Friends, Birthday's, and CP80?

When we first went back to college, we lived in a duplex. In the "other half" of our house was a newly married couple. Hubby and I moved in with our two little boys and that poor couple. We only lived there a couple of months, but we quickly fell in love with this couple. Fast forward 10 years! We now have 6 kids, they have 3. We live in Idaho, they live in Arizona. We have not seen them in 7 years but we still think of them as very close friends.

One year, this friend called me. It was my birthday. I was having a very hard day. I had a one month old baby, I was turning 30 and Hubby was working and had "forgotten" what day it was. I know she was inspired to call me and she has called me every year since then on my birthday just to remind me that I am not forgotten. She is a wonderful friend and the one gift that I look really forward to receiving all year long.

Okay, now that you know how wonderful she is, let me tell you how lame I am. I have NEVER called her on her birthday. I didn't even know when it was for a few years. I finally asked her and then I wrote it down with the intention of surprising her. Each year I totally forget. Not even by a couple of days, but by months and months. So this year, I made a special effort to remember. I knew it was in March, towards the end. I just needed to find my book and look it up for the exact date. Last night, March 30th, I was laying in bed thinking about tomorrow being the last day of March when suddenly I realized that I had missed it again. I ran to find my book and sure enough, her birthday was on the 24th. Dang! So I decided that since I had one more day of the month, I'd call her today. I couldn't find her phone number so I just looked her up online. There was only one number with her name on it so I dialed hoping it was the right number. She answered it, not with the more traditional Hello, but with the "Oh my gosh. What in the world?" I had the right number(She has caller id). Next year, I'll get her on her birthday! Love you dear friend! Happy "late" Birthday!

She told me about a project she is involved in and I haven't had much time to research it in depth yet, but from what I have seen, it looks like something that is good. It is called CP80 and it is about options and solutions to Internet pornography. Internet pornography is a problem that if you have children, I can promise you, at some point, they will come across it on the Internet, whether it is at home, at school, or from friends and you will deal with it in your home. It's scary for me to step out of my comfort zone and get involved but change has to start somewhere. I encourage you to check out the web address. It's http://www.cp80.org/If it looks good to you, maybe you too can get involved and help pass the word on.





On a lighter note, I want know when all of your birthday's are. I'm not going to promise good things from me because I'm just really bad at that kind of thing, but I want to try to do better. Also, I want to know, What do you do for others on their birthdays? AND What do you like to recieve from friends on your birthday?

A Split and A Song

Today our ward was split. They split 2 wards to make a third. Half our ward is now in a new ward. We know we are very blessed but this means change. I like knowing that each Sunday I get the chance to go to church and see and be with my "ward family". As I looked around the room (we filled the enitre chapel, overflow and gym!) at all the families I have grown to love, I couldn't help but feel sadness at the thought of all the friends and familiar faces I will miss seeing each week. But a new ward means growth and that is a good thing.

In Primary we are learning the song "If The Savior Stood Beside Me" written by Sally DeFord. I have always loved the words to this song. I find myself humming the words often. The chorister asked the chidren, what would be some of the things they would want to choose to say or do differently if they knew the Savior was going to be watching them? I'm in with the younger children and their honesty and innocence is so sweet. They couldn't think of anything they would change.

When I grow up, I want to be just like a child!

If the Savior stood beside me, would I do the things I do?
Would I think of His commandments and try harder to be true?
Would I follow His example? Would I live more righteously,
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?





If the Savior stood beside me, would I say the things I say?
Would my words be true and kind if He were never far away?
Would I try to share the gospel? Would I speak more reverently
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?





If the Savior stood beside me, would my thoughts be clean and pure?
Would His presence give me strength and hope, and courage to endure?
Would His counsel guide my actions? Would I choose more worthily
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me?





He is always near me, though I do not see Him there
And because He loves me dearly, I am in His watchful care
So I'll be the kind of person that I know I'd like to be
If I could see the Savior standing nigh, watching over me.

**All Pictures in this post are by artist Nathan Greene.

A little of nothing

On the way to school today, K said to me, "I slept two nights with the girly-girls and the rest of the nights with you. The End." Girly-girls? Finishing a thought with "The End"? I laughed.

Last night after the Blue and Gold Banquet, a gentleman in our ward came up to me and while winking and smiling, says, "Great job decorating that cake, MOM!" I laughed and started to correct him when J interrupted and said, "Do you think my mom could do that good of a job? I made and decorated that cake all by myself! I just wish I could have had some real competition here tonight!" Can you say humility?

I stopped in to visit with the principal of Z's school today. She was wonderful to talk to and she has come up with some great ideas to help Z survive the last 2 months of the school year. The last thing she said as I walked out the door was, "Tell Z to get his butt back here to school. I miss him!" That seemed to be exactly what he needed to hear because he is anxious to get back to work again on Monday!

Hubby wants Z to finish the school year. He wants him to learn to finish what he starts. Life is hard but that's how we grow. I've thought alot about this situation this week. My first reaction is to take away all his problems and bring him home if that what he wants, and let him "run away" when things get tough. Then I realized that that is what I always do and where has it gotten me? I had an experience this last year that was one of my worst "mommy nightmares" come true. I decided that I had completely failed as a mother and so I gave up! If I couldn't do it right, then I didn't want the job anymore.

Nine months later, and my replacement still hasn't showed up so I guess I better get back to work. I layed in bed last night, waiting for Hubby to get home from work, and I thought about all the things I had messed up on through out the day, and I said to myself, "It's okay. I'll do better tomorrow!" And then I thought, "This is the exact same thing I have told myself every night for the last 12 years. I can't wait for tomorrow or someday I'm going to run out of tomorrows to hope on. I've got to start right now." I can't fix all the bad and I can't take away all the hurt, but I can keep getting up every day and going back to work, doing the best I can with what I know.

"And when I know better, I will do better!" I'm the mom in this house. That is my job! And if my husband and my children still have faith in me, then maybe I can still have faith me also.

I'm so amazed at the hard lessons I learn as a parent. I may end up ruining my children's lives, but in the end, they will have saved mine. Then I can only hope and pray that they too will be blessed with children of their own.

The End!

J's Secret Weapon- Designed by J!

Tonight is our ward's Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet. Each scout is supposed to bring a cake that he has made all by himself. The cakes will be judged and then eaten as dessert. We have done this several years now. Since we always seem to be in a different ward each year, we just keep making the same cake. It's super easy for J to make and decorate and he always feels like he does a good job and he is very proud of the completed project. (You know how it goes, if something works, why mess with it.) But somehow I have never managed to remember to take any pictures so, since this is our last year in cub scouts for a few years (Yeah!) , I remembered to take pictures. J also wanted some proof that he really did make this all by himself!

Okay, some stories first: One year the boys had to bring the cakes made but not decorated and then they had about 15 minutes to decorate them and then the cakes were judged. This cake worked out well because it was really easy to put together. The part that takes the longest is putting on the brown frosting all over the cake. That's why the cake is chocolate. A little tear here or there all blends in and will probably be covered by something else.

Another year, the scouts had a father/son cake decorating contest where the cakes were to be decorated at home by the scout and his father and then brought to be judged. This cake worked well for that also because Hubby did not have any time to think about a cake and J was able to do this on his own. In fact that year, a boy made the comment to J, "Well, if my dad could have taken the whole day off to stay home and work on my cake with me, mine would have looked cool also but my dad had to work all day." J's comment was, "My dad hasn't even seen this cake yet. He's still at work. I hope he get's here before it gets eaten though. I want him to see how great our cake turned out!"

Now, because I know many of you have or will have little Cubbies who may need a great cake idea someday, J has given me permission to share his winning design with you with hopes that if your son uses it, he will love it as much as J does.

The first thing J did was draw a picture of the completed design and then he made a list of supplies.

After a trip to Target, it was time to get started. First J picked out the sizes of pans he wanted for his cake. He chose a 9x13 and a bread pan. He used a chocolate cake mix and divided it between the two pans.

When the cakes had cooled, he stacked them on top of each other. (They look a little white because he made sure he used plenty of flour in the pans so the cake would not stick!) We just covered the back of a big cookie sheet with tin foil.

Now begins the fun part, decorating. He covered the whole cake with chocolate frosting. We slid some wax paper under the edges of the cake so that when J is finished making a mess, I mean decorating the cake, we can slide the wax paper out and the tin foil is still clean underneath making the finished cake look even more like it was done by someone older than a Cub Scout.

Then he mixed some chocolate frosting along with some green food coloring into white frosting until he got the desired color of camouflage that he wanted. Then he added the green frosting to the cake.

Next he added Oreos to the side to make the wheels and black licorice to make the tread.

Finally he used a big chocolate covered pretzel stick(we've used a tootsie roll stick in the past but it is really heavy and I couldn't find one this time and now I think I like the pretzel better), added some camo to it, and then poked it into the cake.

A few finishing touches,

and the end result is a very cool looking army tank, made entirely by my Cub Scout.

Today, Z dropped out of 6th grade. He wrote me a "drop out" note. It said:

I'm not going back to school. I just can't seem to figure my life out. I want to go to school to learn, not just pass the tests. I'm frustrated. I'm falling behind in everything. I need to catch up. I need a break.

My things I need to catch up on:
1. Math
2. Science
3. History
4. Reading out loud in front of people
5. Art
6. Learning how to be around people and how to be myself and not stutter around others when I get nervous.
7. Sports- I just want to learn how to play the games I love like basketball and baseball! NOT Dance!
8. Guitar Lessons- Learning how to really play the guitar. I love my electric guitar and I just want to learn to play!
9. Piano- Learning how to play. I'm good at this. But I want to know more.
10. I really want to get to know my parents better and spend more time with them. I miss my dad. I miss my mom. And I miss my family.

What's this mom supposed to say to that? (He even wrote it in cursive!)


This is his third day in a row of refusing to go to school. So, he's been home working for me. And he loves it (and secretly I do too!) He has cooked breakfast and lunch each day, he has cleaned my house everyday! He has played with the little ones while I did my cleaning. He has visited with me all day. He's been a real pleasure to have around.

He takes some medication for his stomach because he gets so stressed out he makes himself sick. Lately, he has refused to do a lot of the normal things he usually loves to do. He's had some very emotional days. I have watched him go through this and wondered where my sweet boy went. This week I have had a glimpse of what I think he's really like. He hasn't had to take any medicine this week. He's back to acting pretty normal.

Z said he is planning to go to school tomorrow. So we will try again and see how it goes. He's a good kid! I hope we figure out how to survive these next few years!

Sweetest Reward

My, My, Baby, What very BIG feet you have!

All the faster to run with!

H has been going as fast as he can since he started to walk. Every where he goes, he gets there in his super fastest gear. His legs always get places faster than the rest of his body does. His head often takes the punishment for being so slow. He also does have really big feet compared to my other children. K, who is 3, wears a size 7 shoe. The little guy I babysit who is one month older than H wears a size 4 shoe. I just pulled out size 6 for H to start wearing. Maybe he'll break the mold and be TALL!

My, My, Baby, What very BIG hands you have!

All the better to throw with!

Everything that fits in his tiny little hand, gets thrown. H has to see what will happen. Some things bounce, some things don't, and some things even break but all things get thrown!

My, My, Baby, What very BIG ears you have!

All the better to hear you with!

H hears everything. He loves sound. He hasn't had much to say in his short little life because he always has his pacifier in his mouth but he is very aware of everything going on around him at all times.

My, My, Baby, What very BIG eyes you have!

All the better to stare you down with!

H has these big black marble eyes and with his very fare colored skin, they really stand out on his face! He is a starer! He can win any contest the older kids have with him. He doesn't smile at people too much but he has a reputation for being very serious with his eyes. We think he will be an interrogator when he gets older.

My, My, Baby, what a very BIG head you have!

All the better to think and learn with!

I am so amazed at how fast babies learn things. No wonders there is no time to sleep. He has way too many questions and mysteries to solve. I love watching his little body learn to work and enjoy this big amazing world. When my older boys were little many many years ago, we had a video with Primary songs on it. The words to one of my favorite songs on the tape are, "It's a big round school house my Father gave to me..."

My, My, Baby, what a very shiny, bald head you have!

Oh! That's cuz my mom just gave me my first haircut, a BUZZ!


My baby is growing up way too fast. He just started jabbering. His favorite word to say is "Mom!" No big deal, right? NO! Not one of my babies has ever said "mom" first. Yes, most of them have jabbered long before the age of one, but they always say "Da Da Da!" long before they learn to say "Ma!" H doesn't say "Da" at all. I've never heard him say it even once. H has always had a pacifier in his mouth so he hasn't been one to make much noise unless he is crying. I babysit a little boy that does not have a father, it's just him and his mom, so he only knows "Mom." H has picked up on that. I love it!

H is very much a Daddy's boy! If Hubby is around, H wants nothing to do with me. This is also different for us because when all of my other children we little, they really could have cared less if Dad was around, but not H! He loves his Daddy. Hubby isn't used to this kind of constant, undying love, so he often, without really thinking about it, will brush past H and not give him any attention. But H is very persistant and continues to follow Hubby around hanging on his legs and crying for attention until finally Hubby gives in and carries him everywhere all morning and evening long. It's kind of funny but after a while I kind of feel like chopped liver. I'm the one who does all the work for H. I change his diapers, I feed him, I change his clothes way too many times day, I get up with him all night long, I clean his snotty nose and dirty face, I kiss his owies, and I hold him the other 8 hours of the day while Daddy is at work.

So what reward do I get for all of my sacrifice?

One simple first word:

"Mom"

New Look!

I have been humming the words to the hymn "I Know That My Redeemer Lives!" all day. When I saw this page layout, I knew it was perfect for me! BUT I lost all my widgets so I'm back to square one. I guess it was time for some Spring Cleaning anyways!

Happy Easter!



I Know That My Redeemer Lives Hymn

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living Head.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
I know that my Redeemer lives!