Father's Day Reflection

Our Bishop mentioned this video to me yesterday

and I just happened to stumble upon it on Kristen's blog this morning.

It is so worth sharing.

How blessed I am to have three amazing fathers in my life, who are exactly like Bill.

Can you say...

...sleep apnea?

Like father, like daughter.

Introducing Caroline Grace

The song has been running through my mind for aproximately 3 hours straight.

Sweet Caroline.

Go ahead...add the duhn, duh, du...you know you want to.

Hello Grammy.

Where am I?

I'm hungry.

Still hungry.

Please mom, don't put me on the blog.

Fine then, here's a good one for you.

Hello Dad.

Hello Abigail.

Hello Bella.

Hello Sophia.

Hello Simba.

And hello to my favorite bad hair day ever.

Grace

This link is a wonderful story full of power, truth, and grace. thanks sheila.

And here is some more fun YouTube listening.

I thought that these boys should each be locked away and saved

(one for each of my girls)

Oh, and I may need to be finding another one of their friends very soon....

I'm dialated to a THREE!

The Associate

The Associate by John Grisham

My review

rating: 2 of 5 stars
I detested this book. This was my LEAST favorite Gresham ever. From the whole rape overtone to the unclosed ending, it was a miracle I got through.



It could be that working in the legal field has tainted me towards the law theme, but I mostly just think tha Gresham got lazy and cranked this one out to be paid.



Highly disappointing.


View all my reviews.

You Tube Talent

I recently got an e-mail forward about this Mormon boy.

Here is Adam Ashby for your listening pleasure.

I had never heard of him.

I love the ukelele.

And I love that he loves the ukelele.

When he gets home from his Mormon mission,

I hope he makes a record.

And, for Cally and Lori, I want your honest opinion.

Don't you think that he looks a little like the twins?

Although, we know that Conan was WAY better

when he sang and played the guitar at his wedding reception. :)

In this life, I was loved by you

Yesterday,

Bella was throwing a typical fit.

She even wrote me a note.

It said,

"Nobody likes me."

Did I teach her to feel this way?

To self depricate?

I worry about it.

I tried to reason with her.

I told her that lots of people love her.

I told her that if she whines and cries,

it makes people uncomfortable,

and they may not want to play with her,

when she acts like that, but they still love her.

She was on the couch pouting.

It was funny,

I had been feeling kind of the same way.

I was doing dishes pouting.

I laughed.

Just as Bella was waiting for someone or something

to make her feel better,

I had been waiting

for my husband to make it better.

I should have written him a note

that said

"Nobody likes me."

It might have been a little less subtle than my pouting.

I thought about what I wanted to hear.

I decided to test it on Bella.

To see if it would make everything better.

So, I said to Bella:

"Alice...um...I mean, Bella, I love you.

You mean the world to me.

I am so proud of you.

You are such a good helper.

Even if nobody else likes you,

I like you a lot.

I love you a lot.

I'm sorry that you are sad."

She was miraculously cured.

People say women are complicated.

Really we aren't.

We just want to be loved.

Like everybody else.

Here are the ever so true lyrics to one of my favorite songs:

For all I've been blessed with in this life

There was an emptiness in me

I was imprisoned by the power of gold

But one honest touch could set me free

Let the world stop turnin'

Let the sun stop burnin'

Let them tell me love's not worth going through

If it all falls apart

I will know deep in my heart

The only dream that mattered had come true

In this life, I was loved by you

For every mountain I have climbed

Every raging river crossed

You were the treasure that I'd longed to find

Without your love I would be lost

Let the world stop turnin'

Let the sun stop burnin'

Let them tell me love's not worth going through

If it all falls apartI will know deep in my heart

The only dream that mattered had come true

In this life, I was loved by you

Get outta here.

LG's sister, Michelle, graduated from college last week.

Get outta here.

Last week, I spent 4 days out in the hot sun.

Get outta here.

This is my fourth time in the third trimester.

Get outta here.



No really, BABY, I'm talking to you.
Get outta here.
I want my body back.

I better go at least a week early.

The due date is June 17th.

Get outta here.

Speaking Out

I read a quote on Candace Salima's blog this morning.

Thomas Jefferson once said, "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."

I think Thomas Jefferson would have been proud of me yesterday. In fact, I think he would like me a lot; I've never been much good at keeping my mouth shut. There are times when a mom just has to speak out and yesterday was one of those. I just couldn't turn my back on my great country.

I took all three girls to Wal-Mart yesterday afternoon. As I was waiting to check out, there were two women checking out in front of me. Between the two of them, they had three little girls. They were the most darling children. They were just beautiful. Two looked like twins and they were all about three years old.

My girls parked it on the floor behind my buggy with a People magazine. They always do this to pass the time, but this time they couldn't completely concentrate. They were totally distracted by what was unfolding in front of us, as was I.

While the new checker was completely oblivious, these little girls started loading up their arms with whatever they wanted from the shelves surrounding the check stands. We may not have paid much attention either, but they were knocking down a bunch of stuff while in the process, and I was surprised that their mothers didn't do anything about it. My girls were most certainly coveting some of the toys, lip glosses, and candy that they were gathering, but never said a word. They know that their allowance would have to be used and I was delighted that the magazine combined with these younger children misbehaving was distracting them from their usual, "Mom do I have enough money to buy this?"

So, on with the story, I was floored because the mother directed the children in Spanish to get a bag from the check stand and to put their stuff in it. The girls each got a bag and did exactly that. What really triggered me is that these sweet little girls kept adding to their loot. They were so excited about all their stuff and kept hugging one another and telling each other gracias and that they loved each other.

I looked to the front of the store to see if I could go and forewarn a worker before their exit, but there was just a teenage kid at the greeting place. I knew it was all up to me.

As the moms finished their shopping. I felt a twinge of guilt. I knew what I was about to do, but I have to say that I almost didn't because I felt sympathy as they used the last of their food stamps and were counting change to pay for the remaining bill. They had only bought one non-food item, fabric softener. These children were clean and had obviously been cared for physically. They had cute little outfits on and darling sandals.

But, I forged ahead, as it wasn't their physical needs I was worried about. My motherly instincts came out in full force as anxiety swept over me for the moral character they were being taught. Who teaches a three year old to steal? Especially when you live in a country that basically hands you everything you need, whether you are a citizen or not. And these girls were loaded up with non-essentials. Believe it or not, I was kind of scared. I started the inner dialogue with myself so that I could find the courage to do the right thing.

Right as the second woman was finishing up and the first woman had gathered all the girls around the buggy to leave, I approached. I looked the woman straight in the eye and pointing to the children and their loot bags I said, "They did not pay for those things. They can't just take them."

This mom was stunned. She gave me a non appreciative look which silently stated, "Mind your own business.", but proceeded to take the things from the girls and she placed them on the adjacent check stand. She never quit glaring at me. The one little girl (who I believe belonged to this first woman) went ballistic, throwing a pretty good kiddy tantrum. The other two twins almost seemed relieved.

I guess they don't want to live among tyranny either.

And, someday maybe my kids will remember me as a mom who wasn't afraid to stand up for what was right. I hope they won't just think that I don't know how to mind my own business because I could have very easily kept my mouth shut.

The moral of the story: don't check out in front of me if you are the kind of parent who corrupts my world. This mom happens to be one who still believes in the pillars of moral character that they teach at school. (Ironic that I took this photo at the school just one hour before this incident occured, huh?) And I believe in doing what it takes to teach my daughters and yours, and when you fail, you give that right to me.