Guest Post: Trying to Be Like Daddy

My guest blogger today is my sweet daughter, Hannah.  She is a wife and mother with a beautiful family.  I was quite touched by this post, and I'm sure you will be too.

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About a week ago I was going through a bag of hand-me-downs for my son, Joey, looking for some pants that might fit him better. I pulled out several long-sleeved, button-down, collared shirts in different colors. My son, who is 20 months old, picked one up and said, “Dada shirt, dada shirt!” Unable to contain his excitement at finding a shirt just like the ones daddy wears to work, he picked it up and clutched it to his chest. I asked him if he wanted to try it on and we spent the next few minutes with him in his “dada shirt” and diaper while I tried various pairs of pants on him. (I’m sneaky, in case you were wondering.)

His excitement amused me as he wears white shirts to church every Sunday, and I was reminded yet again how much he notices. Even at 20 months he knows that the shirts daddy wears to work are different from the white shirt and tie daddy wears to church.

Fast forward a few minutes and I am in the kids’ room changing my daughter’s diaper with my son looking on, still in his dada shirt and diaper. My husband comes home, and comes in to talk to us, leaning with one hand on the door frame, weight braced on one leg, with the other leg bent and crossed over in front. My son takes one look at his father, runs over to the doorway, puts one hand on the frame and stands just like my husband. I couldn’t help but laugh and frantically tried to take a picture on my husband’s phone, but Joey moved a little with all the fuss. You’ll have to take my word for it that originally his pose exactly mirrored my husband’s.

Since this incident I’ve been thinking about how much my son tries to be like his daddy. I am fortunate to have been blessed with a wonderful man to spend my life with and I have no fears about Joey mimicking him. If he grows up to be like his father he will be a wonderful man someday. But I know that I also had a hand in this; when dating, I always considered how the person I was with would be as a father.

What if teenage girls didn’t have babies because they are lonely and craving love but instead thought of what it would be like for their child, growing up trying to find someone to emulate, being influenced more by what they see on TV than a stable parent in their home. Think how much better the world would be if instead of looking at how much money someone makes or the kind of car they drive, we considered the example they will set for our future children. Is he helpful? Is he respectful and friendly to people and the things around him? Can he laugh at his own mistakes? Can he deal with disappointment and stress without becoming violent or relying on some kind of chemical dependency?

No one is perfect, but watching my son the other night reminded me that we have two little children who are always watching us, who see everything. My little boy in a “dada shirt” reminded me to try to be the kind of person I hope he will become someday.

Ten Things I'd Do If Alone for Seven Days

I like people -- to some degree.  Sometimes, however, it's nice to be alone.  If I had seven whole days all by myself, without seeing another soul, and with absolutely no interruptions--and no responsibilities, I would feel so rested!  These are the things I would do to entertain and pamper myself:

1)  Crochet an afghan just for me!  I've never done that before.  I've made them for family members and friends.  I've made afghans to display on my couches and the foot of my bed.  I've never made one just for me to curl up in -- one big enough to wrap around everything except my face to keep me warm and cozy.

2)  Read a book cover to cover without stopping -- maybe a good mystery, or a good historical novel.

3)  Play all the old music albums I never have time to listen to anymore.

4)  Sing favorite songs from my childhood and my children's childhood.

5)  Make a big pot of spaghetti and eat it every meal until it was gone.

6)  Pray meaningful prayers that go beyond the ceiling.

7)  Read the scriptures.

8)  Put together a jigsaw puzzle.

9)  Find a warm sunny spot and take a long nap.

10)  Take a hot bath by candlelight.

Okay, enough daydreaming for today -- because I'm not alone, and I do have responsibilities.  It was stress relief just to dream!

Guest Post: How To Make Pudding (This really isn't about cooking.)

Guest Blogger:  Today's, guest blogger is my younger sister, Colleen.  Colleen has a passion for life!  She loves to have a good time, she loves to laugh, she loves to travel, and she loves a good adventure.  I loved reading her "life's motto," and I hope you will too.

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“Pudding!” has been my life’s motto. I took it from the film, “The Matchmaker,” where two young men, Barnaby and Cornelius, set out to have an adventure in New York City. They set up a code word as a way for Cornelius to let the less-worldly Barnaby know that they are in the middle of an adventure. They get in a bit of trouble, and Barnaby calls out, “Pudding, Cornelius?" and Cornelius replies, "Pudding, Barnaby!” It’s all great fun.

Seeing that film when I was very young convinced me that I wanted my life to be “Pudding.” I am pleased to say that I’ve had my fair share.

Want more pudding, but you aren’t quite sure where to find it? Try these:

• Roll out of bed and ask yourself what you can do that day that you’ve never done before. If you can’t think of anything, consult your local newspaper.

• Get out of your comfort zone whenever possible. If you’re used to going to a library, go to a pool hall. If you’re used to going to a pool hall, go to a library. (Just one example, there are many others.)

• Go down any road you’ve never been down before. You can only occupy one small spot on this earth at any given time. Try some new spots. Pudding often lurks just around an unknown bend in the road.

• If you’re used to being alone, find people. If you’re used to being with people, spend some time alone.

Pudding exists everywhere and each and every day, but it takes a trained and imaginative eye to see it. The smallest puddings are easily missed by the novice adventurist. Pudding is nothing more than a marvelous zest for life, Barnaby!

Guest Post: The Lord's Law of Health

My lovely daughter, Kaylonnie, is my guest blogger today.  She is waiting for her 21st birthday in May, and more importantly, will be submitting her papers shortly to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).  More than any other prospective missionary I've ever known, Kaylonnie as put everything on the table to become a missionary.  She had huge obstacles to overcome in order to be healthy enough to serve a mission.  She has worked very hard to overcome those obstacles, and this post is a testament to her hard work.  I'm sure you'll enjoy this thoughtful post as much as I did.

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Growing up LDS (Mormon), I heard teachers say almost every Sunday that they were grateful for their opportunity to teach a lesson that Sunday because they had learned so much from their preparation and felt that the topic they were assigned to teach was exactly what they needed to carry them through the week or get them through a particular trial.  I often used to wonder if that is something that teachers just said, or if they really felt that way.  I have learned the last few months that very often, we need to teach certain gospel principles more than the students in the class need to hear them.  Heavenly Father knows us.  He knows our strengths and weaknesses.  He knows what we are committed to, and how committed we are, to all of our thoughts and endeavors.  He knows how we learn and feel the Spirit, and what lessons we still need to learn.

Recently, I mentioned to one of my best friends that the next Relief Society lesson I have to teach is "The Lord's Law of Health."  He remarked about how simple that would be and began to list the do's and don'ts of the Word of Wisdom.  As Mormons, we do follow the Word of Wisdom and abstain from alcohol, tea, coffee, tobacco, and illegal substances.  We are also counseled to eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and to eat meat sparingly.  But, the Lord's law of health is so much more than a list of "forbidden fruits."  We have been given the Word of Wisdom and other good health guidelines to help protect one of the most precious gifts Heavenly Father has given us, our bodies.

Our bodies are literally the temples that house our spirits.  The Lord's law of health encourages our minds and bodies.  For the first two decades of my life, I did not truly live the Lord's law of health. I can honestly say that I had never had any desire to partake of coffee, alcohol, drugs, or anything of the sort.  But, by not exercising self control, overindulging, and completely ignoring my physical health, I was damaging my temple.

The Word of Wisdom was given for the weakest of Saints, and I am definitely one of them.  I now know that the Lord's law of health is more than a list of do's and don'ts.  It is a way of life that shows our commitment to the Lord.  Today, I commit to continue to protect, honor, and respect my body as a token of my affection for myself, my family, and my Heavenly Father.  I know that as we live the law of health, we are blessed with strong bodies, alert minds, and joyous lives.

Doctrine and Covenants, Section 89

1.  A Word of Wisdom, for the benefit of the council of high priests, assembled in Kirtland, and the church, and also the saints in Zion—

2.  To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and will of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days—

3.  Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.

4.  Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation—

5.  That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

6.  And, behold, this should be wine, yea  pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

7.  And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

8.  And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

9.  And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

10.  And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—

11.  Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

12.  Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

13.  And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

14.  All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

15.  And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

16.  All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—

17.  Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

18.  And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

19.  And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

20.  And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

21.  And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.  

He-Man/She-Ra/Ezra

My children (especially my son Ezra) loved the He-Man/She-Ra cartoons when they were growing up.  Their cousins in Nevada didn't get that television channel.  We spent Christmas in Nevada every year at my sister's home.  It was a wonderful place to have Christmas!  My sister owned an old boarding house which was an historic building.  Christmas at Cheri and Dave's house was truly an old-fashioned Christmas.

As the years went on, however, it became time for us to stay home and have our own family traditions.  It was also getting to be quite a hassle to travel over Donner Summit with a car load of kids, gifts, and tubs of cookies fighting the weather.  I finally told my family that we wouldn't be going to Nevada for Christmas the next year.  Then my Dad died.  Cheri convinced me that we all needed to spend one last Christmas together.  So we made one last trek over Donner Summit to Dayton, Nevada.

The adults were all going through the motions for the kids, but we were really missing Dad.  Then two things happened:  1) The kids found the whoopee cushions that Santa left in their stockings (no other comment necessary); and 2) Ezra opened his inflatable He-Man sword.  Ezra's eyes became as big as baseballs.  He lifted the sword over his head yelling, "By the power of Grayskull, I HAVE THE POWER!"  His cousins looked at him like he was crazy nuts because they had no idea what he was doing -- and all we could do was laugh.

So I guess He-Man/She-Ra/Ezra/Whoopee Cushions saved Christmas that year.  In case you're wondering, my children did learn the following year that Christmas could be fun at our house too.

Recently, reruns of the old He-Man/She-Ra cartoons are being played on television.  Ezra is quite tickled that his little girls LOVE to watch them with him.  They love them as much as he did.

Nauvoo Retirement Trip

Kaylonnie Surviving the Cold in Nauvoo

Danny retired from Caltrans after 35 years working for the State of California in September, 2004.  Prior to his retirement, I began saving money for "the retirement trip."  I asked him where he wanted to go, and he said he wanted to go to the church history site at Nauvoo, Illinois.  Nauvoo was where members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) were driven from in the dead of winter to begin their trek west to the great Salt Lake Valley.  This was supposed to be sort of a second honeymoon for us, this little retirement trip.  The closer his retirement came, however, the more we realized what a great experience the trip to Nauvoo would be for our youngest daughter, who was in high school.  We decided to take her with us, and we saved a little longer.

In October, 2005, the three of us departed by airplane to St. Louis, Missouri, where we did a little sightseeing, rented a car, and drove to Nauvoo, Illinois.  We had a great time in St. Louis, saw the giant arch, as well as the outside of the St. Louis Temple.  The trip from St. Louis to Nauvoo, however, I was beginning to wish I could put a sock in my teenage daughter's mouth.  It was nonstop talking from St. Louis to Nauvoo.  Unfortunately, I lost my clip-on sunglasses somewhere and couldn't find any to fit my glasses until long after my light-sensitive eyes had given me a major headache--and the kid's nonstop mouth wasn't helping.

We were supposed to check in at the Nauvoo Motel by a certain time, and it became apparent that we were not going to make that deadline.  We stopped somewhere and called the motel to make sure they would hold our room.  The owners of the Nauvoo Motel also own the more pricey Nauvoo Hotel, which is where we were to pick up our keys.  The Nauvoo Hotel has quite a fancy buffet dinner in the evening, and the owners are busy there after a certain hour.  They were very sweet and told us they would put our keys in the mailbox, and we could pick them up there.  (You've got to love small towns!)

As we drove around the last curve in the road before Nauvoo, the Nauvoo Temple was in sight.  It was absolutely gorgeous!  It was all lit up, and the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen simply enveloped the temple!  None of the pictures we have, nor none of the postcards we bought due justice to that beautiful site, so I have not included a picture here.  Danny and I had the opportunity to attend the temple later in the week.

We drove into the parking lot of the Nauvoo Hotel to pick up our keys, and got out of the car.  I suddenly realized that for the first time in at least 12 hours, my lovely teenage daughter was silent.  I said, "What's wrong?"  (I mean, when the kid shuts up, there has to be something wrong, right?)  Almost in a whisper she said, "Mom, do you realize we could be walking where Joseph Smith walked?!"  That one moment in that parking lot was well worth making our second honeymoon a kid trip!  We took a couple of minutes in the parking lot and talked about many other early church members who walked the streets of Nauvoo, as well as Kaylonnie's fourth great-grandmother, Ingeborg Mortensen Jensen, who passed through Nauvoo on her way to the Salt Lake Valley from Denmark--a handcart pioneer.

We spent several days in Nauvoo, and we also made a trip to Carthage to see where the Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred, and Quincy, Illinois where the pioneers found brief refuge from their enemies.  Thank you, Quincy!

There were many special spiritual moments.  I think I'll never forget, walking the trail of tears--the street the saints walked down on their way to the river when they had to exit Nauvoo.  The three of us walked the trail of tears one evening on down to the Mississippi River.  We stopped at each marker and read the personal stories of some of those pioneers.  I would read until I would begin crying, and Kaylonnie would take over.  Then when she began crying, I would pick it up again.  Danny stood almost motionless as he would listen to us read those markers.  It had been very warm in Nauvoo until that evening.  The next morning we couldn't help going back to the Mississippi River on our way out of town.  It was so cold I thought our feet would freeze solid on the ground!  As we stood looking across the Mississippi River, we talked about the fact that it was much warmer that morning than it was for those first evacuees from Nauvoo.  We had much warmer clothing, and dry shoes.  I'm crying as I write this remembering the experience.

Our trip was not yet complete, however.  We realized that we had taken our other children to Salt Lake City, but we had never taken Kaylonnie.  Since she saw where it all began, she needed to see where the trek ended.  A couple of years later, we made that trip too.

Danny and I have since had several little trips on our own, but I'm so grateful that the Spirit guided us to take Kaylonnie with us on that trip to Nauvoo! My oldest daughter saw Nauvoo when she was in college in Missouri. Someday I hope our other two children will have that opportunity.

Danny and I in front of the St. Louis Temple

Kaylonnie, Danny, and Laurie at Seventy's Hall

Danny and Kaylonnie at Seventy's Hall

Danny and Kaylonnie - Quincy, Illinois

Danny's Dog Curley

Danny has a heart of gold.  We all know that.  There are times, though, when we all just stand around shaking our heads at him.

We were looking for a dog to adopt from the pound.  I was working, so I sent Danny to scout out one of the local animal shelters to see if there was a dog that we might want to show the kids.  Danny called me at work and told me he found the perfect dog.  After work, Danny and I went to see the dog together.  I took one look at this cocker spaniel and said, "Danny, this is an OLD dog."  I asked the man at the animal shelter how old he was.  He told me he was 2-4 years old.  I said, "Yeah, right!"  He said, "Well, maybe 4-6."  Okay, so I'm not stupid.  This dog was 10 years old at least!  I talked Danny into going home to think about it. I told him that if he still felt the same way in the morning, we would take the kids to see the dog.

Danny didn't sleep all night.  He tossed and turned, absolutely positive that the dog would not be there the next morning.  (Like anyone else but Danny would adopt the grandfather of the shelter!)  It was obvious the next morning that Danny's heart would break if we didn't go get the dog.  So Curley became a member of our family.

Now, we've had some smart dogs and some not so smart dogs.  We've had well behaved dogs, and one that would hide behind the furniture, wait until a kid opened the front door, and then practically knock the kid down to get out the front door to go pall around with the mailman.  Then there was Curley.  Curley was the most good for nothing dog I've ever seen.  He ate.  He slept.  He laid on our feet.  He was always full of fleas -- thus we got to know our local pesticide people.  There was no amount of flea shampoo on the planet that would suffice for Curley!

Danny loved that dog!  To this day, none of us can figure out what the attraction was -- but it was love at first sight.  Danny did manage to redeem himself, though.  He picked out our current dog, Oreo, who is the smartest darn dog I've seen in years.  Since he was also a pound puppy, we're not quite sure, but we think he is a miniature border collie.

All I can say about Curley is that we gave him a good home for the home stretch.  Just call us the old folks home!