Zach's first temple trip!

This past Saturday, Zach went on his first trip to the temple to do baptism's for the dead. Ken was scheduled to go with him but ended up having to go to Denver to do a prisoner transport so Zach was on his own. He left at 5:45 in the morning because they had the 8:30 appointment.

I was so excited for Zach to have this experience. I found myself humming and singing the words to "I Love to See the Temple" all morning long as I thought about what he may be doing at that exact moment.

Teach a child while in his youth
Teach a child how to love the truth
And the covenants and promises he makes
Will be a shield and protection
Through all his days

I love to see the temple
I'm going there some day
To feel the holy spirit, to listen and to pray
For the temple is a house of god
A place of love and beauty
I'll prepare myself while I am young
This is my sacred duty

I love to see the temple
I'll go inside some day
I'll covenant with my father, I'll promise to obey
For the temple is a holy place
Where we are sealed together
As a child of God I've learned this truth
A family is forever
By Janice Kapp Perry with the new first verse addition by Steven Kapp Perry.


I figured he'd be home by 1 p.m. and we could head out to my parents for the rest of the weekend. He finally showed up at 4 p.m. Apparently, the leader forgot to check with my schedule and decided to take advantage of the trip to Boise and run a few personal errands. We quickly loaded up and headed out of town. Once on the road, I asked Zach how his trip had been. I was expecting the usual spiritual answer of "It was so wonderful. The temple is so beautiful. I can't wait to go again." Instead he said, "______(new leader) is so cool. He bought us _______(caffeinated drink that this mother never ever buys for her young innocent kiddos). Then we drove all around Boise with our windows down screaming at all the other drivers while drinking CAFFEINE!!" My sudden look of complete shock must have concerned him for a moment because he quickly added,"Mom, he told us we just had to loose up and have some fun. Life is too short to die bored."

I have to admit that I was now in a state of complete shock and total disappointment. What ever happened to my expectation of this day being, at least somewhat, a spiritual experience. Then Zach proceeded to roll down my car window and start yelling at all the other drivers on the road. I immediately rolled up his window and locked it. I guess it's been a long time since I was 12.

The next temple trip will be chaperoned by at least one over protective Mencl parent and he will have a father along for the next scout camp out just so that I know for myself that this energetic new leader is not too extreme for my standards. (I'm really missing his old leader right now. He spoiled us!) I'm all about having a good time, but I believe the right to corrupt my children is mine, not the church's youth leaders.

I did ask him how the actual temple experience was. His comment was, "It was just like you said, 'prayer, amen, dunk, prayer, amen, dunk'. The whole time I was thinking, 'Oh man, my mom did know what she was talking about'. Oh, and they do provide white underwear so HA! You were wrong about that part."

Sidenote: I may have described it sort of like that, and I may have expressed a slight concern that if he wore dark blue underwear it may show through his wet white baptism clothing and that may be a little bit embarrassing.

The happy ending to this story is that the leader had bought him a really big bottle of soda and Zach, not wanting to waste any of his leaders money, drank every single drop of it all by himself. By bedtime that evening, he was a sick little boy. He has some ulcers caused from stress so the carbonation and caffeine was all but kind to him in the end. As he lay in bed moaning and groaning that his stomach was hurting, I willing took full advantage of this perfect teaching opportunity to brainwash him into making healthier (and more gospel centered) choices next time. My poor baby boy. Tough lessons learned the hard way.

His next temple trip will be in our own new temple! YEAH!!!!! This picture is a month old. It has plants and grass and it looks so pretty. We drove past it last night and it brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. We are so blessed!


The first picture is of the Boise Idaho Temple. The second picture is of the Twin Falls Idaho Temple that is currently under construction. Open House will be July through August with the Dedication in August.

In Honor of Mother's Day - YOU!

Also called nacre ("NAY-ker"), mother-of-pearl is 3,000 times more fracture-resistant than the mineral it is made of, aragonite. A scientist studying the nacre said, "You can go over it with a truck and not break it - you will crumble the outside [of the shell] but not the [nacre] inside. And we don't understand how it forms - that's why it's so fun to study."



A nacre is the home of the pearl. A pearl begins as a small piece of worthless grit that is somehow, whether naturally or by man, deposited inside the nacre. As the elements of the water world press upon the nacre, it builds up layers of protection around around the grit. Over time the layers are hardened and shaped and polished inside the nacre and the end result is a beautiful priceless gem. It's is believed that the nacre is strengthened from the inside out.



Motherhood is the same process. We are handed this helpless little babe and we willingly wrap our hearts and lives around him. We do everthing in our power to protect this child until he is grown. We apply layers and layers of guidance and support around him as a protection from the world around him and we watch as slowly a beautiful pearl is formed and polished. And we feel honored to have had this opprtunity to be the Mother of a Pearl.



But what about the nacre? As we are busy careing for and protecting our little gem , we are faced with intense heat and unbearable pressures that are constantly placed upon us. As we fight to protect our little gem, we realize that slowly our rough and not so pretty outer layers are beginning to crumbling off and though it may feel like we will completely break apart, we don't, and what is finally revealed is the inner beauty and the unbreakable strength that we are truely made of. As we have willingly placed that small helpless child close to our hearts and committed our lives to him, we have opened ourselves up to be strengthed and made beautiful from the inside out. This is our gift from God, because we are the Mother's of His Pearls.

I have looked back over the last year. I have reveiwed my successes and my failures. I have thought alot about my decision to be a mother. The thought that keeps coming to me is this:

Christopher Robin says to Pooh, "So, where are you afraid of falling? Promise me you’ll always remember:

You’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

- AA Milne - Winnie the Pooh


There were times when I thought I didn't have the strength to make it through certain situations, I did things and faced trials that were scarier than I ever imagined they would be and I had to make decisions that I didn't know the answers to. Through it all, I cried alot of tears and said alot of prayers, and I made it through! I'm still here! And I'm Braver, and Stronger, and Smarter than I have ever been.

Though we walk different paths and face different challenges, we are all still the same. Whether we have 1 child, 6 children or no children, we all feel joy, sorrow, fear, and love. We all do things right and we all have things we will do better next time. We are doing the best we can with what we know, and when we know better, we will do better.

“Work like you don’t need the money,

love like you’ve never been hurt,




and dance like no one is watching."

--- Satchel Paige

Happy Mother's Day to all of you, my dear family and friends!

In Honor of Mother's Day - My Mom

My Mom's high school graduation photo- Isn't she beautiful?

A Lifetime of Learning from My Mother

I watched you, Mom, get up every single morning and go out every single evening no matter what for the last 25 years to help my dad on the farm,
And I learned PERSEVERANCE.

I watched you, Mom, choose to bear and raise a large family in an nonsupporting world,
And I learned LOVE.

I watched you, Mom, as you stayed up late finishing up housework and preparing for the next day, knowing you would only get a few hours of sleep,
And I learned DEDICATION.

I watched you, Mom, take our last jar of food and make a feast to give to someone in need, watch someones rowdy children so their mother could have a moment of silence even though you already had a house full, or give your car away to a family who needed it more,
And I learned SELFLESSNESS.

I watched you, Mom, stand immovable and steadfast in your beliefs, wanting to share the gospel with everyone you met, everyday, no matter what, my entire life,
And I learned INTEGRITY.

I watched you, Mom, as you ironed your temple clothes so carefully each month in preparation for your monthly temple trip,
And I learned OBEDIENCE.

I watched you, Mom, figure out bills and balance the check book each payday as a look of uncertainty crossed your face, and then you would write your tithing check first with confidence, And I learned FAITH.

I watched you, Mom. sit down and relax on a quiet afternoon, and as your eyes fell closed in complete exhaustion,
And I learned COMMITMENT.

I watched your dedication, Mom, to Family Prayer and Family Scripture Study and Family Home Evening,
And I learned CONSISTENCY.

I watched you, Mom, wipe our fevered brows, wash our bloody knees, or wipe away our tears,
And I learned SECURITY.

I watched you, Mom, as your own tears of sadness and joy slid silently down your cheeks,
And I learned COMPASSION.

I watched you always find the inner strength to smile through everything,
And I learned TRUE BEAUTY,

I watched you, Mom, laugh and play and make us cookies and read to us,
And I learned JOY.

I watched you love my children in the exact same unconditional way,
And I learned TRUE LOVE.

My Mom, 10 kids and 29 years later (taken in the year 2000). Isn't she still beautiful?

Thank you, Mom, for a lifetime of learning. I love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

In Honor Of Mother's Day - My Grandmother's

I am very lucky to have both of my Grandmother's still alive. I love that my kids know them and that we will get to see them this Mother's Day! I'd like to introduce you to these 2 amazing women who have had a huge influence in my life!

*This picture was taken at the Portland Oregon Temple on my wedding day. -September '94





My Grandma Wilson

-I grew up living 4 miles away from my Grandma Wilson. We saw my Grandparents everyday!

-My Grandma was a school teacher. I remember in the summer she would have a goody jar full of cute erasers, stickers, and other cute teacher treats we could play with.

-My Grandma taught me alot about sewing. I spent many days at her house using her surger and making alot of my clothes. I loved all the boxes and boxes and boxes full of fabrics and sewing accessories.

-My Grandma is very good at gardening. For many years, my Grandparents had a Garden Store in Burley, ID. I loved the smell inside. It was full of seeds and tools and other plant items. Sometimes, my Grandparents would let us work in the store sorting seeds and sweeping the big huge wood floor. The best part was that they always had Ritz crackers to snack on.

-My Grandparents were in our ward growing up and every Sunday we would fight over who got to ride home with them after church. The boys usually won.

-We loved to go over to Grandma's house and "rent" her movies. She had all the Disney Sunday Specials recorded and a lot of old black and white movies recorded. That's was always our weekend activity of choice.

-For as long as I can remember, my Grandma always has her freezer full of Schwan's Ice Cream treats. Actually she has several freezers, and there is always something good to eat in them.

-My Grandma cans everything. She used to have a little room under her stairs in her basement full of ancient canned food, and lots of really good new stuff also. She always had way more than a one year supply of food. The only problem was that it was full of yucky things like beets and apple butter and anything they could grow.

-My Grandma has a green house full of plants. She also has a lot of plants in her house. The plants that remind me the most of my Grandma are African Violets and Rhubarb. We always had to water the African Violets and we can never eat enough Rhubarb Pie.

-My Grandma and My Grandpa used to let us go on vacations with them. When they would go visit relatives in Utah or Nevada, they would take us along with them. It was always fun to visit family.

-My Grandma and Grandpa served a mission in the Atlanta, Georgia temple. Then they spent many, many years traveling to Logan, Ut each week to serve as temple workers in the Logan Temple.

-My Grandma is the mother of 4 children, one son who died at the age of 17 in a tragic farm accident, 18 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren.

We grew up spending so much time with my Grandparents that we honestly took them for granted. I have so many memories I can't decide which is my favorite. Maybe going camping up to "Magelby Mountain" in the Monroe, Ut area.


*The first picture is when I had traveled home with my two little boys, just after Justyn was born. -August 1997
The second picture was taken at Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary party -November '98

My Grandma Lowder

-I grew up with my Grandma living 6 miles away from our home. We lived in the same ward so we saw them every Sunday and then several times through out the week, unless there were cousins visiting and then we were at their house every day! I love my grandparents because they taught us by example that family was important!!!

- My Grandma loves pretty things. She has a big flower bed under her front window that she keeps full of blooming geraniums all spring and summer. Grandma always has her fingernails painted, and she always wears clip on earrings and lipstick. I've never seen her without her hair done. She's not extreme in making her self pretty, she just likes being a girl.

-My Grandma always holds my Grandpa's hand.

-My Grandma always has her sewing machine on her kitchen table and her ironing board up because she is always busy making something for someone.

-My Grandma is the BEST librarian in the whole LDS church. That is the only calling I ever remember her having, except when she was nursery leader.

-I love having family reunions out on the farm at my Grandma's house. The bigger our family gets, the smaller the house and yard feels. Someday we'll have to meet somewhere else but until then, I love the memories that I continue to make having of lots of fun with all my cousins!

-My Grandma loves to share her family history with us. I love to hear stories of when she was little and her favorite song is "Playmates" and she still has her priceless doll from her childhood.

-My Grandma loves to remind us that her cousin is married to President Boyd K. Packer, our small claim to fame.

-My Grandma has the softest hands, no wonder's Grandpa likes to hold them, and the softest lips, she always gives us kisses!

-My Grandma and Grandpa spent most of their time now making quilts to donate to charities. So far they have donated over 170 quilts to the LDS Humanitarian Center. In addition to that, they also have made quilts for all the great grandkids.

-My Grandma and Grandpa have served 6 missions for our church. They served in Birmingham, Alabama when they were in their 50's. They have also served twice in the Bishop's Store House, the LDS Employment Center, the D.I., and in the Logan Temple as temple workers.

-My Grandma is the mother of 8 children, 47 grandchildren, and 98+ great-grandchildren. She tries really hard to remember all the birthday's, and keep everyone updated on graduations, weddings, missions and births.

A memory I have of my grandma is when I was in 2nd grade, I rode the school bus to my grandma's house so that she could make a recording of me singing the nursery songs for her little nursery class. I got on the wrong bus and ended up at the bus station. It was really scary. The bus driver was mean because I couldn't find my Grandma's house and it was dark and I was hungry when my mom finally picked me up from the bus garage that night. I ended up recording the songs on a different day. I remember singing, "One little apple round and red, fell ker-plunk on Mary's head. One little apple round and red, fell on Mary's head. PLOP!" For years after that I had member's of our ward coming up to me telling me they had a copy of that recording that their kids were listening to. Kind of embarrassing! I really wish I had a copy for my kids now. If you have one, could I please, please get a copy!

*The first picture is when my Grandparents went on their mission -taken in the "80's

The second picture was taken at Grandma and Grandpa's 60th wedding anniversary party. -December '05


I love my Grandma's!

In honor of Mother's Day - Good Reads

It takes a Mother to Raise a Village

by Colleen Down

read an excerpt from the book here

My husband had just graduated from BYU and was just starting his career in law enforcement. We had just bought our first house and I had 4 children at the time. I really struggled with the idea of having anymore children. I was tired! Tired of being pregnant, tired of nursing, tired of cleaning up and chasing after a house full of little ones, tired of baby fat, and tired of not sleeping. I was ready to move on. It was during this time that I was blessed to meet an amazing woman and mother of 8 children. In her cruisade to get me to join American Mothers (which I did not ever join) she encouraged me to read this book. Some places made me laugh, others made me cry. It's a fun, entertaining view on motherhood. And it has cartoon drawings at the beginning of each chapter that are funny! I'm all about being entertained!

I Am a Mother

by Jane Clayson
Holly has done a great review

I read this book because I really liked Jane Clayson Johnson when she co-hosted on The Early Show for CBS. I was fascinated with the idea that she had built a successful career and then suddenly she was gone and the rumor was that she had left it all to become a mother and stay home with her kids. I wanted to know her story. I also loved the picture on the front of this book. I loved this book!

Tending Roses

By Lisa Wingate
Read the excerpt here that I read that convinced me to read this book

Off the back of the book: The lessons that most enrich our lives often come at unexpected moments and from unlikely places. That's what Katie Benson learns when she moves temporarily—with her husband Ben and baby son—to her grandmother's Missouri farm. She arrives at a time of crisis and indecision—struggling with the demands of being a new mother, a not-so-new wife, and a well-meaning but often impatient granddaughter. The family has assigned her and Ben the job of convincing Grandma Rose, who's become increasingly stubborn and forgetful, to move off the land that means so much to her and into a nursing home. Katie knows such a change would break her grandmother's heart. But what is right for her grandmother? And what is right for herself and her family?

Just when Katie despairs of finding answers, she discovers her grandmother's journal. A beautiful handmade notebook, it is full of heartwarming stories that celebrate the virtue of patience, the power of love, and the importance of family, friendship, and faith. Stories that make Katie see her life—and her grandmother—in a completely new way... and lead her toward a new, more meaningful future...

Some of this actually story was slow but I loved this grandmother and the lessons she taught. Very good book!

Being the Mom

By Emily Watts
Read an overview here
Holly also has a review of this book here

I loved the part of the title of this book that says "10 Coping Strategies I Learned by Accident Because I Had Children on Purpose" I had to read this based on that intro. Emily is very realistic and makes the choices involved in being a mom seem do-able. Very enjoyable and uplifting to read!

What I am currently reading:

I Was a Really Good Mom Before I Had Kids

By Trisha Ashworth and Amy Nobile

I picked this book because I often tell myself that I was a good mother BEFORE I had kids. My dad always tells me that "the best parents are those who have never had kids or those who's kids are raised. The rest of us are just trying to not do too much damage as we survive parenthood one day at a time." I also thought the cupcake on the front of book looked yummy! I wouldn't say this is the best book ever written but it has helped remind me that I am not alone in my desire to be perfect and do it all. Some mom's are more extreme and others, not so much, but there are alot of us doing the same things and all striving for the same goal. It's helps to look at my thoughts and actions through other mothers. Then I can more realisticly evaluate what is working, what is not, what is worth doing and what is worth throwing out or letting go of.

Now it's your turn. What "Mom" books do you love?

Thoughts

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of--throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

-C.S. Lewis

I read this over on Lara's blog. I've read this before but since I seem to be extra emotional lately, it seemed to really touch me differently this time. What kind of house will you become?

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Last night my neighbor (the R.S. Pres.) had a "Bake Off" for the women in our ward. Mostly it was just a chance to get together and talk.

At 6 o'clock I decided that I didn't have time to make dinner, figure out a treat to take over, shower and get ready, organize my kids and house, and walk the block to her house.

Instead, I stayed home and watched American Idol and then went for my first bike ride with Ken (which I almost cried because the corners really scare me. We are going to need lots of practice before I hit the big road for a long trip!) We drove past my neighbors house and saw the party going on and all the women from church. I felt sad that I had missed out on something that would have probably been a really fun and relaxing evening out.

But then I remembered all the really important things that I had stayed home to do instead. I'm a very busy person, you know....

WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I REALLY AFRAID OF?????????????

ME!!!!!

I get really stressed over things like this. I have gone to activities or meetings or whatever where I sit alone, I eat alone and I talk to no one. I know that I am to blame for this. I have a tongue and legs that work. Yet, the older I get, the more I don't like the idea of not being in control of all things around me. And I don't like being alone. I know, I wouldn't be alone if I got out and did things with people and built up those friendships. I just get so scared that I intentionally sabotage my plans.

Sometimes I am amazed at the fact that I am a member of a church with the biggest women's organization in the world, yet I feel so alone. I busy myself with my children so that I appear to not have time to socialize. I love teaching in the Primary because then I don't have to sit alone in my adult meetings. I doubt myself alot. I think I talk too much about stuff of little importance. I hate having conversation with someone because afterwards, I review it over and over in my head until I finally decide that I'm better off just to avoid conversation at all cost.

Hence, my not going to the activity last night.

I asked Justyn to dump a dead mouse yesterday (yes, we still have them, GRRRR! and I didn't just loose my train of thought. This will tie back into my sob story in just a minute.) and he said to me, "Mom, you hate mice and so does Dad. I just can't help it, I was just born to hate mice!" (For the record, I ended up paying the little boy across the street a blue Popsicle to dump it.)

Well, after my little stunt of skipping out on the enrichment activity last night, I am using the same excuse. "My mom hates Relief Society things and so does my Dad. I just can't help it, I was born to hate Relief Society things."

I know, I know!!!

I am the one missing out and I am the only one who can change things for myself.

So, I'll go next time!!!

maybe......

Polygamy?

When the guys at work kid Ken about how many kids he has, he just tells them that in our religion, when a man gets to 10 kids, he gets to have a second wife.

Since 6 is as close as we are going to get, this is as close as he's going to get to having his second wife!

He said she would bring us closer.

That it would just be the two (or three?) of us.



He said she was easy on the eyes.

And that she sparkled with personality.



I call her V.

At least her saddle bags are bigger than mine!



Coming soon, to an open road near you! Maybe we'll even stop in for a visit!

P.S. The couple on the bike is NOT us, but we are only hoping to be so cute! :) The rest of the pictures I really took. Yes, there is a big bike in my garage. We are now a family of 9! Ken is already planning to add on another bedroom so that she doesn't feel neglected.

Shh! Don't tell Ken but I'm a little scared!