am going to tell him, Thank you for asking, but I can't date until I am sixteen.

Me: You mean six-ty.

Writings By Rachel

For our primary program at church, Rachel was asked to share some things that she has learned by watching her grandparents serve a mission.

She stayed up late Saturday night writing this sweet poem:

I Love My Grandma & Grandpa

When I see the photos, I think of lovingness,
The great example set for me to always do my best.

Grandma and Grandpa do that, I always count on them,
to follow in their footsteps and think of Christ again.

Now they're on a mission, doing great things there.
They are a little home sick but being in great care.

They've helped to save the babies, they've helped the blind to see.
Clean water for the moms and dads and kids like you and me.

They love the people of Africa, life's lessons they've learned there.
How to work and how to love, Christ's message they did share.

They'll be home in November, they're ready to come home.
We'll throw a celebration for their hard working zone.

Rachel, age 10
September 14, 2008

17 Years, 17 Things I've Learned

After seventeen happily married years, I've learned a few things that I would like to pass on to those newlyweds just starting out:

1. A tiny apartment is a very good thing.

2. It's ok to be broke when you are blissfully in love.

3.Start out with a double bed. You will quickly learn how to sleep curled up in each other's arms. Seventeen years later you will still sleep that way.

4. Don't get your feelings hurt if he doesn't like what you cooked. Most of the time he will eat it anyway and he will appreciate your efforts.

5. When you build your first home, make sure they frame it around the 4th of July. This will allow you to climb up on to the second floor and watch the fireworks. You will always remember that moment.

6. If you decide to drive all night to Las Vegas, PLEASE stop in St. George for gas. Running out of gas at 2:00 am in the middle of the desert is not a great idea.

7. Wait a little while before you have kids. Enjoy each other.

8. When the nurse calls to say that the pregnancy test is positive, sit down on the kitchen floor and cry tears of joy together.

9. Get a dog. Preferably a black pit bull.

10. Read scriptures and pray together each and every day. Something will feel different if you miss, so make it a priority.

11. When you get frustrated, do not raise your voice or say anything unkind. Learn how to work things out without being hurtful.

12. If you happen to marry a "saver" type, just go along with it. The day will come when you will be glad he is that way.

13. Forgive the fact that you will be picking up his socks every day for the rest of your life. He in turn will forgive you for backing his car into a pole, throwing out his favorite basketball shoes and turning his white clothes pink on occasion.

14. Learn to like basketball, baseball and golf. It is ok to draw the line when it comes to football.

15. Kiss and hug him in front of the kids. Tell them how great their dad is.

16. Support him in the things he likes to do, especially golfing with his buddies. He will make sure you get regular pedicures and nights out with your girlfriends.

17. Make it a point to thank him for the life you have together. Tell him that you think a little gray hair is very sexy, that you love his blue eyes and sweet smile. Make sure he knows that you appreciate how hard he works, what a great dad he is and that he is your favorite. person. ever.

When Grandma Was A Little Girl

This is a precious song written by my sweet sister in law, Carrie. It was inspired by this picture of Grandma Sanders with her brother and younger sister.

My sister Amy came over tonight and I played it for her, she cried.

Carrie thinks it is not good enough to submit to the Friend.

Read the words and then click on the video below to see great granddaughters sing it. I think you will agree that Carrie should send it in!

When Grandma Was A Little Girl

When Grandma was a little girl

In her black patent shoes and white ribboned curls,
Did she laugh, did she cry, did she ask her mother why
And in her dreams did she see a little girl like me?
When Grandma was a little girl.

I've heard Grandma's stories as I've sat on her knee
Of her family and friends and how things used to be.
But one thing has never changed, one way she's just like me,
She learned about God's light and how to choose the right,
When Grandma was a little girl.

Of all the pictures in my family history,
There's one that's my favorite, the best of all to see.
Grandma as a little girl, with her white ribboned curls.
In the photograph I see that she smiles just like me,
My Grandma as a little girl.

Thanks Grandma

This week has been a special and tender time at our house. Over the past eight months or so we have become very close to Mark's grandmother, Grandma Sanders.

Last fall, she was no longer able to care for herself so she moved to an assisted living center just down the road from us.

With Mark's parents serving a mission in Africa, I'm ashamed to admit that initially I felt obligated to visit Grandma in their place. I feel bad that I lacked the humility and maturity to understand the true measure of her goodness and the life lessons she was ready to teach me.

A few visits was all it took to change obligation to privilege. My reasons for visiting became personal, almost selfish. There was so much to learn from her, so much to gain.

There were times when the whole family went to visit. Those were great, but my favorite moments seemed to come when it was just Grandma and me. I marveled at her.

She never stopped working, she never stopped serving.

When residents at the home would gather for meals, Grandma would often wait for them to finish and then she would clear and wipe down the tables. The staff told her she didn't have to clean but she insisted. The will to work was just in her.

Other times I would arrive to find her sweetly pushing someone's wheelchair. She would smile and wave hello to people as they passed.

We talked, we laughed, sometimes we cried. But I always felt that I had gained something from time spent with her.

In mid July, things started to change and Grandma's health declined. Her words became more slurred and jumbled. She became increasingly confused and unsteady on her feet. She no longer seemed to recognize anyone.

Last Tuesday I went to see her. She was asleep in a chair and I couldn't wake her. I came back a few hours later and she was still sleeping. I finally woke her up but I could tell in her eyes that something was wrong. When she would not eat lunch or take her medication, I became worried. I called Mark's sister Christie to come over and then I knelt down on the floor next to Grandma and wept.

Tears trickled down my cheeks as I begged her to eat. Gently Grandma touched my cheek and in a rare moment of perfect clarity she said tenderly, "You are my sweetheart". That was the last coherent thing I heard her say.

By Friday we accepted the fact that Grandma was dying. Marilyn agonized over the decision to leave Africa. After much prayer, she decided that Grandma would want her to finish her work in the Congo. We could see the heartache in her eyes as we talked to her via webcam.

Mark and I prayed for strength and inspiration to know how we could help. The answer came simply that we should ask permission to bring Grandma to our home. Mark's Uncle Kevin has lovingly been by Grandma's side continually throughout this past year. He graciously accepted our offer and on Sunday morning hospice transported Grandma to our home.

We had a computer in her room. Mark's parents were able to see her and speak to her over the internet. Although she was sleeping, I know she could hear their voices and feel their love.

Grandma had two days of constant visitors. Her Sons Kevin and Steven rarely left her. Grandchildren streamed in by the dozens. Friends and other relatives filled our house and with them came a feeling of deep love and peace.

I watched Mark's twin sisters Carrie and Christie hold Grandma's hands through the night, they looked like ministering angels. Our brother Nate refused to sleep so that he could stay by Grandma's side. Our sister, Tiffany brought her violin and played beautiful hymns for her. Mark and his siblings gathered around Grandma and talked about childhood memories and lessons they had learned from her life.

There was such a beautiful feeling in our house. One of my neighbors who stopped by to check on us said she felt a special feeling as she walked up to the door.

Monday night Christie, Tiffany and me were up late sitting with Grandma. Marilyn called on the computer. She told us that she had a feeling that she should stay home from her meetings. She asked us to keep her on the line.

One by one Tiffany, Christie, Mark and I all went to bed.

In the quiet hours of early morning it was just Nate and Grandma with Marilyn connected via skype. Around 3:00 am Grandma peacefully passed away. Through the tender mercies of a loving Father in Heaven, prayers were answered as Marilyn was right there to see her mother out of this world and in to the next life.

I am so grateful for this experience. I am the one who benefited. Lincoln and Rachel have had life lessons imprinted in their hearts. Mark and I have been witnesses to a series of small miracles. We have felt the love of Jesus Christ surrounding us.

I know that I will see Grandma again, and in the heavenly scheme of things we will both be young. I have a feeling that we will be great friends. When that day comes, I will have the chance to thank her for enriching my life and giving me the opportunity to grow.

Thanks Grandma

They Drove Me To It Part 2

Thank you all for your sincere notes of support concerning my hair (or lack of it). I appreciate the comments, emails and phone calls.

However, I will NOT be posting any pictures of myself until mid 2009.

For Pete's sake, this is the first day that I have not worn a hat.

Kids

Remember the good old days when you were a kid?

For me, childhood was all about imagination.

We had no computer, no video games, no Ipods or cell phones.

Heck, video recorders were barely invented.

Sure we had some cool toys like our "Charlie's Angels" radio/walkie talkies, real wooden cradles for our dolls and of course a pogo stick.

There were also toys that weren't so great. Like the Christmas I received Skipper (Barbie's chest-less little sister). I eventually forgave Santa and moved on with my life. But that's another story for another day.

My point is, that being a kid was all about make believe not about being entertained.

Now days it seems like kids are constantly bombarded with stimulation. Sometimes I wonder if my kids are missing out on the true essence of being a kid.

I worry that they haven't had enough "escaping to another world in a card board box" if you know what I mean.

But last night my faith in imagination was temporarily renewed.

Mark was at church so we decided to go for a walk. We started singing Row, Row, Row Your Boat in a round. We then noticed that the sprinklers were on causing a small river to flow down the edge of the path. Since boats were on our minds we decided to each make a boat and race it down the river.

Bet you can't guess which one was Rachie's...

We built a dam out of small stones.

We waded through the puddles and experimented with different size leaves.

Samantha had a good time watching.

Before we knew it, nearly an hour had passed.

"Mom", Lincoln asked, "Can we come back and do this again tomorrow?"

"..........and when we get home can I play on the Wii?"

They Drove Me To It

Today I lost all rational thinking and did something crazy.

I couldn't help myself. I was driven to it by two fifth graders.

Do you realize what happens to a person when she sends two fifth graders off to
the first day of school? It's hard, worse than the first day of kindergarten.

Fifth grade is officially OLD.

Gone are the days when what you wore didn't matter much.
Hair bows are now a thing of the past.
Questions like, "Can I get a cell phone this year" start to creep up.

Today 5th grade, tomorrow college.
That is about how fast time flies by

"I don't like this", I complained to Mark.
"We have two official pre-teens now."
"Why can't we do kindergarten and first grade one more time?"

On the way out the door Linc was so kind as to remind me that 5th grade is when they have
the m-a-t-u-r-a-t-i-o-n program. "You know mom", he said, "the bugs and the bees talk".
He went on to suggest that I check him out early that day because his dad already told him all he needs to know.

I think that comment was the final straw.

I kissed them goodbye with no tears.
I maintained my composure during a walk with Roni.
I kept a stiff upper lip when Mark gently asked if I was doing ok.

But when I got to my hairdresser this afternoon, it all came tumbling out.
They are growing up too fast I confided in her.
They are not little anymore.
They are in 5th grade for crying out loud!

Then the crazy, irrational thinking took over.
It happened quickly, hastily. They whole thing was a blur.

One minute I looked like me, the next minute I looked like me
with someone else's hair sitting on my head.

Hair that is jet black and about eight inches shorter than it was this morning.

Note to self: Not a good idea to make a hair appointment when you are under duress.

"Hmm" said Lincoln. "That's different."
"I like it." Mark lied.
Rachel tried her hardest to make me feel better. "It will grow back".

Because I am a glass-half-full kind of gal, I said to myself:
Things could be worse......
My hair could be ten inches shorter than it was and I could have two 7th graders.

Living Your Dream

Convincing your twin sister to help you talk your parents into taking a summer vacation to Boston. Zero dollars.

Convincing your dad that you are only ten once and it would be a dream come true to see the Red Sox play. Approximately four months worth of talking but, zero dollars.

Airfare to Boston: 1200.00.

Hotels in Boston: 1200.00.

Food in Boston: 500.00.

Tickets to see the Red Sox:
So absurdly expensive that it may cause your mother to choke.

Entering Fenway for the first time: A dream come true.

Finding your seat: A feeling like no other.

Hearing thunder and feeling raindrops: sickness enters your stomach.

The biggest night of your life getting rained out: heartbreak in its truest form.


Your dad saving the day by getting tickets for Saturday night's game:
Whew, you can breathe again.

Walking into Fenway the next night: unbelievable.

Seeing the "Green Monstah": exciting enough to make a kid cry.


Watching your hero, Jason Varitek warm up: thrilling.

Digging in to a Fenway Frank: simply. the. best.

Cheering your heart out when Pedroia (the Destroyah) hits a home run:

A moment you will never forget.

Singing "Sweet Caroline" with 36,000 of your closest friends: Sweeeet!
(see below)

Living your dream to experience Red Sox Nation..........
Absolutely 100% PRICELESS.