Growing

January is done. Over. Gone.

January was a month of growth. Little son turned five. He is not the four-est any more. Now, he is the five-est. And we love having a five year old around the house again. Now begins registration for Kindergarten. What will I do without my little shadow and talk-box around all the time? Good thing I don't have to worry about that til July.

January was also a month of running all over the place. And soccer. And meetings. And events. A month of only a few seconds to catch my breath before I was off to the next calendared event.

So far, it seems like February is up to the challenge. It has sprinted out of the starter blocks and looks to give January a run for its money. And already, good things have happened. And I am feeling blessed beyond anything I deserve.

I grew in January- and shrunk. I left a few more pounds behind and felt my spirit bulging. I love that feeling. I was fortunate enough to sit in on a number of powerful meetings and felt my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ expand. I had some amazing insights as I studied from the scriptures and pondered on the application in my life, today. And of course, the husband and I grew together as we discovered how to be the best parents we can be. I love being married to this man! How did one girl ever get so lucky?

In January I learned some new things about myself. It was a month of self-discovery. A month of reflecting upon who I am and who I truly want to be.

January was a month of re-dedication to my church responsibilities and a month of added inspiration as to how to go about serving in the best way I can that will benefit those I associate with in my responsibilities. I am excited about what I have learned and where I have been directed. Good things are ahead. I can feel it.

January is over. Gone.

Thank you, January for teaching me that I want to look back at the close of each month this year and find that I have grown. (and shrunk)

Pioneers and New Years

Kinda feeling a little pouty and sad for the pioneers today. They didn't have Pandora to listen to when they were washing their petticoats and stuff. I totally don't have petticoats, but I have Pandora. And because of it, I can listen to all the a Capella my little heart can handle while I wash my dishes. I heart a Capella music. A whole lot. Or, when I'm feeling extra rockerish, I could listen to something really hard core. While I scrub my toilets or whatever.

How lucky are we to live in the 2011s?

Speaking of 2011, I have a good feeling about it. I think this year is going to rock. I even have a theme for the year. Or a motto. Or whatever you wanna call it. It's good. Ready for it?

Love Deeper

Work Harder

Smile Longer

Share More

It's a good one for me. It encompasses many of the things that I have been focusing on lately. Plus, I so need to improve myself. Lots.

I prolly should have it cut out on vinyl. And stick it on my wall in true Mormon fashion. Because, I'm Mormon (did ya know?) and that's what we do. Wouldn't it look good? I know.

I think the pioneers had mottos. They would have to. How else would they keep their chins up with all those petticoats and bloomers they had to wash? By hand. With no Pandora.

Do you have a motto slash theme for 2011?

Reaching the Summit

Sitting in Sacrament Meeting this afternoon, I was momentarily distracted by a little blond flash of a child who was intent on making it to the stairs by the pulpit, presumably to climb them and do whatever he pleased once he reached the top.

Predictably, he was followed by a taller blond flash of a mother who scooped him up moments before he summited. Crushing his dreams, they made the long walk back up the aisle to their original seats.

A few minutes later, there was that little flash of blond. This time a bit quicker and more determined to reach his goal. Yet, once again, he was thwarted as his red-faced father hoisted him up and returned him to his assigned seat.

I can only imagine the mother and father moments before- the mother directing the father to collect that little blond flash, since she had already met her blond-flash-gathering quota for the day.

This caused me to ponder as to why children have been since the beginning of time and will be until the end of days, so resolute in their attempts at escaping the clutches of their parents during Sacrament Meeting and rushing to the wonder that is the pulpit of the chapel.

As I thought about it, I came to the conclusion that the pulpit holds such mystery for children because they are perceptive enough to know that during Sacrament Meeting, the attention of the congregation is focused on that very spot.

(Plus, the pulpit is the home of the magical microphone. And what child has never dreamed of putting their tiny lips right up on that microphone so that all in attendance will be privy to what they have on their mind?)

And my thoughts hovered around the focus of the congregation. And the pulpit as the target of our focus. And the pulpit as a symbol of the Savior and the gospel. I began to think of my children and the days that they attempted an escape to the pulpit. They knew that I was focusing my attention on that pulpit.

Do they know where my attention is focused today? Do they know that my focus is on the Savior? On the husband? On our marriage? The gospel? Them? Serving others?

Or do they see me on the computer or involved in other vain pursuits and think that is my focus? Which will they choose to rush to?

I am grateful for today. And for that reminder. Because I have resolved to refine my focus. I want my children to see that I am focused on the Savior. And the husband. Our marriage. The gospel. Them. Serving others. I can imagine the direction it will give them.

I want my children to reach that summit.

Tune In Tuesday

You came!

I hope you are willing to share your

General Conference Gems

for

Tune in Tuesday.

Will you?

I'll start.

Wasn't it an amazing conference? I loved it. From the moment it started on Saturday.

Saturday my favorite talks were Elder Oaks and Elder Bednar. Both I am determined to go back and study more in-depth. But, I am sorry that I didn't take notes. I don't know why I didn't. But, I did on Sunday. And so glad I did. Because I am prepared to share specifics from Sunday's conference. Actually, I'm prepared to share the goals I have set as a result of conference.

President Eyring quoted a favorite Primary song- I'm Trying to be Like Jesus. And it reminded me that I should be doing just that- everyday. Trying to be like Jesus and following in His ways.

He also talked about marriage and companions. And it reminded me that I need to pray for my sweet husband more.

Elder Perry talked about the pioneers and their dedication to building temples. And it reminded me that my home can compare to the temple in sacredness. And if my home is going to compare to the temple, I better get busy building it. (metaphorically speaking)

Sister Dibb referred to Lehi's Dream and the Iron Rod. And I thought of the dream and the scriptures and the actual terms used in describing the people in the dream. Some of them were clinging to the rod, while others were holding fast. I paused to consider the difference between clinging and holding fast. Clinging seems desperate and fleeting and slipping and in danger of letting go. Holding fast seems fixed and determined and converted. Hold fast to the iron rod.

I loved how Elder Nelson talked about how we can access information from heaven without hardware, software or monthly access fees. Really- Heavenly Father is cutting edge in technology. Access His power more often and more sincerely. It's free.

President Monson talked about how one man's father asked him daily, "What did you do for someone today?" My children are excited about discussing this every evening. And placing warm fuzzies in our jar for each kind act rendered.

Elder Holland's passionate testimony of the Book of Mormon spoke to me in a way that no testimony has in a long time. I know this book is truth. I can study deeper.

I have resolved to frequently biopsy my changed heart to be sure that it is not in danger of rejection. I was grateful for Elder Renlund's honest story of when he worked Sundays and consciously chose to miss church on one particular Sunday.

These are just some of the resolutions prompted by listening to the Lord's servants. I'm grateful for personal inspiration.

One final thing:

Bishop Burton mentioned Peter Pan in his talk. Immediately little son's attention was grabbed. He said, "Mom, he talked about Peter Pan! And Peter Pan lives with the Lost Boys!"

Once Bishop Burton had concluded his talk, little son said, "That was a good talk about Peter Pan. But he didn't talk about Captain Hook."

I suspect he did, if only little son knew what to listen for.

Now it's your turn. Won't you please share with us some of your impressions from General Conference?

Catching Up

And so a new year is underway. The husband, the children and I have returned home from a two week holiday in Utah. It was wonderful. Full of everything that is Christmas: family, friends, food, snow, gifts, time, games, tears, and travel. (Sorry I never told you we were headed to Utah- I just didn't want the neighborhood hooligans wreaking havoc on my home while we were away. You know... because I'm pretty sure they read my blog.)

For me it ended too soon. For the children it ended too soon. And for the husband, who was faced with grown-up tasks (ones that should never, ever have to happen) at the office on Monday- it ended way too soon.

So now let me point out that I incorporated the word for the day in that last paragraph. Let me explain. Growing up, my mom would often tell us, "The word for the day is (insert word)..." in an attempt to educate her little family and expand their vocabulary.

A number of Christmases ago, she presented each of my brothers and sisters and me with a small spiral-bound book entitled Plentiful Platitudes. This little treasure contains uplifting and inspiring quotations and anecdotes from various notable people. The second half of the book is filled with 365 vocabulary words- one for each day of the year- complete with definitions and sample sentences. My loving mother took the time to sit at her computer and type out this entire manual- and search out every quote and word for the day. And we all appreciate it.

And the word for the day, January 6, is:

epistrophe (i-PIS-truh-fee) noun

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

[From Greek epistrophe, from epi- (upon) + strophe (turning).]

the ending of phrases with the same term.

"If women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work... their families will flourish."

And so you will note that I incorporated the word for the day by repeating the phrase ended too soon in the aforementioned paragraph. Go me! Right, Mom?

Anyway, Mom, yes- I still read from Plentiful Platitudes. And it still helps me. And I think I am smarter because you took the time to do this for us. Props.

Perhaps I will be able to recap my Christmas holiday at a later time, but for now, I just want to offer a huge Thank You to my parents, who this year, surpassed any gift they have ever given to us children before. And I can't wait to receive volume 2 for Christmas 2009. My parents gave us each another spiral-bound book. But this time it contains their life histories leading up to the day they met. And a promise of "To Be Continued..." (Mom and Dad, you know we are holding you to that, right?)

It was a gift that brought tears to my eyes as the husband opened it and read the preface. It is gold to me. And I am thankful they took the time to sit and type out their histories in their own words, with their own personalities reflected on paper.

I stayed up late Christmas night devouring it. Many of the stories I have heard before- and I was surprised to discover many stories that were unfamiliar. And when the children awoke the next morning I shared some of my favorite tidbits with them. And the children have loved discovering that their grandparents were once young and shared some of their same interests.
It is a gift that has given me pause to consider the history I am writing daily. I have a chance to determine today what I will write as history in the future. And so, as I recall the goals the husband and I discussed on our journey home from Utah, I realize that

2009 is Mine!
(this is my theme for the year- thought up on the spot.
I think it's pretty good.)

It is mine to do with what I will. Mine to determine the type of mother I will be, the type of friend, the type of daughter, the type of servant, the type of wife.

I want to be a mother who is a success, a friend who is a success, a daughter who is a success, a servant who is a success, a wife who is a success.

I think I just had an epistrophe.