When my oldest son, Clay, started driving we tried to teach him both the importance of driving safely and of taking care of his vehicle. We got him a used car to get to and from school. Often, when the whole family went places together, Clay would drive the family van. Our town is small and has "dips" at nearly every intersection for water to flow down during rain storms. Clay would never alter his speed when going through these dips, no matter how many times we asked him to nor how deep the dip. The last time I asked him to slow for a dip he was apparently tired of being nagged and said "Mom, the dips just don't bother me!" Amazed, I had to answer, "It's not you I'm worried about! It's the car!" Without our giving Clay a reason why he should slow for the dips, he had assumed it was for the comfort of the driver and passengers!
Maybe, when kids keep asking 'why?', we should answer with a logical response, and not the standard "because I said so!"

"Are you an idiot?"

One day I had plans to take my niece and nephew on an outing to give their parents a break. They were two and four at the time.

I arrived at their home, got them buckled into my car, and pulled out of the driveway. As I started down the road I realized I would get to our destination faster if I took a different street. I made a U turn and said out loud "Darn it! I went the wrong way!" Little Robert asked "Are you an idiot?" "No." I assured him. "Well, my daddy says that people who drive the wrong way are idiots!"

He had me there!

We all drive the wrong way now and then in our lives. The key, I think, is to recognize the mistake early and change our idiot status to the status of being on the straight and narrow. See with the eyes of a child, feel with the love of a child and be willing to change for the better.

"Grandpa doesn't lie!"

When my boys were very young they had several opportunities to spend whole days with their grandfather, my dad.

One night, as I was putting them to bed, Clay told me that he was too scared to sleep. I asked what he was afraid of and he said "Monsters." I assured him that monsters weren't real. "They are real!" Clay insisted. "Why do you think they are real?" I inquired. "Grandpa told me they're real and Grandpa doesn't lie!"

I was sure Clay must have misunderstood my dad. I told him we would call Grandpa and Grandpa would tell him that monsters weren't real.

I spoke with my dad first, asking him what he had said to Clay about monsters. He chuckled, a little embarrassed, and said that Clay had brought up the subject. "So I told him I had caught all the monsters and buried them in my back yard."

Clay's reasoning: if Grandpa said he had caught a monster, then monsters are real!

We never know what things we say to children will stick with them and change their lives. Hopefully the things we say will build their self esteem and strengthen their testimonies. Or, at least make a good story!

TMI or Teaching Sunbeams

Have you ever received too much information? Been told stuff you never wanted to hear? That is the life of the Sunbeam teacher!

When talking about loving families one week I was told by a 3 year old that her mom doesn't love her! Mom had left her home alone once and beats her every day. Well, Mom happens to be my best friend so I asked her about her daughter's accusations. Turns out the young lady wouldn't put on her shoes to go with mom, so mom went out to the car without her but didn't go anywhere. And beating her? No, but she does get swats on the bottom now and then.

One young lady was learning the difference between girls and boys at home. She chose to inform me that her daddy has a (ding a ling)! Didn't want to think about that!

A little boy came to visit me at my house and started wandering around. He found my husband lying on the bed. The boy climbed up next to Jeff and said "Hi Jeff! I'm Tigger" and immediately jumped dead center onto Jeff causing Jeff's head and feet to fly up and meet over the child!

These little kids are absolutely priceless! They are so full of love. They give away hugs and kisses freely. They get so excited when they see me, big smiles and waves are thrown my way.

The rewards for teaching these little ones are legion. Besides the smiles, hugs and kisses there is the feedback from their parents. One child was so excited to go home and teach his family how to pray with his prayer puppet. I remember one grandmother in the ward who had a grandson in my class telling me she hated me with a smile on her face. She told me that I was all her grandson could talk about and that he liked me better than her!

In Sacrament meeting, even now when 3 years have passed since I taught them, I will hear a not so quiet whispering voice say "There's my teacher!"

"...she never misses church..."

Last year my son, Chad, was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on Mother's Day with several other youth in our ward. I was excited to hear what he would come up with, half dreading a comical story that would have the ward laughing AT me, instead of WITH me.

I don't remember most of what Chad said that day. But I do remember him calling me a good example because "... she never misses church if she can help it." Instant tears came to my eyes. Chad had noticed that even though I was in pain most days, I still went to church. He knew I had a strong testimony because I didn't let the pain keep me home. He knows the Gospel is important to me and that I would suffer to attend the meetings.

I knew that day that all the pain I had ever suffered or ever would was worth it because my son knew I had testimony! And that my testimony and example had helped strengthen his testimony.

The thing I am most proud of in this world? The testimonies of my children!

Guilty Pleasures

Have you ever wanted to give yourself a time-out? I have! And this summer, with school out and me not having to work, I gave myself a 3 month time out!

What did I do with this time? I discovered Facebook! I actually got a Facebook account last Novemeber but didn't know what to do with it, other than see what my kids were doing on their accounts. Then I had a couple of friends find me and become my friends and I started seeing what they were doing on their accounts. Soon, with some tutelage from my kids, I was becoming more and more involved.

At the beginning of the summer I was sending and receiving pieces of flair, plants, bumper stickers and messages. I set up farms and houses, became a pirate and a sorority sister, I collected water globes and temple pictures, and started kidnapping friends. I took tests to show that I am (or in some cases am not) who I say I am! I marked a map with all the places I've been and sent hugs and bracelet charms to my friends.

Then I ran into a problem. Alot of these games required a certain number of your friends to play also for you to receive certain privileges. Well, I didn't have enough friends on any of them! Many people were letting complete strangers on to their accounts! I couldn't see doing that, letting a stranger see my personal info and reading my daily posts. What was I to do? Recruiting wasn't working, strangers were not an option. My solution? I used my 'extra' email accounts to set up 'extra' facebook accounts so I would have more friends to add to my favorite games! Devious, aren't I?

I have spent the entire summer playing Facebook games! Then I found I couldn't just 'waste' my extra accounts, I had to tend all the farms and pets, and earn points on all the games! I feel a bit guilty wasting so much time, but I needed it! So maybe it wasn't wasted time. Mentally I needed a break and physically I needed to rest and this worked out perfectly for me.

A guilty pleasure? Yes! One I feel I've earned over the last 20 years...

I love to see the Temple

Temples have been a huge theme in all of my church meetings lately. As a high council member, my husband will be giving a talk on temples in 2 weeks, a subject assigned by the stake president. The lesson I will be presenting in Relief Society this week is on temple work, as was the lesson 2 weeks ago and the one next week. One of my nieces posted pictures of the Dallas temple on her facebook page and another niece had as her status that she loves to attend the temple. Jeff and I were able to attend a session this week in the Bountiful temple.


How blessed we are to have a plan set out by our Heavenly Father that allows us to be sealed together as families forever! While 'farming' on facebook yesterday I worked for a lady who was from upstate NY. I mentioned that my son was in that area and she asked why. I told her that he was a volunteer missionary. She asked "lds?" "Yes!" I replied. "r u lds? most people who aren't say mormon." "lol," was her answer. "no, but my mom is very active." Not wanting to be obnoxious but wanting to do a little missionary work I said "It's comforting to me to know that I can be with my family forever." "Funny you should say that. My 5 year old came home from school today and said he was afraid to die." I advised her to teach him how much God loves him so he wouldn't dwell on the scariness. She said they had talked about that, and that she had been thinking a lot lately about religion. I am positive that the Holy Ghost gave me the words to say to her. I hope that between my small effort and the influence of her mother that this sister will search out the truth and accept the Gospel.

I may even be able to follow up on this because she added me to her buddy list!