Grateful for...B

I'm not sure what sparked it the other night, but I was getting ready to put The Lime in the bathtub and I started singing "Barbara Ann."  He asked me what I was singing and I told him I'd find the whole song on the iPad and play it for him.  That turned into me playing every Beach Boys song I could find.  He didn't want me to stop.

It reminded me of the many nights, when we were growing up, where my dad would blast The Beach Boys and we'd dance around the living room.

Our old living room

When my sister got married, she didn't go with your traditional daddy/daughter dance song. No, she picked "Barbara Ann" because nothing reminds us of our dad more. Except maybe black Mustangs.

While I had the songs blasting the other night, watching The Lime shake his little body to the beat and pretending to play the guitar, I felt like I was passing on a family tradition. They just don't make music like they used to and I love that The Lime thinks songs that are 50 years old are cool. He especially loved the beginning of "409" which is funny because it's always been one of my favorites, too.

It brings back so many happy memories when I listen to The Beach Boys and I can't wait to make more happy memories that The Lime will remember.

Grateful for...A

I have REALLY loved these last couple of months that I've had the opportunity to do family history and learn more about my ancestors.

While I haven't been able to find too many personal stories, mostly just names and dates, I have learned a little bit more about my mom's side of the family.

I came across my mom's cousin's husband while doing some research on my ancestors and hit the jackpot.  While the husband had lots of the facts, the cousin had actual experiences to share, specifically about my great grandma.

All I was ever told about her was that she wasn't very nice but the cousin was able to give me additional information.

My great great grandmother immigrated to America from Germany in 1891.  She brought her 5 year old daughter with her and married my great great grandfather shortly after arriving.  My great grandmother was born in 1892 and her mother unfortunately passed away two years later.  The now 7 year old sister was sent to Iowa and my great grandmother was taken in by her aunt & uncle/godparents.  I don't know too much about her childhood from that point.  She did marry at the age of 16, which makes me think perhaps things weren't so great.  She then had a daughter who passed away at the age of 5, which again makes me wonder if that's where some of her hostility came from.

My sister had the opportunity to do the temple work for our great grandmother and said she felt nothing but happy, positive feelings - the complete opposite of what we had always been told about her.  I know she's been waiting for this time where she can be sealed to her family but especially her mother and daughter.  I can't even imagine what they're doing on the other side.

Discovering all of this information has made me want to learn as much as I can about my ancestors.  But more importantly, it makes me extremely excited to link us all together and meet them one day.

My great aunt & great grandmother - Santa Clara University - 1950

Halloween Night

I wore my costume all day with nowhere to go.

Krispy Kreme was giving away free doughnuts if you wore a costume but The Lime wanted to go to the doughnut shop where he and Daddy go. Unfortunately, they weren't passing out free doughnuts. Then I suggested we go to Jamba Juice after his nap to get him a free smoothie. Nope, he wanted to wait until it got dark to put on his costume.

Even then, when it got dark, he was in a funk and proclaimed he didn't want to go trick-or-treating and didn't want to celebrate Christmas, either. We were on a roll.

LaVor saved the day by convincing him he did want to go trick-or-treating, sans his bike, while I stuck around the house finishing up dinner before my sister and her family came over.

I was so happy she decided to celebrate with us, considering she had a baby three days prior and was running on zero sleep. The Lime and his cousin have spent three out of their four Halloweens together. I've started a collection of photos, documenting their cute costumes, that hangs in our family room.

We quickly ate dinner and then embarked on The Lime's second round of trick-or-treating. It was cute to see the two of them go up to the door and say "Trick or Treat?" all on their own. They also did an excellent job of saying "thank you" before leaving.

The Lime was mistaken for a boy scout and my niece was asked if she was Little Orphan Annie. Most people got that they were a Ranger and Merida from Brave.

Since Halloween is about dressing up as something you're not, it was only fitting that I be the camper (since I'm not one). I had to remind The Lime that he didn't need to shoot me, just the bears.

That's supposed to be dirt on my face - bronzer + brown eye liner

With candy coming out of our wazoo, we're ready to tackle November.

I Don't Have a Title

Within hours of General Conference ending earlier this month, there were news articles online regarding Elder Oaks and his feelings about marriage, as well as articles about a group of women trying to get into the Priesthood session. In previous years, there were petitions going around about women saying prayers during General Conference. And I believe it was last year that there was a protest of sorts about women wearing skirts and dresses to church.

While everyone is obviously entitled to their own opinions, I don't quite understand the oppression that seems to fuel these protests.

Maybe I don't care about such things, or I'm oblivious to them (like the women praying in Conference...never kept track that only men did it), or I have more important things to worry about. Or, I don't feel like in order to feel loved, appreciated, and equal that I need to hold the priesthood or should wear pants to church.

Never once have I felt like men were more superior at church, more appreciated or valued. Actually, I lie. I did always wish I could go to Scout Camp and do the fun activities they partook in rather than making buttons in crafts at Girls Camp. But that's it.

In fact, I've never had a desire to have the responsibility of the priesthood put on my shoulders. Every time a young man messes up the Sacrament prayer, I think, "So glad I never have to do that." It always makes me sad when a Bishop is called, or Stake President, and the person conducting says, "Kiss your wife goodbye...you won't be sitting next to her for a while." A while translates to 10 years.

The responsibility I am thankful for is that of being a woman and a mother. There are things that I can do that LaVor can't and vice versa, but I don't think either one of us has ever been envious of the other.

This month's visiting teaching message confirmed to me that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me, as a woman, and they want me to reach my potential in being a woman.

The following is taken from the message, "We have been created in God’s image, and we have divine potential. The Prophet Joseph Smith admonished the sisters in Relief Society to 'live up to [their] privilege.'. With that encouragement as a foundation, sisters in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have been taught to live up to their divine potential by fulfilling God’s purposes for them. 'As they come to understand who they really are—God’s daughters, with an innate capacity to love and nurture—they reach their potential as holy women.'"

"'You are now placed in a situation where you can act according to those sympathies which God has planted in your bosoms,' said the Prophet Joseph Smith. 'If you live up to these principles how great and glorious!—if you live up to your privilege, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates.'"

When I went to visit my sister in the hospital, hours after she gave birth, I was greeted by a gorgeous sunset. I couldn't help but think, "Dang! Heavenly Father and Jesus love us!"

President Uchtdorf said, “We are the reason He created the universe! …

“This is a paradox of man: compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God.”

Then I went into her hospital room and witnessed the tiny baby that had just been sent down from heaven. Talk about privileges. Being able to create life and bring an innocent being into the world has got to be our #1 privilege. Where are the men protesting this?

The content of the message is what is important to me. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us so much that they created this world for us to enjoy and appreciate, to come to and be tested, to learn and to grow. We were created in Heavenly Father's image and we are of infinite worth. I don't need to hear a woman say a prayer in General Conference or be granted submission to the Priesthood session to feel valued.

Striving to do good and living up to my potential is my goal, so I can be in the midst of those angels.

Free Speech

My sister seemed to have a new story each week about someone who decided to throw out any filter they might have possessed and freely speak their mind regarding her having a baby. Hardly any of the comments were uplifting and positive but rude and uncalled for. She got to the point where she would respond with a witty comment and catch them completely off guard.

I think she rubbed off on me.

The Lime and I were at the library today, making our way to the entrance. They have one of those handicap buttons you can press for the doors to open automatically, which The Lime likes to take advantage of. He was trying to press the button with his foot but wasn't having any luck, since people kept leaving the library and opening the doors. I told him he could press the button on the way out and tried to get him to follow me. That's when an older man walked up, put his book in the return box and said, "Well maybe if you hadn't been kicking the button, it would have opened." That's when I took The Lime's hand and said to him, "I don't know why people think they can say whatever they want!" The guy totally heard me and turned back around and said something. Unfortunately, I didn't hear him.

I was originally thinking that it has to do with age; apparently the older you get, the more diarrhea exits your mouth. But in my sister's case, she had a wide spectrum of people throwing comments her direction so my theory is out the door.

What makes people think they can comment about other peoples' situation? Is it the free speech thing? I can say whatever I want, no matter how it might make someone feel. And that's true, people can say what they want. Maybe I feel like the person is stepping into my business, where they don't belong. Maybe it's a combination of them being rude and annoying.

I'm particular about who enters my bubble, whether it be physically or with words. I think things in my head all the time but would never dare say it outloud, mostly because of the fear of getting shot or beat up but also because I wouldn't want to hurt their feelings!

But if someone is thick skinned enough to say it to me, I'm hoping they're thick skinned enough to have it returned.

Unless they're pregnant. Then just don't say anything.

An Explanation

I feel like I need to explain why I keep making our blog private, then public, private, and once again public.

If you look to the right of this post, you'll see a widget. Janelle is LaVor's cousin, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in August. To say it was a shock to her, her family, and everyone else is a complete understatement. She is a healthy young woman who leads an exceptional lifestyle, you would think lung cancer was the last thing that would plague her. But like mentioned in previous posts, cancer doesn't care who you are, what you look like, what your profession is, how many kids you have, nothing.

In the last two months, so many miracles have taken place and I know more blessings will come Janelle's way. Her positive attitude is going to help her win this battle, as well as the support of her amazing family and wonderful friends.

Within a couple of weeks, people have generously donated over $3,000 towards the cost of Janelle's treatment. The donations will be open for two more months and I plan to keep my blog public for that time. The more people that hear about her story, the more lives she'll be able to touch, and hopefully more people will be prompted to donate what they can to ensure she lives a long, full life.

For those of you in Utah, there will be a fundraiser for Janelle on November 30. If you are able to donate items to the raffle or have any questions, please e-mail janellesfight@gmail.com.

Trunk or Treat

The Lime has been waiting all month for Halloween.  Poor thing...especially since it's the last day of a long month.  We've had all of the components for his costume but they've had to stay hidden in my closet or they would have been worn daily.  I'm not for letting kids wear their costumes ahead of time...totally takes away the excitement of Halloween day, in my opinion.

Anyway, when I told him we were having a party at church and he'd get to wear his costume BEFORE Halloween, he could hardly stand it.  He got dressed a couple hours before we had to leave and I've got to admit, he was the cutest park ranger I had ever seen.

After we went camping this summer, and he saw what a park ranger was, he was adamant about being that for Halloween.  So we gathered a pair or olive green pants from Target, a khaki shirt from the thrift store, a ranger hat from the Halloween store, and a couple extra dress up props for accessories to complete the ensemble.

The ranger checking out our site

Our ward did a chili & corn bread dinner before the trunk or treating, as well as a few carnival games for the kids.  Thank goodness my parents came and filled up two extra seats at our table.  I can't quite figure out if it's 100% us or the people in our ward, but we have yet to click with anyone.  The only time someone came up to talk to us was when they asked if someone was using the extra chairs.  I've heard it takes two years before you feel comfortable in a ward.  If that's so, this is going to be a dreadful year and a half.  But that's for another blog post.

Omi, Lucifer, The Lime, & GrandPop

I had decorated our trunk like a campsite, including a fire, sleeping bag, backpack, and dutch oven (which held the candy).  The Lime thought it was pretty cool that he could fit in the trunk and even asked if he could sleep in it that night.  I think I remember an episode of Rescue 911 where a kid got locked in a car trunk.  I shot down his wish real quick.

Snug as a bug in a rug

Once the trunk or treating began, we only got through about a quarter of the cars before The Lime said he was done and wanted to go back to our car.  "What?!?!  There is NOT enough candy for the three of us to share," I thought.  He took a lengthy break and wanted to go again but unfortunately, a lot of people ran out of candy at that point, including us.  He still got plenty of candy that he's been sneaking ever since. 

His candy bag now resides in my closet, next to his costume, until Thursday when we'll hopefully get lots of Bottle Caps for Daddy, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups for me, and Dum Dums for The Lime.