We have good parents


I’ve been thinking about some of the good things my parents taught me. Today I used the door slamming response.

1. If a kid slams a door, he will need to close it quietly 10 times.

2. No candy before noon.

3. It’s a good idea for kids to have a little spending money and freedom.

4. As kids get older, they need lists of tasks to do, and if you write them on a yellow legal pad, it seems more cheery.

5. Bedtime stories are important.

6. Pulling weeds is a good activity for sorting out grumpy or idle thoughts.

7. Kids should learn to walk and talk quietly through the house.

8. Kids need space to think and read and create.

9. Outdoor exercise is a good remedy for grumpiness, laziness, and boredom.

Thinking

I’m sitting in the house during a monsoon tHunDer StOrm. I’ve got the laptop unplugged because if lighting hit, I’d be seriously bothered. I run my life with a computer. It happened gradually and I still have my “I hate this machine” moments, but this computer is my friend.

I am glad my computer can remember addresses and phone numbers, help me communicate with 70 home school families in the area with one e-mail, and streamline my filing of school papers, notes, and artwork.

But I can live without it. While on vacation I went 2 1/2 weeks without it except to look up an address.

I could be a spokesman for digital scrapbooking. This computer has allowed me to keep a scrapbook that I can be proud of, despite time constraints.

Today I spent time catching up with people for my church assignment and “my community work.” The interaction was invigorating, in contrast to earlier this summer when it had become a great burden. I think that because I lack an off-site office, I don’t always see a line between my home and my work and my work easily trespasses into my home life. It’s good for me to set time limits on my community and church work and make appointments with myself to read that next chapter or escape to write a blog post.

Aren’t these red berries beautiful? My 7-year old took this picture.

Now I’m off to make dinner. End of blog appointment.

June is Scrapbook month

June has been all about organization. From school papers, art projects and closets, everything has had a thorough going-over. I’ve also been putting together the scrapbooks for 2009 and 2010. I let myself get about 18 months behind in our scrapbooks, so I’ve had a lot to do.

I was a hesitant scrapbook keeper at first because I don’t like being typical. Over the past 15 years, I have come to appreciate this growing record of our lives. When we moved away from Texas we had to live in corporate housing for a while (i.e. tiny apartment with not enough beds). Besides my clothing, all I wanted was my scrapbooks, so they followed us there.  I sat in our little apartment and poured over their pages. I needed to remember who I was in the shuffle, I guess.

Now that I have a blog I don’t want to copy what I am already doing online. However, I think that a blog has a different purpose than a scrapbook or a journal. I’m still trying to identify the purpose and future of this blog, but I think the scrapbooks are here to stay. Here is a sample of some of the pages I’ve done this month. This little book feature doesn’t show the bottom inch of my pages, but all well.

[book id='8' /]


Catalog

I’m addicted to Picasa’s facial recognition feature. It’s a great way to catalog photos.

I’m thinking about my mom and dad today as they are in the final days of their 3 year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is my dad. His countenance has been luminous and we are so happy that he and my mom have been able to serve together. They have taught us about unity in marriage and service. They have taught us about faith and testimony. They love the Savior.

I know they have made a difference in many lives and their service has brought blessings to their extended family that are great in depth and breadth. These blessings are so tightly interwoven in the details of my life that it would be impossible to list them all.

Truly, our family has been carried these past 3 years by a loving Father in Heaven through many things. Extended illnesses, accidents, a wedding, births, adoptions, and many smaller events have taken place during these last 3 years. Through it all, miracles have occurred and I continue to trust that everything will fit into place. One thing I have learned during these years is that the Lord intervenes according to His wise purpose and we can trust that we are in the Best Hands when we are doing what is right. Grace is a beautiful thing.