Mormon Bloggers

This week I: Watched too much Monk; Felt my granddaughter, who should arrive sometime in the next 6 weeks, hiccup inside her mama; Unsuccessfully tried to scare granddaughter inside her mama to get rid of hiccups; Wished my grandchildren (and their parents) who live in Arizona, didn’t live in Arizona, but here; Started working out, again; Found out something nice about somebody that “bugs” me and swallowed a bitter mouthful of pride; Read a great talk on pride by Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf; Amused myself by yelling, “Kill the Christians!” (not too loudly) at the Big Mountain Jam (basketball tournament) when my daughter played against Valley Christian High; Was disturbed along with my friend *Tenille when she received an invitation to a lingerie shower for her soon-to-be step-mother; Laughed with my friend *Tenille when we analyzed the lingerie shower; Wondered if the shower was funny just because thinking about your parents in lingerie is always funny... Read the rest of this entry »

When we think of the Fourth of July, images of fireworks, flags and barbecues come to mind. It’s also a great time to talk to our children about the founding of our country and why we celebrate Independence Day. As we teach our children about America’s independence, we can help foster an attitude of gratitude for those who have sacrificed for our freedom.  Visit the Library  Your local library has many picture books about the Fourth of July and the Founding Fathers. Listen to Patriotic Music Together Visit a Historical Site, if Possible Start a Conversation With little children, explain that we celebrate America’s birthday on Independence Day. As children grow older, talk to them about what independence means. Read and Discuss the Declaration of Independence Together Rent a Movie about an American Heroine or Hero Find Fun Fourth of July Activities Help children make a flag out of construction paper or felt while talking... Read the rest of this entry »

Curly before he was curly Every time I sit down at the computer, I think of a couple of things I should have said here or there in a blog, but forgot. So I want to tie up some of those loose ends today. First of all, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned anywhere that Sport is the one who drew our picture that has now become Twelve Makes A Dozen. You might have guessed that already if you noticed  Read More →

My grandfather turned to hear me and firmly but lovingly asked, “Excuse me, What did you say?”  “Uh huh” I heard my teen-age self mumble. “Yes? Did you mean to say Yes?”  “Yeah” “Yes? Did you mean to say Yes?” only this time he quieted his tone.  “Yes.” I repeated and looked at his strong shoulders as they turned toward me. “Yes, What?”  As I looked up at him I didn’t know what he meant so I  said.. “Just Yes?”  “Yes, Sir. When you speak to your grandfather you should say Yes, Sir.”  Such a lesson, I never forgot.   Cultural Differences?  Many cultures raise their children to speak to their elders with respect. Although it might appear to be a dying practice, traditionally most societies honor cultural practices that help  youth learn to revere those that love, raise, sacrifice for, protect, and teach them. Having grown up in the deep south, I don’t feel that many “southerners”... Read the rest of this entry »

People are still expressing disappointment in Christina Aguilera’s Super Bowl performance of the national anthem, but they might want to thank her as well. For many Americans, the criticism raised over her forgetting the words to the third line was secondary to another concern—that her overstylized take on the “Star-Spangled Banner” failed to honor the song, and that raises a valuable discussion. Some have remarked that the producers of the Super Bowl got what they should have expected. This is simply how the lady sings. The simple truth is this—some songs are bigger than the performance, no matter who is behind the mike. The “Star-Spangled Banner” is one of these. Whitney Houston understood this. Her Super Bowl performance during the Persian Gulf War was stylish and superb, but her dynamics and phrasing showcased the words and left hearts stirred. She didn’t divide us generationally into the old and young, hip and unhip. She sang to all of us, to one nation, to the future,... Read the rest of this entry »

Why is it that we can never seem to prepare ourselves for difficult events that happen in our lives?  Even when we strive to be more on guard from what we faced before, I think that we are still taken aback when we have to face something newly difficult.  I have faced something like this the past week that I hoped never to have to deal with, and I won’t go into too many details but I find myself asking questions such as “If I had been more prepared spiritually and relying more on God, would things have happened like this?” or “If I had made different choices, would this thing not have happened to me?”  I’m thinking that these probably aren’t the best questions to ask myself, especially since they highly focus on what has already come and gone—things that I cannot change no matter how much I stew over them and wish that things had turned out differently. I have always thought that I faced some difficulties in my life that would prepare me for most things... Read the rest of this entry »

Why is it that we can never seem to prepare ourselves for difficult events that happen in our lives?  Even when we strive to be more on guard from what we faced before, I think that we are still taken aback when we have to face something newly difficult.  I have faced something like this the past week that I hoped never to have to deal with, and I won’t go into too many details but I find myself asking questions such as “If I had been more prepared spiritually and relying more on God, would things have happened like this?” or “If I had made different choices, would this thing not have happened to me?”  I’m thinking that these probably aren’t the best questions to ask myself, especially since they highly focus on what has already come and gone—things that I cannot change no matter how much I stew over them and wish that things had turned out differently. I have always thought that I faced some difficulties in my life that would prepare me for most things... Read the rest of this entry »

~by Marsha What are you grateful for? I’m grateful my missionary is serving the Lord. I’m grateful that my children are pretty much healthy, happy and contributing to society. I’m grateful that even through the difficult years, they all came through with loving relationships, open hearts and generous spirits. I’m grateful to have found someone who loves me unconditionally and who makes life fun. I’m grateful for a long extended family, back through the generations that are examples to me and help me know the paths to take. I’m grateful for a Savior who extends His hand to me when I’m tired, when I’m dancing for joy, when I’m distraught, and when I’m humbled. I’m grateful for a God who listens to my every whine, complaint, desire, frustration, joy and gratitude. I’m thankful for the Spirit that directs, teaches, comforts, nudges, reminds, whispers and warms. I’m grateful for friends who do the same. I’m grateful... Read the rest of this entry »

So I haven’t written a post for about a week now, and it has been largely because quite a number of changes filled this past week up so that I was quite busy.  We had transfers here in the Referral Center mission this past weekend since Elder Edmons went home on Monday and Elder Baird is heading home this upcoming Friday, so that was one of our changes.   I am now serving with a new companion Elder Sabin, and with this companionship change, I am now one of the co-district leaders for my mission.  The typical mission has various districts with 4-6 missionaries, and then there is a zone with usually 2-3 districts.  To go along with these different groups of missionaries that receive different types of training from various leaders, there are usually two missionaries that are assistants to the President and help oversee the other zones and districts.  So since our mission only consists of 10 missionaries right now, we only have one district with two co-district... Read the rest of this entry »

So I haven’t written a post for about a week now, and it has been largely because quite a number of changes filled this past week up so that I was quite busy.  We had transfers here in the Referral Center mission this past weekend since Elder Edmons went home on Monday and Elder Baird is heading home this upcoming Friday, so that was one of our changes.   I am now serving with a new companion Elder Sabin, and with this companionship change, I am now one of the co-district leaders for my mission.  The typical mission has various districts with 4-6 missionaries, and then there is a zone with usually 2-3 districts.  To go along with these different groups of missionaries that receive different types of training from various leaders, there are usually two missionaries that are assistants to the President and help oversee the other zones and districts.  So since our mission only consists of 10 missionaries right now, we only have one district with two co-district... Read the rest of this entry »

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues but the parent of all others.” Cicero by Linda Shaw  My son was taking his time setting our dinner table. Anxiously, I noticed the absent utensils. I was ready to eat. I wanted to push him to hurry up. But I caught myself. Politely I thanked him, “Great job at getting the plates set. Thanks for the help.” His countenance changed, his shoulders relaxed, and then he quickened his pace. Gratitude has long been touted by theologians and philosophers alike, but only recently has it been empirically studied by psychologists. In 2007 a group of positive psychologists conducted the first known study on the effects of gratitude on childhood and adolescents well-being. (Froh, Sefick, Emmons) Personally I like being appreciated. As a mother, I have long recognized the positive effects of gratitude on my own mood as well as the attitudes of family members. Studies have now shown my instincts are correct. Gratitude: • Creates “optimism,... Read the rest of this entry »

As soon as my son was able to write his name, I started having him help write thank you cards for his birthday and Christmas gifts. I wrote the note, he printed his name and drew a picture. Now that he’s older, he is able to write a short sentence in a card. However writing more than one card at a time is overwhelming so we space them out and do one a day. I think it is very important to write thank you cards more than just saying thank you because it helps teach my kids to express their thanks. Though many people feel a verbal thank you is enough, I feel learning to write thank you cards is a good thing to teach my kids. I really like this quote to remember how important it is to teach my children to give thanks. “Often we feel grateful and intend to express our thanks but forget to do so or just don’t get around to it. Someone has said that ‘feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.’ “- Thomas S.... Read the rest of this entry »