Laughing is Better

"You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh. Crying gives me a headache."

[Marjorie Pay Hinckley, "Glimpses into the life and Heart of Marjorie Pay Hinckley']

Don't you just love her outlook?

Me? I'm laughing. Crying gives me a headache too. Have a lovely Sunday.

Anticipation!

I just printed our Disneyland tickets! I've been very excited as our departure approached, but this seems to have really cemented the fact that it's coming up on Monday! Can't wait! My Disneyland history is ancient -- I went as a 12 year old, as a 20 year old, and then when Math was under a year old (considering that fact that he's 28 now, that tells you it was a while ago!). I'm ready to go again. I'm excited to see the new things there (everything will be new to me, I'm sure) and I'm excited to be able to be there with the little ones, to see their reactions to it all. I know they love it and I can't wait to share that with them.

Wow -- Monday morning will be here before I know it. I need to do some laundry!

Blooming

"A tulip doesn't strive to impress anyone. It doesn't struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn't have to. It is different. And there's room in the garden for every flower." [Marianne Williamson]

I'm a big fan of the tulip. If I were a flower, I think I'd be a tulip. What struck me today is that in life, we are all very unique, yet we have everything in common. We are all different flowers. As I survey my friends and family, I see what a beautiful garden I have been planted in. I see elegant roses, tall, aristocratic sunflowers, cute little daffodils and lovely orchids. The differences are striking, but the resemblances and things we share are lovely. And we are all growing together.

I am grateful for the diverse garden my friends make up, the smaller bouquet that has become my family, and the beauty I see in all.

I'm glad you are growing in my flower garden!
[photo via flickr]

This One's for Me!

Oh, how I love this one. I already own her "Blessed" necklace but this looks like me. Something I need to get for myself -- maybe with grandbaby initials? What do you think? Find it here.

What is Left? Lots!

"Oh, my friend, it's not what they take away from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left." ~Hubert Humphrey

Good advice, especially for those of us who are tired of feeling cranky and put upon. There are things I can't change in life, and I am learning that sometimes I have to deal with things I just plain don't want to. But that's just how life is.

This quote spoke to me and is a concept I'm working on right this minute. The bottom line is that I do have a lot left that I can do a lot with.

I'm trying.

The Original Four Rice Krispie Mascots

Parenting Their Spirits

I've been spending a lot of time thinking and praying about our Primary children this week. I love them so dearly and want only the best for them. I read something on Kristin Armstrong's running blog that really spoke to me and touched me as I pondered on how to make our Primary better. Her comment [she was talking about her own children, but it applies here as well] was that we need to remember that we are not only parenting their bodies, we are parenting their spirits as well.

That really touched me as I applied it to our Primary. I feel the responsiblity of Primary very heavily at times. I know that most of our kiddoes come from spiritual, loving homes but I also know that you never really know what goes in in someone else's private life. So I feel that it's so important to love each one of them as if no one else in the world loves them -- and to feed them, nurture them, and teach them as if Primary is the only place that will happen. As I said, I'm sure their homes are safe, loving places. But you never know. And I feel that need to nurture their spirits.

I pray so often for each of our children and for their teachers. I pray for their families. And I pray for us, the Primary presidency, that we can share our testimonies, our love of the gospel, and our faith with them in such a way that we are reaching far beyond their physical beings. I want our love and nurturing to reach deep into their spirits.

Valentines Wishes

As Natalie has mentioned, I'm a big fan of Valentine's Day. What a great chance to let people know we love them. I love trying to find the perfect little gift, the one thing that someone never expected to receive. I just love it all.

Mark brought me a beautiful vase of white roses, and I have a yummy box of Dove chocolate that Chris, Natalie and the kiddoes gave me. Then a sweet little piano student brought me a box of chocolates as well and another showed up with some lovely white and red tulips. [my favorite!] I feel loved and well remembered. And I think that's what it's all about -- telling the people you love that you do you love them in whatever way you can find.

Happy Valentines day to everyone -- lots of love [and wishes for chocolate!] going out to all of you!

[picture via Paula Becker]

Grone Up Best Friend

Today I had just one piano student -- an 8 year old boy who I have loved ever since I first met him. I love his mom and dad too -- they are a lovely family. So I'm really enjoying every bit of time I get with him, especially one-on-one in a piano lesson setting.

Today after the lesson, the mom sent the kiddoes out to the car and she pulled a sheet of paper from her purse. She had found it in her son's school bag and thought I should have it.

At school, his class had been assigned to write about their goals for 2008. This is exactly what this little boy wrote [in his words and with his spelling]:

"For the year 2008 I have some goals I want to learn. I want to learn how to play piano from my grone up best friend. My dad knows how to play piano too. That's why I want to learn how to play piano. I hope I will have a lot of fun with her at piano. I am exitid!!"

How much do I love it that I got to see this? Totally. I have a box in my closet where I put things that are meaningful to me and when I'm feeling discouraged, I take a few things out and read them and realize that there are people who love me and that I'm OK.

After all, I am a very special 8 year old boy's grone up best friend.

Good Advice

“To keep your marriage brimming,

With love in the loving cup,

Whenever you're wrong, admit it;

Whenever you're right, shut up.”

[Ogden Nash]

And in Holly's words, 'nuff said!