Words don't come easily to express how wonderful and peaceful it was to spend the day going, being and returning from the temple with one of my children, Rachel.
You just can't find that kind peace and joy that allows you to escape from the demands and stresses of life and the woes of the world that you experience in the temple!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
A Simply Wonderful Day
Monday, November 10, 2008
Finding Joy in the Journey, Now!
President Monson's talk "Finding Joy in the Journey" (lds.org/conference/talk)has touched me in a profound way...He truly spoke to me and addressed the feelings I am experiencing as a mother,so eloquently. Here are some of the quotes that stood out to me:
~ "most of the changes take place subtly and slowly."
~ "Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows."
~ "If you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have.
Of course, there is no going back, but only forward.
Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today,
of the here and now,
doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future."
~ "If you are still in the process of raising children,
be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon
and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly."
I want to post some pictures of the last child in our home getting ready and leaving for school, which has been a stressful situation at times and yet will be greatly missed when those days are past!
After making breakfast, preparing lunches, signing papers last minute, looking at the scriptures(sometimes remembering to even read them), silverware holder on the counter - drawer broke, looks like a mess and that is how I have seen it...the messes get cleaned up but the time passes so quickly. I am learning to enjoy the messes more than ever!
Making her bed, when we remember and there is enough time:
Before:
After:
Putting on her shoes, so many times there have been only one shoe and the bus is coming up the road and it becomes so stressful...but today, both shoes were in the closet.
Doing her hair. When my older daughters were younger their hair had to be done "just right". Now, if it gets done, I feel we have accomplished something. I have learned not to sweat the small stuff.
Putting things into her backpack. OMG,this has been a huge stress maker. There have been mornings that the backpack has just disappeared. The kids have had to go and try to explain to the teacher that we have a stranger living in the attack that comes down when we are sleeping and moves things. Actually, if we look outside by the trampoline we find a lot of missing items.
Going out the door. Have we said prayer, read any scripture, said anything positive to them before going out to deal with the world?
Walking to the bus stop, So many of my little ones...have grown and left for school in the same way Kathryn is going in this picture. I now have 7 children that have graduated from HS. It really proves how quickly 12 1/2 years pass by. When we got to WV we had 9 children, the oldest was 18! Ghee...time flies when you are having fun!
At the bus stop.
Getting on the bus. James has been our elementary/middle school bus driver since we have lived here...Everyone loves James!
And, Home again...
"Day by day, minute by minute, second by second....Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes." {pretty soon, there won't be as much laundry to do, or stressful mornings or days spent driving kids to lessons, band events, sports events, etc. I am taking the advise of my prophet and trying to do my best to "Find Joy in the Journey, NOW!"
Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.~Elizabeth Stone:
Monday, November 3, 2008
Trimming the Tree and I'm Not Talking About Christmas!
I almost had a heart attack when I got home from Amanda's shower...I walked to the back yard and found Jon way up high in the tree hanging onto a limb with one hand and a chain saw in his other! I just had to stand there and try not to freak out because I didn't want to cause him to fall. It was a harrowing expereince to say the least! He was helping Richard trim our maple tree. Half of the tree had started to die...I wonder if it had anything to do with the chain that was left up there many years ago by one of the boys while playing in that wonderful tree? Not too long after I got home, Jon had to leave. Ben had to work and Richard thought he would have to quit without the guys! We had rented the chain saw and were on a time crunch...so I decided to climb the tree thinking maybe I could do something...I realized quickly that I couldn't really trim the tree, but because I was up there Richard came up and was able to get some stuff done! I had so much fun climbing the tree! The next day Benjamin and Jon finished the big limbs. They are so agile, strong and coordinated they made it seem like a piece of cake! At one point Ben was cutting down a large limb and it started falling the wrong way, thankfully Ben moved his leg right in the nick of time. Augh...he did get a large skinned area on his arm as he pushed the log away from him. I really appreciated Richard, Benjamin, and Jonathon for all their hard work. This project ended up being a family project (and still is) with everyone else helping to cut up the limbs now they are on the ground...what a project!
A Haunting Halloween!
Our ward had a Fall Festival/"trunk o treat" night the Wednesday before Halloween. It turned out to be a fun evening...
Kathryn, Maddy and Kim Walker
Angela dressed up like 'Lola' from Hannah Montana, Emma Michael was Hannah Montana.
A group of friends...
Lauren gives out carmel popcorn we made and some yummy candy from the trunk!
This year I only had one elementary party to go to for the first time since Ami started school. It was quite weird for me. I loved being there with Kathryn and her little classmates. 
Kathryn by her friend, Emma in her classroom.
Kathryn and Mrs. Walls, her 3rd grade teacher.
Angela dressed up as a fairy for Halloween.
Kathryn as the cute witch.
Trick or Treating was started off bright and early...Good friends 
Look at all the candy! I was very impressed with their giving natures as they shared their candy with those that didn't go Trick or Treating! Maddy got to spend the night with Kathryn and Angela spent the night with Emily!
What a fun Halloween!
Lauren and Aaron decided to celebrate Halloween by going to the Mohawk Bowl.
Ben made a great vampire. It was the first time he had ever been one. I don't think I would have wanted him to be my server at the Outback that night! Yikes.
Andrew had to dress up for his job at Texas Roadhouse. Funny.
Rachel and Dan came over and celebrated with us...they made a very convincing Vampire couple. I wonder if the "Twilight" series had anything to do with their costumes?
Amanda's Baby Shower
On Saturday, Rachel, Jessica (Nathan's wife), Lauren, Kathryn and Maddy Wright (Kathryn's friend) and I drove to Keyser, WV to go to Amanda's baby shower put on by her mother-in-law, Brenda Keckley. I have to say that Brenda did a great job of decorating and preparing. The games were unique, the food was good, the decorations were very nice, and the company was fantastic. It was good to see and be with Amanda. She seemed to glow! She looked great for only having two weeks to go! It was good to be with almost all my girls. Amanda recieved some nice things. I was happy for her and very appreciative of Brenda for putting on the shower for her.
Aaron Decides to Play Football this Year
Aaron had some good times and good workouts on the CLMS Football team this year. He played defensive center and nose guard and on the offense he played right tackle. He had a good time. He looked great in his uniform. #66! Go Aaron!
Interesting note, our WVU coach's son played the quarterback and Richard sat next to his dad, Coach Bill Stewart during one of the games...Richard was very impressed with how real he seemed.
Kirtland, A Great Place to Visit, Especially in the Fall...
Richard and I were able to go to Kirtland for the CES Husband/Wife convention. This trip was not only a great experience, spiritually, but timely as well. I enjoyed being with my husband, just the two of us,...at the same time, learn and relearn about one of the most sacred places on earth. They call it the penecostal era of the church.
We were able to tour around the area and listen to great presentations at each spot. I enjoyed the presentation at the parish Sidney Rigdon preached at...I learned so much about him and what a great man he was. I really enjoyed the sessions at the Johnson Farm. After coming down from the 'revelation room' we went outside into the barn room where Br. Sid Sandstrom gave a great presentation on the tar and feathering of Br. Joseph and Sidney Rigdon. It was sad but very informative and inspiring to hear how the Lord was with them... Other presentations I enjoyed were the Morley Farm on the experience at the school house and on Emma.
The Community of Christ Church had rebuilt their Visitor's center next to the temple since i had been there. It was very nice. We were able to have dinner in one of the rooms that overlooks the temple. It was breathtaking! That same night we were priviledged to participate in a reenactment of the dedication of the Kirtland Temple. We sang the same hymns they sang and were told what happened step by step. The spirit was so strong. It was great.
The temple grounds were beautiful... The Pompom dahlia's were gorgeous. They looked a little like peonies from far off but were very much unique. The colors were vibrant. Take a look. I think they are some of my favorites now. I talked to the gardener and he told me some tricks to raising them. I am not so sure mine would look like these but I may give it a try next year.
Hope you enjoy the pics.
Fall brings four Fall Birthdays in the Waldron Family
Sept 4 - Rachel - The day I came home from Utah, it was Rachel's birthday. Richard had told Rachel to come over and he made her a birthday cake! What a dad! So, I got to celebrate Rachel's Birthday with the fam as soon as I got home from the airport!
(sorry, no pics...she posted some on her blog...)
Sept. 24 - Jonny Wanny turns 18! This was a humbling experience as I realized that I now have seven children 18 and older! Oh my!
Oct. 2 - Lauren turns Sweet 16!!!! We celebrated by eating pie instead of cake. Yum. ~
Oct. 24 - Angela turns 11, has a party, and gets her ears pierced...
Only one more birthday left in the family, our new daughter in law, Jessica celebrates her's in November! (not to leave out Amanda's baby due Nov. 20th) Wow...everyone is growing up! As the leaves are changing and almost gone, it makes me feel melancholy. It will be hard for me when the children are all grown up and gone...I guess this means I am in the Fall of my life. Goodness...
My Trip to Utah...
My mom was turning 70 years old (my dad, Jerry, was going to be celebrating his birthday a couple days later. I had never been to their new home they had built since they moved from Sunny California to Cedar City, Utah. So, I made a last minute decision to catch a flight out to Utah and surprise my mom and dad. My sister, Raelyn, helped me by coming to the airport in Las Vegas to pick me up. She sures does know how to keep a secret! When we got to their house, I ran into my mom's closet in her room. Mom and Dad were called into the room by Raelyn and I came out. I have never seen my mom's mouth open that wide before! She just stood there and held her mouth open in shock. Dad kept saying Oh My! Oh My Goodness! For Goodness Sakes...! while he was laughing... Mom hardly let go of me. It was the perfect surprise. I was able to be with Raelyn and Stephen as well. I went to the concert Raelyn sang at and met some of her friends and saw where she works. They took me to go see the 'Parade of Homes'. Other than that, I enjoyed trying to help organize, hang up , and fix up the rooms in the house. It was great fun. I sure wished Richard and the kids had been with me. Other than that, it was a great.
Long Time, No Post...Sorry
I know, you have looked out the window a little too long and are sick of it...Sorry. Life has been incredibly busy and I had a few hang ups with the techno stuff again that it made it almost impossible for me to get back into blogging. All's good now, (knock on wood). Lots of LIFE has happened here at the Waldron home. I will try to do a quick recap and then continue as best I can.
One difficult thing for us was that our long time friend and kitty, Porky, passed away the end of August. This was not an easy experience for any of us and we miss him terribly.
After that, I felt strongly I would never get another animal. A few weeks later a kitten came to our door! I couldn't believe it! After Angela begged me to keep it I told her NO WAY. She went around trying to find it's home but couldn't. It came back a couple days later. My determination got squashed! Long story made short, after much discussion, we named her Gracie. She seemd to be a gift from the Lord in answer to Angela's prayers. I humbly submitted, took the little thing to the vet, spent money on meds to get it better...only to have it run away a couple weeks later...we still haven't seen sweet little Gracie ever since! She was here just long enough to give us what we needed to help us overcome our grief.
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