A Challenge

I am planning on trying something. I feel a need to do something. But will I be able to do it because it is such a challenge?

I heard about reading the Book of Mormon in 90 days 3 times. That is once for every 30 days, 18 pages a day. Each time has a different purpose and a different colored pencil for underlining and such. The first time is to learn of the people of old to see how God deals with them and so on. You use a regular pencil for underlining and write questions and notes in the margin. The second time is to read and underline in red all scriptures that relate to Christ and the atonement and so on. The third time is to like the scripture unto yourself. To see what God wants you to see, know and understand. At the end of each month, you write your testimony on the blank pages at the end of the book.

On top of that I am looking at the YW Personal Progress book. My bishop's suggestion. We had talked about how easy it is to remember who we are when we are told so much that we are daughters of God and how we tend to forget that when we get older. I think in some part of my mind the title daughter went to my daughters and somewhere I lost that privilege. You forget how important you are when you are not constantly reminded. I told my daughter that I felt that in part, the Young Women's program helped me to have a better self-esteem than I would have without it. I knew who I was and I felt special. Somewhere I lost that feeling so I am planning to work on it. I also thought I should look for my old personal progress book and show it to my daughters, I am pretty sure I still have it somewhere. I hope I do.

I am waiting till June to start the Book of Mormon challenge since I have invited others, but I am ready. I have my Book of Mormon and pencils already. Till then I will work on personal progress just like the young women. Does this mean I am going through a mid-life crisis? :)

Crying

I want to cry. I don't know why I want to cry but I do. I guess there comes a time where you just need to cry. My life is not exactly how I want it to be. I am definitely not where I thought I would be at this time in my life and yet here I am. And I need to remember that I am still on plan A. But, I still want to cry.

Mother's Day

I love Mother's Day! Not because of all the cards, phone calls, presents and breakfast in bed (although that has happened in a little while, I guess I should sleep in late) and not because it gives me an excuse to call all the mom's I love especially the one who had to put up with me the longest. It is because it is a day where I remember that I did the most amazing thing in my life. I became a mother.

I have been blessed to be called mother, mommy and mama by five most amazing, talented and beautiful/handsome children. And this mother's day I find myself thinking of the past when they were small and underfoot. How amazing they were from the time they were born with their tiny hands and feet. With wonder I was able to watch as they discovered what they could do as they learned to walk, talk and later to read and write. To watch them discover their talents from writing, art, drama, academics and music. And now to see the talent of mothering that my two oldest use with their little ones.

My children as of March are now all adults. Three still live at home but they are busy getting ready to leave the nest and I look at this new phase in motherhood with trepidation. Am I ready. I think I am. To watch them live their lives and make mistakes and cry tears over their children. Knowing that all I can give them is my love, listening ear and understanding. Knowing they will make mistakes and hoping their mistakes are not as big as mine were.

But coming with adulthood comes understanding of what it is like to be an adult and for this mother's day I got a wonderful present from my children. A back yard for my grandchildren to play in. It was a mess. It needed to be mowed, weeded, plants needed to be cut back, "stuff" needed to be put away. The following pictures will tell you the story of before and after. It is amazing.

Here is the picture of before:














After:














Another before picture with stuff:














After:














So, now I have more of a backyard than a storage area with weeds. There is more to do but this is a great start and the grandbabies can now play in the backyard. On top of it all I got dinner, pork ribs, beans and corn on the cob. Yummy!

By the way, my daughter took these pictures so they should look familiar if you read her blog too!