Training a Child

As mothers and fathers we look forward to the day we can get our toddler out of diapers and into underwear. 

I know we even celebrate those moments when the wee ones brush their teeth and do a good job at it, alone. 

I remember well, the thrill of watching them take a step with NO assistance, then soon running all over the place. 

When children make a sandwich, sweep the floor or make their bed....celebrations occur, if even in our minds. 

However, there are no cheers, no celebrations or family members called to share the moments when our "failing nicely" parents begin the journey of wearing pull-ups, not brushing their teeth without assistance and walking only with assistance. 

Once they forget how to make a sandwich or that there IS actually  food in the house no one gets the call saying that day has come. 

Long time friends, family, home, even scripture become foreign and most unsettling, but we throw no parties for such events. 

Of course we don't, that would be rather disgusting, as if to poke fun. 

This path of retuning home to Father is a path of Dignity and great respect. One where we honor their decline with kindness, graciousness and understanding.

When walking home alone in the dark we look for the lights, the way, a reminder of where we are headed. 

We must now provide the light, the way and the reminder of where they are headed, with joy....

I know someday, it will be MY turn to walk the journey home.

 The days are changing as well as the nights. 

Just as with our children, no two are the same. 

There is no reason to worry, fret or despair really, because it is just a journey, one of many, different from all the rest. 

And yet just the same. 

 

 

Pray like you mean it~! 

     At times I get lazy when it comes to talking to my Heavenly Father. I close my eyes, bow my head and assume my heart knows what it wants to say and will take over. Often I find myself waking up half our later, rather twisted into a contortion I could most likely not do when fully awake and very disappointed. 

     To combat this righteous fatigue,  I now take on a rather unique style which promise's NO sleeping. No need to go into huge detail, let's just say, it works, and I know my prayers are more full and complete as well as received.

     How do I know this you ask...? Because I feel Father's warmth and caring. The spiritual time during my day extends beyond my meditation time.

     Trial and error is what life is all about, right. Full of fancy words and abilities as well as disabilities.  Time and more time to get things right, to put into practice HIS will and HIS LOVE. 

     Using each second of life seems like a noble idea, as in using up the gas in my car. Sitting in a can in the garage gas eventually only becomes vapor. My life is full of seconds that vaporize. What I do with my seconds does not.    Using up my mind and heart is the message Father has been slipping into my soul this week. 

      Don't spend your time Kathy, Use it...... dish it up and dish it out wear it out and use it up> In his Holy service. Be too tired to complain, to weary to worry and keep HIS Face in your minds eye NOT your own face. You can never see your own face in the flesh either ~!

HEAVENLY MESSAGE

Waking at 4:30 am to find the longed for swallow of pure lovely tap water unavailable is slightly unnerving. Add to the equation an elderly mother in your care who does not quite understand why the toilet won't flush and asks is there a place to get a drink ... somewhere.
Panic rose inside my unprepared mortal being filling my head with "I should haves". 

The emergent need was water. At 5:45 I told mother I was going just around the corner to buy some gallons of water. She seemed to understand and stayed in bed. By the time I left the third CLOSED store, I was beginning to grasp the idea of being prepared, albeit on a small scale to say the least.

Oh, Thank Heaven for 7-11. (just happens to be my date of birth:) mmmm I should have gone there first. 

Three gallons @ $1.99 each and I am back headed for home. After all three went, literally down the toilet, I needed more. 

"Sheesh" flashes through my brain, and then "Oh my Heck", common sentiments in times of despair when I would rather not swear. Off to a sisters house to beg, borrow, bum, or steal (as we used to say). Kindly they let me HAVE, lots. including unopened drinking water. 

Moral of the story>Note to self: Get a grip, get a clue, get on board, get it together and for Heaven's Sake.... Get Prepared ~! 

nuff said, right:0  

Jeanie and Georgie Girl

In a letter written to me by my friend Jeanie, in 1999, are these words....

"Miss you coming to tea- "

In the one year we lived in Bullhead City Arizona, Jeanie became one of my dearest friends.

She was 79 years old then, and died a few years after we moved to Pleasant Grove.

Many happy moments were spent sitting at her kitchen table in her small yet clean trailer, drinking herbal tea. We both loved this simple treat, often nibbling a cookie or two as we discussed the trials and joys of our lives. She encouraged me, a younger mother with different trials than hers. I can still see her face as she smiled with her hand reaching across the table to pat mine...thus gifting me a portion of her spirit.

I learned great details of her dear family, her childhood and earlier life, her aches and pains, and enormous blessings. Jeanie's dog, Georgie Girl, was huge...but someone forgot to tell her. Much to Jeanie's delight she thought she was a lap dog.

Jeanie helped everyone she could, driving to doctor appointments, visiting the sick and lonely, taking food to anyone she thought of...and personally greeted each person walking into Relief Society every Sunday.

Dear Jeanie created (old style) cut and paste handouts each week to accompany the lesson. This would take hours of cutting out the flowers or birds and such of old greeting cards and stationary then pasting them to a folded half sheet of paper. She then added a hand written message adding a scripture in direct relationship to the lesson for 35-40 sisters each week.

She went to Young Women's and Primary to be sure each sister got her message.... hand made with great love and dedication to her calling. Her calling was Relief Society Greeter, and so it was she greeted> and then greeted some more, abundantly.

After church, Jeanie went to the sisters homes who were not able to attend that day and delivered their message of hope and peace.

Simple acts of kindness, simple talks over herbal tea, simple visits and humble serving have brought me to a better understanding of true Charity. 

Jeanie was a beacon of God's light, a shinning example of the extra mile and the purpose of being a true disciple of Christ. She gave more than was asked, blessed more than was expected and more importantly she loved without judgment.

I watched and listened as she slowly hobbled along the path of righteousness. Her body weak and joints screaming, she sang the song of redeeming Love.

Jeanie and Georgie Girl are among my sweetest memories deep in the bottom of my LeafyTeaPot.

 It could always be worse

When I know someone is praying for me, I tend to care more about what I am doing, watch my 

 my thoughts and even actions. I take inventory of my attitude, adjusting it as needed. 

Yet my own perspective is so veiled and limited ...of myself of course. 

I see through my own mind and feel through my own heart. I can't know what others see, exactly.

How will I know if the changes I make, if any, are good enough, are of benefit?
Can I make life "better" for all in my circle of influence
including myself.
 

Relying on my own vision of reality often is an unsure mountain. Rocks are tumbling down in my path, sharp rugged edges leading to valleys below, so I ask, why did I come this way. I wonder if I should have chosen different. 

But choosing is what I did, and do, in order to end up ....somewhere. 

Somewhere good, happy, loving, peaceful, beautiful, and shared.

I wonder if all of those "places" are already on my path and I see only the falling rocks and jagged edges?
Is it possible to climb so fast or so slow or with only one focus, I miss the segments of joy....set before me by God? 

I had a patient for a few years who was blind, one comment that was made regularly by this individual was 

"It could always be worse". 

The trials besetting this patient were overwhelming and I was thankful I did not have that set of obstacles. 

At least for today.... I will raise my head a little higher, walk away from pain as if it were just a tiny bug coming my way with no intention of biting me.... I will look into the eyes of whomever I talk to and look for something I have never seen before.... I will ask God to open a crack of the window of Heaven and teach me deeply.
Tomorrow, as we all know is another day....
And if I were blind, I would not see the rocks coming my way, I would not observe visually, the sharp edges. 
I hope I would feel the warm sun, the steady arm of the one leading the way, and all the while 
realizing "it really could be worse" ...
but today, IT isn't. 

 

There's no way to know.... unless you know~!

We can stand on the edge of a hill, gaze into an ocean vast deep and powerful.

We can watch someone in pain with brokenness of spirit or body, even of soul.

Driving we look in our rear view mirror, see faces, laughing, singing, yelling, staring.

Then there are the faces before us, doing the same things, just like us.

We can read about a far away land, learn a language, follow a Greek recipe, visit an art museum.

We could even paint a sail boat, eat tomatoes, watch a preacher on television.

Walking along a side walk we will see children, mothers, fathers, grandparents, pets.

In airports we find sweethearts, missionaries, lonely travelers, weaving through so many others.

Souls on a journey, seeing but not hearing, hearing but not seeing, talking but not listening.

Hoping, wishing, praying, reaching, sharing, pleading, lending, pushing, hugging..................

How do we know the things we don't know? How can we trust what we see is real?

How does the sun set and the moon rise, the skin repair, hearts mend, people leave?

There is just no way to feel ...... unless..... You Feel~!

 There is just no way to care..... unless..... You Care~!

  There is just no way to know..... unless .... You Know~!

Life is about the learning, loving, understanding, feeling, following your good heart. 
Nothing is too hard, no road to long, no energy wasted if it is for the cause of Love. 

There is just no way to know how to love....unless....You Love~!
Then.........You Know~!  Then....... You Feel.....  Then..... You Care~!

The Gypsy in Me.

I love driving.  

Sometimes I see myself....
Cranking up the tunes - from Carole King, Cat Stevens, to the 80's  Boy Bands, even Big Bands from my moms day.........headed across country with a bunch of money and no plans. Just drive and groove.
I would stay in nice places and eat clean healthy food.
I would visit libraries, monuments, temples and shop at thrift stores.

Some days would be spent dozing in the sun pool side, and every day would be shared with lots of people. I would ask questions, share stories with all willing to tell them and hear them.
Taking pictures, watching softball games, scouting out farms just for the memory of my young days would highlight my travel.

Avoiding malls, big grocery stores and other crazy places would be a serious goal.

Just give me some bucks and I could go.... and keep going until the bucks run out.

Someone just tell me why I have this gypsy thing running through my veins.
Why do I love the open road, small little towns and big cities where I could get lost and not even care.
Funny, I don't want to see Hawaii, or even Disneyland... like everyone else.

It is certain I will never become this gypsy person for real,
however in my dreams, there is no stopping me:)