Here I am at the beginning of my goal and I've already forgotten to post the first day! I didn't forget to serve, though.
I made cookies for some friends who visited us in the hospital Friday night. Our baby had a fever of 104 so we took him up to the ER and some friends came up to offer support in the form of a priesthood blessing and chocolate. I wanted to go visit Sunday evening but they weren't going to be home so I took the cookies to church with me and delivered them there.
So far, there have been no life altering changes from serving, but I'm still hopeful. ;)
Monday, January 11, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
In Which I Publicly Set A Lofty Goal
I was perusing old magazines in a waiting room the other day when I came across a book review for 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life by Cami Walker. I just read a small blurb about the book and it got my wheels spinning. I don't have the resources to give a material gift each day for a month, but I have a capable body with which I can perform services. I have been in a blah kind of funk for a few weeks and I've had a tough time climbing up out of this rut that I find myself squished into. Additionally, I gave a lesson in RS a few weeks ago on service and the message of the material has stuck with me: serve others to bless yourself.
(I did a little research and apparently this book has started a world-wide movement of people who give of themselves and find that they are recipients of positive effects as well. Go here to read the story.)
So, without further ado, I am committing myself to giving one act of service per day for the rest of the month of January. My plan is to document my experience here on this blog. I know that service is best done quietly, and I don't plan to shout about my experiences for the recognition and approval of any who might read this. It is simply a way to keep myself focused and motivated. If I know that even one person is checking up on me for the rest of the month I will be much more likely to follow through with my goal than if I keep the plan to myself.
As a wife and mother, I give acts of service every day, so I think it's necessary to set some guidelines. If I get feeling lazy, I can use "changed a diaper" as my service and check off the rest of the month right now! I looked up "service" on dictionary.com to give me an idea of what sorts of things I can do. The definition is very simple: an act of helpful activity; help; aid. With that in mind, I have set my guidelines as follows:
Wish me luck!
(I did a little research and apparently this book has started a world-wide movement of people who give of themselves and find that they are recipients of positive effects as well. Go here to read the story.)
So, without further ado, I am committing myself to giving one act of service per day for the rest of the month of January. My plan is to document my experience here on this blog. I know that service is best done quietly, and I don't plan to shout about my experiences for the recognition and approval of any who might read this. It is simply a way to keep myself focused and motivated. If I know that even one person is checking up on me for the rest of the month I will be much more likely to follow through with my goal than if I keep the plan to myself.
As a wife and mother, I give acts of service every day, so I think it's necessary to set some guidelines. If I get feeling lazy, I can use "changed a diaper" as my service and check off the rest of the month right now! I looked up "service" on dictionary.com to give me an idea of what sorts of things I can do. The definition is very simple: an act of helpful activity; help; aid. With that in mind, I have set my guidelines as follows:
- Each act must be something that is not in my normal daily routine, i.e. diaper changing, bed making, laundry, etc.
- Each act must benefit at least one person besides me in some manner, be it emotional, physical, spiritual or otherwise.
- Each act must be performed with sincerity and a happy heart.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Ten Years Ago Today
Ten years ago today my dad died.
Ten years ago today I was six months pregnant with my first child.
Ten years ago today my heart broke wider than I ever thought possible.
Ten years ago today I experienced one of my first "now I'm really a grown up " moments.
But today I don't want to dwell on the sadness or how long it took to feel normal again. I want to remember the man that I loved and the lessons he taught me.
My dad was funny, funny, funny. He was the funniest man I have ever known. He had a quick wit, coming up with nuggets of humor that one would never expect. I remember riding in the truck with him and I would admire something: the sunset, a nice paint job on a car, an interesting billboard. I would say "That's a really pretty sunset" and my dad would reply "Thanks". It never failed to make me laugh.
Once, in relating a story to me, he substituted the word "decaffeinated" for "decapitated. On purpose. So. Funny.
I loved to hear stories of his childhood, like the time he and his older brother covered my grandpa's WWII Japanese bayonets and their own shirts with ketchup and ran out of the kitchen screaming, scaring their younger sister nearly to death. Or the infamous laundry basket incident, in which my dad ended up sitting in a laundry basket, a rope tied to his dog and the other end securely fastened around my dad's neck. His older brother may or may not have been involved in helping to tie the knots, but my grandmother always stated that she knew she saved my dad's life when she quickly responded to the screams she heard coming from outside.
The best story, hands down, is the sheep story. As a teenager, my dad and his cousin were driving around the back roads of rural Utah as bored teenagers are wont to do. They came upon a few sheep that had escaped through a broken fence. Dad and his cousin promptly gave chase in the car and when they had chased one sheep until it couldn't run any further, they got out and coaxed the exhausted animal into the front seat with them. They propped it on its haunches between them in the front seat. Dad said that the sheep just calmly sat there, looking around, with its front legs resting on the dash. They drove to the local A&W and when the car hop rolled up to the window on her skates, they calmly ordered three root beers. I can't even think of this story without tears of mirth coming to my eyes.
These are stories that became family legend, lore that was told around the campfire in the summer, sitting in the family room visiting with guests, these tales were even told at his funeral. He was a funny, funny guy.
He also was the most honest person I have ever met. As a (stupid) teenager, some of my friends and I visited Burger King once and each of us left with a ball from the ball pit as a souvenir. It never crossed my mind that taking the balls was stealing, but the disappointment in my dad's eyes told me that it was.
He was an avid golfer and there was one friend in particular that he spent many hours with on the links. Occasionally they would make small bets, just a few dollars, on the outcome of the game. Dad always paid if he lost but the friend almost never did, even though he was by all counts a wealthy man. While it frustrated our family, Dad never said a word against the man. He just kept paying his share when called for and kept his mouth shut when he was treated unfairly.
He was a businessman and anyone who did business with him always came out with an honest price and good, hard work. He taught all of his children to work. Growing up, our family activities were things like cutting and splitting firewood or weeding our massive garden. Going out to eat was a rare treat and now that I'm a parent of four, I appreciate my parent's gift of a night out to eat for their brood of six.
Dad was also very tenderhearted. I remember many nights when we would watch a particularly emotional movie and Dad would suddenly notice that the wood box near the fireplace was less than full. "Going to get some wood" was code in our family for "going outside so you don't see me cry".
The first time I went skiing, it was for a church activity. It was Dad's job to drive me into the church early that morning but before we got in his truck, he took a few minutes and gave me my first skiing lesson in the garage.
I miss him every day. He was human and he had his faults. But he taught us well and he loved us. I hope that he is proud as he watches my siblings and me and sees what we have done with the lessons he taught us.
Ten years ago today I was six months pregnant with my first child.
Ten years ago today my heart broke wider than I ever thought possible.
Ten years ago today I experienced one of my first "now I'm really a grown up " moments.
But today I don't want to dwell on the sadness or how long it took to feel normal again. I want to remember the man that I loved and the lessons he taught me.
My dad was funny, funny, funny. He was the funniest man I have ever known. He had a quick wit, coming up with nuggets of humor that one would never expect. I remember riding in the truck with him and I would admire something: the sunset, a nice paint job on a car, an interesting billboard. I would say "That's a really pretty sunset" and my dad would reply "Thanks". It never failed to make me laugh.
Once, in relating a story to me, he substituted the word "decaffeinated" for "decapitated. On purpose. So. Funny.
I loved to hear stories of his childhood, like the time he and his older brother covered my grandpa's WWII Japanese bayonets and their own shirts with ketchup and ran out of the kitchen screaming, scaring their younger sister nearly to death. Or the infamous laundry basket incident, in which my dad ended up sitting in a laundry basket, a rope tied to his dog and the other end securely fastened around my dad's neck. His older brother may or may not have been involved in helping to tie the knots, but my grandmother always stated that she knew she saved my dad's life when she quickly responded to the screams she heard coming from outside.
The best story, hands down, is the sheep story. As a teenager, my dad and his cousin were driving around the back roads of rural Utah as bored teenagers are wont to do. They came upon a few sheep that had escaped through a broken fence. Dad and his cousin promptly gave chase in the car and when they had chased one sheep until it couldn't run any further, they got out and coaxed the exhausted animal into the front seat with them. They propped it on its haunches between them in the front seat. Dad said that the sheep just calmly sat there, looking around, with its front legs resting on the dash. They drove to the local A&W and when the car hop rolled up to the window on her skates, they calmly ordered three root beers. I can't even think of this story without tears of mirth coming to my eyes.
These are stories that became family legend, lore that was told around the campfire in the summer, sitting in the family room visiting with guests, these tales were even told at his funeral. He was a funny, funny guy.
He also was the most honest person I have ever met. As a (stupid) teenager, some of my friends and I visited Burger King once and each of us left with a ball from the ball pit as a souvenir. It never crossed my mind that taking the balls was stealing, but the disappointment in my dad's eyes told me that it was.
He was an avid golfer and there was one friend in particular that he spent many hours with on the links. Occasionally they would make small bets, just a few dollars, on the outcome of the game. Dad always paid if he lost but the friend almost never did, even though he was by all counts a wealthy man. While it frustrated our family, Dad never said a word against the man. He just kept paying his share when called for and kept his mouth shut when he was treated unfairly.
He was a businessman and anyone who did business with him always came out with an honest price and good, hard work. He taught all of his children to work. Growing up, our family activities were things like cutting and splitting firewood or weeding our massive garden. Going out to eat was a rare treat and now that I'm a parent of four, I appreciate my parent's gift of a night out to eat for their brood of six.
Dad was also very tenderhearted. I remember many nights when we would watch a particularly emotional movie and Dad would suddenly notice that the wood box near the fireplace was less than full. "Going to get some wood" was code in our family for "going outside so you don't see me cry".
The first time I went skiing, it was for a church activity. It was Dad's job to drive me into the church early that morning but before we got in his truck, he took a few minutes and gave me my first skiing lesson in the garage.
I miss him every day. He was human and he had his faults. But he taught us well and he loved us. I hope that he is proud as he watches my siblings and me and sees what we have done with the lessons he taught us.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Christmas Spirit
Mom: Mike, your primary teacher called last night and told me that you volunteered to be in the Christmas program this evening. You'll be a wise man.
Mike: I never volunteered.
Mom: She said that you said you'd do it.
Mike: No, I didn't.
Mom: Well, I already told her that you would.
Mike: I think she has me confused with somebody else. I don't want to.
Mom: Dude. The party is in a couple of hours. You have to.
Mike: *GIANT sigh* I guess I'll do it if they can't find anybody else.
Mom: They can't find anybody else. Would you like to help me figure out a costume?
Mike: I don't want to wear a costume. Do I have to?
Mom: You don't have to but you'll be the only wise man without one.
Mike: I don't care.
Mom: Okay....... You also need to take something to carry as a gift for the baby Jesus. Maybe you could make a gold box out of Legos.
Mike: *excitedly* Okay! *runs to room to begin construction*
******
Mom: Noel, would you like to be in the pr-
Noel: YES! What do I get to be?
Mom: One of the heavenly hosts; an angel.
Noel: Do I get to wear a costume?
Mom: She said to have you wear something white.
Noel: I don't have anything white. *GIANT sigh* I guess I'll just wear this. How will everyone know I'm an angel?
Mom: They'll give you a halo to wear.
Noel: What's a halo?
Mom: One of those gold things above an angel's head.
Noel: SWEET! (running out of the room) Hey, Dad! I'm gonna be in the Christmas program and I'm going to be a host!
Mike: *rolls eyes*
******
*Upon telling Mike of her brilliant idea to make a beard using a piece of felt and a couple pieces of elastic*
Mom: *excitedly* Hey, Mike! Do you want me to make you a beard? I can do it in just a few minutes.
Mike: No.
Mom: Come on! It'll be really cool.
Mike: I don't want a beard. *stalks away*
Mom: *mutters under her breath* I guess you'll be a pre-pubescent wise man in jeans and a t-shirt, then. *glancing over at Dad* What about you? Should I make you a beard? I can make it really full and it will be completely filled in.
Dad: *shoots poison dart looks in Mom's direction*
Mom: Come on, that was funny. *reaches out to hug Dad*
Dad: Don't touch me! *stalks away*
Mom: *considers making the beard anyway because it was a really good idea*
******
*In the car on the way to the church*
Noel: Do you think I'll be on the ground or in the air?
Mom: You mean will they hang you from a rope so that it looks like you're flying?
Noel: Yeah.
Mom: I'm pretty sure you'll just stand there.
Noel: Aww! I want to be in the air.
Mom: But you'll get to wear a halo.
Noel: Oh, yeah. SWEET!
******
*Upon arrival at the church, seeing that all other wise men/shepherds are indeed wearing costumes*
Mike: I guess I'll wear a costume.
Mom: *biting tongue and holding back chastisement because it is, after all, Christmas* Let's go find your teacher and see if they have a costume for you.
Noel: *participating in rowdy and decidedly un-angelic running through the gym with the other "hosts"* When do I get my halo?
******
*The wise men arrive at the stable to pay homage to the baby Jesus. Two of the wise men carry boxes wrapped in shiny paper. The third, who has only one arm (the other being wrapped beneath the sheet that enshrouds him and is tied about his waist with a rope), carries an exquisite golden box constructed entirely of Legos. The audience doesn't realize that the box is filled with small Lego jewels and coins. The one-armed wise man clearly looks as if he'd rather be anywhere else, as is seen by his surly expression. When he catches sight of his parents in the audience who are near wetting themselves with mirth at the sight of his bound arm, a small smile cracks his stony facade. He gently places his gift at the bed of baby Jesus.*
My heart is full as I sit surrounded by people I love and who love me, celebrating the birth of our Savior.
Mike: I never volunteered.
Mom: She said that you said you'd do it.
Mike: No, I didn't.
Mom: Well, I already told her that you would.
Mike: I think she has me confused with somebody else. I don't want to.
Mom: Dude. The party is in a couple of hours. You have to.
Mike: *GIANT sigh* I guess I'll do it if they can't find anybody else.
Mom: They can't find anybody else. Would you like to help me figure out a costume?
Mike: I don't want to wear a costume. Do I have to?
Mom: You don't have to but you'll be the only wise man without one.
Mike: I don't care.
Mom: Okay....... You also need to take something to carry as a gift for the baby Jesus. Maybe you could make a gold box out of Legos.
Mike: *excitedly* Okay! *runs to room to begin construction*
******
Mom: Noel, would you like to be in the pr-
Noel: YES! What do I get to be?
Mom: One of the heavenly hosts; an angel.
Noel: Do I get to wear a costume?
Mom: She said to have you wear something white.
Noel: I don't have anything white. *GIANT sigh* I guess I'll just wear this. How will everyone know I'm an angel?
Mom: They'll give you a halo to wear.
Noel: What's a halo?
Mom: One of those gold things above an angel's head.
Noel: SWEET! (running out of the room) Hey, Dad! I'm gonna be in the Christmas program and I'm going to be a host!
Mike: *rolls eyes*
******
*Upon telling Mike of her brilliant idea to make a beard using a piece of felt and a couple pieces of elastic*
Mom: *excitedly* Hey, Mike! Do you want me to make you a beard? I can do it in just a few minutes.
Mike: No.
Mom: Come on! It'll be really cool.
Mike: I don't want a beard. *stalks away*
Mom: *mutters under her breath* I guess you'll be a pre-pubescent wise man in jeans and a t-shirt, then. *glancing over at Dad* What about you? Should I make you a beard? I can make it really full and it will be completely filled in.
Dad: *shoots poison dart looks in Mom's direction*
Mom: Come on, that was funny. *reaches out to hug Dad*
Dad: Don't touch me! *stalks away*
Mom: *considers making the beard anyway because it was a really good idea*
******
*In the car on the way to the church*
Noel: Do you think I'll be on the ground or in the air?
Mom: You mean will they hang you from a rope so that it looks like you're flying?
Noel: Yeah.
Mom: I'm pretty sure you'll just stand there.
Noel: Aww! I want to be in the air.
Mom: But you'll get to wear a halo.
Noel: Oh, yeah. SWEET!
******
*Upon arrival at the church, seeing that all other wise men/shepherds are indeed wearing costumes*
Mike: I guess I'll wear a costume.
Mom: *biting tongue and holding back chastisement because it is, after all, Christmas* Let's go find your teacher and see if they have a costume for you.
Noel: *participating in rowdy and decidedly un-angelic running through the gym with the other "hosts"* When do I get my halo?
******
*The wise men arrive at the stable to pay homage to the baby Jesus. Two of the wise men carry boxes wrapped in shiny paper. The third, who has only one arm (the other being wrapped beneath the sheet that enshrouds him and is tied about his waist with a rope), carries an exquisite golden box constructed entirely of Legos. The audience doesn't realize that the box is filled with small Lego jewels and coins. The one-armed wise man clearly looks as if he'd rather be anywhere else, as is seen by his surly expression. When he catches sight of his parents in the audience who are near wetting themselves with mirth at the sight of his bound arm, a small smile cracks his stony facade. He gently places his gift at the bed of baby Jesus.*
My heart is full as I sit surrounded by people I love and who love me, celebrating the birth of our Savior.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Famous People
I was thinking today (shocker!) about how most people have a "celebrity" story. You know, they ran into Alice Cooper at 7-11 or their dad used to work with Britney Spears' dad. I'm not really a star-struck sort of person. I actually think that a lot of celebrities are really obnoxious.
Anyway, the point of this post is this: what is your celebrity experience?
Come on. Entertain me. Leave your celebrity experience in the comments. I have a tracker. I'll know you were here and if you don't share I may have to take drastic measures.
Anyway, the point of this post is this: what is your celebrity experience?
Come on. Entertain me. Leave your celebrity experience in the comments. I have a tracker. I'll know you were here and if you don't share I may have to take drastic measures.
Friday, December 4, 2009
There Are No Words
Noel: Dad, is it okay for Michael to fart on me?
Dad: No.
Mike: I didn't know that.
Dad: ...seriously?
Dad: No.
Mike: I didn't know that.
Dad: ...seriously?
Thursday, November 5, 2009
In Which I Take a Break and Procrastinate a Little, All At the Same Time
I am all sewed out, if that's really a term. I've been preparing for a three day craft show that I'm doing with my sister and all of my down time (read: time not already occupied by eating, sleeping or chasing kids) has been filled with sewing.
I really should be finishing up a couple more projects, but my body just sent the following message to my mind: "If we have to even look at one more piece of fabric in the next fifteen minutes, so help us....."
At which point the message became no longer family friendly.
Hey, does anyone else wonder why my body speaks in the plural form? Yeah, so do we.
Anyhoo, I thought that this would be a perfect time for a random list of things that I have observed, thought, or witnessed recently. Or really anything I want to write, since it's my blog and no one else has the password. Ha.
Those of you who think that last bit is a joke obviously don't know me at all.
I really should be finishing up a couple more projects, but my body just sent the following message to my mind: "If we have to even look at one more piece of fabric in the next fifteen minutes, so help us....."
At which point the message became no longer family friendly.
Hey, does anyone else wonder why my body speaks in the plural form? Yeah, so do we.
Anyhoo, I thought that this would be a perfect time for a random list of things that I have observed, thought, or witnessed recently. Or really anything I want to write, since it's my blog and no one else has the password. Ha.
- While at Walmart the other night, I left my hubby and kids in the car and zipped in to buy, what else, some fabric. I was focused on getting in and getting out but I couldn't help but notice the ruckus that was happening just down the main aisle from me. Four small children ran shrieking into the men's department and hid while an older child hid his eyes by leaning his face against his mother and began counting loudly. The words "Are you freaking kidding me?" escaped my lips just as the eyes of said mother met mine. My eyes then flitted to the woman standing next to her, who appeared to be the grandmother of the hiding children. Without breaking stride I continued on, wondering at the family values that allowed children to purposely hide in public places. My kids learned a long time ago that hiding from me in any kind of store equalled trouble. Even now that they are a little older and roll their eyes at me they still know to stay where I can see them. It made me want to coerce one of the children to come with me up to the customer service desk where I would leave them with the nice lady who would then page the mother. That'll teach her to let her kids run wild. *sigh* People.
- My rooster crows all times of the day and night. I thought that it was supposed to be just a sunrise sort of thing. Hasn't he ever seen Rockadoodle?
- When a toddler has a full-to-the-point-of-leaking diaper, he instinctively knows how to get maximum poop-coverage on upholstered surfaces with just a few well-placed flails of the leg or thrusts of the pelvis.
- Toddlers are wickedly inventive little creatures which we love beyond all reason.
- Husbands often fall into the same category as toddlers.
- My children's father is the best toy they will ever have. There is no other toy as interactive, fun and goofy as their dad. Adam's current favorite activity is to feed his dad. I think he just likes to see his dad open up his muppet-sized mouth and gaze into the depths below.
- I am all out of clever observations, which means it's back to the sewing machine with me and my plural body.
Those of you who think that last bit is a joke obviously don't know me at all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)