Blog Update

Since I started school last week, I'm giving myself permission to put a lot of things on hold. I've resigned my positions from the parrot rescue and from the Red Cross. I found someone to take my place blogging on the Utah Children's Writers blog. I just posted a note on the O&A blog stating it wouldn't be updated for awhile. Since I haven't been very consistent lately with this blog, I'm giving myself permission to put it on hold until further notice. I will post if I can; if not, I'm giving myself permission to not let it hang over my head and feel bad about neglecting it.

So-- see you when I see you.

-Sarah

My New-New Favorite Song by Jason Mraz

Love this one and his other new one "Won't Give Up."

Love the message of this song. Love the upbeat, happy feel.

Invictus

This is one of my favorite poems. I think of it especially when life is hard and I wonder if I can keep slogging through. This poem makes me want to stand on my chair/desk/counter and shout to the world that "I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul." (I italicized my favorite parts below).

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. 

William Ernest Henley

Life is like a box of Chocolates

(This is what I put on my FB status. I wanted to share it here too. )


I have lots of friends on Facebook (over 300) and they are ALL different. I have Republican friends, Tea Party friends, Democrat friends, and undecided friends. I have straight friends, gay friends, married friends, single friends, divorced friends. I have convicted felon friends and squeaky clean friends. My friends love/hate Pinterest. They love/hate Pepsi. They love/hate a lot of the things I love (including Walmart & DI & Kohls). They protest, they boycott, they march, they sponsor, they don't bother. They do a lot that I would never ever consider doing. They do a lot of things that I end up copying. 

My friends are my friends. They are not identical to me (thank goodness). But they are my friends. Do I unfriend them when they offend me? Rarely (okay, just once). Do I love them less? No. It's okay for them to be different from me. God loves variety (obviously) and so do I. 

Facebook (life) is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get. :o)


So be nice. 

Recognizing God's Hands in Our Daily Blessings

"In reality, there aren’t many things in a day that are totally without significance. Even the mundane and repetitious can be tiny but significant building blocks that in time establish the discipline and character and order needed to realize our plans and dreams. Therefore, as you ask in prayer for your daily bread, consider thoughtfully your needs—both what you may lack and what you must protect against. As you retire to bed, think about the successes and failures of the day and what will make the next day a little better. And thank your Heavenly Father for the manna He has placed along your path that sustained you through the day."

—D. Todd Christofferson, "Recognizing God's Hands in Our Daily Blessings", Liahona and Ensign, January 2012

Inviting Jesus Christ More Fully into Our Lives

(a transcript-- though not exact-- of the talk I gave in Sacrament meeting on July 22, 2012)

Years ago as part of promoting the book I had just published, I had the opportunity to speak to a group of 60 or so prisoners at the Utah State Prison in Bluffdale. Surrounded by fences and barbed wire, guards with guns, video cameras, and bars, I was able to testify to these prisoners (many of them sex offenders or abusers or drug addicts or thieves) that they had two chances in life to have a relationship with their father. The first is with their earthly father (many of them did not know or get along with their earthly fathers) and the second with their Heavenly Father. I felt impressed to paraphrase a scripture from Romans:

Romans 8:38-39
"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, no angels, not principalities, not powers, not things present, nor things to come. 


"Nor height, nor depth, not any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jest our Lord." 

Even these hardened prisoners are not out of the reach of the love of our Heavenly Father. And why is he kind?

Alma 33:11 says "it is because of thy Son that thou hast been merciful unto us." 

What has Christ done for you lately? Or a better question: What have you allowed Christ to do for you?

Alma 33:21
"O my brethern, if you could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful that y would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?"

Matthew 11:28
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.


"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls.


"For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Christ invites us to 'Learn of Him.' Learn what?

Alma chapter 37 shows us the power of the scriptures. So what do the scriptures teach us about Christ?

Alma 26:12: "For in his strength I can do all things."
1 Nephi 1:20: "His tender mercy is over all whom he hath chosen."
2 Nephi 11: He will gather-- and has gathered-- us as a hen gathereth her chicks.
Alma 38:9: "There is no other way or means whereby man may be saved."
Alma 34:16: "He will encircle us in the arms of mercy."
Alma 31:31: "He will comfort your soul."
Mosiah 24:14: "I will also ease the burdens which are put on your shoulders that even you cannot feel them."
Mosiah 15:9: "He is filled with compassion for the children of men."

Knowing his character and goodness-- what do you want Christ to do for you? How much of a part of your life will you make him?

Alma 32:37: "even if you can no more than desire to believe." Believe that he can make your life better. Alma the younger, while being tormented with the pains of a damned soul, simply thought about and remembered his father prophesying of Christ. That simple thought brought him great relief. 

Christ brings us happiness, the feeling of being love, peace, contentment, patience, laughter, courage, the desire to love others, faith. All of these gifts, and more, are ours for the taking. We just must ask. How much easier/happier/smoother/calmer/brighter would our lives be if we allowed Christ to be more involved? 

Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I have had my own miracle restoration. I've been told many times that it's a miracle I am alive. It's a miracle for me to be functioning. It's a miracle that I am not consumed with bitterness. It's a miracle for me to be able to reach out and save lives. It's ALL due to the Atonement and His restoration of my life. There was a time when I felt so completely and utterly abandoned. I felt like because I had made some bad, bad decisions that I deserved to be abandoned by God. Now I look forward to watching the divine replay so I can see just how intimately and carefully Heavenly Father was involved in my life during that time. 

I was so very, very broken, and Christ made me new again. At the front of my book, I wrote: 

To my Father in Heaven, who saved my life.

To my Savior, who restored my life.

To my eternal companion, who makes that life worth living. 

I have an analogy about the power of the Atonement. Our lives are like an aquarium. Everyday life turns our water yucky and dirty. At the end of the day, I have a chance to use the power of the Atonement to clean that water out and make it pure & clear again. On good days, I feel like it's as simple as scooping out some leaves or whatnot on top. On bad days, the only thing to scoop out is the few good things I did and then the water needs to be tossed. The point is that I can always start fresh. I can always use the power of the Atonement to make my water fresh, pure, and clear. We have the sacrament, daily prayers, and service to others as a way to use the power of the Atonement. 

Invite Christ into your life: in a deeper, fuller, longer way. 

I'd like to close with two verses of one of my favorite sacrament hymns. This is the only hymn we sing from the perspective of Christ-- as though he is talking to us instead of us singing of him. 

Reverently and Meekly Now

verse 3

Bid thine heart all strife to cease

With thy brethern be at peach

Oh forgive as thou wouldst be

E'en forgiven now by me

In the solemn faith of prayer

Cast upon me all thy care

And my Spirit's grace shall be

Like a fountain unto thee

verse 4

At the throne I intercede

For thee do I ever plead

I have loved thee as thy friend

With a love that cannot end

Be obedient, I implore

Prayerful, watchful evermore

And be constant unto me

That thy Savior I may be

Bountiful Handcart Days Parade: 2000 Stripling Warriors

This entry for Bountiful's Handcart days parade was AMAZING. They had 2000 young men dressed up as the stripling warriors marching down the parade route. To see just how many 2000 is was powerful and to imagine the original young men going to war to fight for their families.... wow. I cried. I couldn't help it. The feeling was electric.

These young men did not doubt that their mothers knew the gospel was true and they did not doubt that God would protect. So though they were young, they went off to war. Battle after battle, not a single one of them was killed.

I looked into the faces of these modern day young men and was in awe. What a powerful opportunity to march and to represent such great young men.

I hope you enjoy the 60 second video. It took several minutes for all 2000 men to walk by-- they were the length of 4 football fields. Several were in wheelchairs being pushed. One was in a chair being carried on sticks.

Wow. That's just about all I can say. Wow.

It's Official! Finally! (phew)

In February, I submitted my application for the University of Utah's licensed substance abuse counseling program (LSAC) and then waited. In March, the state legislature changed Utah's licensing laws and the U's LSAC scrambled to make the necessary changes to be compliant.

Today, after a LLLLOOOOONNNNNGGGGG wait, I was officially notified that I am one of 40 students that will start at the U in a few weeks. Because of the licensing changes, I'm now qualified to earn an advanced substance abuse use disorder license so I'll have more training, more field hours, and, theoretically, more opportunities when I am licensed.

The program starts on August 15th which doesn't give me too much time to stress. I'm SO excited. It will be an adjustment for my family, but I think it will be okay. The program is just over a year long and then I take my state licensing exam. :o)

Happy, happy, happy day.

My NEW FAVORITE SONG!

LOVING this song. Especially since it reminds me of President Monson's saying "It's better to look up."

Look up and keep working. Any relationship worth having is worth fighting for.

"We got a life to learn, and God knows we're worth it."

"Stand In Holy Places"

"Not a day has gone by that I have not communicated with my Father in Heaven through prayer. It is a relationship I cherish—one I would literally be lost without. If you do not now have such a relationship with your Father in Heaven, I urge you to work toward that goal. As you do so, you will be entitled to His inspiration and guidance in your life."

—Thomas S. Monson, "Stand in Holy Places", Liahona and Ensign, November 2011

"You Matter To Him"

"This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it."

—Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "You Matter to Him", Liahona and Ensign, November 2011

Preston DI

#15 DI

Preston, ID
July 11, 2012

Bought "And Now You Know" by Larry Morris


This is our first out of state DI and the TINIEST DI ever! It was SO small. The book section was like 4 shelves. The toy section was two shelves. I loved Preston-- it's a beautiful part of Idaho. And I thought of Napolean Dynamite the whole time. 

Logan DI

#14 DI

Logan, UT
July 11, 2012

Bought "The Secret Journal of Brett Colton" by Kay Lynn Mangun

Brigham City DI

#13 DI

Brigham City, UT
July 11, 2012

Bought "Fire of the Covenant" by Gerald Lund

Tooele DI

#12 DI

Tooele, UT
July 10, 2012

Bought "The Princess and the Hound" by Mette Ivie Harrison

How I Know I am Getting Older

-I park in the same aisles at Costco & Walmart so I don't lose my car
-my favorite songs are on the Oldies station
-my kids tell me I am older
-spicy foods = heartburn
-creaks & cracks & groans are commonly heard from my joints
-the kids I teach in detention were born after I graduated high school/college
-I don't recognize any of the new popular singers
-all my favorite TV shows are having "reunion" specials
-the horrid clothes I wore in junior high are back in fashion (ugh)
-I like to eat at the same places when I go out to eat
-my parents don't seem so old anymore
-I start to see myself as old enough to be the mother of many kids I teach
-I just registered my daughter for junior high
-I remember life without email and cellphones and texting and computers


Aren't birthdays great??

Things I ADORE about My New House

-LOTS of counter space in the kitchen
-Front loading washer (laundry is almost fun. *almost*)
-Huge backyard
-Established garden
-Ice maker in fridge
-Reverse Osmosis system under the sink
-3 car garage. No more SNOW on the car
-Horses live across the street
-Tons of storage space
-A front porch that will one day have a porch swing
-Vaulted ceilings
-The master closet is AMAZING
-Large, jetted tub
-It's clean
-Lots of fruit trees
-It's MINE!
-The master bedroom is big enough to have a bed, a chair, and my elliptical
-The front room will be our library area.
-There are window seats. I LOVE window seats
-Lots of windows
-LOTS of outlets. They are all over. I love it! No more hunting and stretching cords out to plug things in
-It has a built in desk area. What a relief and blessing
-It's fabulous! I adore it very much. It's slowly coming together. Every day it looks better and better and more like home. Can't wait to hang my pictures up-- that's when it's really "ready" in my opinion.

Makeover Idea by Pinterest!

Bought an armoir desk for $30 off KSL Classifieds. Can't seem to get the pictures to post bigger but here's what it looks like. It opens up as a desk. 

$30! SO cool. I loaded it up in my van today. 

Here's my inspiration from Pinterest: 

Here's the original website with the cool idea. 

The armoir I bought is going to be my new craft central station in my new house since I'm losing my craft space in my laundry room. I'm so excited! I even bought some of those mini white drawers for storing stuff in at DI for $3 each. And I've got other storage stuff to use in the new set up. 

Love, LOVE, Loving Pinterest! Lots of great ideas for my new house. 

My Father's Day talk

(Here is basically a paraphrase of the talk I gave in church on Sunday. It's not exact, but close). 

For Father's Day, I want to talk about the fathers who have had an impact on my life. 

First, my Grandpa H. He was newly married and drafted into World War II where he served as a medic in Europe for 3 years. He saw horrible, horrible things and came home very shell-shocked. But this was a time in our society when we didn't talk about the horrors of war and simply expected the men returning from war to pick up their lives and go on as though nothing had happened. I look at the pictures of my grandpa and his young family and see a haunted man trying his best to provide for his family. 

My grandpa worked hard to provide for his family and then for the last 26 years of her life, took care of my Grandma Hansen. During the last year of his life, he told everyone that he loved them. He used to say "I never told people I loved them. I missed out. I'm going to make it right." 

He died 7 years ago, but I miss him every day. I miss his jokes and his laughter. Our last time together was so ordinary. We sat at his dining room table looking through junk mail catalogs. He used to say he needed to get junk mail so he had a reason to go to his mail box. We sat there, not saying anything to each other, but looking at catalogs. It was peaceful and quiet. I will always remember that. 

Second, my grandpa T. I was with my Grandpa 3 times in my life, when I was 6 months, 14, and 18. I never knew him. He was an alcoholic and the experience growing up in his house depends on which child you ask. When he died, I felt a loss, but only because I never knew him and never had a relationship with him. My parents took his inheritance money and served a mission in Nauvoo. The year to day that he died, his family was in the temple doing his temple work. He was pretty opposed to the Church during his life and maybe he's softened some. But my mom looks forward to telling him that  the family sold his boat and scrap yard and she took the money to serve a mission. 

Third, my dad. As I child I was all too aware of how my dad failed to live up to my storybook expectations of a father. As I've gotten older though, I realize just how much he loved and sacrificed for our family. It's amazing to me that my parents stayed together. It would have been so easy for my dad to call it quits, to walk away and take the easy way out. But he didn't. He stayed and kept our family together. I'll be forever grateful to him for that. 

As I've gotten older, I've also realized how my dad tells us he loves us. He's not fluffy or expressive. He's like his dad. He works hard for his family. There are two memories that stick out to me that I use as perfect examples of how my dad loves me. 

The first one is when I was a 19 year old who thought she knew it all. I put myself in a situation where I realized I didn't know anything. I had been smuggled out of an apartment complex by a stranger who saved my life and dropped off at a gas station in Orem where my parents were to come pick me up. I stood at the window and waited for them, scared to death that at any moment I would be caught and killed. They pulled up, and my Dad, who was driving, handed the keys to my mom and climbed in the backseat. He put his arm around his battered, broken daughter. He didn't say anything, but it was the first time in 6 months that I felt safe. 

The second time was when I watched my dad putting on his heavy work clothes to go work in freezing temperatures building a Fred Meyer in Orem for $8.50 an hour. He'd spend all day in the cold and eat a cold lunch out of his box. He had been making $80,000+ in LA before moving to Utah to be closer to his family. At the time, I remember thinking 'what a waste! Why doesn't he just quit? He's worth more than that.' Now I know why. He did it because he loved his family and was willing to do anything to supported. 

He's still not perfect, but he's my dad. I know he loves me. And I love him too. 

Fourth, the father of my children. My hubby is all too aware of how he fails to live up to his own expectations, but he is a good, good dad. He's a dad who cares, who tries, and who plays with his kids. I asked my kids what they loved best about their dad. Here's what they had to say: 

My daughter: "I love how caring & loving he is and how he always does what's best for his family even if there's something else he wants to do." 

My son: "He asks me what I'm feeling when I'm sad and he helps me cheer up." 

My 4 year old: "Dad plays with me. He's a superhero. He's Superman because he does something. And that's it." 

Fifth, our Heavenly Father. 

For the past almost 3 years, I've taught in juvenile detention. I've had over 300 kids come through my program. There's one I will never forget. For his first class, he sat across from me and glowered at me the whole time. It's the only time I've ever really felt nervous for my life. He looked as though he wanted to kill someone/anyone. As I got to know him, I found out that his dad had physically, severely beaten him during his life. During my last class, I told him: "You have two chances to have a good relationship with a father. The first is your earthly father; the second is your Heavenly Father. Your Heavenly Father will always bee there for you, to love you and guide you and take care of you." 

My Heavenly Father never, ever, ever gave up on me. He always saw beyond my failings and self-criticism. He always knew and still knows what I could become and still will become. He is there for us to have the relationship we desire. He will be better than the dad of our dreams because he has more than earthly power. He is always there for us, to be our Dad, if we only will ask him in. 

***********************

I know I added more to each part of my talk, but this is at least what I had written down as notes. I bawled through the WHOLE thing. It was very, very tender for me. I was glad I shared and got a lot of positive comments in response. I wanted to add pictures to each part of this, but then I realized the CD that has all my pictures is packed in a box somewhere in the basement. I don't even know which box it's in and the boxes where I could look are, of course, on the bottom of the pile. So no pictures, sorry!

But this was also my heartfelt goodbye to my ward. We've lived here for 7 years. It's been fabulous. We've loved living here and are looking forward to the next chapter in our lives. :o) 

Sarah

A Long Overdue Update with NO Pictures in it

Since seeing the sleep psychologist a couple months ago, my sleeping has improved GREATLY! I think there are two keys. One, I go to bed later; two, I am sleeping with a mouth guard that is used to treat mild to moderate sleep apnea. I don't stop breathing while I sleep, but my oxygen levels drop and I wake up in response. With the mouth guard in, I sleep straight through the night at least two or three times a week. It's absolutely amazing-- a far cry from where I was a year ago.

I have widdled down my sleeping meds too so I don't take heavy duty prescription sleeping pills. Each night I take 1000 mg L-Tryptophan, a 3 mg melotonin, and a generic Unisom pill. They work great. The L-Tryptophan has had a great impact on my headaches (fewer) and on my overall mood (better and more resilient). It's been such a relief to sleep well. I love it!

We're still planning on closing on our new house on June 28th. It looks like we won't actually be able to move into our house until July 2nd. :o( But there's nothing we can do about that. I've been packing and sorting and moving things around. My food storage room is all packed. I can't pack too much more because we actually are using it. We'll take apart the beds this weekend and just put the mattresses on the floor to save a step.

I knew I needed to have another love seat for my new front room and I found one for $50 on KSL Classifieds. It's amazing. 1 year old and in fabulous condition. I loaded it into my empty van and brought it home. The hubby was less than thrilled at the thought of moving yet ONE MORE thing, but he'll adjust. $50! Sweet!

I also bought a new bed set for my bedroom and one for my daughter. My new set was $40 and hers (brand new) was $20. Another sweet deal!

Our DI trips are going great. It's been a lot of fun. All the DIs are tending to blur together. The prices are so different though from one DI to the next. Today the Layton DI had their prices at least a few dollars more than the Ogden DI. I think it's all about clientele. Sandy DI is still the priciest, and my least favorite. My most favorite? The new West Valley DI. AMAZING! Worth the drive, for sure.

I started teaching my art class two weeks ago on Tuesdays. The teens LOVE the art classes. Last week was watercolors and I purposely didn't show them any samples because I didn't want them to just copy what I did. It pushed them, but they eventually got it. The director of the detention center has given me permission to decorate the halls of the lobby and other areas with my teens' art. It's been fun seeing the kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I sure do get to know them better. We usually end up with more kids during the summer, especially toward the end of summer.

I'm still trying to get my indexing arbitration goal of 10,000 names arbitrated this month. So far I've only done 2500. I need to step up my game and get some names arbitrated so I can hit 35,000 by June 30. It may be more difficult than I expected though.

Still NO regrets about dropping my summer classes. I'd much rather read fun books than text books.

No word yet on my acceptance into the Substance Abuse Counseling Program. I got an email reassurance that I exceed the educational requirements, but I need a letter to make it official. Maybe by the time I move I will have one. That program starts in August. I've already gotten 3 job offers for when I'm licensed. Not bad, eh? I can make a whopping $12,000 a year (? I'm guessing here. It's probably more than that, but not much since it's a social service field).

That's about it for now. I spoke in church yesterday. My goal for tomorrow is to write down some of the thoughts I shared in my talk on my grandpas and dad on my blog and add some pictures. But first I have to go to the dentist (no fun) and then I get to go to my art class (way fun). ;o)

Ogden/Harrisville DI

#11 DI

Harrisville, UT
June 18, 2012

Bought "Remembering Isaac: The Wise and Joyful Potter of Neiderbipp" by Ben Buhunin

Layton DI

#10 DI

Layton, UT
June 18, 2012

Bought "Goose Girl" by Shannon Hale

Notice how all the new DIs look the same? They are laid out the same too inside. Makes it much more confusing to try to remember where we've been.

Sandy DI

#9 DI

Sandy DI
June 13, 2012

Bought "Home to Holly Springs" by Jan Karon

This is pretty much our least-favorite DI. It's old and it's run down and crowded. Plus overpriced. Not a good experience overall.

West Jordan DI

#8 DI

West Jordan DI
June 13, 2012

Bought "In Praise of Stay-At Home Moms" by Dr. Laura

West Valley DI

#7 DI

West Valley City
June 13, 2012

Bought "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom (a favorite!)

Also bought an AWESOME rocking chair to fix up (thanks to Pinterest!) Details & photos on the "repainting" to follow soon. (Yes, you can repaint the fabric on these chairs to make them look new and it works; not crusty or anything.)

This is pretty much our new favorite DI. It's big, it's clean, it has got TONS of stuff. Worth the drive to 5600 W and 3000 S for a view. Way fun. We spent an hour there.

Centerville DI

#6 DI

June 9, 2012

Bought "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge

This DI is a given. We go here all the time. They have an amazing selection of women's clothes and I buy a lot of stuff here.

Humanitarian Center DI

#5 DI
800 S Salt Lake City

June 7, 2012

Bought "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli (LOVE this book!)

This is a smaller DI that is part of the Humanitarian Center block. The yard sale area was a thrown together collection of random things. We found a pair of brand new training wheels for the 4 year old's bike for $1.50. Sure hope they fit!

Downtown SLC DI

#4 DI
700 S. Salt Lake City

June 7, 2012

Bought "The Guinea Pig Diaries" by AJ Jacobs

I had never been to this DI before so it was an adventure of sorts.

I also bought a basket box to store blankets in. I've always wanted one for downstairs. Now I can use it in my new house to look nice. It only cost $5. Nice bargain.

Sugarhouse DI

#3 DI

Sugarhouse, UT
June 7, 2012

Bought "It's all too much" by Peter Walsh (I love that I bought a book on getting rid of junk while collecting books!)

This is the first time I've been to the new Sugarhouse DI. The old one was a disaster and then some. This one is really nice. The book section wasn't that great, but we still enjoyed it.

Murray DI

#2 DI

Murray, Utah
June 7, 2012

Bought "A Year of Living Biblically" by AJ Jacobs (great book!)

This is one of my favorite DIs. Their book section is amazing! We actually bought 3 books, but only this one counts for our summer goal.

I also bought a ginormous Randolph Reindeer that I have been collecting for my Christmas tree for years. I have two girl reindeer and a smaller version of this one.

And I bought a 1970 copy of the Boy Scout handbook for $1. Cool! Vintage!

Richfield DI

#1 DI
Richfield, UT

June 6, 2012

Bought "The Actor and the Housewife" by Shannon Hale

Small DI, but still fun. My kids loved the toy section.

Our Summer Adventure-- DI Visitations

My family LOVES Deseret Industries. We LOVE DI. It's true. We go there frequently to buy clothes and whatnot. This summer, we're going to take our love of DI to a new level.

This summer we are going to go to (almost) EVERY SINGLE DI in Utah.

Sah-weet.

Totally!

There are 23 that we're going to. I have a checklist on the wall and a map for charting our progress.

My kids, once they stopped looking horrified, actually agreed that this will be fun to do. :o)

So here's the goal:

1- Visit every DI (almost)
2- Take a picture to post to the blog
3- Buy a book from each store
4- Write the name of the DI in the front of the book as a memento

Let the summer fun begin!

The Great Things about this Summer

--no more forcing children to do homework e.v.e.r.y. day!
--no more driving kids to and from and to and from and to and from school multiple times a day
--lots more freedom in what we do each day
--we just bought a blow up pool for the kids to put in the backyard. It got used today by my kiddos and 5 neighbor kids. Super fun!
--we are moving
--we are buying a pass to the Rec Center so we can swim and swim and swim
--my middle son has a great new summer school to go to; we are all excited about it. He does SO much better with the structure of school and this one will be good for him
--we have a list of places to visit
--I get to teach my art therapy class AND my writing class in O&A; 2 hours there a week. Love that place!
--Unlimited Otter Pops. Yum! I always eat the grape & orange ones and let the kids & their friends eat the red & pink ones
--more time for my kids to read. I pay them for each book they read during the summer to make sure they want to read
--family visits and day trips
--my birthday is in the summer and I'm throwing myself a birthday/housewarming party this year
--I can wear skirts all the time
--my garden is growing
--my daughter gets to go to girls' camp for the first time
--the annual neighborhood block party for the 4th of July
--my nieces & nephews are going to have a sleepover here
--frequent trips to the library
--sometimes I can even sleep in! (like till 7:30)
--lunch dates with my hubby
--the sunflowers are growing (overtaking, really) the front flower bed
--thunderstorms! I LOVE summer thunderstorms!
--our new backyard is a kids' paradise! I can't wait to have neighborhood parties in our new neighborhood
--the county fair is in August. We love the county fair!
--fresh watermelon and corn on the cob and strawberries and soon cherries and other goodies. I love going to the store to stock up on yummy produce
--the sun stays up longer
--I can go to the temple easier now

And, perhaps the best thing of all-- I had the most BRILLIANT idea for what to do with my kids throughout the summer. It's going to be AMAZING! It starts on Wednesday and it's something we work on a little bit at a time. Can't wait to get started.

But I'm not going to tell you yet. I've got to get my info together and then share it with the kids. :o)

Here's a laugh for today

A Wonderful News Clip

This brought tears to my eyes and a warm feeling to my heart. What an amazing story. So glad there are still miracles on earth today.

Irony, Comedy, & Tragedy: or a moment in my life

I decide to make Navajo Tacos for dinner and so I'm adding all the ingredients into my mixer. Hermy, the tortoise, is in the kitchen near me eating her dinner of lettuce. My kids are downstairs playing with the neighbors. And I have my "Anything Box" Pandora station playing so I'm singing along to the Pet Shop Boys and OMD as I'm filling up my 2 1/2 cup measuring cup with flour.

I fill up the cup once, crossing the kitchen to back cabinet to get the flour, and dump it in. As I'm preparing to walk back to the mixer to dump the full-to-overflowing cup of flour the second time, I suddenly find myself sliding uncontrollably across the floor, slipping on a puddle of pee that Hermy just made. I slide and crash into the stove, landing on my knee and foot and spilling flour all over the stove and floor and me.

It was a beautiful moment.

That one day I will laugh at.


But today is NOT that day.

:o)

The tragedy is that I decided to actually make a real dinner instead of laying on the couch finishing a book. The comedy... well that's apparent. The irony? Hermy was outside all day and didn't pee once.

Salt Lake Tribune Article

I was featured in an article on volunteers in juvenile detenion! Click HERE to read it!

Songs I Love because they have my Name in them

Of course, whenever the last song came on by Starship when I was a kid, I'd cry. Mostly it was because it was one more excuse for my brothers to torment me. :o)

Watching the Eclipse

We spent an hour outside with our neighbors watching the eclipse with their eclipse glasses and through the reflection of our binoculars. It was awesome. At the height of the eclipse the sunlight around us was eery. All of our shadows were blurry and the sky looked dark. It was awesome.

I need your help with an Art Therapy Program

I am restarting the art therapy program at Farmington Bay youth detention center where I have volunteered for the past 3 years, teaching writing classes. In order to start the program, I need to have art supplies to run the classes. That is where I need your help. 

Will you please consider donating $5 to $20 to our program so I can buy art supplies? Or, if you'd prefer, you can actually just buy some of the art supplies and give them to me. We will be soliciting donations through United Way and other local businesses that will help sustain the program, but I am in need of money in the next few weeks to get the classes started Tuesday, June 5th. 

The class will be taught for an hour every Tuesday morning and will allow the kids to explore art through drawing, painting, sketching, chalk, and cartooning. Most of the 300+ kids that I've taught in the last 2.5 years have wished they had an artist outlet while in detention. I have been studying many art therapy books and have learned different techniques and activities that help the kids find a way to express themselves.

I am really excited about this program and think it will be a big success. Please consider donating either supplies or a little bit of cash to help me get it going. Let me know if you want to buy actual supplies, see the list below.  I need the items by June 1st. 

Let me know if you have any questions. 

Thanks SO much! 

Supplies: 

16 color water color palette

box of sidewalk chalk (10+ colors)

reams of white paper

200 sheets of multi-color construction paper

large boxes of crayons

large boxes of markers

4 pack glue sticks

Teaching Fairness

Every day I hear one or more of my children whine "That's NOT fair!" Any blessing, any goodness, any attention given to any of their siblings becomes a loss or insult to them. Some notices their brother? They are suddenly diminished, less important, and less worthy.

It's such a big problem.

I realize it's a normal part of development for all of us (I know adults who still struggle with this), but I want to teach my kids now to how be more resilient and more stable within themselves. I want them to learn how to NOT make themselves miserable.

Thankfully, Elder Jeffrey Holland's April General Conference talk provided a perfect solution. Read it HERE. Elder Holland talks about the parable of the laborers in the vineyard that Christ taught-- about laborers being asked to help at 9 am, Noon, 3 pm, and 5 pm. And how they all got the SAME wage. I used different color markers and a big piece of paper and drew the scene as we talked about it. I knew if they could visualize what was going on that it would be more impactful.

My kids' reactions were pretty predictable: "That's NOT fair! The first guys did more work." But it isn't, I told them, the first group agreed to work till 6 pm for $5 (that's the money I used) and that's what they got. That's not fair. It's what they agreed too. The kids couldn't disagree with that. They knew it was true. But it still didn't sit well with them, especially my daughter. That's when I started reading from the talk directly.

This is what he had to say:

I wish to speak of the Savior’s parable in which a householder “went out early in the morning to hire labourers.” After employing the first group at 6:00 in the morning, he returned at 9:00 a.m., at 12:00 noon, and at 3:00 in the afternoon, hiring more workers as the urgency of the harvest increased. The scripture says he came back a final time, “about the eleventh hour” (approximately 5:00 p.m.), and hired a concluding number. Then just an hour later, all the workers gathered to receive their day’s wage. Surprisingly, all received the same wage in spite of the different hours of labor. Immediately, those hired first were angry, saying, “These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.”¹ When reading this parable, perhaps you, as well as those workers, have felt there was an injustice being done here. Let me speak briefly to that concern.

First of all it is important to note that no one has been treated unfairly here. The first workers agreed to the full wage of the day, and they received it. Furthermore, they were, I can only imagine, very grateful to get the work. In the time of the Savior, an average man and his familycould not do much more than live on what they made that day. If you didn’t work or farm or fish or sell, you likely didn’t eat. With more prospective workers than jobs, these first men chosen were the most fortunate in the entire labor pool that morning.

Indeed, if there is any sympathy to be generated, it should at least initially be for the men not chosen who also had mouths to feed and backs to clothe. Luck never seemed to be with some of them. With each visit of the steward throughout the day, they always saw someone else chosen.

But just at day’s close, the householder returns a surprising fifth time with a remarkable eleventh-hour offer! These last and most discouraged of laborers, hearing only that they will be treated fairly, accept work without even knowing the wage, knowing that anything will be better than nothing, which is what they have had so far. Then as they gather for their payment, they are stunned to receive the same as all the others! How awestruck they must have been and how very, very grateful! Surely never had such compassion been seen in all their working days.

It is with that reading of the story that I feel the grumbling of the first laborers must be seen. As the householder in the parable tells them (and I paraphrase only slightly): “My friends, I am not being unfair to you. You agreed on the wage for the day, a good wage. You were very happy to get the work, and I am very happy with the way you served. You are paid in full. Take your pay and enjoy the blessing. As for the others, surely I am free to do what I like with my own money.” Then this piercing question to anyone then or now who needs to hear it: “Why should you be jealous because I choose to be kind?”

About this point, the emotion started flowing, especially from my daughter who struggles when her brothers "overshadow" her. Even though it was hard, we pushed on. I read this to them:

Brothers and sisters, there are going to be times in our lives when someone else gets an unexpected blessing or receives some special recognition. May I plead with us not to be hurt—and certainly not to feel envious—when good fortune comes to another person? We are not diminished when someone else is added upon. We are not in a race against each other to see who is the wealthiest or the most talented or the most beautiful or even the most blessed. The race we are really in is the race against sin, and surely envy is one of the most universal of those.

It's hard to say at this point if it made much difference for my kids. It is a lesson we will reinforce over and over again, for sure. Here's one more point I want to share with all of you:

This parable—like all parables—is not really about laborers or wages any more than the others are about sheep and goats. This is a story about God’s goodness, His patience and forgiveness, and the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a story about generosity and compassion. It is a story about grace. It underscores the thought I heard many years ago that surely the thing God enjoys most about being God is the thrill of being merciful, especially to those who don’t expect it and often feel they don’t deserve it.

I do not know who in this vast audience today may need to hear the message of forgiveness inherent in this parable, but however late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.

Whether you are not yet of our faith or were with us once and have not remained, there is nothing in either case that you have done that cannot be undone. There is no problem which you cannot overcome. There is no dream that in the unfolding of time and eternity cannot yet be realized. Even if you feel you are the lost and last laborer of the eleventh hour, the Lord of the vineyard still stands beckoning. “Come boldly [to] the throne of grace,”³ and fall at the feet of the Holy One of Israel. Come and feast “without money and without price”⁴ at the table of the Lord.

Envy is HARD. It afflicts all of us. It's something we all struggle with at any age. Being content, being grounded in ourselves, being totally convinced of the love of our Heavenly Father and the unique position we hold in His heart takes a lot of work to maintain. But it will bring us so much more happiness.