To the Best Mother in the World

We interrupt our regularly schedule blogger to bring to you this Mother's Day message.

Handwriting Blues

Last Saturday I spoke at a primary leadership meeting about reverence. I wanted to start with a particular song, and so I wrote the words onto the chalkboard. One of the women there made a comment about how straight my lines of writing were, and I joked with her that I may not have gotten much out of college, but I can write on a chalkboard perfectly.

It's true--to get a degree in elementary education I had to learn to write on a chalkboard. I had to be tested on my ability to write on a chalkboard. It's a skill I still possess.

Writing on a chalkboard must use different muscles than writing on paper. My ability to write neatly on paper has declined as my computer use has increased over the last 15 years. Those unused muscles start screaming if I write more than a line or two of text, and I always worry that I will not be able to write legibly long enough to write a message on a birthday card.

Perhaps I should start communicating by chalkboard...

Rainy Days

Just in case you were wondering how 8.5 year old triplets entertain themselves on rainy days...


Day 1: Tests of Dexterity

Day 2: Tests of the Laws of Motion

Day 3: Tests of the Free Market System

(Translation— they printed money and everyone opened a store.)

Here is Jared in his store,

which is called:(Arrow Bead)

Jared has a knack for sizing up the market. In addition to various items made out of tin foil and beads, he cut out and stitched up shirts for beanie animals and American girl dolls. I don't know if they fit, but as you'll see later, they sold well.

Here is Jenna in her store,which is called:(Bead Parlor)

Here is Rachel making more products for her store.

Josh even joined in after he got home from school. I heard several concerned comments that Josh made the best things and so he was getting all of the money.

Over heard in the kitchen during the day:

Jenna: I'm poor, Jared, poor! How'd you get all of that money?

Jared: By doing business. All of my shirts selled out....

Too Much Computer, Too Little Brain

(Or How I Was Beguiled By The Computer)


One of my friends complained recently that she was spending too much time reading blogs. I usually only read a few blogs, so that's not a problem I've had.

Until this morning.

I looked at the blog of someone at church who has a very extensive list of links and was curious to see what was going on in the lives of people I don't know very well.

And that, my friends, was the end of the oatmeal.

The kids were more than happy to hear that cold cereal was back on the menu.

Somewhat less happy with the smell that still permeates the entire house...

Rearranging the Familiar

I would love for you to be able to listen while you read. Click here to hear one of the arrangements I'm talking about. And don't worry--there's only the one picture, so you don't have to keep watching!

I have a friend who is a gifted musician. When I was the primary chorister I asked him on many occasions to make an arrangement of a specific song for me, or add a key change or an interlude. His generosity with his talent enhanced most the the primary sacrament meeting programs that I was involved in.

One day he made a comment about wishing he could contribute in a meaningful way to the music of the church. I reminded him of all of the arranging that he had done for me and for many other people. He was almost dismissive. He felt that because what he had done was merely change or enhance someone else's composition, it was not that meaningful.

At Christmas I bought a new cd. I am always cautious about buying a cd by someone I've never heard before, but for some reason I decided to take a chance on this one. I was immediately enraptured by the beauty of these arrangements for piano and violin, and it was one of my favorite cds to listen to this Christmas.

Last week I decided to take a chance and buy another of their cds; hymns this time. I wondered if I would like this cd as much--if it could be as beautiful as the Christmas cd. I didn't consider that the content could make it even better. As I had the cd in my car last week I considered again and again how wrong I think my friend is.

Sure, to write a new piece of music that would could people everywhere in the church would be exciting. I'm very grateful to people like Janice Kapp Perry and Sally DeFord for sharing their musical talent and adding to the music available to us.

Arrangements serve a different function, though. They breathe new life into tired old music; music that we have heard so many times before that we no longer even listen to it. Arrangements surprise us and make us start paying attention again. While we are listening to a beautiful arrangements the words come to our mind and we are reminded of them...over and over again.

I would never (ever) (ever) listen to the church recordings of the hymns--either with or without the words. But I listened to this new cd over and over last week. Touched by the beauty of the piano and the violin, and touched by the doctrinal beauty of the words that echo in my mind...



I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me...

I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

Oh it is wonderful, that he should care for me,
enough to die for me!
Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

All creatures of our God and King,
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!

I am convinced that the combination of the beautiful music and frequent repetition of these lyrics in my mind last week was a blessing to me and helped me feel the spirit more clearly.

Alleluia indeed.

In case you're interested, here's an impromptu hymn arrangement of "Press Forward Saints" by my friend. It's really a two-for-one, because I added pictures from our trip to Duke Gardens last week and made a (very quick) little slideshow. Not that Duke Gardens has anything to do with "Press Forward Saints"...but so you would have something to look at while you listen!

Open Mike Sunday

One of the interesting things about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (hereafter called Mormon to save my typing fingers) is that not only do the members take turns giving the sermons (or talks, as we call them) most Sundays, but one Sunday every month is essentially Open Mike Sunday. Except that we call it Fast (because we come fasting) and Testimony (because hopefully that's what we're sharing) Meeting. On this Sunday after the announcements and the ordinance of the sacrament are over a leader turns the time over to the congregation, sits back down, and everyone waits to see what will happen.

It's anyone's guess, really. In my family's ward while I was in college a lovely woman visiting the Mormon church stood in place and started to sing. In Russ's ward when he was a kid a man got up and was talking about how grateful he was for our health code, and then shared that he knew he was healthy because the color of his urine was so light. Russ's family is still scandalized that someone used the word urine in Sacrament meeting.

Sometimes I go to church when it's Fast & Testimony meeting and I feel my spirit touched by the things that are said. Sometimes I go and I come away without having had a spiritual experience, and then I resolve to come better prepared the next time. I never know what my experience at a given Testimony meeting will be.

Today's Testimony meeting was beautiful. What made it unique was that the majority of people who felt moved upon to bear their testimonies were people who joined the Mormon church as adults.

I grew up in the Mormon church. My mother became a Mormon in her early 20's, but my father's great grandparents were some of the earliest Mormons in South Carolina. I love the doctrines of the church, I believe that it contains the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ here on the earth, and I have tried to be true to it's teachings all of my life.

Because my life has always been immersed in the Mormon church and it's teachings, I love to hear adult converts talk about their conversion. They remind me of the the blessings that come to those who sincerely strive to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, they talk about the changes that they have seen in their lives, and their appreciation for the truths that they've found remind me of how much that I have.

Today as I listened I was reminded how blessed I am to be married to a man with integrity who loves the Lord, and to be surrounded by many other men and women who are also trying their best to live the principles they've been taught. I was reminded of the beauty of the ordinance of baptism, and I was grateful for a loving God who is willing to provide this blessing to all of his children. I was reminded that our jobs in the church help us to learn and grow, and I was reminded that instead of wondering what I am missing, I am able to live a life so touched by things of the spirit that I sometimes take it for granted.

Thanks — I needed that.

Name That Scrapbook

I have been having "sew much fun" making the scrapbook of recent sewing projects. I'm almost up to date on it! Every time Russ & I have watched tv lately I've grabbed the scrapbook, pictures, tape, and my old sewing notebook. I'm excited about the way it's turning out.

As you can see, I'm keeping the format very simple. Fabric swatches, a printed card, and a picture or three. This way it won't be overwhelming for me to keep up with it.

Today I'm inviting you to play a game with me called "Name That Sewing Scrapbook." I have a name for the scrapbook that will contain older pictures of things I've sewn. I even designed a label to go on the front of that scrapbook.

and I have a dedication that I will put on the first page of each book:


But a title for this current scrapbook eludes me. Please, please, please help me, all of you clever & witty people!