Beatles Flow Chart

Quite humorous if you were around in the sixties.

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

Expounding on the arts....

Allysha (my oldest daughter) was interview by Michelle at Scribbit.  As a mother, discovering your children outside of the family context is the great gift of adult parenting.  Allysha's insightful and humorous blog peaked my interest several years ago in venturing forth into the blogosphere myself.  This was great for me to read.  

Kudos to Elizabeth Smart

Elizabeth Smart is a shining example of how courage and faith can help the human spirit move through anything. Elizabeth's faith in God, her own inner strength (even though she was only 14 at the time of her abduction) and her obviously dedicated parents and their faith have all contributed to the poised, confident and strong person she is today. I can't imagine the horrors of finding your daughter missing from her bedroom. I can't imagine how you would get through the upcoming holidays, birthdays and family events. The Smarts turned to God and prayer. They often attended the Salt Lake temple early in the morning for spiritual sustenance. They worked hard. They never gave up. Obviously Elizabeth had learned from their examples. If you haven't seen this clip of Elizabeth speaking at the governor's women's conference in California you may want to do so. It is very inspiring and hopeful. Elizabeth is leaving in Nov. on an LDS mission to Paris, France. Best wishes Elizabeth and may God be with you.

(Photo by George Frey - Getty Images)

Show your true colors....

My children gave me a science lesson the other day. The fall leaves, they said, are the real color of the tree after the summer is gone and the plants are no longer producing chlorophyll. In their decline they "show their true colors."  Interesting, I thought. Maybe people are like that. When the autumn of life arrives and the summer of productivity is through, what is left represents the core of what that person has become. This seems to be true with my Dad. Even through his dementia I can see his core personality by what remains and consistently surfaces. He's a gentleman, even when he's upset. He always stops and lets me go through the door first. He doesn't like to be laughed at.  He does like to be laughed with.  He's honest.  He's always asking me if I have paid for an item as we leave the store and if I am driving the speed limit.  (You would think I was a chronic shoplifter and speed maniac.  I promise I don't shoplift!  I'm getting much better at keeping the speed limit.) He has retained his testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He likes to contribute. He likes attention. He has a little bit of showboat in him. He likes being with people. He doesn't like to be alone.  He likes to be doing something. He can sometimes feel insecure.  He feels safer with women than with men.  Those are his true colors. I know that "showing your true colors" traditionally refers to a ship hoisting it's own flag just before attacking another vessel. I think the phrase could also apply to autumn leaves and old age.  It makes you wonder what will surface when you reach that point.  

(Autumn - dotgouldpainting)

The gift of going slow....

My Dad has given me the gift of going slow. I'm a person who is always in a hurry, always trying to do a million things. I hate to wait in lines, in traffic, or to be put on hold. Since I have been taking care of my Dad, when I am with him I have to do things slowly. We are looking to pass the time of day so if we go the long way it doesn't matter. If I forget something and have to go back and get it, all the better. If we meander so be it. I've found there's enjoyment in shedding the schedule and just doing things as they come. At least for part of the day, I've learned to go slow. The other half of the day is a different story.

There was excitement in our backyard last Tues...

...in the middle of the night in fact.  Our neighborhood was being ransacked by car thieves of the break-in variety.  My neighbor watched them make their way down the street trying to get in people's cars.  They went through her cars, stole tools from Carl across the street, tried to get into our cars.  Naturally she called the police and about 8 patrol cars arrived shortly to start the chase through the streets.  They caught one of the intruders but the other slipped away which was why we awoke to policemen scouring our backyard with their spotlight-bright flashlights.  They looked under every nook and cranny, behind every bush, in every corner.  No car thief to be found.  But two cars in the area were stolen that night and the next morning.  We must have been on the hit list.  We get this kind of excitement every few years.  One year we ended up with a car in our backyard because they were trying to escape the neighborhood.  We've had numerous backyard searched, a drug bust next door, (it was a little unnerving to hear someone yell out about 1:00 a.m.  -  "put your hands up, this is the police!" and to look out to see the neighbor and his mother laying face down on the driveway being frisked by the cops) the swat team called in, a high speed chase (it was a bank robbery) and police shooting.  Sounds adventurous, but really we are a quiet, nice suburban neighborhood.  Sadly, Nathanael, who thrives on adventure, was out of town for just about every one.   

I like this quote from the Oct. VT message:

"Never forget that these little ones are the sons and daughters of God and that yours is a custodial relationship to them, that He was a parent before you were parents and that He has not relinquished His parental rights or interest in these His little ones. . . . Rear your children in love, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Take care of your little ones. Welcome them into your homes, and nurture and love them with all of your hearts. They may do, in the years that come, some things you would not want them to do, but be patient, be patient. You have not failed as long as you have tried"   Gordon B. Hinkley 

There are two messages in that quote for me - one, it reminds me of our little children's divinity and that we are stewards. I want to be more careful and respectful of them. The other is that because Heavenly Father is the #1 parent we do our best and then put them into His hands. Ultimately their salvation is between Him and them. We are a facilitator and of course are accountable for teaching them but they have their agency (boy, don't we know!) and in the end they report back to Him.

I believe the work of salvation is so much more extensive than we realize .  There is always hope. Heavenly Father loves all his children and is working with them.