Ten Random Minutes: Mission Facebook Groups - pt. 1

#1 entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on June 19, 2013. She left for the Philippines on July 31st. In early August, the Philippines Olongapo Missionary Families group was opened on Facebook as a gathering place for family and close friends of the missionaries serving in that mission.

I remember the feelings as it began, I was nervous….What if no one wanted to join? What if, once it started, it was a complete flop? I had to make myself believe that it wouldn't be.

You know, I've learned that those feelings are so normal when something good's about to happen.

We started with just a few moms, but things started to grow and grow….and grow.

It's set up as a private group. Not secret because no one would know it existed, and definitely not public because then everyone can see everything and anyone Joe on Facebook can comment, but when someone looks for the group on Facebook, all they see is the list of members. No one but the members of the group know what's shared there.

Anything we post there, remains there. Believe me, we've tried to share pictures on our private walls, and unless we load them onto our own computers, there's no way to share directly.

This was a video created just prior to Christmas. The Mission President took it and posted it in the group. I felt fortunate that there was a mom who knew just how to retrieve it from the group, so it's not impossible, just difficult….

It's a great blessing to hear the news and see the faces of the people my daughter is serving and serving with. It is an additional blessing to have her Mission President as part of the group. I will write more about that in a future post, but it is indescribably touching to wake in the morning to see my daughter's face and know that that photo was just taken a few hours before.


After a number of months of being the only administrator, I realized that if anything ever happened to me, there would be no one to take over and do the behind-the-scenes group stuff, so my dear friend joined as co-administrator.

I found that running a Facebook group is SUPER simple. People request to join, we check them out, and decide if they should be there. If so, we add them and welcome them in front of the group, asking that they introduce themselves. If we feel that they don't, we reject them--nothing said. If we're not sure, a private message is sent. Let's just say we're super picky about who joins. We want the group to be a place where families of the missionaries can feel safe and that we're all among friends.


I have more to share on this topic….A lot more. For today, this is my ten. If you have a child serving a mission, see if you can find a mission group on Facebook. Ideally, you need a group just for the family members of missionaries. If one doesn't exist, make one. It's easy. If you need help, find me on Facebook. I'd happily guide you through it.

I Hope It's Not Too Late

Driving in the car the other morning thinking about spaghetti…..Tears start to form in the outer edges of my eyes…..Why? It's just spaghetti, for heaven's sake. And REALLY GOOD spaghetti at that. Nothing worth crying about. That's for sure.

Sitting at the intersection, waiting at the light. Waiting to turn left. Listening to #1's music. That wasn't making me cry either, and I have to say, in my own defense, that I wasn't really "crying," just tearing up. Crying includes sobbing and tears flowing rather rapidly out of the inner corners of my eyes near my nose. Believe me, I'm a cryer, I know what it's all about.

No, these were tears forming in the outer edges, and no sounds were coming out of me at all. They were just suddenly there.


Then, this song comes on:






I've heard this song dozens of times, and although I probably sing along with the chorus each time it comes on--I'm a car singer, what can I say? I never really listened to the words until it collided with thoughts about spaghetti.

While this song plays, I start to understand the tears…..I am sitting in the middle of something significant. The little day by day things all add up into something I'm just now starting to understand. It's big. Bigger than I understand in my daily comings and goings. The cumulative effect is a bit overwhelming. How did I get here?….

Line upon line. That's how.

But because they've come on so subtly, I haven't written about them.

Is it too late? Do I really remember (with my lousy, middle-aged, brain-too-full memory) all of the important details? Do I recall enough to help someone else understand just what's happened? Do I even fully comprehend all of the little bits and pieces that have added to this larger picture?

Yes, I'm doubting my abilities. And then there's this...If I write about them, will they stop?


Well, let's begin with spaghetti…..

Brave!

A friend shared this on Facebook yesterday. I LOVED it. I had never heard this song before.

I have to be honest, and knowing where my brain is right now, you won't even question why, but as I watched it, I thought, "I wonder where these guys served their missions." Funny, huh? Yup. I'm a bit fixated. But seriously, what a great looking group of guys. I mean that in the way that I wouldn't be unhappy watching my daughters date any one of these guys.





As friends have commented on it, I have been drawn to watch it again. This time, though, I was caught by the words in this song. Let me share those with you....

You can be amazing

You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love
Or you can start speaking up
Nothing’s gonna hurt you the way that words do
When they settle ‘neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

Everybody’s been there, everybody’s been stared down
By the enemy
Fallen for the fear and done some disappearing
Bow down to the mighty
Don’t run, stop holding your tongue
Maybe there’s a way out of the cage where you live
Maybe one of these days you can let the light in
Show me how big and brave is

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

And since your history of silence
Won’t do you any good
Did you think it would?
Let your words be anything but empty
Why don’t you tell them the truth?

Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I wanna see you be brave

I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you
I just wanna see you




This was EXACTLY what I needed this morning. I have been silent. I have been holding my tongue. So many things to write and share, but I have wondered who even cared. Well, I've decided who cares if anyone cares. I need to "let the words fall out."

Now, I just need to watch this video a few thousand times a day to remind me what's really important. I need to be brave.

Double Talk

Sometimes the things I resort to as a mother surprise even me. Let's take today's tactics for instance....

Maybe it's because they've grown unaccustomed to hearing my voice during the day when school is in session, or maybe it's because they've already grown tired of my voice in the couple weeks we've had of summer vacation, but my children (my younger boys, in particular) don't hear anything the first time I say it. EVER....anymore.

Now, I'm not the kind of mom, usually, who knee jerks the consequences I dole out in response to my kids' behaviors. I just don't. As much as possible, the punishment must fit the crime. It must be logical. It must somehow tie to the broken rule. I must admit, I've become fairly creative in tying the two together over the years. I mean, how can you avoid a little creativity when you've set those kinds of ground rules for yourself and you've been doing the same thing for over 19 years--and the end of that tunnel is so far off that it seems nonexistent?

Today, we were driving in the car. I, for the umpteen-millionth time, repeated myself. I swear the first time I speak I must sound like Charlie Brown's teacher. I just MUST.





The second time the defect must clear up because the second time around, there is sometimes some kind of response that shows acknowledgment, but I hate to admit that at times clarification is needed a third and fourth time.

There is always a lag time between the first utterance and the repetition as I stand there waiting in full expectation that there will be some glint of understanding. That's where the frustration begins. I mean, why do I even wait. I already know I'm going to have to say it again. Shoot! Pavlov's dogs learned faster than I do--excuse me while I wipe my chin.

Today, I decided that I was tired of wasting such valuable time, so instead of saying something once and then waiting for a response to see if I needed to repeat myself, I just went ahead and repeated myself right away. I just went head and repeated myself right away.

And you know what? You know what?.....

It WORKED! It WORKED! I mean like a charm. I totally had their attention. Not only that, but they were talking to me in hopes that I would respond....at first.

This carried on for about an hour. This carried on for about an hour. Then, the 13-year-old decided that he'd had enough. So, after he and his brothers promised that they'd answer the first time, I went back to normal. They wanted me to promise that I'd never do that again, but you know what?...

....I didn't promise. I didn't promise.

Wordless Wednesday: Hannah Understands

And Just Like That....She's Gone

Wellllll, she's off, and I (yes, me. Crier of all criers) didn't cry. Okay, so I got a bit teary and I wouldn't let go of her when she hugged me and I couldn't just walk out of the airport and leave her waiting in that big old security checking line and I had to watch her all the way until I couldn't see her anymore, but, and this is a BIG BUT, I didn't cry.

To be honest, I feel like I kind of blew it by not crying. If there was ever a time when tears were appropriate, this was it. I should have cried. Okay, I did for a bit this morning when Zan gave her his last father's blessing before he went to work. It was beautiful and included everything that needed to be pronounced upon her. Lovely. Yes, I cried and nearly sobbed.

The airport was a ZOO. We got there two hours early. #1 had assured me that she would only need her ID in order to get her boarding pass. Hmm....Maybe that's why I had the impression that I should print off that email she forwarded to me with her itinerary on it, but I didn't do it. DUMB! Listen and do....listen AND do! We needed the confirmation number, so not having a smart phone, I called a dear friend, instructed her on how to access my email account, and she gave me the number. Thanks, Christy!

All of that was really no problem at all. It was the checking of the bags that was tricky. You should have seen that line! UGH! Seriously it went on FOREVER! We went to one line, and then the Warden decided that the better idea would be to go to the skycap outside and check them there on the curb. Again, the line was long; although, not nearly as long as the one inside the airport.

Right after we got settled in that line, a woman came dashing out of the airport with a very concerned look on her face. No question she was frazzled, but little did I know, she was our tender mercy. She was frantically searching for a place to check her bags. Her two children, probably ages 7 and 10, were in tow. She made her plight very public. A man sitting down the way asked where she was headed. Her response: "Salt Lake." Wait! She was going the same place, but she was frantic. Were we supposed to be frantic? Hmm...Maybe so.

The man directed her to go inside and find the "woman in red." She would help them.

Alrighty, then. We were off too. #1 and I took off and trailed the woman. We ended up standing in front of the ONLY guy who was checking in our flight, but we were also standing right in front of all of the people checking their bags for our flight. I don't think they were too happy that we intended to cut in front of them.

I asked the people in line if they were bound for Salt Lake. They were, so I proceeded back farther and farther and eventually ended up in the back of the line. The woman with the children, still frantic, told everyone she was going to Salt Lake and needed to get in line in front of them, which she proceeded to do. No one argued. Nice of them. For some reason, it seemed she thought she was going to be the only one on that plane, or at least, the only one that mattered.

We, eventually, got ourselves to the front of the line and paid the money to check the bags. I was impressed with that poor Delta airlines worker who was so friendly and genial when I'm sure he has to deal with grumpy people, one after another after another. He was so great to us.

We hurried to the family, took a few pictures, hugged #1 like crazy, and let her go. But, I couldn't just let her go. It was weird. I wanted to watch her until  I couldn't watch her anymore, but remember....I didn't cry. I got close, and I teared up, but not a tear dropped and the tissue remained in my pocket--bit old wad that it was.

She serpentined her way through, passed security without a hitch and off she went without turning back.

#1 just called a few minutes ago. She is with my sister's middle daughter, who also happens to be named Julie (we're both named for my grandmother) in Salt Lake. They were heading to dinner..... Thank goodness! #1 wasn't able to eat at all this morning because of the excitement.

Tomorrow, #1'll check into the MTC around 1pm. I'm so thankful she has Julie. Julie also served a mission. Her's was to Argentina. She will make sure #1 gets there safe and sound and that she'll have a blast in the meantime.

I created a Spotify station this morning that is comprised of songs that #1 plays on the piano frequently. If you've ever heard Cristofori's Dream, that's the main song that reminds me of her. When we got home from the airport. I turned on the Spotify channel. This was the first one to play. I just thought it was so fitting for the day and her situation....and mine.





I teared up, but....I still didn't cry.

An Awesome Experience for My Kids

I drove up to the high school, dropped my big kids off in the usual place, found a parking spot, and climbed out with my little kids to head to the preschool this morning.

I could hear country music playing. Standing in front of the main doors to the school was a color guard of high school students in their everyday clothes. Each had a flag. There was also an enormous flag hanging down from the front of the school.

It was clear that the music I was hearing was patriotic, but it was a song I hadn't heard before.

image: wikipedia.com

I saw an old man backing his car in as we walked across the parking lot and headed toward the wing where the preschool is situated. About this time, I also heard the words: "Color guard, attention!" I didn't watch what happened at this point as I was trying to get my little ones across the parking lot safely, but shortly thereafter, I looked and saw an older woman heading toward the stairs.

It was clear that something very special was happening today.

Then I remembered #2 telling me he was going to what I think he referred to as "Living History Day." Once I recalled this, I realized what was happening.....Veterans from past wars were arriving and they were being honored as they entered the school.

What an awesome thing!

image: oregonlive.com

I have to admit I got a bit teary as I walked past all of this this morning. Wars continue and people continue to serve us selflessly. How great for my kids to get to hear the first-hand accounts of history from people such as these.

How wonderful that they are honored in such ways, and we become blessed by their efforts.

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Ladder of Inference

Great day! Today was the Oregon American Mother's conference. It was FABULOUS! There were some profound things shared. The theme was "A Call to Action." I definitely felt the urgency to be active as a mother and just as a person. I think the thing that hit me the most was a presentation on "Being."

In our society we seem to have things backwards--have, then do, then be. Today, I learned that that all has to be turned around. We must be, then do, and only then can we have what we really want in our lives.

The presenter shared the "ladder of inference" with us. I'd never heard of that before. I think it's rather ironic that it's a ladder as it seems to be an additional step up on the pattern my thoughts have been taking lately. Here it is for your review.





This was just a small portion of her presentation, and I wish I could have just sat and listened to her for hours. There was just a wealth of information.

She spoke of competition and comparing and how that stops us on our way to being, doing and having, and she shared the concept that if we will continue consistently doing the right things, we will be brought to the right place eventually.

It was just a wonderful experience. I have so much that I want to write about it. I'm hoping tomorrow will give me a few more minutes than today has so I can do that.

Here it is 9:45pm, and I still haven't been to the grocery store today, so I'm off. Wish me luck.

Have You Seen This One?

#1's Call - The Video

I never thought we'd be the kind to scream, but seriously, the emotions....nothing like it. It just seemed like suddenly it was opened and there she was reading. Before I knew it, we knew what her future held. CRAZY!

The Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Life

This is what I'm sharing with the kids today. Thought I'd share it here with you too.....

The Importance of Jelly Beans

The night of his birthday, #5 came upstairs to head to bed. I could tell by his face that something wasn't right, so I pulled him into my room. We sat on the bed and talked. It didn't take long to get to the heart of the matter...."I didn't get the jelly beans."

What?

I was clearly missing something. "What jelly beans?"

"Well, last year, everybody else got jelly beans for their birthdays. I never got mine."

HaHa! Oh, okay.

costco.com

Here's the deal with that....Last year, meaning 2011, many of the kids requested a big container of jelly beans from Costco. For those children that asked for them, I took the money required to make the purchase from their birthday budget, bought them, and gifted them to them.

Not everyone received them, but those who had put them on their list did. I guess to #5 it looked like everyone but him. I shared this with him and that I would have happily bought them had they been on his list.

I tried to explain to #5 that the budget was spent. There was no more money for his birthday, but if he wanted to wait, there would be money accumulating each month, and I'd be happy to go out and spend that money early to give him the jelly beans. That didn't make him happy. He wanted them now. He felt he had waited long enough.

image: 02varvara.wordpress.com

I need to interject here that I was totally clueless that this child ever wanted jelly beans. I was feeling like a total loser to have missed that boat. Of course, I want to be able to give my children everything they want, what mother doesn't? But, I'm also not foolish enough to give my children the false impression that there's always money for everything, and you can have whatever you want whenever you want it.

I shared with him that the money tree I had attempted to grow had failed but assured him that there are other options. Here's what he was presented:

• Bag the idea of getting jelly beans altogether.
• Wait and receive the jelly beans for your next birthday.
• Get the jelly beans for Christmas next year.
• Buy jelly beans after that much money has accumulated in the birthday budget again.
• Earn your own money to buy the jelly beans (I gave ideas of how I would assist him if he chose this).

image: everythingforyourchild.wordpress.com

He mulled these over and then came up with his own idea....Every year, he receives Christmas money from his grandparents. "I could spend my Christmas money!" Awesome idea! I reminded him that this money was being saved to be able to buy some fun things at Disneyland. "Do you want to be able to do that, or would you rather cut it by this much to have the jelly beans now and less at Disneyland?" I was totally great with this option, but I could foresee some very sad times in the Magic Kingdom for one young man.

We both mulled it over, and then I presented this final idea. "You could hold onto the money, spend as much as you want to at Disneyland, and then make sure, if the jelly beans are still that high of a priority,  that you save the money needed for them until you get home."

This was it! He was suddenly very excited. This choice would allow him to make a conscious decision and exert some self control.

Yesterday we went to Costco to purchase a few things. We found the jelly beans and made sure of the price, so he knows how much to save.

Lately, the Marshmallow Test has been on my mind. You know, the one in which little kids were put in a room with a marshmallow placed in front of them and the promise that if they can wait to eat it, there will be another one brought in. I wanted to find a video for that just now to illustrate it, but ran across this report instead.




After having seen that, I could only hope that this waiting will lead to such rewards in #5's life.

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No Headaches

...Okay, well one, but that one was a couple weeks ago.

A few people commented on my Facebook page when I mentioned my experience with the headache specialist. They wanted to know what I had been advised and asked that I keep them updated. Here's a little bit of feedback for you.

image: botanical.com

The headache specialist allowed me to choose between a daily prescription medication or a daily naturopathic remedy. Having had a very bad experience with a prescription a few years back, I opted for the herbal. He warned me that one of the down sides of choosing this was the lack of testing that had been done on the product. This lack of testing also makes the product much more affordable, by the way.

image: migrelief.com

He told me of three options. I took the least expensive one--MigreLief. It is a blend of vitamin B2, magnesium, and feverfew. I was able to find it at the pharmacy at the clinic we go to.

When I first started taking it, for the first two days, I could feel that I was having a headache, but it was kind of in the background. There was a dullness, but it was so mild, it didn't bother me at all. Since I'd had a headache on the day I met with the doctor, it was a pretty sure bet that I'd have one for a few days following. That's been the nature of my headaches--days in a row.

I was directed to do a number of other things--yoga for ten minutes twice a day, exercise for 30 minutes a day, and regular hours of sleep--going to bed and waking up at the same time "every single day; no matter what."

All I can say at this point is I'm trying.

I only do yoga with Tara Stiles. I found her the first day and have continued with her. This morning's was my favorite so far:






I HATE exercise. I know. I know. Everybody LOVES to exercise. Well, I'm not afraid to come out and say I DON'T. It just takes time, and other than it making me sweat and ache, I'm just not accomplishing anything when I do it. So, starting that has been the toughest thing for me. Now, if I could finish my workout and have all of the laundry folded or have the grocery shopping done, I'd be totally in. I'd love it, but really, as it is, I'm just not seeing the joy.

image: efit30.blogspot.com

Just yesterday, I landed on this bunch of videos. It's a group of women from Australia, and there seems to be great variety in the workouts. Yesterday's was killer, but I'm back for more this morning. Here's what I did yesterday (I tried to embed the video here, but it wasn't working out all that well. Sorry, you'll just have to go to the link). Anyway, I like that they offer a bunch of different 30 minute workouts, so I know I can pick any one, do the video, and voila, I'm done, and I don't have to worry about it for the rest of the day.


Some days, especially during the holidays, I didn't do anything but take the MigreLief, but still, there were no headaches. I saw the specialist on December 18th. My last headache that I had to take medicine for was December 23rd.

One last thing....what I understand about medications--over the counter, prescription, or herbal--is that they interact with different people differently, so what works for one person, might not work for another. If you try the MigreLief, and it doesn't work for you, don't be discouraged. There are other remedies out there that might serve you better. Sometimes it's just nice to know that there are options.

A New Hero

Yesterday I was introduced, though Facebook, to this man....

image: dennischeatham.com

His name is Chiune Sugihara. I had never heard of him before. I searched further and found out why he was so significant as I watched this:




There is a longer (six-part) report on this on You Tube if you want to see more. This is just a short clip of that program.

The most amazing thing about Mr. Sugihara is that he went against his own government. With the understanding of Japanese honor, that is truly shocking. He really took a risk.

One of the things he said touched my heart....


"If you have an opportunity to help someone in your lifetime, do it. In life, do what's right because it's right, and leave it alone--no ulterior motive. Do what is right. Don't make money from it. Don't write an article about it. Don't publicize it. Do what's right because it's right."


Sometimes I think we get so wrapped up in policy. We allow these things to talk us out of doing the right thing for others around us.


What a great man! Such an amazing example to the world!

A Little Something Learned from the Physics Department

I finally did it! I took some pages of my blog and made them into a book. It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time. It took me two days, and it ended up being around 60 pages long. As I reviewed it, I ran across a few things I'd forgotten about.

image: kneebouncers.com

We had stake conference in April of 2008. At that time, a woman in our stake said something along the lines of pride cannot exist where gratitude is. Those weren't her exact words, but regardless, the idea was what was important.

This morning, I went searching for a quote from a General Conference or something so that I could find the exact quote. I was unsuccessful, but I found a very interesting source of similar information. I found the notes from a discussion that took place among the physics staff at BYU-Idaho. Did you get that? The physics staff. I LOVE that! 

Here is a link to the site where I found it. I've copied portions of it here because I feel that there is much to be learned from it....

  "How do we avoid pride?"
 

• Associating with "different people outside our bubble." Pride is building oneself up compared to others. Reaching out to everyone keeps us humble.  
   
• No one is above another.  Teachers are not any better than students. We are all equal in God's eyes; shouldn't we be in our own eyes too?
   
• We are here to serve. When you serve, it means you love your fellowman and want to see him/her succeed. 
   
• "Keeping an attitude of gratitude will help us avoid getting prideful."  Sometimes we need to step back and remember where we came from and be grateful for just what we have in life.

 

image: lastdaysigns.blogspot.com

The steps of the pride cycle (The physics department only touch on two of these steps, but the other two are pretty self-explanatory):

1st step - Prosperity

When  people prosper and do well, pride creeps in, and we forget the Lord and where our  blessings really come from.                

In reality, with extra blessings comes the responsibility to share more.  Give to others more freely.

Each day, I need to step outside of myself and serve someone else unselfishly. I need to keep this perspective and pray for these opportunities. When I feel that tug, I need to just do it and not question it. 

2nd step - Lifting ourselves above others

As we prosper, we start lifting ourselves above others, we forget, and we even grow to despise those who need us. Remember to praise the Lord, and "recognize how much he helps and blesses us everyday."  When we treat each other this way, "we can more fully feel His love."

 

"The antidote of pride is charity....The scriptures teach that charity has a number of characteristics ([1] Corinthians [13]:1-13; Moroni 7:44-45).  We can tell if we have charity by how the feelings of our heart and our actions match up with the characteristics noted in these scriptures":

• Suffer long - be patient, endure well
• Be kind
• Don't envy or be jealous of others
• Don't brag
• Don't become big headed
• Don't act or think inappropriately
• Be unselfish
• Seek out others that are different from you. Love and serve them.
• Choose not to be provoked by things that might make you angry or frustrated
• Dwell on all the good that surrounds you
• Don't delight in sin or the failure of others
• Be grateful for the truth and seek out more of it
• Believe, knowing that all good things come from God--recognize His hand
• Hope
• Do your best no matter what circumstances you might find yourself in
• Be grateful even in the hardest of times
• Be meek (easily imposed on) - be ready to jump in and help anyone at any time
• Have a "broken heart" and a "contrite spirit" - continually seek to do better than you did yesterday.

 

image: kymberleefenn.blogspot.com

"...Humility is not the only cure to pride, but that charity, or the pure love of Christ, is a better cure...When we exhibit the characteristics of charity, we cannot be prideful.  The two cannot co-exist."  We need to constantly reevaluate our actions and keep things in the proper perspective. 

 

We need to identify pride and its effects in our daily lives.  Work together with and encourage others. Together, we can help each other achieve great things and help others grow and feel the Lord's love as we serve them.  

Of course, I took a lot of the BYU-I physics department's ideas and edited them here, but I thought they were SO good.

I know when I'm being prideful. I feel like I get a little warning in my heart, but I, at times, ignore it and do the prideful thing anyway. I'm going to work on heeding those little tuggings in my heart better.

Have You Seen This?!

This makes my heart happy!....

Still Feeling the Effects

Gotta Be Me

Turning from the Madhouse would be like turning away from a good friend. It's gotten me through a lot of difficult times and has shared my joys. Need I say more?

In the Eye of the Storm

The day has just begun. I'm awake. Everyone else....still asleep. This is a great way to start the summer. I feel a sense of urgency to start the summer off on the right foot. I feel like the next two and a half months all hinge on how today progresses.

Here's the bad thing....I have some kind of infection that I believe has taken over part of my body. Eek! A lot of the issues I've been having seem like they could all be a result of this--heart, dizziness, etc. I think I'll be visiting a doctor today. I've been trying to take care of it myself, but it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Not good.

For the past number of days, I've been a bit baffled. Yesterday, I was awakened by a phone call from a teacher at the Warden's school. She shared that there had been some graffiti painted on the school that defamed "a teacher." It ended up that it was the Warden that was being memorialized, but they spelled his name wrong. Really?! How hard is it to spell "H-E-S-S?"

#1's car was left out on the curb in front of our house a few nights ago with the top off. Someone nabbed a piece of the middle console. Yesterday, when we got home and went into the garage, where the car now is, there was a strong smell of sulfur emanating from it. Hmm....

 The other day, I allowed a woman, who was coming from the opposite direction, into the school parking lot before me. I sat and waited patiently for her to come to the understanding that I was letting her go first. She, and her probably 5th grade daughter, shot me the dirtiest looks. Honestly, I think they were one step away from expressing their love with a hand gesture that included a lot fewer fingers than the traditional wave. Are they not used to people being nice to them? Baffling.

Yesterday, #3 climbed into the car after school and shared that her yearbook had been lost. She'd given it to a kid to sign. It was never returned. About an hour after we'd arrived home, the receptionist at the school called. The book had been found by one of the crossing guards blocks away from the school. It "wasn't in the best of shape," but it has all of the autographs in it. We'll go pick it up today. Today is also the day we get to go pay the money for the trumpet.

 So, hmm....What's up? Why are we all feeling so mean and ornery? Or are we? Am I just existing in this little bubble of meanness? With all of this going on, it makes me somewhat embarrassed to say I'm part of the human race.

Many of these incidences aren't even a response to someone else's mean act. These are self-motivated. It just doesn't make sense. Why are we all so angry? I would also venture to say that I've never even held a conversation with those who've done these acts. Random and anonymous? Mean just for meanness's sake?

As I begin summer vacation this morning, I have one thing to say to those who've done these things....thank you. All of this makes me want to redouble my efforts at being civilized and kind. I feel like I have the responsibility to make up for what seems to be lacking in this world right now. Thank you for providing the examples of what not to do. I'm ready to share these with my children and discuss with them the mean things that happen everyday that are really not necessary. Thank you for encouraging me and my family to be more kind and loving toward others.

One more reason why the next two and a half months (and longer) DO hinge on today.



Just a reminder....Be kind. Everyone you meet has some battle he's fighting.

It Only Takes One

Someone shared the idea of doing Family Home Evening--the meeting/lesson part--on Sunday evening and then doing a family activity on Monday night. We've decided to give this a shot.

Last night, the Warden shared what he taught for his class at church for our lesson. The lesson was on charity. With it, he shared this...




He asked us to notice where the coach was originally standing. He said that he knows a woman who was at this game. She shared with him that the moment he noticed the girl having problems, he sprinted across to where she was.

Most likely, he didn't even know who she was, but he was not going to let her fail.

It is clear that Coach Cheeks didn't have an excellent singing voice, but he didn't let that get in his way. I'm sure that wasn't even a thought in his mind. It seems that all he wanted at that moment was for that girl to succeed.

As you notice, when the girl starts to mess up, the crowd begins to jeer.  It's kind of like when a kid drops his tray in the school cafeteria. Other kids feel uncomfortable and don't know what to do, but instead of feeling sad for the kid, they clap and laugh. I HATED this in elementary school. What a terrible human reaction!

The thing I love the most about this scenario is that all it took was that one man coming forward and being courageous enough and caring enough to help her out--just give her a tiny push in the right direction--and the crowd joins in too. He set her up for success.

I'm feeling this is what this world needs. Instead of "throwing someone under the bus," why don't we give them a hand up a step? I'm grateful for this little reminder.