The Leg Song

So, all day today Tera kept saying she wanted me to sing "the leg song".  I sang "Child's Prayer", "Popcorn",  "Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes", "Happy Family", and none of them were right.  I gave up and she took a nap.  Tonight for FHE she got to pick the opening song.  She asked for the leg song again and so I finally said, "I don't know that song, so you will have to sing it for me if you want me to sing it".  So she starts to sing and says,  "the leg song, you know... and so my knees are great!"  to the tune of "I Am a Child of God".  I busted up laughing and she got embarrassed, but we sang the 2nd verse to I am a Child of God and she was happy as a three year old thinking the word NEEDS is KNEES!  Love that sweet thing!  And will be calling that verse the Leg song from now on!

Time Out For Women

I just had a great weekend!  I was able to go to Time Out For Women with my best friends - my mom, and three of my sisters.  We went Friday evening and then most of Saturday.  We listened to incredible musical talent - singing, violin, and piano, and some very uplifting speakers.  The message was simple, humorous, and poignant!  I laughed and cried.  The spirit was strong, yet it was a very casual atmosphere.  I loved it!
Here are some of the great things I came away with from the experience:

Happiness is a City in the State of MIND!  I can choose happiness.  Humor helps us keep a good perspective.  I can have problems AND still by HAPPY.  If you can Laugh at it you can LIVE with it.
A sense of humor can be DEVELOPED!  Jesus was happy!  His purpose was for us to find JOY therein.

We need to find joy in the success of others - NO competing!  Find what is important and move along toward it at a comfortable pace.  (from "Small and Simple Things" by Sister Hinkley

As an experiment everyday:  Pray for the Holy Ghost to be with me.  When temptation or a trial come upon me I am to pray again for the Spirit to help me and picture the Spirit right there with me.

Have you noticed that the Sacrament table is anchored to the floor and that it is not wheeled in on a cart - it is permanent because we are going to need it over and over again!

How would you thank someone for saving your life?  You would ALWAYS remember them!  Do we always remember our SAVIOR?

What is it like being married to ME?  Am I delightful to be around?  Am I trying to be someone he wants to hang around?  Or am I worrying more about how un-delightful he is being?  I think I will be DELIGHTFUL today!

Send a LOVE note!  Appreciate, don't expect or demand!

Children are like slow ripening fruit.  Be patient with the process.  Don't base it on appearances - 3 year old at the grocery store, one minute an angel, next minute Devil Spawn!  Same child, different perspective.  I trust that He COULD, but do I trust that He WOULD?  Psalms 27:14  Wait on Lord.
You plant it, water it, take care of it.  But the sun (SON) does the rest!  Psalms 9:10 Put trust in Lord

What if the fruit of MY parenting is ME?  How did I turn out for raising these Children?  (instead of how my children turned out?  They still have their agency, but did I do my best to teach them and what did I learn and grow from those teachings and love for them?)

To have a more abundant life:  Story of the loaves and fishes - Everything was in place but abundance will only come through the Savior.
1.  Make the most of what I have to offer.
2.  Giving my All is when the miracle comes
3.  Learning to be content (barley is the lowest class bread)

BE THERE!!
Abundance can come from the most simple of offerings.  Making our foundation the Savior then building upon and adding to it.

Faith in God means having faith in HIS timing!

Weakness is NOT sin!  Ponder that for a while then read Sister Wendy Ulrich's book. 


We are saved only through the Grace of God.  Our Savior paid the price for our SALVATION.  We do good to prove our love to GOD and our Savior, NOT to earn our Salvation!

When something unfair or bad happens in our life I can choose to be angry, bitter, etc.  OR I can take it to the LORD.
1.  His power is MORE than my power - Rely on that GRACE and power!
2.  HOPE in Jesus Christ and the Resurrection.
3.  Laugh!  Finding humor makes it easier to bear!

There is a lot here to ponder and use for my benefit.  What will I do with it?

Toddler Talk

I just don't want to forget this so it will be quick.

Tera hit her chin on the stairs this morning - minor redness, but caused tears.  She came into my room and I was still covered up in bed.  Her hands were freezing -yay to cooler nights and windows open!  Anyway, I told her her hands were freezing and so was her nose and she should climb in bed with me, and then I wiped one of her tears away.  She then wiped the other one and said." yeah, but my crying waters is warm".  

I love toddler talk!

Mexico in June

The Summer had began.  Unfortunately Chad had to work, and Johnathen was at YM Priesthood camp so the girls and I decided to brave Mexico on our own.  And I am so glad we did.  What a relaxing and enjoyable time we had!  We spent the week in Kino Bay with Chad's sister Marnae at her beach house, along with two of her kids.  The house is beautiful and the view is gorgeous!  Right out the back door is the water and the waves were such a calming entity.  The only downside to the whole trip was that it was so hot and humid that clothes were totally unbearable to wear!  I ended up buying an ugly moo moo just so I could breathe!  But at the store Tera was so cute with these hats!

We had evenings on the patio, movies on the roof, and fun in the water.  The food was excellent.  The company was great.  I just can't say enough good.  I can't wait to go back!

Para sailing was a little intimidating, but ended up being so relaxing and peaceful once I was in the air.  The view was phenomenal, and the only sound was the wind and my breathing.  It was very neat. Ashten rode tandem with her cousin Brittany.

Tera didn't care for the Ocean much.  But she loves water none the less.  She found her own little spot and could be found there at all times.  She started out with just the toys getting wet, but by the end of the trip she was all in!  She even figured out how to fill it with more water!

Day 4 of the never ending week!

Graduation on Tuesday.  Disneyland on Wednesday.  Sleep on Thursday but only until 4 pm then off to a party at a friend's house.  Friday is day four and of course we are having our own graduation party, because one party just isn't enough!  It started out planned as a luau, but then it started to rain so we cancelled the swimming part.  However, by the time the party started the weather was clearing up.  Of course not everyone came with a suit due to plan change, but that didn't stop them from having a great time in the pool!  Oh to be 14 again! 

Clark was an unwilling swimming participant!

 The evening ended with a game of neighborhood fugitive.  Love that game.  Hiding and running while being chased!  What fun!  

Saturday brought one more party at a friend's, then Sunday was truly a day of rest!  Monday morning was testing day at Queen Creek for class placement.  As you can imagine, there are not very many Franklin kids in honors classes this year ;-)  

Disneyland in a Day!

The tradition at Benjamin Franklin Charter is that graduation happens on the second to the last day of school with a trip to Disneyland to officially end the year!  Graduation is finished by 8:30 and everyone is sent home only to return at midnight!  The buses roll out and the long night begins.  The fun and excitement lasts for about 1 hour then people start to sleep - uncomfortably!  9 AM the gates are open and the buses unload.  The day is spent chasing each other to one line after the other.  What fun!  The weather is perfect.  The kids are fun.  The adults are cool!  At 9 pm the gates close and so do the doors to the buses.  The really long night begins.  Everyone is totally wiped out so sleep is quickly upon us.  Unfortunately it is June in Arizona and the bus decides it doesn't want to have A/C so we are not only tired, and uncomfortable from tight spaces, but now it is also BLAZING HOT!  Thank goodness it is only 7 hours home! 

Back Seat on the bus.  Best place to be!  Three best friends together for one last trip!  We will miss you Mikayla!

One mom got comfy on the floor, but risked having to stay there forever!

Class of 2009 (or 2013)

Our super great group!

Ashten tried for 20 hours to get Mr. Shelley to let her see his hat.  By hour 26 he finally gave in but told her not to tell anyone else!  So of course a picture of the evidence was in order!
 

So even though the bus ride was not as fun as I remember them being from my school trips, I am still so happy I got to experience that 30 hours with Ashten and her friends.  And at no better place than the "happiest place on Earth!"  We really did have a great time.  And yes, I really was cool!  (at least until I made one of those skinny girls get on the floor and give me her seat to sleep on!  Thanks MIRA!)

Good-bye to Jr. High

So, my oldest is just getting older!  She has left the world of childhood and entered that scary place I don't want to identify!  Graduation was bitter sweet.  We have been blessed with great teachers and friends and now move on to the unknown - HIGH SCHOOL!  

I say I am scared of teenager years, but I am so proud of my daughter and her beautiful example to me and others.  She is strong, talented, beautiful, and fun.  I can't wait to see the person she transforms into.  Hopefully it won't be too painful of a process for either one of us!  

Congrats, Ashten!  Good-bye Panthers, Hello Bulldogs!