Distracted Drivers!!

I like to watch people and watch what they are doing. However, I do not like my attention drawn to inattentive drivers by seeing something bizarre taking place behind the steering wheel. Yesterday I observed a driver flossing her teeth while going down a busy road. No hands on the wheel, she was focused on the task of flossing and looking in the mirror instead of driving down the road. As I was thinking about this I reviewed in my mind all of the crazy things people do instead of driving!! Number one pet peeve!! Talking on cell phones while driving, even worse, texting while driving, brushing of one's teeth, putting on makeup, looking on the floor for something, looking anywhere but the front of the car, writing while driving, looking at the map, phone book or lap top, playing with animals or kids, drinking and eating, watching the deer (my husband is bad for this one) Yelling at the other drivers instead of watching where you are going, reading anything is bad. Don't get by me when I on one I may ram my truck in your car to get your attention!!

Stunned

Stunned. That word describes exactly how I felt last night after attending my math class. Actually I believe that the whole class felt that way. Our TAPT director commented to us when she came in towards the end of class that we all looked like a bunch of deer that had just been blinded by some headlights. I'm still recovering from the shock to the brain. Hmmm.. I'll keep you posted if there is any permanent damage.

Excerpts from a talk....

This blog contains excerpts from a talk I gave for Mother's Day in the nineties. It is really long so I am just including some thoughts that helped me when my children were very young and continue to guide me today. I hope they bring insight to you and you also enjoy some humorous moments that I had recorded and forgotten about. Good ideas not always easy to follow.

"President Benson in his fireside to parents gave ten specific suggestions to help mothers spend effective time with their children. First, take time to always be at the crossroads when your children are coming or going, when they leave and return from school, when they leave and return from dates, when they bring friends home. Be there at the crossroads whether your children are six or sixteen." Second, mothers take time to be a real friend to your children. Listen to your children, really listen. Talk with them, laugh and joke with them, sing with them, play with them, cry with them, hug them and honestly praise them." He further told us to take time to read and pray with our children, have meaningful family home evenings. Teach them correct principles. "Mothers, you are your children's best teacher." A final suggestion: Mothers, take the time to truly love your children. A mother's unqualified love approaches Christlike love. Our young people need love and attention, not indulgence he added. He further stated, they need empathy and understanding, not indifference from mothers and fathers. They need the parent's time. " (sorry to my kids, I was not perfect!)

......A friend of mine told me of a sister who had eight children and who did not enjoy being a mother, she felt it was her duty. My heart aches for her to not know the joy of mothering to only see the negative in what she does. Children put many demands upon our time and when our eternal vision of things is clouded by earthly matters we become overwhelmed and lose perspective. It is a challenge. When my son dumped a quart of cooking oil on the carpet I did not see joy, or when permanent dry erase markers graced our walls all I saw was a mess that had to be painted over. When he lovingly squeezed baby quail to their death we didn't hug and kiss him......One day after cleaning up yet another Joshua "mess" I turned to Fred and said, Is their joy to be found in this and his answer was, "well I guess he was exercising his creativity. The joy of mothering comes in small doses unexpectedly. A few years ago while traveling Natalie was singing I am a child of God. When she came to the part 'and he has sent me here ' she started to cry for she was feeling the spirit. After our basement was flooded for the second time we were busy and hurrying about trying to clean up the damage. Our daughter Natalie must have sensed the stress we were under and wanting to help us she made me a note that read. "I love you, you are an adult of God. A small reward, a time of joy.

I would like to pay tribute to all those who mother, those of you women who care and nurture children, whether they be your own or those of other women, those who have warmed our hearts and nurtured and inspired us. May we remember that all that we are, or hope to be, we owe to a mother who loved us and taught us.

What's in your freezer?

This blog was inspired by Nat's friend Yanette. Actually I don't endorse having gross things in your freezer. However, at this moment I have a confession to make. We have a hind quarter of a buffalo sitting on a shelf. It is skinned!! At one point Josh had a frozen duck or some sort of bird. Anyhow there was an animal in there. (feathers and all) There is another odd freezer occupant. It is an old mink collar from my mom's sweater. She told me that if I kept it frozen the mink collar would withstand time. What do you think? Yeah we're pretty weird people. I also have a frozen Hawaiian lei that looks green and fresh. Please don't bring on Dr. Phil!!!! I couldn't take on his harassment and I think that I'll barely withstand what ya'll have to offer in that department. Robert and Carl please be nice okay?

April 30th and May 1st brought snow to many areas in Utah. This spring weather has been absolutely crazy. Kallee and Duncan had their pre-wedding pictures taken. It was a cloudy evening. The photographer was great and I believe they will have some amazing photos. The pictures may not look like spring but who cares what the background is like right? The couple is darling.
A few items of interest during the photo shoot. Nat and Kallee were both caught inside of Kallee's dress while getting ready. Don't ask me how that happened I wasn't inside the room at the time. The slip underneath started to 'slip' and so outside of the temple mom hastily removed the slip. The wind was blowing and a fire erupted below in Bountiful. It was amazing to see the flames and the black smoke. We were almost ready to quit because of the snow flurries, however, Nat said a quick prayer and the snow subsided long enough to get the full temple/couple shot in. You'll love it when you see it.

Looking forward to brighter days with sunshine. Thanks family for your support and prayers. We love you all. And yes...a special thanks to crazytown for reading our blog.