Mother's Day

To all the mothers that read this, welcome! I thank you, I salute you and I definitely respect you. It takes a lot to be a mother. I'm not one myself, but I've watched my own mother through the years and have seen the many sleepless nights, tear soaked shirts and sacrifices that came with it. So with that in mind, Happy Mother's Day!

How many of us know our mothers? Do we have a relationship with her? Do we truly appreciate her and treat her with the utmost respect that she so richly deserves?

Honestly, I wish I could answer "Yes, of course! All the time!" But if I did, the Lord better strike me with the biggest lightning bolt He has, because I'd be lying through my teeth. Like many of us, I was the bratty teenager that spoke and treated my mother like she was the dog instead of the woman that gave birth and raised me. That acted in ways that really should have gotten me slapped. Now, that I am older, I have gained a fuller appreciation for my mother, not just in her role, but as a person. As a beloved daughter of God. I also treasure the things she taught me. She has taught me a love for God and family. To have charity for others.

President Gordon B. Hinckley once said: "How much more beautiful would be the world and the society in which we live if every mother regarded her children as the jewels of her life, as gifts from the God of Heaven, who is their Eternal Father, and brought them up in true affection in wisdom and admonition of the Lord." 

Almost every mother I've ever spoken to has told me that her children are her most prized possessions, that they are the joys of her life. My mother included. It's a wonderful feeling, knowing that the most important person in your life loves you more than herself. That she would do anything for you. That's a feeling I hope my children will one day feel. Knowing that their mother loves them with every fiber of her being. If my children could feel that and become the best they can be, my life would be worth everything.

President Thomas S. Monson said this: "May each of us remember this truth; 'one cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God.' Why? Because  these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one."

I love this quote because it speaks of the sacredness of women and motherhood. That women are divine. I can see that.

And then we often have surrogate mothers. The ones that are not our mothers in the biblical sense, but still treat us like we're one of her own. She encourages us, spoils us, gives us a "come to Jesus" talk when needed and never gives up or stops loving us... anyone who has such a woman in their lives is blessed beyond measure. My surrogate mother has been one of my greatest influences. She may not know it, but she has helped me through many storms with just the knowledge of her being a mere phone call away. Like my own mother, I have come to rely on her counsel, her opinion and especially her actions, and these help to mold the character I have today. Because I have at least two amazing women in my life.

I would of course be remiss if I didn't also dedicate today to the aunts in our lives. Like many, I have a few aunts hanging at my end of the family tree. All different, all wonderful. The aunts I have been blessed with have all touched my life in the best of ways. They have taught me about beauty, confidence and the importance of being myself. I don't know how my life would have shaped if I didn't have close relationships I have with them.

There is a poem that I see circulate the web once in awhile that has always made me think of my aunts with a grin:

Only an Aunt....

Can give hugs like a mother,

Keep secrets like a sister, 

And share love like a friend.

That's an aunt in a nutshell, wouldn't you say?

And then you have the grandmothers.These wise women that help raise us and teach us important things about life. My grandmother, Gwen taught me to read and introduced me to Opera and Classical music. She inspired me in learning music and drawing. Sadly, she died when I was very young, but her memory is still there. I have two other fantastic grandmothers that have taught me about humility, compassion and patience. It's still easier said than done for me, but they haven't given up on me yet.

I'll admit that I don't know much about motherhood, there's a lot to child-raising that I don't understand. But I do understand this much; it is a sacred responsibility that should be treated with respect and care. Respect your mothers, my dear readers. It takes a lot of time and energy to raise a person right. It's because of my mother that I do my best and I treat people like the Savior tells us to. Because I would never want to cause negative reflection on my goodly mother.

Happy Mother's Day, mothers. Thank you for your sacrifices and your raising of these precious spirits of God. You are blessed to have the opportunity. God be with you. Christ be with you.


ke7ejx.

Autumn Pleasures

I love Autumn...

I love the colours of the leaves as they turn from green to reds and yellows and browns.

I love the fresh crisp air when I go on morning walks.

I love the smell of burning wood that comes from the chimneys of homes near me.

I love being able to wear my favourite sweaters and be perfectly warm.

I love the seasonal recipes filled with warmth and safety.

I love the sound of the wind singing at night.

I love sinking into a hot bath after a long walk.

I love raking the fallen leaves into a huge pile and falling back into it like I did as a child.

These are the simple pleasures that I enjoy every year. The things that make each Autumn precious to me. I'll admit that I tend to busy myself with the less important things and forget the more meaningful. I believe there's a cliché that states we should stop to smell the roses. Easier said than done in today's day and age. We are all so busy with our everyday lives that we forget to slow down and enjoy things, most especially the little and simplistic things.

Maybe it's time to change that. These are uncertain times for the world and we never know what lies ahead. We also never know when we will be in our final day, and I know this also sounds cliché, but we must make the most of it. Let's all slow down a bit and enjoy the simple things.

Here's a small writing titled 'Brief Pleasures' for your reading pleasures:

• Splitting a hunk of cedar into perfect fragrant strips of kindling on a crisp autumn day and stacking it in neat piles.
• A sudden overwhelming awareness of the goodness of another person.
• Looking up a word in the dictionary and getting sidetracked by another word. In 1932 Webster's, in the list of New Words, one finds flivverboob: driver of a flivver.
• The sound made by a tennis ball when it smacks the sweet spot.
• Making a delicious and nutritious dinner that costs next to nothing.
• A cool hand on a fevered brow.
• The smell of wood smoke in my hair and clothes after and evening with friends around a beach fire.
• The lightness you feel after a long, snowy winter when you get up one morning and you don't have to put on long underwear.
• Being asked just the right question by a friend who knows what it is you really want to talk about and opens the way for you.
• Fanning out a bridge hand, finding it full of faces and aces and smiling inside while keeping a straight face.
• The momentary ruby flash of a hovering sunlit humming bird against green trees after a spring rain.
• Having the whole family in one bed on a Sunday morning.
• Climbing into cold sheets after a hot bath.
• The smell of dusty sidewalks after a spring rain, carrying so many exciting aromas I can imagine for a moment what it must be like to have a dog's nose.
• The first ride from the airport in a taxi in a strange city halfway around the world late in the evening.
• Peeling the wax off a round of cheese.

~ Autumn section from Simple Pleasures: Soothing Suggestions and Small Comforts for Living Well Year Round

Here's to a happy Autumn. Have fun with family and friend. And keep the pumpkin pie coming until you can't look at it until next Autumn!

ke7ejx.

Ode to Our Spiritual Seas

I'm on vacation at the coast but am unable to attend church, so I was able to enjoy the blessings of going to www.byutv.org and watch a worship service. The speakers gave sermons on enduring to the end and using our spiritual gifts. It's wonderful to feel the spirit and worship my Creator, even when I am not in the loving arms of my ward family.

 As I listen to the talks I look out the window at the sea and I feel a sense of awe and humility. John Keats, the English poets once penned; “Oh, ye! who have your eyeballs vexed and tired, feast them upon the wideness of the Sea!” I agree with him on this. The sea is wide and deep, just like the everlasting gospel. There are many depths that the teaching can take us, so long as we are willing to take the plunge and when we immerse ourselves, our eyes feast and the banquet is fulfilling.

I love how soothing it is to watch the waves and hear the low roar that the water utters. I like the deceiving calmness that belies what lies under the surface; the beautiful, the strange, the enticing, and the lethal.... kind of reminds you of life, doesn't it? We are naturally drawn to beauty, and repulsed by ugliness.. and Satan knows this. This is why he likes to draw us close to him and is able to do things. Eve was lured to the apple first and foremost, because it looked tantalizing and delicious, and one thing lead to another and we know what happened from there. The same things happened to Mary Magdalene and Judas and Paul.....Satan tricked them into believing the things they did were acceptable, even praiseworthy...but I think we can say “April Fools!” But it's also a sign of God's grace, because he can save us from the underlying dangers and the currents that can carry us until we are lost forever. We just have to cling onto Him and know that His forgiveness and love will be there through every storm.

Anyway those are my thoughts on the spiritual side. The sea air is refreshing and while I ponder the mysteries of the Creator and what lessons can be taught, I can enjoy the fact that I can relax and watch the shows and catch the occasional whale and boat.

 

While I look out on the horizon, a favourite poem plays through my mind and I'll conclude my post with it for your reading pleasure:

HERE

Surrounding the island

There's sea.

But what sea?

It's always overflowing.

Says yes,

Then no,

Then no again,

And no,

Says yes

In blue

In sea spray

 Raging

Says no

And no again.

It can't be still.

It stammers

My name is sea.

It slaps the rocks

And when they aren't convinced,

Strokes them

And soaks them

And smothers them with kisses.

With seven green tongues

Of seven green dogs

Or seven green tigers

Or seven green seas,

Beating its chest,

Stammering its name,

Oh Sea,

This is your name.

Oh comrade ocean,

Don't waste time

Or water

Getting so upset

Help us instead.

We are meager fishermen,

Men from the shore

Who are hungry and cold

And you're our foe.

Don't beat so hard,

Don't shout so loud,

Open your green coffers,

Place gifts of silver in our hands.

Give us this day our daily fish.

~ Ode to the Sea

ke7ejx. 

Education Reform and a Major Digress into Politics

For today's post I'm going to swerve out of spiritual and into political for a moment. Normally I don't do this and will unlikely do so again. But, JB (see my Personal Challenge post) posted the following on his Facebook page concerning Mitt Romney's plan for Education Reform, which is near and dear to my heart as a future Oregon teacher. I wrote a response which according to OpenOffice.org is over a page long which is far too long for Facebook's limits, so I am posting it here. His dissertation is called White Paper: A Chance For Every Child . Bon Appetite!

I think it has merit. I like that he plans to give more power and recognition to the teachers, because those teachers really work their backsides off. I was getting classroom experience as part of my degree program in Secondary Ed. and I was staying in the classroom with my mentoring teacher until late at night discussing problems and solution as well as grading the work that came in, often after the due dates. Thankfully, things started improving until 80% of our students passed with a D or higher.

I also agree that funds need to go back to the classrooms. It's amazing to see the administrators turn down requests from teachers that would help all the students, especially the minority students. It was usually turned down because it's "economically prohibitive". And if that's just happening in places other than my district, it's no wonder American education is going down the pot. If the teachers are not able to reach to every student, that teacher will fail.

I had to smile at Bro. Romney's words on page 9 when he said "In defense of the failed system, unions spend hundreds of millions of dollars to curry the favor of political leaders." That sounds about right. I understand the need for unions, but they're becoming more of a hindrance than a help anymore. Maybe it's time to get rid of them, reform them...I don't know. But they're definitely more interested in the interests of the leaders of the unions and where they stand in the country than taking care of the teachers.

I especially liked his proposal of keeping every school open to cater to any student that wishes to study there, instead of trapping the students in schools that do nothing about their failures because of where they live and how many students are suppose to be in each institution. By giving the parents and child(ren) a choice and to be more proactive in their education with prepare them in the long run for college and every other factor in their lives.

And then there are colleges. Most of my classmates have taken out thousands in college loans and by graduation, they're sweating bullets because now they have to start paying the loans back...and with today's job economy, that's a problem. And tuition just gets higher and higher. If Mitt Romney is able to  to tackle this problem and make college achievable, not to mention finish able, he'll have my vote without question in the next election.

As I looked through his reform proposals, I really cannot help but be impressed with his vision. He plans to give power back to parents and their students, by keeping everyone involved, and able to make a more informed decision in order to give these students the best education that they so richly deserve. And not just the average students, but the student that have what we like to call “special needs”, they're even going to have a stake in education improvement. I applaud this part of the plan because it puts the ball in the parent's court, which is where it belongs in the first place!


The bottom line is this: less spending on the stuff that doesn't matter, keeping the parents involved, making education much more affordable, and maintaining a high standard that will reproduce success.

Because let's face it, we're a first world country, but we have a third world education. Our students are behind most European countries due to the lack of proper education and eventually it will kill our country's foundation when the younger generations don't have the tools to succeed in life.

I'm a Mormon

Most of my LDS readers know of the 'I'm A Mormon' campaign. I heard of it last summer and watched some of the videos and I found it rather touching to read and see the testimonies of fellow believers. In my YSA branch we were all encouraged to make our own Ad. Here's mine: I Am A Mormon

For my Non-LDS readers who haven't heard of this campaign, I would strongly encourage you to check these out. Even if you don't agree with our beliefs, I think you'll learn many things and feel inspired to look at your beliefs. It is an amazing opportunity to share your beliefs with others and it makes you grow as a disciple of Christ, no matter what religion you belong to. So, go ahead, give it a look. Feel free to post questions, comments and I'll get back to you as quickly as possible.

God be with you. Christ be with you.


ke7ejx.

Penny Morse July 1996- February 2012

We were very excited when Mom brought you home that September. You were a tiny white fur ball with freshly grown spots. Brother and I argued constantly over who got to hold and cuddle you. Then we debated over what we were to call you. It was decided a name from 101 Dalmatian should be chosen. Brother wanted to call you Pongo despite you being a baby girl. I wanted to call you Purdy or Lucky. Mom settled the argument by choosing Penny which she found in one of our Dalmatian colouring books. That's what we finally agreed to call you. You were officially a member of the family.

  

You quickly settled in our home. We would rush home after school so that we could play with you. We would hide in another room and call your name so that you would sprint to where our voices rang to jump onto our laps and lick our giggling faces. You loved running and playing in the yard. You especially loved it when we'd throw your toys for you to fetch. It was always fun watching you chew on your dad's shoes and then lay in them because you were that small and his feet were that big. I think you loved dad most of all. And then our sister came that October. I don't think you knew what to do at first with another baby in the house. But you eventually adapted.

Even as a puppy you were so spunky. You were determined to show us what a Dalmatian puppy is all about. You enjoyed going on long walks and short walks. As you grew up, it became less clear on who was was walking whom. You loved table scraps, and if you couldn't charm us into giving you tidbits, you were very clever in waiting until you could steal it. When you were hungry or wanted a snack before bed, you would flip your food dish and send it clattering across the floor.

As the years went by, you went through stages of growth. By the time you were four, you made it clear that it would be a one dog house. You never liked baths, but you loved swimming, especially if your dad threw the toy towards the ducks. You went on all of our vacations. You also seem to love kicking mom out of bed. You hated the kennel place and would freak out if we ever passed it on the road. Mom and I took pleasure out of teasing you for it. At home, you were so funny whenever you pass gas. Apparently, they were pretty bad for even you, because you'd look at the nearest person, growl at them and walk away. You would run around and play while I clean up your residue in the back yard, and would make sure to make a fresh one when I finish the rest. You loved laying on the sofa in front of the fire. And every holiday when we have a nice supper, you always eagerly awaited your plate of treats and then would sneak a few extras from a few of us at the table. You loved it when we moved out into the country. Walking through the BLM land became a routine and you enjoyed running around and chasing the critters.

  

  In the last couple of years, your pace has slowed down, but you've still enjoyed life. The fire never left you and you still kept the spunk and spark to the very end. Now, maybe you can go back to chasing critters and never tire, and eat meat without breaking out. We love you, baby girl and we'll miss you. Goodbye, my sister.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow......

Okay which schmuck did the snow dance? Anybody? It's time to fess up..... my dad thinks our Dachshund did it. I'm not so sure..... I sure didn't....

This is what I woke up to......

That would be six inches of snow.....

                                              

Bend's Winter Wonderland   

"Though the weather outside is frightful..."

 "Walking in a Winter Wonderland...."

I forgot zoom was on but I like the expression in my eyes that it captured

     Anyone else thinking this snow flurry is two months late?

                                     

This is your chilly photographer....

...... Signing off......

Everyone be safe and enjoy the white powdery, er, stuff. Have an awesome day!


ke7ejx.