Proclaiming motherhood part 2

So...last week I quickly dashed over to the rec center for a run before I took up the duties of caring for my father. I hopped on a tread mill (I usually prefer the track for lack of tv) and found it hard to ignore the Rachael Ray show just off to the side of my machine. Rachael, America's currently hip homemaking queen, was interviewing Shakira, the hot-to-trot Columbian singer sensation who was promoting a philosophy of motherhood outside the box. (Children first and then we'll see about marriage.) "Times are changing," Shakira said. (I believe Bob Dylan got there first.) Quoting her recent interview in Rolling Stone Magazine she professed her great desire to produce children - a worthy endeavor to say the least! I'm definitely in favor of motherhood, but I believe children and marriage should be linked.

I'm also more than a little mystified by this combination of motherhood and embracing "our true wishes and desires - our primal natures" professed and extolled in the interview and exemplified by Shakira's music and performance. While I admire her humanitarian work with children in poverty, and her congenial personality, I don't find her portfolio a desirable role model for the up and coming generation. She views herself as a "good girl." Just what does that mean? Anything in the name of art or perhaps $$? I'm just as amazed by Madonna's protective claim that she did not allow her young children to watch tv, all the while producing quite unsavory fair for everyone else's children to consume. It's hard to criticize someone for fighting poverty or promoting motherhood, but what do you do when they combine that with other destructive influences?

I was even more unsettled by the whole-hearted acceptance by middle American women of all ages in the Rachael Ray audience who wildly applauded what I thought was a fairly carnal and pornographic dvd clip of Shakira's latest release She-Wolf. "Hot-hot-hot" was Rachael Ray's comment. I wonder how many preschoolers whose mothers were tuned in caught a view of Shakira in her very un-motherly gyrations and attire (or lack thereof). It seems we live in a time where anything, however destructive to the moral fabric of our society, dressed up and promoted by the time honored institutions of fame and fortune becomes main stream. What are we thinking?

Why we forgive....

More rec center musings

"I feel sorry for her " the elderly woman said to her younger walking companion. "She tries so hard but he is always criticizing her and yelling at her." I ran past the two women walking on the inside lane of the indoor track. "He's always so kind and patient with everyone else. It's sad." The conversation faded into the background as I moved on ahead.

Why is that? Why don't we save our kindest remarks and most charitable behavior for those who have given us their lifelong companionship and have sacrificed for our well-being?

(Image from www.macadoodles.net/images/let-us-oft-1.jpg)

Forget the Windex

In the spirit of the struggling economy I made my own glass cleaner yesterday. It's fabulous - much better than the brand name I was using from the store and it probably cost about 25 cents a bottle.

1 c. ammonia

2 c. rubbing alcohol

1 tsp. dishwashing liquid

fill water to make 1 gal.

Add a little blue or green food coloring for aesthetics

Pour into spray bottles - one for each bathroom. Also good on chrome, appliances, and I use it on my tile bathroom floor.

Proclaiming motherhood....part 1

"Portrait de la belle-fille de Maxim Gorki (Motherhood)" by Boris Dmitrievich Grigor'ev (1886-1939)

At some point in the last several days a vision of clarity and deep gratitude washed over me concerning the role mothering has played in my life.  As a young mother (more than a few years ago for me) you struggle to lay yourself bare to the process of giving your whole to the care and well-being of these little people you have created.  It seems as though you are always being asked to dispense more than you have, let alone more than your natural woman would like to part with. It's not that you don't want to give it - it's just that you want to keep something for yourself. There's a feeling of trying to hold on to some vestage of your pre-mother independance.  At age 56 (almost 57) I am (sort of) approaching the other end of the continum.  (I say sort of because I still have three of my offspring at home in the throws of teenagehood.)  However, I've seen enough of my children venture off into adulthood and form homes of their own to have an almost full spectrum vantage point.  As I view past years from this scenic overlook, I find I have become willing and gratefull  to be defined by my motherhood.  There's nothing I want more, nothing that even remotely compares in deep-seated rewards than emersing self in hearth and home.  I have traveled some (Rome, Egypt, Israel, Hawaii, much of the US each several times over).  I worked in sales for over 15 years, received top accolaids  and sat on the company's executive board.  There are other rewarding ventures that have come and gone.  Nothing, however, comes even remotely close to the peace of heart and mind that comes to me when I emmerse my life in my children and their ensuing offspring.  (There are 8 thus far.)  I can see the future exploding into who know how many more and I can hardly contain my excitement over the unlimited potential of joyous posterity.  If I were to offer some advice (how well, though, I understand that there's no way to really pass on this vision) to the younger generation of mothers it would be "keep working at it" - "do your best" - "chin up" because I can promise that down the road (even thru stretches full of potholes and teeth-jarring bumps) there are big dividends that keep growing long after other excitement and endeavors have faded into "so what" obscurity.   

Now thank we all our God....

"The grateful man sees so much in the world to be thankful for, and with him the good outweighs the evil. Love overpowers jealousy, and light drives darkness out of his life.  Pride destroys our gratitude and sets up selfishness in its place.  How much happier we are in the presence of a grateful and loving soul, and how careful we should be to cultivate, through the medium of a prayerful life, a thankful attitude toward God and man."  

                                                                                        Joseph F. Smith

3 And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women, and children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness.

(Book of Mormon | Ether 6:3)

I love this scripture from Ether.  Men, women and children are on equal footing before the Lord.  If we have eyes to see, He lights our way that we might not walk through this life in darkness. 

Tucanos

Last Monday night we had a family going away gathering for Natalie at Tucanos.

(This is something we rarely do for obvious reasons - #'s x $=$$$$$$$- but once in a blue moon we go for it.) 

Dad is looking a little shell shocked.

Nice scruff Kevin...

Towns and Lincoln figuring something out.

Alena contemplates the roasted chicken hearts.

Christian making some random point...

Caitlin protesting something....

Cameron takes the customer survey. Hmmmm

The guest of honor.

Nice photo Randy - those on either side needed major editing - hurray for the ability to crop.

Secret agent man....

We had a long, long, long...

table!

What are you doing Ben?

Did you really drink all of that Steph?

Which one should I pick?

Allysha listens as Ben philosophizes.

Who is the angel?

Sister Hall is on her way...

Getting ready to go ... it was hard to walk out the door.

This picture is much better after editing out Mom and Dad. Sad but still smiling.

Sister Hall arrives at the MTC.

Natalie went into the Provo Missionary Training Center today around 1:00 p.m. She was suppose to fly out Tues. for Brazil but visas are backed up so instead we took her to the Provo MTC. When her visa comes through she will head south. Randy and I took her and dropped her off on the curb according to new policy. I thought it might be a little too abrupt (as opposed to the entire family coming and watching the video presentation and then giving our last goodbyes) but actually it was quite nice. There are about 25 drop off stations set up along the curbside in front of and around the south end of the MTC. Each station had four smiling, enthusiastic and genuinely friendly elders-in-training anxious to help unload luggage and welcome their new missionary comrads. (They told us a different group is assigned every Wed.) Where we let Natalie off about 20 or so sister missionaries also were giving friendly greetings to the new arrivals. There was a very pleasant and energetic older woman who seemed be supervising. She was upbeat and reassuring and wore, of all things, a cowboy hat along with her MTC Sunday dress attire. It was quite awesome. By the time we had been greeted by these friendly and happy people we were all feeling a little better. ( As we were arriving at the entrance of the MTC I had almost insisted that Randy take another turn around the block and I think Natalie would have been just fine with that!) The Elders grabbed Natalie's luggage, introduced themselves to her, told her that the sister missionaries in the MTC were amazing and that they were glad she was there. (Two of the Elders were going to Russia and the other to Chicago.) Natalie perked up and gave a friendly response. She hugged us both and headed off to join the group of sisters gathered by the door. The last we saw of her she had run into someone she knew (probably from school) and was getting a big welcome hug. I think both Randy and I felt much better seeing that she wasn't wandering in alone. We got in the car a left. It's hard knowing we won't see her for 18 months but I was reminded again of the great spirit that one can feel at the MTC. There's not a better place to leave your son or daughter. I already miss her terribly but I feel peace and know that she is going to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I love you Nat. You are going to make an awesome missionary.

Study finds scent influences morality

Clean Smells Promote Moral Behavior, Study Suggests

BYU business prof Katie Liljenquist led a study that found that clean scents lead to more ethical behavior. 

ScienceDaily (Oct. 26, 2009) — People are unconsciously fairer and more generous when they are in clean-smelling environments, according to a soon-to-be published study.   Check it out!

Here's a review of an earlier study conducted connecting physical cleansing with "washing away our sins."  The Lady Macbeth Effect

I am going out tomorrow and buy some citrus scented Windex.  It's time to wash windows anyway.

Time Warp

These photos were probably taken around or a little before 1940.  My Dad (Lloyd) told me the Chevy was a 37 and the dog's name was Queenie.  He thinks he was 16 or 17.  I would vote more 17.  The older boy with dark hair is Lloyd Frey .  The younger boy with lighter hair is Bill Frey. Charlotte Frey is the girl.  The photos were taken at the family home in Fruitvale, Colorado. 

A Halloween Trick...

...and a Treat.  Isabelle Noelle Cantrell was born three weeks early on Halloween day.  Her parents (Kimberly and Kevin) said any day would be good except Halloween.  Looks like they've already got a taste of parenthood.  Welcome to the world little Izzie. She is grandchild #9.  

Speaking of birthday's....

... I shouldn't start on this because I'm sure to miss someone (perhaps multitudes of someones!) Happy birthday Cameron and Kip!  (We met between the 16th and 19th and celebrated them both together.  Also belated - that would be in Sept.) 

Kip's candles have been reduced to decades.  That's what happens when you leave the teens. 

Happy Birthday Sweet 16

Caitlin turned 16 Oct. 10.  This is a little late but none-the-less sincere unlike the photos below.  

Getting her driver's license has been the highlight of Caitlin's life!  It may even trump the David Archuleta concert she attended last spring.  

Beatles Flow Chart

Quite humorous if you were around in the sixties.

http://www.swiss-miss.com/2009/11/the-beatles-flowcharted.html