Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Horses! What?

Ok, I might be crazy! Can you believe I got myself a horse? All my life I've wanted one and never had either the space, the time or the money. So Freddie and I decided if we don't just do it we never will. So we did! I love her, she's great! Her name is Lily and she's a real treat. She's an 11 year old walkaloosa. Thats a cross between a Tennessee Walking Horse and an Appaloosa. We've had her a week now and I just love it. I love looking out the window and seeing her there. I love going out to the pasture. As soon as I open the front door she calls to me! She usually meets me at the gate. I love to pet and groom her but I especially love to ride her! I'm still a little scared of her......and she knows it! Not scared really, just nervous that I'm not "doing it" right. So, she acts up a little. Not much but she throws her head around and objects to doing what she's told. Sounds like the kids! And speaking of the kids, she loves them! I love it when they walk towards her and she sticks her head out over the fence for them to reach her. I especially love it when one of them runs along the fence and she runs with them. So funny! I'm getting some help with my horsemanship so hopefully I'll be an old pro before I know it.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Mother's Day

Do you ever have one of those days, or a series of days when you are frustrated and everyone is on your last nerve? Well, I've been having them lately. And then I got called and asked to sing in sacrament on mother's day. I thought "Oh boy! How am I supposed to sing about how great it is to be a mother when all my kids are driving me crazy?"

And then I found a song, called Your Song by Jenny Phillips. Its not really even specific to women and certainly not specific to mothers. Maybe its just my interpretation of the words and their meaning, but it seems to fit. Its all about the gifts the Lord has given us and the beautiful things in our life. So I thought "what more beautiful thing could we be given than our families?" Even when we're frustrated with them, our children are our greatest gift. But what about women who aren't mothers? I thought about them and about how special many of those women are to those of us who do have children. Sometimes its those women we lean on the most. Their shoulders are strong and they can help us carry our burdens oftentimes better than anyone else. There is one lady in our branch who has been especially helpful to me. She sets a good example in her YW calling and for my 2 YW age daughters that is a tremendous support. She always seeks out the things that make them happiest. When someone takes time to know what it is that makes a child happy (even a teenager!) it increases the likelihood of that child being successful in life. No one benefits more from someone who takes the time to know them than a child. So, thank you Sister Collier! I love you! This song is for you!

I will never be able to include all the women who have been special to me, so I'll just name a very few. I'll start with Amy, she's amazing! She always makes herself available when I need her. Even if all I need her for is to complain! This song is for you!

Our YW presidency and Primary presidency. You ladies are instrumental in my life. You help me teach my children the gospel. No education is more important than that! This song is for you!

Our RS presidency. You ladies give me strength to be the very best I can be. As a mother, a wife, a grown up! Sundays are great because of all of you. This song is for you!

My mom and grandma's and sisters. That includes my sisters-in-law. Whether its reading your posts on facebook, chatting on the phone or hanging out you guys make my life awesome!

I know I may not be Celine Dion (don't I wish!) but I'll sing it as well as I can. Because this song is for all of you! So Happy Mother's Day! Whether you have children of your own or not, you are still a mother! If it takes a village to raise a child then you are my village!