Rising above indifference

I sometimes see situations around me or elsewhere in the world that bring compassion and sorrow to my heart. I say to myself, “Oh, I wish there was something I could do”, but usually, I get distracted and end up doing nothing. I want to change this pattern. 

It is so easy to get overwhelmed with all the things that we “should be” doing.  I have been trying to come to a balance of things in my life. Yes, I sometimes really feel my responsibilities, but I have such a strong desire to DO GOOD in this world! To make a difference. Right now, my calling in my church is as a youth leader and minister, the Young Women President. It is a very big time commitment if I want to do my very best. I want my efforts to be the most impactful upon the girls and leaders I work with. I love to follow this quote: 

I want to be known as someone who constantly “contributes good to the world”. I want to overcome distraction, gain strength from my Savior, and spread good to others. I want to be someone who gets involved, who helps others because we have the truth and light and love in our hearts that we want to share. Because we want to help people!  I want to live my life as a GIVER, not as a TAKER. Then I believe I can truly make a difference in this world. 

Hosanna

Today is Palm Sunday, the start of a very special week to my family and I.  Easter is my favorite holiday. I love the chance to celebrate the greatest gift ever given to me and everyone else in this world! I love the opportunity to focus on my Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ! The symbolism that comes at Easter time is so beautiful, a new life for all, a precious gift. I absolutely cherish the moments I can worship Him, and I try to share that love with my family. 

At the beginning of Holy Week, we celebrate the triumphant entry of Christ into Jerusalem. This is the only time while He lived on earth that He was ever celebrated as the King He is. We try to imagine what it would have been like to be there, and yet, the people praising Him did not truly know who he was and what gift He would be giving to us all. But WE KNOW! And we shout our praise to Him today with our own “Hosannas”! We imagine what it will be like when He returns again, what JOY we will feel? Will we shout “Hosanna” then as well? I know I will!

We had the missionaries over for dinner last night, both the Elders and the Sisters. They joined with us in our celebration. Did they feel a little silly shouting and waving palm leaves around? Probably. But it was fun, and a way to help us all feel a part of the joy that comes from worshipping him!

I am excited to continue to celebrate each day of the Holy Week of our Savior, and try to apply lessons that we learn from His experiences into our lives!

Where much is given, much is expected

A friend of mine recently read this book that really impacted her called Where the Wind Leads.  It is about a refugee family from Southern Vietnam who flee their country in four fishing boats.  After a long journey where they are separated, only one boat is rescued.  They move to America, where the author goes on to live a successful, educated, filling life.  He later returns to Vietnam and finds his cousins whose fishing boats floated back to Vietnam all those years ago. He says:

"I found myself feeling guilty and ashamed--guilty because I had received a blessing they had not, and ashamed because I had not done more to help them...Why me?...why did the same wind take our boat in one direction and theirs in another?  We were blessed-there's no other way to say it--but why weren't they?  Were we more worthy in some way?  Were we more deserving of rescue?  I don't see how; my family's entire contribution to our rescue was to lie there waiting to die....

"...I worked long and hard to get where I am today, but the humbling truth is that all my hard work has been possible only because of a blessing I received that I did nothing to deserve.  I believe that blessing is something I am expected to pass on to other people any way I can.  I think that's what we are all expected to do."

This quote has been in my mind all day.  I feel blessed beyond measure, in so many ways.  We all have something we can share with others in need.  It can be a physical gift such as money, food, and clothes.  It can also be a spiritual gift like love, charity, talents and service.  No matter what we each have, we must bless others with our "gifts", especially if we have been blessed with so much.  

Immediately, my thought was "What can I do, what can I give?".  Especially when I recently saw an email with a plea to make a difference to many refugees in crisis.  Usually, don't we think to ourselves, "Oh, those poor people!"?  I do!  I look into helping for a moment, then get distracted, and fail to make a difference or help.  Or I just wring my hands in worry, thinking there is nothing I can do.  Well, there usually IS something we can do, even in the smallest way.  

This family is making a small difference, and I believe that my family will join them.  Here is a link to what they are doing, and how we can help too!

This is what Tracey (the person putting it together) says:

"The refugee problem is so enormous; it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder what we can possibly do to help. But after watching video after video about this latest crisis in Bangladesh, I just kept saying to myself, “I can’t do nothing”. I remember going to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC, and being shocked at how many Americans ignored or denied what was going on in Europe. For that reason, I want to make sure I do something to help these refugees.  I don’t want to look back and realize, that while all these horrible things were going on, I did nothing. I felt bad, but ignored it because I was too busy, didn’t know what to do, or couldn’t believe it was actually happening!

The idea is instead of spending money by going out on this particular Friday (April 6th)- stay home, make an inexpensive meal, play a board game or watch a movie you already own - donate the money you saved and take the opportunity to talk with your family about where the money is going." 

I love that idea!  Such an easy way to help our kids be aware of other's plight and make a contribution.  Will you join with us on April 6th if you can help?

May we each find our own way to lift others up, and make a difference in this world!

No Failure Ever Need Be Final 

So many of us are horrible record keepers.  I probably am the worst of them all!  I know how important it is to keep track of our experiences, the people we love, and the growth that we can go through here in our journey.  So, in my failure as my family's "historian", let me begin anew, and change my failure to a success.  I love this quote by President Thomas S. Monson.  He also said:

"Our responsibility is to RISE from mediocrity to competence, 

from failure to achievement!  

Our task is to BECOME OUR BEST SELVES!"

(2013 Previously Unpublished)

Halloween was super fun and sweet!  Ryan and I dressed up as Fred and Wilma Flinstone (my costume had some modesty adjustments to make), and we were a hit at the office Halloween party.  We had an appetizer luncheon, a costume contest, and the winners of the pumpkin decorating contest were announced.  Ryan made a cute bunch of Angry Bird pumpkins which were very detail oriented and rather great (not a surprise, coming from my perfectionist!)  About 30 minutes  before I had to head over to the office, Micah called from school telling me that he had forgotten to tell me that he was assigned to bring seven treat bags for their Halloween party they were having today.  Thank heavens that mom can fly to the rescue!  I did the same thing that morning for Ryan who chose the wrong shirt to wear under his Fred costume, and even later that afternoon because Ryan forgot a shotgun to return that he had borrowed from Jim McCulley when they had all gone pheasant hunting this past weekend.  Yes, I really am supermom once in a while.



So, I try to get our traditional decorations and activities in place for Halloween each year.  We were late putting up the decorations but had a good time on Monday for FHE arranging it how we liked and making sure all our costumes were ready.  I bought yummy sourdough bread bowls from Panera Bread by the mall (I wish I could bake like that!), and bought all the things for our traditional clam chowder, a recipe of Linda’s that is delicious but fattening…all the good stuff is!  We invited the Gray boys, and Jerry Cook brought his boys over as well.  Ryan and Jerry gathered up the brood and made a killing in their candy plunder from the neighborhood!  We had well over 100 kids trick-or-treating at our house as well!  I just used the candy bars that the office gives out in a debanding basket-full size candy bars are always a huge hit.  Cooper was very frustrated that he missed the house that was giving out juice boxes because he had to hurry home with Ryan to go to the bathroom.  Oops! I told him we would get him a juice box later but he still felt let down, the turkey!  I have adorable kids, even if I had to sweet talk Jacob into dressing up in his He-man costume for a picture with his brothers!  

Last night, we went to Jacob’s football playoff game.  Logan went to hang out at a friend’s house, and we dropped the boys off to watch a movie at the Cooks so we wouldn’t have to keep our eyes on them roaming around during the game.  Our team, Davies Eagles, played really well!  We lost at the very last, when the Bismark Century High team pulled ahead with a field goal.  Man, was Jake bummed!  So, their very last game of the season is over.  But don’t worry, Jacob informed me that Wrestling starts up on MONDAY!  No rest for the weary!  

This morning, I made German Pancakes, or Egg Puff, for the kids, rounded them all up, turned on some music, and we all did our Saturday chores, cleaning dishes, folding and putting away laundry, sweeping, tidying up.  Jacob is so used to not doing chores that I heard much grumbling coming from that kid, but they all worked, even Cooper, though I heard much grumbling from him as well.  After we buy and distribute some mulch for the trees in the yard to protect them during the winter, we’ll drop Jacob and Logan off to see Ender’s Game at the theater (which Ryan and I saw last night at a late show…great!), and I will take the younger boys to a cartoon.  Ryan had a great morning at his third flying lesson.  He really is excited about learning this, and I am happy for him that he can do this, even though I have a few worries and misgiving about the safety.  But Ryan assures me all is well and safe.  We are keeping his flying lessons to ourselves until Ryan is sure he can pass the pilot’s physical.  I hope he doesn’t have to worry about that.  It really is time to get back on the wagon and DIET…all of us chub-a-dubs!  

I am excited to go to the Stake Conference Adult Session this evening with Ryan.  It is always really good and I feel the spirit touch my heart often during that “date session”.  I mostly like to cuddle up to Ryan and hold his hand without interruption from the kids.  He is my sweetheart, and I feel so often too busy that we miss showing each other the little bits of affection that we both need.  I love him with all my heart and soul…he is my other half, for sure!  Anyway, I hope the conference will be great!  At tomorrow’s conference, Jacob and I sing in the choir, and we both sing in a quartet of “All Creatures of our God and King”.  Jacob’s voice is maturing so beautifully.  Wow.  It is fun working with him!

"Mormon Tea Party" - Downton Abbey Premier

To the Aristocratic Ladies of Our High Society...

Come join us for a "Mormon Tea Party" (basically super yummy cakes, cookies, treats, delicious finger sandwiches, and an lovely array of herbal teas and chocolate milks).  Mid-week was the only time we could schedule this in, so we are so sorry to the ladies who can't join us due to work or other needs - We will miss you.  But if you can make it for lunch, please dress up with costume jewelry and fancy hats for a fun, relaxed, but still "very proper" tea party to premiere (for some of us) a favorite show of many...Downton Abbey, Season 3, Episode 1 (maybe 2, if we have time)!!! Little ones are welcome as they will have their own movie, PB&J finger sandwiches, apple juice "tea", and kiddie cookies (probably Oreos!).  

*Please, please, please RSVP so that we know how many adorable teacups to have on hand, and how many cucumber sandwiches to make!

With our most sincere regards,

Duchess Jenny West of Woodhaven & Duchess Brooke Cook of Ironwood 

(Pics to come later...)

Making Memories

October 30th, 2013

Wow, do I need to start up journaling again.  I really feel that I have memory issues!  If I don’t write things down, I won’t remember them!!!  The boys asked me to tell them stories about them when they were younger, and I really struggled coming up with stories for each of them.  I am going to sit down with each of them to see if we can remember stories about their lives before I get old and senile (which the way things are going with my brain, isn’t too far off!!!)

So I will start with today, then work backward when I have spare time! Today, I was able to serve my kids in a few ways that made me very happy.  Even though I didn’t get everything done a perfect mother and housewife would, I did accomplish some things that were on my list to do.

I got to go to Micah’s class today and work with him on his Pumpkin World Map.  I have done this before with Logan when he was in 4th grade, and it is a nice little bonding moment they give us at Kennedy Elementary.  Micah is in 4th grade in Miss Mogen’s class.  She is new and young, but has energy, and Micah seems to really like her and is doing well, so that makes me happy.  I am never the first parent there (me and my punctuality issues), but when I got to his class, it warmed my heart to see Micah smile and have his eyes light up, those beautiful blue, stormy eyes!  Man, he is so special!  We worked great as a team drawing the lines on the pumpkin to represent the globe degrees and pinning the cutout continents on.  He is so fun just to be around!  So sweet and funny!  I love my Micah!

Tomorrow is Halloween and Cooper can hardly wait to wear his Sonic the Hedgehog costume that we bought for him long ago to make sure that he could be his favorite video game character.  Do I know why Sonic is cool?  No.  But Cooper has a fascination with Sonic, so Sonic it is.  We will lay out his costume tonight so that he can wear it briefly in class tomorrow, and then later on tomorrow night to go Trick-or-Treating!  Seeing Cooper’s excitement for Halloween makes it all worth it!  I love him so much!

Ugh. Finding costumes is sometimes a pain, because I have to find them for everyone, including Ryan who wears it to work with all the girls at the office for a contest.  Last year’s family Avengers theme worked heroically.  This year, Ryan and I are Fred and Wilma Flinstone, Jacob is He-man, Logan is Napoleon Dynamite, Micah is Robin Hood (with boy and arrow!) and of course, Cooper is Sonic.  My kids really do love dressing up, even the older ones…though they will probably deny it as they get older!  Oh, that reminds me that I have to go and buy Halloween candy.  Yep, that is me.  Super prepared.

Logan is off tonight with Ryan and Jacob at Boy Scouts at the church.  Ryan is still the Scoutmaster of Troop 242 Fargo 2nd Ward.  He truly is wonderful at this calling.  Because he loves learning about so many different things, I think he is a natural at teaching the kids about so many different things.  We are truly a scouting family, and I love it!  Tonight, the boys are starting on their Citizenship in the Community badge.  This is Jacob’s very last merit badge he needs to get before he can get his Eagle Scout.  (After his darn project, that is!)


Last night, I gathered together with some of the football parents on Jacob’s Davies Eagles Varsity Football Team.  We were able to persuade the cheerleaders to make some (not all…apparently it is too much work for them) of the Football Playoff Door Signs that we want to put on every boy’s front door at their house.  Anyway, we used the basement of the office to finish up all the signs saying “Go, Fight, Win! Jacob, #66!”.  Distributing them out to all the players is now the hard part, especially since we don’t have everyone’s addresses due to the school’s privacy policy.  AHHH!  So, here I am tonight, still stuck with 18 signs.  I’m going to have to drop them off to the players at their practice tomorrow night.  Not cool!  No kid wants to hang up their own door sign.  Oh well.

Jacob’s football team is so much better than last year.  Friday’s game was their very last regular season game against West Fargo Packers.  It was such a nail biter!  Ryan was out of town hunting with his brother, Jason, and brother-in-law, Steve, so he was unable to attend.  But we have some great friends out here in Fargo. Both the Brothersons and the Cooks joined me and Micah as we watched a great game in the cold wind!  This game decided Davies placement in the playoffs, and because they won, they were named Co-Champions of their conference!  It was so exciting, I was yelling so loudly at every play!  Our first and second touchdowns were in the first 10 minutes of the game, so everyone, me most of all, was cheering and yelling.  West Fargo then went on to score a couple touchdowns as well.  The very last 10 seconds of the game, Davies pulled it off and scored the final winning touchdown!  So fun!  It wasn’t until Jacob got home and told me some important information that I realized that I probably was yelling a little too loudly…Jacob, my lineman, was the one to score that first touchdown!  He made the score on a fumble recovery right in the end zone!  Everyone was cheering his name, and lame mom didn’t even realize it!  Ah, well.  Mom is NOT perfect!  But he did get an even bigger cheer that night when he told me!  This Friday night will be their first game in the playoffs against Bismark Century.  Davies lost big to them at the first of the season.  Hopefully, the team has really turned around and can pull it off.

I know Jacob is fully invested in his team.  It is cute, but we have had to remind him that school comes first  recently.  Even though he has been a straight A student, he let one of his A’s slip to a B mainly because of his focus on football.  Not bad, but not good.  Oh well.  My Jacob truly is a great kid, stellar example and wonderful!  All my children are truly special kids, they are fabulous!  Logan was so funny in the musical his Jr. High did this weekend.  Disney’s Mulan Jr.!  He was one of Mulan’s three funny soldier friends who helps save all of China by dressing up in a kimono.  It was great!  Logan is such a ham, really working up the comedy…everyone laughed during his parts.  I was especially proud of his singing and dancing parts.  I thought he was the best one there, and I really don’t think that I am being all that partial!  Love that kid!

Well, I am off to help organize everyone’s costumes for tomorrow, start a load of laundry, do the dishes, coral Cooper into bed after a toothbrush finds his teeth, and lavish attention on my hubster.  Much to do, but how I love my bed!