Softening of the Heart

Desert Museum

How have my interactions with my family helped to soften my heart this week?

Richard and I stayed up late and watched our favorite Mormon Tabernacle Christmas DVD. The King’s Singers were the guest artists with the choir. The most moving piece for both of us is Oh Holy Night, and we saved it for last. We promised ourselves that we won’t listen to it again until Christmas Eve, it’s so special. As I listened to the music and reflected on the words of Luke 2, I just felt so happy. Christ came! He lived and loved us. I wanted to be a better person. I loved everyone.
Timothy was so upset on Saturday. All I can say is that it had something to do with being the middle brother. I took him with me to the grocery store. He let me put my arm around him as we walked through the parking lot. He got more and more cheery and chatty as we shopped. He melted my heart.
Mark wanted to spend time with me at church today, so I let him skip nursery and he helped me with some church work before I eventually dropped him off in his class. In the process, I lost a lens from one of my glasses. I searched all over the church, only to find the lens was safely in his little hand at the end of his nursery class. He’d held it during snack and playtime in nursery and had kept it safe for my return. Bless his little heart.
Learning the human nervous system is a big job and there are a lot of vocabulary words. Paige hasn’t enjoyed it, so I read science to Paige this week as we both stretched out on my bed. I felt the frustration just melt away.
Daniel walked Sparky at the park this week. I brought Mark and his friend Aleah along, too. I watched Daniel interact with the little 3 year olds from a distance. He allowed Aleah to walk her spider fingers all over his head and arms. He helped urge Mark forward when he lagged behind. Simple, happy moments.

It’s my greatest hope to have a softer heart, more Christlike ways, and to keep my family close to me. Perhaps in the writing of some of these simple things, the softening can last a little longer. I have some real battles this week in my life. A difficult person to deal with, two big events, and the usual errands and business. I have learned that it’s better to be charitable than tough; compassionate rather than judgmental; patient rather than hasty… and that requires Grace, accessed through prayer and humility and obedience.

Teenage Paige

birthday garland

We love celebrations around here. Today we celebrated Paige. If you asked me if I’d like something sentimental and even a little unnecessary, my answer would be, “Yes, and make it a double.” I made a fabric garland with an embroidered “Happy B-Day” for the annual birthday decorating-of-the-door. This hour-long project fulfilled a temporary whim to have a magazine life. You know, the kind of life with handmade fabric garlands and children dressed in white? My children don’t own much white, so that just left the fabric garland to make all my dreams and hopefully Paige’s dreams come true. (Check!)

The boys and I treated Paige to a day of pampering: new nail polish, her own make-up kit, a trip to the hair salon and a trip to the mall for some new clothes. The boys entertained themselves on the escalators and with the really high number of rubber bands on the floor of Old Navy. We came, she tried things on, we conquered. Paige looks great.

After dinner, we ate raspberry filled birthday cake with fresh raspberries atop.

Most of all, we were together and happy and glad to have our Paige. Are you ready to see the Teenage Paige?

Ta da!

Sparks

California 408

Grandpa had lots of hugs and smiles.

Grandma

Grandma made us lunch and told us all the news from Susan, who is now able to have chemotherapy and has been moved to a care facility.

scheels ferris wheel

Grandma took us to Scheels and we rode their indoor Ferris wheel. I’m clinging to Timothy for dear life in the yellow seat at the top. Daniel and Paige are in the red seat.

California 432

Jeanne entertained us with ping pong, croquet, and blackberry picking.

blackberry picking

blackberries

ready to wave dishtowels

We waved our dish towels and said good-bye to two of the greatest grandparents ever. We would have taken Grandpa with us, but Mark was worried that Grandma would be lonely.

Grandma Ruth

Grandma Ruth, Angela, Paige

We visited Grandma Ruth on the next stop on our trip. She made us a strawberry pie and served us rainbow sherbet. We sorted out 6 boxes of history during the day spent together. I came home with a journal from my Great-grandmother Cerie and many priceless pictures. Grandma Ruth is a cancer survivor! She looks great and has a beautiful new wardrobe in a smaller size.

Great-grandma Ruth

The classic Fisher Price Toys, books, puzzles, and back yard entertained the boys. Paige sat with Grandma and me all day. Richard buried his head in some of Grandma Ruth’s books while watching Mark.

out to eat

And of course we ate out. Uncle Jay and Aunt Nora and Christine joined us.

It’s been 5 years since the kids and Richard visited Grandma’s home (and a year and a half since I was there). I was so happy we were able to visit.

Newport Beach Highlights

Dale and Lorraine Ross and all of their posterity. Beaches are great magnets for attracting people to a family reunion. And even the in-laws have a good time. I did.

The 9 and 10 year old cousins were inseparable.

Timothy made a sand castle. He helped collect 157 sand crabs in one day.

More of Mark’s Wave Revelry. Look at my arms getting toned trying to keep him from getting swept away.

Sushi tonight, anyone? We found so many critters in this washed up bunch of seaweed. It was really fascinating.

A secret club with its own language and code names was formed by the cousins. Timothy approached me one afternoon and said, “Mom, I’m in a secret club. Do you want to know my code name? It’s Tiki! And Daniel’s code name is Big D and…” His cousin Lizzie, passing by added, “And my secret name is Abba!” So much for keeping it secret… I later found this paper plate with the minutes of one of their top secret meetings written on it.

We brought a nice tent to shade Grandma and Grandpa and the babies. The tent is Richard’s pride and joy. That and its accompanying sand bags to keep it stationary. I like this picture a lot.

Richard with all of his siblings minus one out in the ocean.

Ladies, that guy is All Mine.

San Bernardino

Redlands Temple

San Bernardino was the beginning and the end of our long vacation. We stayed with Mom and Dad (President and Sister S.) over the first weekend and again on our way home. Sister S. commented that the kids seemed just as happy at the end of the trip as the beginning. No wonder. They spent 2 weeks being loved by parents of the grand and great-grand variety.

California 454

We met a charming balloon artist at the Rainforest Cafe. Mark loves his new bunny, Chatter.

California 535

We loved the handcart rides. So did the neighbor kids who hopped in to join us.

Valley boys and girl

Darling, yes?

Timothy

Timothy tried out the little pool.

Daniel

Nice one, Daniel!

Mark

And of course, little brother joined in the fun. Meanwhile, Paige was upstairs sketching and making a beaded bracelet.

MP and SS

We love you all the way to the moon!

And thank you for the doughnut tip: Tailor Maid doughnuts are superb. Thanks for the nice visit.

We are so amazed at all you do. We think you are doing A Great Work.

Lessons in Simplicity

It’s our first day home from vacation. I’ve spent all my time today doing laundry, answering e-mails and making decisions my vacation-paced brain is not ready to accomplish. While on my trip I wrote a few journal entries about things I had learned on a two week vacation at the beach and on the road (2500 miles). Tonight I think I’ll share one of these thoughts with you.

One lesson from the trip was Simplicity. There is something to be said about keeping our belongings and distractions to a minimum. I spent a lot of time with Mark with waves and gulls as our only entertainment. I walked and ran up and down the beach with that boy until my feet were calloused from the sand. My thoughts didn’t stray to other things when I was with him; I was all his, and we let hundreds of waves lap at our feet and we sank into the sand as the water washed away.

Our beach house was equipped with only a few dishes. And how nice; it meant just a few dishes to wash. I decided that my house feels decadent after such a simple week. The closets full of sheets and blankets seem excessive; the multiple sets of towels: an indulgence that weighs me down and makes me more busy than I need to be.

So, tonight I am too tired to post more pictures, but I want it to be said that I want to be more like I was on the beach; accessible, unfettered by excess, not unnecessarily burdened with worries.

My house is still a joy to me. We walked in and the familiar paintings and belongings are here and it feels good. But after a few weeks of living out of a suitcase, I find myself more aware of and impatient with all the THINGS I lift around the house all day. It’s kind of like I’m living a farcical tale about a person who spends her days shuffling objects from room to room and thinks that the organization and neatness of those objects will make her happy. I took a step away from that life and I’ve come back disenchanted with it.

These thoughts are certainly not as profound as Anne Lindbergh’s Gift from the Sea, but I think they are worthy of some action… Like a good trip to the donations bin at the church.

Thinking of You

Yes, dear reader (family & friends), I am thinking of you on our vacation and I will be posting again soon. But this vacation I have sworn off blog work. I’m off to play at Grandma Ruth’s today with family heirlooms and photos and memories.

Family Tree

Our tree

Richard comes home from work most evenings and looks immediately out the back window and makes a comment about the state of our crape myrtle tree.

This little tree has weeks when the blossoms wane and it looks more like a spent dandelion that has lost its fuzz. That little trunk and my thumb share the same diameter. But despite its small size, this tree can blossom like there’s a party going on. And for some reason, Richard follows the ebb and flow of our tree with great interest.

I think it has a lot to do with the investment of time he puts into our back yard. After checking the tree each evening, he takes a walk out to the tomato plants, surveys the strawberry patch, adjusts sprinklers, and takes an inventory of his kingdom.

Are you ready for my simile or metaphor? Faithful readers, surely you were expecting it.

And so it goes. Some weeks our family seems to be in sync with our moods and schedules and we’re in full bloom. Other weeks, we are stretched to the limit by our outside commitments and we feel like spent dandelions.

We’ve had a spent dandelion week. Even trying to pace ourselves, the stress of life has crept in a little and I am ready for a weekend break. We look forward to a week of full-bloom soon… despite missing out on a Stewart reunion at the Weber.

Dear Weber family

A Good Idea

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 tells the story of Joseph

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:

You should be nice to your brothers (and sister).
It’s a good idea to have some food storage.
Even though bad things happen to good people sometimes, Heavenly Father still loves them and has a plan.
We should forgive others.

Timothy tells the story of Lehi

Timothy told the beginning of the story of Lehi and his family who left Jerusalem.

Daniel tells the story of Nephi and Laban

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!