Today I celebrate two special people, my grandpa and my dad. I am a little teary today over it all.
This is my grandpa, John Sanchez. He passed away four years ago today. I still ache over it. I miss you, Grandpa.
Grandma Ruth looks just like my sister Sarah. I see Grandpa’s looks in my Dad sometimes.
Happy Birthday, Dad. I’ll see you soon for one of our late night chats about grand things. And maybe some jelly toast. With peanut butter.
I love you.
-A
I am learning that Motherhood isn’t a narrow, restrictive road, and even more important, this path is full of vantage points to my own talents and interests. Overall, my experiences in raising my children have allowed me a greater outlet for my “self” than I ever imagined.
It’s all about making my Own Brand of Motherhood, and trusting that my particular talents and interests were taken into consideration when God sent these children to me. And trusting that He will guide me, often minute by minute, in this journey.
Minerva Teichert ran a ranch and raised children. As a painter, she almost always had a mural in progress, hanging on her living room wall. She’d paint in her free minutes, many of which I am sure she had to sacrifice to find. As she studied the scriptures and church history, which were the topics of her paintings, she became a scripture scholar. She used this knowledge as she taught her children and grandchildren. Her paintings provided income, but also a larger legacy. Her paintings still help define Mormonism to the world.
In this stage of my life I am most fulfilled as I work in my own home. As a wise friend commented this week, it’s not about finding fulfillment doing “grown-up” things away from home. It’s being centered at home that makes life most fulfilling. So, these days, I am defined almost always as a mother, but find adventure in incorporating my other interests into my day. These personal interests can actually enhance my ability to mother my children and be a good community member.
It bothers me that EVERY TIME I go to one of my doctors she asks in a very concerned tone, “So, are you still homeschooling?” and then seems amazed to hear that I play the violin (away from home!), pursue other interests, and I don’t feel wasted by my lifestyle, raising four children.
Mothering and Personal Happiness are not Mutually Exclusive, Dr. W.
This week, I have studied Shakespeare, read some Jane Austen, worked on food storage, laundry, and countless other things. I haven’t done my nails, whitened my teeth (the kit’s in the bathroom), or finished my book (which I began in June).
It occurred to me this week as I finished up some laundry and dishes that I am living the fairy tale backwards, becoming Cinderella after I met my prince. Studies show that women work more after they are married than before. You may be thinking I’m moving in a negative direction with these thoughts, but no, rest assured. I believe in the backwards fairy tale. Long live the Backwards Fairy Tale Life!
I believe in work, and the absolute necessity of it because it combats my selfishness. Of all the traits that I work hard to tame, vanity and selfishness are at the core. Being a wife and mother and loving it is so helpful as I try to improve my character and talents.
It also helps that Mark, Timothy, Daniel, and Paige are so absolutely cute and good. And these small people will do great things.
Post-Edit Addition:
I sweat bullets over this post, and I still don’t have it right. For instance, I didn’t fully express my innate fulfillment motherhood brings… even without the extra curriculars. Kids are so fascinating and enlivening. They make me want to be a better person. In my case, this means a person who doesn’t seek accolades or affirmation from anybody but my Heavenly Father.
Because He sees what I do and how I try.
Look what Richard did for me when I wasn’t looking! I now have a huge bulletin board in our school room. Oh, Happy Day!
Daniel went to Agua Caliente Park on Saturday to take a dragonfly class with some friends. Here are some photos that he took from that day. I enjoy seeing the things he thought were worthy to photograph.
Daniel’s words:
When we got to Agua Caliente on Saturday, we took the Dragonfly class. The teacher told us how to recognize or how to tell dragonflies and damselflies apart. Then he gave us butterfly nets and binoculars and we went out to catch dragonflies. Each of us caught one or two and then we identified them. After the class ended, we went to look at the lake and the ducks. We went exploring and took some pictures. Then we left. I really enjoyed the class because I learned a lot of things I didn’t know. For instance, some dragonflies can fly all the way across the ocean in just a few days!
Richard and I decided to have the kids help teach Family Home Evening last night. We split into two groups and practiced telling a stories from the scriptures. Then we met back together to present our work and talk about applications.
Mark and Paige told the story of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt. Then we talked about things we can learn from the story. Here are some of the responses:
Timothy told the beginning of the story of Lehi and his family who left Jerusalem.
Daniel finished the story of Nephi getting the brass plates. When we talked about what we could learn from the story, Timothy summarized, “You should obey Heavenly Father and He will help you to do it.” Daniel said, “If Heavenly Father asks you to do something, He will provide a way for you to do it.”
Yes!
Here are a few pages from the Sahuarita Saga from June. I’ve been publishing this little homeschool magazine for 2 years. The kids do the work. I just compile it. This is the first (small) issue of Volume 3!
Click on the arrows below the magazine to page through it. You can double click on a page to enlarge the image. I know, I know. This little tool is the coolest thing you have ever seen in your life.
[book id='4' /]
Photo 1: Friendship Bracelets made by…?
We have a show-and-tell session at our house about once a week. Here are some things we are proud of this week. How well do you know us? Can you guess who made/caught each of these things?
Photo 2: Baby lizards caught by…?
Photo 3: Lego Wall-E designed by…?
This little Wall-E has a movable door to compact trash, hands that can attach to one another and wheel tracks that move.
(I made this bread… I’m just putting in a photo to separate the answers from the photos.)
Answers: (1) Paige (2) Timothy (3) Daniel
Dear Richard,
I just thought I’d thank you for driving us up to Utah (and by this, I mean, Utah Valley as opposed to St George, which as you know, I don’t consider part of Utah proper). Truly, this was a really great trip for our family, and well, Me.
Thank you for buying us tanks to blow up. It really is like throwing cash right into the fire, isn’t it? You were a good sport about that.
Thank you for waiting in the van while I ran into Wal-Mart not one, but two different times within a day so the kids could watch their movie in the van and Daniel and I could have clean shirts for the reunion.
Thank you for taking lots of pictures for me to share with my parents on the blog. I hope you won that ping pong game, or that you held back from creaming my brother, throwing the game for the sake of family relations. Either way, I’m happy.
Thanks for gently reminding me that we decided 800 pixels, not 600 pixel width for our blog photos. You are right. The pictures look better BIG.
And thanks for being such a nice dad, giving rides on the mower, buying lots of chicken nuggets and fries, and dropping us off at the parade and then walking a mile, carrying doughnuts and pop tarts for us to eat at the parade. You were a good sport when we discovered that we didn’t have enough folding chairs for you to have a seat. If Richard II hadn’t noticed your plight, I bet you would have stood there the whole parade without complaining.
And I love you for it. Man, you look good in red.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO,
A
Soren and Serena Nielson
and a FEW of their descendants on the 4th of July. Note all the blonde hair. Go Denmark!
I wish we’d all taken some more time and arranged ourselves near our children (and allowed Richard and me to sit in those two empty chairs.) I think most were just in a hurry to get out of the sun, as evidenced by the group yell of, “Melanoma” to the camera to make our group unite in smile. (Those Danes!) Daniel and Timothy are on the far left and Paige is holding Mark in the middle. Richard and I are in the far right, kneeling just behind the kids.
Eric and Camille Nielson hosted the reunion in their lovely home in Holladay. Look at that awesome treehouse behind us. The boys spent the whole time exploring in the trees in the back yard.
I’ve allowed myself to slip into a deep summer reverie; I’m working (yes, it takes work for me) to enjoy every minute of summertime. I work too hard and enjoy too little most of the time. Silly me.
Our stay at Spring Lake was so brief, but very special.
Sunday was our last day at the Round House. After church, the kids enjoyed a quiet afternoon at the frog pond. Richard read a book; I walked around the property, taking photos. I wanted to remember the feelings of the day and I hoped pictures would help. Aunt Susan was in my thoughts all day. I looked down the road where she grew up and took time to think of her as a young girl, running around this little town.
The Secret Garden, always such a special place, with its places to sit and rest and bits of interest like the Thinking Rock, tiger lilies, yellow brick pathway, money bushes, and more remains true to its name.
I love a good, rustic pathway and the rustle of leaves as I move down the lane.
New oaks at my feet and a canopy of tall oaks over my head taught me new life lessons simple and profound and not easily expressed.
I studied the tiles for an extra long time, smiling at the thought of a young Aunt Susan not being able to resist taking a pretty tile home many years ago.
On the deck, the usual restful spot awaited me, bathed in green light filtered through the trees. I found a plaster of paris mold that Dad made in 1961 of a seahorse sitting on a table there. I smiled, picturing Dad just a little older than Daniel.
Echoing through the property was the sound of my children laughing and splashing together at the frog pond, enjoying the details so carefully created by Dad. This may be one of his most powerful lessons: children need rocks, dirt, and water to be happy.
And here, these things are in abundance.
The kids sought me out and asked me to take a picture of them on Grandma’s swing. Pow! I felt so much gratitude for them…
My wanderings took me up the road, to the spot that was burned last summer. The foreground still looks marred, but the view had the same effect that it always has on me. I had the usual sharp intake of breath as I tried to comprehend it all. I’ve never felt this powerfully about any other place. And again the view taught me quiet and powerful lessons impossible to describe.
And there was healing in the thoughts of family, home, heritage, and a loving Creator.
And then I walked down the hill and we drove away from my own personal Walden Pond, resolved to live with more simplicity, more faith, and greater effort to find joy.