My Birthday...

K called me up from work the day before my birthday and asked me out lunch. He NEVER takes me out to lunch so this was a treat. We went to my favorite little soda shop downtown.

Crowley's Soda Fountain.

Later that day, K was talking with some colleague's from work and mentioned that he had taken me out to lunch for my birthday. They kidded him that he was a "Big Spender" and invited us out to dinner that Evening at Johnny Carino's.

I love Italian Food!!!

One of the men with us is a fitness instructor at a gym and he invited us to come to his 5 a.m. Spinning Class the next morning. NOT! 5 a.m. is actually not early morning it is in the middle of the night! I do really want to exercise though and he offered us one month FREE so that's tough to turn that down. K said he'd watch the kids for me so I could go. That was nice of him considering that at 5 in the morning they are all asleep. I'm not sure I slept at all that night wondering what I had gotten myself into. For starters:
-I haven't ridden a bike in years!!!!
-I am not into group workouts!!!
-and I hate waking up to an alarm clock!!!!

Bright and early, I got up and K went with me (because it was my birthday and I was in charge!) and we went to our first Spinning Class at Gold's Gym.


The instructor kept saying he was going to "kick our butts!" He did! I walked out of class and my legs felt nothing. I had no muscle left. I had to concentrate on flexing my muscles all the way to the car because if I didn't then my legs disappeared from under me. So, for the rest of the day, my legs did not hurt. Nope, never felt ANYTHING! (I have not been able to walk for the last two days because they hurt now though. I'm hoping to go again on Monday. I hate to waste a full month of free workouts!)

We got home by 6:15, in time to get the kids ready and out the door for school and then babysit the neighbor boy until kindergarten at 12:00. Then it was visit on the phone with a couple of my sisters while I cleaned the house and did some laundry, pick up kids from school, homework, and then dinner, Z to Young Men's, J to Scouts, small family celebration with my husband and kids, prayers and asleep by 9 p.m. (because for some reason I felt like I had been up for a very long time)!

One of K's single friends asked me what I had planned for my "Special Day". Her birthday is today so she was telling me about the weekend of party's she had planned and then the trip to Cancun for a week all in honor of herself. I just smiled and and felt a little cheated and told her to stay single!! I thought to myself, "Yep, I'm a mom and unfortunately, my world doesn't get to stop for a week while I party. Also, I really can't justify spending that kind of money on just myself and why would I want to create more work for myself to have to clean up."

Anyways, in honor of my fabulous workout, for dessert we had:
Carrot Cake
(No, I am not 27. This is last years cake, and I wasn't 27 then either. I just forgot candles and I feel better about my birthday when my cake says 27 instead of...)

and Banana Splits
(I feel I can justify the calories if it has fruits and/or vegetables in it)

So, that leads me to the question you are all dying to know the answer to:

WHAT DID KEN GET ME FOR MY BIRTHDAY?


I got this really cool black gun thingy and 5 new pairs of shoes, one for every possible occasion(church, exercise, winter, summer, and casual. I think there was some guilt involved).

Since the gun doesn't really fit me, (I can barely lift it and I'm not sure what I will ever need to shoot, but it's good to be prepared for anything, right?) I told K I thought that he would get more use out of it so he can borrow it, but that the shoes are nice and they do fit so I'm happy with his choices. (I did shoot it though and it didn't even hurt my shoulder. It did hurt my ears but I can work with that. Watch out, K! I'm considering a new hobby! We could be huntin' buds!)I did remind him, though, that my birthday comes BEFORE his so now I have 2 months to decide what I really need, oh I mean, what HE really needs for his birthday! Paybacks...hum...

Thanks to everyone for your nice birthday wishes, phone calls, and cards. My favorite thing about birthday's is hearing from all the people that I love the most. You all made my day. Thank you!!!!

I hope they call me on a mission!!

My little sister K received her mission call last night. We went out to Mom and Dad's to watch her open it. She is going to theShe leaves October 31st. She will be speaking Tagalog. Congratulations Kami!!!! You're going to be awesome.

K will be the 6th missionary my parents have sent out. I have had 3 brothers and 2 other sisters serve mission for our church. S served in the Portland, Oregon Mission, B served in the England London South Mission, D served in the Brazil Porto Alegre South Mission, D served in the Philippines Baguio Mission and V served in the Russia Samara Mission. It's hard to have them gone for so long but I'm proud of each of them and their decisions to serve. Someday soon I will be sending my own children on missions. Honestly, I hope I'm as strong as my parents have been.

Here are some pictures from last night. Enjoy!
Talking to S, B, D, M, L, and V!

Guess...

What did I get for my birthday?

A 22-250 Remington Rifle

OR

5 New Pairs of Shoes

It's my birthday and I'll cry if I want to...

...You would cry too if it happened to you!"

I always remember my Grandfather on my birthday and, yes, sometimes I even cry. Here's why: It was 8 years ago on a Sunday morning. We were living in BYU student housing at that time. The phone woke me up at about 6:00 in the morning. It was my mother wishing me a happy birthday. She knows that I am not a morning person so I thought that she certainly could have found a better time to call. But, I could also tell in her voice that something was wrong. She then told me that she didn't mean to ruin my day but that she wanted me to know that they had just gotten home from the hospital. Grandpa had died earlier that morning of heart failure.

This is my journal entry for that day.

Sept. 19, 1999
Today is my 25th birthday and Grandpa W passed away this morning around 4a.m. I'm going to miss him!

The next day I received a package in the mail. As I read who it was from, I remember almost collapsing to the ground in disbelief. It was from my Grandpa and Grandma. They had gone into town that previous Saturday to mail it to me. It was one of the last things he did before he died. Inside the box was a new temple packet folder with the temple I was married in and my name embroidered on it. My Grandparents had spent two years as a temple worker in the Atlanta Georgia Temple and several more years working two days a week in the Logan Utah Temple. I knew how much Grandpa loved the temple and I knew that he wanted me to love it also.

That following spring, my husband did an internship in CA. One Sunday, our Relief Society lesson was about death. I remember feeling so emotional. I kept crying. My head was full of thoughts of my Grandpa. I missed him so much. Then a woman next to me made a comment. She said that several years before her Grandmother has passed away on her birthday. (Wow! I couldn't believe that that had happened to someone else and I was sitting next to her during this particular lesson. What are the odds?) She had been upset because now instead of celebrating her birth she would mourn her Grandmothers death. Then she was told by her mother that her Grandmother had actually given her a gift. They would now share a birthday. Her birth into earth life and her Grandmother's birth into the next life. Forever, as long as she lived, she would remember that day as a special date that the two of them would share for eternity. I am so thankful for this woman who, by sharing something special to her, answered my prayer for peace and comfort.

So, each time I attend the temple and on my birthday, today, I get to think about my Grandfather and all the memories that I have of him and I am thankful for both of these special gifts that he gave to me. Eight years ago he changed my life forever more and I am glad that he did!

So, today is Happy Birthday to me and to my Grandpa!

Grandpa, I love you!

I love my Grandpa's smile!

November 1998 @ Grandpa and Grandma's 50th Anniversary Party

Here is a poem that my friend sent to me shortly after my Grandpa passed away. It always makes me feel better when I read it and since today he is on my mind I will share it with you. I don't know who wrote it so I cannot give them credit though. Enjoy!

A Letter From Heaven

To my dearest family,

Some things I'd like to say, but first of all to let you know that I arrived OK.

I'm writing this from Heaven, where I dwell with God above.
Where there's no more tears or sadness, there is just eternal love.

Please do not be unhappy, just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you, every morning, noon, and night.

That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me, and he said, "I welcome you".

"It's good to have you back again, you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.

"I need you here so badly, as part of my Big Plan.
There's so much that we need to do, to help our mortal man."

Then God gave me a list of things, he wished for my to do,
And foremost on that list of mine, is to watch and care for you.

And I will be beside you, every day and week and year,
And when you're sad I'm standing there, to wipe away the tear.

And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to fright,
God and I are closest to you, in the middle of the night.

When you think of my life of Earth, and all those loving years,
Because you're only human, they are bound to bring you tears.

But do not be afraid to cry, it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.

I wish that I could tell you, of all God has planned,
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.

But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er,
I am closer to you now, than I ever was before.

And to my many friends, trust God knows what is best.
I'm still not far away from you, I'm just beyond the crest.

There are rocky roads ahead of you, and many hills to climb,
But together we can do it, taking one step at a time.

It was always my philosophy, and I'd like it for you too,
That as you give unto the world, so the world will give to you.

If you can help somebody, who's in sorrow or in pain,
Then you can say to God and night, my day was not in vain.

And now I am contented, that my life it was worth while,
Knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.

So if you need somebody who is down and feeling low,
Just lend him a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.

When you are walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind,
I am walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.

And when you feel a gentle breeze, or the wind upon your face,
That's me giving you a great big hug, or just a small embrace.

And when it's time for you to go, from that body to be free,
Remember you're not going, you're coming here to me.

And I will always love you, from the land way up above,
We'll be in touch again soon. P.S. God sends his love.

Searching for PRETTY-SCHOOL!

- NOT to be confused with, the more traditional, Pre-school!

Description (according to my 3 year old):

It is a PINK house

with a PINK school bus that picks up all the little girls each day (NO boys allowed!)

It is filled with little PINK tables and chairs.

They serve only PINK cupcakes

and PINK lemonade for snacks.

They teach the girls how to paint their fingernails PINK


and put on PINK chapstick.

And of course, all the little girls only wear PINK!

Each day, K gets ready for Pretty-School and as we drive around town she looks for the pink house so she can go to school. However, we have been unable to find anything that matches this description. So, she will continue to look.

Prediction: Future Owner of Pretty School(in 20+ years): K and her best friend PINK!

Law and Order: J

As I was closing all the pages that were open on my computer this morning, I came across a word document that read:


J's ROOM LAW AND ORDER

LAW 1 NO SHAKES SPEER BOOKS.

LAW 2 NO GIRLS ALOUD EXCEPT MOM

LAW 3 NO KNOCKING HARD ON DOOR

LAW 4 NONE OF MY ENAMIES ALOUD IN MY ROOM



It made me laugh. I had to share it. Have a great day!

I'm Invisible...

My dear friend Jenny sent this to me and I loved it! I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy!


It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?"

Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this."

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."


In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."

And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Image:Canterbury Cathedral - Portal Nave Cross-spire.jpeg