Good Soil

Summer is in full swing where I live.
Grasses are green,
trees are clothed in their different varieties and colors of leaves,
flowers are bursting with blossoms,
and I got to thinkin' about
soil.

Some yards are near-heavenly to gaze upon--
lush, lively, meticulously landscaped and inviting.
Some are pretty average looking--
green lawns are mowed, a shrub here and there,
but not without a few wild dandelions to keep it real.
And then
there are those yards that are weed-filled and ragged;
bare spots of dirt, clods of grass in shaded areas,
sad-looking blankets of earth, left unattended.

It reminds me of the Parable of the Sower that is recorded
by Matthew in the New Testament, Chapter 13:
he basically tells the story of the sower who is planting seeds
and as he does, some seeds fell by the side and were eaten by birds,
some fell on stones where there wasn't any soil to nourish them,
so when the sun shone, they were scorched and withered.
Some seeds fell into thorns and weeds and were choked out.
BUT
other seeds fell into good ground
and brought forth much fruit.

After Jesus shares this parable with his disciples,
they want an explanation.

The explanation is that
people are like those seeds.

Some people don't even understand the "good news"
and are quick to be distracted.
Some people receive the gospel with joy,
but when tribulation or persecution comes,
the roots aren't there to help them not be offended.
And the one who hears the gospel message,
but is distracted by the noise and temptations of the world,
so those "thorns" choke out "the word".
But then,
then there's those seeds that are 'received into the good ground"
where the learn the gospel,
nourish it,
live it,
and then go on to share it,
bearing enormous amounts of good fruit.

So I've been thinking about this Season I'm in
and I'm thinking about the kind of
Soil
I've been in for most of my days.
And what I've decided is that the soil
I was "planted" in,
must be good.


I came to this conclusion this week,
when I looked at the two magazines that came in
the mail--
the only two magazines I subscribe to
are
The Ensign (published by the LDS Church)
and
Southern Living.

I'm a southern girl at heart.
I pour thru the pages of Southern Living,
first the tourism pages of favorite beaches,
then the decorated homes with luscious landscaping
of climbing roses, magnolias, crepe myrtles, 
perwinkle, gardenia--
and I just haveta say that I cannot
CANNOT pass a gardenia bush
at King Soopers or Home Depot
without stopping to smell those beautiful white blossoms
that used to fill my childhood home in Florida
with their exotic fragrance.
"It's just near cruel that they even have those plants for sale here",
I lament, knowing that those same plants will be near-dead by November
up here at 6700 feet above sea level.
Anyway, I pour over the pages and
recall the brilliant flora of my
younger days.
Nevermind that those plants don't grow here in the Rocky Mountains--
reminiscing about them is enough for me.

The recipe sections are my favorite part of the magazine--
the amounts and measurements of this and that
are only complimented in my mind by the notion
that these Southern recipes are meant to be
Shared with your family, your church members, your neighbors.

That's the best part of being Southern...
your world is larger than the end of your nose.

I love being from the South.
I know what it feels like to ride bareback
on back-country dirt roads with Spanish moss hanging so low,
you can swat it with your hands as you ride under it.
I know swimming holes
and swinging on heavy ropes tied around cypress trees,
even when you don't have your swimsuit on.
I know what it smells like after a rain shower,
and what a magical thing it is to see steam raising off the asphalt roads
after a July rainstorm on a Carolina afternoon.
I know the fun of buying a bright yellow western shirt,
donning a cowboy hat and saddling up to get to the Houston Livestock and Rodeo to hear Conway Twitty and eating some good, sticky "Q".
I am a former beach baby--
when Miami highways were un-crowded ribbons of grey
that beckoned us to stop the car
and run out to the foamy shorelines in our bare feet.
Those memories are good soil.
I know good Baptist barbeques,
tent revivals,
dating the Preacher's son
and all the words to
"I Stand All Amazed".


Good Soil, right there.

My other magazine with bent corners
is the Ensign.
Pictures and testimonies of fellow travellers
from all over the world.
My sisters in Africa
who walked for nine days to get their temple recommends.
Or those members who share their journeys of faith
after the tsunami in China,
the hurricanes in Joplin, Oklahoma, and other far reaches in the world.
Wise, divine counsel from Church leaders who basically say
what I need to hear:
Heavenly Father knows and loves me.
He's in charge.
Nevermind the storms, the perils of this life,
nevermind the thorns and distractions--
dig deep into the soil I've been planted in
and grow my roots long and deep in Him.
Trust His strength and mercy.
I am here to do good and be good.
Where much is given,
much is expected.
My strengths as well as my weaknesses
are part of my story.
Part of my growing season.

I am just an ordinary gardener.
My yard has some daylilies, lilacs, sweet williams,
pansies, and a few trees too--
Aspens, Ash, Blue Spruce,
and some other pathetic trees whose names I don't know.
But there are also some rogue dandelions and other weeds that
need tending.
You know you never just pull at the leaves of the intruders,
you have to get down to the roots to get rid of them.
Sometimes, trials are like that.
You have to get to the heart of those bothersome sins/weaknesses
before they go away.

My gardening skills are akin to my life skills;
Spring surprises me with blossoms that I didn't expect,
and weeds pop up too.
But the secret is to keep at it.
Pull those weeds,
nourish the good seeds,
tend to the edging,
and invite people over to share what I've been able to create.

It's that Southern blood running through me
that wants to share
grits and eggs,
Saturday morning breakfast with the missionaries,
taking chocolate chip cookies to my new neighbors,
and a dinner for a sister's family whose mourning the death
of their beloved granpa.
Is it my Southern roots or my Mormon life
that makes me a
"Natural Gatherer"?
My best days are when the house is full of family and friends,
n' we all offer prayers at the table
and share the blessings of the day with one another.
I can't help it.
It's who I am.
I am honored when missionaries call me "Mom"
and tear-up when they are leaving our home
that very last time.


I am equally attracted to those meticuluosly tended to lawns in my neighborhood,
as I am to the barren yards where even weeds are sparse.
What does that say about me?
I don't know.
People are like that, you know.
Some have more than enough
and some don't.
Charity sees what the soul needs,
I've learned that from strong Southern roots
and Mormon blossoms.

It's the soil I was planted in.
It's Growing Season here in the Rockies.

"by their fruits ye shall know them."
What about your "roots" defines you? Inquiring minds wanna know.

My Selfish Summer Plans, Mother's Day Revisited, and other assorted happenings

This was the last week of school before summer break.

It feels great to be on this end of the week
as opposed to last Monday.

It was kinda crazy--
finals, finishing up last minute projects,
pushing the yahoos to get every little thing turned in
for those final grades.

Whew!
I'm exhausted.

And ready for Summer.

I'm calling this my
"Selfish Summer"...
I'm going to really work on treating my body
more like a temple
and less like a Drive-In movie lot.

ya get me?

One goal is to walk every morning
for as long as I want to.
No miles,
no time,
just me, my ipod loaded with my favorite tunes,
and may be one of the dogs.
No kids.

I am thinking (and hoping) that this ritual will do two things:
*Work my bahooey off
*Save my sanity

Cuz' seriously, Mr W's already having dreams wherein he comes home from work, and Momza ain't nowhere to be found.

He fully supports my "Selfish Summer" goals.

Other things on my SS list:
Paint this house.
Room by Room.
Any color I want, with total disregard for anyone under 5'8" tall's opinion.
I've got one more summer
before the kids start passing me up in this house,
so ya know I gotta take advantage of that.

Also,  I'm going to practice the piano every day.
Even if it's 8am in the morning.
It's about time I do more than dust that beautiful instrument.

I'm also thinking of dragging my family thru a month of Vegetarianism.
Nana's already doing it,
all the cool kids are doing it,
summer's a great time to get fresh veggies
so ya know...
Why Not? I say. Why not?

SO that's alls I got for my Selfish Summer.

I guess I should share my awesome Mother's Day--
it was so busy,
I still sorta cringe when I think about it.

We had Dean down for the weekend.
We went to Golden for Dani's ward meetings
bc she spoke in her sacrament on the topic
of, what else?--
Motherhood.
She said alot of different things,
wonderful things,
inspiring things,
but my favorite part was when she shared
her love of the Gospel.
And me.
Dean liked it almost as much as I did,
but right towards the end of her talk,
he said OUTLOUD so everyone could hear,
"Dani, you got two minutes!" 
She noted his comment, "That's my handicapped brother Dean, keeping me in line as always." and continued on like a professional despite her brother's
heckling.


Mr W and the yahoos gave me a new fancy-schmancy camera--
and I've been taking all kinds of pictures with it.
Sadly, tho, our pc is about to kick the bucket,
and won't let me upload anything.
Yeah. I know.
It's only 6 years old, FCOL.
I have shoes older than this pc and cost way less!
I'm just sayin'.

For Mother's Day I also rec'd a lovely handmade shutterfly book
from Danielle filled with pictures and memories of the two of us.
I didn't get past the first page without bawling.
She shoulda wrapped it with a Kleenex box inside,
because seriously, there was some "ugly" cryin' goin' on.

David Scott sent me the sweetest card--
I want to save it forever.
But first, I have to find it again.
I read it, bawled (it's what I do)
and then promptly mis-placed it.
But, really, it was beautiful and I loved his words to me.

Dean gave me an assortment of wood projects he's made,
and a card and a potted purple chrysanthemum.

Diana gave me a lovely oil painting to go over my mantel,
and a bouquet of flowers.

Dara...shoot what did she give me?  Oh yeah, the camera.

Joseph brought me  a lovely bouquet of flowers too.

Arianna made me a card that I am going to keep forever and ever,
amen.
Inscribed was :
"Happy Mother's Day Mom.
I love you so much because
you're the only one who can handle my anger.
I love you."

true story.
Girlfriend is a hot head.
I talk her off the ledge somedays,
and others,
I thank her for the entertainment,
and still others,
I tell her I didn't buy a ticket for her show
so I'll be leaving right then.

She calms down eventually,
and we both agree that's a crummy waste of ten minutes.

Speaking of time and wasting it--
as we were leaving a very very very long commencement from
Mr Idaho's college,
Joseph said,
"Well that's 3 hours of my life I'll never get back."
Ari chimed in with a "Can I get an 'Amen'?"
 "Amen.", came the crowd around us as we walked back to the car.

Tonight, being the first night of Summer Break,
Mr W and Joseph went on a big hike up to Stanley Canyon
with the scouts
where they're spending the night.
The girls and I treated ourselves to dinner and a movie night at home.
On the way home from dinner,
they sang at the top of their lungs with the radio.
At one point,
n' I don't know if I could even relate the entire conversation correctly,
but it ended with Ari exclaiming: "Don't judge my boobs!"
I laughed so hard, I almost pulled the car over.

Girls.

Diana, also laughing her guts out, looked at me,
and said, "I'm gonna miss this so much."
Then she committed her sisters to write down every new song they hear
for the entire 18 months she'll be gone on a mission,
and make a CD every 6 months to save for her when she returns.
I do believe there was a "pinky promise, promise" in there.
Emphasis on the double promise, promise.

Arianna had her 5th grade "Continuation Ceremony" last night.
It was my last night in elementary school.
I feel both liberated and sentimental about the whole thing.
Now, the ceremony was just as you'd expect from a 5th grade class.
Too long.

But, it was a celebration for Ari because
she had her sisters fix her hair,
paint her nails,
she wore a new little white eyelet sundress
and a sweet ruffled green cardigan over it
with new floral KEDS sneakers.

She looked like an 11 year old girl,
while some of her classmates looked like
they were going to Prom.

Of course I took pictures,
but ya know, I can't upload...
pssh.

This is the first week,
where we only finished up one staging
and that was that!
It turned out to be a good thing,
because we had some flu bugs going around
and Diana got strep throat AND scarlet fever,
so I was needed at home anyway.
And,
I took BEFORE and AFTER pics of the homes we staged
this last month,
but again, I can't get them to all upload.
N' I don't wanna only upload the BEFOREs without the AFTERs.


Lastly,
this morning as I was making my bed,
I accidentally knocked my rings off the nightstand,
and one rolled so far away,
that I had to get on my knees to be able to retrieve it.
And, for no good reason,
while I was on my knees,
I suddenly was compelled to say my morning prayers
right that second.
Even while my bedroom door was open,
and the other side of the bed wasn't made yet,
and Mr W was shaving in the bathroom,
and I hadn't been thinking about my prayers this morning
yet, at all.
But there I was, on my knees,
and this is a sign I must be getting really old--
because I thought,
"Hmmm. I'm already down here. I might as well pray."

So. ya know. I did.
Because  when you're old,
it's not so easy anymore to get down and up again
on your crackly knees,
so when you're down there,
aside from picking off lint from the floor,
and seeing a random candy wrapper that some carefree child tossed there,
you get to the point where common sense takes over,
and you make the best of it.


Also in the news:
My BFF Nan had her big 5-0 birthday this week.
I invited some of our friends over for a brunch to celebrate her.
I want to confess right here, that I made absolutely nothing from scratch.
And there was not one complaint!
We laughed and laughed,
and I asked each gal ahead of time,
to write some special memories they had of Nan,
which I printed out and put in a little folder for her.
During the brunch,
each sister read aloud what they'd written.
It was sweet and funny,
and almost like she'd died--lol!!
She laughed and cried at the same time,
so I know it was a successful celebration of our loving friend.

In other news:
A woman in Colorado Springs was arrested for trying to rob a 7-11 with a potato.  Liquor was involved. The potato was also held as evidence and is no longer roaming the streets of Colorado Springs, but so far no charges have been filed.  True story right there. This, on the same day that Pres. Obama was here for the Air Force Academy Graduation.  One town, much diversity.

Lastly, my most favorite talk from General Conference was this one:
 Laborers in the Vineyard.

N' that's all I got right now.

I Am A Christian and A Mormon*

I love my Savior Jesus Christ.
He is my Redeemer and my truest, dearest Friend.
I know that He loves me and knows me by name.
I worship Him and my Heavenly Father and noone else.
Not Joseph Smith--the man who restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth
or
Thomas S. Monson, the man who is called as our Prophet today.
I do not worship them.
I love their testimonies of Christ and their witness of His Divinity.
I am a Christian because I follow Christ.
I am not an Evangelical.
I am not a Protestant.
I am a Latter-Day Saint.
A Mormon.

Politics are not my thing.
I vote when I believe in a candidate
on any level--
local, regional or for POTUS...
and when I don't believe any of the candidates
I don't vote
for a "party" out of loyalty.

But it's near-impossible to ignore
the media's reporting on those who are ignorant
about my faith.
With the "politically correct-ness" of the society I live in,
it surprises me that there is no such thing
when it comes to "the Mormons".
We are fair game for any kind of derogatory comment,
ignorant summation,
comedic fodder and
faith bashing.

It was even spoofed on the
Jon Stewart show recently.
I wasn't laughing.

The spoof was unilaterally discrediting
the Protestant, LDS and Jewish faiths--
but it wasn't funny.
It was unnerving.
And yes, I get that that's the point--
to bring to light the "ridiculousness"
of the very topic of
"faith" and contrast it with politics.
It doesn't fit.
Not in the world we live in
in the twenty-first century.
Not when every single day,
I wake up to read that mothers and fathers
are killing their own babies.
Not when our prisons are over-crowded mental hospitals--
when nearly every single cellmate is on some kind of medication.
Not when we are sending our fathers and mothers
and sons and daughters
all over the world to fight political wars in countries
I'd never even heard of
as a child.
It's just not funny.

Truth is the world would be better if politics
had a moral, ethical, spiritual standard as it's foundation
we all know that,
but then we're mixing Church and State
and that's inherently controversial right there.
But seriously,
the one thing that should be off-limits, or at least considered
"poor taste"
should be the bashing of other people's faith.

The LDS Church doesn't tell me who to vote for--
it just says to vote for the best candidate that my conscience allows.
I don't know Mitt Romney.
I've been reading up on him this last year,
assuming he might run again for President.
I'm not going to vote for him simply because he's
a member of my faith.
I know what he believes as a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
What I don't know is
what he believes in as a
Republican Politician.
Truth is, I'm not sure about him yet.*

I used to be Protestant.
I was raised in the Baptist faith--
and my father's side of the family are all members of
The Holy Pentecostal faith.
Some of them have their theology degrees from
The San Antonio International Bible College
and have run their own churches.
My father graduated from that same place.
But he chose not to be a pastor/reverend when he
became a young adult.
Frankly, it was because of the salary;
he became a salesman of goods
rather than a salesman of God.


When I was a teenager,
I studied the LDS faith at the invitation of a wonderful friend--
and chose for myself to be baptized into it.
I wasn't brain-washed or tricked into it.
Nope, I was taught the doctrine and invited to pray and know for myself
if it was true.
The Holy Ghost answered that prayer
and I have been a member going on 33 years next month.
Yes, it was that powerful of an answer
that changed my life forever.

I don't appreciate being told that I'm not a Christian
by people who profess to know Christ themselves.
And it's a lie.
It's a lie to protect their lifestyles.
I know Christ.
I have felt His love for me
in my darkest hours.
The Holy Ghost whispers peace to my soul
and witnesses the truth of all things to my heart and mind.
I am a Christian.
So when I hear from someone who has their own agenda--
political, social, or otherwise
that they know my faith better than I do,
it is insulting and wrong.
I know what I believe and in whom I put my faith.
I am not "misguided" or "deceived"--
it is literally the opposite.

I've sat in on Sunday School classes in the churches of my youth
when it was "Cult Sunday".
I know what they preach against--
anyone who is not like them,
and any other perceived threat to their livelihoodor status in the community.
I really hope that that kind of teaching has disappeared in this
day and age,
but sadly, there is much evidence
that it hasn't.

We don't have classes like that in the LDS Church--
we recognize that all faiths have good in them.
Our time isn't spent together bashing other faiths
but strengthening our own.
That's why you don't hear a huge backlash from the
14+ Million members across the globe
when we're accused of all kinds of stupid things.
We don't have horns,
We don't have more than one spouse,
We don't do anything weird in our temples.
We do wear sacred garments.
And I find that that's a confusing topic of interest to people outside of our faith,
but if you look around
many faiths have unique sacred items of dress,
though usually on the outside
where ours is worn on the inside.
Just as our prayers are not to be shouted in public
for attention
Neither are our personal tokens of faith.
It's truly personal.

As I have watched Mitt Romney's rise in the polls,
to the point where he is now the projected candidate
to go up against President Barack Obama,
a knot has been forming up in the back of my throat.
It's because I have watched as the waves of bigotry
have built up to a tsunami of ignorance...
and the voices of reason are nearly drowned out
when there is an effort to push back.

I never thought, when I was a sixteen year old convert,
that there would be an LDS President of the United States.
When I joined the church,
there was just barely two million members world wide.
But here we are,
and it's amazing to witness the changes in our nation.
We are a nation that desperately needs a true Leader.
My prayers often include our politicians--
that they will be inspired and true.
I don't care what faith they ascribe to,
I just want the country I love so much,
to be better than it is today,
for me,
for my children,
for my fellow Americans
and for those across the oceans
that I share this beautiful world with...
we so need a Leader who can inspire and lift,
don't we?


Okay, so I'm off track a bit--
I just wanted to set the record straight for anyone
who is not LDS and reads this to know
that I am a Christian and a Mormon.
The sign on my church building reads:
The Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter-Day Saints.


If you are not a member of the LDS faith and have questions,
please someone else who is also LDS.
Just like you wouldn't go to a Ford dealership and ask about a Chevy,
go to the best source of information.
You're also invited to check out the
Church's Official websites:
LDS.org
or
mormon.org


*Post script:  This was originally posted in October 2011.  As I have followed the course of the debates and primaries, I am satisified with how Mitt Romney has surfaced and I will be voting for him in November. Some of this original post has been modified to my current feelings.

Summer's Comin'!

It's the last Monday of the school year.

I am so stinkin' excited,
I can't even put it into words.

Unstructured days of sunshine and flip-flops.
Camping trips and cook-outs.
Sleeping in and late nights.

This summer will be a busy one,
but oh my!
It's gonna be a memorable one!

Dani & Mr Idaho are moving.
Diana's hoping to leave for a mission. (No word yet on the destination!)

Lots of camping trips for the kids--
boy scouts, girl's camp,
tennis lessons and summer camps.

I love this time of year!

Determination

Sometimes, they say,
the only way to go through trials
is just to plow ahead.

Just keep your head down
and walking with a purpose.

Don't look to the Left or the Right.

Just Do It.

Emphasis on the
Do
It.

I'm here to say,
I've seen alot of that goin' on in my world lately.
Specifically
in my daughter's eyes.
And in my son-in-law's life.

Mr. Idaho graduated last weekend
from a really tough engineering college--
the Colorado School of Mines.

Not only did he graduate,
he was Magna Cum Laude.
And he rec'd two very prestigious awards
that were only awarded to two other people.
His name is going on a plaque where it will remain
forever and ever
Amen.

And he did that with a wife and two babies,
along with serving as Elders' Quorum President
for the duration of his time in school.

He did it the way he did it,
because that's just who he is.
There was no other option.
He didn't make it look easy.
He didn't do it alone--
he had the support of terrific parents
and his wife held down the fortress in his absence.
There were sacrifices all around.
But, the fact is,
he did it.


Last night,
I watched with pure excitement
as my daughter clicked the
SUBMIT button
for her mission papers.

She has been hmmm'ing and haaa-ing
about going on a mission for awhile now.
She would gather some steam
until some handsome boy came by
and blow it all away with a wink and a smile.
She's also been preparing for a handfull
of relays and marathons...
all spaced out over summer.

We finally had a lull in the wave of distractions--
and that's when it happened.
Girlfriend sprained her ankle so badly,
she was in bed for 3 days straight.

God does things to get our attention sometimes
and this was it for her.

She read her scriptures for three days straight
covering hundreds of pages.
By the time she could stand on her own two feet,
she knew what direction she would start walking towards--
a mission.

She made the appointments with her Bishop and Stake President.
She made the appointments with her dentist and doctor to get
all of her medical papers filled out and turned in,
within two weeks.
All of it.
Done.

And now,
we wait for the large white envelope
revealing where it is she is going.

All of this determination has inspired me
to shrug off the distractions that produce little to no happiness in my life.
I've been working like crazy
staging homes with my friend and partner, Kelly.
It is rewarding to be creative and purposeful with the talents
I've been given,
however non-monumental they are...
I've been more focused on loving my family better,
being a better Primary teacher whose students
know that "Sister Anderson loves me."
I stopped worrying about my memory problems,
health limitations, etc., and just hunkered down
with some old-fashioned determination.

And it has made a difference to me.

It is like that scientific exercise that says
a body in motion
stays in motion.

It fills and fulfills in all the right ways.

I'm Old Enough to be her Mother

Confession:
All of my friends' kids are nearly grown--or at least graduating high school this year--(shout out to Kelly's Emily and Peri's Karli!)...I joke that by the time my youngest graduates, I'll have one foot in the grave.
With my oldest turning 29 this summer and the youngest at just 11, I can say I've been "mothering" for a long stinkin' time!

I am not the same "mom" I was when the oldest kids held me hostage. I was younger, of course, and had alot of growing up to do with them.  Sometimes, when they threw their tantrums, I threw my own. I was still immature and impatient at times.

This is my last year in 5th grade. If you count my own education, I've been in 5th grade 8 times.  I can write book reports about Abe Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightengale, Madagascar, Monitor Lizards and can make a DNA string out of starbursts, the Eiffel Tower AND an Egyptian pyramid outta sugar cubes, and a tub of frosting. Cream cheese tastes best, fyi.

Yesterday, I escorted the Caboose on a special field trip with 11 other girls in her class.  They placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Stock Market Game in the State of Colorado, so just the 12 of them plus their teacher, Mr. Hinkle, had the privilege of skipping school and going up to the Denver Zoo to a special meeting with the other winners in the State to receive their awards.  Dani and Mr. Idaho and their boys met up with us at the zoo too.

We took with us, her giggly-ball-of-sunshine-and-chatter friend, Katie.  Katie is wonderful at being an 11 year old girl.  I told her mom she should grow up to be an Auctioneer because that girl can talk about anything faster than anyone I've ever met. And she does it with enthusiasm!  She is a pint-sized girl and a blonde bob that frames her face full of angel kisses.  The hour long trip was an education in and of itself.

When we met up with other girls from their class, it was a reunion of squeals and ponytails! I walked behind with some other mothers--clearly, I reigned as the Oldest Mother there.  And I liked it.  I mean, I really really liked it.
As I looked around at the zoo, mostly patroned by young mothers and toddlers in strollers and babies in slings tethered to their bodies, I was glad to still be in their company.

Having a child when I was nearly 40 years old was good for me. I am not full of energy to run around like I used to..but I am also not [as] immature as I used to be either.  It takes all kinds of energy to get worked up about stuff, that, life has taught me, doesn't warrant getting upset or worked up about in the long run.
SO I let things go easier.  The Caboose has a much mellower Mom than my oldest yahoos did--

So what that she's worn her new favorite summer dress three times in a week--without being washed first?!  She's 11, she'll get over it.  So what if she would rather take leftovers from last night's dinner to school instead of making a snadwich or buying from the cafeteria?!  So what if she'd rather wear her hair in a ponytail 6 days in 7?!  And those Barbies covering the floor in her room--they'll all but disappear in a few more months. And that will be sad. No more cruising down the Barbie aisle at Target for me again until I have granddaughters. I already have to walk past the fairy dresses and baby dolls... I want to enjoy the Barbie aisle just a little longer, please. 
The Caboose keeps me young and active with her school trips and projects, her gaggle of giggly-ponytailed-chatterbox-friends who talk about everything girly thing under the sun--[mostly boys, music] and reminds me of my own youth.

I found myself smiling and laughing at their silliness and at the end of the day, when catching up with Mr. W at dinner last night, I just had a moment where I got a little boob-ish as I confessed the best part of my day was hanging out with twelve 11 year old girls and holding my grandsons on my lap at the same time.

 *this is the entire group from her class with her teacher, Mr. Hinkle.  Some of their winning stocks included: Aeropostale, Facebook, Chipotle, Bud Light beer, American Eagle and iTunes.  That's a testament to the power of name recognition, right there.  Their teams made more than $300,000 in 15 weeks, combined, playing the Stock Market Game.
 

Random Ketchup

*I'm heading up to the Denver Zoo this morning because Arianna and 11 other girls in her 5th grade class won the Stock market game for elementary schools in Colorado.  Her class alone, took 1st, 2nd and 3rd places for the whole state.
Arianna is going to be my financial advisor from now on.

*I've been busy with our Staging business--we've had one house a week for the past 3 weeks.  I'll post Befores and Afters soon!  Love the results!  If you're putting your house up FOR SALE, hire a stager before the sign goes in the yard!!

*I have a secret.  It.is.killing.me. not to share it.  Hint: It involves a child and certain "papers" and travelling.  ACK!!!

* I got a new dishwasher to replace the old one that sounded like it was a NASA space shuttle getting ready for launch!  After looking around town at Sears, Home Depot, and an appliance outlet, we found the one we wanted at Lowe's.  Best deal right there--we saved $150.00 by shopping with them.

*It snowed on Monday. It's going to 75o today. I LOVE Colorado!

*I'm ready to sell the dogs. They're driving me crazy. It's a BUY 1 GET 1 Free deal.  Two dollars and they're yours.  Free Delivery.  A three year old Lab, and a 5 year old Golden. Yours for a song.

* I am reading two books right now: "I Beat the Odds" by Michael Oher--the young football player about whom the movie, "The Blind Side" was written.  I've enjoyed reading it so much, I want each of my kids to read it as well.
"Tell Me Who I Am" compiled by DeNae Handy--the personal stories of a number of LDS people and their life experiences that have contributed to who they are today.  I just got that one the other day, but so far, I've really enjoyed it.

*This weekend is going to be nutz--Friday is Mr. Idaho's graduation from college. Then, we're picking up Dean for the weekend. Saturday morning is a special breakfast/brunch with Ari at Activity Days and a Morningside for Joseph and Dara.  Sunday we're heading back up to Golden as Danielle is speaking in her ward about "Mothers", then we're taking Dean home.  Sunday night, I will be curled up in a ball, exhausted.

And that's all I can remember!

Another Reason I love Colorado SO

Snow!
Yep, even tho we had bright blue sunny skies
and 88o temps on Friday...
today,
it is snowing!!
Love it!!!

Suckin' Wind and Sunshine In...

 

 Write this down:

Two weeks of bedrest

is not the best preparation

for the first hike of the season.

So that when your sweet, mountain-lovin' husband

tells you it'll be good for you to get outside

and "get a little exercise"

you will know better.

Yeah, of course you'll go anyway,

but at least you'll have been warned.

A Colorado Summer is the reward

for Mother Nature's schizophrenic state of

a Colorado Winter.

There isn't another place I've ever lived

where Summer is so perfect.

Spring teases us--

we'll get up to the high 70's here,

maybe even touching 80o in April,

only to have it snow the next day.

Crazy.

But when the sunshine is resplendent,

it pulls everyone outside.

Even if you've been in recovery mode for two weeks

after a little surgery.

You simply have no choice

but to get out and suck it up!

 So I did.

The pictures above and below were an excuse to stop and breathe

every 10-12 feet up the inclined trail.

I took alot of "scenery" pics on the way up.

Cuz I was hating life.

It was no dang fun.

I may have even stopped on a log

and wondered if Mr W was secretly trying to kill me off

on this mountainside.

 

We brought the youngest yahoos and their friends
and Riley, the golden retriever.
One thing they all had in common:
STICKS.

 

Every one of the yahoos were searching for the perfect stick to call their own.

There were lots to choose from, and along the way, each kid claimed a few dozen as their own. It was all about the sticks.

And Riley was very good at searching for his own sticks in the creekbed,

he even piled them in the same place.

Once I got going, I stopped sucking wind, found my pace and enjoyed the trail.

"Fetch! Riley!"

It turned out to be a beautiful sunny day, and tho' there was still snow in places on the trail, it was nice in the sun.

Mr W and I planted ourselves on the mountainside and let the yahoos play for over an hour...watching them enjoy these moments where they can just run around and be kids is something we value. 

Playing in the mountains, with nothing but blue skies above--

I can't imagine life getting better than this.

The yahoos found some logs and built a little bridge over the creek...it kept them busy for a long time and they so enjoyed doing that.

Kids are natural "builders", ya know?

I did not suck wind on the way down...

I was relaxed and grateful.

It was good for me,

just like Mr W said it would be.

Oh, life is good.

Mango Salsa Chicken and Lime Cilantro Rice

Qdoba's Mango Salsa
2 ripe mangos, diced
1 med. red pepper, diced
1 med. cucumber, seeded and diced
1/4 red onion, diced
1 jalapeno, seeded, minced
1/4c cilantro, chopped
1 lime--2TB juice for salsa (save other half for zest in rice)
1 TB sugar
1 pinch of salt

 *I didn't right the pic, but it's really about the cuc being seeded & diced.

 I just use my kitchen scissors to cut the cilantro.

         I used an orange bell pepper instead of red bc that's what I had on hand.

                        How to peel mangos: Cut in 1/2 first. Then cut into 1/3's.

                      Then peel and dice.  It's less messy doing it this way.

          Jalapeno: Cover hands in veg. oil first. Use peeler to vein and seed.

                                                            Mince.

Lime: Save this ingredient for LAST bc it helps remove the jalapeno oils + makes your hands smell nice. Roll around to get it soft n' juicy.  Squeeze 2 TB into salsa. ADD sugar & salt. Refridgerate.


Baked Chicken Breasts:

5 Whole Chicken Breasts (boneless/skinless)
   *Cut in HALF lengthwise. This is great for shorter cooking time and better        portions.
Add 1 small pat of butter. Season with cumin, red chili powder, garlic salt & pepper...add more or less to your tastes.
BAKE @400o for about 20 minutes, until cooked thoroughly. But not too long, or it'll dry out.

Momza's Lime & Cilantro Rice:

4 c Jasmine Rice (or whatever kind you like)
1 TB Lime zest
3TB fresh cut cilantro
1 TB natural rice vinegar
Tsp Salt
Combine all ingredients into rice cooker and cook until tender.(+ 2c water for rice)
********


Serve with chicken and mango salsa. 

I love this recipe because of all the fresh veggies and delicious mangos that are in season right now. 

Makes 10 servings. Use paper plates. Hey, it's almost summer. Noone wants to do dishes in the summer. Just sayin'.