My Sunshine Pup

It takes a Mom to Know

Last weekend, I had a chance encounter with an old neighbor of mine, Jennifer B. I hadn't seen her since she was a teenager and I was around seven. TheMan, PeaPod and I had had a very productive day and were ready for some fun. We went to the local town park and brought along some dinner for a picnic.
Note: PeaPod absolutely loves parks. There isn't a day that goes by without her asking to go to one. If we pass by even the smallest of parks in the car, she knows it and voices her wishes that we would go to the park instead of our chosen destination.
PeaPod was ecstatic. She ran onto the playground as soon as we arrived. As usual, she found some other children, and asked them to "Come p'ay". These cute older girls were happy to play with her. Their mother came and sat down on a bench next to TheMan and I. I had not taken a good look at this mother since I was talking to TheMan, busy setting up the picnic and watching the Pea, but we started up a bit of conversation about our daughters.
Once the other mom started talking, I knew her. And then I quickly turned and truly looked at her. Over twenty years may have passed, but I knew it was her. I exclaimed, "Jennifer B.?" and introduced myself, since there was no way she would recognize me from the girl I was at the age of seven. She was as amazed as I was. So there we were! She had six kids ranging from the teens to age three. All were cute-as-a-button blondes just like her and very polite. I came to find out she was homeschooling her children. I find this absolutely an amazing endeavor especially considering how social her children were. As a child, I was impressed by her doing daring tricks on the trampoline; now I am even more impressed by her skills as a mother. We discussed family, what everyone was doing, and how life changes. It was a lovely chat.
She shared a story that I thought was so true and could have happened to any of us. She said that once my mom called her to babysit for just a few minutes. My mom desperately needed to go to the grocery store for something but didn't want to take all four of the small girls along. Jennifer said that my mom was truly in need of someone, but she was a typical teenager (like we all can be!) and didn't want to go. She had the usual excuses of being tired after a day at school etc. So she didn't go. Years later, Jennifer stated, she was in the same position with four small children and needing to go to the store but not wanting to drag them all there. And that is when she remembered the day my mom called and thought, "Oh I am so sorry S.!". I'm sure my mom never thought twice about that conversation years ago and either found someone else to tend or took us along. But Jennifer remembered and I love this lesson for me. It takes a Mom to know doesn't it? It generally it takes being a Mom to know what being a Mom really entails. All the beauty, the love, the work, the sacrifice, the fun, etc. It takes a Mom to know.

Conversation with a Hummingbird

I had a lovely conversation with a hummingbird today. I was in my backyard picking zinnias for a bouquet, when she came whizzing by. She stopped midair not ten inches from my face! I backed up a touch - so startled was I by her friendly demeanor. She hovered there looking at me, then turned to my zinnias and then turned back at me. She was wondering if I would be so kind as to share my zinnias. I held up my bouquet slowly as a nectar offering to her. (As much as I love Midsummer's Night Dream I have no need of nectar and felt free to share.) She then partook of each of the six picked zinnias! On the largest one, the coral pink one which is a personal favorite, she landed her petite little feet upon a single petal. Then, for just a half of a second, she stood still upon the flower as I held it! Ahh! It was such a thrill to watch at such close proximity God's beautiful, flitting creature! Such a "be still and know that I am God" moment!
When she had had her fill, she then gave a little throaty trill of thanks and went on to the zinnias I had not yet picked.

Stu and Ariel Got Married

in the Bountiful Temple this summer! Better late than never! I had just a few pics on my camera and just barely downloaded them. Of course my camera died before I took any of the bridal couple. Ariel's dress was amazing and Stu looked pretty dapper himself! I am so glad I thought to bring PeaPod's paper parasol because it was HOT. That little parasol did a surprisingly great job of shading us from the direct sun. There was a couple from Japan getting sealed that day and their wedding party were all in love with the fact that the "little blonde" had a parasol.
I love this photo. Here she is with Grandma Maurine (her great grandma) waiting for the newly weds to step outside the temple doors. She was sitting with her for quite a while until (of course!) I grabbed my camera for a shot! And below is me. I'll have to find some photos of the stars of the day later since they were not on this camera.

All I need to know I learned from the Robinsons...

TheMan and I LOVE the Disney animated movie, Meet the Robinsons.
We love the undeniably-without-bounds-love and generosity the family has for one another, the inspiration, the positive outlook on each other as well as on the future and their creativity.

I even tear up at a number of different scenes when I watch it! So, I was super excited to find out that another blogger friend, Katie Scarlett, felt the same way. She wrote down some great lessons to learn from this movie which I just had to post!

All I need to know I learned from the Robinsons:

Lesson #1: No family is perfect. We all have our issues, but that doesn't mean we can't be happy together because family loves each other no matter what. I mean, this family has a cousin that's so big, he can't get out of his chair and just lives in it all the time, a grandpa that dresses backwards, and an uncle that is married to a puppet. And yet, they are still happy and optimistic. Whether your family is biological, adopted, or put together from people you love and trust, stick together and love each other despite imperfections.

Lesson #1 part B: Always be welcoming and inclusive to someone outside your family or circle. One of the family members, Franny, says upon meeting Lewis, "We need someone on maracas!" It is like saying, "hey, there's a place here for you!" And this different, eclectic family seems ever ready to expand its love.

Lesson #2: Don't be afraid to fail. "You failed! And it was awesome! From failure, you learn. From success, not so much." Failure is not a bad thing that you need to be ashamed of. It means you tried, and it means you learned. Don't let fear of failure stop you from trying new things. Just keep failing and learning until you get success. We all have dreams and goals. Trying and failing and trying again is the path to achieving them.

Lesson#3: Keep Moving Forward! Don't let stumbling or falling down make you so discouraged that you give up. Try to take it in stride and keep moving forward. That is the key to any achievement. Don't dwell too much on looking back, but keep your eyes to the future and what you have ahead of you.

Lesson#4: Don't dwell on injustices or offenses from other people. Being bitter and unforgiving really only hurts yourself in the long run. It's easy to blame others for our failures or hurt, but it doesn't help us, and it shuts out others who try to reach us. "Hmmm, take responsibility for my own life, or blame you? Blame you wins hands down!" This attitude will only make you lonely and sad. Be the one who reaches out and lifts rather than the one who hard hearted.

Lesson #5: Believe in yourself. If you have an idea, or a personal goal, or dream, pursue it. Don't let others tell you you're crazy, and don't tell yourself you're crazy for dreaming it.
Lesson#6: Carry around a notebook to write down all your good ideas!

Lesson #7: You have a bright future ahead of you. Believe it, and make it happen!

Sleep Aludes Her

...At least for an hour due to a pint sized hurricane. Yes, we have read how to "feberize" your toddler and we have read "Happiest Toddler On the Block" and other lovely stories. The Nanny has nothing on us since we have counted putting her quietly back to bed 72 times before. No, I'm not exaggerating, I counted.
We have the ritual. We have the bath time, scriptures, prayer (that had to be moved up from right before bed due to the negative connotation in her mind that personal prayers = bedtime thus precipitating a whole month of refusing to fold her arms), storytime, tuck in and good night ritual. She has added to this ritual 15 minutes later: loudly exclaiming "Mommy" and "Daddy" as well as many other incoherent things, sticking fingers under the door, and singing.
The problem is that she is the happiest, busybody on the block. The child should be the Energizer Bunny for Halloween. Fact: ThePea can just function on less sleep than most toddlers.
She would sleep through the night as a baby, but she wouldn't be logging in 12 hours and then 2 long naps in a 24 hour period like some other mythical babies I have heard about.
The girl likes to know what is going on at all times and preferably be part of those goings on. So, for the first hour of her "wind down" time, we isolate her in her room through physical means (i.e. she is locked in her room to read books, or sing or do whatever she pleases). Then, when all is quiet, we sneak in and tuck in the now blissfully drowsy little angel into bed.