Mother's Day 2010

Gifts I Have Received Through Being Willing to Be a Mother:

(I'm going to preface this by saying: I wrote this on Mother's Day, May 9^th, 2010, to stand as a written reminder of things I have learned, and am grateful for knowing, due to becoming and being a mother. I also write these things down, so as to be able to share them with my family.)

1. Six AMAZINGLY brilliant children, 10 FABULOUS grandchildren (so far)
   

2. More understanding of how much God loves us

3. More understanding of what “LOVE” truly is, and what the word means

4. Better understanding of exactly who I am – my strengths & weaknesses – how to recognize and increase my strengths – how to accurately view and work to overcome weaknesses and turn them into strengths because I am human, but a Child of God

5. Learning to accept and love myself, in spite of faults and weaknesses

6. Learning to like myself as I am now, while continuously striving to become BETTER!

7. Learning to forgive – and that forgiveness frees the soul to soar to God

8. Learning more fully the GREAT POWER of the prayers of a mother

9. Gaining an understanding of unconditional LOVE

10. The greater measure of gratitude for all the blessings the Lord has given me

11. The better understanding of Eternity and Eternal Progression – grandchildren who continue to fill and bless my life with joy beyond that which I could comprehend without them

12. Understanding of the joy of righteous children and their families, and seeing them grow in life and the Gospel

13. Better understanding of God's HOPE for us to repent and return to the path that leads back to Him

I learned Love, Understanding, Forgiveness, the Power of Prayer, Gratitude, and Hope!

Review, Renew - Can you say "do-over?"

Well, as any of you few that have checked out my blog will know, I haven't posted for a REALLY, REALLY long time! Well, I think I need to pick it up and restart.

Since the last post, I have had many, many changes in my life, but I'm not going to review all that - just a few things:

1) New Grandkids Heidi and Owen

2) New Son-in-Law David

3) 3 Semesters of College completed at ASU - YAY! I have 2 years to go, but I'm still here!
3 LESS semesters to go to get my degree! My projected graduation date is Spring 2012.

4) Another batch of puppies. Yay for the added income. But Sugar and Cookie have now been spayed, so no more puppies.

5) I bought a mobile home, but that didn't work out well. Too much to tell about it here, but you can call me if you really want to know. (I'm still involved with the court case suing the guy who illegally repossessed it.)

6) My neighbor from the mobile home park, and new best friend Matt, passed away a short time ago. It's really hard losing a close friend. Not as hard as losing a parent, but as he was only 42, it was really a great loss to me and others who knew him. He was such a good-hearted person, loving friend, and great neighbor. He also was the owner of the father of 2 batches of my dog's puppies. Sugar loved him MASSIVELY, but now she will never see him again. :-(

7) I currently "work" as a live-in caregiver for an elderly lady. This has been a blessing in that I currently have no rent or utility payments, so this has been nice. I do expect to probably move again though in August, before school, since I will have TWO night classes in the fall semester. There is NO WAY I can ask Jeremiah to pick me up 2 nights a week for ANOTHER semester. So, if I don't move to west Mesa or Tempe, I will have to buy a car or something to get me home after 9:00 or 9:30 when my Monday and Tuesday night classes get out. It totally stinks that you are at the mercy of the SINGULAR option they have for your major classes. But, what can you do about it? Nothin'.

8) Oh, I nearly forgot - I've also had two knee surgeries - meniscus tear repairs on both knees. The first was last July, and the second in December, during the winter school break. Yeah, I still have pain in both of them, but not so much as before. The recuperation for the left was much more difficult than the right, but the physical therapy place, Banner Physical Therapy over by the Banner hospital on Dobson and Southern, has the greatest physical therapists! They are easy to work with, and genuinely gifted in knowing what will work for each individual person. And, they treat you like a person - not a patient.

Thanks so much to Camille, Kieth, Aon, Janet, and all the staff there for all your help and encouragement!

Anyway, so I've been through a LOT in this past 2+ years. I have had many highs and lows, but I'm still here, and still moving and breathing, so I'm grateful. Now that I'm trying to go back and do a better job of writing down the things that happen in my life, maybe I can better manage to keep updating my blog. I know this is not really spring or the new year beginning, but it's a restart, so wish me luck with keeping this up.

Time will tell.

Day 30: I'm Thankful to be at the End of this List!

You know, I am truly grateful for so many things. It has been a great experience putting them down in words, but I am also truly grateful to be at the end of this 30-day list of things. Like Marily, I'm grateful for lists. I use them to know what to get when I go shopping, to keep track of some things, to make sure I don't forget other things, and for the obvious extrinsic benefit of seeing things actually checked off from them. It's therapeutic!

Every day, there are so many things I give silent thanks for, and perhaps I should write these things down on a more regular basis, but keeping a journal of any type has never been my forte'. I give quiet thanks all day, every day, for the many things that come my way to be grateful for, but I don't usually write them down.

There are many things I'm good at, but keeping a personal history or diary isn't one of them. I wish it was. There are so many things in my life, good and not-so-good, that I probably should have chronicled for posterity, but it just didn't happen. Maybe, when I get less busy (haha), I'll start re-creating some of those events. (not!) I know myself. That's one thing I'm good at, and I know that writing stuff down is not one of the things I'm good at. I truly hope someday to change that, but it's not lookin' like it will be any time soon. The Lord knows what is in my heart, so I'm hoping He'll help me to remember things, so I can eventually write them down.

Suffice it to say, I have difficulties in my life that I have to deal with constantly. Who doesn't? But, I have so many things to be grateful for that 30 days is not sufficient to list them.

No, I don't plan to continue doing a day of thanks in this blog forever, even though it wouldn't hurt if I did. You can see that it took me like more than 2 years to get around to finishing the last 10 days of this list. One reason for this is the fact that it takes time to put down into words the way I feel about my children, and obviously, I can't do 30 days of thanks without spending a day on each one of them.

My life has been full of adventure, learning, and doing, along with many trials and hardships. I'm not a "sit-around-and-do-nothing" kind of person. I never will be one of those. I suppose that the fact I'm in my third year of a 5-year college plan, to start a new career, is proof enough of that. I love people, and I LOVE making and doing things. I'm so grateful that I am still physically able to keep making and doing things.

I just pray I'm always able to do so.

Day 29: I'm Thankful for Transportation

I am so thankful to be able to get around. Despite the whole not-having-a-car, for a really long time, I am able to get around town and get to things and places I need or want to.

I am able to have a bus/rail pass from school that is no longer free, but seriously inexpensive at only $40 per semester, and $25 for the whole summer. The bus situation in Mesa is pretty dire, but manageable most of the time. The light rail is really fun, and I have gotten well-acquainted with it through traveling to Phoenix's Downtown ASU campus for the past 3 semesters.

My classes for my college minor, Nonprofit Management, are all at the downtown campus. I have a few things to finish up an "incomplete" in 2 classes, and I'll be DONE with my minor classes. Yay! I'm thankful for that, too!G

I'm also very grateful to my amazing and loving son, Jeremiah, who has faithfully picked me up at the ASU Business College after my Monday night accounting class for the ENTIRE spring semester. When I learned that this "required" class was only given at night, I asked him if he had the time, and would be willing, to be my ride home on Monday nights. There is no bus going north on Stapley Drive in Mesa after 6:30 PM, so I either had to figure out some way to get home, or not take the class.

Thankfully, he was not only able, but was also willing. It has been a very fun and special experience enjoying those Monday night times to visit with him, catch up on things, and sometimes go by Taco Bell for food on the way home.

Jeremiah, you are my hero! Thanks so much! That class was REALLY HARD! I'm glad that class is over with, and I got a B!

Woo hoo!

Day 27: I'm Thankful for Being Able to Give Thanks!

I have been given so many blessings, and I'm so glad that I was taught as a child how to give thanks! Being thankful is something that we all probably need to get better at.

I have a great family of six fabulous children, their 4 spouses (so far), and a great bunch of grandchildren.

I have my mother that I can visit and talk with, although my dad has been gone for several years, now. I miss him.

I have a place to live and food and clothes.

I am able to go to school at ASU, to pursue a college degree (finally).

I am able to attend classes at the ASU LDS Institute, and bolster my knowledge and testimony of the Gospel.

I am able to attend the Temple nearly every Saturday, and feel the presence of my Heavenly Father.

I have my two very cute mini-Dachshunds that are a joy in my life.

I can still walk and get out and do things I enjoy.

I have many more blessings too numerous to list.

I am so grateful for everything!

Day 28: I'm Thankful for Food!

Food is Good! I'm so grateful for all the amazing things there are to eat! Pizza, hamburgers, fried chicken, steak, baked potatoes, salads of all kinds, and veggies! I love to eat, and I love to cook food! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days, since there is so much cooking of, and eating of, great food!

Families get together and share a meal and life experiences, and just catch up with what each of them is doing. It's a great time.

Christmas, birthdays, and many other holidays and special occasions have built into them the sharing and eating of FOOD! Food comforts the soul, while it feeds the body. Many holidays and Holy Days are intertwined with rituals and festivities involving food.

There is nothing like a good meal, especially a great home-cooked meal.

So, let's all get together and eat! Yay for food!

Day 26: I'm Thankful for Flowers!

Flowers are so beautiful! Roses, tulips, gardenias, hollyhocks, sweet peas, phlox, verbena - the list is almost endless! My favorite flower is the Passion Flower. Although it isn't a well-known flower, I love it because it supposedly reflects the life of Jesus. It is a perfectly symmetrical flower that is so waxy, that it looks like an artificial flower. It grows on a vine that makes a great trellis cover, and can shade the hot side of the house really well. They come in quite a few colors, but my favorite is the original color scheme of purple and green that I once had growing on the west side of my little house when my family was young, and I only had three little girls, at that time. (Photo taken by Amanda)

I also love gardenias and roses, along with Butterfly Orchids. Butterfly orchids grow on a tree that is so named because of its butterfly-shaped leaves. When the trees are in bloom, they are covered with beautiful flowers that resemble orchids, and smell heavenly.

As a child, my family home had a butterfly orchid tree with white blossoms growing outside my brothers' bedroom window. I would climb up and sit it the branches for hours, crafting leis from the flowers. They looked a lot like the leis you can get when you go to Hawaii. I actually did get a real Hawaiian lei, once. My high school boyfriend's sister's boyfriend (figure that out) went to Hawaii for the summer, and brought back a lei for his girlfriend and for me. It was so beautiful, and really cool of him, too.

Anyway, the world would not be nearly as beautiful without flowers in it.

Day 25: I'm Thankful for Kerami

Kerami is the youngest of the family, the last of six, but certainly not the least important! I can truthfully say that I have no "favorite" child. There are things about each one of them that I love and value, and each is such a joy to me.

Kerami was such a bright and happy baby. She is smart, pretty, and loves nice things. She has a discerning eye for beauty, and a discerning heart for spiritual beauty. I believe that all my children have inherited the gift of being able to discern spirits - that is, to be near a person and to feel the lightness or darkness of their hearts. Kerami has worked to magnify this gift.

I'm so proud of her as she prepares to go on a mission. She will be the only one of the five sisters to fulfill a full-time mission as a single, young woman. All four of her older sisters are already fulfilling missions of the "motherhood" type, and doing a great job at that!

Kerami loves the gospel, and is a loving and loyal friend. She truly cares about those around her and their happiness. She also has a joy of learning, although she is still young, and has not had the opportunity to expand on this much, as yet.

I'm so proud to me her mother. She knows that I love her, and will do anything I can to help her any way needed. If I can do it, I will.

Kerami, thanks for choosing me to be your mother. I love you!

Day 24: I'm Thankful for Jeremiah

As the prophet Jeremiah of old, this young Jeremiah is a man of faith. He loves God, and doing His work. He loves Jesus Christ and being His emissary. Jeremiah has a heart that loves unconditionally, and finds joy in service to all those around him.

Jeremiah is the fifth in the family - and the only boy. When he was a baby, he was often called "The Boy." He is a mother's perfect description of what any mom would want in her son. That is not to say he is perfect, although he works hard to do what's right in his life.

As a young child, he was really good at taking things apart - like the lawnmower, when he was only 2-1/2! I KNEW, though, that someday he would learn to put things back together! Now, he is working towards his degree as a mechanical engineer.

Yup, they all come "pre-wired" for who they are going to be. It's our job as parents to somehow figure out how to guide these little people in the direction the Lord wants them to go, until they decide to guide themselves there. Also, to pray for them, when they decide to go in another direction, entirely.

Jeremiah is a GOOD SON, and great friend to all who know him. His spirit is ageless, and he is able to translate this into the ability to befriend anyone - from infants to older adults - in personal friends. He truly LOVES everyone.

Jeremiah prepared himself to be able to serve a faithful full-time mission. His love of the Lord is still constantly shown in his life. He is a faithful home teacher, and now spends his Saturday afternoons and evenings as a Temple worker, helping with all the duties he is asked to perform, as he helps the rest of us to attend and do the work for those who were once on the earth, but cannot now do their own ordinance work. His life is an example and a blessing to me, and to many others.

Jeremiah, thanks for all you do for me and others. Thanks for the rides to places. Thanks for the ride home from accounting class for a WHOLE SEMESTER of Monday nights.

Thank you for choosing to be MY son. I respect you, and who you are, and who you are becoming. I love you!

Day 23: I'm Thankful for Bethany

"Bethany, Bethany, Bethany, Bethany. Life is but a dream."

This is what Marily sang when she was little. "Why do they always sing my name? Why can't they sing someone else's name?" I thought it was pretty cute, but she didn't!

Bethany is the fourth child in the family. She is a bright, happy, loving, kind, and very intelligent person. Born in December, she was also such a bright light during the Christmas season that year, that for the first time, I actually understood a tiny bit what Mary, the mother of Jesus, must have felt at His birth.

Having 3 children already, I was a lot more relaxed, less harried, and more understanding that although the house needs cleaning, etc., the children will not wait, and will grow up whether or not the dust bunnies are still under the couch. It is best to enjoy them while they are still little. Watching your children learn, discover, and grow is the most amazing thing about being a mother.

I was able to contemplate and wonder about my children's futures, about the things that I most needed to teach them, and mentally try to arrange my priorities to make those things more important that SHOULD be important.

Bethany has a love of living things - outdoors, animals, and most of all her children and husband. She is a no-nonsense mom, but is able to keep things in perspective and relax and have fun with her children.

Bethany also loves to learn and create. Having children and making a home for her husband and family has given her the desire to gain new talents and create things. It has been really fun working with her and teaching her as she has wanted to make cushions for her window seat, design and make Halloween costumes, and creating clothes from pillow cases for her and Heidi. She has a talent for design, and although she is barely scratching the surface in this area, I'm looking forward to watching her grow and gain expertise in this area.

Bethany is an amazing young woman, wife, and mother. I am so proud to be her mother!

Thanks for choosing me to be your mom! I love it! And, I love you!

Day 22: I'm Thankful for Marily

Marily is such a special person, and was such a joy to have as a child. She loves life, and works hard to instill this and values of faith, hard work, truth and righteousness, and many other choice values into her children.

She was always laughing and having fun. She loves a good joke, and loves a little teasing. I think she wouldn't be happy if someone didn't tease her a little. This is a good thing, since her husband also loves a good joke, and her boys seem to have inherited the quick wit and love of a good laugh from the two of them.

Marily loves learning, and loves doing the "domestic" things that many believe have gone out of fashion, such as sewing, canning fruits and even meat, and being a "happy homemaker" for her family. She understands the real meaning of gaining joy through the service of those around her, and is an example to all who know her.

Marily has a creative side that I believe she has barely scratched the surface of. I look forward to seeing what new and amazing things she will do with this in the future. She is a gifted writer, with critical insights that many find inspirational, as well as clever. She writes in her blog about the good things, and the bad, not placing herself above having faults. I wish I were more like her in this. Yes, I know I have faults and frailties, and I'm definitely willing to express this; but, I'm still not willing to write it all down and hang it out there for all the world to see. Marily, you are a good example in this to all of us.

She is gifted in music and many other things, and as she raises her family of boys, I am hoping she'll eventually have a girl or two, so she can explore her more "girlie" side of creating frilly dresses or whatever. Boys don't wear much pink, or many "foufy" things, so her sewing projects mostly relate to items for herself, ties for the boys, and aprons and such.

Marily has a degree in Education, but is mostly using that knowledge to help teach her family. For this, she is well-prepared. She was third in the family, so has a brother and two sisters that she was able to practice "mothering." I'm not sure how much they liked this, but I suspect not much. However, she is a great mom and example to her friends and associates as to how to love your children, and still be firm in guiding them.

We have worked on several creative projects, from the wall-hanging for Mark's office, to other things. I look forward to many more such creative endeavors. But, most of all, I look forward to many more times "hanging out" with the boys. I love my grandchildren!

Thanks so much Marily for always making sure I get the invites to their special events. Thanks also for choosing to have me as your mother. I will always be available to help with anything I am able - just let me know.

I am proud to be your mother. I love you.

Day 21: I'm Thankful for Amanda

I'm thankful for AMANDA:

Second in line, but never one to be second anywhere else, Amanda is "Miss Personality Plus." Anyone who knows Amanda knows that she is a fierce and faithful friend to the end, and that she never judges a person by what she sees on the outside. She judges from the heart - taking all the good qualities of a person and loving them unconditionally, while setting aside their shortcomings. This doesn't mean that she allows people to take advantage of her, though. She is just wise in positioning herself so she can love the person, but not let their faults interfere or cause harm to her, personally.

Amanda is the 100% "I do it myself" kinda girl. She actually put her little hands on her hips, stance spread, and told me this when she was a 2-year-old! I knew that we could be in for a bumpy ride in raising her. To my joy, I have learned that having headstrong children can be a great blessing. There is no possible way any of their friends are going to be able to influence them to do ANYTHING they don't want to do. The big challenge then, is to instill in the child/children the DESIRE to choose good friends, and make wise choices in the way they live their lives.

As Amanda grew, she had opportunities for leadership and growth. She has learned and prospered. Without the benefit of a college degree, she has gained positions of trust and responsibility in her career. If it needs to be done, she can figure out how, and do it!

As a mother, Amanda is loving, kind, firm, and fabulous! Iris is a joy to our family, and we all wouldn't know what to do without her. Although I'm sure she would have had the circumstances of Iris' arrival be a bit different, Amanda would not want to live her life without her beautiful, talented, brilliant Iris! Having a daughter gave Amanda a new perspective on life, and something more to live for. She is a blessing to her mother, and to her family as a whole.

Love and marriage have also been good for Amanda. After several years, and thinking that possibly marriage would not come for her, she reconnected with David. He is a kind, loving, and thoughtful addition to our family, and we are proud to claim him. I'm grateful that he loves my daughter, and shows it. I'm grateful that he loves Iris, and shows it, and is a good father to her.

I'm also glad that Amanda has been able to find a new job working at the El Paso Zoo. She is finding joy in her work, again, and it's a wholesome atmosphere to work in.

I love my family. I believe we decided who would be our family in the preexistence. Thank you Amanda for deciding to be part of my family. You know I will always be there for you - whatever you need, if I can do it, I will. I love being your mother!

Day 20: I'm Thankful for Dawn

I'm thankful for DAWN:

First child in line - The "dawn" of the family. No, that isn't why she got the name "Dawn." Her spirit and personality are where she got her name. She came all "bright & shiny." It's hard to explain to those who have never had children or worked with children; but, they are WHO they are when they arrive here on this earth. Her name became Dawn because she added light to the world when she came. Personalities can be molded and directed a bit, but every child comes already "wired" with the traits and talents they will carry and have to work with, or around, all the rest of their lives. Dawn brought life, love, and joy into the world.

Dawn was a bright and happy baby. She came just "knowing" things. Dawn very rarely asked "why" about anything. (Maybe, "Why not?", but not why.) She was the "I know why" child of the family. She watched everything and everyone, and when she had it figured out, she would say, "I know why this . . . ". And, she would continue to explain how she came to this conclusion. Most of the time, she had it right. And, when it wasn't the right thing, it was so logical that it COULD have been right.

Those of us who believe we were spirits in a lifetime before this, believe that some spirits, like earthbound bodies, were born before others. Some spirits are tremendously old, compared to others. Dawn has an "old" spirit. She came with much innate knowledge - things she had learned before this life. I loved having such a brilliant child. As she grew up, she was anxious to learn, quick to understand, and eager to teach those around her what she had learned.

Dawn has a compassionate heart, quick sense of humor, modest nature, and love for learning and teaching. All these traits and many, many more make her an amazing woman, a loyal and understanding wife, a kind and loving mother, and a true and trustworthy friend. I believe her position in the family was no accident.

I love her for the way she loves her family, is loyal to her values, and for the relationship she and I have with each other. I love the IM'ing late at night; and the updates on what she, Bart, and each of the children are doing. I love that she feels she can confide in me when she needs a shoulder to lean on. And, I love that she is there for me, when I need someone to talk to.

Dawn I love you. I'm so grateful for the privilege of being your mother.

Making Pretty Things!

I must preface this post with the disclaimer: I started writing this more than a year-and-a-half ago, so the things in it are true, however outdated the timing might be!

One of the things I love most in life is creating pretty things. I love painting, writing poetry and music, designing and sewing something, building things, and on-and-on! Making things and refurbishing and beautifying old things can make a person's surroundings brighter and happier.

The power of Creation is one of the most amazing and useful gifts we have been given in this life.

As a mother, sharing in the Power of Creation with our Father in Heaven has blessed my life in so many ways that I could never enumerate them all. If you are a mother, then you already know. If not, there is no way anyone can make you truly understand.

The Power of Creation does not just reside in the ability to have children, however, and there are many ways to discover and share this with those around you.

In the past little while, I have been working on my daughter, Amanda's, wedding dress. It has been a challenge, but a very happy one. She was supposed to be able to come to Arizona so I could measure and fit her for the dress, but, this turned out to be impossible. This left me with the task of not only designing the dress, but creating the pattern and cutting and sewing it, without the benefit of her current measurements. Luckily, I seem to have a tape measure in my head, enabling me to literally calculate EXACTLY from my remembrance of her figure, just the right size/length for everything.

I prayed for guidance, then drew out the pattern on paper, and cut the fabric. As I sewed it together, I know my mind and hands were guided by inspiration. I will admit that I am a pretty great seamstress - having designed or sewn pretty much anything that can be made with a sewing machine, in my lifetime. However, this particular project was something that could not fail - it had to be right, and PERFECT!

As I put together the different sections of the dress - the sleeves, bodice, and skirt, I was so pleased with how they were coming together. I sent pictures to Amanda, and she LOVED them! This was the most important part - that the recipient, my beautiful daughter - would be able to wear this and it would be THE DRESS that she had always envisioned herself wearing for her wedding. But, the acid test still awaited. It had to fit!

Marily and Mark were so kind as to buy me a one-way plane ticket, so I could leave for the wedding a few days early to finish the dress in El Paso. I took the dress there in two pieces - top and bottom - so I could alter or adjust as needed, before sewing them together and putting in the zipper. I was so grateful, when she tried it on, that it FIT - EXACTLY!!!! All I needed to do was to finish putting it together. This was a good thing, since I ended up needing the time it would have taken to make alterations to also make a slip to go under it, and oh - no biggie - do the flowers for the wedding! Well, it's a good thing I've had a lot of practice at those things, but I'm also very thankful for the talents I was given, that I am able to do these things, and that I can share them in this way with my family, and my daughter's new family, in such a meaningful way.

Creating new and beautiful new things - or taking old things and re-making them to be beautiful and useful again - these are gifts that God has given to all. They may be expressed in many different ways, for different people, but all of us have the ability to see and create new things in this world.

If you have not written, painted, drawn, built, or designed anything recently - give it a try. There is a divine sense of joy and personal fulfillment that comes with making or fixing something and sharing it with the world around you that helps us to understand a little more about God, and how He feels joy from the creation of this world, and especially the creation of US, His Earthly Masterpieces.

So, go sew something, write something, draw something, or just buy a kit and put it together! See how fun it is to add a new and beautiful thing to your world!

Go forth, and create!

Day 19 of Thanks: I'm Thankful for Puppies!

Well, I didn't get much sleep Tuesday night. At 3:15, I awoke to the sound of my poor Sugar Baby crying. Yes, dogs can cry. She has been expecting puppies any day, and was in the process of having the first one. It took a few more minutes, and right after the first one, came the second.



And, yes, I helped. I'm actually a pretty good doggy midwife. Over the next few hours, she and I worked and slept a little, but by 6:45, there were 6 absolutely adorable, tiny dachshunds.

Sugar baby has had puppies before, and she is a very excellent mother dog. In fact, she is such a good mommy, that in order to coerce her to go out for her regular walk now, I have to carry the puppies along, or she won't go. I put a towel in a bucket I use for mopping, and she'll go happily along, as long as she's sure I have the puppies with us.

That daddy is George, another mini-dachshund, who lives here in the mobile home park. His owner, Matt, does not have any children of his own, so George is his baby, and these are George's first babies. Matt is extremely happy to be a doggy "grandpa." He even complained that he didn't have any cigars to hand out for the babies, but I told him I thought jerky sticks would be more appropriate. I don't know if he will actually hand out cigars or jerky, or not.

Sugar is a good-natured dog, and her past puppies have been the same. I have kept in touch with some of those who have purchased a puppy, and all are extremely happy with their new family members. I'll keep you posted with new puppy pictures.

Day of Thanks 18: Thanks for Good Friends!

Today was a good day. I got to go to school, and I got to spend time with friends.

I love school and learning, and one of the things I have loved most, is the new friends I have made in my various classes, and just being in and around the campus. I have made many new and great friends. From study partners in some of my classes, to people I've met in various capacities of the business side of school, and on to quite a few of my teachers.

I have also met and made several great friends where I am living. It's really a great neighborhood. I live in a mobile home park, and my neighbors are very friendly and look out for one another.

As I walk the dog, I meet many other residents doing the same. I have really enjoyed the atmosphere, here. I have had people volunteer to help me move furniture around, some have invited me to dinner, and a couple of people have volunteered to help with any fix-up things I might need. Pretty much, I can do all of that stuff myself, but it's usually more enjoyable when you have a work partner.

Anyway, I think people are what life is all about; and people you care about and who care about you, are what make life worth living . . . so,

YAY for good friends!

Day 17: I'm Thankful for Animals

Growing up, our family always had animals around. My dad was a school teacher, but he had been raised on a farm in Chandler, and farm life was in his blood. When I was a child, we had chickens, cows, horses, a sheep, a pig, raised calves for beef to eat, and various cats and dogs along the way.

I loved helping my dad with the animals. I helped shear the sheep, feed the chickens and gather eggs. I loved helping dad exercise the horses, and even got to help with the birth of foal at 3:00 a.m., when I was about 12. I now have only one cat and one dog, and that is definitely enough, since having your pets stay home all day without you is probably not very fun for them, but at least they have each other. Linsey (the cat) and Sugar Baby (the dog) are very great friends, and even chase each other around the house sometimes.

I think we were given animals to help us learn about being kind, loving, and unselfish. A dog is totally devoted to its master. And a cat will lay on your lap and purr, even when you've had a really bad day, and somehow make a lot of the bad things seem not-so-much. It has been proven that animals help elderly and sick people feel better, and be happier. Animals can sense when a person is lonely, or sad, and can even predict seizures, or sniff out illnesses such as cancer or diabetes. They really pretty amazing creatures, and the world would not be nearly as interesting or fun without them.

Now, my dog is about ready to have puppies, so I will have quite a group of pets after that, for a little while. I don't plan to keep any of them. I'm looking forward to the puppies. They are so cute and so fun, and Sugar loves being a mom. And, she's a great mom, too. I'll keep you posted.

16th Day of Thanks: I'm Thankful for Talents!

Today, I am grateful for the talents I have been given. I was blessed with many talents. I'm not even sure that I know yet, what they all are, but I'm getting there.

One of the joys of my life is learning. As I've grown up, progressed, and learned about myself, I have to say that my love of "doing" is one of my favorite things about myself.

As it just so happens, I've been working on Amanda's wedding dress. From the original concept to the current incarnation, the design has been discussed, re-discussed, envisioned from pictures, sketches, and a dress off the internet. All-in-all, it has been a process that has led us (Amanda and me) to designing what I believe we both feel will be the "Perfect Dress" for Amanda. It's nearly finished, and she will be coming here from El Paso, soon, so we can fit it and finish it.

I'm so grateful for the ability and love for sewing that I have, that I have been able to do these kinds of things for my children. Here are a couple of pictures, modeled by my roommate, Alma.

Day 15 of Thanks! Thanks for the Night!

It seems I've gotten into a pattern of doing my "Thanks" a day . . . after. I was going to say "late," but then I realized that sometimes one has to finish living through the day, before one knows what to be thankful for, for that day.

So, yesterday (night) I decided I was thankful for night. Now, any of you who know me, know exactly how much I like sleeping (NOT). But, I DO like the nighttime, however. It's quiet (most of the time). Nobody calls to interrupt what you're doing, and you can read, play games, or work on projects without so many things to get you sidetracked. I enjoy the time for reflection or watching a good movie, also.

Yes, it's more fun to have someone to spend time with, but when you don't have that someone, night doesn't have to be boring, depressing, or lonely. It can be a time to organize your thoughts about what you have to do for the coming day, relax and do absolutely nothing for a while, or just actually sleep, if you so choose. Z-z-z-z-z

Day of Thanks 14: I'm Thankful to Get to Hang Out With Grandchildren

Now, I know most families use the term "babysitting" when the grandparents are watching the grandkiddies for awhile. In our family, we don't.

When I get the pleasure of spending time with the grandkids "sans parents," I'm hanging out with them, playing with them, and enjoying their company. Yes, if they are in bed sleeping, I read or watch TV or a movie; but if they are awake, I'm watching a video they want to watch, playing trains or puzzles with them, or reading a book to them.

I loved having little ones in
my home when my children were small, although it may not always have seemed like it to them. I don't have the full-time privilege these days, but I cherish any time I get to spend with little children now, especially my grandchildren.

Their brilliant, funny, and insightful comments are always such a treat. Their generous hugs and kisses are beyond priceless. I know it's been said that "If I had known grandchildren were so wonderful, I'd have had them first," and that saying is as old as the hills, and twice as dusty. But I believe that grandchildren are the BIG REWARD for all we go through as a parent, to raise THEIR parents.

There are very few things in this world that are worth that much effort, love, time, and dedication, but raising children properly has some amazing rewards. Watching them grow and become happy and successful is one of them. Watching them become parents and go through some of the same things you did with them, is another. And, being there to see, and hold, and play with those grandchildren is, so far, the greatest reward!

And, now I have 9, count 'em, 9 grandchildren! Amazing!