Sixth Grade Rocks!

This is my handsome little devil! (Last one on the right)  
This is his soooo cute school class this year.

Yesterday his school had their yearly program where they honor the 8th grade graduating students, and hand out awards for the year.

These aren't just "made up" awards given to make every student feel "special'. They are well-earned, hard-worked-for awards. I had NO idea my son would be getting and award. He got two!

He got a certificate for 5th place in the BYU bride crushing competition. This was his first year doing it, and he pretty much assembled the whole thing by himself. (His partner was a little...uninvolved for most of it.) It stressed him out a lot and I kept telling him that it didn't matter how it turned out because these first few years are just to learn about how to do it, not be perfect. But he is so particular. He didn't want any dripping glue showing. He didn't want any beams off-center, or crooked. No. He does NOT get this perfectionism from me!

When we went for the bride crushing a few months ago, I told him just to enjoy it, no matter how much weight it can take, and that it is going to break regardless! He was prepared to just enjoy it and have fun. He knew the top 5 would get an award at the end of the year. We couldn't believe it when his came in the top 5! It was a really fun day and he is looking forward to it again in the future.

He was also awarded a bronze medal yesterday for his performance on the National Mythology Exam. This was a complete surprise to all of us! How neat to see him go up on stage and get his medal! He was so proud, and I'm sure his daddy and I were just beaming! And, of course, I didn't bring my camera. (I am NOT one of those picture-taking camera moms. Sorry. Can't be perfect!)
Luckily, one of his former teachers was there to snap this priceless picture of the whole class together!

I loved the program yesterday. It made me cry. It gave me chills to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, to hear a student give a heart-felt prayer; to hear the 8th grade students give such touching speaches; to see the true and caring involvement of each of the teachers there; to see the principal give each student a hug. I knew, once again, that I am doing the right thing sending my son to that very special school!

Lesson from a fledgling bird...

I gave a lesson on Sunday in Relief Society about facing trials with faith, and turning our lives over to God.

And, since I practically live my life finding analogies in every little thing, I thought I'd share the latest. (With whomever might be even still reading blogs, let alone MY pathetic little blog. Hello? Anyone? Beuhler?)

We have a family of blue scrub jays living next to our back patio in a large evergreen. They have become our friends. They let us know when they want us to give them a treat by tapping on the brick wall by their bush. We put the food out, they eat, everyone is happy.

They recently had a young one hatch and it has been really neat to hear him chirping and crying out for food, then hear the mamma and daddy talk to him. He chirps back and they feed him. Sooo cute!

Yesterday, as I was doing yard work very near the tree, the baby decided he was ready to leave the nest. Except, he wasn't really ready because he can't fly yet. But, he was determined NOT to be stuck in that nest anymore. I kept a close eye on him all day long, making sure he didn't fall from the tree, or find himself on the ground where the neighbor cat would be all too happy to have him for a snack.

Last evening he eventually made it down to the ground and his parents were VERY worried about him. We wanted to avoid handeling him, but it became very apparent he was headed straight for danger if we didn't do something. My husband caught him and tried to put him back in his nest, but he wasnt' having any of that. HE jumped right out and fell back down to the bottom of the tree. We tried again to put him back where he'd be safe for a few more days until his wings were ready to fly, but he simply would not stay put. We finally turned in for the night, leaving him near the middle of the tree, and fairly certain he'd be safe there for the night.

This morning we went out to check on him. We could hear his squaking and the parents talking to him, but he was climbing up the vines on our giant pine tree across the yard! We thought, well, that is where they ultimately always end up with their young, so this could be good! But it wasn't good, because the little thing still couldn't climb up the tree, and still can't fly!

He finally ended up back down on the ground and headed toward the house with the very hungry cat! The parents were NOT happy with this, but the little bird wanted to go his own way. Somehow the little guy managed to change directions, though, and ended up in our other neighbor's yard near a lower tree. HE is in some thick underbrush, and I think he's safe for now.

But it made me think about my own life. I have often wanted to go my "own" way, instead of the way I know the Lord had planned for me. I would fight and struggle, and walk my own path. Usually my path was easier, more ideal than the one the Lord had planned for me. So I would stubbornly go my own way, and find myself unhappy, making mistakes, and end up miserable. That is when I would have to finally change course and listen to the Spirit guide me back to where I needed to be. If I had only done that in the first place- listened to the Spirit. It will never take me down a path I should not go!

That little birdie should have listened to his parents who know what the big, scary world is like. They know that his wings needed to grow a bit more before he was to leave the nest. Now they have to put themselves in danger as they try to care for their little one who is far, far from the path.

I hope he will make it back up into the tree again. I hope the Jays know we were only trying to help, and not be mad at us. I hope that I can learn from this and remember that the Lord's path, however difficult it may be, or undesirable at first, is ALWAYS the better way. ALWAYS!

 

Still the same dumb blonde....

It's funny how you change as you get older, but somehow some things never change.

Last night I was talking with my hubby before we fell asleep.

He said to me, "You know... when you first meet people, you act completely different to them than you do when people get to know you better."

me: "Oh yeah? Like how?"  (I'm thinking, I seem more professional, or maybe more formal. In high school I definitely came across as very ditzy and even shallow, which I wasn't!  I've definitely tried harder to come across more cool, calm and collected- more formal over the years. Ya, more formal, with a touch of classy educated socialite mixed in. I'm sure that's it.)

him: "Well... now don't take this the wrong way...." (which of course means, take this the wrong way!) "But... well, you kind of come across as.... ditzy."

me: "What?! No I don't! I try very hard not to be ditzy!" (even though, I must admit, I am a bit ditzy, but not dumb ditzy, SMART ditzy.)

him: "Well... maybe ditzy isn't the right word. More like.... shallow."

me: "What?!"

him: "Well... once they get to know you better people know you aren't shallow. It's just... your first impression... that's all."

me: "Mmmmm Hmmm.... so.... shallow.... huh? And ditzy."

Well... so much for working to change for 20 years!

It's a rainy day...

It is raining and raining and raining outside today. Rain on a Saturday is kind of bitter-sweet. I love being able to go outside on Saturdays and get a lot of yard work done this time of year, but with the rain I am forced to be inside. However, I've turned on some Nat King Cole and various similar singers, I've got dinner cooking in the crock pot, I worked out hard on the treadmill, and I am now going to finish preparing my relief society lesson.

The lesson is about bettering ourselves day by day. It really rings with me right now as I am trying to better myself physically. I made a goal a month ago (yes, you read that right. An actual goal! I know- miracles do happen!) to get myself into better shape physically. I wanted to have more control over what goes into my body, and what I do with my body-  namely exercise and strength conditioning.

It is definitely a daily journey! Some days I feel invigorated and ready to work out hard. I have the emotional strength to say- it doesn't matter how much you can't do right now, what matters is what you CAN do. Other days I put it off and put it off and put it off until I say, If I dont' go work out before my head hits the pillow I am going to feel so much worse about myself and it's going to be that much harder tomorrow. So I force myself to exercise. And most days I feel so much better and it gets easier and then I'm doing that hard workout I didn't think I could do.

I guess it's that way with life in general. Some things are easy. For me not drinking alcohol or smoking is easy. Not killing people is generally not hard for me. (Spouse and kid excluded, of course!) I don't struggle with some of the difficult things others struggle with. But, the things I do struggle with are definitely hard for ME. I guess that's why we're not supposed to judge others; their struggles are their own; mine are my own. Hmmm.... I think I get it now!

Some days it is easy to work on bettering myself. I work on not gossiping, or not yelling at my kid, or keeping my house clean and organized. But there are those days when I mess up. I talk negatively about someone I don't truly know or understand (because their struggles are their own... I got it.). Or I lose my patience with my son. Then I feel horrible about myself and feel like I'll never "get it".

But there is always a next day where I get to try all over again. It's a clean slate. If I skipped my workout one day, there's always the next day to pick it up again. If I mess up with something one day, I can always try again the next. I love repentance!

So, on this rainy Saturday as I put off finishing my relief society lesson even longer by typing this blog post, I am reminded that I can try harder. And once you've done a good job one day, it betters you. You get stronger. I can run further today than I could a month ago because I keep trying every day. I get better. And that's what the whole point is, right?

It's a deadly job, but someone's gotta do it...

Definition:
Stay At Home Mom: (Noun, Action Verb) A women who puts herself in harm's way on a daily basis to provide for her family and take care of her home.

Today's mishaps:

*Dropped heavy mixing blade on my foot. It hurt!

*Spilled hot melted wax all over myself and the living room floor and book case, and video camera.

*Burned thumb on cookie sheet while taking it out of the oven.

*Stabbed myself in the eye with my toothbrush while brushing my teeth.

*Sucked up the lace of my shoe while vacuuming.

*Fell over while trying to free my lace from the vacuum.

*Vacuum fell onto me after I fell over trying to free my lace from the vacuum.

*Fell over while reaching for something behind me in my sewing room.

*Smashed finger under sewing machine foot. Ouch!

*Car door slammed closed on my ankle. &%$@/!

All of this in just ONE day.... I think I'd better wrap myself in bubble wrap and stay in bed!

With one leg in the air...

Years ago, several months after my husband gave me my little Bichon Frise puppy, Nappy, we took him with us to visit my husband's parents. They, too, owned a dog. A much older dog named Oceeto.  Oceeto was used to other animals being around him so we weren't worried about Nappy getting into fights with Oceeto, or Oceeto being mean to Nappy. We were right. Oceeto pretty much tolerated Nappy, and was very patient with Nappy's attempts to play with the much older and less energetic Oceeto. Nappy loved every minute of it. He was so excited to be around another dog! Little did I know, however, that this one visit would change my Nappy forever.

Up to that point in his little life, Nappy was...well...a little different, and that was fine. Specifically, Nappy pee'd different than other male dogs. While other dogs would lift their leg at anything that came in their path and "mark" their territory, Nappy would just crouch down a bit on the grass and pee- like a girl dog. It was dainty, not the " in all glory for all the world to see" type of thing that boy dogs do. I liked it this way.

When we brought Nappy home from his weekend visit to his "Uncle" Oceeto, I discovered to my horror that Nappy had been schooled in the correct way for boy dogs to pee. It was as though Oceeto had seen Nappy, laughed and said "Now Son, that will never do. Let me show you how the big boys do it."  Forever after that weekend, Nappy would proudly lift his leg as high as he could get it, balance on his other paw, and let out a stream as far as he could shoot it. And he DID shoot it- everywhere he could mark his territory, he would!  Oceeto took the innocence away from my little puppy that I could never hope to get back.

Why tell this story? Because tonight I am sending my son to Young Men's for the first time. Pit in my stomach? Check. I feel like I am sending him to Oceeto to be schooled in how men really do things. He spent an hour in his new older Sunday School class on Sunday and came back more sassy and sarcastic than ever. One hour, people! Imagine what 2 hours of that- every week-  is going to do!

I'm trying to think positive thoughts. "I've taught him well. He'll be fine." And "Young Men's is not the den of iniquity I am imagining it to be."  But all I can see is Nappy peeing with his leg up for all the world to see, forever more.

I think I'd just better buckle my seatbelt and hold on for the ride that is called "Teenager Hell", and hope that no one falls out along the way. And I guess just be glad that human boys don't pee with their leg in the air... at least that I know of!

 

The Student Has Become The Master....

In some recent discussions with my son, he has imparted his wisdom about the fairer sex that astounds me for someone of only 12 years. The following are thoughts he told me about his views on women and how we think:

1) You should NEVER mention a woman's age or weight, there are too many ways it can go wrong.
           When I mentioned to him that it would be ok if you told a woman she looked young, or thin, he said, "No mom, what if she doesn't want to look thin, or has been trying to put on weight because she's too thin. Or what if you tell her she looks young and she is sick and tired of people thinking she is younger than she is? No, you should just avoid these topics."  He's got me there!

2)  When a girl is crying and you ask her what's wrong and she tells you "nothing", you should assume something is wrong but that she just wants someone to listen to her, not give her advice. Even if you think what she is crying about is really stupid, she obviously thinks it's a big deal and you should just say "I understand" and give her a hug.  (He probably gets this from dealing with me... about once a month.)

3) If a girl is angry, she doesn't WANT you to make her happy.Just give her some time to cool off, and then tell her you're sorry- even if you're not. (This will get him FAR with the ladies.)

4) Women like to be right. You should just let them be right. It's not worth trying to prove them wrong.

5) Girls expect you to just "know" what they want from you. You have to really pay attention so you don't have to guess. You may need to take notes.

6) If a girl is upset, and maybe yelling at you, if you lower your voice and speak calmly, they usually calm down too. Unless they're angry, then you need to go away.

7) Women like getting flowers. You should get them flowers whenever you have enough money. Even if it isn't Valentine's Day or their birthday. (He told me when he starts earning money regularly he is going to buy me flowers. Now who can resist that?!)

Well, I'm sure there will be many more discussions about girls in the future. (gulp!) And I am certain he will glean even more wisdom through his experiences with women and girls. The kid could write a book right now, as far as I'm concerned! He really seems to have us figured out!