A Party in Your Mouth!

Make this dough...

Bake these candies covered with the dough...

Enjoy!

Fudgy Bonbons...

Now I understand the appeal of sitting around eating bonbons!

Christmas Through a Child's Eyes

Although people talk about children forgetting the true meaning of Christmas, I think children help us remember what's really important about this season.

This year Schmillian helped me display the nativity sets I've collected over the years. As we set one up, I told the story of Jesus' birth.

A little later Schmillian took my hand and brought me back to a scene we had set up...with a few changes as all the figures crowded into the stable area, because "They all want to see Jesus, Mumsy!"

She is right. Those wise men of long ago showed us the importance of seeking and finding the Savior. May we all do so with the zeal of a child!

Traditions

I'll start this post with a little side note...Holidays involving so much food are hard for people with an eating disorder!

Now that I got that out of the way, I'll say this...There is SO MUCH to smile about during the holidays! Life is full of contradictions.

My son, Future DDS and his family spent Thanksgiving with us. I had a great time with all of them here...especially Schmillian and her brother, who thinks life is a party most of the time! We sang so many old favorite songs (which is my favorite thing to do) and did some fun things.

But the main reason for this post is to celebrate the traditions of family and the way it binds us together. On Thanksgiving morning, Schmillian joined me in the kitchen to make cornbread dressing, just like I did growing up with Mama.

It was great to be able to tell Schmillian about Ganmama while we crumbled the cornbread together. We added the chopped celery, onions, and parsley...yes, we need to put all of it in to make it good. We mixed in eggs, soup, and broth...that's a lot of broth! Last, we added lots of black pepper, because Ganmama says you can never have too much black pepper in your dressing.

After we put it in the oven, Schmillian went to tell her Daddy she made dressing just like Ganmama. "Ganmama is Mumsy's mother. She says, Never too much pepper." And so the tradition continues.

The keeping of other traditions...matching PJs for all the family (where I discovered just how big my family has become as I sewed and sewed...and ripped a little), baking gingerbread boys to mail to my son that likes them (unbeknownst to me until his wife told me a couple of years ago) help me feel connected to the ones I love.

My heart is full of gratitude for those I love and am tied to forever...those that are still here and those that have gone on. All are with me in my heart...neither miles nor death can separate us!

A Red-Letter Day

Last week I celebrated another year of life, and it was so fun waking up to this..

Thanks to all that made my day so special. I love you outside of numbers!

The Blessing of Family

July, 2010

I am amazed every day that I am blessed to call such wonderful people my family. Each one of them, whether related by blood or marriage, have taught me so much.

I appreciate the opportunity to get together with everyone, which gets harder all the time as families grow and live far apart. I'm grateful for their continued influence on me. Laughing together, supporting each other through trying times, loving each other through thick and thin...I love you all outside of numbers!

Love is Most Important

I am involved in a little family project right now that has made me realize that my "four children" have now morphed into twelve! (I know my place as mother-in-law and grandmother, but they are all mine.)

This is truly something to smile about! My three oldest boys have chosen wives that are perfect for them. And women that are the best mothers...bar none.

I have been transferring some old videos to DVD, and it's bringing back some great memories. Through it all, I realize that truly, what matters most in life is love...feeling it and demonstrating it.

About twenty-four years ago, our family had a little argument that went like this...

Mom - "I love you."

Son - "I love you, too."

Mom - "Well, I love you one million!"

Son - "Well, I love you outside of numbers!"

Who won the argument? All of us! It has become my favorite saying because it is so true. I treasure a Christmas present I received several years ago...a key chain with the inscription "We love you outside of numbers!" I keep it with me all the time to remind me of those fabulous twelve people and the other wonderful people to come!

Who do you love outside of numbers...Have you told them lately?

I Believe

For about 30 years I've hoped to visit Palmyra, New York. Finally, this past weekend, that dream was fulfilled. Being in the grove where I believe God and Jesus appeared to Joseph Smith as he prayed strengthened that belief.

I loved the climb up the steep Hill Cumorah...the feeling of peace while I thought about all the things that have taken place there.

The Book of Mormon is God's word to us at a time we need it desperately. That book coupled with the Bible outlines God's plan of happiness for us.

All the world has to offer...wealth, power, etc. will never provide the peace we each seek. That peace comes only from living God's plan for us.

We can all know for ourselves. In fact, that's what our prophet, Thomas S. Monson asks us to do. Ask God. He answers quietly, with that peaceful feeling beyond description. He answered me, and I am forever grateful.

Five Good Things...

This post has been in the making since June 28th, the day I always celebrate Carmen Dino's birth. I knew Aunt Carmen my whole life...she lived across the street from Mama and Daddy when I was a baby. She was an amazing woman...words can never do her justice.

James E. Faust once said, "You can do something for another person that no one else ever born can do…” Her influence on me continues today. Maybe you'll read something here that will help you think about something differently.

Aunt Carmen had polio when she was a little girl. It left her with one leg that was useless and never grew. A Shriner saw her playing in the park, dragging her little leg behind her. She endured many surgeries at the Shriner's hospital, finally having her joints fused so she could walk.

In the days she lived, choices for women were more limited. She made the unlikely decision to be a hairdresser, standing for hours every day. Aunt Carmen spent time helping me learn to "fix" my dolls' hair...washing, cutting, rolling...For many years I thought I'd become a hair stylist, just like Aunt Carmen.

She could be blunt, but she never meant it in a hurtful way. She’d be the first to tell you if your hair looked good...or bad. She’d tell you if she liked what you cooked...or that it wasn’t too good. She’d just laugh with you if the news was bad.

She loved shopping, eating out, and she loved my mother. She was a strong woman that faced adversity with grace and laughter. She was also one of the most positive thinkers I ever met. Aunt Carmen got through the most difficult things in life by saying, "There are five good things about this situation..."

When Mama received the news that she had cancer and wouldn't live more than about six months, she immediately began to tell me the five good things about having cancer. I tried to laugh with her. It was hard...But we had both seen how you can find the good in every situation if you look for it.

When faced with disappointment or difficult situations, the first thing that comes to mind is..."There are five good things about this..." I'm grateful to realize that happiness comes not from circumstance but from the way you think about things.

I hope this picture makes you smile. These two women continue to influence me every step of my life, and this picture captures their fun-loving, optimistic spirits...

I love you both outside of numbers, Mama and Aunt Carmen!

So long, farewell...

Last week was one of the best ever! It's time to move on and create more best days.

But first, I want to share a few more pictures from "grandkids camp." Maybe next year it will be "cousins camp" with the addition of Goldilocks...I don't know, it takes a brave kid to leave home for a week!

Turns out, this was deemed the "favorite part" of camp...

Causing me to wonder why I spent so much time gathering materials for other activities...Thanks, Skip To My Lou, for great ideas for summertime fun! Because whatever they say, it takes a lot to keep two boys busy for a week...not to mention for a lifetime...

The Best Day Ever!

We took the opportunity to enjoy the warm weather here by going to the "beach." It's not the white sands of Pensacola...However, a picnic by the water was lots of fun. Hours were spent building sand castles, "seats," and other things. Seeing some sail boats up close was pretty exciting...As we left, Batman commented, "This is the best day ever!"

Batman looks a lot like his dad looked, and that comment reminded me of a comment his dad made when he was about the age Batman is now...

The three boys and I went to Sam's Club to get a few things before my family came to visit. Planning to have sandwiches one day, I put a large container of croissants in the cart. Then these classic words..."This is the best day of my life because you're buying these breads!"

Maybe if we found joy in the simple things we'd have more "best days ever!"

Here are some shots of our "crystal" lake and the beach!

Glub...Glub...Two boys in the tub...

Looking for a fun way to practice learning letters, making words, and creating fun pictures?

Foam sheets, scissors, and a tub make for lots of laughs!

Read more here.

Life is just a bowl of cherries...

Batman and Wolverine have come to my house this week. We've had lots of fun.

On the trip here, Batman commented, "I don't know why my stomach feels a little weird about me coming to your house. The rest of me feels really good!" Sometimes life is like that, isn't it?

Here's a sweet story to start things off...We have a cherry tree and it's full of cherries. The boys were very excited about picking cherries and making a pie.

We went to church Sunday morning. In the car on the way home Batman said, "My teacher loves cherries. We should pick some cherries and take them to her." I told him that was a good idea, but she worked out of town and it might be hard. He insisted she really loved them and we should call her and find out when she would be home.

Long story short, she was leaving at 2:00 that afternoon. She, of course, encouraged me to explain to Batman she was leaving and that I'd bring them another time. He was having none of it. So we picked a few, and then I took a bag out of the freezer to take to her. She cried saying how sweet it was of him. On the way home he felt so good.

Batman: "I'm glad I did a nice thing."

Me: "You do a lot of nice things."

Batman: "I try to do nice things, but sometimes I forget I'm trying to do that and I don't. But now I did a nice thing and I'm going to remember to do nice things because it makes people happy. It's okay that we picked all the red ones and gave them to her. In a few days the pink ones will be red and then we can pick them and make a pie."

When I told him we had some in the freezer we could use now to make a pie, he was really excited.

Just think what life would be like if we were all more like kids! Let's all do a nice thing today!

What I Think

Goldi is a two-year-old that knows what she thinks. Come to think of it, most two-year-0lds have a mind of their own...that's why so many lovingly refer to "the terrible twos," isn't it?

Well, there are times when Goldi decides to wield power over her parents by refusing to eat...anything. Things that she loved the day before become "yucky." We've all seen it. But this story makes me smile...

Mama to Goldi: "Here, eat this. It's really yummy."

Goldi: "No...it's YUCKY." (She hasn't tasted it yet. She can just tell it's yucky.)

Mama: "It's not yucky...It's YUMMY. See, (putting a bite in her mouth) it's yummy."

Goldi: "No...(trying to turn her head away as her Mama puts a little in her mouth)

Mama: "Ummm...You like it."

Goldi: (Spitting it out into her hand and showing her mother while making a horrible face,) "I'm pretty sure it's yucky!"

Next time you're tempted to tell someone else what they think about something, remember this face!

Listening

One of my sons, "Missionary Guy," enjoyed talking...A LOT...when he was young. From the minute he got up every day until he went to sleep at night, he had lots of stories and things to say. The fact that he was competing with three older brothers may have had something to do with it, but I'm pretty sure he just loved hearing himself talk.

Sadly, I did not always pay attention to what he was saying...I know it was wrong. In my defense, if you constantly hear something, sometimes you tune it out so you can hear something else. I developed the habit of saying, "Uh-huh" while he told his stories so it sounded like I was listening. (I know, your opinion of me is getting worse by the minute. Stay with the story...there's a point.)

One day we were in the grocery store, and he was talking away. I was intent on getting the shopping done. I was walking along pushing the cart, Missionary Guy was talking continually, and I was saying, "Uh-huh" over and over. You get the picture, right? You can probably guess what happened next...

A lady walked up behind me and said, "Uh-huh, uh-huh."

Was she JOKING? I felt like saying, "Mind your own business, lady. You have no idea how long I've been listening to this story." But I just smiled, and then...

Missionary Guy put his precious little hands on my cheeks, turned my face towards his and said, "Listen to my words." I probably don't need to write anything else, but...

In this busy world with lots of things vying for our attention, sometimes we need to take time to stop what we're doing, look at our most important people, and listen to their words.

Here's a picture of Missionary Guy telling Ganmama, "Listen to my words." (I feel a little better knowing that sometimes even she needed a reminder!)

Time management...the myth...

I know everyone thinks their grandchildren are the cutest children alive...but mine really are. You will agree if you keep reading, because I'm going to tell you a story about "Goldilocks," and after the story I'll post a picture so you can see for yourself!

Goldilocks and I were sitting at my table talking about nonsensical things with her mother (who is pretty cute herself.) Goldilocks is two, and she's figuring lots of things out...like who I really am.

It's not possible that I'm her Daddy's mother because her mother is also his mother...(not to say her mother is bossy or ever tells her daddy what to do...I'm sure it's just that in her mind, mothers live with their children.) Anyway, after a little banter back and forth about that, I asked...

"How old are you anyway?"

Goldilocks: "One."

Her mother: "You're two now, remember?"

Goldilocks: "Oh, yeah...I six!"

Me: "I think you're two."

Goldilocks: "No, I six."

Me: "I thought you were two."

Goldilocks: "I six," then pointing to her mother..."You forty."

We all laughed, but I'm pretty sure her mother was just being a good sport. Me, too, for that matter. Need I say, I am not old enough to have a son married to a forty-year-old girl!

Now, every story should have a point, right? Here's the point. I've spent lots of time preparing for a presentation I'm doing for city employees on "time management." (Sounds like the management is experiencing a bit of frustration with some of their employees, doesn't it?) Here's the thing...time management is a myth. You cannot manage time. I read a great book called "Time Traps" by Todd Duncan that delves deeply into this subject. What can you really manage?

You can manage the tasks and things you do with your time. Time is both unchanging and fixed. So don't frustrate yourself trying to manage it. Smile a lot...even let yourself laugh...enjoy the time you've been given. Spend it wisely...don't wish away your life. Enjoy your twenties...because before you know it, you'll be forty!

A book without pictures is sometimes boring, so here's a picture of me making good use of my time in the hammock with Goldilocks!

Smiling

People have told me for years, "You should write a book. You have so many funny experiences to share." I don't know that I could write a book worth reading, but I continue to have experiences that make me laugh. My hope is that reading one of the posts on this blog will make you smile and help you remember the fun times in your life.

Let me start with a few disclaimers:

1. The stories I write may have a point, but it is NEVER my point to offend or criticize anyone.
2. This blog isn't just about my children and grandchildren. If I know you well and have a funny experience with you or your children, I may write about it...unless you ask me not to...names will be changed randomly.
3. The things I write are just my take on things...I'm often wrong...you don't need to tell me!

And now, here's a sample of what's to come...

My sister had an important trip to take, so I flew to her town to keep her four children for a little over a week. Now, I was a little concerned about how things would go, since it has been many years since I had four kids in the house...not to mention the fact that her almost-tw0-year-old son ran and hid every time he saw me when I came to visit. But you can do anything for a week, right? So off I went.

Can I just say that things have changed since my boys were young? I did my best to keep up. Every time we got in the car the youngest two started begging me to turn on the DVD. All the while the older two are talking to me and to each other. I was intent on making sure everyone was safely buckled in, learning to operate my sister's car and getting the right address to pop up on the GPS...hoping we'd get to where we were going on time. Maybe words can't properly convey that I was a little stressed...

Enough of the explanations. Here's how the conversation went...Mister: "Turn on the DVD." Other Mister: "Onnnnnnn!" Me: "We're not going to turn it on right now. We're only going to the school" Mister: "But I want to watch a movie. (To sister) "Will you turn it on?" Me: "No, we're not going to turn it on. I'm old. I really enjoy peace and quiet sometimes." Mister: "I like peace and noisy!" Me: "The Lord can't speak to us if it's noisy all the time. Sometimes we need to be quiet and listen."

I talk to the girls until we arrive at the school. I drop them off and we're on our way home. 10 minutes have probably passed. Mister has been very quiet, but finally he can take it no longer. He says, "Aunt Martha, I've been quiet for 30 minutes and the Lord hasn't said anything yet!!!"

I know...it's funny. But I ask you, have you ever felt like that?