Christmas is for Children

I noticed a strange phenomenon as I drove up my street the other night.  Almost no one had Christmas lights on their houses, including us.  Most of my neighbors have kids the same ages as mine so they are all grown and gone now.  I guess, like us, they all realized that we put up our decorations for the wonderment of our children and when they aren't there to see it, we don't feel like doing it anymore.  This is the first year since we moved into this house that we haven't put up our lights.  The inside is still decorated because everyone is coming home for Christmas and they wanted it to look the same as always.  It was tough to do it though.  Every night I look around and realize that they aren't here to enjoy it.  Since we are never outside at night and they won't be either, we didn't bother with the outside and I find it interesting that my neighbors didn't either.  I guess we all realized at the same time that Christmas really is for children and, oh, how I miss mine.

So... this happened.

It's taken me a few days to write about this because I needed to come down out of the clouds and write coherently but since that isn't happening any time soon I'm just going to say it - MY SON PLAYED QUARTERBACK FOR THE BYU COUGARS IN A REAL GAME IN LAVELL EDWARDS STADIUM!!!!!!!  I still can't believe it.  It was only a few plays and they wouldn't let him throw because we were so far ahead but it still happened.  I have dreamed of this happening ever since I stepped foot on that campus as a student almost 40 years ago.  I imagined one of my children playing on that field and everyone hearing his name over the loudspeaker and seeing his picture on the big screen and it all finally happened last Saturday afternoon.  I tried to film him playing but I was crying and shaking so hard that we get carsick watching the film.  To say I'm proud of him is the understatement of the century.  He fulfilled his and his parents' dream of many years and I am absolutely overwhelmed with emotion about it.  The Deuce is still loose and I couldn't be happier!

I'm Thankful for: Savannah

It's very fitting that I would get to finish up my thankful journey with the girl that changed my life, forever.  I have never been a "girl" person.  I had one friend at a time growing up and abandoned them altogether in high school when they made very different choices from mine.  I couldn't relate to the emotional roller coaster and the dramatics and the pettiness of girls.  It was all too scary so I just hung out with my family or boys.  When I started having children I was very happy to just keep having boys.  I never wanted a girl.  I was too scared that it would be an emotional nightmare and that I would say or do something to scar her for life.  Thankfully, God and my husband knew better.  Enter Savannah.  When she was a little girl she had some tendencies that made me nervous.  She was very headstrong and I didn't feel super close to her.  I was afraid that she wouldn't listen to the things I needed to teach her so she could go back and live with Heavenly Father and me someday.  After she got baptized she just kind of changed into the "real" Savannah.  Her temperament calmed down and she became the most teachable, obedient, sweetest child in the world.  Ever since then we have become like one person.  All she wants is to do the right thing, always.  I can't say enough good things about her because, in my eyes, she's perfect.  I've never loved a girl as much as I love her.  Having her in my life has helped me understand why my DIL's are so close to their moms.  That mother/daughter bond is priceless and unbreakable.  Vannie is not any of the things I was scared of and so much more than I ever dreamed a daughter could be.  I love her so unconditionally and completely that it's scary.  She is the angel on the top of my "thankful" tree and I love her with everything in me. 

I'm Thankful for: Aleigh

Aleigh is one of my favorite daughter-in-laws.  She's actually more like a daughter because she has been in my life for a long time and since she was pretty young.  She is my only DIL that I got to know without her sweetheart around.  She is also a convert to our faith so I have been a big source of information for her when it comes to the practices of our church.  Kind of like a mother/daughter relationship.  Aleigh is a sponge.  She soaks up every good thing she can and incorporates it into her life.  She accepted our religion faster and deeper than anyone I've ever known.  She is extremely crafty and creative and energetic.  She has many hobbies and is good at tons of things.  I can talk to her for hours and have, on several occasions.  Everyone is her friend, everyone loves her right when they meet her.  She is engaging and fun and kind.  She is a huge gift to our huge family and I love her more than I can say.

I'm Thankful for: Hunter

Hunter is my baby boy.  He is the epitome of being "his own man".  He doesn't like copying anyone.  He wants to make his own mark and not be lumped in with "The Moore Boys".  He is unusually obedient and this makes me very happy.  He has a very good heart and only wants to do what's right and help others to be happy.  He loves the gospel and strives to share it whenever he can.  He is a great example of quiet fortitude.  He has always been shy but has managed to overcome seeming shy by sheer will.  He forces himself to address his weaknesses and tries to turn them into strengths.  I'm very proud of the man he has become but miss the little boy that I had such a strong bond with.  I love this boy with all of my heart and want only the best for him.  He makes me proud every day.

I'm Thankful for: Tracy

Tracy is one of my favorite daughter-in-laws.  She is very soft, sweet and pretty.  It has been a joy watching her blossom as a young married woman.  She is very happy when she lives in sunshine, ha ha!  She loves everything pink, fluffy and girly.  She is becoming quite a good cook because she wants to.  She is crafty and creative and very willing to learn.  She is obedient and patient and kind.  I love being around her and Jensen because they get along so well and their love is very apparent.  Tracy gets along with everyone.  She is striving to learn new things and to be more outgoing and brave. I love her and I'm proud of her. I'm so glad she is Forever Moore.

I'm Thankful for: Jensen

Jensen is my silent soldier.  My son who was never really a child, ever.  He was born an adult.  He is super quiet and super cute.  He is very loud and boisterous and hilarious while texting but not actually with his vocal chords.  He has always made me very proud because he has an intense desire to do what's right.  It's fun watching my children grow up and seeing who they gravitate toward in later life.  Jensen and Tanner have become quite good friends as adults and I'm pretty sure that Tanner didn't even realize Jensen was alive as a child.  Jens is super easy to like because he gets along with everyone and is always kind and helpful.  I'm very proud of him for going to chiropractic school and doing so well in everything he attempts.  I love that he is so humble and teachable and that he still comes to us for advice.  He is a great son and I love him very much.

Tears and Traditions

I had a very emotional walk this morning for some reason.  I decided that tears are very therapeutic.  When the body gets stuffed to overflowing with emotion then the feel of hot, salty tears running down your cheeks is healthy and necessary.  This is my first holiday season without any children in my home and the flood of memories of holidays past and the traditions we celebrated year after year has been wonderful but also triggered the aforementioned overflow.  I remember right after Thanksgiving dinner getting so excited to set up the Christmas tree and bring out all the decorations.  Our tradition was to set the box of ornaments in front of me and I would take each one out and examine it for any needed repairs and then hand it to the first child in line.  They would go put it on the tree and then the next child would follow and so on.  The children loved to play with their "guys" in the tree.  Day after day they would set up little scenarios with their toys and play for hours.  Putting up the outside lights was always an adventure.  They all had jobs to do from unpacking the lights, to checking the strands, to hanging them up.  Dad always joked that he put the most expendable child on the top of the ladder and it usually ended up being Kyle, ha ha!  It was nice when they got tall enough to not need the ladder very much.  Brandon's job was to supervise and spend most of his time on the couch.  We have an advent calendar that I made while pregnant with my first child and they would love to wake up to candies every day through the month of December.  Logan is the earliest riser so he would always be the one to get it down.  Tanner usually didn't get his till after school because he was asleep until about 2nd period, ha ha!  We loved doing The Twelve Days of Christmas for people because it was so nerve wracking trying not to get caught.  They didn't love the caroling I made them do for our close friends but I did.  Posing for the Christmas card picture was always fun too, not.  I would read them Christmas stories all during the month of December.  We would sit in the living room with hot chocolate and I would read a chapter or a short story.  (Maybe the overflow isn't quite done yet).  They loved going to the mall together to get each other their secret Santa presents.  They had to try to hide the presents from each other and not let each other see which stores they went into.  Christmas Eve we always had a party and invited family and friends and then after everyone left we would have Dad read the Christmas story in Luke and we would open one present and then leave milk and cookies for Santa.  Christmas morning was a blast.  They would gather each other up from their bedrooms at 0 dark thirty and then come into our room and get us up.  Dad would always go first and film what Santa had brought them and then they were let loose.  I love that I can cry over these memories because that means they were special.  If we didn't have these traditions and they weren't so wonderful then they wouldn't be worth crying over.  I hope everyone who reads this establishes lots of traditions in their families and then is able to cry at their memories later in life.  We are starting new ones with our bigger and older family and that makes me very happy.  So, all you ladies my age and older, pass the eggnog and go ahead and have a good, refreshing cry:)

I'm Thankful for: Joan

For those of you who know my family this will probably be a name you don't recognize.  This is the angel mother that gave birth to the greatest man I know and the love of my life.  This is not the woman who raised him, though.  I need to thank her for that because even though she is a wonderful woman who I would have loved having in my life and who, I'm sure could have taught my husband many great things, she gave him to a family who eventually joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  If that wouldn't have happened then Forever Moore would not exist today.  I know that was a great sacrifice for her but I need to thank her for having the courage to do it and my Heavenly Father for helping her to make that decision.  Joan is everything I could ask for in a mother-in-law.  Pat's adoptive mother and I were very different and very rarely saw eye to eye but Joan is a different story altogether.  She is so much like Pat and I know he is very proud of her and we are so glad she is in our lives now.  She is extremely kind and very bright.  She is unusually active for her age and loves trying new things all the time.  She is very easy to talk to and we have a lot in common.  She is really close to her children and I know they love her very much.  We live pretty far away from her and it is her birthday today so I just want to let her know how thankful I am for her and her decision and how glad I am that we found her and that she will always be Pat's mother.  Happy Birthday, Joan, I love you.

I'm Thankful for: Chloe

Chloe is the tiniest little sass pants in the whole world.  Her hair weighs more than she does.  She is getting close to 2 and doesn't feel like talking so she is taking her time doing it.  She knows that everyone will just melt at her feet if she just grins at them so she doesn't really have to bother working on her vocabulary just yet.  She is adorable!  She loves her brother and is quite the snuggle bunny with him and everyone else.  People can't help but smile when they see Chlo.  She is very strong-willed but also very sweet.  Her favorite song in the whole world is "Let It Go" (surprise) and she sings it constantly.  She actually only sings one note and only one word (go) but she puts her heart and soul into it.  I love being around and snuggling my little Chloe and I am so happy that she is in our family.  I can't wait to see her grow up and I love her tons. 

I'm Thankful for: Landon

Landon is my absolute favorite grandson.  Landon is also my only grandson but I'm sure if there were a million of them he would still be my favorite.  I love this boy like no other.  We have a bond that I'm sure we forged in Heaven before either of us came down here.  We love being together.  He is hilarious, the perfect mix of nerd and studmuffin.  He knows lots of big words and uses them often.  We love to play together.  We play fire station and race cars and lizard hunting.  We love to play Hide and Seek and tag and we read books too.  We are never bored when we are together.  He is 4 years old and still calls me, "Money".  I still don't know why and I still love it.  I know the day is coming when he will just call me boring old, "Grandma" but I will continue to cherish every time he calls me "Money" until he doesn't anymore. This kid is a huge blessing in my life and I love him to pieces.

I'm Thankful for: Michelle

Michelle is one of my favorite daughter-in-laws.  She is an energetic, spontaneous, fun girl.  She is ready for anything and always up for anything.  She loves having house guests.  I love being one of them.  She has a good balance in her life.  She loves being a wife, mother, daughter and sister.  She loves having fun with friends and crafting and faithfully fulfilling her church calling.  She is wise with her money and her time.  She is a great cook.  One thing I really appreciate about her is that she makes sure we stay connected as extended family.  She contacts us on facetime most weeks and visits often, making sure that she makes time to see our side of the family.  That means a great deal to the "boy" mom and dad.  She is a great addition to our family and I really love her.

I'm Thankful for: Logan

Logan is an interesting boy.  He will be the first to tell you that he is his own man.  He really is.  He doesn't march to the same beat as everyone else.  He just kind of does his own thing.  As a child he was very quiet and extremely obedient.  He didn't talk much and still doesn't so I don't feel like I know him as well as I would like to.  He is an extremely good husband and father.  He is very unselfish when it comes to his family and does all in his power to make them happy.  Logan is very cute and everyone likes him.  He looks just like his daddy so all the girls have a crush on him.  He's very athletically talented and coordinated.  My favorite memories of him are when, as an adult husband and father he randomly texts me and tells me that he loves me.  It's hard to tell with him, sometimes, because he is so reserved so those texts are golden to me.  He is my bonus baby as he is a twin and the younger one at that and we didn't know he was there until 2 weeks before he appeared.  I'm so thankful that he snuck in there because I'm not sure I would have kept going to have him. I'm really thankful that Logan is in my life and I love him like no other.

I'm Thankful for: Talents

I'm veering off from the people tribute for a minute to give thanks for honest to goodness, God-given talents.  Recently I have had the opportunity to choreograph a dance and teach it and also to sing in a small group.  It made me aware, again, of how thankful I am that Heavenly Father gave me the gift of hearing harmonies and of putting together reasonably cute dance moves into one great whole.  Singing and dancing are things I know I take for granted.  I have always been able to hear and sing harmonies and I didn't realize until a pretty advanced age that not all people can do this.  And that you can't teach them to!  You can teach them a part and help them memorize it but you can't make them hear it in music and be able to just sing it when they want.  I take no credit whatsoever for this talent as I didn't do anything to get it or even enhance it (except for use it a lot).  I love harmony and I take great joy in being able to harmonize with, well, anything.  Also, I love to dance and create dances.  I realized at a much younger age (church dances) that not all people have natural talent at dancing.  They don't feel or hear a beat and can't seem to make their body do what they want it to.  Again, you can't teach that.  It's God-given.  Not only do I hear and feel it, I can get great joy by conjuring up routines in my mind and then teaching them to others to perform.  I love doing this.  Again, I didn't do anything to get this talent.  It was just given to me by a loving Heavenly Father and I want to thank Him for it.  There are plenty of things I can't do but I'm really thankful for the things I can do.

I'm Thankful for: Talia

Talia is Tanner and Alana's third daughter.  Yes, Tanner and Alana who are in medical school and full time online school and live in a 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment, living on school loans and who are both well under 30.  This little doll is the reward for being obedient to the commandment to not put off your family for your education.  Talia is an angel.  Literally.  This child never cries and is always pleasant.  She has the cutest little duck lips and can entertain herself for literally hours.  She is 1 year old and has been sleeping through the night practically from the day she was born.  She is a huge blessing to our family and I am so glad that Talana was brave enough to go ahead and have her because I love her to pieces.

I'm Thankful for: Sienna

This sweet girl is my "Kyle" of the next generation.  We just look at her and laugh.  She is the funniest little girl.  She is overflowing with personality.  Her face is so full of expression and she is so dramatic that you can't help but love her to pieces.  And I do.  Where Ava is lithe and soft and graceful, Sienna is...not, ha ha!  She looks a lot like Bam Bam from the Flintstones only much prettier.  She is sturdy and deliberate and I'm laughing out loud just thinking of her right now.  She dresses up in princess dresses with Ava but looks more like Fiona from Shrek.  She is actually a very pretty girl but hasn't quite grown into her femininity yet.  Years from now she will probably kill me for writing this but by then she will be a high fashion model or an actress so she will have the last laugh.  Since none of my grandchildren can read yet I will go ahead and post that she is the favorite right now in this house.  Just mention her name and all of us break into a huge smile or laugh out loud.  I'm so glad that she is part of our family.  I love her with all of my heart.

I'm Thankful for: Ava

Ava Lynn is my first grandchild and my namesake as my middle name is Lynn also.  There is nothing like the feeling of becoming a grandmother.  This sweet girl made me so very happy and has continued to do so for the last 5 years.  I love Ava.  She is a beautiful blue-eyed, strawberry blonde, tall, talented, smart bundle of joy.  She has always been smart.  She loves to learn, dance, play sports, color, make friends and obey.  She is fearless and can make friends with anyone.  She has always been very mature and attentive.  She is fun to talk to and everyone likes her, especially me.  I love watching her grow up and experience new things.  She will always be my number one grandchild and I will love her forever.

I'm Thankful for: Alana

Alana is one of my favorite daughter-in laws.  She was my first and set a high bar for the others who followed.  Alana is extremely easy to like.  She is super humble and teachable.  She is one of the least vain or selfish people I know.  She actively strives to better herself every day.  She is completely devoted to her husband and three daughters and seeks advice and counsel all the time on how to make their lives better.  She has more energy and drive than 3 people.  She is in full time online school, helps in her daughter's classroom, decorates for every holiday, plans fabulous family home evenings and other fun activities for her family, makes sure her family reads the scriptures and prays every day and gets almost no sleep in the process of all of this.  She is constantly aware of teaching her children manners and is so easy to be around that she has loads of friends.  I love spending time with her and I could seriously not ask for a better wife for my son or a better mother for my granddaughters.  I am very blessed to have her in my life and I love her tons!

My Love Affair

Gotcha!  Ha ha!  I wonder how many more people checked out this post because of the title I picked than would have if I would have gone with the original which was "My love affair with books"?  I chose to go with the more provocative one so I could get more readers because I'm very passionate about this subject.  I have been an avid reader ever since I learned how to read.  I believe I have an above average vocabulary and spelling skills because of the millions of words I have read throughout my life.  I also know a heck of a lot more than I would if I hadn't read the thousands of books I've read.  Now, even though I am obviously a huge advocate of reading for yourself, that's not actually the main focus of this post.  I know for a fact that you can't make someone "want" to read.  I have 7 children and I only have 1 avid reader out of the bunch.  However, the blessings of reading to your children are innumerable.  When we only had 5 children (only?) we decided to cut costs by getting rid of cable.  No T.V.  Ever.  Whoa!  Crazy, you say?  Not so.  Best thing we ever did.  When you don't spend hours in front of the T.V. then you have all those hours to fill with something else.  We chose books.  I shopped at Deseret Book and got fun, positive, exciting novels to read to our children.  Every night before bed they would all gather round and we would read a chapter or two of a book.  These were 5 crazy, very active boys who looked forward to story time each night.  At Christmas we would read Christmas stories.  One extremely fond memory I have is of a rainy holiday where we started the phenomenal book, "Tennis Shoes Among the Nephites".  They couldn't go out to play because it was raining so we decided to read a little bit during the day.  Hours later we finally had to stop because I didn't have any voice left.  (I offered to have Dad take over but he doesn't read it quite like Mom:))  They were so fascinated by a book, with no pictures, that they stayed still for hours and just listened.  I will never forget the feeling I had being surrounded by my sweet family and just getting lost together in a fascinating story.  I looked forward, every night, to having their undivided attention and spending some of the best quality time I could ever spend with them.  I believe that children thrive on having a bit of routine to their lives.  They need to have some order and be able to count on certain things happening at the same time or in the same place every day.  They feel more anchored and secure.  My advice to young parents is to make story time one of those things.  When they are little then you can read them very short books or just picture books right before bed and then when they get older you can move to chapter books that keep a running storyline going night after night.  Make it interesting.  Change your voice for the characters.  I once read a character's voice in an English accent throughout the whole book because I pictured her with an English accent.  I recently visited a married son and his family and when it was time for bed they asked me to read the Book of Mormon chapter to the kids.  When I was done, my son said, "Wow!  Grandma makes it a little more interesting than Daddy".  Ha ha!  If you read as if you were talking and put lots of inflection in your voice it's almost like they are listening to a movie with real actors.  Much more fun to listen to.  Your children may or may not remember any of the plots of the books you read them but I guarantee you that they will remember being all together, every day, and making memories that will last for eternity.

I'm Thankful for: Tanner

Tanner is my favorite oldest twin in the whole wide world.  This boy is awesome.  He makes me sooo proud.  He is my hero.  He is married, has 3 daughters, is the executive secretary in his ward and is going to medical school.  He's actually acing medical school!  He is unbelievably responsible.  He is a natural-born leader and seems to have his whole life planned out perfectly.  He is confident, dedicated, completely in love with his wife and the greatest dad to his daughters.  He is hilarious and very fun to talk to.  He has always been very mellow and easy going while still being super strong in his beliefs and goals.  I have complete confidence in Nan and love him with all of my heart.

I'm Thankful for: Rylie

I love my little peanut so much!  For those of you who came late to the ballgame, Rylie Ann was born at 24 1/2 weeks and at just over 1 pound.  She spent 6 months in the intensive care unit and at 18 months is perfect in every way even though she is still just a little peanut.  She is our miracle baby and I love her with all of my heart.  She has huge blue eyes and wavy red hair and is working on crawling.  She loves to watch "Kipper, the Dog" and get kisses from her grandma.  I am especially thankful that Heavenly Father let us keep her here with us instead of taking her back to Him even though I'm sure he misses her cute face every day. 

I'm Thankful for: Aubrie

Aubrie is one of my favorite daughter-in-laws.  Not only is she beautiful on the outside but she is beautiful on the inside.  She is exceptionally kind to everyone she meets.  She has a way of asking just the right questions and really listening to the answers.  She makes everyone feel loved and important.  She is very talented in many ways.  She is quite musical and quite crafty as well as being creative and bright and a very good dancer.  She reminds me of a little fairy or Peter Pan dancing around on her toes.  She is a bright ray of sunshine in our family and I love her very much.

I'm Thankful for: Kyle

My second son, Kymimo, is the sweetest, silliest, funniest boy I know.  Even though he is a husband and father I still call him a boy because that is what he will always be.  He has the innocence and goodness of a child.  He has always been a little pistol with loads of energy.  He loved sports as soon as he was old enough to know what they were.  He is humble and kind and genuinely cares about other people.  He never takes himself seriously and is always willing to learn.  He is one of the most exactly obedient people I know.  Like all of my children he has a knack for remembering movie lines and quoting them at the perfect moment.  Very funny guy:)  My life would be so much duller and less colorful without Kyle in it.  I am so thankful that the Lord gave him to me to brighten my life.  I love him to pieces. 

I'm Thankful for: Brandon

Brandon is my oldest child and the one who made me a mother.  He has been a complete joy to raise.  Everyone loves having "Beer" around.  Especially me.  Kyle gave him that nickname through a series of different variations.  Brandon has an amazing sense of humor and is so witty and quick that wherever he is there are tears of laughter.  He is a school teacher that has impacted countless children's lives.  People listen to him because he is smart and can articulate so well that he is always interesting.  He is very fun to be around and I'm so thankful that I get to be around him all the time:) I love him so much and am eternally grateful that he is my son.

I'm Thankful for: Pat

I know I'm blowing up the internet waves or whatever they're called but I have a lot of thoughts and I just feel like putting them out there.  Also, I think I'm a little lonely since it's holiday time and my house is pretty empty of people.  I have decided to put down on paper (?) who I am thankful for and why.  I am thankful for a million things but I am just going to go with my family members this year since I have quite a few and will barely get them in before Thanksgiving Day.  First and foremost I am thankful for my eternal sweetheart, Pat.  I can hardly remember a time when he hasn't been in my life.  We have known each other for almost 40 years, been in love for over 38 and been married for over 33.  I am so glad that he has me to keep him here on this earth because he is so perfect that I expect him to be translated any day now.  He is the kindest, sweetest husband a person could ask for.  All he cares about is what God wants him to do and since God wants him to love his family and take care of them and be good to them, he does it.  He is the most teachable person I have ever met.  All he wants is to be better than he is and it doesn't matter who's idea it is, if it makes sense and rings true then he will adopt it.  He is completely loyal to me and I trust him with all my heart.  I am never afraid because I know he will always take care of me.  His patience is immeasurable.  We were completely united in raising our children and that made it so easy and fun.  I have never regretted being sealed to him for eternity and I love him Moore than anyone in the world. 

Skipping Thanksgiving?

Some people think that starting Christmas early means skipping Thanksgiving or not giving Thanksgiving it's proper observance or attention.  I don't think of it that way and on my walk today I figured out why that is.  Christmas has this intangible feeling that is hard to explain.  Technically it's a religious holiday but since so many people in the world aren't exactly religious it has taken on a bigger meaning.  Christmas is love and unselfishness and unity and an overall feeling of goodness and kindness and happiness.  Of course, those of us who are extremely religious recognize that as Jesus Christ and his influence on this world.  To me, Thanksgiving Day is the kickoff  for Christmas and all of those wonderful feelings.  We set aside a day to think of the things we are thankful for but I think that putting up Christmas decorations and thinking of the real meaning of Christmas, even if it's in the back of our minds and searching for gifts for those we love beforehand kind of warms us up for that wonderful day of giving thanks.  We then carry those warm, happy feelings through until Christmas Day. I just love this whole holiday time and it's way too short for me so I will milk it for all it's worth and enjoy every song and decoration and feeling for as long as I can.  Happy Christmas and Merry Thanksgiving!

This Makes Me Happy

Last night our youngest son called to ask something about putting up his first Christmas tree.  At the exact same moment my husband was finishing up with the lights on our tree:)  Yes, this is the first week of November and yes, the Moore tradition is alive and well going into the next generation.  It brought me great joy knowing that even though we are hundreds of miles apart we were doing a tradition at the exact same time.  Thank heavens my boys married very understanding and supportive girls:) Merry Christmas everyone!

The Glass is Half Full - Always!

I started decorating for Christmas yesterday and had many up and down moments.  This is the first time I have decorated with no kids home.  I started to feel bad about that but then I realized that I can take my time because no one is bringing people over to stumble over my piles of stuff.  I also don't have to put up and stock with candy the many advent calendars I have collected over the years.  That made me sad at first but then I decided to do one for my daughter and her roommate and take it up to her when we go to the next game.  That got me thinking about the advantages of not having kids home over having them here since I can't very well bring them all back.  I hate to cook and I felt obligated to make dinners most nights when the kids were here.  Me and Pat eat very little now that we are getting older and it's super easy to just fix something for me and him real fast without doing a ton of planning and shopping.  We went to Julian the other day and it was so weird to realize that we didn't have to hurry home for anything or anyone.  I've always had an obsession with being home when my kids are home.  That limited me to only a few hours while they were at school to go and do things.  Now Pat and I can come and go as we please.  I have been very lucky in my life in that I have always been able to recognize, very quickly, what I can change and what I have no control over.  This tends to bring about the "glass half full" theory.  I tend not to worry (or at least not for very long) about stuff or people that I can't change.  Plus, I really hate being unhappy so my mind just naturally gravitates to the good in my life.  In scripture study the other night Pat and I were discussing the two completely different views of Nephi and his brothers, Laman and Lemuel of their journey through the wilderness.  They were in the exact same "car" so to speak, going on the exact same trip with the exact same circumstances and yet they saw the experience completely differently.  Nephi was super thankful that they got away safely and that they always had enough food to eat on the journey and that they were protected.  The brothers said that it was super hard and that their wives suffered mightily and that it was a horrible burden and hardship to do this thing.  Remember, same trip, same circumstances.  Who would you rather be?  We all are given a certain amount of time on this earth with certain blessings and challenges and with the opportunity to get help to make it through this journey.  Would we rather trudge through this experience seeing the glass half empty all the time and being miserable or would we rather change what we can, accept what we can't and strive to know the difference and then live a happy and fulfilling life?  For me, I'll drink my "half full" glass and savor every drop:)

What Matters Most

Recently I visited my son and his family in northern California and happened to be there on Family Night.  I was pleasantly (O.K. immensely) surprised and pleased to see that they have patterned their format after our family.  What brought me to instant tears though was when they all started reciting our family mission statement, even my 5 year old granddaughter!  The joy I felt just burst within me to know that what we cherished and taught our children will be carried down to the next generation. We have always offered our mission statement to anyone who wanted to use it because even though it is specific to our family, our family is pretty universal so it could fit anybody's family.  When they adopted it word for word it just made my heart sing.  At least one other son and his wife use this same mission statement and it makes me very happy but hearing the next generation say it, almost by heart, just did something to me.  Then, just the other day we were Facetiming another son and his family and his son started singing the songs from his Primary program and the words really hit me, "Gethsemane, Jesus loves me so He went willingly to Gethsemane".  What powerful words for a 4 year old child to know and sing!  The gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing in my life and I am confident that my children and their wonderful wives feel the same way and are passing it down through the generations.  Nothing brings me greater joy!  Forever Moore

Holiday Decorations?

Is there an actual date written down anywhere that specifies when it is socially permissible to put up your holiday decorations?  I think not.  And if there is then I take great joy in completely ignoring whatever date that is.  Some families are just not that into decorations and will put up a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and take it down on December 26th and call it good.  They may also skip "Fall" and "Easter" or spring decorations altogether.  Completely their prerogative.  Nobody should let anyone tell them when they can decorate their houses for the holidays.  My family LOVES holiday decorations so we decided to put them up when we feel like it, which is much earlier than anyone we know.  I have taken quite a bit of ribbing for having my fall decorations up right on September 1st, which actually, where I live, starts our summer and we have the hottest time of the year.  Fall leaves and pumpkins in 100 degree weather?  What's wrong with that?  And I have taken even more jabs about starting my Christmas decorations the day after Halloween.  Yes, Halloween, not Thanksgiving, Halloween.  The past few years we have been fully decorated for Christmas long before Thanksgiving and the only thing that looks like Thanksgiving is the kitchen table decorations which come right off directly after dinner.  Christmas can never be too long in our house.  Also, I tend to slightly overdo the Christmas decorations so it takes a fair (ridiculous) amount of time to put them up so I don't really want to just turn around and take them down again.  If people want to scoff at seeing my house fully Christmastized by the first week in November, let 'em!  We will snuggle up in front of our tree and enjoy our lights for weeks and weeks if we want to.  We do live in America, after all.  FREEDOM of choice! So, friends, don't get bullied into decorating when everyone else does.  You just go ahead and do it whenever your little heart desires.  You have my permission and if anyone gives you grief just send them to me because I can just about guarantee that I am bigger than them, whoever they are.  You're welcome and Merry Christmas:)

Calling All Moore Girls

I know I am a little biased but I have the cutest DIL's around.  All of my sons married beautiful girls.  Not only are they very sweet but they are actually beautiful!  They also have a very cute blog that is being woefully underused.  I know that all of these girls are smart, creative and hilarious and I want to see more posts of all kinds on their blog.  They have some recipes up that I have used and loved but I know they have stories and crafts and experiences that they can share that would benefit and entertain many.  Come on, girls!  Write those posts!  I don't know how to paste stuff so I'll just type the name of their blog.  It's addalittlemoore.blogspot.com. 

Rising From the Ashes

O.K.  That title is a little dramatic but that's exactly what it feels like.  My world, as I've known and loved it for the past 32 years, has burned down and now I need to start rebuilding a new world.  It took me a long time to write this but I feel like if I get it down on paper(?) I might feel better.  A few weeks ago my youngest child went off to college and my job ended.  I had hoped, prayed, wished, trained and anticipated this job for my whole life.  When I got it I enjoyed it far more than I could have ever anticipated.  As a matter of fact, I am now wondering if it's possible to love something too much since retiring from this job has caused me more pain than I could have ever imagined.  Once my daughter was gone it slapped me right in the face how much of my life revolved around training, teaching and loving my children.  I have never worked outside of the home since having my children and have never had a desire to and still don't.  I  spent the time when they were in school volunteering at their schools and in the community and serving in my church.  Now that no one is coming in the door at 3:00 every day to tell me about their day, I realize how long the days are and now my nights run into days and my weekdays into weekends and nothing distinguishes anything from anything else.  My schedule used to include housecleaning (no one here to dirty it now), grocery shopping (used to be a part time job but now no one to eat the food), sporting events (we drive or fly to Utah for every BYU home football game) but used to be up to 10 games a week.  I used to love to make or buy things for my house but now no one sees them so why bother?  So many things have changed since that last child left.  I spent the first few weeks crying every day and wondering what I was going to do with the rest of my life.  My best friend and I used to dream about all the fun things we could do after our children were gone like work in the temple, travel, talk, talk and talk some more but she graduated early and moved on to much bigger and better things and I miss her all the time.  Luckily I have my wonderful husband to spend time with and I enjoy that but he doesn't quite understand my situation since his hasn't really changed that much.  He still has his job and church calling and his days are pretty much the same as they were before even though I know he misses the kids a lot too.  I am super proud of the job we've done with our children and very happy that they get to now know the joy and love of raising their own families.  I wouldn't take that from them for the world.  I'm just jealous and sad that I am done and don't get to keep doing the greatest "job" in the world.  There are so many things I can fill my life with like more temple work, more callings, more service, more education and I will eventually start doing those things but right now I am trying to ease out of the mourning period that was incredibly painful.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I can see it, faintly.  I'm eternally grateful that I got to have the opportunity to make so many memories with and be sealed for time and all eternity to Pat, Brandon, Kyle, Tanner, Logan, Jensen, Hunter and Savannah.  We are Forever Moore.

Happy Birthday to Me!

I've had a few birthdays in my time, O.K. a little more than a few, so I can never think of anything to tell my family when they ask what I want.  I don't really need anything and if I really want something I just get it myself so I was very pleasantly surprised when my little sister gave me GREAT birthday presents this year.  She and I have a little bit of "rocker" in us from back in the day so when I opened my black and hot pink t-shirt that looked just the littlest bit edgy I was really excited but when I opened my "Y" bracelet I was elated!  She threw in some earrings and lip gloss and chocolate to top it all off.  Unbelievably good job on the gift-giving, Cathy!  Thank you so much and I love you lots:)

Priceless Surprises

After we got home from conference we had two very nice surprises.  Kyle and Rylie came over to visit for a couple of hours and I got to snuggle my little angel and have her fall asleep on my chest which is just about my favorite thing, ever!  I smooched her to death:).  Then, a few days later I got to play with Landon and Chloe because they made a surprise visit to Michelle's family.  I was nearly overcome with joy to see half of my grandchildren in the same week!  I love these little people so very much.  I really wish they lived closer but I love going to visit them and having them visit me.  I love my own children so much that it's hard to describe but the love I have for their children is a whole different ballgame:)  Ava, Sienna, Talia, Rylie, Landon and Chloe - you are grandma's treasures and I love you with all of my heart:)

General Conference

Twice a year my church holds a general conference that is broadcast out of the conference center in Salt Lake to nearly every country in the world.  The leaders of our church give us counsel from the Lord.  My brother is the manager of the conference center so he has been getting my family tickets to sit very close to our leaders and we get to hear them and see them right in front of us.  I LOVE doing this!  The spirit in those meetings is soooo strong and I come away rejuvenated and excited to become a better person.  They teach us about being better people, about serving and loving others more than ourselves, about being better spouses and parents and friends and how to better obey God's commandments so we can be happier in this life.  I love sitting with my husband and children in that wonderful room.  I love a church that is focused on helping us be a happier, more responsible and more useful people.  I can't wait until October:)

Memory Lane

Yesterday I signed my daughter up for her dorm room at BYU.  I couldn't believe the rush of memories that came over me as I did this.  38 years ago I did the same thing for myself.  She will be living in the same dorms I did.  She will be in a different building because they changed things around just a tad in the past 38 years but she will be having the same experiences I did so long ago.  That was one of the funnest times of my life and I can't wait for her to make those same memories and many more that will be even better.  This definitely softens the blow of her leaving our home.  Seeing the pictures of the old rooms on the computer just took me to a different place.  She will be in Helaman Halls.  How "Mormon" is that?  She will eat in the same cafeteria I did (nicely remodeled).  She will room with a total stranger who she will grow to love very quickly (I hope) and she will meet tons of boys who believe just how she does and who are looking to get married just like she is.  She will go to football games and (hopefully) watch her brother play.  She will have the added advantage (HUGE) of being able to meet her brother's friends on the football team and maybe even go out with some of them.  That, alone, will make her super popular, ha ha.  She actually doesn't really want to be popular at all but I'm sure it will be a little perk.  She has so many more advantages than I did and I'm so happy about that.  I have a ton of family up there right by the college and she has her brother and his wife right there also.  I was the oldest in my family and when I went up there there was no one but me and a million strangers. I missed my younger siblings a lot.   I had also left a boyfriend (my husband) at home so I missed him terribly.  She is the baby and has no one to miss at home because we will be up there so much she will actually get sick of us.  I take a walk every day and I listen to an I "thing" with music on it and the playlist that I randomly picked yesterday had several songs from artists that were just getting popular when I first went to BYU.  I was firmly on Memory Lane all day and loved every minute of it. 

Home run!

Yesterday I read an article in a magazine called LDS Living that made my heart happy and sad.  Happy because these are the very things I have worked on my whole adult life and sad that so many people are struggling with these issues.  I was going to make copies and send them to my children but I'm pretty sure that all of my DIL's read this blog so I will just put it out there to all of my LDS friends and anyone else who wants to read it.  It is called "Power Parenting in the LDS Home" by Randall A. Wright.  He talks about doing a survey of 500 Mormons nationwide and asking them the question, "What mistakes do you feel your parents made when you were growing up in their home?"  I was surprised and a little sad that I could have given all 5 of these answers for my home growing up but I was also happy that it proved to me that we don't have to perpetuate what we grew up with.  We have the free agency to do things differently than we were taught and make our own decisions separate from our parents.  These are the 5 answers given to that question.


#1 Failure to establish a home environment that reflects the gospel. 
People said that they were disappointed that their parents lived one life outside of their home and another inside their home.  They were sad that there were no pictures of the temple or the Savior in their homes.


We have always tried to be the same people no matter where we are or who we are with and have strongly taught our children this same principle.  I came a little later to the pictures of the temple and the Savior all over the house but because of the prompting of my good husband we have them everywhere now. 


#2 Failure to be at the crossroads of their children's lives.
They were sad that their parents weren't there when they got home from school or when they came home at night after a date or an evening with friends. 


This is a biggy for me.  I very strongly believe that "quality time comes with quantity time".  We can never anticipate when a special moment will develop between us and our children so we should try to be there as much as possible for them so we won't miss the "quality time".  I have tried to be at every game or performance my children have ever participated in and I delight in being there when they get home from school to hear about their day.  Because of this they don't mind my "interrogations" of their activities.  If we don't know what they are doing how can we guide them through the minefield of life?


#3 Allowing children to associate too closely with friends who do not share their same standards.
They were sad that they got into more trouble than they should have because they got caught up in the wrong crowd.


All of our children have friends that are not of our faith and we love them dearly.  We encouraged them to spend time at our house so we could get to know them and they could get to know our standards and beliefs.  The author encourages parents to keep their pantry stocked and open and this is something that we found out early in our children's lives.  If you feed them, they will come. 


#4 Failure to express love and give appropriate physical affection to family members.
All people crave love and affection and if they don't get it at home they will seek for it elsewhere.


This is a perfect example of being able to break out of the mold you were raised in.  I came from a home where we had very little physical affection and where "I love you's" were few and far between.  We knew our parents loved us but that was not the way they showed it.  I needed more of that kind of thing so I started right away hugging and touching my children and telling them, repeatedly, every day,how much I loved them.  They grew up with it and are now all very affectionate with each other and with us.  Some of the girls they married were not used to that kind of affection but they too are now jumping on the bandwagon and we are, literally, one big happy family. 


#5 Allowing children to steady date during the teen years.
Believe it or not, even though kids think they want to do this while they are young, they quickly realize the negative effects when they get just a little bit older.  They wish their parents would have helped them through that part of their life just a little more instead of encouraging early relationships and thinking they were "cute". 


Physical attraction is very real and not cute at all when it gets out of hand as it will inevitably do if left unchecked.  My husband and I were high school sweethearts and we wouldn't wish that on our worst enemies.  It was very hard living the standards we were taught when we had adult bodies and adolescent control.  We had almost no intervention from our parents so we had to govern ourselves and it wasn't fun at all.  We learned from that and did our utmost to help each of our children navigate the waters of high school attractions.


The author finishes the article by encouraging all families to develop a Family Mission Statement.  Can you see why I loved this article so much?  I could have written it!  These are all things I feel very strongly about and hope that all people can trust me when I say that taking care of these things along with a few others like having Family Home Evening every week, reading scriptures and praying every day and attending the temple and church as much as possible will give you a celestial family here on earth.  I have one!  I know they work!  For any new readers who aren't familiar with our family mission statement, I will put it out there again.  We have encouraged our children to write their own or to go ahead and use ours as it probably reflects what they believe in since they were raised with it.  They all have it memorized and we recite it, together, every single week at Family Home Evening. 


Our family mission statement:
\
To follow the teachings of Jesus Christ\
To love and support each other
To have patience and respect for each other
To use our time and talents to bless the lives of others
To use good manners, be good sports and build each other up
To have each one take responsibility for making our house a clean, comfortable and heavenly place for all who enter it
It is our ultimate goal to live together, forever, in the presence of the Lord


Forever Moore

So Bummed

This last week's episodes of some of the shows I watch on T.V. crossed over some lines and I am so bummed.  I hate it when the T.V. industry ruins perfectly fascinating storylines and scenery with garbage.  I love the premise of "Reign" because I absolutely love that era in time and the sets and costumes are absolutely breathtaking for me.  Also, the historical aspect is fascinating but even though some of the things they are introducing probably really did happen in those days, I don't need to see them in graphic detail on my T.V. screen.  I have a brain.  I can figure out what they are inferring without it being splattered all over in living color.  I'm sad because my family has shrunken down to two kids who are very involved in their own lives so that I have a lot of time on my hands and, at night, T.V. is a really fun outlet but now my favorite shows are going down the toilet so I am left searching for new avenues of entertainment.  I read lots of books during the day and work out and clean house and do errands and service so I am only looking for T.V. shows at night.  I hate that the adversary seems to be winning. 

Not a Fan:(

It seems like the new trend these days is to undermine true love.  I'm not a fan.  It kind of started with the Twilight series.  Jacob butted in and made things complicated.  Now, it seems like all of the shows I like are following suit.  Elena can't decide between her true love, Stefan, and his evil brother, Damon on Vampire Diaries.  Arrow is playing around with sisters and that really fries my fanny.  Queen Mary keeps letting Bash get in the way of her love for Francis on Reign and don't even get me started about Ragnar's betrayal of his feisty soul mate with that gorgeous princess on Vikings.  Don't get me wrong, I don't necessarily believe that in real life there is only one person that any other person can love because I know of people who have remarried and are blissfully happy with someone other than their first choice.  I'm just saying that I don't like it happening AT THE SAME TIME!  I like my entertainment spicy and interesting but I like knowing that, in the end, true love will prevail and these shows are messing with that!  There are some things that are just sacred and true love in entertainment is one of them.  "AS ...YOU ...WISH......".

It's March Madness!!

Ready, set, GO!  March Madness started this morning.  For the uneducated that is the National college basketball tournament that sweeps the country.  Thousands of people fill out brackets and try to pick the winner.  It goes on for about three weeks and is sooo fun.  The trash talk between my kids was fast, furious and frequent last night but the brackets are all locked in and it's "go time"! Last year was more like "March Mayhem" because so many things didn't go as planned.  Number ones fell early and often and lower seeds were beating higher seeds right and left.  Because of this mess, Aubrie actually won!  Keep in mind that I would bet my life on the fact that Aubrie has never seen a whole basketball game in her entire life.  She picks her teams by their colors, or the name of their mascot.  We have a few new additions to our family who have interesting methods of picking their teams.  Aleigh goes by where her friends are going to school or the ties the schools might have to Hunter or his mission.  Alana has a sports background so she is like me in that we probably have a little bit of knowledge of a few of the teams but go by things not related to their cheerleaders or the cute guys in the stands:)  Savannah has perennially been in the back of the pack (wayyyy back) early on because of her underdog and kind of unexplainable choices but she has decided to take an active role in changing that status.  She has done research on the teams and their players and records and injuries and has fasted and prayed (O.K. a little exaggeration there) and has picked the winning bracket according to her.  All of the TV's in my house are on and tuned to the games and I am highlighting and crossing off winners and losers and having the time of my life.  Go Wichita St.!!!!

Mystery

The other night on NCIS there was a storyline that was really well acted and brought me to a great many tears.  One of the characters was in the process of adopting a baby and on this night the baby was born and the adoptive parents got to be there but then the mother changed her mind after seeing her baby.  The reaction of the adoptive father was so real and so intense that I bawled my eyes out imagining how he felt.  I have friends and relatives who are in the process of trying to start a family and I'm sure that there are many more of my friends out there that might also be going through this but it is proving to be more of a challenge than they probably anticipated.  My heart aches for you.  I pray for you every night.  I literally can't imagine what you must be going through.  I can't imagine that it hasn't crossed your mind, at some point, to question the Lord and His plan for you.  I, myself, wonder why so many girls who aren't ready for and don't want to be pregnant can so easily get pregnant while others who are hoping and praying and craving that experience aren't finding success.  This has always been a mystery to me.  The only hope I have is that, maybe, these valiant people were the ones in the pre-existence who saw the big picture and saw how short this life is and said, "I can wait".  Maybe they were the ones who knew that they could take this on as their test in this life, knowing that they would have eternal increase in the next and would enjoy every blessing due them if they can just endure to the end.  I completely trust in the Lord and His plans for us and I pray every night that my sweet friends will completely develop this trust not only in their heads but in their hearts also.  I hope they know that the Lord loves them and that He would never give them something they couldn't handle.  Being a "natural man" though, I have to be honest and tell you that the most fervent part of my prayer is that these wonderful people will be able to experience having a family here on this earth and not have to wait. 

The Jar

Once upon a time there was a wonderful little family who was plowing through medical school with three children and who lived very far away from the rest of their family.  The daddy was working very hard to become a doctor so he could support his growing little family and the mommy was trying to raise this little family without losing her mind.  They lived in a very small apartment that didn't have a washer or dryer and had to do their laundry at a coin operated facility that was located nearby.  It was always a struggle to keep the correct amount of coins on hand to compensate for accidents from bodily functions that needed to be taken care of immediately.  The fairy godmother heard of their plight and was inspired to go through the buckets of coins that her husband had collected from his fountains and stored in their garage.  She was able to collect a great many coins that could be used in the washing facility.  She filled a mason jar with these coins and anxiously awaited the time when the little family would visit and she could give them these coins.  She was so excited to be able to give them this little gift that didn't cost her anything but her time and she knew that they would eventually be very thankful that they had these coins on hand for their frequent laundry emergencies.  The little family was very surprised by this unusual gift and have since thanked the fairy godmother repeatedly for thinking of this odd gift.  The fairy godmother was overjoyed by their gratefulness and thought many times how happy she was to be able to do this for the little family that she loves so much.  She will continue collecting coins until the day when the little family won't need them anymore.  And they lived happily ever after:)

Hope

Last week an acquaintance of mine took his own life.  I was very sad to hear this and I've thought about it several times since I heard the news.  I have tried to imagine being sad enough to think there is no hope and to be able to take my own life.  I just can't imagine it.  It's that hard.  I have felt deep sadness before and I have had thoughts in the last year or so that make me wonder how hard it's going to be trying to get used to my new life after my daughter leaves but when I try to picture myself actually ending it all because I don't see my way through the sadness...I just can't.  I am so thankful that I have hope and a very real belief in a life after this one.  I know this isn't the end of us, this life here on earth.  There is no way that these few short years we have on earth are all there is.  I have a deep and abiding hope that all the things I've read in the scriptures and all the things I have learned in the temple are true and that I will live again with my family and friends that have passed on before me and who will come after me.  This knowledge brings me peace in times of turmoil and hope in times of sadness.  If I just hold on until the end and do my very best then I know the Lord has more in store for me and mine after this life.  While writing this I just got the news that my best friend's father passed this morning and that should be sad but all I can think of is that Rita and her beloved father are together again and that they are as happy as they can possibly be.  I can see them hugging and laughing and loving each other.  It's as real in my heart as it would be if I were seeing it with my eyes.  Thank Heaven for hope. 

Spring

Spring and I have always had a bittersweet relationship.  I was born on the first day of Spring and I absolutely love the beautiful weather, especially where I live.  It's warm with cool breezes and all the flowers come out and everything seems new and fresh.  But, ever since my children started school, many years ago, I have associated Spring with the beginning of the end.  Every year at this time they start having "lasts" at school.  Each time my children would leave a grade I would think, "Well, they are done with that forever" or "They will never do that again".  High school was always the hardest because I would feel the sad feelings of every senior who would be missing the only life they had ever known and missing the friends they would probably never see again.  Personally it was the beginning of the mission countdown for me.  This Spring is especially tough because it's the beginning of the end of a lot of things.  I only have one daughter and she is as close to me as a second skin.  She is coming to the close of so many things soon.  She is almost out of Young Women's which is the youth group in our church.  She is going to her last youth conference and girl's camp.  She is winding down our family's high school experience for the last time.  I have absolutely loved high school.  Much better than when I was actually in it.  I won't really miss it when it's over but I really did have a great time going for the last 18 years.  We will go through our last day of seminary, our last senior awards night, our last finals and AP tests, our last graduation and grad night.  Then, our last child will leave our home and start her own life.  You don't know how hard it is to type those words.  My children are my life and I am almost done with my favorite part of raising them.  I absolutely love interacting with them as adults and parents and I am looking forward to being free to go and visit all of them whenever I want but it's going to be a very sad farewell for me when my last little bird leaves our nest. No more waking up to chat with her every morning between seminary and school.  No more waiting until 3:00 comes around to hear about her day.  No more special goodnight rituals.  I know I have months before that actually happens but Spring always signals the start for me.  Luckily, Spring, starting next year you and I are going to have a vastly different and very wonderful relationship:)

Let 'Em Go:( :)

This last weekend my youngest son got married.  Just like the four brothers before him this was a bittersweet event.  I felt two conflicting emotions.  Luckily, the one that was the most powerful was joy.  I was so happy for these two people who had waited so long to be together.  They were sooo happy.  The mother/son dance was epic for me.  In our own ways we let each other go.  That wonderful "Mama's Boy" relationship is different now but I'm O.K. with that.  He said some things that let me know he will always be my boy in some small way.  The day itself was actually crazy.  Since we live in a climate that gets about 5 days of rain a year and you can never predict when they will be, it's a pretty sure bet that you can plan a wedding almost any time of the year and you will be O.K.  Not us.  Of the five days it will rain this year, 3 of them were the two days before and the day of our wedding.  We set up two completely different times to move everything to a different area and then we ended up crammed into a small area as it poured all around us.  Since nothing about these two has been your run of the mill relationship story it was only fitting that their wedding should be an event that they can talk about and laugh about for years to come.  The very best part is that they are together forever and that they will always be "Forever Moore".

We Did It!

Rise and shout, the Cougars are out!!!  My baby girl is going to BYU!! My goal from the day each of my children was born was for them to attend the greatest university in the world and as of last night my dreams have all come true:).  This fall the last of my little Cougars will start school at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT.  I love this school unhealthily.  I can't visit it's beautiful campus without tearing up several times.  I cry at every home football game as thousands and thousands of Mormons raise their voices in the Cougar fight song.  I cry at the devotionals that are offered every Tuesday.  I cry knowing that the professors start their classes with prayer.  I love that my children are surrounded by so many others who believe and worship as they do.  I love the school motto, "Enter to learn, go forth to serve".  That is exactly what I want all of my children to do with their lives.  Every one of my children has attended this school and the five that have graduated have all said that going to this school made graduate school so much easier because of the great education they got there.  They were all further ahead in their knowledge and experience than their classmates who had attended other universities.  I know my daughter will thrive in this environment.  These are our people and I am overwhelmed with happiness that all of my children get to have this wonderful experience.  I am sooo proud of all of them for doing whatever it took to get into this school because it's not an easy task.  Thousands of kids all over the world apply to this school and only about 30,000 can actually go at a time.  My daughter has spent many late nights doing homework with the dream and goal in mind of getting into BYU.  Way to go, Van!  You did it! Gooooo COUGARS!

The Story of Us

38 years ago today I had my first date with a guy.  33 years ago today I married him.  We have kind of a unique story so I thought I would share it with you.  When I was 16 years old a boy moved into my area and started going to my church and school.  He was a year younger than me so I didn't really notice him that much because I had always dated older guys.  My mom sure noticed him though.  She told me and my two sisters that she didn't care which one of us married that boy but one of us had to!  He was the same age as my younger sister so I figured that it would be her. They became friends but it never really progressed beyond that.  About a year later I started noticing him a little more.  One night at a high school basketball game that was standing room only I caught his eye and motioned for him to come and sit by me as I already had a seat.  At the time I had no idea why I was doing that as I didn't think I liked him that much.  It was as if someone else was lifting my finger and beckoning him to me.  A few days later we went on our first date and I told him that we were going to get married.  Again, I have no idea where that came from but I knew it with everything in me.  We were 16 and 17 years old.  I had never dated anyone younger than me in my whole life.  I soon discovered that even though he was biologically younger than me, he was spiritually light years ahead of me.  I knew without a doubt that this man was to be my eternal companion and the father of my children.  After enduring separations from college and a mission we were able to be sealed in the Oakland, CA  temple for time and all eternity on the 5 year anniversary of that fateful first date.  We are different in things that don't matter and we are united in things that do.  He is quiet and cautious and methodical and I am noisy and spontaneous and irrational.  I do everything fast and he does everything slower.  He is deep and wise and I am emotional.  Luckily, when it comes to things of the spirit and things of eternity we are completely united.  We both want to go to the Celestial Kingdom and we agree on how to get there.  We have been together for so long now that we are finishing each other's sentences and sharing the same thoughts at the same time more often than not.  I have never regretted following the prompting I had that night to beckon him over to me.  I didn't know what I was doing but the Lord did.  We were meant to be together forever and I have never doubted that for a second.  I love this man with all of my heart and know that he is mine eternally and nothing could bring me greater joy than that knowledge.  Happy Anniversary, Patrick Michael.  We truly are FOREVER MOORE.

What???

 I had to go to the DMV today to update my driver's license.  They closed the one in my city so I had to travel a little along with all of the other people who would have normally gone to the one in my city.  I packed for the day.  I had food, a book, my phone all charged up to play games and was, in essence, planning on spending a good chunk of my day there.  I had made an appointment but I still didn't trust that I could get out of there without wasting a lot of my day.  Imagine my surprise when I was in and out in 25 minutes!  I still can't believe it.  I have no idea how that happened.  The line was down the street for those who hadn't made an appointment but I just waltzed right in and 25 minutes later I was in my car.  Oh, and as a side note that isn't important at all (read earlier post about trying to banish vanity from my life) even though my last driver's license picture was with blonde hair (it's been QUITE awhile since I had blonde hair) I didn't have to change the weight on my current license:)  Doesn't matter.  Not important.  WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!

Where Am I?

This last week my husband and I went to Utah to deliver all of our new DIL's stuff to our condo where she will be living with our son and because it was a holiday weekend we got to stay and go to church.  One of the bajillion things I love about my church is that it is the same everywhere in the world.  I can go anywhere and find an LDS church that is teaching the same, exact thing that is being taught in my own town.  So, in Relief Society, (the women's organization) the teacher was teaching about families and how we, as mothers, can arm our children against the evils of the world.  She split us up into groups that had things in common.  As she was outlining the different groups I realized that my heart was still in the young mother group but my life was actually straddling the "adolescents in the home" category and the "empty nesters" category.  I sat there for awhile trying to decide which group to go to.  I ended up in the one with the adolescents in the home but I felt like I could have been almost anywhere in the room.  The lines are getting blurry as to where I belong.  My last child is now 18 and will soon be on her way to college so technically my hands on teaching days are pretty much over.  I can still be an example and a resource but I've pretty much taught them  all that they are going to learn from me.  I feel really good about how I've raised them and don't have any regrets but because it was the most amazing time of my life and the most fun too, I'm having a hard time letting go, emotionally.  I know I sound like a broken record but I really want all those young mothers out there to appreciate where they are right now because you will never be there again and, I promise you, "You're Gonna Miss This". 

My 2 Cents

Lately my DIL's (daughters-in-law) have been blogging about raising children and the different challenges that presents.  Since that was my absolute favorite time of life and since I did it 7 times I thought I'd throw out some things I've learned.  Just as a side note, I have the greatest DIL's in the world.  They are amazing mothers and I am so glad that they are raising my grandchildren:) I know that most young mothers are very concerned about what their children eat and that they actually DO eat.  I am one of the pickiest eaters I know so I didn't introduce very many foods into my children's lives because, frankly, if I didn't want to eat it then I wasn't making it and making them eat it.  Very mature and wise, I know.  Somehow though, every one of them now likes wayyy more things than I do.  They got exposed to different foods at other people's houses, on their missions, at college or just being married.  Since I had so many of them and they were fairly close together, I couldn't take too much time trying to get them to eat what they should eat instead of what they wanted to eat.  They grew up on sugared cereal, hot dogs, mac and cheese, Ovaltine, of course, and a few fruits and vegetables thrown in every once in awhile.  Except for a few variations that's what I grew up on too.  If you know my family you know that they are all in pretty good shape, very athletic and very rarely sick.  I think that Heavenly Father knew we would all be distracted by many things in this world and He gave us very resilient bodies that are a lot tougher than we think. When kids are hungry they will eat and when they get too sick of a certain kind of food they will request a different kind.   I commend all the young mothers for doing their best to monitor their children's diets because that is very important but speaking from experience I recommend that you not lose sleep over it because I've never heard of a child starving to death when surrounded by food.  The other fun thing that I remember doing with my kids was introducing them to chores.  This turned out to be a blast.  When they were 4 or 5 I gave each one of them a daily and a weekly chore.  When all 7 were in the house and of age it got a little tricky because there really aren't 7 small things to be done daily without getting very creative.  They ended up emptying trash cans every day and shaking out area rugs and all kinds of not very necessary things just so they could learn the importance of responsibility and accountability.  They actually loved having something "important" to do when they were very little.  As they got older, not so much, but it sure helped me around the house.  I loved making chore charts and rewards systems.  It takes a lot of time and energy but the benefits are immeasurable.  Everyone learned how to clean bathrooms, set and clear the table and do dishes and all kinds of other chores.  Saturdays were my favorites because that's when we did bigger chores like washing cars and doing yard work and we were all together. (cue a tear here, sniff sniff)  They also started doing their own laundry when they turned about 10.  This was the single greatest thing I ever implemented into our lives.  The boys always had lots of sports gear that they had to have clean several times a week so they all did their own clothes and I did me and Pat and anyone who was too young.  The boys also started ironing their own church shirts so they would be able to take care of themselves on their missions and at college.  I failed miserably in the cooking department because I don't like to cook very much so I'm not very excited to teach anyone else.  Somehow they are all alive though so I guess I didn't harm them too badly.  I figure that Savannah has a phone so when she goes to college she can call me for directions on how to make stuff.  With Pinterest and all the other media avenues for getting ideas and information, this generation has access to tons more stuff than I ever did.  I am very jealous and wish I could go back and do it all over again.  It really was THAT fun:)

A First

Since all of my other sons met their wives after they served their missions I realized that this will be the first time I have missed my daughter-in-law more than my son!  I haven't seen Hunter for 2 years and now he is back at school already so I am very used to not being around him so I don't miss him too much.  Plus, he's not a big talker so it's easy to just chat with him a little here and there.  His fiancé, however, has become like a daughter to me and I will miss her very much when she leaves in 2 1/2 weeks.  For the last 2 years she has spent a lot of time at our house and has kept me up late many a night just talking about anything and everything.  When my own daughter had to get to bed because of early morning seminary and school the next day, Aleigh and I would stay up very late just talking.  I'm really going to miss that.  This girl is so easy to love.  As evidenced by the many strangers who follow her blog and who now love her without having ever met her, she is very easy to get to know and love.  She is kind and thoughtful to everyone.  She is fun.  She likes to include everyone and is always thinking about others.  Even though she is barely older than my daughter she has become my friend, like my other daughters-in-law but since I got to spend a lot of time with her without my son around it is more like a mother/daughter relationship.  I never got to do that with my other DIL'S. They have always been connected to my sons and I haven't spent much time with just them.  Very different with Aleigh.  In just a few days she will be connected to my son and I will lose a little bit of that special relationship we have because she will never be "unconnected" to him again.  That may or may not be the cause of some of my relapse into symptoms I thought were done:( I couldn't be happier for this wonderful couple but I still have to go through a little mini-mourning period for something wonderful that is changing into something more wonderful. I'm kind of glad that this "first" will also be a "last":)

Surrounded By Green Grass

You know that old saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side"?  I'm really feeling it lately.  With a little twist.  Ok, a lot of twists.  I know young mothers who are struggling among the weeds right now, stuck in the middle of the "hard part" of raising little families.  My first reaction is to be totally jealous of them because some days I want to be back there sooo bad it hurts.  Of course I am using selective memory and only remembering the wonderful times when I was my children's whole world and we would sit around together and read books and play games and laugh and everything was like a perfect sit-com.  I conveniently forget about the days when I felt like a hamster on a wheel just trying to get through the day without breaking down, doing the same things day in and day out thinking I would lose my mind before they grew up.  I am almost at the end of my "children in the home" days and I can see some green grass in the future being able to come and go as I please and not have to worry about the child or children still at home.  I will be free to travel, serve missions with my husband, go on little trips to visit children and grandchildren and everything will be just like a perfect sit-com again:) I should never have put in print that I was "all better" now because as soon as I posted the end of my "change" it quickly reminded me that it's not quite over yet.  It was only taking another break.  I have been waking up a little sad again lately because it feels like I'm back in the weeds and like I'm that little hamster just running around on my little wheel doing the same things every day.  I MUST FIGHT THE NATURAL MAN!!  I have every blessing a person could possibly ask for.  I am surrounded by green grass.  I am rolling in it!  I have my health, my faith, my incredible family that just keeps growing and providing me with more people to love, a beautiful home, food to eat, a free country to live in and so many more blessings that I can't even count them.  I need to go out and lay in the lush, green grass that is all around me and appreciate everything I have and I encourage you all to do the same.  Don't blink because wherever you are will be over in a minute:)