a year of happy

happy mother's day!

I often go walking
in meadows of clover,

And I gather armfuls of
blossoms of blue.

I gather the blossoms
the whole meadow over;

Dear mother,
all flowers remind me of you.

O mother, I give you
my love with each flower

To give forth sweet fragrance
a whole lifetime through;

For if I love blossoms and
meadows and walking,

I learn how to love them,
dear mother, from you.

Words: Phyllis Luch, 1937–1995. © 1969 IRI

a hymn of my ancestors

In the mid-1800's,
humble people across Europe,
and throughout the United States
began hearing the message
of the Mormon missionaries--
of the Book of Mormon,
and that the Church of Jesus Christ
had been restored.

Many of my ancestors
in England and Wales and Denmark
heard and believed this message.

My great-aunt wrote this
about her grandmother in Denmark.

"At approximately the age of sixteen, my grandmother first heard the gospel from two Mormon Elders who visited the home of her father at Kanehavehus.

"A most glorious feeling filled her breast as she listened to those strangers. However, the Mormon missionaries did not remain long on the island. Many years later after she was married and had her family, there came three more missionaries to Samso and knocked on her door.

"As she listened to these men, the same sublime feeling of joy surged within her that she had experienced years before, and she knew of the truthfulness of the message they brought. Grandfather was deeply impressed and after prayer and investigation, he and grandma and Marie were baptized in the cold waters of the Baltic Sea.

"They suffered from the rebukes and scorn of their friends and relatives, as did all of the early converts. This was willingly endured because they were so happy in the truths of the gospel.

"The early saints had such faith in God's servants and a love of the gospel so strong that they were willing to endure anything to fulfill their hearts desire. This great desire in the hearts of the early converts was to gather with those who believed the same way they did--to go to Zion, to America."

_______

These early members
of the LDS Church,
like my ancestors,
were often persecuted
for their beliefs.
For a time they gathered
in Nauvoo, Illinois,
but were eventually
forced from their homes
and had to go west
to find a place far away
where they could
live their religion in peace.

They loaded their wagons
and their handcarts,
and traveled at great hardship
across the country
to their new home,
the mountain valleys of Utah.

Tradition has it that
one of these early pioneers,
William Clayton,
composed a new hymn
that quickly became
a Mormon pioneer favorite.

They say it was sung
when they were coming
across the plains
and around their campfires
when they stopped for the night.

As members of
The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints,
or the Mormons,
we still sing it,
and it is still one of our favorites.

I like to think
of my ancestors singing it,
whether it was
by their wagons and handcarts, 
or in their church meetings,
or in their homes.

It makes me feel closer to them,
like I have carried on
where they left off.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
is requested to sing it often,
and on this
beautiful Sunday morning,
I thought you might like
to hear this hymn,
called, "Come, Come Ye Saints."

what google analytics tells me about my blog

Have you ever used
Google Analytics?

It's a tool that can tell you
a lot of things about
your website or blog.

It shows all sorts of percentages
and counters and reports...
mostly I don't pay
much attention to it.

But there are a few things
I find really interesting.

One is that it can show you
your top landing pages.
Landing pages are the pages
people arrive on when they
visit your blog or website--
they've either done a search
or clicked on a link
and they "land"
on a page on your site.

Last week I wrote a post called
"Five Times on the Road to Hana."

I had debated about whether or not
I should even publish it
because it was so ridiculous.

But that post has quickly become
my number one landing page!

Who knew?!

Another thing I've found out
is what search words
people have used
to land on my blog.

The most popular
search words for my blog are
"Happy WWI Soldiers".

Almost every day,
someone lands on my blog
after searching for something
about World War I soldiers.

That's all because of this photo:





This is my grandfather
and some of his buddies
during World War I.
He is the second from the right.

Isn't it amazing
that Google knows
that the soldiers
in this picture are happy?!

I posted this
on Veteran's Day 2009
along with an article
written by my grandmother in 1981
about Armistice Day.

I'm not sure if any of these searchers
take the time to read
her moving words
about the ending of World War I.

I think most of them
take a look at the photo
and then they move on.

But they really should read it.
It's the best part.

_________________________

It has nothing to do
with Google Analytics,
but now that we're talking
about Veterans, 
and my grandma and grandpa.
and other tender things,
I want to share an excerpt
of those beautiful words
written by my grandma in 1981.

If you'd like to read
the whole thing,
and I think you should,
you can click here.
It will probably
make you cry.

An excerpt from
"Armistice Day of World War"
by Lillian V. Perkins, my grandma.


"Then, Oh! The blessed day of November 11th.

"We had just arrived at the store and were preparing for work when the church bells all over the city began ringing, trains in the railroad yards were whistling and ringing their bells, cars on the streets were honking, people were screaming, running and calling out, "The war is over! The war is over! The Armistice has been signed, the war is ended!"

"People working in the business houses just put on their coats and walked out and doors were closed. Everyone on the street was embracing everyone else, it didn't make any difference who you were, we were all one and people were hysterically celebrating.

"Another girl and I were riding on the front fenders of a Model-T Ford and my new beautiful winter hat blew off and sailed over the high board fence enclosing the railroad yards. ...and that is the last I ever saw of it. No one could stop for a mere hat even though it cost $13.00 of my meager earnings!"

Click here to read more.

at my life's crossroads

When I think of
my life's crossroads,
I can always
see my mother
somewhere nearby.

I can hear myself
call her name
the minute I run in the door
after school every day.

I can feel
her cool hand
on my hot forehead
in the throes of a sick flu.

I can see her
skillful hands
teaching me to make
cinnamon rolls,
and doll clothes,
and a properly made bed.

She's always near
in those memories,
guiding, comforting,
smiling, and singing.

She is part of my
adult crossroads too.

My wedding day....
there she is in her
cheery red dress,
taking care of all
the little details
so I can enjoy the day.

I see her worried look 
as I head to the hospital
for the birth of my second child,
a whole month early.

I can feel the
clasp of her hand
as we worry together
over a wayward teenager.
 
I can see
the warmth in her glance 
as we lock eyes
over the tiny bundle
that is my newborn grandson,
and we don't even
need to say a word.

My mother.
Always there.
At every crossroad.
Whenever I need her.

She has set the stage
for the kind of mother
I too hope to be.





Today I will give her
this little gift
to celebrate her
special day.

How could it
possibly be enough?

Happy Birthday Mom!


_______________________

Have you read this one?

Home to Me

Baby Mac Attack

Best of 2009

the busy biddy

If it's somebody's birthday,
if my sister is in town,
if the girls want to go shopping.....

we always go see Janet
at The Busy Biddy!

Janet has turned
this little house in Orem
into the cutest shop
of gifts and home decor!

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Why do we like
The Busy Biddy so much?
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.
It might be
because of all the
cute holiday decor
Janet always has in store.
.

.
Maybe it's because
she always has
clothes that are
to die for.
.





(Look at these cute aprons!)

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Maybe it's the jewelry
and darling accessories...
like this purse!
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And these pins!
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And these bracelets!

(Just click on the photos
to see all the cuteness up close...)
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.
But I think the main reason
we like The Busy Biddy
so much is because of
Janet herself!
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Janet is always smiling.
She's always positive.
And she always
makes you happy.

Really....
she makes
The Busy Biddy
the place to be!





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This is what
I'm giving my mom
for her birthday.

It's Busy Biddy bling....
and I can hardly wait!
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some of the best yet

I was talking
with a lady today
who was upset.

She feels like
the youth of today
have lost their manners.

She was quite opinionated
about how they have become
rude, and self-centered,
and disrespectful.

I have to disagree.
.



 


As a youth leader
for the teenage girls
ages 12-13 in my Church group,
I have to say that they are
some of the best yet.

They are good and kind
and aware of the
needs of the girls around them.

One of our girls
just lost her mother to cancer.
It's been a hard thing
for a long time.
But the other girls in our group
have rallied around her
and made her feel loved.

And then there's one of
the older girls, who 
was in a gas station
with her mom one day.
Her mom gave her
some money to go inside
and buy some candy.

As she was waiting in line,
she noticed that a
handicapped young man
ahead of her was very upset
because he didn't have
enough money
to pay for his items.

This girl put her candy back,
and stepped up 
to give her money to him.
She just said it made her
feel really good inside.

______________

I know this world
has its challenges.

And there are lots
of troubled teens who
show their angst
in desperate behavior.

I've seen that too.

But I choose to believe
that there are many more
good kids than bad,
and these wonderful young people 
are going to grow up
to really make a difference!

_______________________

I hope you'll take a minute
to watch this video.
I don't know the girls in it,
but I'm so impressed.

Take a look, and you'll see what I mean!

'a' is for artister

One day when 'A' was about three,
he was sitting at the kitchen table
drawing a picture.

He sat back
and looked at his picture,
and said,
"I think
I'm gonna be
an artister!"

I've never forgotten it.

And I've quietly watched
as 'A' has drawn his pictures,
and filled his sketchbooks
and his portfolio
(and notepads and scratch paper
and t-shirts and even the walls!)
with beautiful art.

I have boxes
of his creations.




 

I caught him in action
the other day.
Here's a peek at his latest drawing.

 

We found out today
that one of 'A's pieces
has been selected
to be shown in the
38th Annual Utah All-State
High School Art Show.
His was one of 313 pieces chosen
out of 936 entries
from all the high schools
across the state.

Someday soon I'll show you more.

Because I think
all those years ago,
when he said,
"I think I'm gonna
be an artister,"
he was right!

hand me downs

When I was a kid,
it seemed like I was always
hunting for something
I couldn't find.

Like my shoes,
or my homework,
or my purple spiro pen.

And my mother would tell me, 
"My mother always said,
'Start cleaning up
and you'll find it.'"

Now when my kids
can't find something
they are hunting for,
I tell them,
"My mother always said
that her mother always said,
'Start cleaning up
and you'll find it!'"

I realized recently
I had never told my mother
that I always say that.

So I did.
And do you know what she told me?

She said,
"Oh it gets better than that!
When my mother used to say it,
she said it the exact same way!
'My mother always said....'"

That's four generations of women,
all saying the same thing.

I love the thought
that I'm saying
what she said.....
.

and what she said....

and what she said.

It gives a whole new meaning
to the word
hand-me-downs!

___________________________

What are the
little bits of wisdom
that have been passed
down through the generations
in your family?

_______________________


Don't miss the latest
in the 100 photos project...
signs of spring!

wood badge

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Last night,
in a quiet ceremony
in our home,
D received his Wood Badge beads.

Wood Badge is a
Scouting Leadership Program
for adult leaders in
Boy Scouts of America.

Wood Badge beads
are awarded to participants
who complete the course and
to recognize significant
achievement in leadership
and direct service to young people.

The greatest part
was when D's scoutmaster
presented him with a
hand-tooled walking stick
that he had made himself.

We were really touched
by his thoughtfulness. 

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Our next scouting celebration
will be when A gets his Eagle...
all that's left is the paperwork
(the hardest thing of all!)

...

..

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one of the three great questions

These are the three
great questions of life.

Why am I here on earth?

Where did I come from?

Where am I going after I die?

.

___________
.

Early this morning,
a dear friend passed away
after many months of suffering.

When D told me that
she was gone,
I laid in my bed and
pondered that
third question
all over again.
I'm glad I have a bit of an
understanding
of the answer.

My friend knew the answer.

She would tell anyone
who wonders  to read
this scripture from
the Book of Mormon. 

The reference is
Alma Chapter 40 verses 11-12.
It is found on page 308.

.

Now concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection--Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

..

We are grieving today.
We ache for a husband
and daughters who
are missing
their mother.
We know there
are hard times ahead.

But because of our great faith
in God's plan,
we know it's not the end.
We know they'll
be with her again.
And they know
they'll be with her again.
There is
great comfort
in that.
For all of us.

Are you pondering the
deep questions of life?

Here's something more to think about.
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