Breast Cancer Awareness

Workers at a hospital in Oregon made this video to promote breast cancer awareness.  They are all wearing pink gloves that help pay for mammograms for women who can't afford it.  I thought it was a fun, uplifting and happy video.  Go down to my music list and turn it off so you can hear and enjoy as these men and women dance to help women.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.

Oprah Winfrey

1954 -

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!
~Author Unknown

Books Are Cool!

This fascinated me.  Go down and turn off the music so you can hear it.  Very clever!

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.  Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.

Albert Schweitzer

1875-1965

Thank you to all my friends who have lifted me up, inspired me and helped to relight my light when I've needed it.  I have a full and grateful heart!

Thinking About Uncle Ira

My Dad has two older brothers.  Neal, who is twelve years older, and Ira who is eight years older.  As a child I was fascinated by how they all looked alike, had similar expressions, etc.  I remember my late Aunt Nona laughing about it too.  My Uncle Ira died earlier this week, and I'm saddened by his passing, but grateful that his hardships are over.  He'd been battling prostate cancer for a while now and had been in a lot of pain.

I was thinking of my favorite story about Ira.  My grandmother used to tell stories about him as a troublemaker when he was growing up.  I guess the sheriff used to visit their house with some regularity.  It seems mild by today's standards, but Ira used to do things like steal watermellons and apples and make his mother crazy.

But my favorite story is one of triumph.  As a young man he went off to school at Idaho State in Pocatello.  As I remember the story, after a couple of months the university called my grandparents and told them to come and get their son... that he was not college material.

Well this made Ira so mad that he determined he would make them eat their words.  He went on to get his degree, then he got his masters, and eventually got his doctorate.  And then?  Then he was hired by Idaho State to be the dean of the School of Pharmacology.

He's an example to me that if someone tells you no or that you can't do it to dig your heels in and show them otherwise. 

So, here's to Uncle Ira.  You'll be remembered well.

The Lady is a VAM! (with apologies to Rogers and Hart)

My 18-year-old son Kevin is a senior in high school this year, and every other day (today for example) he gets two hours off between 10:15 and 12:30.  We picked him up and went out grocery shopping.  He seems to like to tag along, especially when we're picking up things like cranberry sauce, pumpkin and 22 pound turkeys!

As we were driving him back to school I was joking about how I'm an LOL (Little Old Lady) and laughing about it. 

He piped up, "No you're not!  You are not little and you're not old.  You are a VAM."

Huh??  "A VERY AWESOME MOM!"  he informed me.

How can you help but love a kid like that?

An Eventful Day

Today is a special day.  I've already posted about Kevin turning 18, but it's also a big day for AJ.  This afternoon he turned in his mission papers.

Our bishop was called to be the new Stake President yesterday, so when he called AJ to his house he said he was tempted to just shoot them out to Salt Lake.  At ant rate, he hopes to get his call in a couple of weeks.

For those of you who don't know, AJ tried to put in his papers a year ago and was told he had to lose 60 pounds first.  It was heartbreaking for him; he wanted to go so badly.  But he never gave up.  This past year has been trying, but he's done it.  And he's proven that he won't let any obstacle get in his way.

I'm so proud of him and excited for him I could burst.

Yep, it's a big day around here!

My Baby is 18!!

Today my baby, my youngest son, Kevin is eighteen years old.  I cannot believe how fast these years have gone by, how quickly this day came.  It was a high-risk pregnancy and I was on bed rest the entire nine months.  Then, because he was so big (9lbs 13oz) they told me I could deliver him naturally and they would break his shoulders to get him out, or I could have a C-section.  Well, yeah, you can guess what I chose.  Break my baby?  No way! 

He was so beautiful.  Still is.  This is a bittersweet day for me.  Now that he's 18 I know that all sorts of things are possible for him.  He can be whatever he wants, do whatever he wants.  College, mission, career, family and home of his own.  All the dreams you have for your child.  But also facing registering with the selective service and voting.  Decisions he needs to make on his own.  Sometimes contrary to what I and his father would want for him. 

And my letting go a little bit more ....  We are always letting go from our children from the moment they're born, allowing them to make their own way in this world.  Emotionally stepping back has been the hardest thing for me.  What I want to do is say, "No!  Let me take care of you forever and ever!  I'll keep you safe and with me and I'll always, always ALWAYS love you the best!" 

Can't do that.  And isn't that a little bit like what our Father in Heaven does?  He lets us go, lets us make our own way, and hopes we return to him.  And He always, always, ALWAYS loves us best.  I will follow His example.

I hope I've given Kevin the love and the strength and the wings to soar through life.  He will always have my heart and support.

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!  I love you.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEKEND

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie