Mother's Day

This morning Rylan called me from downstairs and said, "Mom - come eat." I came down to find eggs and toast! Then during church, Ry started not feeling well... he has gotten progressively worse through the day. I think he must have Grandpa Walter's flu from when he was in town in for Aunt Juli's funeral. Poor buddy.

Thank you for being my son! I love you, Ry. 

Cuttin' Those Apron Strings

I guess there comes a point in every mother's life when she has to loosen her death grip on her children and let them learn to figure things out on their own. Now, I don't THINK that means we can't have input; it just means we need to give them the information we feel they need, and then let them take those steps without holding their hands every step of the way (as we watch from the sidelines silently cheering them on and hoping the scrapes and bruises they will SURELY acquire along the way aren't TOO painful or long-lasting).

Rylan is in the process of making a very important and potentially life-changing decision right now. I think when he asked my opinion and I didn't TELL him what to do or what not to do, he was shocked. And now I think he might secretly wish he didn't have to make this decision "on his own." He is trying to figure out how this whole personal revelation thing works, and it's not coming as easily as he had hoped.

I'm grateful for the advice he has gathered from our home teacher, our bishop, close relatives, and his seminary teacher.

He has been counseled to make a list of pros and cons, and to read his patriarchal blessing.

He has been referred to the Doctrine and Covenants where it discusses studying it out in your mind first, and then going to Heavenly Father for confirmation.

We both fasted this last Sunday, and he has prayed and prayed.

We went to the temple together last night so he could take some quiet time to think about everything.

I'm proud of him for taking that opportunity, and for taking the time necessary to process all his thoughts and feelings.

He is trying to do the right thing, and I'm glad that's important to him -- even in the midst of WANTING the answer to be one specific thing.

Man, this motherhood thing really ISN'T for wimps, is it?

PB &... B?

Anybody else ever had one of these? I remember eating them from time to time when I was little, but it has been a while. Yesterday I was hungry at work and I hadn't packed a lunch so I rummaged through my little fridge to see what I could find.

I had bread.
I had peanut butter.
And I had a banana.

Voila!

The Dove Gods Have Spoken...

Yesterday afternoon I indulged in my Dove chocolate from Aunt Juli's funeral. Here is what my message said:

Gotta say, I like it! I feel like I'm always on a road to self-discovery. And I'm happy about that.

Here's to Dove chocolates, and here's to discovering who we are...

Mother & Son Temple Night

One of our favorite things to do is to go to the temple. We started inviting other mothers and sons to come with us a few years ago, and now that's how we always try to do it. It's awesome. Normally all of us do baptisms, but this time the ladies did initiatories, and the guys did baptisms. We went to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. It was a beautiful evening! Afterward we went to Marble Slab Creamery at The District for some ice-cream. It's always nice to have a treat to look forward to. :)

Zach and Aimee Davis, Rylan and Kathy, Kaden and Kenda Millett

I love seeing Rylan throw his arms around his buddies. It's so great that he has good friends.

I was trying so hard to get the Angel Moroni in this one, but I didn't QUIIITE get there.

Springtime

I don't know what it is about flowers, but they amaze me. I love the shapes, sizes, colors, varieties...

Last week I was able to go to the temple to do some initiatory work. When I came out I had to stop to look at the flowers. And at the funeral yesterday, there were so many beautiful flowers! Bill and Juli owned "Shanks Floral" in Bountiful for 30 years, so I'm sure there were connections. They did our flowers for our wedding and they were gorgeous.

Here are some of the pictures I took at both places:

Could this hydrangea be any more beautiful?

The Circle of Life

Over the last few days I've been faced with a lot of sadness, but also a lot of joy.

Yesterday Rylan and I attended Juli Shanks' funeral. She was such a great woman! She was so funny and sarcastic - which is what I loved about her. She was someone who helped me deal with some of the "Shanks men" while I was married to Darren. Especially when Great Grandpa Shanks told me my morning sickness was "all in my head."

She was diagnosed 4 1/2 years ago with breast cancer; then was cancer free for some time. Until it came back with a vengeance in her spine and her bones, and unfortunately it took her life this time around. She was a young 63. Her daughters paid tender tributes with just the right amount of humor mixed in, which is exactly how Juli would have had it. She had such a great sense of humor. In fact, the song she had played as they were wheeling the casket out of the chapel afterward was the graduation theme song.

So that was a sad, but sweet moment for us all. We worry for Uncle Bill, but we're grateful Juli is not in pain any more.

When I came back to work today I noticed my little rose plant (whom I have affectionately named "Rose") had sprouted a bunch of new starts. It made me think about new life.

We know that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Happiness Juli is going to be once again reunited with her Bill and her children and grandchildren - and that will be a new life. I remember thinking when my dad passed away that I was happy for him because he wasn't in pain any more, but I was sad for those of us who were left behind without a husband, father and grandfather. But I know I will be able to see him and live with him again someday.

For that, I am so thankful. I don't know how families survive a death without that knowledge.