When she showed up in this dress...

Children's Book Monday!

This book was a surprise for me. The cover looked adorable so I picked it up and threw it on my library stack. That night Elyssa handed it to my best friend to read to her. So we all cuddled up on the couch for a "cute" story; me, my friend, and our daughters. She finished the book and glanced my direction, both our eyes held the sparkle of a captive tear. The girls, two and six, were ecstatic, "read it again!". Of course as mothers the idea of someday is a little double-sided. We obviously want the best for our children but at the same time why is so hard to see them grow up?

"One day I counted your fingers and kissed each one..." Oh the memories of her birth..., "Then you were my baby, and now you are my child." Is she really almost three?, "Sometimes, when you sleep, I watch you dream, and I dream too..." What will her future hold?

In Someday, Alison McGhee leads us through a young mother's hopes and dreams for her child. From, "Someday you will swing high - so high, higher than you ever dared to swing." to "Someday you will hear something so sad that you will fold up with sorrow.". She helps her daughter look forward to what fearful yet exciting adventures lie ahead.

This beautifully illustrated book is so simple and yet so profound. I almost didn't write a review on it because, after all, why would I tell anyone else to go get a book that would inevitably make them weep?! Well, as it lived in our home for the weeks that followed, Elyssa continually requested it. Slowly it occurred to me how excited I was as a child to dream about my future, and as a young adult to begin to see some of those dreams come to fruition. Although this seems obvious, it occurred to me that I could also be excited for her dreams! Meanwhile my own dreams for her future can become these simple prayers; that when she swings high, she will feel no fear, when she hears something sad, she will know an Ultimate Comfort, and when she is feeling a "small weight against her strong back", she will have built a foundation of hopes and dreams for her own children in the one that sustains her.

We Have Entered The Why Zone!

Daddy: "Time to get your jammies on Lyssa!"
"Why I get my jammies on Daddy?"
"Because it's time to go to bed."
"Why I haf to go to bed, Daddy?"
"Because it's time to go to bed."
"Why it time go to bed, Daddy?"
"Because it's getting dark outside."
"Why it getting dark a'side, Daddy?"
"Because the sunlight is on the other
side of the Earth now."
"Why it 'side of Erf, Daddy?"
"Because the Earth rotates around the sun."
"Why it Erf on sun, Daddy?"
"Because... that's the way God made it."
"Oohhh..."

Ahh...and a sweet smile of confidence in both her Daddies!

Happy, Happy Mother's Day!

Mama Kisses...

Kisses Sweetly Stolen...

Feet Kissed With Spring Soil...

Mama's Gentle Helping Hands...

And Happy Mothering Day to ALL!!!

What's Your Supercross?

By that I mean, what's that special thing you do with that special someone that is meaningful AND fun?

My story begins about nine years ago when I was brought home to live with my parents from York, Nebraska where I had been attending York College. The last couple of years I was there, I had begun a gradual downhill slope of depression that resulted in a pretty good sized "break-down". My sweet Mama came and picked me up and my DEAR friends in Nebraska stuck all my belongings in a storage unit. (Obviously I'm giving you the quick version since my point is not about the depression but the healing from it.) When I got home I had a renewed sense of purpose and discovered how close God had been through everything. I made up my mind to take control of my self-esteem instead of giving it up to the definition the world had assigned me! Part of that control was the decision to take on a project. Projects are the most wonderful healers because when you use your hands to mend and build, your eyes see the process and your heart feels the pride of accomplishment! What better way to be reminded of our lives in the Maker's own hands?


If you know my father you know he rode in Motocross races when he was younger and at the time was still trail riding pretty often. I also have an uncle that raced with my dad who is a master mechanic. Uncle Joe has a motorcycle graveyard in his possession from years of collecting anything he can get his hands on to use for parts. So, with plenty of abandoned motorcycle skeletons and parts at our disposal we went to work on rebuilding a 1970 Hodaka during the winter of 2001. It just so happened that very spring was the first time the Supercross came to Salt Lake City. Seeing my excitement about our project my dad asked me to go with him. Uncle Joe and my cousin Philana came down from Rupert and it turned into a father/daughter tradition. The Supercross didn't make it back to Utah again until last year, but we were there and went again this year for the third time.


I can't begin to tell you what this tradition means to me! This year when my dad asked if I would be escorting him, I replied that I didn't really need to go. After all, I wasn't nearly as fascinated with the details of the race as he and my uncle were. They like to spend the entire day roaming the pits, watching practices, and getting autographs. Do you know what my sweet daddy said to me? You guessed it! He told me he wanted me to come because he enjoyed sharing the experience with me.


So, THANKS Dad!!! I know it's sometimes hard for fathers to communicate love to their daughters, and this is definitely one of the many ways you have spoken it to me!


There you have it folks! Enjoy the pictures, some from the first Supercross (bet you can't guess which ones, yikes!) and others from the last two years.

Children's Book Monday

"Cackle, cackle, Mother Goose,
Have you any feathers loose?
Truly have I, pretty fellow,
Half enough to fill a pillow.
Here are quills, take one or two
And down to make a bed for you."

We have discovered a new favorite in our house; the illustrator Clare Beaton. I haven't seen very many illustrators who embroider their illustrations but it is genius! On our next trip to the library we will be searching for more of her exceptional artwork.

Check out the publisher too: Barefoot Books, they have some pretty cool philosophies.

Right now we are thoroughly enjoying Clare's "Mother Goose Remembers", (another "accidental" find). Every page is a hand stitched masterpiece. She creates scenes that draw you deep into the realm of "silver bells and cockleshells". I mean, how can you go wrong with those beloved rhymes? I was pondering the reason we adore our Mother Goose stories so much, and what I came up with was the fact that they invoke our own childhood memories. I've found myself ruffling through the pages of this book all by myself, feeling like a little girl again!

(Of course since I've had teacher training I have to quickly mention the importance of rhyme and rhythm to our little ones as well...)

Happy Reading...

Lesson in Forgiveness

I've never been one to wrestle with hard core grudges. Most likely due to my short memory, I haven't had to struggle much with forgiving others. Just give me a couple of days to forget the humiliation and I'm over it. Though, I've also never been in a situation critical enough to warrant more than the reluctant pardon given after a bruised ego or broken heart. I've often wondered if I would know how to forgive someone if they really hurt me or someone I loved; more than that, actually pray for them as Christ asked me. I came across a prayer in the "Oxford Book of Prayer" that gave me new insight into the practice of not only forgiveness, but praying for my enemies. I felt moved to share it with you, in case any of you can glean some small bit of wisdom from it as I did.

"O Lord, remember not only the men and women of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted on us; remember the fruits we have bought, thanks to this suffering - our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart which has grown out of all of this, and when they come to judgment let all the fruits which we have borne be their forgiveness."

*The prayer written by an unknown prisoner in Ravensbrück concentration camp and left by the body of a dead child

Children's Book Review

Okay, thanks to my sweet friend's gentle insistence, I am writing my first children's book review. Before I do that, though, I must tell you of our decision to attend the weekly story times for toddlers at our local library. It is called "Wiggle Worms" and at the utterance of those two words, my two squiggly toddlers fly to the door with enough speed to send the dust flying! The promise of that precious 20 minutes can calm the worst tantrums and motivate the most sluggish tasks to completion. After they sing, dance, and thoroughly "shake their sillies out"; we grab some books, a couple of videos, and head for home. It is when we started making these sessions a priority every week that the real joy of library books came to reside with us. Each week we leave with our arms overflowing and Elyssa can't get enough! Her favorite thing in the world is to cuddle up with one of her favorite people and READ. She will take her turn and read to us as well. (Coincidently, I've noticed her imagination soaring!) We'll keep our favorites till they won't let us renew them anymore and keep the new ones coming. I've started going in online and reserving any books I know I want ahead of time due to recommendations or favorite authors. That makes the trip MUCH easier with the two little giggle worms I attempt to herd through the laden shelves and tables. I can't tell you enough how valuable this is to us. If any of you are not currently taking advantage of your libraries, I implore you to start!

Now for the promised review... Last week as I was sweeping through the shelves looking for books we haven't seen yet, I came across a treasure!

The Story Blanket by Ferida Wolff and Harriet May Savitz

This beautiful story will fill your hearts as soon as you see the cover. After all, who wouldn't want to be one of those adorable eager children awaiting a story on that vividly colorful blanket?! See how the shoes hang in the tree above them and tiny feet curl in expectation below them? Once I opened it and began to read, I fell in love!
In a small secluded mountain village, Babba Zarrah captivates the children with stories while they sit on her brightly patterned woolen blanket. As tender hearted Babba Zarrah fills the imaginations of the wide eyed boys and girls, she notices a hole in one of the little boy's shoes. She knows he will need new warm socks but the village is SO secluded that although they are out of wool, no one is able to get through the snow to deliver more. "Every question has an answer", Babba Zarrah says to herself, as she considers a solution. Her solution is to unravel a little of her story blanket to knit the socks. But wait, day by day the children begin to feel as though the blanket is shrinking while other villagers discover much-needed anonymous gifts such as baby blankets, shawls, mittens, and aprons. (not to mention a brilliantly illustrated cat-coat!) Who can solve the mystery? It only takes one look at the familiar vivid pattern for the children to "unravel" the storyteller's secret. Those clever villagers don't just thank their anonymous benefactor, they secretly unravel a little wool from each and every blanket to heap on her doorstep! The last page alludes to the village's cycle of generosity and selfless friendship as Babba Zarrah sits knitting a new sweater for Alexandra with a curling string pulled from the NEW story blanket.

Ode to The Underdog

Memories flood me

Watching her soar

Legs kicking wildly

I can only imagine

Her utter delight

Wind Rushing

Hair flying

Stomach left behind

Giggles, Screams

Pure Joy!

What's in a name?

Now we're on a roll! Names, names, and more names! Both her favorite babies have names now, only "Bitsie" got bumped to her other baby while her pink baby has been named Lula after the funny little duck Talula in the Maisy books. She has named two of her doggies after her two favorite real life doggies; DeeDee and Cruze.