"You Can Be Right; I'll Be Happy"

As you read this, please understand that I will react differently in the future. My relationships with family and friends are so much more important to me than proving my point or winning an argument. I purposely did not include the material that presented the argument issue because my intent is not to prove anyone correct or incorrect. "You may be right; I may be crazy."

I was baited into a dead end debate this past weekend. I posted a Youtube video on Facebook that was against recent propositions for health care reform. I realize that all media has its biases, but I am so against the measures that current proposals have had. Someone took offense that I would post something that he considered so erroneous. He said that it didn’t represent a real bill. (But it did cite pages and lines.) I’m sure that the video was flavored by the one who made the video, but it did get its original content from a real bill. He implied that my cousin and I were spewing lies on Facebook and that we were stupid for posting the video.
One of his comments included a site which he said proved that the video was incorrect. I didn’t find this source any more trustworthy than the source we posted. But, once again, I wasn’t trying to credit or discredit my post or credit this person and discredit myself. I just don’t think that I was leading anyone astray. I definitely was stating that I am opposed to the current ideas for healthcare reform. Socialized medicine just does not work. But I do think that all of my friends can sift through what is real and what is not on their own. I give them credit for that.
My initial reaction was just to delete his comments. That’s where I wish I had left it. But I first saw the video when my cousin had posted it, and he also left many derogatory comments on her post. So I sent a note to his in-box.
As it turns out, we all feel pretty much the same about health care issues. His intent was to prove that he was right and to get me to fess up that I was wrong. He claimed to care about just posting truth, being brutally truthful as he would call it. My point was that I had a right to post things whether they are true or not. I think that all my friends are intelligent enough to take a video expression for what it is. I think that we all know that there are biases and propaganda involved in posting different sides to an issue. But he feels like he must defend issues that he opposes if they aren’t presented as he thinks they should be. So he pursued winning an argument instead of reaching a consensus. I feel more of a responsibility to be diplomatic than manipulative. I would rather retain a friendship with someone whom I share similar values than win an argument. It must be a lonely position to have to be right always.
His claim was we were passing on scare tactics with this video. He said that just makes it so partisan and that everyone should do research and not just spew lies. If partisan means being able to have your own thoughts and not have someone else tell you what you can and cannot post, then I guess I am for partisanship. I think it is interesting that we were actually “united” in how we feel about health care proposals, and yet he felt that he had to argue the point of the truth of a video not to persuade us that it was wrong, but to tell us that we are stupid and that he is correct. I really don’t think he cared so much about whether or not it was true as he did about winning an argument.
I originally had our interactions posted on my blog in their entirety. But my intent is not to prove that I am right and he is wrong or vice versa. So I deleted them. I often post blogs even while I am drafting and revising. My intent is to say that we should be kind and gentle with one another. If we want to persuade someone to see our point of view, it should be done with respect and not criticism. We should be able to allow others to believe what they want even if we think our beliefs are better. If we really care about someone being misinformed, we should approach them with kindness and express our opinions in a thoughtful manner. It doesn’t ever work to try to force someone to see things your way.
I tried to use private interaction by writing to his inbox. He preferred public interaction that would draw more people into the argument. He said that I was childish for removing his comments and that he would never hide anyone, delete their comments, or delete them as a Facebook friend.
I woke up Sunday morning with the intent to write him an apology for carrying this on so far. Well Sunday is a busy day for me. Finishing preparations for my Sunday school lesson came first. When I did look at Facebook in the afternoon, I found that he had copied my blog notes of our conversation into his own blog. He posted it on my Facebook page for me to go see. I read it; plus I read his dad’s reaction to it which was very wise and kind. I did write him a nice letter; I told him that I deleted the video and my blog notes; I even told him good luck with his new blog post. I thought that it was finished then.
But then I saw that he was really looking for validation that he was right on his own Facebook page. A friend of his told him that she had deleted someone over a politic issue a month or so ago. She was trying to persuade him that it wasn’t worth it to argue over politics. I did post a comment saying that I agreed with her and that it was over. He continued his debate with his friend that was posting comments and a new argument ensued. So instead of being baited in again and instead of worrying about how he is trying to present me to all of his friends, I did delete him as a Facebook friend. Childish, no. I care more about him and about myself than to continue arguing over things of such little import at the expense of kind feelings. It really doesn’t matter who’s right. It matters who knows how to walk away without proving he is right. Hopefully, I can apply this lesson better next time.

What Love Means to Me Now

http://tinyurl.com/aolsvot

When I was young, I was in love with the idea of being in love. Now that I've lived a few years, I have found that love is constancy. It is a sweetheart that listens and cares and is there for you in good times and bad, that values you at your best and your worst. It is being that sweetheart for your mate. Love is holding your newborn child in your arms, and then holding that child again when he's a teenager or a grownup. Love is enjoying the simple pleasures of life with someone else; it is sharing those things with someone else. Love is not being afraid to be yourself in your sweetheart's presence. Love is being a better self because you are whole when you are with your special someone. Love is lifting that person up and helping him be his best self. "Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." The collective memories of the love I've shared with my husband take my breath away. The individual quiet moments that we share in love making take my breath away. The children God has sent to us take my breath away. The memories of all our days together take my breath away. And all these things restore my breath, restore my hope, and give me new life.

The kind of love that Jesus has for us is called Charity. It is the kind of love that we should seek to develop in our relationships with one another:

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth...And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity ( See 1 Corinthians 13:4-13). Christ's love for us will never fail. It is always His purpose to lift us up. We should follow His example and work to love each other with an everlasting love and the desire to lift each other up.

I have been blessed with a wonderful husband. I am in love and in awe of his love. Happy Valentine's Day, dearest Bobby. I am in love with our beautiful children. We have six. I am in love with our Heavenly Father's plan. Because of His love for us, He sent His Only Begotten Son.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved (See John 3:16-17).

I am thankful that because of Jesus Christ's mission of love, my love for my family and their love for me can extend beyond the grave and throughout eternity.

I Stand All Amazed
by Charles H. Gabriel

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine
That he should extend his great love unto such as I
Sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I think of his hands, pierced and bleeding to pay my debt
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me
Secure in the promise of life in his victory
Thus ransomed from death I will live to my Savior's praise
And sing of his goodness and mercy through endless days

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me enough to die for me
Oh, it is wonderful
Wonderful to me

God is love. And God delights in us loving and serving one another. Happy Valentine's Day. Because of Christ's atonement, Love will conquer all.

Another blog about love:

Thankful for My Marriage

Happy Birthday, Robby.

http://tinyurl.com/av59wz2

Robby's 20th Birthday is Here

February 8, 2014:

Happy Birthday to our son Robby. He would be 20-years-old today, and most likely he would be serving a mission for the Lord. Well, actually he has been on a mission for the past 20 years. We receive no emails or phone calls, but every so often he he drops by in spirit to check in with his mom and let her know all is well. Thank you, Robby, for your ever so brief time with us that, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, has sealed you to us for eternity. We love you so much and are thankful for your place in our family and in our hearts, and for the blessings you've brought to us.

Robby's Photo Album

Robby's 19th Birthday is Here

Now it has been 19 years since the day Robby was born. The year after Robby died, no one could have convinced me that 19 years would pass so quickly, but they have.

Robby has remained an integral part of our lives, because he is forever in our hearts. I know that he is at our family's special events, and we have had a lot of those lately.

This past October conference, the new missionary age was announced: 18 for young men; 19 for young women. I realized how excited Robby would have been about going on a mission. But, in reality, he has already been serving a mission for the past 19 years in the spirit world.

Today I will go to the temple to commemorate Robby's birth, to worship, serve, and celebrate. Thank you for being a part of our family. We are indeed blessed to have our personal angel, reminding us of the importance of returning home with honor.

Thoughts from Robby's 16th Birthday 

Today our son Robby would have turned 16 years old. It is hard to believe that so much time has passed. And life is so good and so sweet.

I remember when I first found out that I was expecting Robby. I was over the moon. I knew that it was going to be a boy and I remember just running and jumping in the air and shouting for joy. I couldn't wait to share the news. So Bob was not even the first to know.

Ilene Fisher still had a blue binky at her house so she gave it to me. When Bob came home for lunch, there was a blue pacifier sitting on his plate. We planned to name him Robert after his dad from the start. But originally we were thinking of Derek as his middle name. When we found out there might be complications, I decided that I wanted him to be named Robert Dee, just like his dad. I felt that would be important to Robby and a way that we could express our love for him and his importance to us.

When I was around six months pregnant, I had an ultrasound. I was anticipating finding out that indeed Robby was a boy, but that isn't what I learned. Dr. Ojeda told me that my amniotic fluid was low which made it hard to see everything clearly. He said that there might be a blockage in the urinary tract that would need to be repaired during my pregnancy. He also said that the femur measured shorter than how far along I was which indicated that Robby might have the same dwarfism as our oldest child. So Dr. Ojeda sent us to a specialist, Dr. Brar.

I prayed that if it were possible that Robby would not be dwarfed. I really thought, at the time, that this might be a more difficult situation for a boy than for a girl. But I was looking forward to having him no matter what. Ilene thought that it would be wonderful for Cathy to have someone in the family like her. I am sure that they would have had a wonderful bond. I think we all bonded with Robby anyhow.

Dr. Brar tried to locate Robby's kidneys for the longest time. He had me drink some water, wait a while, and then he tried again. He said that he did find them. But he was more focused on Robby's dwarfism than the situation of such low amniotic fluid. He did not give me any advice to help increase the amniotic fluid and he did not check to see if there was a leak in the amniotic sac. What he did do was call our house the same evening as our visit telling us that he had friends that were geneticists who could see our oldest daughter the following day. She was diagnosed as an infant and there was no reason for her to be seen accept to satisfy Dr. Brar's curiosity.

I became suspicious that the amniotic fluid was leaking. When Dr. Ojeda tested for that, indeed it was leaking. So, even though Dr. Brar gave me no instructions to promote the health and life of my unborn baby, I put myself on bedrest. I still went to Dr. Brar's office for ultrasounds once or twice a week until Robby was born.

During the six weeks that I lay flat on the couch, the leak healed, and I learned to deal with my four children with much more patience and creativity. I also got closer to Robby and I cherished every single movement. The amniotic fluid increased from 2 or 3 centimeters to 7.

At 8 months, a technician at Dr. Brar's office seemed concerned when she performed the ultrasound. But she was not at liberty to tell me why. Dr. Brar wasn't in the office that day, so she asked me to come back the next day.

The following day, Dr. Brar began an ultrasound, and then he abruptly informed me that he didn't think the baby had kidneys. I questioned him about my first visit, and he said that maybe he'd just seen the adrenal glands. He said that he'd call the O.B. to deliver the baby that evening. When I questioned why, he did say that the baby was under stress. I just wanted to do what was best for Robby. Then he asked if I wanted another opinion. If the baby was under stress and needed to be delivered that evening, I didn't understand what another opinion would do. When I questioned him about that, he said that I could just have him vaginally since he was going to die any way.

Well, Robby was delivered Caesarean that evening. The hospital team worked to get him on oxygen so that he could breath. Then they hurried him away to do ultrasounds to check for kidneys and to take x-rays of his lungs. When they returned, they told us that Robby's lungs were extremely weak and brittle and that he did not have kidneys. They wanted us to understand that his lungs could burst because of how weak there were. Then they asked us what we wanted to do. I said that we just wanted to hold him.

Our home teacher showed up during this time. We got to see Robby while he was still on oxygen and looked wonderfully bright and beautiful. Bob was able to give Robby a name and a blessing along with our home teacher. The Spirit was so strong in that room that everyone present was touched by it.

They gave Robby some pain killer before taking him off oxygen; then I held him, and then Bob. I saw eternity in his eyes. I know that he is our son and that we can rear him in the Millenium of we live worthily. When I touched his foot, he jumped because it tickled. I am so glad that I got to hold my baby while he was alive. That in itself was worth a Caesarean Section. I would do the same thing again in the same situation.

The hospital staff was very kind and we got to hold Robby much of the night even though his spirit slipped away from his body shortly after he was taken off oxygen. His heart kept beating for almost one hour. So in all, Robby lived for about 2 1/2 hours. Although, someone asked me how long he was with us today. He is still with us.

Bob and I are the only family members that saw Robby alive. But we were surrounded by family and friends that shared this experience with us. We had a family night funeral at my parents' home, a viewing at the mortuary, and a little graveside service at the cemetery. We also had a memorial service at Bob's parents' home. We are so thankful for the testimonies we have, the strength of the Spirit sustaining us, and the support of family and friends. Ilene and Donna were my extra angels during this time.

For those who have expressed sadness or regret to us over our temporary loss, we have said, "Don't be sorry for us. Our family has our own angel." We have been blessed by Robby's life in numerous ways. For over a year, I felt that Robby was by my side comforting me. I felt like I was walking on clouds somewhere between this world and heaven. There were sad times when I thought I just couldn't make it through that first year, but between the Spirit of the Lord and Robby's spirit, I did make it. We all did.

Christine joined our family 2 1/2 years later. No, she didn't take Robby's place. But there was much joy and healing in our home.

It's been 16 years. That's one-third of my life! I'm glad that I have the memory of Robby always in my heart and the anticipatory memories of time with him ahead.

Each one of us had a spiritual experience that testified to us the reality of the immortality of the human soul. We all knew that Robby was alive, even little Tommy. The hospital rooms we were in, the mortuary, and many other places became holy ground to us.

The temple continues to be a hallowed place where we can all go and feel the blessing of our family being sealed for eternity.

Happy Birthday, Robby!

Robby is our angel child
Robby is our love
Robby is our angel child
Sent from heaven above
To lift our hearts and thoughts and goals
And dreams to reach the sky
Robby is our angel child
Robby lullaby
Sweet Robby lullaby

(A blog concerning when Robby's oldest sister Cathy was born: http://heidisommerfeldstevenson.blogspot.com/2013/08/thoughts-on-diastrophic-dysplasia-in.html)

Sheila's Birthday

It's my sister's birthday today. Happy Birthday. I can't believe that you are 53. I guess that will be me in another 5 years.

Thanks for all the wonderful things you've done for me all these years. Thanks for being the oldest girl and the second mom. I appreciate it. Thanks for inviting me to go with you on outings when you were in high school and I was so much younger. Thanks for buying a ticket for me to see Saturday's Warrior with you. That was so cool of you to do. Did you buy the tickets for A Day, a Night, and a Day as well?

Thanks for letting me learn to play ball with you and Kathy. We were all pretty good at it. I'm glad that Glenna was our coach. She was totally awesome.

Thanks for the gifts that you have given to me and to my family. You've been a wonderful aunt to my children. I appreciate that. You had great words of wisdom for me when Cathy was born. You have always been so helpful and loving. All the extra things you've done--from giving the kid's McDonald's certificate, to movie tickets, to paying them for raking leaves--have not gone unnoticed. We all have appreciated your thoughtfulness.

Thanks for watching out for Mom and Dad. I know that you love them so much and I'm glad that you are there to be in their corner. We had a wonderful time staying in your home a few years ago when Mom was ill and not up to having company. Thanks for having us. Mark is a great cook and you are both wonderful hosts. And you showed me how to make marzipan.

I remember that when we were young, you had such a special relationship with Eddie. I'm glad that you can have all those memories. You were there when he broke his arm. You were there when I broke my collar bone. Thanks for that.

Well, I just wanted to tell you that I am glad you are my sister. I love you so much. Have a great year.

Love,

Heidi

Again and Again

Have you ever found that the most difficult commandment is to endure to the end? I can be perfectly at peace for a minute. I can be perfectly charitable for an hour. I can be on top of the world for a day. But one small mishap can quickly shatter it all. I guess it is a little bit like Peter walking on water. He had his eyes on the Lord, and he was doing it! Then he noticed the great expanse of water all about him, and he quickly began to sink.

I remember the first time I prayed about the Book of Mormon. I was twelve. I wanted to know if it was true. So I put Moroni's challenge to the test, and I asked Heavenly Father in Jesus's name if it was true. I felt the greatest peace and calm come over me. It was beautiful. I wanted to hold onto that feeling, and I relished that experience the entire evening. I savored it.

I finished the Book of Mormon again a couple days ago. I prayed about it again, and I felt the same Spirit that I did when I was twelve. Then last night as I was reading, I felt that same Spirit. Then one small conversation brought the worries of the world back into my heart, and the peace was chased away. Why did I allow that? I guess it's because we need to be aware of the water all around us constantly, so that we don't sink. We need to look to the Lord like Peter did.

I have found grace and mercy and obtained a forgiveness of my sins. That is a sweet experience. But then I have been caught up in the struggles of daily life, and I continue to make mistakes and I constantly fall short of the glory of God. Again and again, I need to rely on Him and on His redeeming blood to save me. Plateaus are no good. Ladders do not always progress at a vertical slope. But Jesus is a constant. If I could learn to always keep my eye on Him, I know that His perfectness would carry me. How can one sink when Jesus is his focus?

I do not understand how He only did His Father's will and never followed a personal agenda. My small, insignificant tasks are often left undone because I get sidetracked by the things I want to do right now, thinking that I will do the things I should do later. And so I rob myself of peaceful free time and the satisfication of meeting some timely goals. How did He do it?

I know that I need to be more prayerful and turn over my life more to my Heavenly Father, but I'm quite content with how my life is now. I am truly uncertain of the new steps required in such an intricate dance. But I know that when I am ready to learn, He is willing, able, and ready to teach me. I need the faith; I need the courage; and I need the ability to regain focus after every time I notice all the water surrounding me.

Lord, don't let me sink. And, help Thou my unbelief. Again and again, I need Thee.

End of January 2010

It's the end of the beginning. I can hardly believe that this year is one twelth over. But that's how it goes. The Lord has hastened His work, and He has hastened the clock. I'm certain of this. Every year passes a bit more quickly than the one before. We may not notice it day by day, but I am certain that the time value of a second is quicker than it used to be.

Even though time passes more quickly, we seem to be able to fit ever so much more into it. You may think you haven't done much this year, but if you think so, I can almost guarantee that you are not keeping a journal. Look over your calendar. What did you do each day? Amazing, isn't it? Some seemingly large tasks that you've wanted to get done are finished, or you've put a mighty dent in them. The seemingly small things that you have done each day have amounted to a great deal, too. Bit by bit, chunk by chunk, you've started the year!

What an age. I'm glad to be alive. I do not have to wash clothes on a scrub board. I no longer have to pin clothes on a line to dry. In fact, I haven't done that in years. Even though I think time is going faster, technology has given us all a present: we have way more time to do the things that we want to do. One of those things that I want to do is write. So I'm thankful for my computer and for this blog and for the few of you who read it and make me feel published.

It's funny though that we have to make up programs to help us exercise. Life has become so sendentary that we forget how good it is to be outside, walking with a gentle breeze at our necks. We forget how good it feels to dig with a shovel and work the land. We forget how fun it is to play real outdoor games that help us stay fit. We forget how noticing the changes in the world around us helps us feel creative and thankful.

So I dedicate myself to more time outdoors. Even though I have a car, I can walk. And while I can walk, I will choose to walk more and choose to notice the colors of the mountains and the sky more, not just the pavement under my feet.

I love home schooling Christine. I enjoy reading and learning. But I want Christine to have a love for nature. I, therefore, promise myself and her that we will set school aside periodically to enjoy the great outdoors. Time is passing much too quickly. In a few more winks, our children will all be gone with children of there own. What is it that I want them to remember? What is it that I can help Christine remember? I would like to help her develop a love for life and this beautiful world God created for us. She already has a three R's education that surpasses the majority of the world. But I'd like to help her learn to love God's creations and God's children. So these next few months will find us out and about much more than we have been.

Hello world. We are home.

She Finished Semester 1

My daughter is finishing her first Semester of high school. I'm really proud of her. She is learning so much and is handling a little more each day. I can't believe that this is our 7th year of home schooling. It isn't always the easiest decision for her or for me, but it's the decision that we both have made, and it's been a good one.

She still loves to socialize. She attends an early morning religion class four days a week. But once those students leave the class, some of them are back in public school mode and promptly turn on their potty mouths and bad attitude. Some of them may even retain the attitude for Seminary. I know. I taught it for three years. I can appreciate the sacrifice of the teachers in preparing to teach a daily lesson and the effort that they put forth to provide the students with a good start to each day. Hats off to her teacher; my daughter loves her class and leaves energized and happy about life.

She has enjoyed visting with her friends after Seminary, but she has noticed that most of the teens she has seen on their way to the high school do not seem happy. They are swallowed up by their hoodies and walk with head down in a dejected fashion. Some have ipod connections in their ears, closing themselves to the world around them. And this is how they face a day of education.

I've heard stories from my other children about the things that happen at school each day. I'm glad that they didn't participate in all the alternative educations that are provided in the public school setting. But I am sad, too, that they had to be exposed to such promiscuity, indulgence, and wickedness. Unfortunately, it is our generation that has exposed them to it and made it so readily available. And so children are continually sent to public schools, and all of them are learning; it is just a question of what they are learning.

My children have had some wonderful teachers. If your children are fortunate enough to qualify for G.A.T.E. and honor's classes, they tend to be among other top students that come from homes where parents actively care. So their learning environment is a cut above what is available to most of the student population. Teachers like to blame the students and their home environments for their lack of progress; parents like to blame the teachers and the poor environment provided by the schools. But there is never enough real care about improving the problems. That would require too much work. It would require more time from teachers and more time from parents. It would require working together. It would require the schools allowing the parents to own the roles of teaching and disciplining and the teachers the roles of teaching and informing the parents of the child's progress, or lack of it, and the child's behavior and attitudes. More money will never fix public school problems any more than a bandaid would stop a puctured artery from bleeding.

On-campus suspensions are useless. The schools want to punish, not help the student, and they want to retain each day of funding they can in connection with each pupil they can. If there is a proper reason for suspension, the child should not be on school property.

Lunch detentions and after school detentions are a lame excuse at obtaining total control. The students are given so many detentions before a parent is required to attend a conference. Although, if there are problems with a child not finishing work or having behavioral problems, the parents should be promptly informed so that some solutions can be sought and some goals made. Instead, the school would like to continue to punish children, sometimes just for being children. It makes me wonder why some educators chose their profession.

These are things that I have observed first hand, not things that I am making up. My oldest son had to serve an after school detention when he was 6-years-old because he forgot to sit on a bench outside while all the other children were playing. Ridiculous? Yes. Unfortunately, I allowed it. Parents, we need to take back the responsibility of our children's well-being and not allow the schools to take over our job of parenting. My son was "benched" during recess. I don't remember why. (But just to inform you, workers are given two fifteen minute breaks during the day and at least one 1/2 hour lunch. Our children are entitled to the same thing....EVERY day. It really is against the law to take away recesses.) Anyway, I don't know if he knew that being benched meant a time out, or if he knew he was required to stay there the entire recess. When he heard a bell, he got up. Recess wasn't over though; there were still children playing, so he joined them. And because of that, he was given an after school detention.

I just wanted to let you know that you do not have to sign every form that the schools give you at the beginning of the year. For instance, if you disagree with detentions, write that you disagree with them on the form, and then sign that. If you disagree that the adults at the school should be absolved of any responsibility for what your child views on a school computer, write that you disagree on that form and then sign to that. If you aren't at the school, you cannot monitor everything you child does. The public schools consistently want to hold our children to a higher standard than they are willing to accept for themselves.

I just noticed that I took a large detour from my original purpose. I am proud of my youngest daughter. I am proud that she has done well in our home environment, and that I have chosen to put her education first in my life. I am also proud that she has accepted the challenge and has blossomed and excelled and done extremely well with a highly demanding curricla. Home schooling is a wonderful opportunity and a huge challenge. If it is done correctly, it is anything but easy. I'd appreciate you never telling a home schooled child how easy they have it. And I'd apppreciate it if you never asked the parent if they'll ever let the child go to school. My child is in school. I guarantee it.

I am also proud of my four survivors from public school. I wish that I had been more aware of what was going on and had intervened more diligently on their behalf. I did once I learned. I am also proud that they were all good students and that they chose to forsake the many alternative educations they were exposed to constantly by other children, teachers, and other school personel. I'm glad that they have gone on to do good things with their lives, and that they are continually making good choices.

Whether your children are schooled in public or private school or at home, make sure that you know what is going on in their education, and make sure that you support them in the things that they are doing. Know what is going on. If you listen, they will tell you. Believe them. And let them all know that you are proud of them and that you love them. Education should be a positive thing.

Back to the beginning. We are at the end of the first Semester of high school. Daughter, you did fantastic!

Back to school. Back to work. It feels good. I arose early this morning eager to accomplish those things that I set out to do. It's a new year, and I want this feeling to last. It was a productive day, filled with teaching and learning; a little serving and cleaning fit in there as well. Plus, my half hour with Wii Fit, and then dinner as a family and family home evening. We had a lesson yesterday in Relief Society to be very specific with what we plan to do. So last night I once again reverted to writing a list to plan my day. Some people would call that spiritually creating your physical day ahead of time. Here I am on the second evening of this new year (not counting the holiday weekend), and I am going to commit to plan for tomorrow. Ask me how I am doing in two weeks or a month. Hopefully, I will be becoming more organized.

The best thing is that I will be getting back on track in my English class, and, ultimately, in working towards my Bachelor's degree. I've been putting that off for ever so long now, and I'm glad that I've picked it back up. I read a chapter from my text book and reviewed a lesson that I'd read earlier. Now I need to work on the assignment, turn it in, and keep going.

So with this new year, I am trying to be more diligent in my commitments to the Lord, to my family, and to myself. I'm beginning each day with a devotional time, and that is a blessing. If we all invite the Lord into our lives this year, He will definitely come into our lives and make our efforts turn out great. I know it. My main goal this year is to be more fully converted. I know the Lord loves all of us, but I want to live like I believe that all the time. That is what truly be the best thing. What's your main goal?

She's leaving us; bye, bye.

Bob and I took our oldest to the airport this afternoon. She's left us yet again. Tears came to my eyes as soon as I got back into the car and looked at my husband. But am I sad? Not really. She has a fantastic job, a single's ward that she loves, many friends, and my side of the family all live close. I am so happy that she is doing so well. She asked Bob to give her a blessing before we left for the airport, which was a great privilege for all of us. She'll be back to her ward tomorrow and back to her job Monday. Bob will be back to work; our oldest son will be starting a master's program this next week; our missionaries are busy missionarying; and my youngest daughter and I will be busy schooling with CAVA. She will also be back to early morning Seminary. Plus, I need to start working on the on-line English class that I am taking. Being busy is a beautiful blessing.

Bob and I ate dinner at Dickey's. We'd never eaten there before, but it is a great little barbeque place. It reminded me of eating at Bill Miller's in San Antonio, Texas. Brisket is the best! Then we did a little shopping at Costco and Winco. And we ate bridge mix. The round jelly ones are the most awesome.

Thank you, Ladybug, for your friendship and for being our firstborn. You have brought great joy into our lives. Thanks for taking the time to come be with us for my birthday in October and for this past Christmas season. Have a wonderful year! I know you will.

New Year's Reflections

How blessed I am to see this bright new year! 2010. I was born in 1961, and I am living now in the 21st Century. Hope, bright hope looms ever before us. How can there be darkness for very long when there is always hope...each new child enters the world with the Light of Christ shining in his or her eyes, and because of that it is Christmas every day. Christ's Light is born anew continually lighting our way and giving us hope. And so we can cling to this Light, this Love, this Hope.

How blessed my family has been. I've been married to Robert since 1982. Great choice. He continues to surprise me with this intellect, his love, his capacity to work and excel, and his plain goodness. He is a decent soul. Everyone should find a decent soul to marry. I'm glad that I did. We've traveled through schooling years together, through working years, through parenting years; and now we are returning to the schooling years. But this time, we're getting paid for it. Bob recently sold his dental practice and is now teaching at Western U in Southern California full time. Since 1982, my hopes and dreams have included Bob..."to infinity and beyond."

Our greatest gifts are truly our children, God's children on loan to us. They are doing great things with their lives. They are making good choices. They are decent souls. What more could a parent hope for? Two of them have served LDS missions and graduated from BYU; two of them have interrupted their college studies and are currenly serving missions; one of them was only here in mortality for a brief hello, and he is serving incognito; and our last is studying with K12 High School. Our one daughter told us that we have a Humanities' home. This was a great compliment to us. All the family nights, scriptures read, and hymns sung have paid off; all the books and music, the trips to museums, mountains, and zoos have paid off; they have complemented our children's education and given them a zest for life and learning. And so there is a brightness of hope that they will also teach their children "in the language of their fathers," and have a Humanities home. Hopefully, we will all graduate with the Humanities Degree of Mortality with an emphasis in Charity.

We've had this two weeks' break to be together and re-energize. Monday we'll be back to work and back to school. Our oldest will be back to SLC and we will miss her. But this is the greatest age of communication! With cell phones, we can use our free minutes and talk to each other. We even get to receive email from our two on missions every week, and we got to speak to both of them on Christmas day. Sitting around the breakfast table with those at home and those far away for a couple of hours brought us joy on Christmas day. The growth and happiness of our missionaries brings us great satisfaction and happiness. These children on loan to us, we can gladly loan back to our Father so that they can serve His other children. Sometimes there are partings "in such sweet sorry," both the joyful returns make it all so worth it. And Father wants us all to return.

So "Keep Christmas with You all through the Year."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oRo3H6nQns