Happy Mother's Day

"Grown don't mean nothing to a mother. A child is a child. They get bigger, older, but grown? What's that supposed to mean? In my heart, it don't mean a thing." ~Toni Morrison, Beloved, 1987

I can hardly believe that it's nearly Mother's Day again. How the time is flying! And since I just returned from an actual, in-person visit with my own mama, I'm feeling so grateful for the her and the way I was raised. She was and is wonderful and I'm so thankful for her. But just like everyone else in this world, I have many other mothers in my life as well.

As I said, I have a fabulous mother and I have a great mother-in-law. I have an aunt who I love dearly and who meant [and still means, even though she passed away] the world to me. I still miss her. I have a daughter and a daughter-in-law who are now mamas themselves, and have become treasured friends of mine. And I have friends whose lives I fit into as a 'mama' figure in some small ways.

But am I less of a mother because my children are grown? I don't think so. In my heart [just as Toni Morrison said], nothing has changed. They are still my children and I love them, pray for them, worry about them and want nothing but happiness and great blessings for them.

And now, because of these beloved children, I have been given the gift of grandma-hood. What a blessing! No, I am not their mother. I know that. But I am grandma -- and it's a mothering role as well, I think. I love the role -- unconditional loving.

And that's what Mamas are all about, right?!

Happy Mother's Day to all my favorite mamas!

Lesson from a 3 year old

"There are so many disciplines in being a parent besides the obvious ones like getting up in the night and putting up with noise during the day. And almost the hardest of all is learning to be a well of affection and not a fountain, to show them we love them, not when we feel like it, but when they do." ~Nan Fairbrother

I'm not a full-time parent anymore, but I do have three children, two in-laws and five beautiful grandchildren. So my life is full, busy and happy as I am involved with my loved ones and the things happening in their lives.

So, the story is this. Yesterday as I was playing with Mason he looked at me and said, "Grandma, stop talking. You talk too much!" And I have to say that I was the teensiest little bit insulted -- probably because I know I do. I was the kid who got the notes from the teachers [year after year] saying, "She is a good student, but she talks too much." My husband says the reason he is so quiet is simple self-defense. [?!] And there are times when I give myself a headache with all my talking and want myself to shut up. So I swallowed my [ever-so-slightly hurt] feelings, looked back at him and said, "OK, Mason, I will stop talking now," and was quiet for a minute. And of course, he didn't really want that -- and what I learned from his sad little reaction is that he needed to know that his Grandma loved him, even if he told her she talked too much. He wanted me to be that well of affection.

So I grabbed him, rolled around on the floor with him, hugged him and kissed him and tickled him and reassured him that all was well in his world and Grandma did love him, even if he thought she talked too much -- and made sure that he knew that at the point in time when he needed to know it.

The lesson? That we all need to be loved. Whether we talk too much or not. Whether we tell our Grandmas to be quiet or not. Constant, unconditional love matters most.

Sweet Treat

So in the midst of much dental work [dental implants - -and I'll tell you, it's an extended procedure, so don't believe anything you see on TV about 'get your implants in one day' because it just doesn't happen that way], there was a bright little interlude this morning. While I was at my wonderful dentist's office, Natalie was at the doc with Simon [for his 6 mo. check up! how did that happen?!] and we were able to meet up after [timing is everything, right?] at KC Donuts for a quick breakfast of breakfast tacos, maple donuts [my personal favorite], drinks and donut holes for dessert. Who knew you could have dessert with breakfast, anyhow? And that it would be so good?!

What a treat!! Great company, fabulous food, and dessert for breakfast. Nothin' better than that.

But I must admit that the only walking I did in conjunction with this was from the dentist's office to the donut place -- 30 second walk. If that. Sigh.

But it was worth it! So yummy.

Home Again

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old familiar pillow." ~Lyn Utang

I'm back. I had a lovely week [excluding the snow, of course!] with my mom, dad, sister and nephews [and niece-in-law too!]. It was great to be back where I grew up and to spend time with loved ones. The travel was smooth, the visits were great, the shopping was fun, the food was yummy, and the carry-on was full on the way back.

It was wonderful to have the visits and the time with family, and fun to drive back by the home I grew up in. I always hate leaving my mom, dad and sister when time runs out, but it's also wonderful to come back to where home is for me now. It's hard to have your heart divided that way, for sure.

It feels good to be back in my own home again.

And no snow!

*[actual picture of Lethbridge snow, just not taken by me. Thanks, Flickr!]

Goin' Home

Always fun to see this as you drive into Lethbridge -- welcome home!

Ric's Grill -- when I was a kid it was a water tower. Amazing what can be done - -now it's a fun place to eat and look out over the city.

Henderson Lake - only a few blocks from where I grew up.

The Letbhridge High Level Bridge

"It takes hands to build a house, but only hearts can build a home." ~Author Unknown

Tomorrow morning, way too early, I'll be at the airport, heading home. First to Dallas, then on to Calgary and then a 2 hour drive to Lethbridge Alberta, where I grew up. It always feels strange to go back home now because my parents no longer live in the familiar, comfortable home where I spent the first 18 years of my life. But it's interesting to discover how little it matters -- because home is where they are and where my sister and family are.

I'm excited to have time with my mom and dad, as well as my sister Val who will be spending most of the week with us in Lethbridge.

And I"m taking special orders for Canadian candy. Who's in?? Submit your lists ASAP!

Back next week.

Pinewood Derby

So this week, I attended our ward's Pinewood Derby. The first thing I have to admit is that as a Cub Scout mom [many years ago], I was not supportive, nor did I enjoy the Pack Meetings and all the [dorky] stuff that goes on there. Think 'round-of-applause' or 'watermelon cheer' and you'll probably be able to relate. I hated those things.

More, I hated the Pinewood Derby experience. It seemed to me then that way too much time and emphasis was put on sculpting this dumb block of wood, weighing it, working on the tires, etc. etc. etc. And then when the actual race happened, mostly our racers came in dead last. I can't say I enjoyed it and what I can say is that I was pretty cranky about it all. More than anything, I hated seeing the dads really take it way too seriously. This was for the boys, right?!

But as I sat at our ward's Derby this week, I was struck by how much work those boys and dads had put into those cars, how excited they all were, and then, how they cheered each other on. When one of the first cars lost a wheel on its first run, the boys were all there assuring the owner that it could be put right back on and all would be well.

Mostly, what these Cub Scout activities are supposed to do is provide specific opportunities for parents to do things with their children. Fun things.

And it was!!

Spring is Here!

"If you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment."~Georgia O'Keefe

I love arriving home and seeing my front flower bed [which only contains roses -- beautiful!] all in bloom. The colors and fragrances just make me smile. I do love spring!

Easter Musings

"If Easter says anything to us today, it says this: You can put truth in a grave, but it won't stay there. You can nail it to a cross, wrap it in winding sheets, and shut it in a tomb, but it will rise!" ~Clarence W. Hall

I am doing Sharing Time this Sunday, and because it is Easter Sunday, I have been thinking hard about how to present the Easter message to the children. In many ways, it's a hard story to contemplate. I remember as a child really wondering how people could treat Jesus the way they did. It was hard for me to understand that what happened had to happen, that Jesus knew it and was willing to do what it took -- for us. Just for us.

With all those feelings running through my mind, the bottom line is that I'm overwhelmed with gratitude. For Him, for His courage, His willingness, and the incomparable, transcendent gift He gave each of us by paying the ultimate price.

Truth may have gone into the grave, but how thankful I am that it didn't stay there.

[picture by Del Parson]

Conference Thought

"Every time in my life when I have chosen to delay following inspired counsel or decided that I was an exception, I came to know that I had put myself in harm's way. Every time that I have listened to the counsel of prophets, felt it confirmed in prayer, and then followed it, I have found that I moved toward safety. Along the path, I have found that the way had been prepared for me and the rough patches made smooth. God led me to safety along a path which was prepared with loving care, sometimes prepared long before." ~Elder Henry B. Eyring, May 1997 Ensign, p. 25

I'm so thankful for the chance to pause in my normal Sunday routine and to sit and listen to the apostles and prophets. They do know what our Father in Heaven has in store for us, and I know that He will lead us to safety. All we have to do is to listen and to follow.

Happy Conference weekend!

The Snuggie

Just given the fact that Miss Maya has been enamored of the Snuggie ever since she saw one on TV, these caught my eye -- and provided a good laugh, two days in a row.