Familial Research and Development

Alright, alright already. So it wasn't a peanut but a pumpkin. We couldn't figure out what happened to Babers pumpkin he painted. It's last reported whereabouts was the front lawn. Well, last week while we were downstairs in the family room watching a movie I found Baber's pumpkin-atop the TV, of all places. How it got there is your best guess, for me, it was being 'saved'! Today was the Provo Craft Halloween luncheon and celebration. Nearly EVERYBODY dresses up-really. Kent came as an Ent! I thought that was phonetically funny. It was great. The call came around 9 a.m. to take your carved pumpkin to the Training Room to be judged/compete/whatever you call it. I took mine in. I thought it was a clever idea. Just executed in a lame way. But it was my lame way so I did it any hoot. I came up with the idea 3-4 days ago and with the last minute unexpected events for David's and my costumes, like sewing buttons on that fell off in the dryer because they were HOT ...

Yeah-I have a child who loves to quote that for LOTS of things and reasons. Bottom line is, it's a truth. Take the 'entitlement generation' (Yes take them-far away from us!) They have been reared with the idea that they can and deserve to have just about anything they want. I had always thought of them as the younger generation-but after what I recently read about Michele O.-I'm starting to wonder if there isn't a half generation older that is stuck in that rut. Setting this all aside, the nation is under some pretty stiff financial duress. A good reality check for people of an 'entitlement' mentality. Fortunately there are quite a few good songs that are there to strengthen and fortify the non-entitlement generation and to teach those of the entitlement generation the inalienable truths that we know to be true, if they're willing to learn. Yes, this is leading up to another song (or two) because another child of mine recently mentioned, "It is a co...

I've mentioned this story before, but now it's to introduce a song and an idea or concept. One child would, in the teen years, mouth the words to the stories I would repeat. Stories I heard my mama tell me and our own family stories. This story came to mind as I was listening to this song. Another thought came to my mind as I was listening to this song. The majority of us grow up to be average. Most won't be in leadership in a Ward or Stake, a local or state or federal government office-nor do we need to be. Not everyone is cut out for military service either (whew! propitiation of the species could be at stake here). We do, however, need to be about Father's business. This song is a great reminder of this truth. So kids, grandkids-do NOT roll your eyes or mouth the words when you hear your mom or dad tell that same old "blah-blah" story again. They'll either stop telling them, slap you one, or give you a lecture about how you're not respecting your el...

That's a quote from Saturday's Warrior. I love that movie/play. When I found this next song on Youtube, I couldn't help but feel deeply moved. You see I love the TV version of Andy Griffith. Don't know if he's that way in reality or not, but the TV version is balanced, down-home and a real person. Doesn't have to put himself first, in fact seems to try to avoid that. This song is done with both Brad Paisley and Andy Griffith. I love watching the Youtube video. It's very good. Here's the song: Brad Paisley, Waiting on a Woman BP: Sittin' on a bench at West Town Mall He sat down in his overalls and asked me AG: You waitin' on a woman BP: I nodded yeah and said how 'bout you He said AG: son since nineteen fifty-two I've been Waitin' on a woman BP: When I picked her up for our first date I told her I'd be there at eight And she came down the stairs AG: at eight-thirty She said I'm sorry that I took so long Didn't like a thing ...

Lots of great songs out there and some new to me ones I've been listening to lately that keep swirling around in my mind and soul as one son finishes his six year enlistment with the noble branch of the Army and my baby begins (possibly) his life-time commitment to the sleek long heritage of the United States Navy. Here are the tunes. You can hear and watch any of them by copy/pasting the title and artist in the Youtube search and then you can listen to them and watch them and be as moved as was I. Really though. Ya gotta watch the youtube version of Trace Adkins and the West Point Cadet Glee Club, USMA, ACM. It WILL send chills up your spine and the emotion will wring tears from your ducts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0mm4u2VzDs&feature=player_embedded Trace Adkins, 'Til The Last Shot's Fired I was there in the winter of '64 When we camped in the ice At Nashville's door Three hundred miles our trail had led We barely had time to bury our dead When the Yank...

My hairdresser mentioned a high school friend of hers (now living 2 states away) had recently visited with her family and said to her husband, "So, what do you want to do with the rest of your life?" While I agree it's a good question-I feel there are certain people who have a privilege to ask it (wives, mothers and of youth- aunts, uncles, grandparents), but for a friend to ask her friends spouse that question... It's just lopsided. I agreed with my hairdresser. Besides when you're an adult, buying a home, kids are teens-ya kinda know what you're doing with the rest of your life. Probably NOT what you were thinking you'd be doing when you were in your teens. I asked if she listened to country music-no not really she said. Then I told her about this great song by Darius Rucker. Rucker? she queeried; he was Hootie with Hootie and the Blowfish. You're kidding me!-I sought for verification. So-he sings some really great country now. Here are two of his so...

Think about how much 'stuff' you can have if you didn't have kids. Think about how many places you can go, if you didn't have kids. You can have a huge financial portfolio if you didn't have kids. Think about how much frustration you have because you have kids. Then think about how empty your life would be, how wasted eternity would be without kids. Song by Deanna Edwards: Two Little Shoes They are all scuffed and worn from adventures That only a child understands. The laces, once broken, are mended. Tied in knots by a boy's tiny hands. When his two chubby arms come around me In a hug I can never refuse I think all the wonders of heaven Are tucked in those two little shoes. And each night I kneel. My heart sings a prayer. Thanks, dear God, for one little boy And two little shoes on the stair. I think of the harsh words I've spoken When those shoes scattered mud on the floor, But I know that my heart would be broken If someday they weren't there any more....

Sometimes when you 'receive' something you're not aware of what all you've signed up for. Having been taught the concept of you do what you're told by anyone even a second older than you because they're your superior and not being taught you have a right and a responsibility to say NO when someone is telling you to do something you don't feel right about... Well, I can understand why things happen. The thought never occurred to me that later in life I might be faced with being judged by the peers of my children about choices I made as a teen. But there you have it-I wasn't thinking. Odd isn't it? Odd that when you think what you dream for is what you want most but being a responsible person, when 'life happens' (loosely translated that means poor choices), what you most want for your whole life is before you. I 'wanted' to be a veterinarian. I wanted a degree. I wanted a career. I wanted financial security. These were the things I dre...

When I first heard this song I liked it. It caused a lot of thoughts to stir up inside. Then followed the emotions-all caught up together. Thoughts of seeing mom and dad cleaned up, looking nice for their two times a year going to Church (Easter and Christmas). Watching neighbor kids from diapers to toddlers-to squirrelly swearers-to adults with shoulders broad enough to bear life's burdens. mmm... Life. Love. Family. Peace. Joy. Isn't that what church is all for anyway? So what's so good about all of this? If you've triumphed through enough struggles you start to see the flip side of things. The neighbors dog or cat in your yard means you have neighbors and someone else's pet is patrolling for prowlers and mice. Craig Morgan – That’s What I Love About Sundays Raymond's in his Sunday best, He's usually up to his chest in oil an' grease. There's the Martin's walkin' in, With that mean little freckle-faced kid, Who broke a window last week. Swe...