Sheltered

People often say to us LDS members that we live sheltered lives as if to criticize us. But really, is living a sheltered life such a bad thing? I was reading the news today and not one story was uplifting or happy. I read reports of police breaking up a child pornograpy ring, of an 11 year old Hindu girl marring a 13 year old boy, deadly riots in Thailand, police on trial for supposedly torturing suspects, a 23 year old girl missing after going hiking by herself, innocent people dying in gang fights in Jamaica. And I am left wondering which of these stories of the "real world" are supposed to make me regret my happy and sheltered lifestyle. I grew up in a loving home with both of my parents, we said morning prayers and ate dinner as a family. My parents helped me with my homework and my bothers and sister taught me how to ride a bike. We took family vacations and attended church every Sunday. Although my life certainly was not perfect, as really no ones life is, but it certainly was an idyllic childhood full of happy memories. And in today's world such a life certainly is a rarity. And don't we value those things that are rare and exclusive? Why then am I treated as ignorant and simple minded not not having lived a life of strife and turmoil that is so prevalent across the world. I am truly grateful for my parents and the way I was raised. I am grateful for my religion and the happiness it has brought to all aspects of my life. I am grateful for my sheltered life and am very glad to be able to pass that innocence along to my children.

Simple Prayers

Last night we had family dinner at my Mom's house for my Grandmothers 93rd birthday. My grandmother has Alzheimer's and usually doesn't talk much but to mumble a few words that never make sense. But last night she was in a good mood. In the last 3 years I have not seen her that happy, and it was contagious. We were all laughing with the silly things she said. And she would laugh because we were laughing. As is the tradition in our family, whose ever birthday it is says the dinner prayer. Not knowing if she actually could say the prayer or not my dad let her give it a try. She started out, "Our Father in Heaven, Thank you for the birthday of Oliver (my little nephew who was born just 2 months ago. Really it was amazing that she remembered his name!) and then she proceeded to sing "Happy Birthday to you." It was a great prayer. I love simple prayers. The prayers that have just a few words but mean so much. I remember my brother-in-laws prayer for his little baby girl when she was very ill, shortly after his conversion to the church. All he said was, "Heavenly Father, bless Isabelle to get better. Amen" But is was said with so much conviction and knowing that prayers can be answered that there wasn't a dry eye in the room. Lately I have been saying my own simple prayer almost every night: "Heavenly Father please keep our house from flooding." It my seem silly but with everything else going on right now I can not handle another thing. I know Heavenly Father listens to even these simple prayers as he does to any of the most eloquent prayers. I know he listens to my prayers and has on more occasions then I can count answered those prayers. Indeed, yesterday we did have a happy birthday as prayed for by my grandmother, and Isabelle did bet better, and so far my house still has not flooded. I am thankful for simple prayers

I just bought this...

I'm not even going to tell you how much it cost. But darn it! I am worth it. You just have to splurge every once in a while. Besides it is just my reward for all the hard work I'm doing creating a whole other human being.

So happy mothers day to me.
Cant wait until it gets here...

Major Awards & Mute

My Father once gave my Mother a Major Award. It was a warped twisted melted pot attached to a gold plaque. My Mother had melted said pot on the kitchen stove. What had once been a very nice pressure cooker had been turned to a puddle of molten aluminum due to the lack of one essential ingredient...Water. Yesterday I should have earned my own Major Award. I am the proud owner of what once was my most favorite cooking device, an electric multi cooker, but is now a pot full of black foul smelling sludge and a whole lot of carbon. My beloved multi cooker has been tortured beyond the point of repair and was unceremoniously laid to rest in the garbage can last night. It will be missed.
In other news, I had a revelation yesterday. One of those "AH HA!" Moments when suddenly everything seems to make sense.

I am MUTE.

I must be. I must only THINK that I am talking when actually NOTHING is coming out of my mouth. That is the only explanation as to why my lovely children and dear sweet husband would IGNORE me so completely. I have taken to caring a pad an paper around with me so that I can write down those very important things that I need to tell them. Now I just need to teach my 3 year old how to read.