MUSH

I have always associated the word mush with my time on the pioneer trek and the breakfasts that I literally had to gag down.  The word is perfect for the texture it refers to.  It's one of those onomatopoeia words like hiss.  Just thinking about it puts extra spit in my mouth.

Last night I was doing a crossword puzzle in bed and mush was the answer to one of the clues.  It was "Iditarod" call or something like that.  As I was writing the word, I got choked up--in  a good way.  It immediately triggered a memory and put me in  a place I can describe to a T even umpteen years later.

When Ian was a toddler he spent an enormous amount of time in Boston Children's Hospital, a place very close to my heart.  When he would want to escape his room or hide from the doctors, we would lift him into a stroller or wagon and walk the halls.  We knew every inch of that place, even the basement where the broken equipment was stored behind chain link walls. 

On the 6th floor there were only cardiac patients.  They were divided into 2 sections.  The CCU behind a scary door and the regular ward.  Ian liked the hallway that connected them.  It was long and had windows all the way along.  The floor was heavily waxed linoleum.  There were rarely people there and when there were, they understood exactly why we were there and what we were doing.  Keith would walk fast and  swerve around to make Ian smile.  




One day we were all walking together and Ian started saying mush to Keith.  His speech had been affected by his brain injury, so I was trying to figure out what he was saying.  Keith began to run.

They had to explain to me that "mush" is what you say to sled dogs when you want them to go faster.  I had never heard that before.  It was cool to see the special bond they were sharing and that Ian was still sharp, even with all he was going through.  There were days when we would have to stop and catch our breath from running that hall so many times.

It's been a long time since I've thought of that.  It's nice to have a good hospital memory.

Tebowing

I am struck today by another instance of good being made to look bad and vice versa. In my "have the morning shows on for noise" mode, I've been hearing the debate the past several days over Tim Tebow signing with the New York Jets.

I have to say I was a little shocked by the trade, but my reason was that he brought so much attention to the Denver Broncos last year that I can't believe they wanted to trade him--even if they did get Peyton Manning. 

Side note here:  No, I don't care in the least about football.  The Red Sox are the only professional sports team that matters.

But when I starting hearing what other people were talking about, I was flabbergasted.  Tebow isn't right for NY because he's not a playboy like Joe Namath.  Seriously?  People are upset because a clean-cut Christian isn't the image they want for their town.  Kneeling in prayer is not as revered as what?  When I think of the NFL, I think of obnoxious supermodel girlfriends, dog fighting, and oh yeah, earning extra money for putting players out of the game.  Those are just the first three things that come to mind.

Are New Yorkers uncomfortable with a church-going virgin whose mother didn't abort him because he'll spoil their image?  Sounds like their image could use a lift to me.  I hope he has a great season;  I hope he keeps kneeling; and I hope that the city that never sleeps doesn't ruin him.

Miracle-Gro

I went out to work in the yard today.  I pulled weeds;  I swept the patio;  I fed the trees their special bug-killer;  I sprayed the clover;  then, I fed all the plants and flowers and trees with Miracle-Gro.  I want something to spray on me that will make me thrive--flourish.  I want to feel nourished.  I want to stretch toward the light.  I want freshness, brightness, hope.

I want people Miracle-Gro. 
I should just stay in front of the TV.  Thinking is such a pain.

Before You Die

Since the movie "Bucket List,"  I've heard all kinds of things that people want to do before they die.  I have some places I want  to see.  Tonight, as we were watching TV,  switching back and forth between Swamp People and Shark Tank,  we saw something I stopped at on the TVGuide Network.  It was called 100 Shows You Need to See Before You Die.  I think I'll write my list--in no particular order.  There are so many reasons shows make the list.  I'll concede some of them are pretty stupid.

7th Heaven
The Closer
Charlie's Angels
Wonder Women
Storage Wars
The 4400
Chicago Hope
M*A*S*H
The Jeffersons
$25,000 Pyramid
X-Files
Beverly Hills 90210
Happy Days
Cheers
Brady Bunch
Quantum Leap
Gilligan's Island
The Middle
I Dream of Jeanie
Tales From the Crypt
The Gong Show
Carol Burnett Show
Recess
Medium
Hart to Hart
Quincy
Kojak
Alias Smith and Jones
Walker, Texas Ranger
St. Elsewhere
Spencer for Hire
Arthur
thirtysomething
Newhart--all of them
Full House
Ally McBeal
Remington Steele
The Journeyman
Eli Stone
The Good Wife


There's a few.  It's time for bed.
Add a favorite in the comments.

Can You Hear Me Now?

I wish in this day of great technology there was a way to call my Buddy.  I wish he could leave me a voicemail.  I actually dreamed last night that Keith discovered a message from his dad on his cell phone.  It sure would be great.  It wouldn't have to be anything significant, just a simple I love you or I miss you or I haven't forgotten you.  It doesn't have to be a special  occasion to want to contact. 

No New Year's Day to celebrate
No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away
No first of spring
No song to sing
In fact here's just another ordinary day

No April rain
No flowers bloom
No wedding Saturday within the month of June
But what it is, is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart

No summer's high
No warm July
No harvest moon to light one tender August night
No autumn breeze
No falling leaves
Not even time for birds to fly to southern skies

No Libra sun
No Halloween
No giving thanks to all the Christmas joy you bring
But what it is, though old so new
To fill your heart like no three words could ever do

I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care, I do
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart.

Words by Stevie Wonder, feelings by mom.

Safeway 101

The past couple of weeks I have been trying to save money on gas.  As is stands right now, it costs about $16 just to drive Mikey to gymnasts and back,  (not to mention the $20+ for the lesson)  so I need to make every gallon count.  Keith said Safeway was having a promotion on gas for employees, so for every $50 I spend, I get 30 cents off per gallon and another 10 cents for each prescription. 

I decided to go online and look at the ad and the specialized coupon program and actually print out a list.  I would only buy things that were truly a bargain and cap the spending at $100.  It worked really well.  I got 90 cents off my first tank and 60 cents off my second.  (Too bad I only fill  prescriptions once a month.) 

Yesterday I learned a really good life lesson.  I had done my homework on Tuesday and then gotten too lazy to go to the store.  I made it yesterday before I had to pick up Mikey from school.  I got all the things I wanted and  figured I had made it to the $100 so I went up to check out.  The grand total was $184 before I swiped my card and $126 after.  I thought I should've weighed the  produce or maybe I got the wrong size on something so it didn't get the discount, no biggie.  Then when I got out to the car I started looking at the receipt.  Several of the things that I had specifically purchased because they were on sale--rocky road ice cream which I haven't bought for at least 2 years--didn't come up at the price they should have.  I got out of the car and headed back into the store with my receipt and list that I printed right from their website so they had to honor it.

This story isn't going where you think.

When I got to the door of the store, I realized I printed the list on Tuesday the 13th and shopped on Wednesday the 14th.  Most of the sales had expired.  I calmly walked back to my car that thought very hard about something I heard recently.  It was in the context of the youth program at church.  Someone said,  "We don't want the kids to fail."  At the time I had remarked that I think a little failure is good for everyone.  On the way home from Safeway yesterday I thought how very good failing was for me.  I couldn't have learned that lesson in a way that would help me more.  I will never go shopping again without checking the dates of the ads or the coupons.  It illustrated to me the very real cost of being careless--about $20 bucks.

I think failing at things is good for people.  It makes us hungry.  It makes us work harder.  In some cases, it shows us that we don't want to be embarrassed again.  It illustrates actions and consequences.  It helps us determine how bad we want something.  It points us in new directions.  It's a good thing to fail sometimes, if only to know how great succeeding feels.

It's good to be simple or maybe open-minded enough to learn lessons in the little things we do every day.  I hope I can let my kids fail once in a while so they too can learn.

All Times, All Things, All Places

I wonder how many 40+ year old women recite the LDS young women's theme in their head when they have to make a hard decision.  I did it this week.  It was kinda weird, but in a good way.  I went to Lucy's softball game last week--a double header away game.  It was in Valley Springs.  It was great to sit and visit with my friend Hillary while we watched.  As we were chatting, I told her I drove an extra girl who isn't on the team.  As we talked, the wheels began to turn in my head that something was a little fishy.

This girl is a friend of Lucy's.  She's on the soccer team.  If she hadn't played, they would've forfeited.  The kicker was they were calling her by a different name during the game--except for Lucy.  She recognized something was wrong. 

They tied one game and lost one.  Lucy played first and got 2 hits.  I had a great visit.  Mikey got to go to a friend's house.  It was a fun day.  BUT, all weekend, I kept thinking about what had happened.  By Sunday evening I wanted to make sure Lucy had an analogy that would help her understand .  I asked her if she thought the coach would allow her to cheat on her next science test  in order to be eligible to play in their games.  She said,  "Of course not."  Then I explained that I thought the teacher/coach  had cheated in order to have enough girls to play the game.

Okay, so, to get to the reciting the theme.  Monday morning came and I had thought long enough that I had to do something.  I stewed all morning.  I wanted to call someone to advise me, but I couldn't think of anyone.  It was a good lesson in knowing the Lord is always there.  I said one of my walking around the house, talking out loud prayers and was given the words to the YW theme.

We are daughters of our Heavenly Father, who loves us and we love Him.  We will stand as witnesses of God in all times, and in all things, and in all places as we strive to live the young women values which are: 

Faith

Divine Nature

Individual Worth

Knowledge

Choice and Accountability

Good Works

Integrity

and

Virtue. 

We believe as we come to accept and act upon these values we will be prepared to: 

Strengthen home and family 

Make and keep sacred covenants

Receive the ordinances of the temple

and

Enjoy the blessings of exaltation.

I had to go to the school and make my feelings known.  I worried that I would cause problems between Lucy and her coach.  I worried that they would have to forfeit games in the future.  I worried I would get them in trouble with the league. 

I had my friend Mitzi give me a  pep talk after school and then I headed inside.  The athletic director thanked me for coming.  He's a good guy.  He didn't know.  He agreed that while in this small league sometimes they do make substitutions, they should not have perpetrated that the actual team member was there.  It was dishonest.  He said a few little things that still make me wonder if it was all on the up and up, but I feel good knowing that I took a stand.  I feel good that Lucy knows I took a stand. 

I feel good knowing Heavenly Father knows I took a stand.

Black Chasm

Every little boy, or not so little boy, should have freckles.  There's really nothing better in the whole world.  We had to upload photos from Mikey's camera today for a computer merit badge requirement and I really couldn't pass adding this one to my blog.  This is inside the black chasm state park.  It was a great adventure.  I really had to keep my clauster in check, but after the guide said it was the safest place to be in an earthquake, I seemed to calm down.

I have days that feel like I'm in  a dark scary place away from civilization.  I have days where I feel like things are closing in on me.  It's a good thing I still have this boy here to hug me and make me smile.  Thanks Mikey for all you do for me.

This Sufficeth Me

I was kind of surprised when I looked over the titles of my older posts and didn't find this already written.  It's one of my favorite verses in the scriptures.  In the Book of Mormon the first writer is Nephi; then his brother Jacob; then Jacob's son Enos and Enos' son Jarom.  It's Jarom's writing that I want to comment on.   That is so typical of me because there's practically nothing written about it in any of the commentaries and it's like the other things I look up in institute manuals--skipped because nobody had anything to say.

 1 Now behold, I, Jarom, write a few words according to the commandment of my father, Enos, that our genealogy may be kept.

 2 And as these plates are small, and as these things are written for the intent of the benefit of our brethren the Lamanites, wherefore, it must needs be that I write a little; but I shall not write the things of my prophesying, nor of my revelations. For what could I write more than my fathers have written? For have not they revealed the plan of salvation? I say unto you, Yea; and this sufficeth me..

If I were asked to write down the things that  matter most, now and generations from now--things of God that wouldn't fade or shift or change, that's what I would write.  The plan of salvation.  If a person, say me for example, really understands the plan, then what else is there?  Even if I only had the understanding of the many names for it,  I would know how important is was.

The plan of salvation.
The plan of happiness.
The plan of redemption.
The plan of restoration.
The plan of mercy.

Just within those labels, I can see that Heavenly Father has a plan for me to be saved and redeemed through his great mercy and for me to be happy and restored to who I am after I die.  Wow, the amount of meat of the great gospel that is included in that one sentence is amazing.  And that's just from the names--all from Alma 41-2, by the way.  Then there's the doctrine that's actually included within the plan.

We existed before mortality.
Our time on earth has a purpose.
We are accountable for what we do.
Our body has a spirit in it that leaves at the time of our death.
We will continue to exist without our bodies after we die.
We will have a body again at the time of resurrection--that looks the same only better.
God has a unique place waiting for us after we are judged--a good place for most.
We have the capacity to become like Him--the thing that sets other churches off!
And the crown jewel in the plan--Jesus Christ--It all works because of Him.

Yeah, if I were Jarom and I had little room to engrave on metal plates, I would say it like he did--You've been told the plan, this sufficeth me.  Everything else is an appendage.  The plan is what the law and the prophets stem from.

March Madness

Yeah.  
I'm so excited February is over. 
No more "heart awareness" month telling us all what we can do to prevent heart disease.  No more focus on paper hearts and "I love yous".  No more thinking of how I should be helping with fundraisers for heart camp.
Done.

I'll march right through March with my head up.  I'll read more.  Watch TV less.  Get some projects past the brainstorm stage and enjoy my daughter's first high school softball games.

Yeah March.