Why? Fi...

Why would you offer free Wi Fi and block access to Facebook????

I ask myself this question as I sit in the waiting room of my mother's heart dr. twitching because I'm getting the "403 forbidden" as I try connect to Facebook...and the Dr. is running 45 minutes to an hour late.

It's probably a good thing since my battery is about to die.

Miss me...

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Do you ever get the feeling that *GASP* someone doesn't like you?
Or that you *Horror of Horrors* annoy someone?

And you don't know why?

You haven't been mean or rude to them ...

(that you are aware of)

Yet you just get the "vibe" that they don't like you.

What do you do when this happens?

Do you wrack your brain trying to figure out what it is about you

or what you have done that would make them dislike you.

Do you try harder to make them like you or do you just back off?

And for when the shoe is on the other foot...

Is there anyone that you don't like or that annoys you?

For no. good. reason?

They are a really nice, wonderful person who

has never done you wrong

they just...

"Rub you the wrong way"

"Are like fingers on a blackboard"

"Get on your nerves"

"Annoy the H*** out of you"

What do you do in that situation?

Do you avoid that person at all costs?

What if you can't avoid them?

What if you are constantly put in situations where

you have to spend time with this person?

Are you then rude and mean to them,

for no good reason,

just so they will leave you alone?

Do you just ignore them?

Or do you try to figure out just what it is that

"rubs you the wrong way"

and then try to look past that to the person.

Do you treat them the way you would want to be treated

if you were the "Annoyer" instead of the "Annoyee"?

I found this quote that really made me think...

Always when judging
Who people are,
Remember to footnote
The words "So far."
~Robert Brault

So...what do you do in these situations?

Back in the E.E.E.R.

(Sing the title to the Beatles tune U.S.S.R)

So I'm blogging from my phone as I sit in the ER waiting for a Dr. Kalas (unfortunate name no?) to come in and drain an abcess in my brother's arm.

Monday, I basically lived an episode of Intervention except without the cameras or the addicts being able to get on plane and get into rehab.

This intervention will be ongoing and exceptionally difficult.

I'm tired but hanging on to hope. Unfortunately there are two addicts to deal with...I'm not sure how all of this is going to play out and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared and frustrated and angry about the situation.

But l love my brothers. I hope they know this.

So I will sit in the ER and be here for the draining of the cysts...and whatever else may lie ahead.

A Body in Motion

Is not a phrase I would have used to describe me...

But that's all in the past. I have started the C25K program and have been doing it now for almost three weeks.

I started it because a friend of mine asked if I wanted to join her team in doing The Dirty Dash. At first when she asked me I told her "The only time I run is away from a fire." But then I thought about it and running in mud, laughing and going over obstacles while slipping and sliding around sounded like something that could be fun. So I signed up.

I did inform my friend that if I died a dirty death it would be upon her head. So with fear of my possible impending demise she agreed to help me train. So far there has only been one HORRIBLE day and that was because she upped the ante on the workout REALLY high without realizing it.

I survived that horrible day and today I was able to actually speak words whilst running at a semi decent clip (okay maybe semi decent is a bit of a stretch but I'm looking on the positive side of things here!)

So right now I'm only running for around 3 minutes straight but hey....from a body NOT in motion to that is pretty good.

And you know that saying "A body in motion tends to stay in motion" I'm hoping that's the case with mine.

Wish me luck.

Mr. Jung...

“Everything that irritates us about others

can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.”

--Carl Jung

Motherhood Challenge: Any Advice??

-Day9-

THE CHALLENGE:

Ask a more experienced mother about the

long-term rewards of motherhood.

“IF YOU BUNGLE RAISING YOUR CHILDREN,

I DON’T THINK WHATEVER ELSE YOU DO

MATTERS VERY MUCH.”

-JACKIE KENNED

I need to do this. I haven't yet. So I'm doing it now.

I'd love to hear from any and all of you who have words of wisdom for me. You can either leave me a comment or shoot me an email.

I can use all the help I can get. Especially this morning because I'm wondering what those long term rewards might be....

This has gotta be a good life

Love me some One Republic...

Motherhood Challenge: Hey Kiddo's

-Day 8-

THE CHALLENGE:

Tell your children or those you mother

what you love about being a mother.

“YOU ARE THE TRIP I DID NOT TAKE.

YOU ARE THE PEARLS I CANNOT BUY.

YOU ARE MY BLUE ITALIAN LAKE.

YOU ARE MY PIECE OF FOREIGN SKY.”

-ANNE CAMPBELL

That quote always makes me cry.

I love my kids. I think I'll have something to talk about at dinner tonight.

Motherhood Challenge: What I love about being a mom

-Day 7-

THE CHALLENGE:

Blog, Facebook or Tweet what you love and

enjoy about motherhood.

“SHOW ME HOW HIGHLY A SOCIETY

REVERENCES ITS MOTHERS AND I CAN TELL YOU

THE HEALTH OF THAT SOCIETY.”

-BILLY SUNDAY

The things that I love the most about being a mom are

Watching my children learn new things

Hearing their laughter.

Being able to talk to my kids about important things and having them listen...really listen.

Being able to have my kids come and talk to me about important things and listening...really listening.

Being their biggest cheerleader.

The fact that my kids teach me so much.

Most of all I love those moments, you know the ones. The rare, glimmering moments where you catch a glimpse of eternity. The moments that it is given to you to know a fraction of the love that our Father in Heaven must have for you as His child, because you feel that same swell of love for your child.

Having said that...all of these things apply to not only my children, but to people in my life in general. I LOVE watching the Young Women or Primary children, with whom I have been privileged to work throughout my life, as they grow.

It's not just as mother that I can celebrate and rejoice but as a friend and a leader. To see the young men that I have taught in primary begin to pass the sacrament or receive their mission calls. To watch as the Young Women go off to college, get married and start families and careers of their own or go on missions as well. To see anyone I love grow and succeed brings joy and happiness into my heart and my life.

I am highly blessed to be a mom but I'm equally blessed to be a friend to those around me and to be surrounded by seriously amazing women.

May you all have a wonderful Mother's Day my friends. Wherever you may be.

Mother Challenge: Pick up the phone

-Day6-

THE CHALLENGE:

Call a friend and recognize her efforts as

a mother.

“MY MOTHER WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN

I EVER SAW. I ATTRIBUTE ALL MY SUCCESS

IN LIFE TO THE MORAL, INTELLECTUAL AND

PHYSICAL EDUCATION I RECEIVED FROM HER.”

-GEORGE WASHINGTON

Motherhood Challenge: The List

-5-

THE CHALLENGE:

Make a list of the skills and attributes that

you bring to the role of mother.

“I LOOKED ON CHILD REARING NOT ONLY

AS A WORK OF LOVE AND DUTY

BUT AS A PROFESSION THAT DEMANDED

THE BEST THAT I COULD BRING TO IT.”

-ROSE KENNEDY

I love the quote for the day and I need to remember that each day that I need to bring the best that have to offer to my kids.

As for the challenge ... here is my list... I bring these things to being a mom...hopefully it helps.

• Love
• A sense of humor
• Amor
• Willingness to listen, and listen, and listen and listen.
• Leibe
• Knowledge of the importance of good Communication
• Láska
• Up on current trends and music
• Amour
• A fun loving attitude
• Sayang
• Consistency and sense of routine
• Szeretet
• I know how and when to say "I'm sorry I made a mistake."
• Rakkaus
• Honesty
• любовь
• A thick skin
• Amore
• Good hugger
• Kjærlighet
• A ready smile
• Zamiłowanie
• A love of reading
• Förtjusning
• The ability to watch my child fail
• Aşk
• And be there for them when they do.
• αγάπη
• A love of learning
• Mīlestība
• The ability to laugh at myself and enjoy it
• Ljubezen
• An awesome twinkle in my eye
• Liefde
• The ability to see beyond the choices that my child makes to the child
• Meilė
• How and when to say NO and and the importance of setting boundaries.
• Love
• Love
• and more Love

So there you have it. That's my list. What's yours? I'd love to see!

P.S. (Every other thing on that list is Love just in a different language. Just in case it is confusing.)

The Muthahood

Motherhood Challenge: Dear Mom

-Day 4-

THE CHALLENGE:

Express thanks to your mother. Give her a

call or write a letter, expressing gratitude for

her love and influence. If she isn’t living,

write her a letter in your journal. And if it’s

not your own mother, maybe it’s another

woman who mothered you.

“ALL THAT I AM OR HOPE TO BE,

I OWE TO MY MOTHER.”

-ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Dear Mom,

In the words of the primary song that I love,

"Mother, I love you,

Mother, I do

Father in Heaven

Has sent me to you

When I am near you

I love to hear you

Singing so softly

That you love me too

Mother, I love you

I love you

I do."

I am so grateful that you are my mother. You have taught me so many things.

Like how to make the perfect chocolate cake, I don't know how many times you let me help you with making that cake before you turned the job over to me. And you always, always praised how it came out. Which made me want to whip up a cake pretty much every Sunday after church.

You taught me how to bake from scratch. I remember thinking it was weird how when I stayed over at my friends house, their pancakes (or their cakes) came from a mix in a box...and they never tasted as good as yours.

I know how to clean the bathroom within an inch of it's life thanks to you. I'm not sure why it seems like I always had the bathroom to clean. I do know that I couldn't make it out the front door on the weekends if that bathroom wasn't scrubbed down and sparkly.

You instilled in me a love of singing and music. One of my favorite memories of growing up is of you on Sunday afternoons, standing at the sink peeling potatoes for dinner and hearing you singing hymns. I didn't appreciate it as a child but as an adult and as a mother, I certainly do. I will forever be able to hear you singing "There is sunshine in my soul today", that seemed to be one of your favorite songs. Because you sang those hymns and you knew them by heart I wanted to do that as well and so I did. Because of you I can now sing most of the hymns without looking at the words. And I have grown to love and appreciate music. Thank you for that.

Through your actions you taught me to always speak kind words about others and that gossip, in any form, is unacceptable. You always seem to be able to see the good in people and you wanted me to see it and look for it as well...and so now I do.

My love of photography I can trace directly back to you and your many, many cameras. That and the love of all things beautiful. You love nature, the mountains, birds, the flowers... You love them all and you taught me to love and appreciate them as well.

You have taught me these things and much, much more...

But most importantly you taught me about unconditional love. You love people no matter who they are or what they do. You love them even when they treat you with disrespect. You love people that you haven't even met that you don't even know. And people feel this. They can feel your spirit and the love that you have without even talking to you. This love, this love that you have and that you are, radiates from within you and spills out to all those around you. Thank you for that.

Thank you for being the best mom I could ever hope to have.

Thank you for being my mom.

I love you.

Motherhood Challenge: I am a Mom!

-Day 3-

THE CHALLENGE:

Practice answering the question “What do

you do?” so you can confidently say “I am

a mother.”

“FEW OF US WILL REACH OUR POTENTIAL WITHOUT

THE NURTURING OF BOTH THE MOTHER WHO BORE

US AND THE MOTHERS WHO BEAR WITH US.”

-SHERI L. DEW

Today's challenge is a good one. One that I need.

Each time I meet someone new or run into someone from the past this question comes up,

"So what do you do?" or "What are you doing now?"

And it depends on the situation, the day, my hormones and how my kids have been behaving how I have answered.

I'll be honest and there have been times that I've used the phrase "I'm just a mom." I don't really like it, but I've used it. And I've been gently (and not so gently) chastised for saying it.

There have been other times that I've loudly and proudly proclaimed "I'm a mom!"

I am a stay at home mom. I worked outside the home when Jona was a baby and it wasn't a good fit for me. Thankfully I have been blessed with an amazing husband who has done everything in his power to make it so that I have been able to be at home with our children.

There are days I love it and days that I totally understand why some animals devour their own young. But guess what? I can't change the fact that I am a mom. So the next time I get asked "What do you do?" I will happily answer "I'm a mom!"

Yes!

For today

and forever

and for always...

"I AM A MOM!"

Motherhood Challenge: The Big Question

-Day 2-

THE CHALLENGE:

Recognize there are all kinds of mothers –

those that work, those who stay-at-home,

single mothers, and women who have never

given birth. Be aware of how often you

judge other women, and practice recognizing

the worth of all kinds of mothers.

“BIOLOGY IS THE LEAST OF WHAT

MAKES SOMEONE A MOTHER.”

-OPRAH WINFREY

Do you know what is fabulous?

You are!

We all are!

So HERE is the question....

Why, then would such

loving,

caring,

beautiful,

amazing,

Fabulous women

want to tear one another down?

Why?

This has always been mystery to me. Why, as women, do we tend to pick one another apart? Does it make us feel better? Does it make us feel superior? Does it help us lose weight?

The answer to all the above is no. So why?

I have a beautiful mother who taught me a wonderful lesson growing up. And it wasn't a "Sit down and have a conversation about this" type of lesson. It was something that she taught me through her actions.

I remember distinctly being with my mother as she was around other women discussing life and the universe, you know like all moms do. Sometimes she was on our telephone, ( the one that had the twenty foot cord so it could stretch to the sink or around the corner so she could keep doing house work while she talked.) Sometimes it was in little groups of women. Sometimes it was sitting in our back yard with the women of the family snipping beans or eating ice cream.

It didn't matter where it was though because more than once I heard the phrase "Shut my mouth!" escape from my mother's lips. She would then go onto apologize for whatever it was she had been going to say or that she had actually said because she knew it wasn't right to say bad things about others.

What really impressed me was that often times, I felt, that she had a good reason....or even a right to say bad things about these people (and these people were usually of the female persuasion) because I knew the things that they had done or said to her. But she would always stop herself, do an about face and either move onto another subject or find something nice to say about whoever she was talking about.

That lesson has stuck to me like glue. Have I lived it? Not all the time but I do try. (There are still people that I truly, truly struggle with because of the hurt they have caused and continue to cause but I am working on keeping my mouth shut.)

I wish we could see each other through the windows love and acceptance.

I wish that you all could see yourselves the way I see you because I see incredible women every where I go, every single day.

You all influence me. You have all "mothered" me in some way or another. Whether in a phone call, a hug or a smile, and even the random comment in the supermarket isle from a stranger letting me know "Hey, we've all been there."

(Tangent...when was the last time you used the word supermarket?? That seems weird.

Now back to our regularly scheduled post.)

Guess what??

It doesn't matter to me if you work or if you stay at home.

It doesn't matter if you are single or married.

It doesn't matter to me if you have children or not.

Do you know what matters to me?

You do.

YOU matter to me.

Now go...

Be Fabulous.

Motherhood Matters: I Am a Mother

One of our local stations here is doing a Ten Day Challenge celebrating Motherhood.

I'm in. How about you?

-DAY ONE-

THE CHALLENGE:

Join us in declaring “I Am a Mother” and

share the message with five women in

your life.

“OF ALL THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN,

THE GREATEST IS TO BE A MOTHER.”

-LIN YUTAN

When I was younger my mom would ask me what I wanted to be when I got older. My answers were many and varied. I wanted to be a Zoo Keeper and then a Veterinarian. I also wanted to be a truck driver one week and then a Police Officer the next.

(If it were possible I totally would have been an Angel who worked for Charlie because they got to do all sorts of cool stuff...except I would have been a modest Angel...no bikini's for me.)

And my mom would softly ask "But don't you want to be a mom?"

By the time college rolled around I didn't. I didn't want to be a mom.

(Even though my course of study- Child Development and Family Studies-was in order to help me be a better mom. If nothing else I was a dichotomy)

I had 25 nieces and nephews who I had done much babysitting for during my short 18 years. So my dream was to move back East, become independently wealthy (not sure how I was going to accomplish that!) and have each of those nieces and nephews come out and spend their 16th Summer with me in my huge mansion.

Thankfully that dream didn't come true. Nor did any from my earliest childhood.

One marriage and four beautiful children later... I am a wife and

I Am a Mother.

And will forever be grateful that I am. I can't even begin to put into words what being a mother means to me.

I'm not going to lie. It's been HARD. Really, really hard. Harder than anything I could have imagined.

But in a good way.

And it's been wonderful...

and beautiful

and joyous

and fun!

I guess I still am a dichotomy....

and I Am a Mother.