My Stripling Warriors

This book "What Latter-day Stripling Warriors Learn from Their Mothers" came out in 1996, when I had a new born son and a 2 year old son and a 9 year old daughter. I wanted to know how to be the best mom I could possibly be for these 3 special spirits that came to me with their own personalities, so different from my own. As I read it, I felt the spirit and was moved to be a more spiritual mom. I yearned for my children to doubt not what their mother knew.

Fast forward to 2013, 17 years later. I was cleaning out books from our library and I saw this and decided to read it again. I wanted to see if I had "measured up" to what I had felt years before. I thought I would read it on the drive to take Glenn to college. I didn't have the courage to. Well I finally read it, finishing most of it today. I cried nearly all the way through.

Did we read scriptures enough? Did we have meaningful Family Home Evenings enough? Did I play enough? Did I teach enough? Did I testify of my Savior enough? Did we pray as a family enough? Did I do enough? The answer is always no, hence the tears today. Maybe I set the bar to high for myself, as in, Did I do all those things perfectly? The answer is always no. Maybe I need to answer what I asked myself in the first place, Enough? I think I'll have to wait for a long time still to know that answer.

Post by themselves

1. Trip to Greely, CO with Glenn to go through Freshman & Parent Orientation.
2. Jamie visit for a short week.
3. Grandma Ebrite (who lived to be 100) funeral in IN.
4. Biggest Loser at Vision Quest gym.
5. Signature Verification at King County Elections.
6. Embroidered Temple Quilts.
7. What should I do to celebrate 21 years of marriage to my best friend?
8. 30 High School Reunion in VA, I am not going to.
9. Family Search problems, oh well.

Choices

I love being a mom to my kids! I hate it when they make poor choices for themselves! I'm grateful for the patience Heavenly Father helped me develop while I was primary president. I'm grateful to be calm when the parenting storms rise. 3 teen-agers at once, is at times, hard to swallow. I have the bigger picture in mind when we talk though. And the hits keep coming.

I joined "The Biggest Loser" challenge at my gym. My goal is 20-30 pounds in the next 90 days. Wish me luck.

Glenn and I are taking a trip to the University of Northern Colorado right after graduation. We hope to visit with Cameo while in CO.

Dale is visiting his family in NJ this week end! He had a business trip and tagged this on at the end.

I'm working on a tee-shirt quilt for Glenn's graduation. I'm trying an easier way to put it together than I did with Dale's tee-shirt quilt some 18 years ago or so.

Good Stuff!

• I had a spiritual experience Wednesday morning (May 22). I shared it with my husband and children soon as the boys came home from seminary. I then called my dad and talked to him about it. I'm not going to share it here, but I did write it in my journal too. I always cry when I feel the spirit. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't cry. I am grateful for my Heavenly Father who loves me and knows what I need and provides a way for me to receive what I need and want.
• Mark got his recommend for his Patriarchal Blessing this past Sunday. He did not even talk to us about it, he was in a 6 month interview with the Bishop and got it, kind of spur of the moment. He said he had been thinking about it for awhile just never mentioned it to his parents.
• Glenn will graduate from Seminary in 13 days. He has earned his "Seminary Pin" all 4 years. I'm pleasantly surprised and proud of him.
• Jamie went to "Duck Beach" NC this past Memorial Day weekend. She said it is the Mormon version of Spring Break. She had a good time.
• Rachel is still getting straight "A's". She is managing the school track team too. Busy Busy Busy!
• Dale and I joined the Vision Quest gym. I also joined the "Biggest Loser" competition at the gym to help motivate me. It sounds like fun with all that they do.

Stuff

• Glenn is on Prom Court. Dale and I have to chaperone for prom. The king and queen will be announced at 10:00 that night. I hope I can comfortably stay awake for it all.
• Evita is over! Yeah!
• Rachel and Mark are done with "From Cumorah's Hill" performance!
• Rachel is a manager for the Meeker Middle school track team.
• I don't know what to do about a child failing in school? Their choice?
• I have wanted to blog about my current health, but someday a potential employer will discriminate against me, so I don't.
• I have 2 quilts to finish. Then I will sew a highlow skirt for Rachel and then a graduation tee-shirt quilt for Glenn. I don't know if I'll ever get to clean out my sewing room.
• At Relief Society meeting last night I shared the story about how Grandma & Grandpa Claspell joined the LDS church. That felt good.
• I wish my parents would write a personal history like Grandma did! I started mine, years ago but got to some complicated stuff and quit. I should pick it up again.
• I updated my other blog, "Quilted Milestones". Kylie's quilt is better than I thought.
• I am off to Costco today.

I don't know what to write?

Dale had surgery on his back on March 7. He is back at work today for only a few hours. Hope he does ok. I'll try to get things done so I can take a nap with him when he comes home.

I am sewing like crazy for the Kentridge musical "Evita". I am overwhelmed, but just try to do one thing at a time.

My house is a mess. We are so busy, who has time to clean?

Sis. Pendleton died. All 5 of us went to her funeral (Glenn had to leave early to be only a half hour late to rehearsal).

I am now the nursery leader at church. I am still doing Activity Day girls too.

Rachel and I had matching Easter Dresses! I got mine at the Kent Ross and then we got hers at the Ross in Tukwila.

I wish Jamie could visit more often. I wish I was more talkative when she calls.

Glenn has chosen to go to the University of Northern Colorado. We are excited for him! It is in Greely, CO.

I like my kids! I like listening to them when they get home from school everyday.

Kids Stages

The other day I was thinking about my kids and the stages I wait for them to go through, Rachel being the last one in all;

Born
No more diapers
School full time
Literate
Start church youth program
Drivers license
High School graduation
College graduation
Financially self sufficient
Marriage

Then it would start all over again with grandkids!

Jordan & Natalie's wedding

I'm so exhausted. The kids were out of school this week for Presidents Break and I helped them clean their bedrooms and did all of their laundry for them. I did my regular laundry on Monday so that puts it at about just over 20 loads this week.
I went to my nephew Jordan's wedding last week. I drove to Caldwell, ID on Wednesday the 13 to sleep at my brother Neal's house. On the way there I stopped for lunch and noticed that I had steam coming from the engine. I had just busted a hose to the radiator. I could see where it sprayed. There was a service station across the street I went to. They could not get the part in until the next morning so I asked if they could just patch it up. They did. 3 hours later I was back on the road. Breaking down where and when I did was a tender mercy from the Lord. I wasn't in the mountains or stuck some where on the interstate.
I picked up Neal & Cyndi and we drove to Rexburg. We went to the family dinner on Thursday night, Valentines day. Dale had given me 2 different Valentines day cards and candy in 2 different glove boxes at 2 different times on my trip. He planed well and ahead. I didn't do anything for him (I'm terrible I know). Jordan's bride was from there, Rigby, and had a ton of family. They all looked alike, blond and beautiful. Jordan's immediate family was there from Southern, CA and the 3 of us. It was a little awkward, oh well. I asked them to open my present that night because I wanted a picture with them with their quilt. My brother Ogal wanted a picture of them AND me with the quilt. It went over well. They liked the quilt.
The sealer at the ceremony was very good in his words to the bride and groom. It was something we could all use. It was sweet. I wish Dale could have been there with me for this whole trip!
The reception was similar to the family dinner as far as everybody looked a like. They served some really great ice cream in waffle cones and cupcakes.
We spent a little bit of time with Ogal Saturday morning and then drove back to Caldwell. We had dinner at Cyndi's daughters home, Steph and Brian and their 4 kids (the oldest is 5). I crashed as soon as I hit the pillow. Drove home on Sunday.