enjoying Summer '13

...and we're all fine

I wish that the feelings that I experienced today are the last time I ever have to feel them again.  My mind is still stuck on the sight and sound of what started as an excellent summer day.  The babies were happy and sun-kissed.  We packed snacks, sunblock, water, and the softball gear and headed to Abbi's game just a mile away.

The babies love to ride in the old grandpa truck.  It's a 1988 Dodge Ram with only 42,000 miles.  They love to talk about it's history and they especially love the Ram hood ornament.  When anyone walks past our house they introduce them to the old truck parked on the street.  The babies like to be able to see plus they were surprised that my feet help with the driving.  Today was only they're third or fourth time in the thing.

At the softball games we usually have to sit in the sun and so on our way to the park I stopped at the gas station to get myself I fountain drink.  I parked right next to the door and turned it off.  The babies stayed buckled up while I ran in.  I filled my drink and paid, feeling like I was a bad mom because rather than pick them out a treat, like I usually do, I just paid and headed out the door to see the old grandpa truck rolling away.

At first, I thought, why are they leaving me?  What a trick?  My mind so quickly figured Jake was tricking me but so quickly remembered .... I AM THE DRIVER!!!!  And then, the screaming hit my ear, coming from the cab.  My babies were screaming!  The truck was rolling down through the dip and into Riverdale Road.  I threw my drink and ran into the road.  I didn't have time to look for traffic, I just had to run for my babies.  I got into the cab before it reached the third lane, crossing the road just parallel to the intersection.

I don't know how all the stars aligned, but the light was green so there weren't cars sitting in the road at the light.  The truck didn't hit any cars and the oncoming traffic was all able to stop safely away from us.  The kids stayed in their seatbelts.  After I figured out what was going on with the truck and backed it back into the gas station I learned that Noah had kicked the gear shift and that's when it started rolling.

We all melted down, thankful for the miracle, but shocked and shaken.  We cuddled and sat together at home and we're so happy for the visitors who came to visit.  Anne was already on her way to help at the softball game, Grandma Tracy just happened to stop in, and Crystal and Jenny came to check on me, too.  I feel overwhelmed by the incident and more by the miracle of the little bubble that surrounded us today.

I've never been more scared.  Five hours later, it still feels like minutes ago.  I know that Heavenly Father protected us through the prayers of those who faithfully keep us in their prayers.  I have learned and felt so much as a mom today and my babies have had their share of a lesson, too.  I am so grateful they are soundly asleep and we are all in our safe little home tonight.

I have thought through every scenario that could have happened and have to keep focusing in on our safety and miracle.  We're fine. 

P.S. The drink I threw apparently went through the open driver window because when we got home I found myself sitting on a cup and a pile of ice.

Don't forget to pray.  You might save some babies.

Dairy Farm Fieldtrip

I took the kids and my nieces and nephews to the dairy farm Uncle Quinn operates.  This time of year they have a lot of calves so Wendy and I hauled them up to Deweyville to help feed them.  Two of the babies were still on bottles and the kids loved holding such a big bottle.  I think they were surprised at how the calves acted {like puppies with too big of bodies}.  The rest of the calves drank milk from pans and a little bit of hay.  Quinn and Chet were so accommodating.  I love to hang out up there.  Chet also gave us a taste of the cheese he makes.  All of the kids LOVED it.  Then, we looked at the machines that milk the cows and how it is filtered and stored in a big tank.  There was a little kitten who followed us around the farm and the kids held onto it as much as it allowed.  It was really hard not to bring it home.

Book Club Invitation

Dear Friends,

I had a great experience that I wanted to share with you.  I read a short book by Sister Wendy Watson Nelson.  It took me less than an hour to read while I sat outside in the fresh air.  I picked up the book called What Would A Holy Woman Do? this morning at Deseret Book.  I think it is based on a talk she gave at a Time Out For Women.

My synopsis:

Sister Nelson was inspired to think more about holiness after traveling with her husband, Elder Russell M. Nelson, to Africa to rededicate a temple.  He walked through the temple to make sure everything was done right and found everything looked just as they had asked until they walked outside.  The words, "Holiness to the Lord", were not on the outside of the temple.  Until they were there, the temple could not be dedicated.

Thinking about it, Sister Nelson asked a few friends to try something with her to see what the outcomes could be.  For three days, not adding to what you already have to do, choose one daily activity and try to "be holy" while doing it.  Her examples of activities range from difficulties and burdens to reading with a child or exercising.

Six women participated and these were some of the lessons they learned:

Helen:

The desire to be holy brought change.  She was more productive and had more energy.  She learned the importance of spending time with her children {non-distracted} and being more kind to her husband.

Julie:

She learned that being holy is not too big of goal.  This experiment helped her focus and made her feel like a more capable, better person.

Carol:

Carol accomplished more and felt good about her priorities.  She felt like there was more purpose to her life and her activities.

Marilyn:

The guilt Marilyn carried was taken away because she felt more acknowledged and supported by the Lord.  She kept thinking about perspective, patience, perseverance, and planning.  Marilyn learned that being holy doesn't mean being perfect.

Kate:

Kate was able to remember advice from her youth that helped her support her husband better.  She was more productive while he was away and said she had a much happier disposition.

Barbara:

Being less critical of others gave her the realization that people are trying to do the best they can.  She didn't procrastinate her tasks and thought more about what she put into her body.

There are many other stories from men and women who heard Sister Nelson's challenge.  From Canada, Russia, and Brazil, members of the Church tried the experiment of "being holy" for three days and each had great experiences. 

Sister Nelson wrote about how gifts are hard to give or send because you never can know for sure what the receiver may really want or enjoy.  She went on about the cultural trend of gift cards but how they too can be lost or forgotten.  Going further, she compared those gifts to the Gift of the Holy Ghost which brings us the gifts {plural} of the Spirit.

The gifts of the Spirit are just examples in the scriptures because the number of gifts is endless.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught,

"These gifts are infinite in number and endless in their manifestations because God himself is infinite and endless."

Doctrine and Covenants 60:7 says,

"I am able to make you holy."

The gifts of the Spirit have already been paid for through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  We have access to them all.  Some are granted to us and the rest can be asked for through faith and prayer to our Heavenly Father.

Elder Russell M. Nelson said,

"We can acquire holiness only by enduring and persistent personal effort."

So, my friends, I want to invite you to read this short, little book {you can even borrow my copy} and/or after just reading this post, participate in just ONE DAY {three if you'd like} of doing one daily activity that you have to do anyway trying to "be holy."  And then, share your thoughts about the experiment on a comment here or email it to me for me to put them all together.

I feel so happy that I picked this book up and read it right away.  My books usually sit, indefinitely, waiting to be read.  It really spoke to me and I felt like this is a goal I want to put into my life.  I loved the stories in the book and think you would, too, but to make it more personal, I was hoping we could all put our experiences together.  I am sure it will help me in my pursuit of Holiness.

Please join my challenge.  And, invite other to join to!  :)

Joey

Additional Information:

The book is available at Deseret Book for $10.99

Amazon for $14.99

Kindle Edition for $9.34 

{I didn't get paid to write this post or advertise the book.  I just loved it.}

 

Lord, Make Us A Holy People - Words and Music by Victoria Wilcox

Mother's Day Weekend

Mother's Day Weekend was lots of fun! The kids and I went to City Creek and to eat at Little America before it closes down for six months.  The aunties met us there and we had a big dinner and dessert.  I love the Coffee Shop.

Noah chooses his own clothes these days.

Abbi and Noah at Little America with their dessert.

On Saturday, we took the kids for a surprise to meet Uncle Ross and Cousin Tom at Boondocks for dinner and games.  The kids loved it there.  It was like being in Las Vegas for kids ... no clocks, just swipe your card and play, etc.  We got a lot of tickets {mostly from Uncle Ross's skills at Ski-Ball} and the kids thought it was great to choose a prize.

Dance Dance Revolution with Tom Ballard

Punching Bag with Tom

Wish I had more pictures of Abbi but she was hard to keep up with.

Mother's Day was a beautiful day outside.  After church {and a nap}, Jake took us for a drive and we visited Grandma Hansen.  The kids gave me beautiful cards and a gift they had made at school or at primary.  This was my first year to get something from them so it was pretty great.  They were so excited to give me something.  I am so proud of their work and think there really aren't presents as good as those.

These are beautiful Joey curtains that Wendy made for me out of a shower curtain.  I love them so much!

 And, it's another beautiful day outside today.  It's Jake's and my second anniversary today.  Uncle Jeremy and Lilia took Noah and I for lunch to Uncle Jimmy's.  We were so glad to see Amber feeling good today.  I got to see Jake for a few minutes before he was off to work.  To celebrate our anniversary, I'm getting myself a big Oreo shake when the kids go to bed.  That'll be nice.