Time Travel

That must be the answer... Right? Time travel!

This was yesterday...
Ponytails and bows. Hercules backpack with her new folder tucked safely inside. That was the day that suddenly, someone (Mrs. Annes) knew more than the parents did!

This is today.
She does her own ponytails, now, but she did ask me to tie a bow on it, this morning. All set for graduation, tonight. After my freak-out a few weeks ago, I am ready for it.

I sure love this girl.

This is what after breakfast looks like most mornings. Minus the milk-jug/cup thing. That was new today, compliments of T. I don't even know where he has ever seen that!
(yes, he did knock it over and I didn't even get mad.)



10 minutes later, we were in the car to take things to the schools that the children forgot...


T: Mom, ouw bananas have decay!

Me: What?!

T: Ouw bananas have decay!

Me: Do you know what decay means?

T: (giggles) Wotten. They awe toneing bwown.

Me: Wow, T! That is a big word! Decay...! Where did you learn that?

T: Fwom Sid Science Kid.



Our babes are sponges. They soak up everything around them. Good or Bad. Science or whatever. This afternoon, I almost tripped over my bowl of berries when I heard J and L on the trampoline, teaching T (the other one) to "just smack him" and "now, kick him, hard"! How dare they! Don't they know that she will head into nursery on Sunday and do just that? Grrrr!

On the other hand, every night before I sing my babes to sleep, I kneel with them to pray. T and T always listen while the other has a turn. I say a phrase and then they repeat it. Now, T can finish many of them for me and he quite often comes up with his own list to be included. T, however, (sorry if it's confusing!) Has yet to participate. She listens, but hasn't repeated any of my phrases... until tonight. I think it caught her attention when I said, "Thankful for ba-ba", which she is. Then she repeated everyone's names and then said, " Jesus, Amen!" It was so sweet.

It was another reminder that I really need to be aware of what they are all soaking up... my bigs and my littles. They absorb more than we know!

Harvest

I hope you are not sick of my garden, I'm not. I have never had one before and I love this one. When we bought this house, I was sold when I saw the yard. Half the yard was set up for playing and the other half for growing.

I inherited a fully mature and productive asparagus patch that just needs picking every spring.

I also inherited 2 fences of boysenberries that are at least 20 feet long, each. In early spring, I spent hours and hours pruning, thinning, and taming them. It has been worth every minute and scratch. This week, they have begun to ripen. The best ones are nearly black and ready to burst and warm from the sun. They melt in my mouth. I must have picked at least 5 pounds during the week. I made one pint of jam the first day, put them on ice-cream the 2nd day, and gave the entire bowl (still warm) to my babes the 3rd day. The 4th day, my sister picked them to help me with my chores so I gifted them to her :) (I just loved the visit!) Then, the 5th day, I made 3 1/2 pints of jam and warm bread to go with it.
Can you tell that I am in AWE? Growing is truly a miracle. There is no other explanation. We are so blessed. We have also planted bikinis (according to L when he was VERY small), radishes, onions, carrots, beets, peppers, basil, lemon-thyme, and a variety of tomatoes.


Growing my garden to take care of my children and growing my children to take care of my garden. We are learning together and enjoying some time together while we are doing it.

Hints of Summertime...

The signs are all around us. As the thermometer creeps up, we can't deny the fact that an Arizona Summer is coming soon. With a new yard this year, our family has new signs to notice as well as the yearly rituals that make our family tick. See for yourselves...

Promises of sweet things to come...
The boysenberries are gorgeous and delicious!
Can you see the asparagus coming up? It grows about 4 inches each day!

Popsicles...

Summer haircuts...

It did all come off, but they both loved the in-between stage!



And... apparently his brows were a little toasty, too... notice the gap in each one? Compliments of J. Sorry it is blurry... I had to steal the proof while he was asleep. The story is that it was L's idea and he asked J for help. What big brother could turn down down a request to make his little brother look doofish?

Honestly, it is now 2 days after the eyebrow assault and I am finally just beginning to see the humor in it :)

I don't want to know you, thanks

I met cancer this year. Actually, she's an acquaintance of some friends. I definitely wouldn't call her MY friend.

I met her the first time several of years ago, through an aunt. At the time, my heart was so pained by other things, that I didn't recognize her for who she was and what she did. I avoided any contact with her as she stole that precious life.

I heard, over a year ago, that she had made the acquaintance of a woman who I didn't know, but knew of. Somehow, I knew I would meet this woman, and I have. I love her and love her children and love her sisters and mom, and her husband who serves selflessly. (How could he not, when he is in need of a miracle?) Twice, when I have seen her across the way, with her children, tears have sprung to my eyes. I even made sure her niece sneaked a picture when I saw her laughing on the couch with her husband, who's head was in her lap. Cancer has stolen her future. It will take birthdays, weddings, holidays. It will steal all the minutes of holding babies, smelling rain, and teaching her children.

A couple of months ago, I reconnected with a friend from high school. Within a month she was in a battle for her life. She had also battled 7 years earlier. This time she lost. She left a husband, a daughter and 3 sons.

A few weeks ago, a teenage friend met cancer. She is not supposed to live through the summer.

Lives stolen.

Dreams shattered.

Cancer does not always take everything. Quite often, after knowing her, people are stronger, happier, more sure of what they want. Overcoming hard circumstances can do that for us.

For my friends, cancer has been unwelcome, overbearing, intrusive, demanding, lurking and aggressive.

My friends, on the other hand, have been kind, generous, grateful, faithful, private, and hopeful.

They are beautiful women who lead beautiful lives, one second at a time...

Happy Mothers' Day!

Years ago, I was surprised to find out that some moms cannot stand this day. For them, it conjured up feelings of guilt that they were somehow falling short of what was being celebrated. Not me... I have had no guilt... about this. I think, if I was the kind of person who reflected, analyzed, critiqued more, I might. But, I'm not and I don't.

When I was a teen, 19, newly married and now a part of the Relief Society (the womens' organization of the LDS church) I heard a scripture that became one of my favorites. It is found in the book of The Doctrine and Covenants section 46, verse 12. I'll start with verse 11...

11 For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.
12 To Some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited, thereby.

See?! I don't have to be able to do everything. If we all do the part that we can, when we put it all together, we will have enough.

I believed it the first time I heard it and I still believe it, today. Through out my entire life, I have been blessed by the women around me who are all doing their part. They have loved me, taught me, taken care of me (and my children), fed me, clothed me, cheered me, heard me, laughed with me, cried with me, encouraged me, had patience with me... If I can do but one of these for one person during a day, then I am giving my part.

The first mothers I watched:
(at least the ones I can remember :) )

My Angel of a mother, Dottie Layton
Muttie
Grandma Layton
Many Aunts and older cousins :)
Joyce Koster
Jane Wright
Nancy Hobbs
Margie Willis
Kathleen Anderson
Tina Wright
Kathy Nunes
Vonda Giles
Carleen Dennison
Jody Busby
Stephanie Wright
Michael John
Cherie Burrell
Vickie Smith
Glenna Tingey
Fern Anderson
Erma Anderson

Look at that... its a who's who in the old 8th ward, plus a few. I love these ladies. I watched them through my teen years.

I have watched others along the way.

Now, I watch you and the women who are in my family, ward and neighborhood. I have so much to learn :)

I am privileged to mother 6. My joy and motivation come from them. However, I must confess, I love their father first :)