The Man Who Knew Too Little

Judging by the title you might think that I have solved the mystery as to why I am so chunky and why my belly continues to swell like a helium inflated balloon. You would be wrong, but keep trying. Today was Dads and Donuts day at the preschool. All the Dads got to come in and hang out with their kids at preschool and eat donuts. Okay, that is not all we did. We made crafts, had wheelbarrow and relay races, and played hot potato. It was a lot of fun, I really value the time that I have with the kids now more than ever.

As far as what is going on, not much. T and A (I call them that for safety reasons, if you do not know who I am referring to perhaps you shouldn't be here) love to ride bikes when spring is not going through one of its multiple personality disorders. They especially love when we throw the bikes in the back of the truck and take them to Murray Park, cousins, or other places outside the norm. I love that they like bikes so much, the only problem is struggling with them to go in the trailer behind my bike when I need exercise. While I am sure they could do it, their bikes are just not made for 20 mile trips (if the pedals get in just the right position as the kids stop they require a push to get restarted, I am sure the bikes are just defective). As you can see T rides a Lightning McQueen bike and A a Disney Princess bike (what did you expect). A's has a bell and T's has a button you push that makes the sound of a car peeling out and roaring off. He pushes it each time A starts to catch up to him and he needs the extra surge of energy to keep her from passing. Hmmmm, if only I had a button that did the same thing for me......it is like nitrous I guess. T thinks some things are bisgusting (disgusting) and loves to make bachines (machines). He cannot seem to stay out of the driver's seat every time he is near or in an unlocked car. A asks me to put things on the hash board (dashboard) sometimes when we are driving in the car. She also wants to know if I am done tipping them over every time we go around the loop that connects I-215 westbound to I-15 southbound. She has dance recitals coming up on the 9th and 10th of May.

I think that they are adjusting well to life. It is sad that they should have to experience this much hurt and see the realities of the world at such a young age. It is great that they seem happy though as that is obviously my greatest concern. I get to play with them from Thursday night through Monday night usually; sometimes it is even more which is great. They are fun as can be, each day I get to see more and more gears churning in their minds as they figure out many new things. They love to sneak upstairs on Saturday mornings and make pancakes with Grandpa. Do not ask me how they know that it is Saturday or how their bodies seem to wake up earlier that day, but they do. Grandpa, T and A all have a great time together and it is neat that they have this special opportunity. They are enjoying being Sunbeams in Primary and learning all that the "big kids" learn. They have of course mastered the loudest pitch possible when saying "beam" in the Sunbeam song. They are always in a hurry to be bigger and constantly tell me all that they are going to do.

As for me I am just enjoying the ride! I go to school all morning on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and work all night. It is finals week and I have taken a couple of days off work to study. I needed a break so bad that I took an hour or so to start this blog. I cannot wait to be done with school, but it is just something that I will have to be patient with. At least I have the opportunity and I am able to learn new things. I am grateful for the health of the kids as well as myself, for a great family, and for wonderful friends. I hope that each of you are doing well and I think of you all often. Take care until next time.

So, a lot of friends told me that I needed to start a blog. We are currently having them evaluated at a local psychiatric hospital as I speak. I DID however think that this was a great way of keeping a journal for the little things that happen each day in the life of my kids and I. Most of you will understand this to be my "larger plates" while I will keep my "smaller plates" to myself.

Last week I was asked to give a talk in church. It was the first talk I have been asked to give for almost ten years! Not that I am complaining. I spoke at my mission farewell, was never asked to speak once in over a years time on my mission and then came home sick from my mission and therefore did not give a return talk. I have not been asked to speak since (probably because there were protests in the street). So my last talk in Church was in July 1998.

I am not going to go off quoting myself because that would be a little ridiculous, but I will share some things I learned while preparing this talk. I used the subject of Dean R. Burgess talk from the Priesthood session of General Conference, but went in a little different direction. The topic? "Do You Know Who You Are?" Here are my thoughts:


1. Do you know who you are in your family? I talked of our important roles in our families. I realized the importance of every person in a family and of constantly working together as a family. I know the love I feel for my kids as well as for my siblings and parents. It is important to know who you are the role that you play as well as the role you SHOULD play.

2. Do you know that you are a child of God? I think too often that we forget the real meaning of this. I think it is great that many of us learn at a young age that we are children of God. That alone makes us capable of so much. I love the following quote and I used it in my talk:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

So, my question is "Who Are You Not To Be Great?" I love this quote, it is definitely one of my favorites.

3. Do You Know Those Around You? As I feel the love my Savior and Heavenly Father have for me, I can begin to see people in the world as They see them. We need to all realize that we are ALL sons and daughters of God and treat each other accordingly. I have worked to view others as I believe They view them. I may or may not have made a difference in that persons life that day, but I have made large differences in my own life. It is not always easy for us to do (I don't have the whole "perfect" thing going for me quite yet), but it makes a difference. It is much easier to love, tolerate, and be patient with those around us as we try to see people as our Savior and Heavenly Father do.

That is by no means my whole talk (consider yourselves very lucky), but just some feelings I thought would be appropriate to starting off the blog. Plenty more ramblings will follow I am sure.