tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35748327741018139762024-02-06T20:46:26.568-08:00Moss Moments"the joy of motherhood comes in moments...
amid the challenges, there are shining moments of joy and satisfaction."
Elder M. Russell Ballardjeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.comBlogger1721125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-62696970354055548162019-05-06T05:41:00.001-07:002019-07-25T20:20:40.118-07:00My Anna- Junior Prom 101As prom was approaching, I just felt in my heart that my Anna needed a little extra TLC. This Junior year time of transition is such an exciting and life-defining time. It is also a time when mothers and daughters/ parents and teens, are learning the dance of letting go and reeling in.<br />
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This year, Junior Prom was a big deal for Anna. I could feel it. She wanted to feel pretty. It didn’t look like she would have a boy to take her to prom, from her small school or even smaller church group. This broke my heart more than hers. I was so glad she has the best group of girlfriends to go with! I really wanted Anna to see herself the way I see her. And honestly, Anna is really, really the most genuine, caring, graceful, beautiful, lovely lady. I couldn’t love or respect her more. </div>
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We tried on so many dresses! Anna did not want black or navy. She wanted gold or white to go along with a Greek-themed prom. </div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1wVLLAqp1UznEHw9-zgoSKUarY62s5uFF" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1wVLLAqp1UznEHw9-zgoSKUarY62s5uFF" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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She found her dress in Macy’s (Todd, Anna, and I had a prom-dress date night in February). </div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1W3xR4imb5RFmM2bcnbqjnVCM-zIXC2r6" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1W3xR4imb5RFmM2bcnbqjnVCM-zIXC2r6" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /><img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1G5a7dbvMZzhXjt-I7ZaVvJnr8-mL7ckP" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1G5a7dbvMZzhXjt-I7ZaVvJnr8-mL7ckP" style="font-size: 12pt; height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UVRARdTQfyIiwvCAOV3IBUzzbT4qNWZ1" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1UVRARdTQfyIiwvCAOV3IBUzzbT4qNWZ1" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1lomD6Dehd15cNdTpKkVEJFyBCVBhMnAd" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1lomD6Dehd15cNdTpKkVEJFyBCVBhMnAd" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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The day before prom she told me that everyone was coming to our house for pictures. So, we moved furniture to give them a blue wall background and I bought snacks for a buffet so the parents would stay after prom to chat and eat. </div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17-BjeBz4b4DSNt_gOL6fVJHEqi_heMvS" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17-BjeBz4b4DSNt_gOL6fVJHEqi_heMvS" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1dsLHSrenab7hG8gfVise9n1ec9AOGxME" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1dsLHSrenab7hG8gfVise9n1ec9AOGxME" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ya53iQ_Y_c4zRPayfbpnP32gS7DasdEp" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ya53iQ_Y_c4zRPayfbpnP32gS7DasdEp" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NlAA9g-i7hBIPkn5cvRbtVc1Ys7xz4wJ" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NlAA9g-i7hBIPkn5cvRbtVc1Ys7xz4wJ" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ebnujX3P-dOrKyB07ierduS849jzs-ci" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ebnujX3P-dOrKyB07ierduS849jzs-ci" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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The BEST thing we did for prom was that my friend, a photographer, came over and took pictures of all the kids! I will forever cherish these beautiful pictures.</div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=10em8JUR14nZWP776aRxaRjilRPFet4Ui" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=10em8JUR14nZWP776aRxaRjilRPFet4Ui" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1XjAdf5OnPG91VPdSONH2sWcpinvjkzKQ" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1XjAdf5OnPG91VPdSONH2sWcpinvjkzKQ" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Bs0h7jRhbtHrwFPynPnVONWkKcqqvrCt" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Bs0h7jRhbtHrwFPynPnVONWkKcqqvrCt" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1gHfmYe10xwDem7vhMrYZsraOaFfABEyY" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1gHfmYe10xwDem7vhMrYZsraOaFfABEyY" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ZJea1aSFDdBix7JzAvJz2jPJRA0H7WBQ" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ZJea1aSFDdBix7JzAvJz2jPJRA0H7WBQ" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jzvA9Jz_cd3mq5FNOPhbr8KwXna0JiyY" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jzvA9Jz_cd3mq5FNOPhbr8KwXna0JiyY" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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Yes, Junior Prom was a success. I was so tired from chaperoning the after-prom party until 3am... but, I saw my little girl transform into a young woman in one afternoon.<br />
SHE saw her own beauty and that, in my opinion, was so important. </div>
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From this...</div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1u1AgLiQVOi1XDVOjNmSdmbdTKZuh1vce" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1u1AgLiQVOi1XDVOjNmSdmbdTKZuh1vce" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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To this...</div>
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<img alt="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12jg8RB88HgbZ6LumNlhRYnEBjmkba5wS" src="https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12jg8RB88HgbZ6LumNlhRYnEBjmkba5wS" style="height: auto; max-height: 80%; max-width: 80%; width: auto;" /></div>
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Man, I love this lady. Watching my children grow is a sweet joy and a gift I will never take lightly. </div>
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Life is good! </div>
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jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-20123576145490865972018-10-14T09:52:00.003-07:002018-10-14T09:52:32.095-07:00When Half My Heart is in Antofagasta Chile<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZg8RMDEtQPU93pDNNgtpv1CxM329j6cUVrlXvukVGGaaJbGNXkFgk_WaGkj5NzDJmaajAPBVXWRTW9g1GDUqLLu6YzToO6Q5biCACaWLrIHfWSrPPF-_d-tSjoxmmKs223rXQ8-TBmM/s1600/Elder+Moss+con+pdte.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZg8RMDEtQPU93pDNNgtpv1CxM329j6cUVrlXvukVGGaaJbGNXkFgk_WaGkj5NzDJmaajAPBVXWRTW9g1GDUqLLu6YzToO6Q5biCACaWLrIHfWSrPPF-_d-tSjoxmmKs223rXQ8-TBmM/s320/Elder+Moss+con+pdte.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_gRQog1BTw64OG3kdRPPxkH8voJsmx87EgQYSi-maAMVSUAGiVEYkuOpqFAPwIJZXNQ1VTKLlrNjNt3JnCQsej1v_cMi3MNUWvvFwBEvMepdeTcMaRXOpd8kh5J28VwU_GCuCzKXdxk/s1600/Elder+Moss.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_gRQog1BTw64OG3kdRPPxkH8voJsmx87EgQYSi-maAMVSUAGiVEYkuOpqFAPwIJZXNQ1VTKLlrNjNt3JnCQsej1v_cMi3MNUWvvFwBEvMepdeTcMaRXOpd8kh5J28VwU_GCuCzKXdxk/s320/Elder+Moss.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkJSSf-WNW_WCgVrogiT6rzzcYY4fsCZs2i2PgQGOhWWGFO7Cwx9NTwshVBneDMQzitKEKB5DA90vBYzbsgDmsgO2L9eRDvdPBAQ6y5vogeqNFZckIm62ItKLEWm7EvZBAyhdp41Zlzg/s1600/Llegada+al+aeropuerto.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkkJSSf-WNW_WCgVrogiT6rzzcYY4fsCZs2i2PgQGOhWWGFO7Cwx9NTwshVBneDMQzitKEKB5DA90vBYzbsgDmsgO2L9eRDvdPBAQ6y5vogeqNFZckIm62ItKLEWm7EvZBAyhdp41Zlzg/s320/Llegada+al+aeropuerto.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZg8RMDEtQPU93pDNNgtpv1CxM329j6cUVrlXvukVGGaaJbGNXkFgk_WaGkj5NzDJmaajAPBVXWRTW9g1GDUqLLu6YzToO6Q5biCACaWLrIHfWSrPPF-_d-tSjoxmmKs223rXQ8-TBmM/s1600/Elder+Moss+con+pdte.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC_gRQog1BTw64OG3kdRPPxkH8voJsmx87EgQYSi-maAMVSUAGiVEYkuOpqFAPwIJZXNQ1VTKLlrNjNt3JnCQsej1v_cMi3MNUWvvFwBEvMepdeTcMaRXOpd8kh5J28VwU_GCuCzKXdxk/s1600/Elder+Moss.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5__gTJLyvb5-rwGDuVCVUl0bKaI9Snyg476i46eIdg8VZg9-A5xuKFcUf0JKxY5jhLUqY_O_QyU0uY4pJwi1uWdVbwI82jQk4DdzLLXxDO59fuse-0V-YOk921sAv1gUzPSMO4VEGqTQ/s1600/En+las+ruinas.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5__gTJLyvb5-rwGDuVCVUl0bKaI9Snyg476i46eIdg8VZg9-A5xuKFcUf0JKxY5jhLUqY_O_QyU0uY4pJwi1uWdVbwI82jQk4DdzLLXxDO59fuse-0V-YOk921sAv1gUzPSMO4VEGqTQ/s320/En+las+ruinas.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZg8RMDEtQPU93pDNNgtpv1CxM329j6cUVrlXvukVGGaaJbGNXkFgk_WaGkj5NzDJmaajAPBVXWRTW9g1GDUqLLu6YzToO6Q5biCACaWLrIHfWSrPPF-_d-tSjoxmmKs223rXQ8-TBmM/s1600/Elder+Moss+con+pdte.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLRJC9orw1bq08McGdzBjr7In7GS6wXrmkAM7lahJIJBR9phyfIG5NTQBY4MJd9YqvS5Mddocv-F-poItEznEVw-TtfRVgC9PlXO5h1eIyT6psrrW2C8f8U-UTnpRDgQFGWYiOfCj-g0/s1600/La+Portada+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHLRJC9orw1bq08McGdzBjr7In7GS6wXrmkAM7lahJIJBR9phyfIG5NTQBY4MJd9YqvS5Mddocv-F-poItEznEVw-TtfRVgC9PlXO5h1eIyT6psrrW2C8f8U-UTnpRDgQFGWYiOfCj-g0/s320/La+Portada+1.jpg" width="320" /></a>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-39548063678496188352018-10-14T05:15:00.001-07:002018-10-14T09:15:45.569-07:00Lessons I Learned as a Mother in Graduate School <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGMJPfuj2UpJr96tNBNQUPFpReW4Qu5sPUMpQyRfw1QT-XXOv4hUGP6JvFqiNWXXkE7nsfLsidlCrE_0xaJUKyGdQWHrb7v8VeKb2iud8NC0zLNhLFt-QXVwGknMURzouigOHrTw7zpQ/s1600/moss2018-242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGMJPfuj2UpJr96tNBNQUPFpReW4Qu5sPUMpQyRfw1QT-XXOv4hUGP6JvFqiNWXXkE7nsfLsidlCrE_0xaJUKyGdQWHrb7v8VeKb2iud8NC0zLNhLFt-QXVwGknMURzouigOHrTw7zpQ/s320/moss2018-242.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I want to share with you some of the lessons that I learned as a mother in graduate school. </div>
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Practical Tips-<br />
- Buy a laptop (i loved my Lenovo)<br />
- Buy a messenger bag (I loved my Timbuk2)<br />
- Look professional and you will feel capable<br />
- I took notes in 5x7 moleskin books, paperback, one per class<br />
- I scheduled my classes for M W and did homework T Th<br />
- Watch your extra things. My one regret was that I stayed involved in outside/community things while I was in school. (Good for a resume, not good for sanity.)<br />
- Exercise! Yoga for 30 min in the mornings saved my life.<br />
- Just do it. School is harder than work, on your family. Because you always have homework. I'm glad I got my degree in one year instead of dragging out the process.<br />
- Apply for grants! There are a lot of scholarships for moms returning to school.<br />
- Budget! I regret being lax on finances while I was in school (just because we were busy).<br />
- Don't feel guilty about the time you aren't home, just make the time you are home POSITIVE<br />
- Remember- school life is not real life. As a mom, you KNOW that nobody cares if you got a B- in Statistics, so try hard but don't worry too much about stuff that doesn't matter.<br />
- There is a time and a season for PTA and your kids don't care if you send store-bought cupcakes to school on their birthday<br />
- I brought my kids to class with me a few times and they loved it (just ask your teacher before you try it and be sure your kids are super well-behaved because everyone will be watching you)<br />
- At the beginning, tell your groups that you are willing to work hard in the early morning and late night hours, but that you will not attend group meetings between 5 and 8 pm.<br />
- Make friends! Don't pull away because you are different. I cherish the friendships I made with so many young, amazing students, teachers, and staff. I just didn't let myself feel dumb eating lunch with a professor or a student that was half my age. <br />
- Talk about your life, but not too much. <br />
- LEARN. I wish I had read even more and learned deeply the lessons I was paying to learn. You will never again have time to study and absorb at such a concentrated rate.<br />
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1. Women are very capable.<br />
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I am surprised that it was possible for me to do well in school AND care for my family. Granted, things were never picture perfect. But, things were not picture perfect even when I was home all day. I have spent a lot of time pondering what we spend our time on. When I was home full-time, I wish I would have cleaned less and accomplished more. I'm not sure why I allowed myself to spend so much time on temporal things. I wish I would have continued to learn. I wish I had taken a language course, gave myself permission to read more, or spent more time out of my house and in my community with my children. Not all work is valuable. But also, not all time spent at home is valuable. Just because I didn't work, did not mean that I was spending my time effectively. Sometimes, when you have more time to waste, you waste more time. Having less time helped me to become more discerning and I think that is a good thing for capable women to become. You can do more with your days than you think you can.<br />
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2. Showing your children that you can do hard things is a valuable lesson.<br />
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For twenty years, I showed my children that they were my most important work. I would never trade those years. Additionally, I would not trade this year of my life. The lessons they learned watching me learn, study, and try hard to do something hard, that was a great life lesson for them also. I don't think that watching me go back to school encouraged all of them to want to work when they get older. They definitely missed having me in the home. So, in some ways, my year of graduate school may have reinforced, in their minds, that when they raise a family they will want a mom who stays at home. I am grateful for the seasons of life. I felt like this was another, very good season.<br />
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3. How your house FEELS is more important than how your house LOOKS.<br />
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My mother was home with my children during the summer months while I was in school full-time in an intense, condensed program of study. When I came home from school, she would tell me she had spent the whole day cleaning (and mopping). The honest truth is, I could NOT tell. I didn't notice when my floors were dirty and I couldn't tell when my house was clean. I just felt that my kids were happy and that is all that I cared about. Do you know HOW MANY YEARS I spent feeling stress about the cleanliness of my kitchen floor? I was somewhat offended when I spent my day cleaning and my husband didn't even notice. You know what, it is very hard to tell whether your floor is recently mopped or not if you aren't focused on floors. This seems obvious but was quite shocking to me.<br />
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4. It is HARD to transition from work/school to a home mentality.<br />
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Right away, I noticed something surprising. My husband, who has spent YEARS balancing between work/school and family, had this amazing ability to just come home and jump right into family life. I trained him to do this after years of telling him, "When you are home, BE HOME." He is AMAZING at leaving work at work. I would drive with him to school and drive home with him. He could just walk right in the door to seven busy, needy kids and just be the dad. And, I could not. I had a harder time transitioning. My brain was still at school, thinking about upcoming tests, homework assignments, statistics. My kids were a bit overwhelming for me. It took me time to unwind and connect. I could see myself as the husband that wants a Lazy-boy chair and ten minutes to read the news before any children can come to talk to me. This made me laugh. As a stay-at-home mother, I was not sensitive to the idea that my husband had a lot on his mind. I didn't appreciate what a great asset a one-track mind is until I saw his ability to instantly switch lives and I was very impressed.<br />
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5. Learning is healing.<br />
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Sitting in a classroom, learning, with a class full of young, energetic, beautifully diverse classmates is absolutely inspiring. My soul was filled as I learned. It did not matter what I was learning, the act of learning made me feel young and capable.<br />
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6. Mom-head is not always a good thing.<br />
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When I was participating in group work, I recognized that I was somewhat offended when everyone didn't agree with me and do what I said we should do. I thought that my life experience and natural wisdom gave me some pretty good insight that the group should pay attention to, and much of the time they did. But, I wasn't always the leader and I certainly was not the smartest cookie in the jar. It took me some time to understand the emotional conflict this caused me. I had spent the past twenty years in a world where I was the queen and everyone needed to listen to me. I taught, and expected, that everyone in my group would obey me (not instantly, but eventually). It was very healthy for my brain to realize that I might be the queen of my castle, but I am not the queen of the world. Ha!<br />
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7. It feels good to get dressed, use office supplies, and learn from people who are learned.<br />
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School is just plain fun. I am a social person. Staying at home, in the country, was boring to my brain. I had become lethargic. It felt SO GOOD to get dressed in cute clothes, buy pens and notebooks and folders, and learn from knowledgeable people. Honestly, every class was just fun and fascinating. Being older (the oldest in my cohort) I just didn't stress that much about the fact that I really do not naturally understand economics. I tried my best and it was just fine. I didn't get straight A's, but I have a degree and I learned a lot. Learning is really fun. Graduate school was energizing to my soul.<br />
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8. Balancing school and home is hard.<br />
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I had nights that I cried because I couldn't do all that I needed to do. My house was sometimes a mess and I hate that. I didn't always balance well. I spent too much time up in my bedroom studying while my kids watched Netflix. I got out of the habit of cooking dinner. My husband took up the cooking and he is not as healthy as I am. Laundry was a bit out of control. My gardens were weedy. My refrigerator didn't get cleaned out. We had fewer people over for dinner. My kids did not have any fancy birthday parties. I did not watch every cross country meet or volleyball game. I didn't get much sleep. My mom-friends stopped calling me. I was in a limbo-life. Not a stay-at-home mom, not a working mom, and not a student. I just had to be confident in who I am. My brain is not as smart at some things as I used to be. Graduate school was hard, but it was the best hard.<br />
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9. People are good.<br />
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By far, the best part of graduate school is the exposure that I had to new people and new ideas. I was blown away by the goodness of those that I learned to love as we spent our days together. People are so good. I loved being in a setting where we could discuss topics from our unique perspectives and learn from one another. I am a better person because of the students/professors I came to know and love while in graduate school.<br />
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10. Kids need their mother.<br />
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When I am engaged in mothering, my children are happier, healthier, and more kind to one another. I can be engaged in mothering even when I am in school full-time. Similarly, I can be disengaged in mothering even when I am a stay-at-home mother. The transition hours are so important. Before school, after school, and bedtime. Hold those times sacred. Tell your kids what you are learning. Study with them. Take them to class with you. Remember, you don't need to read everything they tell you to read. You do need to listen and interact in class, take good notes, and find a group of smart people to study with.<br />
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Going to graduate school was one of the best decisions I ever made. I cherish the memories I have from this year. My life is changed because of this experience and graduate school did not just bless my life. It was a blessing to my whole family.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq3TMLHkWwtNr9-e5HVdVZ0qR8UJX2kMltlzkDiP48pB3J8jh5HJUFPdegJs6vRa3HwIQljZ08qoLG3fPT7FZKIbs5oT52eTL5f7iHqnJN52KwDTYa9oX5mzo-AQUiefWfAv-j4vmRLI/s1600/moss2018-87.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeq3TMLHkWwtNr9-e5HVdVZ0qR8UJX2kMltlzkDiP48pB3J8jh5HJUFPdegJs6vRa3HwIQljZ08qoLG3fPT7FZKIbs5oT52eTL5f7iHqnJN52KwDTYa9oX5mzo-AQUiefWfAv-j4vmRLI/s320/moss2018-87.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Note: I have never felt that my life is the "right" life or that my choices are for everyone. I don't believe that everyone should have eight kids and I certainly don't believe that everyone who has eight children should return to graduate school when their youngest goes to school.<br />
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I do believe that, if you are listening, you will hear God nudge you closer to your unique and beautiful life's mission. I felt him nudge me. (He literally had to shove me.) I followed Him and oh, how my life has been blessed.<br />
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I stopped writing a blog while I was going through school. I did this for a few reasons. First, because I didn't have the extra time to spend writing. Second, because I knew that young mothers read my blog and I just didn't want them to feel like I felt that being a mother was not enough. It is. Third, because I honestly didn't KNOW for sure how things would turn out. I was prepared to quit school at any moment if I felt that it was harmful to my family. Fourth, I didn't know why I was in school. I never imagined that I would actually work after I graduated. I just knew that school was a good thing for my family at this time.<br />
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My mother came and lived with us for a lot of the time I was in school. She cared for my kids during the summer months and the first Fall. And, my husband is a professor with a very flexible schedule, so he was able to be a part stay-at-home mom while I was studying.<br />
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I graduated from Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in June 2018 with a Masters of Public Administration. I LOVED my time at Maxwell. This was a decision I did not make lightly and it was one of the best decisions I ever made.jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-23057104693850582522017-11-19T18:32:00.001-08:002017-11-19T18:32:17.897-08:00Lily Turns 9. A Simple Lego Party.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzosTKYWe6xWJCufkWMfPerR-WJV4ySY08l77fOz5fVLHpXR9usC0d8gZfWmL9C6Xb1TW05YsTDGG9-pSIsLf6z-DYBmp7aip2CORmA-3C0_NdiUOlhcsIgE_rstNmwi7QrdT2Q-lSnW0/s640/blogger-image-499364327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzosTKYWe6xWJCufkWMfPerR-WJV4ySY08l77fOz5fVLHpXR9usC0d8gZfWmL9C6Xb1TW05YsTDGG9-pSIsLf6z-DYBmp7aip2CORmA-3C0_NdiUOlhcsIgE_rstNmwi7QrdT2Q-lSnW0/s640/blogger-image-499364327.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Birthdays are simple at my house. We don't spend a lot of money on extravagant gifts. My kids are happy with a small stuffed animal and a wall full of why we love them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lily felt like it had been too long since she had a friend party. So, her sisters and I put our heads together and helped her plan a little party. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuI3fBxsMlwYQC45r5ws8hoPINNjqOQE57jCpyG-YLHESrkTrXIgTu9SW6JZZz6JMYWd2IgPIj-dnrJ26Sh5iNfsEVreQRltSb1yJMUIFMAFQ7Basl_pIRaiAkqN841ce3ZlPblyLsIU/s640/blogger-image-401488801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuI3fBxsMlwYQC45r5ws8hoPINNjqOQE57jCpyG-YLHESrkTrXIgTu9SW6JZZz6JMYWd2IgPIj-dnrJ26Sh5iNfsEVreQRltSb1yJMUIFMAFQ7Basl_pIRaiAkqN841ce3ZlPblyLsIU/s640/blogger-image-401488801.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SCXWGxwkotophky8Tx-DzD0QUjvijEe8oTXg8vrqkIrT_mJ5IKkGIEeSg2o_0GeI6ftJn9buusuN-epVUO46VkZsSDwRae_aHMGkw9mioScxWBeothzIJyBdPsCacBLh6xUI4M7vScY/s640/blogger-image--288887799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SCXWGxwkotophky8Tx-DzD0QUjvijEe8oTXg8vrqkIrT_mJ5IKkGIEeSg2o_0GeI6ftJn9buusuN-epVUO46VkZsSDwRae_aHMGkw9mioScxWBeothzIJyBdPsCacBLh6xUI4M7vScY/s640/blogger-image--288887799.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV2N-KWFAxiXNe97VsECnF_am_HSfLSIYpQnTwhgHHvtZei0rp_z6bOxjg0glFmOUdDH68rIhfSWOGJwSl_-vO5dFd3K9cpRX1OAZiniTQeYw78FgwKVAlo94tYoGpMj1xxZppKIkvXg/s640/blogger-image-22891575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBV2N-KWFAxiXNe97VsECnF_am_HSfLSIYpQnTwhgHHvtZei0rp_z6bOxjg0glFmOUdDH68rIhfSWOGJwSl_-vO5dFd3K9cpRX1OAZiniTQeYw78FgwKVAlo94tYoGpMj1xxZppKIkvXg/s640/blogger-image-22891575.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X1pyhOHONBArhTb-KJmJMpicvaTplxBkxt0jQcibgOCmSZUTiaBAmWeQX4uskEExQ9ZAS8NBhyphenhyphenhwcsQHNzAA4rHd-fkhVemYIU_mK7xWW2PGWYZ0COnSskJjrLWgch23bF_9MBUBWTY/s640/blogger-image-184666531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X1pyhOHONBArhTb-KJmJMpicvaTplxBkxt0jQcibgOCmSZUTiaBAmWeQX4uskEExQ9ZAS8NBhyphenhyphenhwcsQHNzAA4rHd-fkhVemYIU_mK7xWW2PGWYZ0COnSskJjrLWgch23bF_9MBUBWTY/s640/blogger-image-184666531.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7xNmLuIz39IzOeaSVTtDS2bcwsYZQc3SLIhsSMcQg6t_-mEdF5q-PcM6YJrb4lmbwjW8RYsYSW5tpwWqT2OsHLNdoJ1_RY72yCaxAtMoFIRktoXSXjbLnkQCxZgPn07k7fkDfA2CZlY/s640/blogger-image--1427688008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7xNmLuIz39IzOeaSVTtDS2bcwsYZQc3SLIhsSMcQg6t_-mEdF5q-PcM6YJrb4lmbwjW8RYsYSW5tpwWqT2OsHLNdoJ1_RY72yCaxAtMoFIRktoXSXjbLnkQCxZgPn07k7fkDfA2CZlY/s640/blogger-image--1427688008.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoPA26ofExlyKVbEGTKa0zid1Doks7_31kxkgYkWJtF_j798NH6jxCAS3FSkPiGvDvvYVvBh-2_lHUtXL07SvImBgkHRb6YEnkTTceTG0P6hNCdERCciwvhEqyai7lAjiyWisMNCAWxg/s640/blogger-image-339870339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBoPA26ofExlyKVbEGTKa0zid1Doks7_31kxkgYkWJtF_j798NH6jxCAS3FSkPiGvDvvYVvBh-2_lHUtXL07SvImBgkHRb6YEnkTTceTG0P6hNCdERCciwvhEqyai7lAjiyWisMNCAWxg/s640/blogger-image-339870339.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWURA-iQ-DKJ8oFNMztHUMgPyHN0sf_2WaPgysooiyuI4JMOsQIaTeJAYEHb5ojltG0bVUDG4okHDyUkymzm18IluEFZXtbDe_N5ZjB5i4JLxCsr8C8N4jg8jNRp8MZQjQUXU5dfJnPAs/s640/blogger-image-1149929097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWURA-iQ-DKJ8oFNMztHUMgPyHN0sf_2WaPgysooiyuI4JMOsQIaTeJAYEHb5ojltG0bVUDG4okHDyUkymzm18IluEFZXtbDe_N5ZjB5i4JLxCsr8C8N4jg8jNRp8MZQjQUXU5dfJnPAs/s640/blogger-image-1149929097.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_B1CyGlFN_Qvv7XsBJjXj3CI0Wk1t5cpN253iKayM3XMdYdZLq1zk0cbFDdFzN__QwES6DQUQ6E1numHZpx4zknNWhM7A0JpsVNdGLlWum82ZNRunB7EXXlcioeYRV1_c1QkPEqS2WY/s640/blogger-image--1424149687.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS_B1CyGlFN_Qvv7XsBJjXj3CI0Wk1t5cpN253iKayM3XMdYdZLq1zk0cbFDdFzN__QwES6DQUQ6E1numHZpx4zknNWhM7A0JpsVNdGLlWum82ZNRunB7EXXlcioeYRV1_c1QkPEqS2WY/s640/blogger-image--1424149687.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJuSkGV1VJRIer_suWO4aU84r5njEWH873mYMLzOIKXMee0Ymu5MD4568ns2dABq-9cUyOti6HQYRGt6djH3WqAu4_5Gt9x8pVQV4iPYwwsPGHJ4lA9mfQW3wPX0Y_Vj2-dSG18eZUp8/s640/blogger-image-1958050601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiJuSkGV1VJRIer_suWO4aU84r5njEWH873mYMLzOIKXMee0Ymu5MD4568ns2dABq-9cUyOti6HQYRGt6djH3WqAu4_5Gt9x8pVQV4iPYwwsPGHJ4lA9mfQW3wPX0Y_Vj2-dSG18eZUp8/s640/blogger-image-1958050601.jpg"></a></div>Simple and sweet as a 9-year-old birthday party should be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Lily has the sweetest friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She is a joy. </div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-78382577960225244582017-11-19T18:20:00.001-08:002017-11-20T16:15:18.348-08:00Drew's Treasures<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaFS8gaxZohVioL42p0q4xpUO_03r5JR1YfdNB6Bg9uvP7GD4w3Om1Up8DzoOvk5Dlr0YpgurMBoaTmkvPy8V4EL_3Ub_Wq9prg6WtX_RAVVOmdrmv3PGWsWVLf2beCkm4H_ONag8GUw/s640/blogger-image--1857540437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcaFS8gaxZohVioL42p0q4xpUO_03r5JR1YfdNB6Bg9uvP7GD4w3Om1Up8DzoOvk5Dlr0YpgurMBoaTmkvPy8V4EL_3Ub_Wq9prg6WtX_RAVVOmdrmv3PGWsWVLf2beCkm4H_ONag8GUw/s640/blogger-image--1857540437.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Drew saves things.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He will leave on his mission next summer and I will miss finding his treasures around my house. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Drew especially likes to hide things on my bookshelves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCyTuV6ZLztnaGizMRNPpebGvrgK9MimItgivDLvJTb8DAj9DshVN1iSFE55K5LxAblNVbTaQB22sBeHxrw3XQ1dMZG-XKlKvzqcXZ1tXyvNYgc1SX8CEs_huSQ8xtoXftZHsfKlvQoU/s640/blogger-image-1664621550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCyTuV6ZLztnaGizMRNPpebGvrgK9MimItgivDLvJTb8DAj9DshVN1iSFE55K5LxAblNVbTaQB22sBeHxrw3XQ1dMZG-XKlKvzqcXZ1tXyvNYgc1SX8CEs_huSQ8xtoXftZHsfKlvQoU/s640/blogger-image-1664621550.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPCyTuV6ZLztnaGizMRNPpebGvrgK9MimItgivDLvJTb8DAj9DshVN1iSFE55K5LxAblNVbTaQB22sBeHxrw3XQ1dMZG-XKlKvzqcXZ1tXyvNYgc1SX8CEs_huSQ8xtoXftZHsfKlvQoU/s640/blogger-image-1664621550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpAQfpu3P3ipf2i0JZnRU8kfA_-Iny68zgMgdYJ1STZyEDdWtOUalbnROb82l4mURXbxxMcOsOwGqESuWa8p3XAcJAI-YZdPGx66p9jtMxl2kGGxkTIXUXzAKcOS3ebG6s46YeRodfFs/s640/blogger-image--1736796244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpAQfpu3P3ipf2i0JZnRU8kfA_-Iny68zgMgdYJ1STZyEDdWtOUalbnROb82l4mURXbxxMcOsOwGqESuWa8p3XAcJAI-YZdPGx66p9jtMxl2kGGxkTIXUXzAKcOS3ebG6s46YeRodfFs/s640/blogger-image--1736796244.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He makes cool things, like paper airplanes, and he brings home free books. I find old books hiding on my shelves and in random cupboards. He makes me smile. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Sometimes I want to go through and throw away all his junk. Sometimes I do. He kept an old TV in his closet for years because he wanted to take it apart and fix it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today, my book shelves aren't styled like a magazine, but they are full of treasure. I KNOW I will miss his treasures when he leaves home next year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love this kid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVyT6V2N2mDAzA0xR1kXXCgk1wuOX4omr32qga15ywL7ukaK_ioEEn0WRzhorGm-kIHxvSGxQsJEIgDrmrwmI9-T65vCyCbB9nsVbsVs0Fblks2pQbFA14uGT6HlhMTfZxNmin6myezQ/s640/blogger-image-713667265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKVyT6V2N2mDAzA0xR1kXXCgk1wuOX4omr32qga15ywL7ukaK_ioEEn0WRzhorGm-kIHxvSGxQsJEIgDrmrwmI9-T65vCyCbB9nsVbsVs0Fblks2pQbFA14uGT6HlhMTfZxNmin6myezQ/s640/blogger-image-713667265.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-62341112523278101802017-11-19T18:13:00.001-08:002017-11-20T16:10:33.628-08:00Building With Grapop<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LF-LT05a58rA621A7rGlxHTM4btNs_VBvwsXmJ6HPbXk_psrBFs5v7hsMmI5IfSZtwwyf1JJQpwAbb75sbxDzqF5_ie5mDHVOBNK1cu-XgpCTI_shBEWmRfyogYGXY8W4drIIQ0UkHU/s640/blogger-image-895463166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LF-LT05a58rA621A7rGlxHTM4btNs_VBvwsXmJ6HPbXk_psrBFs5v7hsMmI5IfSZtwwyf1JJQpwAbb75sbxDzqF5_ie5mDHVOBNK1cu-XgpCTI_shBEWmRfyogYGXY8W4drIIQ0UkHU/s640/blogger-image-895463166.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the cutest story that Eve wrote about building a barn with her "Grapop".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyendhwzlBpjUlm7z-IbV5N0ITwUzFR7WHIv13mh8kFZ44DuF6duoB9WzMivykiHTgeVXYOEXj0VbQoIz8Ab2zEiN17qSvw9elFtzW1_z1vPiuF-F2pCrIhnSXizr2C8eDeSUxRhF-U88/s640/blogger-image--1480986058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyendhwzlBpjUlm7z-IbV5N0ITwUzFR7WHIv13mh8kFZ44DuF6duoB9WzMivykiHTgeVXYOEXj0VbQoIz8Ab2zEiN17qSvw9elFtzW1_z1vPiuF-F2pCrIhnSXizr2C8eDeSUxRhF-U88/s640/blogger-image--1480986058.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ec8Vx8qRILBJ2hJ-DhKKJxViF0rlresqjHgQxmN_P1NeV5XGqKQuofhMh2HF9_lOVvw8lgy6NOZT8k8A-kgokNCV2zSxEpaQSqUKI7DeLBiFkm8iJBQhJ5bQ8hQQFWnlmGhLMRvfr5A/s640/blogger-image--1085456682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Ec8Vx8qRILBJ2hJ-DhKKJxViF0rlresqjHgQxmN_P1NeV5XGqKQuofhMh2HF9_lOVvw8lgy6NOZT8k8A-kgokNCV2zSxEpaQSqUKI7DeLBiFkm8iJBQhJ5bQ8hQQFWnlmGhLMRvfr5A/s640/blogger-image--1085456682.jpg"></a></div></div>Love these memories.</div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-62037372410158007902017-11-19T18:04:00.001-08:002017-11-20T16:10:18.593-08:00My Dad Builds Us A Small Barn In Our Pasture<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKklKrX8y9sOrXgLql86Uuu4cGErP8GYISYM6lVsUFY8u5BV8Qka6VyVbNFpm0qCcqNRT64LeNh9A8vaVb66Skb-7HTGBag-Ju0WU4ZfRcace-SICV-_Fnh-85oBlcWNliR3GPY5wKTc/s640/blogger-image-1185338617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGKklKrX8y9sOrXgLql86Uuu4cGErP8GYISYM6lVsUFY8u5BV8Qka6VyVbNFpm0qCcqNRT64LeNh9A8vaVb66Skb-7HTGBag-Ju0WU4ZfRcace-SICV-_Fnh-85oBlcWNliR3GPY5wKTc/s640/blogger-image-1185338617.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We have a few cows that my kids raise and sell for beef. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My dad called a couple weeks ago and offered to come and help us build a small barn for them out in our pasture. We are still waiting for it to warm up so we can paint it to match our house and big barn.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It has been so fun watching him work with my husband and my kids. Drew stayed home from school and helped with walls and shingles.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ExPhHUnefmdILRgF0Lx08ycd8iub-zKSBVo6yPE-vT2k4p4OZwkkMBWCGb9N18J8eJrqsCJcPaROVMwjFAwjjcknsIAc28ZHMb6R2sFJySd8osjEOi_k0nMsehDp3oES-6ZI9y4PQvQ/s640/blogger-image--2007944373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ExPhHUnefmdILRgF0Lx08ycd8iub-zKSBVo6yPE-vT2k4p4OZwkkMBWCGb9N18J8eJrqsCJcPaROVMwjFAwjjcknsIAc28ZHMb6R2sFJySd8osjEOi_k0nMsehDp3oES-6ZI9y4PQvQ/s640/blogger-image--2007944373.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_aUy-5m9uff_XPv6Iq8c6pEbQ5Tjpjk6G_HIxeIrUscejyImiNbKsEz1r1ovSfxPPtE6upx1GJ9NzLhjv8ZmN-rx3XhR-dJEAUSEajdzUatpEhdqqZB0d3cWzsoEbVKDQa0Xru2KNbs/s640/blogger-image--1174194088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_aUy-5m9uff_XPv6Iq8c6pEbQ5Tjpjk6G_HIxeIrUscejyImiNbKsEz1r1ovSfxPPtE6upx1GJ9NzLhjv8ZmN-rx3XhR-dJEAUSEajdzUatpEhdqqZB0d3cWzsoEbVKDQa0Xru2KNbs/s640/blogger-image--1174194088.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXbXOtUz6IAw_jQgNBR9iDw1vLbZKQgIG38fMpTyPIeyXHYLW3G_Qs84y3hHnnXYIFXNKEf1RZDhNc3dOF6fVV1tfkbnbZIWhp7SsJriN7kTRynOjoRzZqI5nxrsOlmBRoTvkopKU-DI/s640/blogger-image--2088390447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwXbXOtUz6IAw_jQgNBR9iDw1vLbZKQgIG38fMpTyPIeyXHYLW3G_Qs84y3hHnnXYIFXNKEf1RZDhNc3dOF6fVV1tfkbnbZIWhp7SsJriN7kTRynOjoRzZqI5nxrsOlmBRoTvkopKU-DI/s640/blogger-image--2088390447.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx-WsR0JcvtuIL-7SO8lGkDXnS88avezEihVNPXrHLvUluGImvNimIpdN9mdYCBK_JdUfjTL2caDKXsIe4F0Pfzub3VwyRODdFdLUwcst6kZ3lYxBFdsfyfttAZvG7Y_aFGsfgKSly6k/s640/blogger-image-234275270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx-WsR0JcvtuIL-7SO8lGkDXnS88avezEihVNPXrHLvUluGImvNimIpdN9mdYCBK_JdUfjTL2caDKXsIe4F0Pfzub3VwyRODdFdLUwcst6kZ3lYxBFdsfyfttAZvG7Y_aFGsfgKSly6k/s640/blogger-image-234275270.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx-WsR0JcvtuIL-7SO8lGkDXnS88avezEihVNPXrHLvUluGImvNimIpdN9mdYCBK_JdUfjTL2caDKXsIe4F0Pfzub3VwyRODdFdLUwcst6kZ3lYxBFdsfyfttAZvG7Y_aFGsfgKSly6k/s640/blogger-image-234275270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKWZG0igk5KHdl18DpGYjDcJqirJU39uBw_Ehp7tbuGZWKsuV9atjq1zUgMbROX8OafFQQ8hlmoQBSdqneMrjF19-OfZU9xi3yZ-tl-YpoxKgqhuWBCcxZT-0du050k1HBo-06hn9A-w/s640/blogger-image--790163425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKWZG0igk5KHdl18DpGYjDcJqirJU39uBw_Ehp7tbuGZWKsuV9atjq1zUgMbROX8OafFQQ8hlmoQBSdqneMrjF19-OfZU9xi3yZ-tl-YpoxKgqhuWBCcxZT-0du050k1HBo-06hn9A-w/s640/blogger-image--790163425.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks Daddy! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It is perfect.</div></div></div></div></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-43469710492174197422017-11-19T17:58:00.001-08:002017-11-20T15:57:51.302-08:00Another Sampler.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZGnMrIEOTNfTWaZZqCC7qxvWJ-fY54iQypYkJ2gQqjURUSDT3IxUh5_l0I-80rvRKGMRAk3isg_iyhNzMt5qyoaOFrcs7DCNQLyfiwIofBPWiXPJFaKtqdPRCA1K4-UUfWoVBNCJo4M/s640/blogger-image-227379161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZGnMrIEOTNfTWaZZqCC7qxvWJ-fY54iQypYkJ2gQqjURUSDT3IxUh5_l0I-80rvRKGMRAk3isg_iyhNzMt5qyoaOFrcs7DCNQLyfiwIofBPWiXPJFaKtqdPRCA1K4-UUfWoVBNCJo4M/s640/blogger-image-227379161.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A friend gave me a cross-stitch pattern for a sampler that I love. I think it was called Mystery Marquis. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here is the sampler that someone stitched on dark fabric...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzsnq7sO5CzlMgQXpLO3zlaUDrdR013evzSRR_kVj96VLxBgCOr9sg1plfMrusIdLxLjy456IlPU7glVQoUtbI4R__k7fduSgFhz8V-DPXjQap9L0y_aqxQBMU4MANiF51YfQQpyPaek/s640/blogger-image--1554404118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzsnq7sO5CzlMgQXpLO3zlaUDrdR013evzSRR_kVj96VLxBgCOr9sg1plfMrusIdLxLjy456IlPU7glVQoUtbI4R__k7fduSgFhz8V-DPXjQap9L0y_aqxQBMU4MANiF51YfQQpyPaek/s640/blogger-image--1554404118.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">When I went online I found a blog where another woman took the pattern and personalized it to tell the story of her life. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://withmyneedle-ellen.blogspot.fr/2014/05/a-look-back-in-time.html?m=1">http://withmyneedle-ellen.blogspot.fr/2014/05/a-look-back-in-time.html?m=1</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBDYVfb7MWyWHUsQY97_dEmsH5asmyhV-stxxwuQ4ygSyrBeFCeLrsIohQmh0GkUHAtaTMsgmnCbn1BAt5S1v5b0Cha4X39ih2S3BMeLvrt8DMo5vg007PLiDpGKs1q8rlkZ_Sr10Btc/s640/blogger-image-939610458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBDYVfb7MWyWHUsQY97_dEmsH5asmyhV-stxxwuQ4ygSyrBeFCeLrsIohQmh0GkUHAtaTMsgmnCbn1BAt5S1v5b0Cha4X39ih2S3BMeLvrt8DMo5vg007PLiDpGKs1q8rlkZ_Sr10Btc/s640/blogger-image-939610458.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love this SO much. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83u-5yCSFsRFDfws-11APVi-aku7E_skyOls3C_uwtIh6VbzBIVaGJJIqohOkNPXoAGwDyTx9XxeR-0t3518eWNM6ZE4HJqIA0iEPLySe4TJdCR0hxcxKGiYtX2o5xIdpmQrSmdyscqE/s640/blogger-image-814224239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi83u-5yCSFsRFDfws-11APVi-aku7E_skyOls3C_uwtIh6VbzBIVaGJJIqohOkNPXoAGwDyTx9XxeR-0t3518eWNM6ZE4HJqIA0iEPLySe4TJdCR0hxcxKGiYtX2o5xIdpmQrSmdyscqE/s640/blogger-image-814224239.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I think I'm going to start one over Christmas break.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love this color palette.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1t3qPEzoP7nr9BgG-j1RgKFa4zBAvpxQ4RQ3V2R8ysMNgpg2geSyXtddr9Cdor0iSpj56y_gATueb1QpHxvXUhmGRy6k4nMfdxJ1b2cTb6DGtj4DpPooNkGgY7hkftpzzjs6DlbcstTc/s640/blogger-image-1323404892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1t3qPEzoP7nr9BgG-j1RgKFa4zBAvpxQ4RQ3V2R8ysMNgpg2geSyXtddr9Cdor0iSpj56y_gATueb1QpHxvXUhmGRy6k4nMfdxJ1b2cTb6DGtj4DpPooNkGgY7hkftpzzjs6DlbcstTc/s640/blogger-image-1323404892.jpg"></a></div>Aren't those bright colors fun? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReXozOOW0aUYBBi3giSB-9pjDazSrg7ifz7QaxFWNEVXuUC2vj1PFxOcd6TV34fE6oJcSMQszh9EbqZdjjd6DfT7Y8VUcfRNfupvtcY9LtV-AfuFO8NbdjLRbYIgUdBf2jXrVZyr4mUU/s640/blogger-image-1742042052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReXozOOW0aUYBBi3giSB-9pjDazSrg7ifz7QaxFWNEVXuUC2vj1PFxOcd6TV34fE6oJcSMQszh9EbqZdjjd6DfT7Y8VUcfRNfupvtcY9LtV-AfuFO8NbdjLRbYIgUdBf2jXrVZyr4mUU/s640/blogger-image-1742042052.jpg"></a></div>I also love these light colors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh, don't you love dreaming up new projects? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-13074570780788615542017-11-19T17:39:00.001-08:002017-11-20T15:56:13.730-08:00Anna Acts<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaAJazcBVBvoXPv2cZmdco1WiWSqG-GHdrJpwz_0JuY9HRYIsEikO94_ylvyRJs6bgiHgeCneB2VDqAdojoqG1aFHErz1NFU6tm2Fmcy3KkvDOyaHfyBV44MJwPq9KZ8IC52L0NX95Uc/s640/blogger-image-334626315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaAJazcBVBvoXPv2cZmdco1WiWSqG-GHdrJpwz_0JuY9HRYIsEikO94_ylvyRJs6bgiHgeCneB2VDqAdojoqG1aFHErz1NFU6tm2Fmcy3KkvDOyaHfyBV44MJwPq9KZ8IC52L0NX95Uc/s640/blogger-image-334626315.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anna played a prim and proper wife who dies in the high-school play Blythe Spirits. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She had SO MANY lines and was darling to watch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anna is naturally lady-like. She's lovely and strong.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0R_i_Mx-ZsU273W-gFvEL7uNksZUyQkc9z-zXRXtcbBvYSRI29Rt_jOWDEeMOo8Ug1kxFyWkHK8VWBmzkQIVYEo_XFBrhlwY97w5_GPQA4bzTGhbfhCbl5Vwku4uazjBL1NUt5WHdt0/s640/blogger-image-209105600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0R_i_Mx-ZsU273W-gFvEL7uNksZUyQkc9z-zXRXtcbBvYSRI29Rt_jOWDEeMOo8Ug1kxFyWkHK8VWBmzkQIVYEo_XFBrhlwY97w5_GPQA4bzTGhbfhCbl5Vwku4uazjBL1NUt5WHdt0/s640/blogger-image-209105600.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Anna just got her patriarchal blessing last week. It was beautiful to hear the Lord blessing her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She is speaking next week at our Stake Conference, can't wait to hear her speak.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Honestly, SO fun to be a mom of teens. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_huMXy9AweRThzKBZzz4EHv4mujnihMTg4erQkwV_4atV23oDJluGG7oCV6sTgYFVcE6EF7o5Xmx3QjEjkW5YAmXG-wGZv7RwhwfbmTyREQHgjpJSMCO_Xw3TusDvCY-6ZUubDcZlWLI/s640/blogger-image--973854616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_huMXy9AweRThzKBZzz4EHv4mujnihMTg4erQkwV_4atV23oDJluGG7oCV6sTgYFVcE6EF7o5Xmx3QjEjkW5YAmXG-wGZv7RwhwfbmTyREQHgjpJSMCO_Xw3TusDvCY-6ZUubDcZlWLI/s640/blogger-image--973854616.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgJl1SdL2rfXVGfvT8-RQ0KTpoKVUpPG8_Z_RLT0JA2Xy5WSt7f33O5hYAi17XydrMcVW5jvDqgwFn4coBrhnlwVBM17Smr3QiXf1qAqe8K6lLe3Dqy8TrzU1L6yxnHoMXbOBfmgmIVs/s640/blogger-image-861662187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgJl1SdL2rfXVGfvT8-RQ0KTpoKVUpPG8_Z_RLT0JA2Xy5WSt7f33O5hYAi17XydrMcVW5jvDqgwFn4coBrhnlwVBM17Smr3QiXf1qAqe8K6lLe3Dqy8TrzU1L6yxnHoMXbOBfmgmIVs/s640/blogger-image-861662187.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love her. </div></div></div></div></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-34045495028171069872017-11-19T17:28:00.001-08:002017-11-20T15:55:43.990-08:00Ellie Crochets.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgfIBXaHen53HX7D4PeiBtC3ios0bSMQhdPYtXCL1b9O-pM12AiyO1MCV4dPuQ_5xwWHf0358dIIZLfrNf6AkYcDcaIyg9D-aK-LLd1ZDozB2l6k8F4oHS4G13grn7NspfMiHYFPdzR4/s640/blogger-image--1472667020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSgfIBXaHen53HX7D4PeiBtC3ios0bSMQhdPYtXCL1b9O-pM12AiyO1MCV4dPuQ_5xwWHf0358dIIZLfrNf6AkYcDcaIyg9D-aK-LLd1ZDozB2l6k8F4oHS4G13grn7NspfMiHYFPdzR4/s640/blogger-image--1472667020.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ellie is always making things, beautiful things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love that about her. I love her. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This morning, I was running late for church and when I came downstairs Ellie had gotten all the little girls dressed and was curling Eve's hair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ellie is sweet and spunky, simple and lovely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My life is better because she is mine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZW9_Sb_pbeaCVdPX9JBXBG8UQ1IM7_6EWmdpIZ9H4fewd4Q9ttcppO2tjMqmGKyvroaeatf9X0Gs2MyRRBv0m7f76CqSCmRFEHdrepFVZkB3AKrGv8o1fje70sFWBYV-xx27-Lv1dpo/s640/blogger-image--224164131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZW9_Sb_pbeaCVdPX9JBXBG8UQ1IM7_6EWmdpIZ9H4fewd4Q9ttcppO2tjMqmGKyvroaeatf9X0Gs2MyRRBv0m7f76CqSCmRFEHdrepFVZkB3AKrGv8o1fje70sFWBYV-xx27-Lv1dpo/s640/blogger-image--224164131.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-76150394619968244422017-11-19T17:21:00.001-08:002017-11-19T17:21:48.425-08:00Just Eve.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jIvH6dCYB1Jz6O8A0apxavbja3ofHwb1X2L15QGgcpijHTyf__bck5l2VFip4qL4FoBWb9Q1m5SucPHl8wkHq1WULEwm2goiNpTWH6u3PG848Awu2BxhrPPhv2QSC7hgVT0veJzVxOg/s640/blogger-image--1791941974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0jIvH6dCYB1Jz6O8A0apxavbja3ofHwb1X2L15QGgcpijHTyf__bck5l2VFip4qL4FoBWb9Q1m5SucPHl8wkHq1WULEwm2goiNpTWH6u3PG848Awu2BxhrPPhv2QSC7hgVT0veJzVxOg/s640/blogger-image--1791941974.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She has freckles on her nose and is my only baby who had dark hair that didn't turn light.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCBllYl78-Kxs4ujha1lT3wN4f8cDyzxtb_X1MYAg59NB2EHo-U-f0U1K_dUH_kSz4M2nLzDlGZIRpv5xNC3wpALf9NoY5OT9vqBglK0cv5B2gT3CnUWitbfjEvaJjO5V5-WgxNqnkC4/s640/blogger-image-785458317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitCBllYl78-Kxs4ujha1lT3wN4f8cDyzxtb_X1MYAg59NB2EHo-U-f0U1K_dUH_kSz4M2nLzDlGZIRpv5xNC3wpALf9NoY5OT9vqBglK0cv5B2gT3CnUWitbfjEvaJjO5V5-WgxNqnkC4/s640/blogger-image-785458317.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At parent-teacher conference her teacher said that Eve has a glow about her. She is spunky and passionate. She often slips into her own thoughts and wanders in her own paths. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCWiRHOCGkDgIAHFkeyRXR7snb-2Y14gCMuLDo8Skyc4Ta1LlreLZH-RL6VPR9v6oC16OFZ62kSdbyafvnqedD9PsK7G63NBG9jP72odawRCafISTrsAc74SVtzgHiEAQXGPFfa5GM7c/s640/blogger-image-365312761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcCWiRHOCGkDgIAHFkeyRXR7snb-2Y14gCMuLDo8Skyc4Ta1LlreLZH-RL6VPR9v6oC16OFZ62kSdbyafvnqedD9PsK7G63NBG9jP72odawRCafISTrsAc74SVtzgHiEAQXGPFfa5GM7c/s640/blogger-image-365312761.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She hugs big and puts her hands on my cheeks to tell me often how much she loves me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Eve is one of my extra-credit kids. Just joy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UcxbnHgbDLfFY8Mm3wWCJqiTiiiHdM15SRTgltrY717_KgIh11PkIwbfsB8Hc1NscqdlWo_llHXdwGHJIvaVJq-21CWbaSVDlJIolLhkdd6851eNdeRU5fkrIbLoCQGHGhKetVZ5KJg/s640/blogger-image-1281086734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UcxbnHgbDLfFY8Mm3wWCJqiTiiiHdM15SRTgltrY717_KgIh11PkIwbfsB8Hc1NscqdlWo_llHXdwGHJIvaVJq-21CWbaSVDlJIolLhkdd6851eNdeRU5fkrIbLoCQGHGhKetVZ5KJg/s640/blogger-image-1281086734.jpg"></a></div>Life is good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love being her mom.</div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-8938251051995107752017-11-03T03:28:00.001-07:002017-11-03T03:28:29.845-07:00There Is Unity is Diversity<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The truth is that I am weird, I’m not someone who has ever had one best friend or one favorite ice cream flavor. I love people, I have 20 best friends, and I like ice cream. My favorite colors are blue skies, pink cheeks, brown and white spotted cows, gray cats, hazel eyes, purple grapes, deep red cranberries, fluffy yellow baby chicks. You get the picture. My favorite thing about this world is the diversity within it. Buy me a bouquet of wildflowers not one dozen pink roses. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sometimes I wonder if I am an odd phenomenon. We raise chickens. And, chickens are interesting. They naturally flock together with chickens who look like them. If we buy a bunch of baby chicks a mix of 4 different breeds and raise them together from day one in the same box with heated lamps, as they grow, they will naturally segregate. The brown chicks will sleep in one corner, spotted chicks will sleep in the middle, and the yellow chicks will sleep in another. A chick who looks or acts differently from every other group will be pecked to death by the other chickens. It is so sad. Are humans like this? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I once sat on a design team for an interfaith dialogue committee. One man, a former Interfaith founder, and director said, “Nobody thinks they are racist. But, when was the last time you had someone that was a different race or religion from you over to your house for dinner.” This quote shook me a bit. Since then, I have made it a point to fill my home with colorful, unique, diverse people. Diversity and I are not just talking about race, gender or sexual preference is my favorite thing. Diversity is so much more than the skin we are in. We are all different. I think we spend too much time focusing on how we are all the same and not enough time celebrating the fact that we are NOT the same! Differences make us beautiful! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Families are the first places where we learn to love people who are different from us. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I may be a bit biased, but believe me when I tell you that my first child was perfect. He was adorable. He was good. He potty trained before he was one. He said please and thank you and spoke in complete sentences before he was one. He was kind and obedient. If I told him not to go in the street, he wouldn’t even step one foot on the driveway because it was the same color as the street. Honestly, once my mother in law was babysitting him for me, and when I came home, she was crying because she thought Jakob was so perfect he would die young. I love that kid. From the day he was born, he has always tried so hard to do what was right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And then, I had another little boy, only sixteen months later. My little Drew Bear as we called him, was very different from his older brother. If I told Drew not to go in the street, he would run, laughing across the street with a cute, maniacal giggle. Drew had a hard time getting along with other kids. He would push them over at the mall playgrounds and scratch their faces in the 3-year-old Sunday School class. Drew ate dirt. He made big messes. And, he potty trained early, but he would do things like walk into the bathroom and pee on the bathmat. Once his dad saw him do that and asked, “Drew, what are you doing,” To which Drew replied, “Oh Dad, sometimes I do that.” Drew was tough. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You might think that as a mother it would be easier to love my perfect Jakob than it was to love my independent Drew. Tis not so. They were both quite easy to love, and I LOVED that they were so different. I never let anyone label Jakob, the good kid and Drew the bad kid. Drew was Drew. Powerful, strong, and independent. Jakob was Jakob, disciplined, orderly, and obedient. Both boys have grown up to be inspiring, amazing teenagers. Jakob graduated third in his class. He played the French Horn, started on the Varsity Soccer team, ran track, is an Eagle Scout, was voted “most likely to succeed” and had a room that was always clean. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Drew was voted “most opinionated” and is the senior class president. He started his own business selling beef, he wakes up at 4:30 am every day to go milk cows at a local dairy. Drew is strong and passionate. He is by far my easiest, kindest, most hardworking teenager. I have eight children, and every one of them is beautifully unique and equally endearing. My favorite part about being a mom is by far, getting to know eight very different, equally beautiful souls. We all have different strengths, but we all have strengths. Our goal in life should not be to create an ideal person. Our goal should be to investigate each person we meet to find their hidden talents. It is our differences that make us great. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am a very devout Mormon girl. I met my husband (who is currently a Mormon Bishop) at BYU where I graduated with a degree in Human Development, taught Mormon seminary classes, and was a stay-at-home mom for twenty years to eight children. I didn’t find my fullest religious identity until I joined Interfaith Works of Central New York, right here on James Street in Syracuse? I didn’t fully appreciate prayer until I knelt next to my Islamic friends and prayed during Ramadan. I didn’t fully know what it meant to love my neighbors until I heard the stories of the Unity preachers. I saw Heaven at a world harmony day when my family sang “families can be together forever” to a room full of beautifully diverse Interfaith friends. I facilitated an Interfaith Dialogue in the basement of a little church in the Northside of Syracuse, and I confronted my fears and strengthened my love for good people like my friend Nebraski Carter, preacher at the Church of God in Christ. I feel God as I study his word. I see God as I love his children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Different cultures add richness and beauty to our lives. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first time they asked me to pick a refugee family up from the airport, I was really scared. Because I have eight children, I drive a ridiculously large, white, 15 passenger van that was needed to transport a family arriving at the Syracuse Airport as Muslim refugees from Afghanistan. We waited anxiously for their plane to arrive and then watched in anticipation as a large, refugee family came through the rotating doors into the lobby where we were standing with an interpreter. The children were excited and energetic. The parents were concerned and wary. All that they owned was in their bags or in a few, heavy, plastic shopping bags that they clutched close to their bodies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While the interpreter filled his car with these luggage bags, I smiled and acted out charades encouraging them to follow me, to get in my big, white van, and to buckle their seatbelts. This particular family had a few, younger children that sat in my own children’s car seats and boosters. They looked up at me with big eyes and smiles as I talked away in English that they did not understand, and clicked them in, just like I have done hundreds of times to my children. At that moment, these children were my children. My heart opened up and sucked them right in. I have worked with many, many refugee children since that first day. My fear is gone, and my heart overflows with love for these people. I don’t love them because they are like me. I love them because they are different from me and still so, so good. Goodness transcends ethnicity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, diversity is unifying. Our world is better because every one of us has something different to add. Think how limited we would be if we were all the same. When I was little, I always order vanilla ice cream with wet walnuts at Baskin Robbins, just like my mom. Today I know that my favorite ice cream is a new flavor that I’ve never tried before. Diversity is my favorite. Audre Lord said it best when he said, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” </span></span></h3>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Celebrate the differences in your families, in your communities, and in the world. </span></span></div>
jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-7831321252997349142017-11-02T11:59:00.001-07:002017-11-02T11:59:05.330-07:00Going to School With the Professor<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vkyYdAUNLtpA3W9we-wbvJZLpk1PZw6AN2CvVtclAAoEGqBLH4-ybIW-_6TpySz9dauHitgmJCHFGbuciDhEvCsqeINWyp9pKYC_cKVMR9x0wvNcu3BwTux1gMSGAduaLDBsfgKV4o4/s640/blogger-image-2051657804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vkyYdAUNLtpA3W9we-wbvJZLpk1PZw6AN2CvVtclAAoEGqBLH4-ybIW-_6TpySz9dauHitgmJCHFGbuciDhEvCsqeINWyp9pKYC_cKVMR9x0wvNcu3BwTux1gMSGAduaLDBsfgKV4o4/s640/blogger-image-2051657804.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The best part about going back to graduate school at age 40, is spending ALL DAY with my favorite professor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ucrrgTmQw86VO0ER2nElb3_ImX1C95gO7_hvqg14b9lTSj1IoUc-Qsk2F5dI0cmJgPanW5hhoHNv9RQiO9XSvGlt2-6026koCUDcYVIZHxDOXP1hD45lktf1lCm6hlTOPjHGVLznRY4/s640/blogger-image--859767074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ucrrgTmQw86VO0ER2nElb3_ImX1C95gO7_hvqg14b9lTSj1IoUc-Qsk2F5dI0cmJgPanW5hhoHNv9RQiO9XSvGlt2-6026koCUDcYVIZHxDOXP1hD45lktf1lCm6hlTOPjHGVLznRY4/s640/blogger-image--859767074.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He carries my messenger bag even when his arms are pretty full. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love this old cat.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-37410005167235804452017-10-31T19:31:00.001-07:002017-10-31T19:31:33.773-07:00Moss Halloween 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9dPO0E8LZk2CgjwM9_ljtpyuFEyzJ7CwNgbRxexeLK6u5S51aoYVKLuOgKXrwQhUEqGk0F7IhvGUuIwPsU_AqnhpHUfRAG0HW4gZOob8nH3J3xGPSO90H77YhBEguLagY8q-7EXbbZg/s640/blogger-image-443263119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_9dPO0E8LZk2CgjwM9_ljtpyuFEyzJ7CwNgbRxexeLK6u5S51aoYVKLuOgKXrwQhUEqGk0F7IhvGUuIwPsU_AqnhpHUfRAG0HW4gZOob8nH3J3xGPSO90H77YhBEguLagY8q-7EXbbZg/s640/blogger-image-443263119.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love my gang.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today, I started crying as I took a picture of Drew during the costume parade at the elementary school. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1U3pOlWUtcHhbUWTCzENCESqAeZF4g_DMbjeg_xmT4-R0jICXFdDb29CPuxHMCE_EpMIyNVysCjwPC7N3X4LDpW_b6P9x9_Ui4uCkrEB8BQd0aJnDZK2foPEwEGiE_3jwnP6q4Q4FXI/s640/blogger-image-1817329908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib1U3pOlWUtcHhbUWTCzENCESqAeZF4g_DMbjeg_xmT4-R0jICXFdDb29CPuxHMCE_EpMIyNVysCjwPC7N3X4LDpW_b6P9x9_Ui4uCkrEB8BQd0aJnDZK2foPEwEGiE_3jwnP6q4Q4FXI/s640/blogger-image-1817329908.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The custom here in Tully is that the Seniors dress-up and march in the elementary school costume parade. Drew and his friends were lucky charms. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF4FlHCUaAu4ff1HGOGjaliYkTdt0txyhFRqseKdWANcG46su2k0AdDa_347Vod-98K0grw4JEt7XbUdAqFQKpj5ip3IwaEieeAfs4Lc6Z25iLI_AHLbexIO0Ef71jHEp1ZiMnXw2Pew/s640/blogger-image-579881997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIF4FlHCUaAu4ff1HGOGjaliYkTdt0txyhFRqseKdWANcG46su2k0AdDa_347Vod-98K0grw4JEt7XbUdAqFQKpj5ip3IwaEieeAfs4Lc6Z25iLI_AHLbexIO0Ef71jHEp1ZiMnXw2Pew/s640/blogger-image-579881997.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">On the way out, I held up the parade for 20 seconds while I snapped a few pictures. When Todd mentioned that I was holding up the line, I told him this was the last Halloween EVER that I was ever going to take his picture at. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh man, that just stabbed my heart. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today was hectic and loaded with mom-guilt for me. For 20 years I have really celebrated these dumb holidays and this year it was a bit thrown together. No themed Halloween lunch (like I've done in years past). No beef stew with mashed potato ghost and pea eyes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Leah wanted to be a wizard from Hogwarts. She ended up being pretty happy with her black ninja/the if costume even if she told me it "wasn't a real costume." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I had cute accessories for all my little bandits. But, the masks were annoying, the hats were SO ITCHY, the tool belt was too big, and the dollar signs were peeling off the money bags. Even Todd complained about wearing a black hat as we walked around the neighborhood. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Honestly, this was a really nice Halloween. We only went trick or treating to one nearby neighborhood, our two closest neighbors, and their piano teacher.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc8p55WZP0zd43tF55M__6dC1uZl1D_h6xUAlWJ6qpZxyvp7phN3UAV6zylLOXTeC8cdRk6VwQNVJxqmBG4csmPoujvcwhyphenhypheniUcV61QzTSqPu0Ge5WPCQmtguctHPsOWa9z6yW5vmAT8c/s640/blogger-image-257298563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc8p55WZP0zd43tF55M__6dC1uZl1D_h6xUAlWJ6qpZxyvp7phN3UAV6zylLOXTeC8cdRk6VwQNVJxqmBG4csmPoujvcwhyphenhypheniUcV61QzTSqPu0Ge5WPCQmtguctHPsOWa9z6yW5vmAT8c/s640/blogger-image-257298563.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The kids really were SO exited tonight. And, that's why we do what we do,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I am tired. Good night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-91330795092696242792017-10-30T20:27:00.001-07:002017-10-31T06:52:40.343-07:00It's like riding a bikeOn Monday, my classes start at 1 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. It's a long day. When I got home, Ellie said she had picked out costumes for her 4 younger siblings. <div><br></div><div>She's great.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm trying to be more disciplined with this blog journal, kneeling daily prayer, personal and family scriptures. Two for two! </div><div><br></div><div>I'm skipping my class tomorrow so I can watch the Halloween parade at my kids' school.</div><div><br></div><div>Here is a small thought from Jakob's letter this week:</div><div><i><br></i></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>I hope you all have a great week this week. Stay safe. Ration your candy a little bit, and look for ways God is blessing you. If you happen to feel like He isn’t there, or that He doesn’t really care, I encourage you to pray and ask Him if He is there. I promise each one of you, that if you will ask him he will answer. There have been times when I felt like he wasn’t there. That no matter how much I prayed, or how much I believed he would answer my prayers, he just wasn’t. I had a friend show me recently a scripture that I wish that I would have found then. It is in</i> 1 <i>Nephi 21:15-16. It says,</i></span></div><div><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.</i></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.</i></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>I know that no matter how much you feel like God wouldn’t want you. Like you're pocket lint and all you're good for is to be thrown away. I know that God is next to you. He is waiting, with his hand outstretched, saying, “Please take my hand. Allow me to help you. Accept the gift that I am trying to give to you”. If you will ask God with an honest intent to know, He will answer you. I promise you this.</i></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENK9At82xMpRuewORDd6V4Q4LZFQ2r4P9ziXQYK1hENzE7G3pAi_v1kc1gt5ak616d0qTHaM5RhGCos7Ac659Jm-wWqtfpWe1hKPCg6lCDUUpg3_Z5tx4EXWieAhBfJARF-h2LtCfmzA/s640/blogger-image-499600147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhENK9At82xMpRuewORDd6V4Q4LZFQ2r4P9ziXQYK1hENzE7G3pAi_v1kc1gt5ak616d0qTHaM5RhGCos7Ac659Jm-wWqtfpWe1hKPCg6lCDUUpg3_Z5tx4EXWieAhBfJARF-h2LtCfmzA/s640/blogger-image-499600147.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One of my best friends from married student housing at BYU, ran into Jakob at Winco today. She knew him when he was one AND she has a son named Todd. I love that!! He's in good hands. Thanks Utah! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Life is good my friends. </div><br><p></p></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-25909210137874348442017-10-29T21:04:00.001-07:002017-10-29T21:04:15.501-07:00Journaling The Home Stretch<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDWLqx9ri1pMXWq4OFQOQz1nQM1OQ_eEJ7TJ4sAw0sVCM6WZ2TH4Ded9B8GbET8m8VpFJ7mn19af3HzImEkeroBZE9EQJnOFnAlCvqFlwa9d4i4BajbXhfnM_nH_bG-fnTqjqtgwXU5o/s640/blogger-image-894116709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDWLqx9ri1pMXWq4OFQOQz1nQM1OQ_eEJ7TJ4sAw0sVCM6WZ2TH4Ded9B8GbET8m8VpFJ7mn19af3HzImEkeroBZE9EQJnOFnAlCvqFlwa9d4i4BajbXhfnM_nH_bG-fnTqjqtgwXU5o/s640/blogger-image-894116709.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I got pretty sick last week. There was an afternoon I thought I had the mumps (it is going around SU). I don't have mumps and I'm finally feeling better! Yay!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WC6mtKGiDq6x1p7Q2_6aFb2TDjUn8UG4sz0YZn9eSUs26AmNCZMN6hDSx5F9bnlznTtoMquONRfCnUtd47yVkukFNzI4-3QBRXnan60teT7X8wjDegBVgsS72Ge3gK5QRJaG3DjdugA/s640/blogger-image--56009550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4WC6mtKGiDq6x1p7Q2_6aFb2TDjUn8UG4sz0YZn9eSUs26AmNCZMN6hDSx5F9bnlznTtoMquONRfCnUtd47yVkukFNzI4-3QBRXnan60teT7X8wjDegBVgsS72Ge3gK5QRJaG3DjdugA/s640/blogger-image--56009550.jpg"></a></div>I made these posters for our interfaith Christmas Festival of Nativities. It was really hard for me to do, I'm using programs I've never used before. But, I'm learning and remembering skills I used to have. It feels good and stretching.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP40b1SK0mYDy-lnIqPDDy9yRlkymv4H2-26lu0_jDbuoIKCZ22oHhbGJAxyVR7u_bcb5Job_SwrzvISuxRhpWVRkneviuOl7cMmCe1vxprFwh8ffeKaeqvL0uV46R7AIEKyRmmc1Edg/s640/blogger-image--1448846377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP40b1SK0mYDy-lnIqPDDy9yRlkymv4H2-26lu0_jDbuoIKCZ22oHhbGJAxyVR7u_bcb5Job_SwrzvISuxRhpWVRkneviuOl7cMmCe1vxprFwh8ffeKaeqvL0uV46R7AIEKyRmmc1Edg/s640/blogger-image--1448846377.jpg"></a></div>Eve begged to come to the band concert with Todd and me. She hugged Drew the moment she saw him. What would it have been like at age six to have a brother who is a Senior? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">They love him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">We all love him. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Oh, how we will miss him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHNdXmiUWVBb0Wch3x-1IJcCSt2LL4yIE3TEF6zkaKXKNktuetAdu_EvP7bZgq0rVO5KOISKChD0cv83NDbDWKUz2NPgB7lcPrR2m_kLzuDFBtBpFndGBZIqa8lVk-2rdJI4GHgznmeM/s640/blogger-image-111638654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHNdXmiUWVBb0Wch3x-1IJcCSt2LL4yIE3TEF6zkaKXKNktuetAdu_EvP7bZgq0rVO5KOISKChD0cv83NDbDWKUz2NPgB7lcPrR2m_kLzuDFBtBpFndGBZIqa8lVk-2rdJI4GHgznmeM/s640/blogger-image-111638654.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I LOVE school because I could NEVER give my children all that they get by the good people they are continually surrounded by.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PHBylvZ480nQ3onUfbFx45_8iBzey8aK9L6cx62q1fjKV591mJRUMZi7-0XbUhcHGTI0Ghm-3Uf8GWcs1JXn6nkM_4u4DYmYTlbqWJ1OlDnku9CHEKVyvOpwzMY5sHZ_0-rHA4LMtVU/s640/blogger-image-508024616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PHBylvZ480nQ3onUfbFx45_8iBzey8aK9L6cx62q1fjKV591mJRUMZi7-0XbUhcHGTI0Ghm-3Uf8GWcs1JXn6nkM_4u4DYmYTlbqWJ1OlDnku9CHEKVyvOpwzMY5sHZ_0-rHA4LMtVU/s640/blogger-image-508024616.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Bad picture, lovely girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdI5BHskmI-QjbgUfgclv3WulySg3X2e27TYLHDjAFJXrWfB80XYX0F_3kIXq6eqvi6Ustndvggx7JIZozX7d7K-kWYui3EGnrboOVUNkvFqp4pFFSidfrKhwmox7-Sqbf6_zw7uzmu4Y/s640/blogger-image-1615851322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdI5BHskmI-QjbgUfgclv3WulySg3X2e27TYLHDjAFJXrWfB80XYX0F_3kIXq6eqvi6Ustndvggx7JIZozX7d7K-kWYui3EGnrboOVUNkvFqp4pFFSidfrKhwmox7-Sqbf6_zw7uzmu4Y/s640/blogger-image-1615851322.jpg"></a></div>Eve just didn't make it all the way through the concert. (She is an angel.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCCTYBS6da-C4IXBbOmJZI0VrCrRI4CsxPkjemTNSuW55cloWdimVO5UXhJ508opOglBjZFOsjgXnzDhxotAt5bnrPzxaDCBmVDlMyG4PDr-STJSNjUF_qcEnyzU2uRVgkgRrMENeYLU/s640/blogger-image-1735010989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCCTYBS6da-C4IXBbOmJZI0VrCrRI4CsxPkjemTNSuW55cloWdimVO5UXhJ508opOglBjZFOsjgXnzDhxotAt5bnrPzxaDCBmVDlMyG4PDr-STJSNjUF_qcEnyzU2uRVgkgRrMENeYLU/s640/blogger-image-1735010989.jpg"></a></div></div>Neither did Todd.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51oG1OpmraCVk1LUD-BSn9JuLcSTi8ji8yxRZyjPwWlN47hn4Q1LSyNsSoCIgbfCp87ZVKCQ1vb2b7oqOY_80F10505X-wwMaZmP5_XMlTaOStSPNtMPPGVQumQluaLsl7NO-Qb1e2Q0/s640/blogger-image-722202577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51oG1OpmraCVk1LUD-BSn9JuLcSTi8ji8yxRZyjPwWlN47hn4Q1LSyNsSoCIgbfCp87ZVKCQ1vb2b7oqOY_80F10505X-wwMaZmP5_XMlTaOStSPNtMPPGVQumQluaLsl7NO-Qb1e2Q0/s640/blogger-image-722202577.jpg"></a></div>Statistics is HARD. It is also surprisingly addicting and fun. This problem is wrong. I divided by a standard deviation of 10 but the SD was something like 4.063 or something. I can't remember but I fixed it. My life is blessed because I have good friends that FaceTime me and help me with my homework. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">CONFESSION: My mom, my husband, and my little kids cleaned my barn ALL DAY Saturday and I did homework ALL DAY. I barely left my bedroom. I did not allow myself to feel guilty about this, I just focused, and it felt SO good to feel prepared for this next week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmy9DTZrIugr-Qj_ahEm36kinKll-359FlRB07D1YphHvYl17YxWEj0Yea5guRp7OR6iE42Krmmwk_38z1R6xoexCM18Sn1osp2h5xuNYwSjfAlQhnoQ4-hnPhj_8ltkIJAyQXx1AUl8/s640/blogger-image--169383036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmy9DTZrIugr-Qj_ahEm36kinKll-359FlRB07D1YphHvYl17YxWEj0Yea5guRp7OR6iE42Krmmwk_38z1R6xoexCM18Sn1osp2h5xuNYwSjfAlQhnoQ4-hnPhj_8ltkIJAyQXx1AUl8/s640/blogger-image--169383036.jpg"></a></div>Anna and Ellie both had parties they wanted to go to on Saturday night. I told them they could not go unless they were completely caught up on their seminary lessons. Ellie was 30 lessons behind (or something like that.) They are doing online seminary. Worked well for my boys who woke up at 5 a.m. every day. Doesn't work so well for my girls who wake up at 7a.m. to leave by 7:30 a.m.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yes, I let Ellie stay home sick on Friday to catch-up. I think I did the right thing. She feels so much happier with seminary completed and with a clean room. They both had fun at their parties Saturday night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkCXEXAukRwbI4qrPyVUymSJ57ipqxAA0qVt67wG0J58T2vtTDKhoDGz3IBBjmIeNKHbgX1paQodm3r-h8hUalWc-GkOYok-491fXUccgbbOW13YqyfHK2u-hUy0PPT2688-lPnZAf_s/s640/blogger-image-1942165119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSkCXEXAukRwbI4qrPyVUymSJ57ipqxAA0qVt67wG0J58T2vtTDKhoDGz3IBBjmIeNKHbgX1paQodm3r-h8hUalWc-GkOYok-491fXUccgbbOW13YqyfHK2u-hUy0PPT2688-lPnZAf_s/s640/blogger-image-1942165119.jpg"></a></div>Things I take from my kids during church sacrament meeting...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwSu-NZDbYEadLYmk8AyVZj6J5LhZtQL1Odl6IzfVtHW2madoRF40IZsjNNHfYz7Pl0we5IQgNNSm6fuJhOZIwEDKj6-eyjL6fnuFNoq1AQf8czOfrEVt5K9GMH_k4DDvJNMChvk7q_g/s640/blogger-image--440143805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwSu-NZDbYEadLYmk8AyVZj6J5LhZtQL1Odl6IzfVtHW2madoRF40IZsjNNHfYz7Pl0we5IQgNNSm6fuJhOZIwEDKj6-eyjL6fnuFNoq1AQf8czOfrEVt5K9GMH_k4DDvJNMChvk7q_g/s640/blogger-image--440143805.jpg"></a></div>Love those letters.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCBhKh8YeLiVrHmbUxv3HQNIg9zS821xvJaJkOCVV6UHy7COGQ_ITxOMPWOUtDkPzuQqw4sRU5kLvESQPzoLGmkFt16KU0G1pILCfgOZ_qtifANgqyck3j3ASgi4o9QRGaePdMX509Qw/s640/blogger-image--1758696108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCCBhKh8YeLiVrHmbUxv3HQNIg9zS821xvJaJkOCVV6UHy7COGQ_ITxOMPWOUtDkPzuQqw4sRU5kLvESQPzoLGmkFt16KU0G1pILCfgOZ_qtifANgqyck3j3ASgi4o9QRGaePdMX509Qw/s640/blogger-image--1758696108.jpg"></a></div>Leah sneaks and folds her program into origami planes, cootie catchers, and whatever else she thinks of. I don't really mind, but she IS eleven years old. I always ask her to stop if I see her, I think this helps her keep her folding small and unnoticeable. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Guests were sitting right in front of us in our small church meeting today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When I tried to take the chicken Leah was flinging around, she didn't want to give it to me. I insisted. I whispered, "Give it to me now, please. That's one. Two. Three." She was still arguing. I laughed at myself saying "Three. I said three. I'm serious now." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">She said "fine!" Too loud. And gave it to me. Really, I didn't think these little things were too distracting. But, we spend enough time arguing about dumb small toys and I never have to worry about big distractions. I guess my church philosophy is that if I draw my line ahead of what I really do think is too loud for church, they never get there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My kids are pretty good during church. We have no toys or books, but I do give them a piece of gum or a mint halfway through. Sometimes I give Eve or Ben a pen and a program. The teenagers are harder than toddlers because they tease the toddlers and make them scream. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We take a whole row at church. I ALWAYS wanted that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love sitting with my kids and watching Todd on the stand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today I taught all the 12-18 youth second hour and then taught 12+ third hour (a Stake PA Just Serve presentation).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEXdACjTK1gWTQpdE3TT1Yl95mnF_j4w0f0yWSB03T5g-4J-6i-aPOAwIG4_gkazQSudVK6ZZnr4YsGn6W84LqrbXdNhrirkGH9iKEQ6XYLzKTLm7ykD6Mrx3BaZ8QaUgSDZAS_peJ2E/s640/blogger-image--1673827315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEXdACjTK1gWTQpdE3TT1Yl95mnF_j4w0f0yWSB03T5g-4J-6i-aPOAwIG4_gkazQSudVK6ZZnr4YsGn6W84LqrbXdNhrirkGH9iKEQ6XYLzKTLm7ykD6Mrx3BaZ8QaUgSDZAS_peJ2E/s640/blogger-image--1673827315.jpg"></a></div>A mom from Midvale texted me this picture of Jakob and his companion at church today. Her daughter, Sister Johnson (pictured on the plaque), is serving here in the Utica, NY mission. I can't wait to see her and text a picture back to her mom! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdlBNbXZQ5zVxvkF6ek98skr8WoOdLwmxcs6n1sKtTi1_MRvozxwBNH4iasa52TF0vJw64loCeHuuPgAx8fGTFOT1veGYUA32O8lDbPlrmCyWPzBckOAUVdVBY_DiHXt0UobrCe7UCX0/s640/blogger-image-774450766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdlBNbXZQ5zVxvkF6ek98skr8WoOdLwmxcs6n1sKtTi1_MRvozxwBNH4iasa52TF0vJw64loCeHuuPgAx8fGTFOT1veGYUA32O8lDbPlrmCyWPzBckOAUVdVBY_DiHXt0UobrCe7UCX0/s640/blogger-image-774450766.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Isn't he adorable?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Man, I miss his face.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I miss his JOY. He brings joy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh, I love that kid. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdaFY2lWHIxrLYutWO_MgHUKwhr6VAI1aa8dbVUrmcC0MF1uJ44sOxXQXP2-DimnSbguAsF-sGr34R14DOhfU64WnjdI8m0T1paLr0i-LmCztNsFTI5VXhG2qU77o5sIE6WJ0CrPRO6Q/s640/blogger-image--698317165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdaFY2lWHIxrLYutWO_MgHUKwhr6VAI1aa8dbVUrmcC0MF1uJ44sOxXQXP2-DimnSbguAsF-sGr34R14DOhfU64WnjdI8m0T1paLr0i-LmCztNsFTI5VXhG2qU77o5sIE6WJ0CrPRO6Q/s640/blogger-image--698317165.jpg"></a></div></div>Can you believe TWO moms from Midvale texted me pictures this week?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He doesn't feel that far away when I see pictures. Look at those good, good young men. God bless them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Be kind to the missionaries you see.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Listen to the message they have to share.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG6p1PthnU7APZdwYoHx4d-Qe0NeXf8brbkdWGB89u64Iw9svrXBhzwjRCHD7GrjM6qk1mFPN2yJeKCC8c7xflk7SNCQaTG0tXoE2qeTIaoMNa9IR2n47UGme5lK0QYI_Hl-8keGrhSs/s640/blogger-image--261484892.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXG6p1PthnU7APZdwYoHx4d-Qe0NeXf8brbkdWGB89u64Iw9svrXBhzwjRCHD7GrjM6qk1mFPN2yJeKCC8c7xflk7SNCQaTG0tXoE2qeTIaoMNa9IR2n47UGme5lK0QYI_Hl-8keGrhSs/s640/blogger-image--261484892.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I thought this was a funny costume for Todd and I to wear at a couples party. 😂</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kidding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But, I'm NOT kidding that Halloween is on Tuesday and I still do not have costumes for my kids. I'm thinking </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74nWLvFBnhzW_7vKqmpYv1KFgBOtZKiLi-SWNwwsQ7xcpuEIBWUz5WDs0pFMuuD9E5nT97m0ta6JKj7CpWZ6ZJhGeplnn_liM6XVAPKBvaWPrUfIx3oyV0oRT-mW39zEIESCOW24JDEA/s640/blogger-image-501399820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74nWLvFBnhzW_7vKqmpYv1KFgBOtZKiLi-SWNwwsQ7xcpuEIBWUz5WDs0pFMuuD9E5nT97m0ta6JKj7CpWZ6ZJhGeplnn_liM6XVAPKBvaWPrUfIx3oyV0oRT-mW39zEIESCOW24JDEA/s640/blogger-image-501399820.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWmgayB2KAtBJI_nhPw9R1QrBVOoKf_rUN4VI-bFgpG5CiP0rdFPTkKWwdWHaTqW7jpn8thAVZVymgksmHPjTr7NzcQq1FSapS4aP3BLdslivR7-FpBA75bKqIIGOymot5box-esy_WY/s640/blogger-image--1991012014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWmgayB2KAtBJI_nhPw9R1QrBVOoKf_rUN4VI-bFgpG5CiP0rdFPTkKWwdWHaTqW7jpn8thAVZVymgksmHPjTr7NzcQq1FSapS4aP3BLdslivR7-FpBA75bKqIIGOymot5box-esy_WY/s640/blogger-image--1991012014.jpg"></a></div></div>Not too hard.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have already decided that all black will work if I can't find black and white stripes at Walmart tomorrow. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've got this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh friends. We went to a fireside tonight about journaling and I am committed to journaling again. I do write a private journal at times. But I think I miss this space, to think and record.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I almost sent Ben to bed early tonight because he was running laps in my living room, I sent him to count to ten on the bench, and he did not listen. I dressed him in is green and white pjs and he stood with his hands on his hips pleading not to go to bed. "Please Mom," he said in his calm, sweetest voice, "I will count for you. How many? One? Two? Three? I will do that. No problem mom." I said twenty. He said. "Okay, that's fine mom," and he went down to the bench. Ellie was beside me cracking up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love that my kids love little kids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My mom has been staying with us. I can't even tell you how nice it is to have her folding my laundry, caring for my kids when I'm gone, cooking dinner, and working in my yard. She amazes me. She does so much. There is nobody in the world that tries harder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It has been such a blessing to have her here. And, it has been hard having her here too. I'm snotty sometimes. I'm also protective and defensive. Her ways are often different than mine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Honestly, I want to figure out how to live with my mom. I want to learn how to listen without feeling defensive and how to speak without being offensive. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">It is good to learn these lessons. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Grad school, grandma, Halloween, missions-- I guess the theme of my life right now is that life is good, even as it stretches us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm not quite sure why I am someone who is always stretching. I do know that there is joy in the journey.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Thanks for listening to my deep thoughts on a Sunday evening. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Good night. </div><br></div></div></div><br></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-20713210894881268652017-09-04T13:09:00.000-07:002017-09-04T13:14:19.354-07:00Civil Societies Change the World for the Better<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever heard the term civil society?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you a member of an organization that was started by citizens to help make the world a better place?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How much of your time is spent volunteering?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How much money do you devote to philanthropic causes?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are questions we should all as ourselves as we consider the applied role that citizenship and religion should play in our lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Active community service is not only central to my belief as a Christian generally and a member of the Mormon Church specifically, but participation in society is incumbent upon us as citizens of a democracy.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20px;">“Western societies are not held together primarily by the overall enforcement of laws, which would be impractical, but most importantly by citizens who voluntarily obey the unenforceable because of their internal norms of correct behavior. For many, it is religious belief in right and wrong and anticipated accountability to a Higher Power that produces such voluntary self-regulation.” Elder Dallin H. Oaks</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b;">Read the transcript of his talk </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6b6b6b;"><a href="http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/transcript-elder-oaks-university-oxford">The Complementary Functions of Religion and Government in a Global Setting </a>here.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NnhTJZF4jqc" width="560"></iframe><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favorite things about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the humanitarian aide work that we are involved in. LDS Charities is an example of a faith-based organization (FBO) that is an active part of our Civil Society.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are many different definitions of civil society, in general this refers to a third-sector of society, separate from both government and business. Civil society usually refers to nonprofit organizations formally and any charitable group informally that is focused on philanthropy, volunteerism, and contributing to the overall good society in the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This year, I am in graduate school full-time completing a one-year Masters in Public Administration program with a certificate of advanced studies in Civil Society Organizations from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Prior to returning to school, I was a civil society junkie without ever knowing the term civil society. I have been actively involved as a member, teacher, leader and Public Affairs representative for the Mormon Church. I have been a National Face of Accreta and president of the New York chapter of Hope for Accreta, a Red Cross Spokesperson, MOPS member, a PTA and PTO member in 4 different states, a PTA board member, President, and district board member. I helped to design the Finding Common Ground 6 week interfaith dialogue course with the El-Hindi Center for Dialogue at Interfaith Works of CNY. I was a sponsor and planner for Dinner Dialogues, World Harmony Day, the Duck Race to End Racism, Refugee Ambassador Program, and The Spirit of America. I'm currently serving as the National Communications Chair on the board for American Mothers, Inc. Additionally, I have been part of many informal, socially involved groups including my Tully Mother Cluckers book group, various quilting clubs, mom preschool and play groups, and as a member of many online Facebook or blog groups. I love civil society.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For twenty years, I was a full-time, stay at home mother and homemaker who rarely stayed at home. One of my favorite parts of not having a 'career' was the fact that I could choose how I spent my time and efforts. Early on, I realized that my family and community were equally blessed as I served outside my home. My eight children have grown up sitting quietly beside me as I attended community meetings, helping me to set-up and clean-up from community events, interacting with friends in our communities who were physically, ethnically, and religiously diverse. My children have developed a natural ease and confidence, they are quick to help, they aren't afraid to plan large events, suggest large projects, or to lead large or small groups of people. Because we were always involved in our communities, my home had to function smoothly and orderly. Civil society has blessed my family.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Civil society or charitable efforts have brought about great changes in societies around the world. As we work together to find peace, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, respond to disaster, rescue, teach, heal, and love each other, our world is becoming a better place. Goodness begins with citizens.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I believe in civil society.</span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 19.6px;"><img alt="Giving USA 2017 Infographic" height="438" src="https://givingusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Giving-USA-2017-Infographic.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-58820447389666083142017-08-26T04:39:00.002-07:002017-11-01T11:44:52.870-07:00Loving Your Neighbors<br>
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He was a French teacher and she has the happiest laugh and the sweetest daughters. They are from Mozambique and spent 10 years in a refugee camp before coming to America. I learned in a storytelling class that I participated in, that we need to be very careful telling other people's stories. I honestly can't tell you their story, but I can tell you mine.<br>
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I was scared of refugees when I was first asked to pick up a large Muslim family who was arriving from the Middle East. I got the call from my friend, Daryl, who works with Interfaith Works in CNY who works along with Catholic Charities to settle refugees in Syracuse. She called because it was a large family and they needed my 15 passenger van to get them from the airport to their new home. She mentioned that they usually provided a meal but due to the late notice, they didn't have a meal planned. I was sitting in library story time and withing 5 minutes all of my fellow story time moms had agreed to make part of a meal that I could bring with me later that night.<br>
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I am not exaggerating when I tell you that being there, at that airport that night, was a transformative moment for me. I was born-again, again. I saw a family walk nervously through the halls of the Syracuse International Airport and stop, unsure how to proceed through the revolving doors that separated us. Their clothing surprised me because it was very American. The parents wore colorful, native outfits, but the children were dressed in shirts with NFL team logos or funny American "drink milk" slogans. They wore shoes awkwardly, flip flops really, and were obviously cold but had no jackets. All of their belongings were packed in a few zippered, plastic bags, similar to the recyclable bags you can buy to bring your groceries home in.<br>
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It is hard to describe the people, because they had a depth in their eyes that is hard to describe. I saw pain, hope, exhaustion, excitement, fear, love, worry, and gratitude. My soul immediately loved them and I yearned to ease their concern and welcome them to their new land. I have NEVER felt more proud to be an American then I did in that moment. In that moment, I felt like the statue of liberty, representing America to these people. <br>
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Emma Lazarus' poem was etched into my soul with a strength and love that will ever remain.<br>
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The New Colossus</h1>
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<span class="c-txt c-txt_attribution" style="border: 0px; color: #494949; display: inline-block; font-size: 0.875rem; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: 1.4px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; vertical-align: baseline;">BY <a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emma-lazarus" style="border: 0px; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; transition: color 250ms cubic-bezier(0.215, 0.61, 0.355, 1); vertical-align: baseline;">EMMA LAZARUS</a></span></div>
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Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, </div>
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With conquering limbs astride from land to land; </div>
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Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand </div>
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A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame </div>
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Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name </div>
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Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand </div>
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Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command </div>
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The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame. </div>
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“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she </div>
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With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor, </div>
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Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, </div>
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The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. </div>
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Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, </div>
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I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” </div>
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Give ME your tired, your poor, your HUDDLED MASSES YEARNING TO BREATHE FREE, THE WRETCHED REFUSE OF YOUR TEEMING SHORE. SEND THESE, THE HOMELESS, TEMPEST-TOST TO ME". (I love this inspired poem. I love the image of a brass warrior, a Greek giant who guards against intruders who has been by a welcoming MOTHER holding a torch in her hand to guide weary travelers safely to our doors. Yes! Let us welcome. Let us hold our torches high! Not just to welcome kings, but to welcome the tired, poor, huddled masses yearning to BREATHE free. We breathe free my friends. Can we not share this great gift? Isn't there always room for one more at our table?)<br>
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I remember the sign-language, charade style introductions. My husband helping with bags and logistics and me, trying to catch the mother's eye to smile deep into her soul. Instantly I was drawn to the children. The teenagers had eyes that held secrets no teenager should have to carry, but the young children still twinkled with mischief and joy. As I buckled these sweet children into my van, into my own children's car seats and boosters, I literally felt my heart attach to theirs. I knew then, as I know now, that these families need our help. They are not 'foreigners' or even terrorists. They are my brothers, my sisters, my sons, my daughters, and not only did my conscience demand that I help them, I knew that my religion meant NOTHING if I did not love and serve His children who were seeking refuge.<br>
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And, since that day, I have shared my conversion story with many people. I have helped to initiate some beautiful efforts to help refugees in our area. But, there is so much more I wish I could do.<br>
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I get overwhelmed when I think of all the world problems. I frankly get overwhelmed when I try to write a To Do List of all that I have to do for my own family each day. But, I have learned an eternal and essential lesson. Our families are BLESSED as we SERVE with them. Perhaps I should say SERVING others is actually BLESSING your family.<br>
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Jesus taught the parable of the loaves and the fishes. Share all that you have and He will multiply it. He makes 5 loaves and 3 fishes enough to feed 5000. I believe in miracles because I have SEEN miracles. I have watched me teenagers become holy, kind, loving young adults BECAUSE they serve others.<br>
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I don't feel sorry for refugees. God holds them in his hand and His light shines in their eyes.<br>
The reason I believe in a loving God even when I see tragedy around me is two fold.<br>
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First, I believe trials refine and purify our souls. I believe suffering is temporary and holy. One of our main purposes in coming to Earth (indeed even one of our Savior's main purposes in coming to Earth) is to descend below all things. As we ache, we are able to feel comforted. As we yearn, we recognize answers. As we want, we feel true gratitude. As we are filled with sorrow, we have room for a fullness of joy. Suffering highlights all that is real and true in life.<br>
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Second, I believe in a God of Compensatory blessings. He compensates when times are hard by sending angels round about us. He blesses us with gifts and understanding, compassion, empathy, eternal perspective, community, and peace. In the midst of great suffering, He sends true healing.<br>
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Perhaps this is why I love refugees so much. I feel within them a refined soul. I feel their nearness to God. I feel their humility and their pure gratitude. Having watched naturalization ceremonies where refugees have become American citizens, and having sat with them as these new Americans talk about what they love about our country, I have felt renewed in my love for democracy, and citizenship in this land that strives for freedom and justice for all.<br>
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I am not bragging about the service that I have done. In all honesty, I have done VERY little. My heart is bigger than my capacity to serve at times.<br>
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I'm sharing with you my deep, heartfelt conviction that we can and should love our neighbors more.<br>
We should start with a desire and try to do something, even if it is a small thing.<br>
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We should invite people into our homes who are different religions, different colors, different nationalities. We should love their children and share the gifts God has blessed us with. As we do this, our families will be blessed. Not just blessed by God because they are doing some noble service. Blessed by the people we THINK we are serving because really, it is an honor to serve people who are refined.<br>
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Matthew 25<br>
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:<br>
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:<br>
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.<br>
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?<br>
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?<br>
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?<br>
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you,<span style="color: red;"> Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.</span><br>
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<i><span style="color: #6b6b6b; font-family: "opensans" , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If it has been demonstrated that I
have been willing to die for a "Mormon," I am bold to declare
before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a
Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any denomination; for the same
principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would
trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination
who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves. It is a love of liberty
which inspires my soul — civil and religious liberty to the whole of the human
race.<br>
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—Joseph Smith, 1843<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: "arial";"><b>Hebrews 13:2 </b></span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "verdana" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.</span></div>
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Do you want to help refugees in your area? Click <a href="https://www.lds.org/refugees?lang=eng">here to read 40 Ways To Help Refugees in Your Community.</a><br>
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<img alt="40 Ways to Help Refugees in Your Community." height="360" src="https://content.ldschurch.org/welfare/bc/refugees/IWAS-Banner.jpg" width="640"></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: , "blinkmacsystemfont" , "segoe ui" , "roboto" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">❤️</span>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-28483686603764762952017-08-08T04:51:00.001-07:002017-08-08T04:54:42.752-07:00As He Grows From Boy To Man<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x-exolgxWB3UXrwOtqpXv-Gnmfsn3VOel_uh7Xb6n79h_DocFMYqLcoJuDN7zj4haFoHuuwucdSC1hkpCdv_bzfN-2hg1AEiKQKMdEpDxF5zLXRvjvgPACik8yBkZYT9sdDsIA6bkqQ/s640/blogger-image--1287435222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9x-exolgxWB3UXrwOtqpXv-Gnmfsn3VOel_uh7Xb6n79h_DocFMYqLcoJuDN7zj4haFoHuuwucdSC1hkpCdv_bzfN-2hg1AEiKQKMdEpDxF5zLXRvjvgPACik8yBkZYT9sdDsIA6bkqQ/s640/blogger-image--1287435222.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqJqfvrbJTxdmRuiLp8AHxbIasGdvA4zQ6y5PkyoyWJOFPrU25hOnyDCIgp1XlYeNiiNG-uEF0t0H3fX3fEdWnKLowxtufJ6d-Ehnh1iqEght2ad501rUfD45PiL4doV4xyj0uT8ZB4M/s640/blogger-image-1997961646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqJqfvrbJTxdmRuiLp8AHxbIasGdvA4zQ6y5PkyoyWJOFPrU25hOnyDCIgp1XlYeNiiNG-uEF0t0H3fX3fEdWnKLowxtufJ6d-Ehnh1iqEght2ad501rUfD45PiL4doV4xyj0uT8ZB4M/s640/blogger-image-1997961646.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qzRj-rdp5e1yPwVOwnGr1TqfqEryPE8ZXGxodoMXlM-KXu7rEUyWi1hqcq3qTjix16uouOf6suUXG8Ey5z53PM4WHGHHQ0pvdymS1ARkqWIyZW8KY07pluPZaG7tmGrvAtSM0k5p-Fc/s640/blogger-image--1233866966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qzRj-rdp5e1yPwVOwnGr1TqfqEryPE8ZXGxodoMXlM-KXu7rEUyWi1hqcq3qTjix16uouOf6suUXG8Ey5z53PM4WHGHHQ0pvdymS1ARkqWIyZW8KY07pluPZaG7tmGrvAtSM0k5p-Fc/s640/blogger-image--1233866966.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We give our children roots and wings.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We want them to leave us, to learn, to grow, to serve.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And yet, as they progress to the next momentous stage of life we know they are leaving behind a stage that we love. We will mourn the loss of boy even as we love the new man.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Jakob has caused me my fair share of heartaches. But oh how I love that kid.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We were out running errands and had lunch at some big taco joint. I told him I really wasn't sad that he was leaving. I'm SO happy for him and I really don't want him at home watching dumb TV for the rest of his life. He looked into my eyes with his twinkling half smile and said. "Ok mom. So you won't cry when you don't see my coat hanging on the kitchen chair." I cried just thinking about that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I can't help it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love that child SO much. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I LOVE having my kids all together, playing in the pool, singing in the car, squabbling at the dinner table, teasing in the church pew, laughing, sleeping, working, just being together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">THIS stage of togetherness has ended.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">That hurts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But, every single sunset in my life has been followed by a beautiful sunrise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I bawled when Jakob left for kindergarten. Bawled.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And then, he came home happy and told me all the wonderful things he had learned. And, my ache was less.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He was scared of the mean lunch ladies and didn't know what a "single smile line" was, but he figured things out. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We both did.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When Drew left home the next year it was still hard (for me and him) but not as hard because Jakob had led the way, with a smile and a wave and the assurance that he would be fine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">God sent me Jakob first because He knew I would need his strength and confidence.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh my dear, dear boy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Know every second of your life that you are loved. Know that God is real, that He hears your prayers, that Heaven is near, and that you have angels on your right hand and on your left.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Serve with your heart, might, mind, and strength.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love like your mom taught you how to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Believe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And take lots of pictures.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We will miss you and celebrate all that you are.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Two years. A life tithe. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh, what a beautiful plan. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I think I'm going to love this new stage.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFj4qUkzPjm4KvAx954w5K0JhKzBuKVJ5fMl2qnsqTDGXBOud8jY5xHfQg9x4qNl7Zk6zSVwzMAc2b3SgOeS3vpMYAIuTY-_2aAaXxUY9DREhOV4hv6CPYy-0VDkg9qjZHIq92JGmY2k8/s640/blogger-image-410505005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFj4qUkzPjm4KvAx954w5K0JhKzBuKVJ5fMl2qnsqTDGXBOud8jY5xHfQg9x4qNl7Zk6zSVwzMAc2b3SgOeS3vpMYAIuTY-_2aAaXxUY9DREhOV4hv6CPYy-0VDkg9qjZHIq92JGmY2k8/s640/blogger-image-410505005.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7nnBqnIH1RyKHIPxzZum_W_C0Nv1CIY9-03EYgurx4LKsa6pveqUV0v43eS_JU3AvoYPQRPZ9nwwHN9Wasn24ZibUsyAUzlVFyIuPDqOFEyhlrTe4UTG1-6cGC5hhPXusZbkttQoJ6c/s640/blogger-image--1881602392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7nnBqnIH1RyKHIPxzZum_W_C0Nv1CIY9-03EYgurx4LKsa6pveqUV0v43eS_JU3AvoYPQRPZ9nwwHN9Wasn24ZibUsyAUzlVFyIuPDqOFEyhlrTe4UTG1-6cGC5hhPXusZbkttQoJ6c/s640/blogger-image--1881602392.jpg"></a></div>Life is good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is the best kind of hard.</div></div><br></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-15412976439368215272017-07-14T17:08:00.000-07:002017-07-14T17:08:07.108-07:00Huffington Post-UK Shows My MUMBOD<img alt="jenifer moss" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/5404164/thumbs/o-JENIFER-MOSS-570.jpg?6" /><br />
<br />
So, an article I wrote was published in the Huffington Post-UK for a column they are doing celebrating "MUMBODS". My aunt read a similar article and sent me a note encouraging me to tell my story. I say down for an hour, typed up a small email, and sent it off. They wrote back asking me to make it longer and wanting to include pictures and then I got an email saying I was published and on the front page.<br />
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I loved that my article was right next to an article about the benefits to sleeping naked. Perhaps we could have linked MUM BODS to naked sleeping in some way?<br />
<br />
Anyway, here is the link if you would like to read it. <br />
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jenifer-moss/my-eight-children-are-constant-reminders-of-how-wonderful-my-mumbod-is_b_17403044.html">http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/jenifer-moss/my-eight-children-are-constant-reminders-of-how-wonderful-my-mumbod-is_b_17403044.html</a><br />
<br />
I'm certain there are still some people in the world who haven't seen my cute, scarred tummy.<br />
<br />
I hope you are well, my long lost blog friends.<br />
<br />
I miss you.<br />
<br />
I miss blogging.<br />
<br />
I am in graduate school full-time and I am loving it.<br />
<br />
Life is good!jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-4220076753585030232017-02-03T07:11:00.001-08:002017-02-03T07:11:53.992-08:00ACT because you LOVE!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rbJKJeNR7GzEeEmOLl06thl9-kybFCLUsM4KAuOI6TEE4Jy1sQLV_wdqCZGYjJzMNl-W_RgUJXVCac6y8xat7ERQepqOnxI8EtdGZ2rQBg7vEndejbkIMmodZhvShyphenhyphenC5VTSvW2Obg28/s640/blogger-image-586934725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4rbJKJeNR7GzEeEmOLl06thl9-kybFCLUsM4KAuOI6TEE4Jy1sQLV_wdqCZGYjJzMNl-W_RgUJXVCac6y8xat7ERQepqOnxI8EtdGZ2rQBg7vEndejbkIMmodZhvShyphenhyphenC5VTSvW2Obg28/s640/blogger-image-586934725.jpg"></font></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Have you heard the saying- "Don't exercise because you HATE your body, exercise because you LOVE it."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I love that.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Acting because we love is powerful!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I believe old Scratch fills our mind with numbing, paralyzing, feelings of self-doubt and GUILT. Because he knows that acting out of guilt or fear will rob us of the JOY that naturally comes from acting. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you fix food that is healthy because you're fat, unhealthy, and sacrificing the REALLY AMAZING UNHEALTHY FOOD you can't have, you probably will feel miserable and guilty the whole time you're ACTING healthy. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">If you choose to eat healthy food because you LOVE colorful nourishment, and because you're WISE enough to know what your body needs, and because you're CREATIVE enough to plan good, delicious food for your body-- you will feel powerful and amazing!! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This principle applies to almost every aspect of our lives!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Clean, because you LOVE a clean house and don't feel angry or guilty that you haven't cleaned yet or that your house is messy. Embrace your actions and heighten your motivations, and in doing this you will feel a fullness of joy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Can you have political conversations with people without feeling angry? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yes!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We know how to really care about issues without being mean, fearful, or angry.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Talk about what you LOVE and VALUE, not what you fear and hate.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Some people mistakingly believe that if you focus on the positive you are giving the darkness more power.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I don't agree.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I believe you give darkness power when you feel contentious, angry, afraid, or tense.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I believe that anyone who acts in love will feel bright, free, powerful, happy, and joyful! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am not the coach that motivates his team with threats and demeaning slurs.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But I am the mother that looks right into the eyes of a child scared to jump off a diving board as I say-- "YOU CAN DO THIS!! Keep trying! You are not a wimp because you're scared. You're brave because you jump anyway!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When you are watching your child learn to tie their shoes you tell them they are doing a great job! Because they're trying! Can you imagine a mom leaning over her child whispering, "How old are you? You still haven't figured this out? Geesh, that loop is too long. Everyone else figured this out so much faster than you did." No! This child would hate shoe tying, hate herself, and hate her mother.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What if you went to tuck your child into bed at night and every night told them everything that you saw in them that was wrong. You would be wrong and hurtful. Your child would be paralyzed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Protect your children.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Protect yourself!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It does not threaten our religious liberty to allow others to choose a different way of life. And, we can live our religion without pointing out to everyone how different we are from them. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We can ACT differently even as we LOVE.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Was it Elder Ballard that used to drink milk at executive socials? He drank milk, because he wanted to! He didn't argue with every liqueur drinking associate. He didn't hold up a poster of a child with FASD or feel defensive every time someone mentioned his drink was different.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today I want to be a mother who is better at discerning LOVE and HATE. I am going to guard my own thoughts better.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Can't you see what I'm seeing?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We need to fiercely defend against the flaxen chords that are weaving themselves into our thoughts and our words.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Place cherubim and a flaming sword to guard your mind and your mouth! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Be filled with VIRTUE and feel power in acting even as we are all still becoming.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We can do this!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Discern!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Guard!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">ACT with power. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Love God and Love your neighbor as yourself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Onward Mother Soldiers! 💗💗</span></div></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-39796805146401663682017-02-03T05:26:00.001-08:002017-02-03T05:26:00.791-08:00March Because You Love!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8MUmfHOB_M-LJ7SriuTmJ2rRlf7ZEzDA_3rBegpxZP0MluJp32q_JXhExoVTumGJvypp7_hIeTX9UaiX6IRtInf2Z-l2wxmzBMlZi_UeY3bW2aavqlIw7xO7z8uDfcnqQol3B6C2hFc/s640/blogger-image--1109644963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-8MUmfHOB_M-LJ7SriuTmJ2rRlf7ZEzDA_3rBegpxZP0MluJp32q_JXhExoVTumGJvypp7_hIeTX9UaiX6IRtInf2Z-l2wxmzBMlZi_UeY3bW2aavqlIw7xO7z8uDfcnqQol3B6C2hFc/s640/blogger-image--1109644963.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm still marching through my thoughts these days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This was a Facebook post I wrote last week:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have been very vocal lately in my support of the Women's March and my concern with Trump's refugee policy. Is this hypocritical of me- a Pro Life Conservative? I just don't see the world as polarized as most people do. I'm very moderate. I see good virtues in both parties and I feel great danger in the constant fight between us. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><b>When you honestly feel that your views are RIGHT and another large group of people are WRONG then you start shouting at each other and stop listening to each other. </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I hear a lot of people who want more goodness in the world and a lot of people who are really angry at the evil in the world. I don't think we have to fight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Is killing too many black children less wrong than killing too many cops? No. They are both wrong and there is a solution that is right and will save lives on both sides. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Do we have to make abortion illegal to save lives and promote life? No. We can preach morality, ethics, birth control, respect for life even if women keep the choice. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Let's try to get more women to choose life and I'm pretty sure half the people we've been fighting would fight with us! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Can we legitimize people even if we don't embrace their lifestyle choices? Yes! Of course we can. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I have no problem teaching my children that smoking is not healthy even as I teach them that smokers should be able to order wedding cakes, pee in the stall next to me, come to my home as beloved friends and family, and act as my teacher and mentor in so many ways. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We CAN absolutely legitimize and believe that people who live lives different from our own ideal life deserve safety, respect, and protection under the law. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I believe that people are good. I believe that we are more alike then we are different. I'm not deceived, I'm charitable. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm not a Democrat but if I have to choose to be liberal with my pride or liberal with my love-- I will choose to be liberal with my love. Charity never faileth.</div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-76456477184787370962017-01-23T00:06:00.001-08:002017-01-23T16:05:30.535-08:00Mormon Women March<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5SfeMDVrqd-CvMVDw4LkOUCBuISNFlFHE9dTa7yw8yoW6l6jJldLACE8lIV4XXKsLcYQIR44N_QGjdwVlJpiG3tJzSJklSdxxn944F1DftSfTxYEz2gTfkFSawJnCMfVBtUSGm2jrB4/s640/blogger-image-1830171585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5SfeMDVrqd-CvMVDw4LkOUCBuISNFlFHE9dTa7yw8yoW6l6jJldLACE8lIV4XXKsLcYQIR44N_QGjdwVlJpiG3tJzSJklSdxxn944F1DftSfTxYEz2gTfkFSawJnCMfVBtUSGm2jrB4/s640/blogger-image-1830171585.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I woke up yesterday morning and the strength of womanhood pulsed through my soul. In truth, as a caring conservative Mormon woman I was wracked with conflict. I yearned to March with Women everywhere and I worried that I was wrong for what I was feeling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">At home with 4 of my 8 children exercising my body and soul through Saturday morning chores, my mind was envisioning millions of women across the world marching together for love, unity, and kindness. I wanted to feel what that Women's March would feel like! My soul felt so tired of standing apart and I just yearned to march forward together. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I wanted my five daughters to know that we can be different from the world and still be unified with our sisters in the world.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I wanted to shout to all who would listen, "<i>They that are with us are MORE than they that are against us."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The motto "<i>Charity NEVER Faileth</i>" echoed with strength and power through my mind and I finished our laundry with determination and precision.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As I was tidying rooms I glanced one of my daughter's Young Women necklaces laying on a nightstand and I put it on. I knew that my symbol of power that day would not come from the hat that I wore but from the power of virtues that I held high, virtue that I embodied, and virtue that would light the way as I marched forward into an unknown future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And, at that moment I KNEW that my desire to March with my sisters was not wrong- it was foreordained. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My friends and neighbors marched together in nearby towns and around the world. They were showing support for their gay brothers, their Palestinian mothers, the dignity of women, their fear of tyranny and oppression. And, my heart marched beside them even when I wasn't completely with them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I found myself sweeping up stray Legos while chanting "<i>Let he who is without sin cast the first stone</i>" and <i>"Neither do I condemn thee," </i>over and over in my mind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">While so many I know felt called upon to highlight how we are different from the world, I knew that every fiber of being was shouting how I am the same.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are SISTERS.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We come from the same eternal Father and Heavenly Mother.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Our hearts yearn for charity, compassion, and love.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are all MOTHERS who love our children and His children.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We can stand for truth and righteousness all the days of our lives AND we can join with our sisters to march forward in unity, seeking peace, seeking love, recognizing our power, and responding to the clarion call that was issued in premortal realms. Daughters, you were born to lead and to govern. Arise and shine forth!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I learned a lesson years ago as a mother. One of my children was fighting and contentious. His Spirit was angry and his words were harsh. My initial response was to call him out, push him away, send him to his room, and feel self-righteous in labeling the wrong within him. In that moment, I was taught by Heaven. I knew that I could not fight anger with my own "righteous anger". I looked at this child and saw my son, who I loved, in his own personal struggle. I recognized my struggle at that very moment was not so different from his. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Instead of moving away from him, I moved closer, lovingly touching his arm. In my own mind, I powerfully cast hate and anger out and I willed my heart to swell with my greatest most powerful love. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In that moment I absolutely felt our ability to recognize sin separate from soul and I felt the command to LOVE more. I knew that "<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i>we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places</i>. (New Testament, Ephesians 6:12)." </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><i><br></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (New Testament, Luke 15:20)."</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><br></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>"And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. (New Testament, Luke 15:2).</i>" And even as we read this scripture we might miss the fact that it is not showing Christ's mercy, it is showing our own pharisitical blindness and pride. EVERY single meal he ate was with sinners because we all are. He TOUCHED the lepers. He healed them and he loved them. THEY are not the lepers- WE are. WE are not marching with THEM. HE marches with US. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My soul naturally swells with compassion, mercy, charity, and hope. I am grateful that my husband has a nature that guards, protects, and warns against danger. I feel great safety in his care even as my natural tendencies are so different. To deny the nurturing, loving, embracing part of my soul is to deny my very womanhood and my greatest strength.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today, I will raise my torch high! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Today, my voice will sing His praise. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I will stand and I will MARCH with my family, with my mothers, with my sisters, with my brothers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm not always sure where I will march forth or how I will march forth but I do know why.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I will <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">MARCH because my soul knows that LOVE NEVER FAILS. NEVER!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">"<i>A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i>By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (New Testament, John 13:34-35</i>)."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Marching forward I can SEE mists of darkness all around us. There is great confusion, deception, and danger on the right-hand and on the left. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We CAN press forward, united, as we hold tightly to the word of God and look towards the light, the great tree of life, symbolic of the LOVE of God. We do not need to stand alone, and we do not need to be ashamed. We can only be with our families for eternity if we gather in His Love. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are not fighting our family or even standing against our sisters. We are pressing forward TOGETHER towards love, through darkness. We are on the same team, and because we have a torch we must lead the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Oh women of God, shall we not go forth in so great a cause? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">My mother taught me a great lesson. Trust your gut. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Listen, learn, hold to the rod, and then go forth with faith!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">March on! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We are filled with the love of God and we will feel His power pushing us to love and serve His children. We don't need to suppress our generous thoughts, feel ashamed by our compassion, or shy away from mercy. We can know truth and love freely.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Mormon women, we CAN, we SHOULD, and we ARE marching forward with our sisters. We are doing this everyday by how we talk, how we act, and how we serve. HOLD tightly to truth! Press forward through mists WITH your families, neighbors, and friends.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We can hold our heads high, raise our torches, and let the love in our hearts pour into our homes, our streets, our neighborhoods, and our world!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Charity Never Faileth! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLEM8X0aiE7PrW4guGJqQ4ooHtLyPcA9IpEqJKh2eL-sVhbCIPd2_5aPNre0s3ngD0V5YbYd8dNYpMbz3YROVopSitVmCIYB_GlEz-lFFxzg1bXRKpjtMCsOGHTtuGkEIJN3bnS2YtLE/s640/blogger-image-862805931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKLEM8X0aiE7PrW4guGJqQ4ooHtLyPcA9IpEqJKh2eL-sVhbCIPd2_5aPNre0s3ngD0V5YbYd8dNYpMbz3YROVopSitVmCIYB_GlEz-lFFxzg1bXRKpjtMCsOGHTtuGkEIJN3bnS2YtLE/s640/blogger-image-862805931.jpg"></a></div><br></div></div></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-15614391848986333282017-01-11T14:21:00.001-08:002017-01-11T14:21:02.490-08:00What Shall We Give in Return for so Much?<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyskOy9Ztn6mgaiAkXawqikzocgV5fuTze5gDbx2fiIglOXcND5mkfG4ELI9WyhLlLDWUHYZAkioAGMVagGSZtd1wrK4kKad5amPKsU07gsrhUiiHmEaNhxkzO0OE8iejnG5a-KV3CH8/s640/blogger-image-460775250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMyskOy9Ztn6mgaiAkXawqikzocgV5fuTze5gDbx2fiIglOXcND5mkfG4ELI9WyhLlLDWUHYZAkioAGMVagGSZtd1wrK4kKad5amPKsU07gsrhUiiHmEaNhxkzO0OE8iejnG5a-KV3CH8/s640/blogger-image-460775250.jpg"></a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jakob was ordained as the First Assistant in his Priest Quorum on Sunday.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqBP6k80bIiH9bnsm-2lKypLLX2QFst_JZ7FPV49bJCwCvlIuS6cuq3qM4FQ8SJeCAPURAvABHbD_Y4DjlkZH2ycpfXuWs0_LI24g9QbYwPuqE86NdCdZRQSZmL03q7lhz8GG2Q0nsuM/s640/blogger-image-752873951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicqBP6k80bIiH9bnsm-2lKypLLX2QFst_JZ7FPV49bJCwCvlIuS6cuq3qM4FQ8SJeCAPURAvABHbD_Y4DjlkZH2ycpfXuWs0_LI24g9QbYwPuqE86NdCdZRQSZmL03q7lhz8GG2Q0nsuM/s640/blogger-image-752873951.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am ALIVE and healthy! I can walk and my bladder and bowels function! I can cross country ski!! </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I know God. He speaks to me, cleanses me, comforts me, and strengthens me.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvbBjsjX1NXC_2pN0C_vHt9ACO3Vt-jFhWMpiGbQXW5_kUb7IvacqYLBg1mxrq-ZDkms4rBMLndnKbYDOXmCT7iBanGCzsQ9ch3wOEXqKTRyWk2Fja2zZqw28LP6LzCtc1LBmwhpE9u8/s640/blogger-image--2060645045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvbBjsjX1NXC_2pN0C_vHt9ACO3Vt-jFhWMpiGbQXW5_kUb7IvacqYLBg1mxrq-ZDkms4rBMLndnKbYDOXmCT7iBanGCzsQ9ch3wOEXqKTRyWk2Fja2zZqw28LP6LzCtc1LBmwhpE9u8/s640/blogger-image--2060645045.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I am married to my best friend. He loves me. We have created 8 fabulous children together.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We are so blessed with a loving, generous, supportive extended family. Having moved many times throughout our marriage, our life is so full of good friends and examples.</div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YBin1_6zZcpOqs0F1__ZG8FQWcmsS9OWEr_sMcOUWu9pC1gRbWB2lq-8rleoV3sGUs7F1O0RKnx3ulpT3uONiOSKCnJXYh4lb6y1Q-DMscWZQ3mAnPAHsXGPaG4PhkvLxnMNXqb06S4/s640/blogger-image-993186156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YBin1_6zZcpOqs0F1__ZG8FQWcmsS9OWEr_sMcOUWu9pC1gRbWB2lq-8rleoV3sGUs7F1O0RKnx3ulpT3uONiOSKCnJXYh4lb6y1Q-DMscWZQ3mAnPAHsXGPaG4PhkvLxnMNXqb06S4/s640/blogger-image-993186156.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I feel blessed to live here in the United States of America! I love this beautiful land! I love our democracy and our freedoms. </div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A man I love, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, gave a talk, "The </span><span style="text-align: center; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Great the Plan of Our God!" In it he said, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"<i>Recently I had the opportunity to travel to Belfast, Northern Ireland. While there, I noticed the Belfast Coat of Arms, which includes the motto “Pro tanto quid retribuamus,” or “What shall we give in return for so much?""</i></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As I read these words today I felt that question echo in my soul.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsQDhiL81iSNs3mEktpr5sqx7Fco9lcdjpz7vY3OaYcHdohqUyY0H3GPqRXR2DTxx6ttMQloaumQhk7WhUVdbscoAN_9M9Shsv3l_lBhFOeFMLs6lT1IKbjVtzn0HMx7Ol_4_PIUnFXA/s640/blogger-image-503914456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsQDhiL81iSNs3mEktpr5sqx7Fco9lcdjpz7vY3OaYcHdohqUyY0H3GPqRXR2DTxx6ttMQloaumQhk7WhUVdbscoAN_9M9Shsv3l_lBhFOeFMLs6lT1IKbjVtzn0HMx7Ol_4_PIUnFXA/s640/blogger-image-503914456.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Pro tango quid retribuamus.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>What shall we give in return for so much?</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And so, I'll tell you.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I will give him my CONFIDENCE.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">My Heavenly Father has never let me down before and I will trust Him forever.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I will REMEMBER the miracles I've seen and the lessons I've learned.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">No matter how large and daunting the trial in front of me appears, I will remember the mountains I have already climbed. I will remember that after every hard thing I have endured I have felt the price I had to pay was worth the person I became. </span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BGytSfdyvup0C0o-4uYsyirIIZvAmaWvjcTOCvzBft2mNos06KYnyjkxeNo4jeYaPEoHenfUR0Y4CqPGFzYCGSloEN3OL8ff0yYQc77FxBZIJigi5mswmZxjFPF9J6BDbpnVTc8z5OM/s640/blogger-image--346443268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BGytSfdyvup0C0o-4uYsyirIIZvAmaWvjcTOCvzBft2mNos06KYnyjkxeNo4jeYaPEoHenfUR0Y4CqPGFzYCGSloEN3OL8ff0yYQc77FxBZIJigi5mswmZxjFPF9J6BDbpnVTc8z5OM/s640/blogger-image--346443268.jpg"></a></div><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I will choose GRATITUDE over fear.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Looking for His presence instead of worrying IF He'll be there.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I will WALK ON. When my ability to do seems insignificant when compared with my desire to do, I will just continue onward. One step at a time. I will pour my last drop of water and watch for His wine. </span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I will give him my WORDS. Even when my heart is heavy and my soul is tired, I will give thanks, testify, worship, pray, and forgive.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtD8omlBSguUKIAdFv8qX3tvMBqGW2-JcS3g9vrAGQ1oU4pTnGriruWYmCMGLFK2Ka1iEGq0emhunNFcWCQPX34YKQbU6mQZ-06dCHjUR4XaRt5SBvJK-fOwYtSnZ_7Tegdl_qkyUtKg/s640/blogger-image-576124738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtD8omlBSguUKIAdFv8qX3tvMBqGW2-JcS3g9vrAGQ1oU4pTnGriruWYmCMGLFK2Ka1iEGq0emhunNFcWCQPX34YKQbU6mQZ-06dCHjUR4XaRt5SBvJK-fOwYtSnZ_7Tegdl_qkyUtKg/s640/blogger-image-576124738.jpg"></a></div><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I will SHARE my blessings, I will LOVE Him and love His children, I will WAIT PATIENTLY for His continued mercy.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I've been a bratty teenager lately.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I see it now.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I'm fighting with my best friend.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1CVCdwSrof2xlIPq-qRzNGo_g8LuOWur0CINA4GFfPkGZK5G0szmmYT7KJp2gx2I04Ul2Xr6Ixwt0eaWHlpix627PhKq66c0NBVFRMh295x001dCMdYI7BljPKKNgrUyBdFYyUVe1d0/s640/blogger-image-415475444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1CVCdwSrof2xlIPq-qRzNGo_g8LuOWur0CINA4GFfPkGZK5G0szmmYT7KJp2gx2I04Ul2Xr6Ixwt0eaWHlpix627PhKq66c0NBVFRMh295x001dCMdYI7BljPKKNgrUyBdFYyUVe1d0/s640/blogger-image-415475444.jpg"></a></div><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">I've been telling God that He asks too much of me instead of telling Him how grateful I am for all He has given me. </span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">As a woman blessed with GREAT faith, I can tell you something I know.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Faith is a CHOICE.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Feelings follow focus.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If you focus on how blessed you are, you will FEEL blessed.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If you focus the hard things in life, life will feel harder.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If you trust God loves you, know He is guiding you, and look for His tender mercies in your life- you will see them.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">If you cuss, pout, and give up, you will feel forlorn and abandoned. </span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Let's choose faith together!</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><br></span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">In return for SO MUCH, let's give him our heart.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Oh, the Lord is good to me.</span></font></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zcHckssSIlYMkB90M36bbUnVFrUxHPyCoPlIsiudc4qImvBtT71sMCxX6z9g1_CtSs9GYjaJxAUtJuF_88gJEO5s2IffeCqx2Bm5jYRD02DEnw9h_L10fOzThXeQe-BGElntBwCMwo8/s640/blogger-image-1095968488.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zcHckssSIlYMkB90M36bbUnVFrUxHPyCoPlIsiudc4qImvBtT71sMCxX6z9g1_CtSs9GYjaJxAUtJuF_88gJEO5s2IffeCqx2Bm5jYRD02DEnw9h_L10fOzThXeQe-BGElntBwCMwo8/s640/blogger-image-1095968488.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Life is good.</div></span></font></div>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3574832774101813976.post-41284177217281674192017-01-07T04:55:00.001-08:002017-01-07T04:55:25.345-08:00Bust the Move 2017!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGDnirJ5xwGkk54UrJLbZuBVwQBfaj674DLX-7rvwZcaGAoEwOJwBn6iCLuWLSAnj7H8m7JPksQGEkAwwVpFC-_l21S5Y1M2fkJiHHS6qhG_t4G7cApJo4mWE6P0mFIYurYqQ-gSRShQ/s640/blogger-image--665815864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGDnirJ5xwGkk54UrJLbZuBVwQBfaj674DLX-7rvwZcaGAoEwOJwBn6iCLuWLSAnj7H8m7JPksQGEkAwwVpFC-_l21S5Y1M2fkJiHHS6qhG_t4G7cApJo4mWE6P0mFIYurYqQ-gSRShQ/s640/blogger-image--665815864.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Ok- I'm READY.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">If I felt that I lost my "give a damn" last year, I found it again this year. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm turning 40 and as we used to say in the good ol' days, it's time to bust the move.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">FIND MY EXERCISE GROOVE--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One thing I've realized lately is-- exercise needs to be social for me. I'm lonely living out here in the country. I'm also not athletic, I'm competitive and completely out of shape.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The best I've ever done with exercise was when Todd and I joined a gym together in Texas. We exercised every morning before we woke the kids up. The gym was only a few minutes from my house. We did fitness for life intervals- 3 days of interval running and 2 days of weights. It was scheduled and I was always trying to show Todd how tough I am, so I got into shape quickly. My other favorite was working out with a personal trainer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd exercises up at his school gym now, for free. There is a local gym here, but I don't want to go by myself. I have friends in town who 1) exercise beach body at home, 2) go twice a week to a dance/aerobics class, or 3) go to an early morning kick-butt workout class. There is also a local yoga class or a larger YMCA gym with daycare that is 20 minutes away. Because it's beautiful here, I keep telling myself that just going outside everyday is the answer. But, it's cold and snowy and lonely outside. I'm pretty much a complete extrovert! I tend to be casual friends with a lot of people instead of really choosing my tribe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm also scared of my body. It's hard to push yourself when you're afraid of dying. It's time to let go of that! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I need to find my groove- this year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">(I'm going cross-country skiing for the second time this week with a group of friends. That's a start!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">STICK WITH IT SCRIPTURE STUDY--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I feel so flighty lately with my scripture study. I read inspirational talks one day, plan my Sunday School lesson the next, read actual scriptures the next. I'm tired of being flighty. I started a Book of Mormon commentary and I'm going to read it EVERY morning, first. If I read something else that day, it's bonus. I need some consistency. I'm also going to kneel and pray every morning and night. No excuses, no laziness, no pray on the go.</div><br></div>GET SMART MASTERS--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I'm studying right now for the GRE and applying to Grad School for School Psychology. I have no idea if I'll get accepted, I only know I really want to try. It feels SO good to study for the GRE. It feels like my brain is waking up after a 20 year snooze. When I tried to do a sample test a few weeks ago, I couldn't even do ONE problem on the quantitative side. Not one! My teenage kids are helping me study and it's been painful and fun! We have laughed more together over math questions this month than any other thing. And, lest I deceive you, the qualitative vocabulary questions are equally ridiculous. Honestly. They use words nobody has ever heard of (like HEGEMONY). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As a side note: studying for the GRE has not been good for my marriage. Because nobody knows what HEGEMONY means except the Professor. He knows everything and it's really annoying. He also is a more impatient teacher than one would expect from a professor. His quick explanations are harder for me to understand than the questions themselves. So, YouTube, Anna, Jakob, and Drew are my preferred tutors. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">EXTREME MONEY MAKEOVER--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Todd traded me chores for finances. Ha! He actually begged me to takeover finances promising he'd plan and cook all the meals, clean the bathrooms, and do the laundry if I would do the money. I decided if he would plan and execute family chores I would call it a fair trade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And, I LIKE doing the money. I've always been frugal and I love seeing how much we can save. I'm a severe realist compared to Todd's optimism and I have no problem saying "We can't afford that." </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We honestly should have made this trade years ago, but I had a really hard time with the idea of doing the finances when I am married to a business professor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This year, I want to really, really live within our means with padding! I want savings I top of a padded budget. Which means if our car breaks, I don't want to use savings to pay for it. I want a CAR BUDGET in addition to savings. I want our savings to just go up, not up and down. And, because I'm allocating our money more specifically, we won't look in our checking account in January and think we have extra and look again in December and not have enough. I'm trying to plan better. That's my goal. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We also paid off our van and our credit card. I hope we never have another credit card balance or car payment. Ever. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">HAVE FUN WITH MY KIDS!!--</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">There are so many things that I want to do with my kids that I never do because I'm always doing things that I need to do with them. I'm so sick of that! I don't want my interaction with my family to constantly be about putting away their laundry and picking up their backpack! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I want more mom-dates this year. My kids are really fun and so am I-- we need more positive, bonding, joyful time together! I don't want to watch them play sports, I want to play with them. I don't want to just hear about some fun thing they did while I'm washing dishes, I want to live life with them. I'm tired of running to the store for them when they're at school, I'm going to wait and take them with me more.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We brought Anna on our date night last night and it was really fun. We need to do that often!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">2017-- I'm ready for you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Let's do this. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TGAbv2n1T8Yd0Fqha6HgpTs_INnUocOPuUA9nuTOSA1hausSi3pq7X09VtWR20mC2oyKz_SEQPjEqyJAc0wyzuKlTqBJMRW4QtCf4lCeN4hm0VTHnRkIX0yA0QzF_-e4H7NfjHXtO7g/s640/blogger-image-487313791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TGAbv2n1T8Yd0Fqha6HgpTs_INnUocOPuUA9nuTOSA1hausSi3pq7X09VtWR20mC2oyKz_SEQPjEqyJAc0wyzuKlTqBJMRW4QtCf4lCeN4hm0VTHnRkIX0yA0QzF_-e4H7NfjHXtO7g/s640/blogger-image-487313791.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br>jeniferhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01353955201144145831noreply@blogger.com2