mother’s day

I actually think of my Mom on Mother’s Day. Instead of me. That’s only normal. Case in point. One year when Scott was in college the bishop called long distance and asked him to speak in our ward on Mother’s Day as a big surprise for me. But I drove to my own Mom’s in Ogden and Scott drove all the way from Laramie to Lyman, to speak to an empty bench. Lots of people told me he did a wonderful job! I’m sure he did. He usually does. But I wasn’t there. I forget sometimes that Mother’s Day is also for me.

My Mom, though, was the essence of the holiday. She is and always will be the biggest and most far-reaching inspiration to me. She will always be the one person who believed that even though I made huge mistakes, I could over come them and get back to where I needed to be. She never gave up on that goal. She never made me feel like I couldn’t/wouldn’t make it back.

And now, every once in a while I can feel her encouragement through all space and time from where she is. I can feel her wanting me to see the bigger goal. I can sense her wanting me to make it back . . to where she is. Where we all want to be. And it’s a mother’s love that makes me want that too. I don’t want to disappoint her. I don’t want to be the one who doesn’t make it. I don’t want to be the one who messes the whole plan up.

So, Mom, thank you for all you’ve done to show me it’s worth reaching for. And when I feel like I’ll never make it, thank you for the nudges and the reminders and the example and the boost. And thanks for always painting that silver lining. Guess you’re getting quite the opportunity from up there! Keep painting!

And I’ll keep trying.

Love you!

spring break

We had an awesome Challenge Day at school today. All of the classes from 8th grade to 12th and Staff members challenged each other in various sports and talents. We had goat milking, roping, basketball, football throw, music competition, skateboarding, weight lifting, Pictionary, swimming, bowling, archery, marksmanship, Frisbee golf, tug of war, Quiz bowl, cheering, relay race, and more, I’m sure, if I could only remember. Staff won by five points. That’s three years in a row for us old guys! Yay!

It’s the beginning of Spring Break. We have until right this very minute [4-3-10] to the 12th. Ten glorious days! Scott and Andie are here for the weekend and then I’m heading to Idaho for part of next week. There is something totally necessary about Spring Break. Especially since this is the first year in about forever that we will still be going to school the first week of June!

Gotta mention I was 143 this morning. Woohoo! Hoping I’ve got this figured out, but I will likely blow it again. Maybe I will be able to figure it out sooner next time.

I went to the PO this morning to pick up the school newspapers and saw a sign on the bulletin board. It was for losing weight with a 12-step program. They had a web site that I took a peek at and thought, no, not for me. I’m not to that point yet. I’m sure it’s a great program. I’ve also heard the Church addiction recovery program is well put together and anyone can benefit from using the program they’ve developed. But me? I’m too private [puzzling I would say that, since I'm blogging about it right now.] I don’t want to talk to other people about my frustrations and failures and back slides.

Seriously, I’m saying it in my mind and typing this, wondering where it’s coming from. How can I be so private and so public at the same time? I feel both, strongly!

Anyhoo, 143. The plastic is doing wonders. I highly recommend digging out the old retainers if you’ve got some hidden in the back of a drawer. I have exercised four times this week and I’m looking forward to a good, healthy weekend.

Goal: 141 on April 12th.

MLK-UGH

Short term memory. Heck, ANY memory would be nice.

I’ve known it was going to be a holiday all month. Scott and I talked about it a couple of times on our way to Ogden on Saturday. But, somehow, I forgot. I went to bed around 9:00 last night and set the alarm for 4:15. This morning I hurried and got up, took a shower, and when drying off, glanced at the calendar in the bathroom. Monday, January 18, Martin Luther King Day.

OK. Change of plans.

Happy New You!

Just wanted to say Happy New You one and all.

Happy journey to b.e.t.t.e.r

Happy journey to h.e.a.l.t.h

Happy journey to c.o.n.t.e.n.t.m.e.n.t

Happy journey to a.n.s.w.e.r.s

Happy journey to p.e.a.c.e

Happy journey to l.o.v.e

Happy journey to j.o.y

Happy journey to y.o.u

Love, me

whew . . .

Before

Notice, no Christmas tree this year. I put everything under my darling [handmade] red table in the corner on which sits a favorite Nativity I made years ago. I wanted to take one chaotic activity out of Christmas and the easiest for me this year was to forget the tree.

During

After

What a fun day. I so enjoyed having Scott, Stephen, Mikelle and hubby to enjoy the day with. We spent way too much money on each other. We ate way too much food. We drove way too far for the movie, Holmes. [It was wonderful, though, to see Shelby again for a while at the Evanston Cinema!] Now it’s 8:00 and I’m pooped and they’re all heading to the high school for some round ball.

EVERYONE got vests. Carhartt, of course. Even boyfriend, Logan, who sports matching hats with Mikelle. We really should have taken a picture with all six of us in assorted colors and styles. Vests mean security to me. They mean future, safety, warmth, vacation, hunting, camping, fun, preparedness, quality, unity. They probably shouldn’t mean all that, but they do.

"CHRISTMAS CHEER!"

When Mom was alive we would all try to be the first to call and say “Christmas Cheer” before the person on the other end of the line would say those same words. It was a competition, a family tradition. I’m not sure where it started but it is fast in all our Christmas customs.

We expanded it to be the required phrase to say during other holidays: “Easter Cheer,” even “Fourth of July Cheer!” “Camping Cheer!” It became nonsensical. Silly. But I’ll miss calling Mom this morning and racing her to the line. Instead, I’ll turn my head toward heaven and call out the musical phrase. “Christmas Cheer, Mom.”

“Heaven Cheer” up there to you sweet Mother!”

I forgot to post this

I was going to post this a couple of nights ago …

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the town
Not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy with Christmas time chores
Like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.
No one sang “Away in a manger,?no crib for a bed.”
Instead, they sang of Santa?dressed-up in bright red.
Mama watched Martha Stewart,?Papa drank rootbeer from a tap.
As hour upon hour?the presents they’d wrap
When what from the TV?did they suddenly hear?
‘Cept an ad which told?of a big sale at Sears.
So away to the mall?they all flew like a flash
Buying things on credit?and others with cash!
And, as they made their way home?from their trip to the mall,
Did they think about Jesus??Oh, no… not at all.
Their lives were so busy?with their Christmas-time things
No time to remember?Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap?and cookies to bake
How could they stop and remember?who died for their sake?
To pray to the Savior?they had no time to stop.
Because they needed more time?to “Shop til they dropped!”
On Wal-mart! On K-mart!?On Target! On Penney’s!
On Hallmark! On Zales!?A quick lunch at Denny’s
From the big stores downtown?to the stores at the mall
They would dash away, dash away,?and visit them all!
And up on the roof,?there arose such a clatter
As grandpa hung icicle lights?up on his brand new step ladder.
He hung lights that would flash.?He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus…?Light of the World.
Christ’s eyes… how they twinkle!?Christ’s Spirit… how merry!
Christ’s love… how enormous!?All our burdens… He’ll carry!
So instead of being busy,?overworked, and uptight
Let’s put Christ back in?Christmas and enjoy?some good nights!
Merry Christmas, my friends!

Author, unknown