Paxton fought me tooth and nail about giving his talk on Mother's Day. I handed him the prose I had written for him to recite and sent him to the stand. It was obvious that he read it for the first time during the opening announcements. He muddled through and filled about 5 minutes of time. Whew! Glad that's over! He didn't receive the "great talk" response he revelled in 6 months earlier. Instead it was, "You could have read it more than once before stepping up to the pulpit." He knew he deserved every jab. I used this as a teaching moment. I asked him to think about how he prepared for each talk. With the first, we worked on it together. He came up with points and stories and I fine tuned the execution. This time it was only my ideas--my words. He immediately felt the difference. He decided that he would never give a talk in which he had no input. Of course his first choice would be to have no more speaking engagements. But that's not going to happen. The church uses the infamous "2 1/2 minute talk" to groom the youth for future leadership positions. It's a good thing!
Funny story--I had worked until very early in the morning and then had to take David to the airport so he could do roll call for Local 11. The kids were both taking the bus to school. When I came home from the airport I fell into bed, thrilled that Gabby was awake--she would make sure Paxton made it to the bus stop on time. I lay in bed listening with a half-awake mother's ear and I hear Paxton ask Gabby, "Did you know it's pajama day at school?" Gabby responded "No." He urged her on and let her know that it was announced on yesterday's announcements. She asked numerous questions trying to see if he was being completely honest. All I could do was hope I didn't have to get out of bed to take 2 kids to school because they showed up at the bus stop in sleepwear on the wrong day. After about 10 minutes of back and forth questioning it was revealed that in fact it was not pajama day, Paxton just wanted to see how far he could run with the story. Gabby had a tote with a change of PJ's, just in case.
Live and learn! I guess that's what this life is all about!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Women's Conference
Wow! I have been working 6 days a week and just had a week off. I went to Women's Conference at BYU with my mom, sisters and cousin. We had a blast and learned so much. I am excited to start living and trying the words of wisdom I received. It snowed the entire time we were there, which was a nice change from the Vegas heat. Patti, my cousin, introduced us to quilt store shopping. We had to lure her out of the last one with promises of a Diet Coke. She has inspired me to take out my sewing machine I bought 2 years ago and do something with it. Seeing my sisters all together was a thrill. With one in Salt Lake and one in Seattle, it is a blessing when we can all be together.
I learned that I am handling life's speed bumps just as I should. I promised a treasured friend that I would be more general in my statements, so as not to point fingers, but suffice it to say, I'm on the right track when it comes to them. The Conference stressed service and the best statement came from Dallin H. Oaks mother, "It's amazing how much you can get done when you don't worry about who gets the credit." Isn't that true? Just do the service! End of story! In every session I went to, the consistent advice was to pray, scripture study and temple attendance. That's what our leaders have always told us, and it still holds true.
We had mint brownies, chocolate cinnamon bears, kettle corn, Cafe Rio (St. George), and Creamery ice cream. I'm good for sugar for the next 6 months. We laughed and laughed and laughed. Some humor was a bit off base, but most was just good fun. I can't wait until next year.
My new work schedule should allow me to update my blog each week. The kids are good. Paxton is 5'8" and 115 lbs. My job this summer is to put weight on the boy. They are good kids that still need a little nagging from mom. Speaking of mothers; Happy Mothers Day to all the moms. Our ward choir is singing a beautiful arrangement that uses the best songs for the kids to sing so I had to be creative. Our primary children will be singing "Grandmas", "Quickly I Obey", and end with "When We're Helping We're Happy". This way they can have a strong finish with tra la la's. Paxton has to speak in Sacrament Meeting. I wrote him a wonderful talk on mothers from the scriptures and how they taught the youth strength and faith. (Seriously, do you really thing a 13yr old, semi active boy is going to sit down and write anything profound?) You know you all write your kids talks or at least sit with them as they are guided in their own writings. I just don't have to deal with a cranky teenager if I do it myself and have him practice days before. I do come off looking like a stellar mother!
Just one last thought, forgiveness! Please forgive and forget. It's the first step in getting your life back when you think others have control. It will clear your heart and open it to so many good things!
I learned that I am handling life's speed bumps just as I should. I promised a treasured friend that I would be more general in my statements, so as not to point fingers, but suffice it to say, I'm on the right track when it comes to them. The Conference stressed service and the best statement came from Dallin H. Oaks mother, "It's amazing how much you can get done when you don't worry about who gets the credit." Isn't that true? Just do the service! End of story! In every session I went to, the consistent advice was to pray, scripture study and temple attendance. That's what our leaders have always told us, and it still holds true.
We had mint brownies, chocolate cinnamon bears, kettle corn, Cafe Rio (St. George), and Creamery ice cream. I'm good for sugar for the next 6 months. We laughed and laughed and laughed. Some humor was a bit off base, but most was just good fun. I can't wait until next year.
My new work schedule should allow me to update my blog each week. The kids are good. Paxton is 5'8" and 115 lbs. My job this summer is to put weight on the boy. They are good kids that still need a little nagging from mom. Speaking of mothers; Happy Mothers Day to all the moms. Our ward choir is singing a beautiful arrangement that uses the best songs for the kids to sing so I had to be creative. Our primary children will be singing "Grandmas", "Quickly I Obey", and end with "When We're Helping We're Happy". This way they can have a strong finish with tra la la's. Paxton has to speak in Sacrament Meeting. I wrote him a wonderful talk on mothers from the scriptures and how they taught the youth strength and faith. (Seriously, do you really thing a 13yr old, semi active boy is going to sit down and write anything profound?) You know you all write your kids talks or at least sit with them as they are guided in their own writings. I just don't have to deal with a cranky teenager if I do it myself and have him practice days before. I do come off looking like a stellar mother!
Just one last thought, forgiveness! Please forgive and forget. It's the first step in getting your life back when you think others have control. It will clear your heart and open it to so many good things!
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