Gratitude

In case you have never heard the story of the ten lepers from the bible let me give you a cliff notes version. Ahem, there were ten lepers who came to Jesus and asked him to heal them. He said go show yourselves to the priests. As they were following his instructions they were healed. One of the 10 turned back immediately and thanked Jesus. Jesus then asks about what happened to the other 9.

Then the Sunday school class talks about how terrible it is that 9 of them never even turned around to say thank you. What terrible people they must have been not even being thankful. We all need to say thank you is the lesson that we get, right?

As I have listened to, read and thought about this story the lesson that I get is not quite the same.

Let's put our selves in the lepers place. You are suffering from a terrible disease in which your body very literally is falling apart. Perhaps you are nose-less at this point with gaping wounds in your flesh, a complete outcast from society. You hear of a man who can perform miracles. You believe he really can. You come to him with such faith. He has compassion on you and gives you the directions to heal yourself.

Now, when Jesus gives you instructions what do you do? I would like to believe I would follow them. That is exactly what these 10 do. They head on down the road to complete the task they have been assigned.

One looks at himself and realises what is going on and IMMEDIATELY turns around. This is good. We should admire him.

I doubt however that the other 9 are running down the street laughing about what a sucker Jesus is for healing them. Though I can hardly prove it,I sincerely believe that at least several more, if not all would most likely return to him after they had completed their task. After all, it was Christ who sent them on this mission. They are doing exactly what they have been asked to do.

The lesson that I get from this story is that we need to not only feel gratitude we need to express it IMMEDIATELY. Who knows if you will have a chance later.


Please don't condemn the leper who was following directions.

Random Things

Last night when getting ready for bed Naomi put a piece of cloth around her waist and announced "This is what I wear when I fight in Portuguese."

Caleb wants you to understand that he is correct. If he thinks you are not listening or are paying less attention to him than he wants he says " I talking to you!" You'd better listen up.


I might possibly burn that Lego Star Wars Dictionary.

I was informed "People in Texas don't have cars. They all ride horses."

Today

Today:

• I ready my scriptures and wrote in my journal
• Helped my kids read scriptures personally
• We practiced the Articles of Faith
• We practiced writing and identifying letters
• Practiced addition
• Tried to keep the house clean
• Did laundry
• Had a very unsuccessful nap
• Made salt map clay
• Bathed my filthy children
• Did some more cleaning up
• Made dinner

For all these efforts we ended with:

• Playing in the ash in the fireplace while mom cooked dinner
• A filthy house even after all the cleaning we had done
• Filthy children who were put to bed with one slice of bread for dinner
• A lot of crying

Some days I am a very in attentive mother. I admit it. I should play with them more, I should read to them more, I should worry about the house less than I do. Today I put forth great effort to have fun with them, to teach them, to enjoy them. I don't see how this is a very fair trade.

Reading, ever reading.

Ok this is an interactive post. Within the last few years I suddenly realised I actually LIKE reading. Took my 25 year to figure it out- but I do in fact ENJOY it. My problem is I am really picky. I feel as though my time is short and I need to learn SO much. So I was hoping you could help me out by suggesting books that have influenced the way you look at things. I want books that uplift. Books that inform. Books that will help me be a better person. Or just books with really great dialogue ( I don't care how poor the story line is, you give me witty conversations I will follow where ever you lead.)

I am currently reading "The 5000 Year Leap." It is about the miracle that took place in putting together America's government, the 28 principles that the constitution was based on and how America has helped the world leap forward in many ways. So far I have learned A LOT. ( I bought it if you want to borrow it. )

I am asking you to take the time to suggest books you think I should have in my resume. Be they classics or instruction manuals please list them if you think I would benefit from reading them.

John Galt

I am currently reading Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I would highly recommend it. Incredibly fascinating. There is however, a 60 page monologue near the end. As a mom with 4 children 6 and under, I don't have a tremendous amount of time to sit down and really study over this speech. Thus it was a wonderful blessing to be able to drive out to Ohio to my cousins graduation party with my mom and aunt. I took my 1200 page book along and we read a big chunk of the speech. I think I got more out of that than any of the portions I have read before. I am really greatful that I had that chance and for the opportunity that I had to sit and have intelligent discussions about the content.

Now I don't want you to think that I don't get stimulating conversation very often. So here is an bit of a conversation I had with Victor who is just turned 6 yrs old.

Victor: "Mom, how do those really big ships stay on top of the water? Why don't they just sink?"
Me : "Um.. I believe it has something to do with water displacement possibly."
Victor: " Well I think it is that they go so fast over the top of the water that they can't sink."
Me: " Huh, that is an interesting idea. What happens when the boat stops at the dock."
Stunned silence. Victor :"Well, um. Maybe.... "
Me: "It's ok if you don't know."
Victor:" Yea, I just don't know."

Caleb poked me between the legs while we were standing in the hall during church and asked "That your penis?", approximately 10 times. Of course while there is a man sitting in a chair right beside us. Glad that man has children....

Watermelon dangers

Last Sunday we had a serious crisis occur. Luckily it was short lived and the victim recovered quickly.

Our kitchen has brown and cream striped linoleum. Oh yes, VERY classy. While making lunch after church Naomi (4 yr now.) was jumping over the dark brown strips and announced-" Those are the watermelon lines."

Me: "What happens if you step on a watermelon line?"
Naomi :" You turn into a watermelon." Suddenly looks at Dad- "OH NO! Dad you are standing on a watermelon line! Poof! You're a watermelon."
Ethan had been standing there amused started losing it and tried to ask her a question while laughing: "But Naomi..."
Naomi: "NO! You're a watermelon, you don't have eyes or a mouth or a body, you can't talk."
Ethan then started sinking to the floor laughing hysterically in his watermelon form.
Me :" Naomi, how do we get Daddy back?"
Naomi, nonchalantly :"He'll regenerate in an hour or so."

Luckily Naomi doesn't last that long and allowed him to regenerate with in 2 minutes. It was nice to have my husband back. Though he was rather fun to have curled up in a ball laughing as a watermelon.

It was very humorous.

Dogs.

I love dogs. Ok, I love a well trained dog. The kind that is happy if you pet it and goes away when you don't want to. The kind that doesn't jump in my face or lick every bit of my skin it can find. If I had a dog training would be a serious priority at my house and then I would enjoy having it around.

Reasons I dont have a dog-
I am allergic to them.
I would have to clean up after it.
I would have to pay for it.


Those are my top 3 reasons for being dogless.


There is a dog in my neighborhood that is pooping on my front lawn. I am ready to beat the next dog that comes down the sidewalk. I am so angry. Clean up after your own dog. It isnt' my dog! You knew they pooped when you got one! If you don't want to clean up after it then let it poop in your own yard and leave it there! I have CHILDREN who play there! Even if I didn't have kids who play there it is still MY yard- a no poop zone.

Here is where things seem to get sticky. I have a suspicion it is a little girl who is walking the dog. A little girl who's parents send her out with a great big puppy who drags her down the sidewalk. Angry as I am, the more I think about it the less I can envision her being capable of cleaning up while having the dog at the end of a leash dragging her around. So I guess the next step is to have a discussion.

What exactly is your goal of having your daughter walk the dog? Is it so it can go to the bathroom? Is your intention the dog to do it's business while it is out? Do you mean for the little girl to clean it up? If you do mean to, you might want to teach her that- cause she sure has no idea how to do so. Even if it means sending her back out after the dog has been taken inside I would greatly appreciate it.

Granted- I have no proof it is that dog. I live in an area where there are lots of dogs. I do not appreciate them adopting my yard. Not at all.