TEENAGER!!

I would be a horrible, rotten, no-good mother if I didn't recognize my teenagers birthday!   You may wonder, along with us, why we chose to have a baby December 22, 1994.  So close to Christmas!  I do hope Ethan doesn't feel "over-looked" amid the Christmas chaos.  We do love Ethan.  He is a great young man.  He has a great set of friends, and they have lots of fun together.  Ethan loves the following:  1) His mother of course:).  2) football 3) skiing 4) lacrosse 5) food.  Actually, I should have put food as #1!  He eats sooo much.  But I guess now that he's as tall as Blake, wears size 11 shoes, and grows like a weed, he can afford all the calories.  Ethan told me the other day that just in case he dies skiing, he wanted me to know that he keeps a note from his Grandma Blotter, and a picture of me in his ski coat.  I was so touched!  We have had our bouts with the teenage attitude.  But for the most part, Ethan is surviving teenage-hood well.   He always makes us laugh.  We can all be gloomy, and he'll say something to crack us all up.  Whenever Ethan is gone, we are all in a slump.  Supe is a wreck without his big brother.  Ethan is his best friend.  Ethan wants to be an NFL star, or a professional skier.  Big dreams!  We love you Ethan.  Happy Birthday!

What are you getting for Christmas?

I have been requested to  make more posts of our Africa trip.  This may be a timely post as we are all caught up in the "giving and getting" of Christmas. At least I am!  

These two darling little girls are members of the church in Ghana.  Their dad is a security guard at the temple.  He was such a darling man.  His blood pressure was like 250/125.  He was just a ball of stressed energy.  He deeply loved his two little girls.  The first night we did a clinic there, he snuck in, (for he was supposed to be keeping guard!), and asked me to check him over.  He just is one big grin from ear to ear.  I didn't have the heart to tell him that his blood pressure was terrible.  I told him to make sure to eat really good, and to get on medicine.  Yeah right.  

The last day we also did a clinic at this spot.  He snuck in again and caught my eye.  He had these two little girls, his daughters, behind him.  He asked me to check them out also, and then he ran back to his watch.  I had been given three of the little dolls pictured on the left.  They were a simple pattern found on the LDS humanitarian guide.  I saved them and saved them for just the right little girls.  I immediately knew these girls needed my last doll.  After checking them over and talking to them, I asked them if I could give them something.  They nodded.  I pulled out my little doll and immediately they both threw there palms to their cheeks.  They didn't even know how to react.  The happiness was on their faces said it all.  I put it into the littlest ones hands with tears in my eyes.  They were both hugging it and loving it so much.  I also had a little pencil kit that I gave to the older girl.  I had just given these to them when their dad came running back to the room to grab them.  Without even saying a word, the two girls gave me a huge hug and went running out with their dad.  One doll and a pencil kit.  How much am I spending on each one of my children this year?  

Temple

I know you may get sick of hearing about my trip.  In my next few posts, I can't help but share some of my faith-building experiences.  The man in this picture is from Nigeria.  I met him on the temple grounds in Ghana.  He was staying at the temple lodging for a week doing back to back sessions.  He has saved for two years to be able to come to the temple.  Two years!  He lives in Nigeria with his wife, twin sons, and a younger son.  They live in a one room home.  It is 10X12 feet.  While we were talking he told me that his wife was very sick with malaria.  He is in the branch presidency in their little ward in Nigeria.  He told me that he was trying to get a small keyboard for their meetinghouse.  Upon talking to him, I realized how grateful I should be for the small things in life.  I am grateful that I had a big beautiful organ to sing to this morning at church.  

Most of all, he strengthened my testimony of the temple.  I marvel at his willingness to save for two years, the equivalent of 30,000 US dollars, to be able to make the trip from Nigeria to Ghana.  Do I have that dedication?  I have a temple two miles away from my home.  I wake up and look out my big front window at it every morning.  I wonder if I am sacrificing enough to attend the temple regularly.  I told him how grateful I was for his example.  He smiled and said he must hurry and eat so he can get back.  Wow.

AFRICA

We made it back from our big trip to Africa.  Ethan and I went for nine days with a medical service team.   My life changes for the better each time I go.  My testimony is strengthened as I see God's love around the world.  I am grateful my father urged me to become a nurse.  I have been so blessed to have this opportunity.    It was such a pleasure to take my son.  He is a great young man with a big heart.  He never complained about our conditions.  Probably because he saw so much need.  

I would love to talk to anyone who is interested in helping or donating funds to this great charity.  I don't think we realize how blessed we are.  We have homes, we can turn on the faucet and get fresh clean water.  So many things I take for granted were brought to my attention.  

I am grateful most of all to a wonderful family who supported me and helped me while I was away.  Blake, you are the best.  I don't deserve such a wonderful mate.  You are my rock!  I was so happy to come home to a clean house, a big welcome home sign, and Christmas lights!  You truly make me up to want to be a better person.  And my parents.  I love them so much.  My children are so blessed to have such wonderful grandparents that love and care for them.  Thanks to them for helping with the little rugrats while we were away.  Africa was a wonderful experience.  I hope I don't let the spirit of the trip fade away!  

TAGGED

Here is my "tagged" photo.  Don't turn me in to domestic affairs please!  We are not training child rebels.  Well, I guess, in a way, we were!  That is scary.  The boys (including our neighbor) got paint ball guns for Christmas a few years ago.  They were a blast.  My dad came over and was very skeptical about the safety of these guns.  Ethan told him to just try it.  He begged him to just stand at our door and give it a shot.  My dad stood at our front door, and shot it.  He hit our flag pole in the front yard.  He let out a yelp of laughter.  I think grandpa was convinced they were a blast.  Fun memories!  

The greatest generation

I rarely write about books I have read.  I just finished reading The Book Thief, and I had to comment.  This book is one of the best books I have ever read.  I highly recommend it.  It is narrated by death.  Yes, death himself.  It is about Nazi Germany in World War 2.  If you haven't read it, get a copy today.  It makes me think about a Tom Brokaw book I read, The Greatest Generation.  I believe  the Lord has selected everyone to come at their right time.  I am intrigued by this so-called "greatest generation".  My grandparents lived in this era.  Heck, my parents were born in this era, and they are certainly the greatest.   I love reading about the sacrifices this generation made.  Just coming out of the great depression, and entering a world war.  How would I handle that?  Could I live on rations?  Would I help in an army hospital?  Worse yet, could I send my husband over seas to fight a war I couldn't follow on CNN?  Or would I moan and complain, and blame whoever I possibly could for the situation I was in.  Certainly it is was the president's fault right?  Maybe the cabinet or the senate.   

I am going to make a conscious effort to not complain.  We are so blessed to live in this time.  Sure we have our major problems, but we can learn so much from those who came before us.  What era would you visit if you had your choice?  

Politics as usual?

I can't help but post some thoughts about the election.  I posted this darling picture of my children.  They are about done with me always begging to take their picture!  My kids have been on my mind a lot throughout this election.  Now, I know we all vote differently.  That is why we live in America right?  Freedom to vote.  Freedom of religion. Hubby gave just an awesome talk to our youth last night on why we live in America, and the responsibilities we have living in this great land.  I have taken this probably to the extreme this election.  I look at my three little rug-rats, and wonder what I can possibly do to help them in these tough times.  They are our future.  Anything I can do to promote a better future for them, you bet I am going to do it.   I have read endlessly about the candidates.  I really have given more thought to this election than any other.  There were such good things and bad things about each candidate.  I went to the temple and gave it much thought and prayer.  I seriously felt like my vote really mattered, which in reality, it probably didn't.  Casting my vote did give me hope though.  After finally making my decision, I felt very confident and relieved that my stress was all over.  I did my part by researching and voting for the person I felt would most benefit my children in the future.  I am very relieved it is all over, and I can stop stressing about it!  I am so glad to have the freedom to vote.  It makes me feel  like in some way I do have control over what happens to my darling children.  Happy post-election day!!  WHEW!!