Love

I got this email today and wanted to post it here. Things have been super busy around here and I haven't had a chance to blog, but here is something to think about. We need more of this.... have a good read :)

Touching words from the mouths of babes. What does 'Love' mean? A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does 'love' mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

'When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love.' Rebecca- age 8

'When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.' Billy - age 4

'Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.' Karl - age 5

'Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.' Chrissie - age 6

'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4

'Love is when my mummy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7

'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mummy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8

'Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.' Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)

'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)

'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7

'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6

'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8

'My mummy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6

'Love is when Mummy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5

'Love is when Mummy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7

'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day' Mary Ann - age 4

'I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.' Lauren - age 4

'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image) Karen - age 7

'Love is when Mummy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross.' Mark - age 6

'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8

And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbour, the little boy said, 'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

When there is nothing left, that is when you find out that love is all you need.

Here's to MOTHER!!!

Kaylena sent this to me this afternoon. It brought tears to my eyes as I think of my boys growing up so fast and that I fit into to so many of these categories right now in my life...all at the same time :)

Thank you Kaylena for sending me this little reminder that being mom is so very important and so very rewarding. I'm grateful for my beautiful/handsome boys. I'm also grateful for all the 'mom's ' in my life who have taught me and helped me along the way.

Here's the email she sent me :

Real Mothers don't eat quiche; they don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors, filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what the vacuum just sucked up.

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?' and get their answer when a little voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth is not measured by height or years or grade...It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it.

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom' s opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair . .. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul ... It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

Conference

Conference was AMAZING these past two days. Well, it started with the Relief society broadcast last weekend. I wasn't going to go since I had no one to watch the boys...but I did decided that I needed to be there. A friend had talked to me earlier that day, and something she said stuck with me...and still sticks with me to this day... she said "Have faith that you will be where the Lord needs you to be when you need to be there" I know I've heard that before, but that time it meant even more to me.

I decided at the RS broadcast some things that I am determined to do... when we get moved back to Idaho, all the boys will be in school all day. Kyler will have every other day off, but on those days that he is in school, I will go to the temple once or twice each month by myself or with some other ladies. I have always wanted to do that and have the opportunity to do that when we do get moved. Another thing that I want to do when we get to Idaho is to go to the temple at least one friday a month with Tim...again, when the boys are all in school. Tim has Fridays off, so that will provide a great opportunity for both of us to attend the temple without needing a sitter or leaving our children at home alone. I am so eager and anxious to have this opportunity.

Now for this weekend's conference.... the first amazing thing was the announcement of 5 new temples. Two of which have special meaning to Tim and I... Cortuba Argentina for Tim as that is where or near where he served his mission... and Philadelphia PA for me. I lived there for over seven years there when I was younger. We would have to travel several hours to Washington DC temple to do baptisms...as wonderful as it was to go there, how much more wonderful it will be for the saints in the area of Philly for them to have a temple closer :) I'm so excited for that temple and look forward to being able to go there and see it one day. I'm anxious to hear a more precise area where it will be built. The other three temples will be in Calgary Alberta Canada, Kansas city Kansas area, and Rome Itally.. WOW!!!! is all I could say...well, I couldn't say anything as I was so overcome with joy..it was unspeakable joy.

The messages of conference were wonderful and have been so inspired. One of the main topics that I took away from conference was that of hope and overcoming trials and challenges and helping others in their challenges as well. Everyone is going through some sort of trial.

Some things that I felt impressed to write down...this isn't word for word what was said, just how I wrote it down and felt it in my heart:

L.Tom Perry- Things we need for a simplified lifestyle...1. food- if we follow and live the word of wisdom the destroying angel will pass by us... 2. clothing- dress and grooming sends a message....casual dress is often followed by casual manners.."Modesty reflects an attitude of humility" 3.shelter- Live within your means 4.fuel- spiritual fuel Aknowledge God's plan and do our part to bring to pass His plan for us

Sister Allred- The lifeblood of the church is missionary work... Seek the guidance of the spirit as we share the gospel with others

Neil L. Anderson- Eternal life is the journey of all journeys. "We each have moments of spiritual power. We must seep it into our hearts and store up for our spiritual reserves."

Faith is not only a feeling, we must also choose it. "Be not afraid, only believe" how true is that :)

Dallin H. Oaks- Sacrament meeting is the most important and only meeting in which the whole family attends together. The manner of dress for sacrament should be as if we were going to the temple...not the beach or hiking. The white shirt is a gentle reminder of the temple and our covenants.

Pres. Uchtdorf- Go on in the face of fears...find hope. Hope has power to fill our lives with happiness... Hope is the gift of the spirit...despair kills ambition.... What is hope? The things we hope in uphold us in times of trial

Joseph B. Wirthlin- I love what his mother taught him "Come what may and love it" The way we react to adversity will be a great measurer to our happiness. Understand the principal of compensation....(that one penetrated my heart...as I still struggle sometimes with not being able to have anymore babies... I know that it will be made up to me)

Adversity, if handled correctly can be a great blessing in our lives.

Jeffery R. Holland- Angels are sent most often to comfort us...the only thing I could keep thinking about as I was listening to this talk was my angel friends...one of whom has the appropriate angelic name :) LOVE YOU ANG!@!!!! I have been so bless with angel friends to help me and comfort me in my adversity

Pres. Eyring- Joy comes when we are blessed with unity. Be humble---pride is the enemy of unity. Be a peacemaker by looking for anything in which you agree with your accuser. As children of God, we have more in common that we have differences. SPEAK WELL OF OTHERS... if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all.

Robert D. Hales- Christian courage.... respond to our accusers in a Christlike way. Turn the other cheek, resist feelings of anger. Ask for help in answering accusers without accusing. Opposition in itself may create an opportunity.

Elaine S. Dalton- In the strength of the Lord I can do all things... Virtue begins in the heart and mind..it is an inner strength. You be the one to make a stand for the right, even if you stand alone...

Pres. Monson- Find joy in the journey NOW...don't wait for tomorrow. There is no tomorrow to remember if we don't do something today.

Boyd K. Packer- Obedience to laws and ordinances of the gospel will bring us safety.

Russel M. Nelson- Celestial marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than any other relationship. Celestial marriage is a pivitol part of the eternal plan.

I'm so grateful that I could have the opportunity to be taught so richly at conference today...there is so much more to take from it than just these thoughts. These are deffinately going to be watched again and again and read over and over.