Kindergarten Teacher/Nurse Dreams

As we go through our young lives, it’s not unusual to decide what you want to be when you grow up. I always wanted to be a Mama, and feel so grateful that I have had that blessing in my life. I thought I might need to have a job besides being a Mama. I thought for sure that being a teacher would be the best job! Think of it, crayons, glue, paper, all kinds of art projects and bulletin boards. I would dream of putting large Alphabet letters up all around the room and teaching the kids to sound out words, and to learn what 1 + 1= and all kinds of important things relevant in life. I would have twenty kids in my class and they would call me teacher. They would need a hug once in a while and pep talks like, “You can do it!” I would have a smily face stamp to stamp on their assignments, and stickers, too. I would tell their parents how much I love being their child’s teacher.

I would say, “That’s it! I’ve decided I want to be a kindergarten teacher!”

Then a little time would go by, and I’d think, maybe I want to be a nurse. They do so much good. They help people feel better. They get to check peoples blood pressure and heart rate and oxygen level. They can hold someones hand when they’re scared or upset about something that’s wrong with their body. Or I could help with important life saving surgery. Handing the doctor the instruments needed to complete the task. Of course we never think about the not pleasant stuff like blood, throw up or poo. But seriously I really wanted to be a nurse.

Then I graduated from high school.

I said, “I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up!”

Then an opportunity came available to go to cosmetology school. I love hair, and make up and finger nails that are painted. I will do this!

I graduated with a certificate in cosmetology, and got my license. I worked in a little shop for a bit while I was pregnant with my “First Born.” I have kept my license and even had a little shop in our home for about 8 years. I love doing hair.

Now that I’m older. I have to say, I’ve never been a kindergarten teacher, and I’ve never been a nurse. I still admire the people who do those jobs and sometime feel like I wish I could have done it all. Of all the jobs I’ve had, I love my Mama job the most. I got to teach them and nurse their wounds and hearts and cut their cute little hairs. I even got to teach, nurse and cut hairs on some adorable daycare kids through the years. In our family we have almost always needed income from me, so I’ve had a ton of jobs. Because of a sweet and amazing husband I’ve been able to move around as much as I’ve wanted. I am grateful for him and his steady income. I am also grateful for all the jobs I’ve had in my life. I’ve learned so much and hopefully I’ve blessed others along the way.

One “Stitches” At A Time-Pointy Finger

When I was in first grade I had the prettiest teacher. Her name was Miss Peacock. I loved her. The fact that I loved her and that she was pretty has nothing to do with my story except that this experience happened while she was my teacher.

All of the children would go to the restroom together, either after recess or just a restroom break. It was always busy with girls coming in and out of the stalls. As this was a routine and we did it everyday, one little girl had pinched her fingers more than once in the cracks on the side of the stalls. She would stand with her back to the stall and put her fingers in the cracks on either side of the stall. I thought why does she do that? What is the fascination with putting your fingers in the cracks. I made a grave decision to put my fingers in to see what was like. As I did the child inside the stall opened the stall door which pinched my fingers, but especially my index finger on my right hand. I cried out in pain, and pulled my hand from the door. My pointy finger was bleeding and the skin was torn. I didn’t go to my teacher, I went straight to the nurse’s office. All the schools at that time had nurses at the school full time. I remember holding my hand in front of my face and crying hard as I walked to the nurses office. I knew she would help me and call my mama.

I remember laying on the small cot that was set up in the nurses office with bandages and ice on my finger while I waited for my mama to come get me and take me to the hospital. The pain coming from my hand was immense. I kept going over in my mind what had happened and thinking why did you do it? Why did you put your hand in the crack? I must have had bigger fingers than the little girl who I saw do it before, because she was never hurt like I was. It was one lesson that I will never forget of doing something dumb because you saw someone else do it.

We lived in the country, and the school was a distance away our home, so it was a little while until my mama got there. Then we had to drive to the hospital which was about a half an hour away. When we got to the hospital we found out that my finger was broken and was almost torn off just below my nail. It was stitched together and I was given a splint to hold my finger straight while it healed. I learned to write with my index finger straight in the splint. And it healed very well. I have good use of my finger, almost the same as the left index finger it just looks a little scarred up. My finger nail isn’t real pretty, but I’m ok with how it looks.

All said I learned a valuable lesson that day to choose wisely what you do, don’t follow others if their choices are negative, or have a negative outcome, think about consequences- they are part of life and are based on laws that cannot be changed. I feel sad writing about this experience, because I know that little girl (me) that struggle so much, but I always know the woman I have become and how I have overcome so many challenges and come out of those experiences successfully. I always felt God’s love for me as a child and I knew He would help me with life.

One “Stitches” At A Time-The VW Bug

When I was about 4 years old, I had my first experience in a long line of experiences getting stitches. I was climbing on the back of the VW bug that my parents owned and fell. I don’t know for sure how it happened, but I cut my leg on the license plate in the process of falling. It was bad. I had to have many stitches. I don’t know why my parents never counted, because I sure would have. The cut ran lengthwise on my inner thigh and was at least two thirds the length. I remember my mom running out to see why I was crying, and then the look on her face. She had to run and get a washcloth to hold my leg closed. I spent at least a week recovering on the couch in the living room. When I needed to go potty, someone would carry me to the bathroom and wait, then carry me back. I was so sad that I was hurt.

Since my Daddy passed on, my Mama has given me quotes from his journals. One of the quotes said. “May 22, 1966, Joy cut her leg real bad when she climbed on the back of the car, a few weeks ago but it is healing. Jo and I had to pack her around everywhere for about a week.”

One thing that made my time on the couch not quite so boring, was that some of our neighbors brought me over some coloring books and crayons, which I totally loved. We lived in a great neighborhood.

Little did I know at the time that I would be getting more stitches as I was doing my best to grow up.

You’ll Feel Better

A handful of years ago I was in a challenging place. Our life had changed completely. If you visit the blog or know me you would already know this. Just for the sake of the story I’ll tell you a what happened.

One thing that I should share is that I have depression. I have had it for many years. I am a pretty good faker, but mostly because it’s my struggle and I don’t want people to ask too much about it. I have had a lot of responsibilities while having depression, so I would say I’m high functioning (whatever that means). I mostly just do what I need to do and cry or be by myself when I get home. I’m telling you this because I’ve dealt with this for a long time, and if or when something big happens or changes, it can have a huge impact on my wellbeing.

Somehow I made it through a son entering the army, a son going to South Africa on a LDS Mission, and two daughters serving missions, one of which was out of the country. I am very protective and a worrier, so my kids growing up, and living somewhere out in the world is not fun. I was only able to handle this time and these experiences because of my faith in God and my understanding that it is actually a good thing and important for our kids to grow up and leave home and make their way in the world. We always knew that the end goal was to raise our kids and send them off into the unknown. We wanted them to be amazing, independent and make the world better for their being in it. That is what they did. They are wonderful. They are incredible people and I look up to them.

When our youngest Emily, our Bonus Baby came home from her mission we thought, “What’s next?” All of our children were living at home. Our oldest and his sweet wife Janet were living in our basement apartment, while they looked for a home. And the other two were working and deciding what they were going to do. All the kids were working to give us help with the bills and such. We knew we wouldn’t/couldn’t make ends meet without them. We were house poor when we bought our wonderful home, but wanted to stay as long as possible. We lived there for 18 years. We raised our kids there, we loved our neighbors and location…but, we knew it was time to move. We prayed and felt like we needed to put the house up for sale. We sold it in 2 months. Riley and Janet bought a house. Alex bought a house and the girls moved in with him.

In a 3 months period of time we got our youngest home from a mission, moved and became empty nesters. I mean when it’s right, it’s right! I knew it would be hard, but I also knew it was right. Things fell into place. Next was adjusting to all the new stuff, and missing my kids. Sniff, sniff, waaahhhhh!

We love our home! We love our neighbors and new friends. I was just so lonesome. So lonesome for my kids. I guess we really ripped the band-aid off! I had a few different jobs, but was really struggling with my depression and finally decided to stay home and do daycare. What that meant was I could feel sad now and then, and hold and love someone else’s kids while I try to adjust to this new normal. It helped. I love children and they love me.

On one occasion I was feeling super sad, and I said to Father in Heaven. “If you’ll help me feel better, I’ll do more.” Meaning I’ll love others more, I’ll leave my house and serve. I’ll bless others with my love. I was having a hard time just helping with the young women in our LDS Ward. I wanted to help, but totaling didn’t want to help. I didn’t want to leave the house. Tears came very easy. I cried so much during this time in my life. After I told Heavenly Father that I’d do more if He helped me feel better, the very next thought that came to my mind was, “If you’d do more, you’d feel better.” Very clear, very calm, that was the answer. I said out loud, “Damnit!” I didn’t want that answer! I knew that that was the right answer, because we forget ourselves when we serve, but I didn’t feel like it. I wanted to feel like it and then do better.

Doing what God wants is always good, but when we do it while we’re in the middle of pain, hardship or sorrow, it is actually doing something that will help us to be more Christlike. Serving, loving and helping another while you’re in pain is what Jesus did after He suffered in the Garden when He healed the guards ear. It’s what He did on the cross when He was in agony and He gave John charge over His Mama. He is our best and most wonderful example. I want to be like Him.

That was pure revelation for me. It was then and is now a guide to doing better. If I’m struggling to love, serve or help another and I don’t really want to do it- I know that’s ok, but I also know I’ll feel better after I do it. I’m so grateful for revelation. I’m so grateful that even in my weird chemical brain I have been blessed with inspiration. I just need to be still and open to it. I want any and all the inspiration that Heavenly Father is willing to give me. I know that He will inspire you too with what ever help you need. Be careful though, cause you might just have to do something you didn’t really want to do, but I promise you will feel better!

Parents-Doing Their Best

When I was little, I had a tricycle. I loved my tricycle, and rode it as much as I could. Some days were snowy days, and some days I was busy doing other fun things for playtime. I remember one year it was Christmas time, and I found my tricycle in the basement in Dad‘s room where he did projects. I was surprised to find it there, and wondered what Daddy was doing with it. On Christmas day I received a tricycle that looked a lot like my tricycle, but was a different color. How fun to get a new tricycle in a new color to ride and enjoy!
Many years later, and many Christmases later I was one of the parents with little children to surprise on Christmas morning. In the garage hidden in the back was a Wonder horse that had belonged to Riley years before. He had outgrown it and I thought he forgot about it. My Darlin and I thought we would paint it up and give it to Alex for Christmas. Early on Christmas morning the kids woke us up excited to check out their presents! It’s always a fun time on Christmas morning. As each of the kids surveyed their gifts, I noticed Riley checking out Alex‘s horse. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Then he said, ”Hey.., that looks a little like my old Wonder horse.” I said, “Hmmm, I thought your wonder horse was in the back of the garage.” and he said, ”Oh yeah!” and then continued playing with his toys as happy as could be.
Another Christmas, Riley had asked for a mountain bike for Christmas. Weeks before Christmas came my Darlin and I had found a bike in really good shape at a yard sale and decided that this would do for Riley‘s Christmas. Christmas morning came Riley surveyed his toys and came up to the mountain bike and said, ”Hey, this bike is used!” all the kids stopped what they were doing a looked. I had to think fast and said, “Well, maybe it is. Maybe Santa gave it to another little boy that didn’t appreciate it and so now he’s giving it to you.” Riley looked at the bike smiled and said, “This is a great bike!”

As children, we never realize the sacrifice our parents make to provide for our needs and our wants. It isn’t until we become the parents that we see how much love really goes into the gifts that are given. My parents were doing the best they could, and me and my Darlin as parents were too. The most important part of getting and giving gifts is understanding the heart of the person giving it. Most people are doing the best they can and we should appreciate that.

Teaching our children to love and appreciate what they have and what they get is the very best gift we can give them, and I’m so grateful my parents gave me that gift!

Serving

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we don’t have paid clergy. Everyone helps and serves. We often take turns doing responsibilities. Right now the leader of our congregation is a wonderful man whose full time job is to work at the local fire station. He donates his time without pay to help members who need help, and to keep us all organized.

A congregation is called a ward. There are lots of people in a ward, maybe 500 or so. There are organizations within the ward that are for specific groups. There is the Primary, where the little kids meet. The Young Women and Young Men where the kids that are 11 years old up to 18 meet. The women’s organization is called the Relief Society, it’s almost 180 years old. The Elders Quorum where the men meet. When we go to church after our big main meeting called Sacrament, we go to our separate rooms and learn some more about God, life and being good.

I starting wondering if I could remember all the responsibilities/callings I’ve had in my 60 years. I’m sure I’ve missed some and we don’t really serve until we’re 18+ years old, so in the last 42 years I came up with 29 Callings or responsibilities I’ve had in my life.

  1. Nursery-18 months-3 years old
  2. Missionary-I served in Texas in the 80’s for 18 months
  3. Sunday School-17-18 year olds
  4. Teaching Relief Society
  5. Relief Society-2nd Counselor
  6. Homemaking Leader-Relief Society
  7. Teaching Relief Society-Spiritual Living Lesson
  8. Teaching Relief Society-Compassionate Service Lesson 
  9. Relief Society 1st Counselor
  10. Relief Society President 
  11. Young Women-Camp Director 
  12. Relief Society-Visiting Teaching Coordinator 
  13. Ward Librarian 
  14. Primary Teacher
  15. Relief Society-Homemaking Leader
  16. Primary Teacher
  17. Scout Leader-Wolves-8 year olds
  18. Assistant Camp Director
  19. Primary 2nd Counselor
  20. Young Women President 
  21. Primary Teacher
  22. Relief Society Teacher
  23. Primary President 
  24. Family History Consultant 
  25. Ward Missionary
  26. Relief Society Teacher
  27. Young Women MiaMaid Adviser
  28. Primary Teacher
  29. Family History Consultant 

I have always learned lessons from my callings. Some I learned more from than others. And sometimes the ones I learned the most from were because they were very hard for me.

When you get a calling, the secretary to the Bishop calls you and says, “The Bishop would like to meet with you, can you come ______,” Then you worry until you see him about what he wants. I’ll be honest, sometimes I knew what he wanted. I had already received a feeling or confirmation in my heart/mind about what was coming. Those times I didn’t worry as much, because I knew God was calling me. I knew He would help me to serve. Not that He wasn’t calling me for other callings. I believe the Bishop and his counselors pray and ask God if so and so is a good fit for this or that calling, at this time. Maybe I’ve felt it in my heart when the calling was big.

When I was just 29 years old I had just had my third child. I was in the middle of motherhood. Up to here, with the daily routines. I was very overwhelmed, but I knew I was going to be the new Relief Society President. I don’t know how to explain it, but I knew it was coming and I knew I could do it. As I met with the Bishop, I thought about all the things going on in our little home. I thought about all of the things God was asking me to do, and all of the time I would need to spend loving and caring for the sisters in our ward. As I was set apart by the Bishop and he placed his hands on my head and pronounced blessings and promises which I knew would help me, a feeling of peace came over me.

Some how I found time to visit, organize and love all of the sisters in our ward. I had chosen to quit breastfeeding my new baby a few months after he was born, and realized it was a blessing that I could just hand him over to his dad if I needed to be somewhere, or help someone. I loved serving the women in our ward and felt so blessed by their love and goodness.

A few months into my calling as Relief Society President, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression. I was pretty much maxed out. I don’t know how I did it, except to say that Father In Heaven had been helping me to complete my responsibilities. He was blessing me with some strength I didn’t even know I had. I also learned that many sisters in our ward had depression. One of the sisters said she had prayed that God would call a president that actually understands depression. I did, and the Bishop was checking on me often to see how I was doing. I would let him know that I felt like I could keep going, I knew I was being sustained by heaven and all of the sisters.

On January 1st I received a call that has forever changed me. I was called to help at the hospital and be there for the family, where a couple from our ward had just been killed by a drunk driver. They were taking their son to the hospital in the early hours of the morning with what they thought might be appendicitis. As they drove up the street they missed the turn to the hospital, and had just slowed down to make a u turn when they were broadside by a car going way too fast! The husband was killed instantly, and the wife died shortly after arriving at the hospital. She was pregnant. The son they were taking to the hospital was ok, and didn’t have appendicitis. I have never seen such sorrow and devastation. News of the tragedy went through our ward and most of us young parents thought about what would happen to our kids if we were suddenly gone. The Relief Society is usually in charge of the meal for the family after a funeral. Watching all of the family grieve was almost more that I could stand. I told the bishop maybe it was time for me to be released.

I think about this sweet couple every New Year. I feel sorrow for their loss and worry for anyone who might be out and about on that day. I am always telling family to be so careful and watch for drunk drivers. I prefer to stay home to bring in the New Year.

Callings and responsibilities can have that effect on you, changing you forever. I will never forget the lesson’s I learned, and the challenges I overcame as the young and overwhelmed Relief Society President of our ward.

Super Power: Birthday Remembering!

I’m not a super hero, but I do have a super power.

My little brother says, we remember what’s important to us. Well, I must consider birthdays very important. Maybe I didn’t get enough attention when I was younger on my birthday, I don’t know, but I love my birthday, I love celebrating and I love remembering other peoples birthdays and special days.

For as long as I can remember I have had a good memory for other peoples birthdays. I can remember other special days, too. I don’t know for sure how it happens, but when I explain it to others they like to tease me. Example: I’ll say, “Well, I was almost full term pregnant with Kelsey when Scott and Stacy got married. I was big and uncomfortable at the wedding, and Kelsey was born a week later on July 21st. So I know their wedding anniversary is July 15th.”

So family will say, in jest- “The moon was rising over Sagittarius and Jupiter was falling…” like it is a magic ability, or power. Well, if I do have a super power this is it. If you asked me the price of bananas, I have no idea and never have. I can’t remember any prices, ever. I don’t know if what I’m shopping for is a good deal, because I can’t remember what the price of hamburger is per pound. If I need bananas, I buy them. If I need hamburger I buy it, but forget a birthday? Never!

For example: in January these are the birthdays, Brad-2nd, Lizzie-2nd, Indie-6th, Nancy-9th, Ian-16th, Vickie-17th, Monroe-22nd, Kiefer-23rd, Liam-23rd, Lilli-30th, Colin-30th, Abby-31st. I typed all of these from memory except 2. I had to check, but not too bad.

I have made lists of birthday, and anniversaries and shared them with the rest of the family. I may have even saved someone from missing an important birthday. Just sayin’. In that way I may even be a super hero!

I love my family, my people. I have chosen to send a birthday card to each family member on their birthday. It takes effort, but I want them to know I love them and I want them to know they are remembered on their special day. Most the time I don’t hear back from them. That’s ok. The ones who say thank you are always so glad I took the time to remember them. I just got a message from my niece who is serving a mission in Germany. She got her bday card and loved it. When your away from home and you get mail it’s the best!

Maybe that’s it. When I was a missionary I loved mail. When someone takes the time to send a letter it means they thought about you to think about doing it, then they thought about you while writing the letter/card, then they thought about you while getting/writing the address, and then one more time while dropping it off at the mailbox! So much loving thoughts.

It’s worth it to me!

________________________________________________________

Why Important Birthdays Are Important

They acknowledge our steps along the road. They let us savor the joy, yet again. They inspire laughter and shenanigans. They embrace pageantry and tradition. They ask us to close our eyes and make a wish for the future. -Tiffany&Co.

Cheerleaders!

This cutie on top is my little friend Kalli!

I love to watch cheerleaders! They are truly amazing. They get you pumped up and excited about life. When they perform and do stunts it is a wow moment in life! One of the funnest things I’ve seen them do is called Spirit fingers. They lift up their hands high in the air and wiggle their fingers and yell “Wooohooo!” If they do it right the people in the audience will raise their hands and do spirit fingers back to them and yell “Wooohooo” too.

I loved cheerleaders in junior high school too. I thought that being a cheerleader would be so fun! I did gymnastics for years and knew how to tumble, and do some tricks. I decided when try outs were coming up that I should try out for cheerleader. I worked hard at it, but I was all by myself. Some of the girls would work together as they practiced the required cheer and stunts. We didn’t have stunts back them like they have now, where several girls lift the smallest girl while she holds her leg up and then flips off the top of the girls holding her. It was just you doing a cheer that they gave you. On the day of try outs I was so nervous. I felt good too, like it could happen. I could make cheerleader and have a blast cheering the teams on at all the games.

When it was my turn to try out, I ran out into the gym, did a tumbling pass and yelled my cheer at the top of my lungs! I thought “Oh yeah, I’ve got spirit!” It went well, I thought, mostly because I never got to see anyone else try out. I felt good about it though. I went home. Wondered about it several times. Then bedtime came. I didn’t sleep great, because I was still wondering and hoping that I made it. The next morning I got on the bus for school. I saw one of the other girls who tried out. I said, “I think I might have made cheerleader.” She said, “Really?” I said, “I just feel good about how I did.” She smiled. When we got to school they had an assembly were the new cheerleaders were announced. I found out that the new cheerleaders had been kidnapped the night before and taken for dinner or dessert, I can’t remember which. I also found out that the girl who tried out with me and that I talked to on the bus made cheerleader. I felt foolish. I wished I hadn’t said anything to her. Oh well, I thought you can’t do anything about it now. I was sad for little while, but then ok with not making cheerleader, but I never tried out again. That was about 47 years ago.

I still love to watch cheerleaders. They are amazing. It sure looks like fun!

I was recently thinking about the story of trying out for cheerleader. I’m ok with not making it, and not being a cheerleader, but I realized while thinking, I am a cheerleader! Even though I didn’t make cheerleader as a young woman I am a cheerleader and always will be.

At 21 years old, I was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was a cheerleader for people looking for a Savior and friend. As missionaries we would cheer as they accepted the gospel and were baptized members of the church. We felt the spirit as they bore humble testimony of God and His influence in their lives. What a blessing to be their cheerleaders.

I cheer for my brothers, Daddy and Mama. Since Daddy passed away I am my mama’s biggest cheerleader. I give her pep talks and tell her how amazing she is, and that she can “do it!”

In the first years of marriage and even now, I am my husbands best cheerleader. All through the years we raised our children I cheered them on daily! (Spirit fingers!!) I was chosen to be a Relief Society President and Head cheerleader to our ward women’s organization. It was an important job- encouraging those mom’s and wives to do their best in spite of exhaustion. I cheered the Primary children on as the Primary President and leader and taught them all about spirit, and how to follow the leader. I cheered for the Young Women in our neighborhood as the Young Women President and leader, and sometimes we cheered together about this wonderful, and exciting life! Just like a high school football game, there were highs and lows and I would cheer; “You can do it! There’s nothin to it!!”

I cheer for my kids now that they are adults, and their spouses and their darling little team mates! I will always be their cheerleader!

This year I made it to one of the best squads. I didn’t even have to try out. I was chosen to be a cheerleader for Families. I am so excited to cheer for the members of our ward family. I will cheer and encourage and persuade them to research and find their loved ones and get to know them. Then they can take them to the temple and be together forever!! I am cheering on my friends who are writing their personal histories. I am sharing my excitement and spirit for Family History. Yes! This is an important job. I love it and I’m having so much fun cheering!

We can all be cheerleaders. You don’t have to try out. You just need to be available and care about others. It’s that simple.

“We have spirit- yes we do, We have spirit- how about you?”

You’ve Got Mail

This cute and fun romantic comedy came out in 1998. Little did I know at that time it would be such a big part of my life. In 1998 my children were 12, 9, 7, and 4. My days were spent doing laundry, cleaning, running kids and errands all over the city we lived in. It was a typical routine that most moms know. We had only been in our home for a year or so and were feeling the stretch of a house that was a little too much for us. We moved there, because we had a plan to put a massage and hair shop in the basement apartment that was part of the house. This shop would bring in income and help with the house bills and help us raise our family. It didn’t quite work the way we thought. Not wanting strangers coming into our home, we chose not to advertise our shop. Our clientale was word of mouth, not enough customers came. The neighbors were wonderful and very supportive. Often children would stop on their way home from school to get their hair cut. My sweetie still needed to work full time which allowed for health and dental insurance. As it became clear the shop would not provide enough income, I started working at the local grocery store, the first of many jobs through the years.

All my life I have wanted to be a stay at home mom, a homemaker. Making a home is very important to me. So now I was not only a mom, and a homemaker, I was bringing in income. It became very important to supplement my husbands income. I worked about 3-4 days a week. After a time, I started other small jobs, I even tended for a friend for many years. I did PTA, worked part-time, worked full-time, I tended full-time, and I had very responsible church callings. I even studied real estate and insurance at different times, all in an effort to make enough money to pay the bills and live. I enjoyed all of this busyness as much as I could, but then started to struggle with the responsibilities and depending on the day and what I had to do after work, I would come home at 5:00 take off my bra, put on my pj’s and get into bed. I would start the movie “You’ve Got Mail” and would always feel more light and sometimes even happy. Sometimes the kids would hop on my bed with me and we would all watch. I’ve always loved being their mom! I am usually a motivated person, I push myself, but for years I was so over-whelmed that I was just moving a long, doing what I could. Sometime in the middle of all this Alex said to me “Slow and Steady wins the race!” from the Tortoise and The Hare story. I wrote a post about that. Those kind of phases are helpful, too.

I watched You’ve Got Mail so many times, I don’t know, but I still love it so much. The things I love about this movie are; It takes place in New York City, her apartment is adorable, Meg Ryan is the main character and she is just a easy going bookstore owner who just turned 30 years old, I love books, when the story starts it’s Fall (my favorite season), there are some cute and funny one liners, one of the biggest reasons why I love the movie is how she handles the challenges she faces. She does get discouraged, but doesn’t stay discouraged. The most important part is the happy ending. My Darlin always says I need to only watch “Sweetness and Light.” It’s true no dark and scary stuff for me! Sometimes it’s just fun to escape your own life and live through someone else even if it’s just for a few hours. It was important during years when I needed to cope with a busy, busy life. Now my kids are adults. They are amazing! I am very happy I made it through those years!!

On a trip to New York City, we did a little tour of the places that are in the movie. What a blast! We saw the store that was “The Shop Around the Corner.” We’ve been to Cafe Lalo where Kathleen waits for her email pen pal, we have seen H & H Bagels-we didn’t go in, Starbucks, Zabar’s, Riverside Park & Gray’s Papaya (super yummy hotdogs). It is so fun to visit places you’ve seen in a movie.

I still love You’ve Got Mail even though I don’t watch the movie much these days. It actually doesn’t help me feel better like it used to, but I keep finding things that do.

I am so thankful there are distractions, diversions, and other ways of coping when life is over-whelming! I’m super thankful for favorite movies like “You’ve Got Mail!”

Mama

Photo Credit-Larry Hanson

She is a wonderful Mama. She is my friend. I’m grateful she is mine.

These are a few of the things that make my Mom the great gal she is.

She grew up with a Mama and a Daddy and one sister. She learned a lot growing up. Her Daddy was a hard worker, but also an alcoholic. He joined AA when she was 16. She learned respect. Her Mama was a saint, and taught her how to love and be kind. Her sister was spunky and a tease. This taught her patience. She was a good student graduating a year early. She was a good worker, having jobs that were important like a telephone operator. If you don’t know what that is ask someone older than 30.

She is motivated and has gotten a lot accomplished and has done her whole life. She raised 6 kids, then went to college and received a degree in early childhood education. She taught pre-school, Head Start, and an after school program for latch key kids called CARES.

She has been a student of history all her life, having lived for 89 years. She was born during the Depression. She remembers when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Because of her, I love history. She loves teaching even now, she is very wise. A funny thing she says after she’s had an opportunity to teach is, “I’m such a good teacher!” I usually laugh and say, “Yes, you are!” She enjoys teaching too. She teaches Family History Classes, lessons at Church, Group lessons at the place she lives.

She is healthy and comes from good stock, as they say. She once fell down 24 cement stairs and didn’t break any bones. She was 84 years old when this happened. She and my Daddy were in Slovenia traveling and having so much fun with my little brother and his wife, and her parents. What a miracle!

She is very spiritual. She reads her scriptures everyday. She prays and wants to do what God would have her do in life. She doesn’t let the challenges in life bring her down. Some people would call that grounded. Her perspective is always eternal. She lost her sweetheart and love, 2 years ago and doesn’t feel sad all the time. She knows she’ll see him again, and that they will be together forever.

She likes to be by herself. When I was young this bothered me. I wanted her to want to spend time with me. I am the only daughter. I thought we should be shopping or something. At this point in our lives, I’m ok with my Mama not wanting to be with me too much. She’s taught me that to be by myself is a good place. She’s taught me that she is who she is and we don’t always have the same feelings or ideas, and that’s ok too.

Family is very important to her. She loves the ones who came before, and she loves the ones who are living now. She has taught me to love all of these people too. For 30 + years my Mom would have Sunday dinner for the whole family at their home. This was amazing to me. The meal alone is expensive. For many years, my Mom didn’t even have a dish washer. She would hand wash all those dishes Monday morning. We still get together, though not always at her place and not every week. Because she taught me to love my ancestors I have been blessed to know I’ll never alone. They are always there, with their example, their story, their ability to live life even when it was hard. I am connected to them and I love them so much.

Yes, she is a wonderful Mama. She is such a blessing and I’m filled with gratitude to God for blessing me with the perfect parents, and today I’m especially grateful for my sweet Mama!