"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." — Dr. Seuss

Recently a colleague said his son builds bridges for a living.  Knowing his son has a baby, I said, “Would you like a children’s book recommendation for your grandchild?"

He said, "Yes!  I'm always looking for good books."

I replied, "Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty.  Rosie Revere, Engineer, by the same author is a great one, too.”

I love children's books and nothing makes me happier than seeing our children read to their children and our grandchildren read to each other.  

Ezra (2) reading
The Big Hungry Bear and the Red, Ripe Strawberry 
to Winnie (1)

Cali reading Diary of the Worm to Atlas, Henry, and Levin

Abe reading to Hazel

Grandpa Calvin and Grandma Jane reading to Afton, Eliza, and Kathryn at the Page's home.

I often share this couplet because I really do believe it:  Richer than I you can never be, for I had a mother/father who read to me.  (Strickland Gillilan)

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to be a reader.  Reading levels the playing field.

If you have any good books you like, do tell!

Life-Hack #162

Even back when they were just called "tips" I loved life-hacks. In fact, "Housekeeping Tips" is the book I chose to take to the hospital to read while I was in labor.  In between contractions, I read new ideas for removing stains from counter tops and organizing kitchen cupboards.

A life-hack I recently learned is how to chill a drink (say a fruit smoothie).  Wrap the cup in a wet paper towel and place it in the freezer for ten-fifteen minutes.  The drink chills quickly.

But, the best life-hack I've ever learned is found in 1 Nephi 16:2 ". . . the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center."  

When I was in high school (and the oldest girl at home), my mother quit functioning.  Day after day she lay in bed, reading novels or sleeping.  It was down-right depressing.  There were still four or five of us kids at home and much of the homekeeping, cooking, and care of my younger brother and sisters became my responsibility.  I was active in school, church, athletics, and service opportunities and the load felt heavy.  Very heavy.  While I learned a lot of valuable skills during these years, I was frustrated and easily peeved.

One day an older sister who was temporarily home said, "Do you know what your problem is?  You're selfish.  That's what the problem is."

I saw red.  I was so angry.  I mentally ticked off every thing I was doing to take care of hearth and home.  I was certain if she helped more she'd see it wasn't me that was the problem.  I rationalized no selfish person would do what I was doing.

And then this phrase " . . . the guilty taketh the truth to be hard . . ." played in my heart and head.  I argued with its logic, but I knew that my anger signaled my guilt.  It took me time, but I came to realize that while I may have been doing a whole lot of things, I wasn't doing them for the right reason or with a good attitude.  I felt sorry for myself and resentful of others and the situation.  The circumstances never did change, but I like to think I did. That day I learned an important life-hack that I will need my whole life.

Pictures for September 17, 2017

This month there are lots of combined cousin pictures.  Ty, Joe/Ande, and Abe/Grace families were together in Georgia, while Michelle and the girls were in Idaho with her family.  

Henry:  After church I like to play with baby Winnie.

Ezra:  After church I like to wrestle with Uncle Ty.

Kathryn:  After church, I got to play with Aunt Jayna.

Jane:  After church and a big Sunday dinner, popcorn is supper.

Ray:  Levin and Inman.

Eliza:  After church I like to play with Grandma Kathy.

Afton:  After church we celebrated cousin Addie's birthday.

Michelle:  After church we made a video to tell my cousin Taylor that we were thinking of him. 

Winnie:  Sometimes cars help me to stay quiet at church.

Grace:  After church I gave Joe a haircut.

Zeph:  After church I like to wrestle Uncle Ty.

Zeph:  After church I like to look and wish at Lego magazines.

Cali:  Our pew at Stake Conference.  When I tucked Levin in to bed at night
he said, "I can't go to sleep.  I'm not tired....I've been resting all day because
at Church you have to sit the WHOLE TIME. 
Well, his 'resting' exhausts
me.  Clearly he isn't sitting the WHOLE time.

Atlas:  At church I wait for it to end.

Levin:  Before church I caught Crush, my hampster who escaped.

Inman:  At church I'm learning how to sleep in my mom and dad's arms.

Joe:  After church we ate leftovers from our date the day before.

Joe:  At church I saw some cool things on the bulletin board as I walked the halls with Winnie.

17 (or so) Pictures for the 17th of August 2017

With the solar eclipse coming next week, August's 17 on 17 theme is "In the sun . . ."

“Some people are so much 
sunshine to the square inch.”
― Walt Whitman

Ray:  A picture with some sun in the background and some bedhead
in the foreground . . . Medusa incarnate.  My lovely sister-in-law is here
visiting from South Carolina.  Wish she were with us all month!

Cali: Ande and I had a day of no kids that included the temple, pedicures, and sushi.
Certainly brought sunshine.

Levin and Atlas:  Hiking with Dad.

Abe - nothing brightens your day like your
favorite cereal returning after 10 years.

Grace- today I took Henry and Hazel to an indoor trampoline park.
Paw Patrol was there visiting during toddler time
and the kids were thrilled!

Henry - enjoying my new trampoline in the hot Georgia sun.

Hazel - enjoying our new yard despite the sunshine.

Ty:  Enjoying a brief glimpse of the sun before my 4th flight of the day.

Michelle: The one playground this exhausted pregnant lady
will let her kids play in during this hot, sunny,
and humid Mississippi summer.

Afton: I like to go out in the sun to pretend our backyard is a jungle and I'm an explorer.

Eliza: I have cute brown curly hair with a hint of blonde
from being out in the sun for a lot of the summer.

Kathryn: I love pretending to be mom.
Even down to her usual outfit of late: pajamas.
But don't tell her I told you.
 (With rays of sunshine behind me).

Ande:  No sun, just the house of the Son.

Zeph:  I practiced climbing the trees today at Grandpa and Grandma's.

Ezra:  Practiced shooting bad guys today at Grandpa and Grandma's.

Winnie:  A walk in the sun always feels good whether in SC or WA.

Calvin:  Taught the boys how to catch a fish, then clean and eat it.

Almost 17 Pictures for the 17 of June 2017

We have incredible dads in our family.  Calvin and I often discuss what deliberate and conscientious fathers they are.  This quote by Reed Markham explains part of it:  "The quality of a father can be seen in the goals, dreams and aspirations he sets not only for himself, but for his family."

June's 17 on 17 theme is "With my dad . . ."

Jane:  Agreed, Calvin isn't my father, but he is an incredible father
to our children -- all of them.  He cares.  He loves.  He serves.

Cali:  A few weeks ago Dad and I found Flower's kittens in the haystack.

Levin:  Dad, Atlas, and I went salmon fishing in Alaska this month.

Atlas:  I like to dress up with Dad.

Henry:  Helping my Dad pick Grandma's strawberries.

Hazel:  Telling my dad and mom good-bye so they can go to
Georgia to find us a new house.

Ty: Dates with the girls today made me think
about great times with my dad.
I couldn't have asked for a more perfect example
of fatherhood or a better friend.

Michelle:  Grateful for my dad this weekend. He's always been my biggest fan and advocate,
and his children and grandchildren are his pride and joy.
He's a great example to me of putting family first.

Afton: I got to go on my dream date tonight.
A fancy dinner and a dance with my number one man.
I'm so blessed to have an amazing dad!

Eliza: I got to go on a swimming date with Dad again!
After swimming like a fish, Dad had to wake me up from my nap.

Kathryn: Grocery shopping prior to slushies and the park. A fun date with Dad!

Joe taught the kids how to make rice balls.
And then cleaned up after.
He's a good dad. He's a good husband.

Zeph and Ezra: Dog pile on Dad.

Joe and Winnie waving and smiling at each other through the window.