tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27229662630749518762024-02-21T06:21:17.535-08:00Music for TotsWelcome to my music and parenting tips blog!
My goal is to help parents become better parents.
Please bookmark my site or better yet, subscribe to my posts.Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.comBlogger405125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-48947810778370015072021-05-30T15:37:00.003-07:002021-05-30T15:42:00.383-07:00Waiting<p>May 29, 2021 </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPa_5tx7Cg4eDBcSBOLxND6WAxGX_D1n_kXHr8vpClehWQd12aQNepl7P6YAvdMrK1oP0pE_gCzcQ-v4_wwcOgQug68sjWm-lkxc68F51QiCFH07N7tbZ__P9Jwdb5jyAmcTN-Ps6whFT8/s612/bike.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPa_5tx7Cg4eDBcSBOLxND6WAxGX_D1n_kXHr8vpClehWQd12aQNepl7P6YAvdMrK1oP0pE_gCzcQ-v4_wwcOgQug68sjWm-lkxc68F51QiCFH07N7tbZ__P9Jwdb5jyAmcTN-Ps6whFT8/w157-h157/bike.jpg" width="157" /></a>I went bike riding today and as I rode up to an
intersection, I had to push the walk button and wait for the walk sign before I
could cross. I HATE waiting. Sometimes I have to wait for a whole minute
(poor me)! As I waited today, I thought
about the word “wait” and what it means.
Waiting implies doing nothing. It
suggests something better is coming but is not here yet. You are in limbo—not in the present—but
looking forward to (or fearing) the future. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">When I am waiting, I get impatient. I’m not happy. I’m bored, fearful, excited, stressed,
hopeful—all sorts of emotions.</p><p class="MsoNormal"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawAUCBCaggCaGj3pFYh8uH9Yw6YYTWwAFdr2vM-hZ5k05mqnRZ1bonHqP-Mtm2OFI6oVjqAUAMV9ztWaFEl3J3GkR1ciqFuXcnUaOgTivUFVE39RxtyBuKofx0Krct6Pw9DkSgPw_1Udq/s1200/12169-istockgetty-images-plusbartekszewczyk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawAUCBCaggCaGj3pFYh8uH9Yw6YYTWwAFdr2vM-hZ5k05mqnRZ1bonHqP-Mtm2OFI6oVjqAUAMV9ztWaFEl3J3GkR1ciqFuXcnUaOgTivUFVE39RxtyBuKofx0Krct6Pw9DkSgPw_1Udq/s320/12169-istockgetty-images-plusbartekszewczyk.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Some mornings when I’m walking instead of riding my bike, and
I have to wait at the intersection for the light to change, I jog in place so I
can keep my heart rate up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going
forward across the street, but I’m not just idly standing there either and
becoming impatient. I’m <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">doing</i> <u>something</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That made me start to ponder about different
things I could do or should do while I am waiting in life for a future event to
happen. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While I was waiting for the pandemic to be over, what was I
doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew at the time that I would
not want to look back on this novel year and feel like I had wasted it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I waited actively by spending a lot more
time reading and pondering my scriptures, listening to Come Follow Me podcasts,
walking and hiking, practicing my banjo and ukulele a lot, reading a ton of
books and learning how to “artfully doodle” (art journaling).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I felt like I was just jogging up
and down, not really going anywhere, just trying to keep my skills up but other
times I felt like I was progressing and moving forward.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The word “waitress” has wait as it’s root word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A waitress serves her customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She asks what they need, how she can help
them, and then she tries to quickly fulfill their requests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is hoping for a nice tip.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In Isaiah 40:31 it says, “But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” This
certainly does not sound like a passive way of waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we are waiting on the Lord we are seeking to
find out what His will is and how we can help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By reading our scriptures we can hear Him as He asks us to find His lost
sheep and bring souls to Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what
will our tip be?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Renewed strength, wings
to fly, running without being weary and walking and not fainting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wow, what a tip!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYze4U4ocy1p32TKgJTzj_zQrghfzYWrt2yvaWSCVFae1tPs5aqttDyamTd41d151IPpKyUvfc362vXfBIcKgd6Fgb2xmwkFPkFDnEFT4d2uwEqnHAGrWRQemvHIWGiXELf4s9bxoXEdp/s1600/wait.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYze4U4ocy1p32TKgJTzj_zQrghfzYWrt2yvaWSCVFae1tPs5aqttDyamTd41d151IPpKyUvfc362vXfBIcKgd6Fgb2xmwkFPkFDnEFT4d2uwEqnHAGrWRQemvHIWGiXELf4s9bxoXEdp/w169-h127/wait.jpg" width="169" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal">Now I’m beginning to rethink my definition of the
word--wait. It means I am active while looking forward to an upcoming event or
season of life, or an upcoming journey or accomplishment. It is not passive like I used to think. I use to tie it to the phrase, “endure to the
end”. But waiting and enduring should
imply faithfully DOING. It means
actively BECOMING. And when it is
coupled with a cheerful and grateful heart, it will propel me—a better me--toward
a beautiful future.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for reading,</p><p class="MsoNormal">Cathy</p><p class="MsoNormal">********************************************************************************</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-35221946372288407452021-05-16T13:02:00.002-07:002021-05-30T15:43:16.737-07:00Enjoy Life<p>My Dad is 98 years old and has gradually been getting more and
more helpless and is finally bedfast. He has dementia and can't remember things, but is totally coherent about things in the "right now in front of his face". Sadly he can't remember anything that has happened even 5 minutes ago. My Mother, who is almost 92 years old takes care of him in the house they have lived in all their married life. My brother has the beginning of alzheimers. He was an accountant and business man but can't even add simple numbers together like 2+2. He knows he is losing his memory and very aware of his circumstances and future. My daughter-in-law who lives with me has cancer. She had the Whipple surgery (most people used to die from it) and is going through chemo. Seeing these love ones and the trials they are going through has made
me fearful of the future. I worry about
what my future looks like. Will I become a burden on my children? If I travel to see my family, will I be in an accident and paralyzed the rest of my life? What bad thing is looming on my horizon?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">So for my May goal, I took <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/49nelson?lang=eng" target="_blank">PresNelson’s invitation</a> to heart—to seek to increase my faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also asked us to get rid of our personal
debris and repent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> I decided I needed to rid
myself of <i><a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2007/10/live-by-faith-and-not-by-fear?lang=eng" target="_blank">fear of the future and worry over it</a></i>, and to instead increase my
faith--somehow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">I understand the principle that <u>if we have fear, we don't have faith</u>. <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Ensign:Serif", McKay, "McKay ldsLat", Palatino, "Palatino Linotype", Palatino-Roman, serif; font-size: 18px;"> “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”</span><a class="scripture-ref" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/2-tim/1.7?lang=eng#p7" style="background-color: #f7f8f8; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Ensign:Sans", Arial, "noto sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2 Timothy 1:7</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">I prayed to know what to do to increase my faith and
was impressed that I should “enjoy life”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is
the action part or the works part of faith—enjoy my life and enjoy the activities I spend my time doing, like in reading books, gardening, and in learning and playing music and instruments. I should enjoy new things I can do during the summer
instead of hating the heat and being miserable. I should enjoy traveling to visit my family instead of being
fearful of accidents that could happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> The thought came to me that e</span>njoying
my life shows gratitude to Heavenly Father for giving me such a wonderful life. And I am indeed, very grateful for the life I have.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span>Tonight I decided to enjoy life
by reading my book on the patio and enjoy the last of the cool evenings we will
have in May. I had bought a metal candle
holder a few days ago at DI and today I bought a battery operated candle to put
in it. When I turned on the candle and
put it in the metal candle holder, I was surprised to see the words on the
side. Another reminder from God, another
personal revelation message—just for me.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8oUT1eojv9FFqez2aXw0_dTVz1balfonI1HodJ2ihAlpR0-ZRqrZ5k-k3Ckt5Vd6xMmRj51Mijga6IR2wufrGpG98fxY5LjSIDATu-NewlUJjuDeNB-1h7x3ru_pHXsv2OWJ3L0QIq_v/s4032/64239317547__500F337D-7F86-4CED-8B97-58F9565F652C.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8oUT1eojv9FFqez2aXw0_dTVz1balfonI1HodJ2ihAlpR0-ZRqrZ5k-k3Ckt5Vd6xMmRj51Mijga6IR2wufrGpG98fxY5LjSIDATu-NewlUJjuDeNB-1h7x3ru_pHXsv2OWJ3L0QIq_v/s320/64239317547__500F337D-7F86-4CED-8B97-58F9565F652C.HEIC" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Thanks for reading,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Cathy</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">***************************************************************************</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-22868494650122567262021-05-12T12:03:00.003-07:002021-05-12T12:03:54.802-07:00<p><b> 2021 Mother’s Day Advice</b></p><p><i>Help your family accept each other’s differences and see the value in people being different.</i></p><p>There is so much discord in the world today. We saw it through the recent election, through the racial tension, and through the pandemic. We still see it with judging others for not wearing a mask, or for wearing a mask, for not liking or liking Biden, or for getting the vaccine or not getting it.</p><p>We can also see discord in our family members. Just because you are born in the same family doesn’t mean you like or dislike the same things. Your children have different personalities, likes and dislikes and tastes. But kids rarely give their siblings the freedom to be different from themselves or even see the VALUE of being different.</p><p></p><blockquote><p><i>On Saturday morning, President Nelson said that as he has watched the ongoing renovation of the Salt Lake Temple from his office window, he has thought about “the need for each of us to remove, with the Savior’s help, the old debris in our lives.” He said doing this will enable us to become more worthy and help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.</i></p><p><i>“The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of repentance,” he said. “Because of the Savior’s Atonement, His gospel provides an invitation to keep changing, growing and becoming more pure. It is a gospel of hope, of healing and of progress. Thus, the gospel is a message of joy! Our spirits rejoice with every small step forward we take.” (Church Newsroom)</i></p></blockquote><p></p><p>I took this challenge to remove debris in my life and decided to repent of “judging others and to accept their differences”. Of course I’ve been trying to do that my whole life!! In his Sunday morning talk Pres. Nelson also asked us to “increase our faith”. I decided that one way to increase my faith was to add works—faith without works is dead. So in adding works to my faith that I could repent of the debris of judging others, I decided to think of a positive attribute about the thing or person I was judging.</p><p>For example, when I was judging a person for being so interested in politics-- that’s all they listened to or talked about, instead of judging them of being obsessed with politics, I thought instead how thankful I was that there were people who were interested in politics so they could be the watch dogs to protect our freedom.</p><p>It has been a game changer for me—adding the positive twist of seeing something good so I can accept others’ differences instead of judging them.</p><p>I hope you will accept my advice and perhaps have a family home evening lesson about accepting others, speaking specifically about accepting the people in YOUR family who are different from you.</p><p><b>Quiz</b></p><p>Give the following quiz and ask family members which of the things below they like to eat or like to do:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Chocolate</li><li>Cream cheese</li><li>Guacamole</li><li>Cheese</li><li>Peas</li><li>Get up early</li><li>Stay up late</li><li>Read books</li><li>Write stories</li><li>Play the piano</li><li>Play the guitar</li><li>Hike</li><li>Watch movies</li><li>Play video games</li><li>Have a clean bedroom</li><li>Doesn’t even see the clutter in a room</li><li>Likes to garden</li><li>Likes to ride bikes</li><li>Good at art and likes to draw</li><li>Interested in politics</li><li>Run marathons and ironmans</li><li>Interested in health</li><li>Notices birds and listens to them sing</li><li>Notices other people’s feelings</li><li>Likes to be around people, have lots of friends</li><li>Likes to do things by themselves or with 1-2 friends</li><li>Likes pets</li><li>Doesn’t want a pet</li></ul><p></p><p><b>Object Lesson</b></p><p>You could have an object lesson on how people like different things and that’s okay. Suggestions for object lesson:</p><p>Buy different flavors of Oreo cookies and taste them to see which ones you like the best.</p><p><i>Terry recently bought several different Oreos and she loves the hazelnut ones the most. I don’t like the taste of hazelnut that much so I didn’t like those Oreos. We’re different but can still get along and love each other.</i></p><p>Buy vanilla ice cream and assorted add ons. Notice how family members choose different ones or different quantities of the add ons according to their tastes.</p><p>Buy different flavors of M&Ms.</p><p><i>I like the pretzel ones the best. Which ones do you like?</i></p><p><b>Chant</b></p><p>Remember: Fair’s not there, so STOP looking for it!</p><p>How about saying (in the same sing-songy rhythm):</p><p>We are all different and that it okay!</p><p>I love you! Mom</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL752kxJIkBxiJnSigJv2WxoJyIy6Gr83YwCV-70E1qzClqIUShaywmi_xESQPo2xpcHIukuL1Qel5ZkIz5KLzc4K0v1feSHJH_oYtRSxu9KIvCDGVGY1ku-ktbDR5Aib-OzbqPe19VNV/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="265" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKL752kxJIkBxiJnSigJv2WxoJyIy6Gr83YwCV-70E1qzClqIUShaywmi_xESQPo2xpcHIukuL1Qel5ZkIz5KLzc4K0v1feSHJH_oYtRSxu9KIvCDGVGY1ku-ktbDR5Aib-OzbqPe19VNV/" width="116" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for reading, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cathy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">******************************************************************</div><br /><br /><p></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-58785655778198817542021-03-14T22:26:00.000-07:002021-03-14T22:26:08.653-07:00Accepting my AgeI’ve had a hard time accepting my age--70! I always told myself that I would not be one of those “old ladies” who tried to dress and look like a teenager, while everyone secretly laughed behind their back. I told myself I would accept my gray hairs, my wrinkly skin and learn from the wisdom I would surely have gained. I would be a benevolent (whatever that means), graceful older woman, a loving grandma and a spiritual matriarch for my family. <div><br /></div><div> But that hasn’t happened. I’ve gone screaming and yelling into old age, denying it, ignoring it and trying to forget it.
One of the reasons I’ve resisted getting old, I’ve come to understand, is because I am still a teacher. I love to teach ukulele to groups of students and take them to perform to “old people”. I don’t want them to see me, their teacher, in the same category as our audience! Another reason I don’t want to be labeled as old is because I don’t feel old. I’m blessed with good health, love to hike and be outside and have many interests I am pursuing. Also, I feel like “old people” are not respected but are seen by others as decrepit, out of date and having nothing to contribute to the world. I don’t want to be seen like that. </div><div><br /></div><div> But gradually I’m coming to grips with my age and starting to embrace the positive aspects of it. My walk this morning on the beach, where I am spending the week with my daughter and her family helped open my eyes. For the past 3 mornings, I would wear my tennis shoes, tightening the laces so that no sand would get into my shoes. Then I would start walking on the beach. But this beach is kind of slanted. If you don’t want the tide to come rushing at you and get your shoes all wet, you have to keep away from the ocean by walking through thick sand to higher ground. Then after a while you can walk back down to lower sand, always looking out for the next higher tide of water to come rushing at you. It’s a stressful sort of walk on the beach and hasn’t been very fun. </div><div><br /></div><div>This morning I decided to embrace the sand and water and wear my water shoes so I could walk on a flat beach the whole way. As I walked along the beach the tide would rush upon me and I would enjoy the cool water soaking my shoes and ankles. “This is the way to do it!” I decided. I should have just walked all week with these shoes and enjoyed the ocean, sand and flat beach. It made me think about getting old. Why don’t I just accept and enjoy the perks of getting old? I should go with the flow, make life easier for myself, and enjoy the journey. </div><div><br /></div><div> And so I will. But I did see some negative aspects of walking on the beach closer to the tide and getting my feet sandy and wet. I couldn’t walk as far because the tide brought so much sand with the water which piled up in my shoes. And that was not comfortable to say the least. And if you take your shoes off and go barefoot while you walk, it gets tiring and the sand starts hurting your feet. </div><div><br /></div><div> Life is like that. The good and the bad. The positive and the negative. So I say to myself: Deal with it, Cathy. Accept the negative aspects of getting old but focus on the positive parts and enjoy this stage of life that I’m in. It’s really a great place to be! </div><div><br /></div><div> Okay. I’ll try!
</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div>Cathy</div><div><br /></div><div>*******************************************************************************</div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-67192593110687776082020-08-23T11:17:00.005-07:002020-08-30T15:20:35.475-07:00Parenting Tip - Might As Well Try!<p> I heard a true story that has completely changed my attitude and actions. This high school boy heard about auditions for a singing group that would be touring internationally. He wanted to try out for it so he told his friend about it so they could audition together. His friend said, "we're not going to make it. Why even try?" The first boy said, "Because we have already NOT made it right now. But if we audition there is a chance that we WILL make it." So they auditioned and made it!</p><p>I can't draw and don't know how to water color. If I take a class, I'm not going to suddenly become Grandma Moses (a woman who became famous for her artwork which she picked up at age 78). <i>But you already can't draw and water color. Taking a class will at least teach you the basics and get you going.</i></p><p>I want to teach ukulele classes again, but no one will sign up during this weird stage of COVID-19. <i>You already are not teaching. Offer a class and see if anyone signs up. </i> (so far 18 students have signed up--I had to offer 2 additional classes!)</p><p>You don't have a green thumb. You can't garden--everything you plant dies on you. Why bother to wish for a new landscaped backyard. <i>You already have dead plants and an ugly backyard. Take a class to find out why they die. Look up ideas for a backyard and follow their lead. </i>(I took an online class and found out about watering correctly, fertilizing and planting in the correct spot for the plant's needs. I looked up ideas, got professional help and have received numerous compliments on my backyard)<i>.</i></p><p>Now when I want to try something new, I think about where I am at and how I already don't know how to do it. But what is the harm in trying, and learning and growing. It's invigorating and fun!!</p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq_ClgJ6TfGzmHDIkUjdul0_K8uGUqo90SuaxXP0PL_4n6wgYFyANggZCvN7N9QZqTva5A672qkx66rTumXbZXWCZI5WFJ1uENMHsJ5Qn3oIGAU6YgZvrFdKRUEvoFq3l7ThP9YefqyQE/s599/sunflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="182" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmq_ClgJ6TfGzmHDIkUjdul0_K8uGUqo90SuaxXP0PL_4n6wgYFyANggZCvN7N9QZqTva5A672qkx66rTumXbZXWCZI5WFJ1uENMHsJ5Qn3oIGAU6YgZvrFdKRUEvoFq3l7ThP9YefqyQE/w61-h200/sunflower.jpg" width="61" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first sunflower!<br /><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7F1vCQvvYXXpHPMxAP7k5ea8sHLhrsgZ0Vs7dYiRN4UpQLqHJGzE4ZX0vld9WJ95qzf7AqundylSbqHp9mxLscP7i6NNFdrMMhw5mw5ao9c6hRiTK09Bb04nf2blt_AlePW_OmQ6pDRM/s4096/IMG_20200816_155632426_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4096" data-original-width="3072" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7F1vCQvvYXXpHPMxAP7k5ea8sHLhrsgZ0Vs7dYiRN4UpQLqHJGzE4ZX0vld9WJ95qzf7AqundylSbqHp9mxLscP7i6NNFdrMMhw5mw5ao9c6hRiTK09Bb04nf2blt_AlePW_OmQ6pDRM/w240-h320/IMG_20200816_155632426_HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">learning to write with fancy fonts... </td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMratt4cL12Oxv20pCDFZpFk4MrHzG335IK7bKVgLXbGgZG0W08AVKusIxfhMY9hEQJ8uYoHejDJ8THYRD8MHMEIUnAtv1kvG38leS00KM24iyu0Nvf4gQd_sh88hCHC7IrcQRinDriRo/s863/fairy+garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="863" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMratt4cL12Oxv20pCDFZpFk4MrHzG335IK7bKVgLXbGgZG0W08AVKusIxfhMY9hEQJ8uYoHejDJ8THYRD8MHMEIUnAtv1kvG38leS00KM24iyu0Nvf4gQd_sh88hCHC7IrcQRinDriRo/w200-h150/fairy+garden.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of my fairy gardens<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-92002594531720057032020-07-22T11:27:00.002-07:002020-07-22T11:37:56.544-07:00Parenting Tip - Transitions in LifeLast month I turned 70 years old. I have dreaded this day for several years. In fact, I have dreaded it so much, that I completely ruined my 69th year by thinking constantly of turning 70 and so I didn't even appreciate my last year in the 60's decade.<div><br /></div><div>The reason I have dreaded turning 70 was because this puts me in the "old people's" decade. I feel like those are the people with gray hair and achy joints, who stand up slowly, are hard of hearing and go to bed at 9 pm. The world categorizes them as "has beens" and that is how I thought my life would become.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Vector Old Lady, Vector Character, Cartoon Characters, People ..." height="164" src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/94/2c/e9/942ce9ec84e3e387385b07e053e07a84.jpg" width="164" /></div><div><br /></div><div>But my hair is still brown (with lots of gray). My joints don't hurt (knock on wood). I have noticed, though ,that I can't hear high pitches and some nights I'm anxious to go to bed early, so I see myself sliding into being "old." But I have so much energy still. I want to continue teaching music and I want to travel and be an important person in my children and grandchildren's lives. I don't want to be old and gray and sit in a rocking chair.</div><div><br /></div><div>And to that mental turmoil I was experiencing in comes the pandemic with quarantine and life routine changes, closures and major upheaval. Now I really am sitting at home doing nothing day after day. My nightmare is real!</div><div><br /></div><div>So I had a mid-life crisis. I had a melt down. I had to talk seriously to myself and my God and get a handle on this new life. Here is what I came up with:</div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*Life is in 3 parts:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Single life - birth to marriage (23 years) Wife/Mother – (age 23-61, 38</span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"> years</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">)</span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Widow/Retirement (age 61-99, </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">38 years</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">) <i>These years are based on my life.</i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*The last third of my life is as long as my middle life!</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*I’ve already lived 9 years of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my third life and have possibly 25+ years
more---that’s a lot of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*What am I going to do with it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i>I come from ancestors who lived a long life, so that’s what I’m counting on</i>) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*I’m definitely not a “has been”. I have interests, passions and goals. I have a lot more
things I need to accomplish and do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*This is my third life and I need to relish it, enjoy
it, and keep learning, serving and loving.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I felt better about my life after figuring all of that
out.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">But with COVID-19 I can’t keep teaching as a service missionary, I can’t serve at the temple, and I can’t teach my music groups.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Then I remembered</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> my 2020 yearly goal is to ACCEPT the season of
life I’m in, accept the season of the year that’s here and accept others as they are.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">So I had to figure out what I could do during
this time of life.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I felt like if I knew
what my values were, and did things each day that involved them, then I would
feel like I was accomplishing things.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The values I decided on were: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*Learn something new </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*Serve others </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*Seek Christ </span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">*Teach others</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I realized I have been doing things which include
those values and so I feel much better about how I am spending my days. I have a purpose in life. I have goals. I'm learning lots of new music on my banjo, ukulele and mandolin. I'm looking for Just Serve projects and doing them. I love reading the scriptures and learning from Come Follow Me podcasts. I'm teaching my grandchildren through the marco polo app and doing science projects at my home.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I AM NOT A HAS BEEN! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Watch out people. Here I come with 70 years experience. Welcome to the next third of my life!!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyUhpJpdhkIXJIA8wyYQoh7VgMtBoaEeNAwu1aJxsdUck77ts61PDzXQcyR5sGuklxSpRDdrCpPp2t-JxgA1cmxeWZnVpF4d_OFAdICLxrAXQURDGiWKKb4QPEgb4lCPGxRHA1wO3tKUa/s599/me.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="485" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixyUhpJpdhkIXJIA8wyYQoh7VgMtBoaEeNAwu1aJxsdUck77ts61PDzXQcyR5sGuklxSpRDdrCpPp2t-JxgA1cmxeWZnVpF4d_OFAdICLxrAXQURDGiWKKb4QPEgb4lCPGxRHA1wO3tKUa/w260-h320/me.jpg" width="260" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">Thanks for reading,</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">Cathy</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">*****************************************************************************</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><br /></p><br /></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-13310868655151433552020-06-07T12:29:00.000-07:002020-06-07T12:29:00.026-07:00Parenting Tip - What Can I Do?The last 3 months have been the strangest I have ever lived through. I never thought in my wildest imagination that I would see the world shut down. That businesses would close their doors. That people would stay quarantined inside their homes for weeks and now months on end. That my sons and son-in-law who live in 4 different states would be working from home. That school marques would say, "School closed until further notice." That a pandemic the size of the whole world would bring the world intimately closer together.<br />
<br />
And then, just as the world was beginning to loosen it's hold on the stringent methods it had to use to forestall the deaths of possibly millions of people, one person is brutally killed and everything is turned upside down again.<br />
<br />
I have read many view points on the killing of the black man by the policeman and have wondered at the rioting, hate and crime that have insued. I feel the pain of those people who are so often ridiculed, persecuted and unjustly accused and slandered. I have felt embarrased and chastened by my own lack of understanding and ignorance of the racial issue. I have pondered on what I can do. Is there something that I can do to reduce the racial hatred that is consuming so many people? <br />
<br />
I am only one person and touch only a few people's lives. My small pebble dropped in the pond only creates a small ripple. But it <u>does</u> create a ripple. It <u>does</u> move outward and who knows what other small ripples it may touch.<br />
<br />
So what can I do? <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQDxBcPuscup-3HIUcVq8tJ4I9Ngr0fPZ-f2cSd1SJwSzy8MnzS7jQXxYoUdkPbimf0wqACSHz_tDvlvVzlJwd9_UyzL1RQB41mI2t8GUmqw92Kvh9ShQsLEGnCT-XSWyXEcyExD1y_-o/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQDxBcPuscup-3HIUcVq8tJ4I9Ngr0fPZ-f2cSd1SJwSzy8MnzS7jQXxYoUdkPbimf0wqACSHz_tDvlvVzlJwd9_UyzL1RQB41mI2t8GUmqw92Kvh9ShQsLEGnCT-XSWyXEcyExD1y_-o/s200/image.jpg" width="200" /></a>I can teach.<br />
My children are grown, but I have grandchildren and I can teach them to love and accept others who are different from themselves. My nephew Bradley's wife, <a href="https://www.kaileipewbooks.com/post/15-picture-books-to-teach-anti-racism-to-the-littlest-readers?fbclid=IwAR0ML4sVcVzUjA0gV3vL_hlX2wuVqVWGCl6e78l11vRl3ldjlr8R36M2cxc">Kailei</a>, posted on Facebook a list of books we can read to our children. I borrowed one and read it to my grandchildren on Marco Polo today and bore my testimony that God loves all His children and made us different so we can help each other.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">I can feel empathy. A biracial family I know feels sad and threatened. Wouldn't they appreciate someone recognizing their pain and hurt from past occasions and welcome a treat and note of love?</span><br />
<br />
I can acknowledge another's humanness (yep, that's a word). When I fly on a plane, I notice that the seats next to black, brown, Muslim, poor, and fat people are the last seats to get taken. It is obvious that others are avoiding sitting next to them. What if I chose to sit by someone different from me and acknowledged them? What message would I be saying without saying a word?<br />
<br />
I'm ready to look around and see what small things I can do. I'm ready to listen to the still small voice whispher what small things I can do. Because "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass." Alma 37:6<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
<br />
Cathy<br />
PS I chose to read this particular book to my grandchildren because of an experience I had several years ago and again just recently. The Proudest Blue is about a young girl who begins 6th grade and wears a hijab for the first time. Several years ago when I was teaching school, a mother came up to me on the first day of school with her daughter and said this was the first day she would be wearing a hijab to school. She wanted me to talk to the class and explain a little bit about her daughter's new headwear so the children wouldn't make fun of her. I was happy to do this and happy to find out more of the reason for wearing a hijab.<br />
<br />
And then recently, for the past 1 1/2 years I have been teaching English to women from Somalia who all wear hijabs. I have gotten to know these women and love them. I admire their desire to dress modestly and respect their beliefs.<br />
<br />
We are all different. We are all loved by God. <br />
<br />
<br />
********************************************************************************<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-76557704012016516832020-02-26T06:10:00.001-08:002020-02-26T20:26:31.445-08:00Parenting Tip- Adult WhiningWhile I was writing the blog post about whining children, I began to get an uncomfortable feeling--did I whine--and to whom?<br />
<br />
Dictionary.com's definition is:<br />
<br />
<section class="css-pnw38j e1hk9ate0" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: list-item; line-height: 1.5; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-top: 8px; padding-left: 25px; position: relative;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="one-click-content css-1p89gle e1q3nk1v4" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="discontent" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; z-index: 1;">to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc.:</span><span class="one-click-content css-1p89gle e1q3nk1v4" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="discontent" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="luna-example italic" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="whining" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-style: italic;">The puppies were whining from hunger.</span></span><span class="one-click-content css-1p89gle e1q3nk1v4" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="complain" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; z-index: 1;">to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way:</span><span class="one-click-content css-1p89gle e1q3nk1v4" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="complain" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="luna-example italic" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="about" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-style: italic;">He is always whining about his problems.</span></span><span class="css-1gxch3 e1hk9ate2" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal;">verb (used with object),</span><span class="css-t9jmot e1hk9ate3" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-weight: normal;"> <span class="luna-inflected-form" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">whined,</span> <span class="luna-inflected-form" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">whin·ing.</span></span><span class="one-click-content css-1p89gle e1q3nk1v4" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="whine" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; z-index: 1;">to utter with or as if with a whine:</span><span class="one-click-content css-1p89gle e1q3nk1v4" data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="whine" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="luna-example italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-style: italic;">I whined my litany of complaints.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="color: #4a4a4a;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman";">Suddenly I had memories of myself talking to my son about my laptop which wasn't working, and whining about not knowing how to fix it. But worse, I remembered many of my prayers where I presented Heavenly Father a list of my problems and family members who needed help and asked Him to fix everything. Did I pray "<i>in a peevish, self-pitying way" </i>and<i> "utter my prayers with or as if with a whine"?</i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: arial;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman";"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;">
I began to seriously think about how I prayed and pondered if I was whining when I prayed.<br />
We are told to </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">" <span style="background-color: white;">Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them.</span></span><br />
<div class="verse" data-aid="128351972" id="p25" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: inherit; padding: 0px 0px 0.65em; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="verse-number" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">25 </span>Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="verse-number" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">26 </span>But this is not all; ye must <a class="study-note-ref" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note26a" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue;"><sup class="marker" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a</sup>pour out</span></a> your souls in your <a class="study-note-ref" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note26b" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue;"><sup class="marker" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">b</sup>closets</span></a>, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="verse-number" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">27 </span>Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your <span style="color: black;"><a class="study-note-ref" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note27a" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue;"><sup class="marker" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">a</sup>hearts</span></a> be <a class="study-note-ref" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note27b" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue;"><sup class="marker" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">b</sup>full</span></a></span>, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your <a class="study-note-ref" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note27c" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue;"><sup class="marker" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">c</sup>welfare</span></a>, and also for the welfare of <span style="color: blue;"><a class="study-note-ref" href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/#note27d" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><sup class="marker" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">d</sup>those</span></a> </span>who are around you.<span style="background-color: transparent;">Alma 34: 24</span>"</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman";">So if we are told to <i>cry continually for our welfare, </i>doesn't that sound like whining? I decided it depends totally on our ATTITUDE and FEELINGS when we pray.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times new roman";">Do we pray with humbleness in our hearts? Do we acknowledge our love to our Father in Heaven and </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">pray with this feeling of love and reverence? </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";">Do we ask the Lord for His mercy and grace in our lives, knowing He loves us, too? Do we have faith in accepting His timing as we pray over our problems and ask for help? Do we acknowledge our willingness to grow in our struggles and see the strength we are receiving? Do we stop to see and thank Him for the tender blessings and mercies bestowed on us each day? Do we rejoice and praise the Lord for His goodness and love?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">If I can answer YES to each of those questions, then I realized I am not whining. Whew! I am actually talking to my Father in Heaven and discussing my needs and desires. I am explaining my situation and trying to get help and understanding in solving my problems. It's actually exhilarating, enabling and humbling to really talk with Heavenly Father on a one on one basis and listen for his direction and have His ideas come to my mind during my prayers.</span> </div>
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Prayer really <u>can be</u> a conversation, a discussion with my Father. And when I am filled with love for and accept His love for me, then that conversation is never whining. </div>
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Thanks for reading,</div>
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Cathy</div>
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</section>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-87084864333854756412020-02-03T06:14:00.000-08:002020-02-03T06:14:06.680-08:00Parenting Tip-The Whining ChildI just spent 2 1/2 weeks babysitting my 21 month year old granddaughter. It was so fun because she lives out of state and I don't get to see her very often.<br />
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My daughter plays in a string quartet and her quartet was performing and teaching in another state.<br />
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So I went with them to babysit during the times my daughter was rehearsing or teaching. My granddaughter always cried when mommy had to leave, but here are two things I used that worked like magic to help her be happy:<br />
**<u>SINGING</u>! Let's see, I wonder how many times I sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, The Wheels on the Bus and Old MacDonald while driving in the car? I would venture to say at least 100 times each! I also made up songs and was often impressed with my rhyming skills, though no one else above the age of 21 months ever heard me to appreciate my talents.<br />
**<u>DISTRACTION</u> The name of the game with unhappy toddlers, even older kids, is to distract them. I distracted my granddaughter by playing with toys, reading books, playing with play doh, etc.<br />
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When mommy wasn't teaching or rehearsing, her toddler was often whining at her. This drives my daughter crazy because she does it so much at their house too. So I decided to look up why toddlers/children whine and what to do about it. All the articles I read agreed with each other.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Children whine because they don't know how to express their emotions and needs. They want someone to pay attention to them and they get frustrated when their needs are not met. So they cry or start to whine.</span></i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://www.mother.ly/child/the-science-behind-why-kids-whine">All the articles I read about whining</a> offered the same basic ways to cure whining:<br />
1. Understand that your child is whining for a reason. Is she tired, hungry, sick, overwhelmed with too much stimulus, her scheduled has changed, late bedtime, teething, the list goes on and on and on.<br />
2. Explain what whining is and ask your child to say what he wants in a normal voice. Then respond immediately. This doesn't mean you necessarily give him what he wants (I understand you want to play longer, but now it's time to go home from the park. Thanks for letting me know what you wanted), but if you are kneeling down looking him in the face, he knows you have heard him and at least have understood his needs.<br />
3. Spend quality time with your child each day. Give her your full attention, hugs and kisses. No phones or distractions. Be in the present and enjoy your child.<br />
4. Look at your needs. Are YOU stressed, tired, overwhelmed?<br />
5. One mother who blogged about whining <a href="https://amotherfarfromhome.com/2-unpopular-but-effective-ways-to-stop-whining/">cut out all screen time</a> except on the weekend. Instead of using screens as a babysitter so she could get something done, she used real toys and books instead. Be creative: use kitchen gadgets as toys, recycled materials, pour rice with measuring cups into a bowl, water paint on rocks.<br />
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Some children whine more than others.<br />
Some days/weeks are better/worse than others.<br />
Some parents are more sensitive to whining then others.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEs4GDEgCBQQ4QDJ3ZbE_LIiFPXXaxj36JPBh4hb501X8dyx62Awg4912vxPHCncJHOQmfOJlzhzYhD_jkRjbH07vquE11sW3ijugb3Enqti6mMmKliXFoBSKCXHl69uI0u1fjhkZ4A0W/s1600/we+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="625" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEs4GDEgCBQQ4QDJ3ZbE_LIiFPXXaxj36JPBh4hb501X8dyx62Awg4912vxPHCncJHOQmfOJlzhzYhD_jkRjbH07vquE11sW3ijugb3Enqti6mMmKliXFoBSKCXHl69uI0u1fjhkZ4A0W/s200/we+3.jpg" width="200" /></a>But knowledge is power, and if you know what to try, even though all days won't be perfect, you will be more patient with your child--and yourself.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7nu2Izu7se1vjHvmerwKQ3ESiGpNdl7MO8tUUtfq3jLqZDLpG27XNTOkmv_DikJ19V-e_F1IjN3hvRQ_O7vRoTy25bdtEjTrKkZ2XbqwTpLh8hc-bsOL0PwDs7S_G738zXJgaPELjUQa/s1600/library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1213" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7nu2Izu7se1vjHvmerwKQ3ESiGpNdl7MO8tUUtfq3jLqZDLpG27XNTOkmv_DikJ19V-e_F1IjN3hvRQ_O7vRoTy25bdtEjTrKkZ2XbqwTpLh8hc-bsOL0PwDs7S_G738zXJgaPELjUQa/s320/library.jpg" width="320" /></a>My next blog post will tell how I discovered I WAS WHINING, and to whom!<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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Cathy<br />
<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-42263110275755453702019-11-11T08:52:00.001-08:002019-11-11T08:52:27.146-08:00Parenting Tip - I'm the Supporting Actor<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkTaWduiDLJMJ_XQOPQS5UbWMNb5uE6JWDegX1Cqai7BSkLcrB2DbBzvc_jvJA18WHq4sPerkw7iILOiD4VAyuSeLSUnehy0QpcIPCHishwAnrHLk33Ti9iy0rVPIcmNLPuJYIt5SVzSD/s1600/Mary+Ann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkTaWduiDLJMJ_XQOPQS5UbWMNb5uE6JWDegX1Cqai7BSkLcrB2DbBzvc_jvJA18WHq4sPerkw7iILOiD4VAyuSeLSUnehy0QpcIPCHishwAnrHLk33Ti9iy0rVPIcmNLPuJYIt5SVzSD/s200/Mary+Ann.jpg" width="148" /></a>A revolutionary <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5tZWdhcGhvbmUuZm0vaGFwcGllcg&episode=MDgzOTM0MjAtOWZlZi0xMWU4LThjMTAtYTMwZTA3N2NmZTlj&hl=en&ved=2ahUKEwjyvOrVu-LlAhUHrZ4KHVqHDR4QieUEegQIChAE&ep=6&at=1573485883452">thought</a> was presented to me this morning. It completely changed my focus and gave me a paradigm shift. It came from the book, The Memoir of Mary Ann, which is about a young girl who has an incurable tumor on her face and comes to live with nuns in a convent. During her years living there, another family brings their baby with cancer to be taken care of by the nuns. The parents are heart broken to leave their baby, but Mary Ann, age 9, tells the parents, "Oh, I always wanted a baby to take care of. I didn't pray that a baby would get sick, but I prayed that if one did get sick, it would be brought here." The mother is comforted in thinking that their baby has become a blessing to and for another person.<br />
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How many times do I think life is all about ME. Poor ME, look at ME, this horrible thing is happening to ME, when instead I could see life as an opportunity to look at others and help them in their experiences.<br />
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This was brought home to me when my husband passed away and I became a widow. At the time, my mother-in-law had been living in our home for two years. Now I was faced with living with her all by myself, while going through my grieving process. One day while I was having a pity party for myself, I asked Heavenly Father why I had to share my home and couldn't just grieve by myself. The following thoughts came to me:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This isn't about YOU. It's about your mother-in-law. She is a righteous daughter of mine who has lived the gospel of Jesus Christ all her life. She has raised a family of six children, served a mission with her husband, was Relief Society president 3 times and has been faithful to the end. She deserves to end her life living in a gospel-oriented, faithful home with loved ones around her. Her other children cannot provide this environment for her, but you can, and I am asking you to do this for her.</blockquote>
I was humbled by this experience and didn't complain again!<br />
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What is happening in your life where you think you are in the starring role? Look again, are you really? Is your husband losing faith, or focuses on sports instead of family? Do you have a child that is rebellious, or autistic or seems out of control? Were you sent to these individuals so YOU could support and help THEM?<br />
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I always thought of <a href="https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/17?lang=eng">Abinadi in the Book of Mormon</a>, as playing the starring role of martyr in his story, which he did, but was he mainly the supporting actor to Alma, a priest in wicked King Noah's court, so Alma could learn the gospel? Was Alma not the lead character at all, but the supporting actor for his wayward son, Alma and the sons of Mosiah? But did Alma the Younger's rebellious, then repentant journey enable him to meet Amulek and build him up to become a great missionary companion. Or was that so they could teach Zeezrom, who repented of his zeal for money and in turn, went on missions himself?<br />
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I could go on and on with this line of reasoning, but it is obvious that we are all important. We are placed on earth to learn and grow, but that learning and growing should help others too, not just ourselves.<br />
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The next time I decide to have a pity party, I hope I'll look around instead, and see who it is that I'm suppose to be helping and supporting in their life story.<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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Cathy<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-5319008612785673022019-08-25T15:11:00.002-07:002019-08-25T15:11:15.972-07:00Parenting Tip - Our One BodyI wish everyone was as smart as I am. And as wise. And have had the experiences I have had so you would stop making those crazy decisions you're making.<br />
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Ha, ha, sorry about that. I meant to only think those thoughts, not actually write and publish them....<br />
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I have some concerns about how the world is going, so I'm just going to spill it out and be frank in this post.<br />
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Last week I was at the gym walking on the treadmill listening to podcasts and couldn't help but see the advertising on the TVs because at first I couldn't figure out what the advertising was about.<br />
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It turns out it was a razor for women to use on their faces to get rid of peach fuzz. Yes, peach fuzz. <br />
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What? Now I have to add ridding myself of my nonexistent or hardly seen peach fuzz to my daily make up regime? I would have just ignored the advertisement, but it was on 5 of the TVs and it kept repeating the advertisement over and over and over again. Every day.<br />
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Do you see what is happening? As women, we are so obsessed with our looks and having to be in style that we are spending money and time on the silliest things...peach fuzz razors! Our eyebrows have to be big and distinctive, our teeth have to be the brightest and whitest, our nails have to be polished, our wrinkles need to disappear and we have to decide between highlights or streaks in our hair. Not to mention we have to be skinny.<br />
<br />
Is Satan distracting us from what is important? Is Satan trying to get us to compare ourselves with each other so we are miserable? Satan doesn't have a body, so he is encouraging us to ruin our body. He wants our bodies to be billboards, playgrounds, and sources of discontent.<br />
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Time is short. We have one body. We have this one life to live on earth. Let's encourage each other to use our bodies to learn, grow, serve, and become more like Christ. Our bodies house our spirits. They are temples. Let us protect our bodies. Let us enjoy our bodies and use them to the fullest we can. As in the parable of the talents, let us return to our Heavenly Father with our bodies physically healthy in the best condition we can take care of them. Let us show our Father how we have used the gift he gave us in service to others with purity in thought and mind.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPgB1N5Ft41h2p_TrIx6MKqTjmpegGlaTfgc_Kv46LrcYTLlpiBQVkXA-wEfqP8qHQk9mD7eyaxj6gwZc0DLj18zIG0eJrKu-opCa7qeMPsB5mlz_Is2IyP-Buc6JxxGFWUfzCNYdVsS8/s1600/body-parts-clip-art-collection.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPgB1N5Ft41h2p_TrIx6MKqTjmpegGlaTfgc_Kv46LrcYTLlpiBQVkXA-wEfqP8qHQk9mD7eyaxj6gwZc0DLj18zIG0eJrKu-opCa7qeMPsB5mlz_Is2IyP-Buc6JxxGFWUfzCNYdVsS8/s200/body-parts-clip-art-collection.png" width="149" /></a>Thanks for letting me rant,<br />
<br />
Cathy<br />
<br />
PS<br />
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If you have commented in the past, I found out I haven't been receiving them. I'm not expecting you to comment, but if you do, try leaving them with the google account to see if that works.<br />
<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-72108171356250394382019-08-18T14:46:00.000-07:002019-08-18T16:01:55.377-07:00Parenting Tip - Turning Frustration Around<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vQV2Wl2Ca7Z9XkvrLR5auSMfDX4ajaAKV2IXC6tZEnjtV0g2PHzKJ47OJIm-dFHSjXHut2tvX9iDBo8Ny4YbxORI1-vi6X33GWT7pdX1Uos2StiwsTziniuUjn3MAyAEMlqVNH_pEEnj/s1600/frustration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="612" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vQV2Wl2Ca7Z9XkvrLR5auSMfDX4ajaAKV2IXC6tZEnjtV0g2PHzKJ47OJIm-dFHSjXHut2tvX9iDBo8Ny4YbxORI1-vi6X33GWT7pdX1Uos2StiwsTziniuUjn3MAyAEMlqVNH_pEEnj/s200/frustration.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Life
is frustrating at times. Lots of
times. Every day in fact, there are
frustrating things that happen.
Frustrating things caused by others to you, by them not understanding
what you said, by them doing their own thing instead of what you asked them to
do, by them……well, you know what I mean.
Then, just as you’re judging someone else about their deficiencies,
muttering under your breath about them, and rolling your eyes at what they did
or say, you turn around a commit a major faux pas (<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">an embarrassing or
tactless act ) </span>yourself. </div>
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Ah….pride
goeth before the fall!</div>
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Here
are my recent situations:</div>
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1.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hair cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A friend cuts my hair and I love the way she cuts it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At my last hair cut she told me her secret of
never getting “butchered” or getting her hair cut too short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said, “I say I just want a nip off the
ends.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means no length is cut, just
a little evening out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So
10 days ago I went to her to get my hair cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told her I wanted what she had said to do, just a nip off my
sides---it was the back at the neck that needed the trimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>45 minutes later I walked out with one inch
cut off the sides and the back of the neck super short.</div>
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Frustration!
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hated my hair and I do NOT LIKE it to
be that short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It ruined my whole week
and I grumbled every morning when I fixed my hair or looked in the mirror.</div>
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2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bishop asked to talk to me, initiated by
me, because I felt my service missionary work was overwhelming me and my ability
to do my other ward calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained
the amount of time I invest each week in my service as a missionary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We talked for quite some time and he agreed
that if I was overwhelmed, I would be released.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally at the end of the conversation, I said something again about being
a service missionary, and he replied, “Doesn’t your service missionary work
just take an hour a week?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I replied in
unbelief, “NO! It takes Tues and Thurs morning plus hours during the week
preparing file folders of lesson plans for the other tutors to use.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I had
explained that 3 times</i> <u>in those same words</u> during our conversation
but he hadn’t understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sometimes spend
6-8 hours a week and he thought I was only spending one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered how I could have explained my
situation any differently.</div>
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Now
for my Pride Fall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday I realized
I had forgotten to mail and text my really good friend a Happy Birthday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, when I got home from Church and looked
at the calendar, to my horror, I had forgotten to wish my out-of-state grandson
happy birthday 3 days ago!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have tried
so hard this year to be better at sending birthday cards on time and singing
Happy Birthday on my ukulele on Marco Polo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And here I had forgotten twice!!</div>
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The
lesson I am constantly relearning is this: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no
one is perfect</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will all make
mistakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it will necessitate
me forgiving someone, and sometimes it will be necessary for someone else to
forgive me. And especially hard to do: I have to forgive myself as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So
today I’m laughing at myself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so
easy for me to judge others and their shortcomings when I am just as bad!</div>
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Funny,
funny Cathy!</div>
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And
the good news is:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>my hair has grown a
tiny bit, I was released from my other calling and had it reaffirmed to me that
the Bishop is interested in my life and is led by the Spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I texted my friend yesterday and sang to my
grandson belatedly an hour ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Things
are normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s what life is all about!</div>
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Thanks for reading,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-hyphenate: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;">
Cathy</div>
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******************************************************************************</div>
<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-52742916144847550772019-07-18T10:28:00.002-07:002019-07-18T16:42:28.050-07:00Parenting Tip - Do I Have FAITH?<br />
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I was recently talking with a family member about faith. We were questioning the amount of faith we had, because when compared with the faith the pioneers exhibited, we found our faith to be lacking. </div>
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When reading about the sacrifice and faith of past ancestors and stories from the scriptures, I wonder if I could have made the same choices these faithful saints had made. My great grandmother in Sweden was given the choice of continuing her allegiance to her new found Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) or remain a member of the Lutheran Church- the state Church. This was the ultimatum given by the Lutheran priest in her town. If she would not denounce her new faith she would be forced to give up her two foster daughters, ages 7 and 5 (which she had reared since birth). She chose to remain faithful to her new religion, but suffered deeply over the loss of her two foster daughters. My grandmother, who was a child (5) at this time, did not even know her sisters were not her real sisters. Eventually my great grandmother and her family emigrated to Utah to be with the Saints (when my grandmother was a teenager). </div>
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Many times in my life I have thanked this great grandmother for her example of faith. But could I have made that same choice? As a young mother, and now an older mother and grandmother, I wonder if I would have enough faith to give up someone I loved so much?</div>
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When reading the scriptures, I often ponder over the martyrdom of the prophets and think, "Well, of course they had enough faith in God to die for His name, they were prophets." But then I read about the men, women and children who would not deny their faith in Christ and were burned while Alma and Amulek had to watch. (Alma 14 : 8-10, Book of Mormon) Would I have enough faith to endure this horror?</div>
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I wonder about the Bible story when Daniel was told not to pray openly to his God but did anyway. He was thrown in the lion's den but preserved by the hand of God. (Daniel 6) Yet when Alma, the younger, and his people were told not to pray, they obeyed and did not pray openly, but poured out their hearts to God in secret prayer. They too, were eventually delivered by the hand of God, (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 24). So it seems to me that the Lord accepts different ways of showing faith, depending on the circumstances.</div>
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How deep is MY faith? Can I sacrifice really hard things if I am asked to? As I have pondered these two questions over the years, I think I have finally come to this conclusion:</div>
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**I’m not asked to show the kind of faith shown by the pioneers or people in the scriptures. </div>
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**I can’t compare my life situation to theirs. We live in totally difference circumstances that require different living conditions and commitments. </div>
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**I don’t understand the world they lived in with the attitudes and conditions of their times, or the historical context of their living situations. And that is not a lame excuse, saying, "I don’t understand their times." <u>It is a fact</u>. It is a fact that life was different. People thought differently, did different things to survive and thrive, and so they reacted differently and made choices differently compared to how we live today.</div>
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I decided to make a list of how I was showing faith, <i>right now</i> in my life. Sorry--it's kind of personal so feel free to quit reading.......</div>
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How I am exercising FAITH right now:</div>
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**I am striving to endure to the end by giving SERVICE, and have faith this will make a difference in my eternal progression. Currently I am a service missionary teaching ESL at the Somali Center in Phoenix two mornings a week and additionally creating tutoring lessons.</div>
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**I have faith that Ed is serving a mission (for the rest of my lifetime), and still helping our family and me. <i>Hey, I'm like the pioneers in some ways for this is the same sacrifice some of the women had to make when their husbands died or served missions for an extended period of time.</i></div>
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**I have faith my piano and ukulele teaching will help children and families by giving them the gift of music</div>
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**I have faith that my performing at retirement homes through music will help enrich a senior’s life</div>
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**I have faith that going to the temple every week will help my relatives make covenants so they can progress in the next life</div>
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**I have faith that exercising and eating nutritional food will help me to be healthy as I
grow older</div>
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**I have faith that getting out of my comfort zone by flying to my out-of-state children's homes to babysit grandchildren will build a strong relationship
with them in the future</div>
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**I have faith that reading my scriptures, conference talks, Come Follow Me,
listening to BYU speeches, and other uplifting reading<i> daily, </i>will increase my spirituality and help me stay
virtuous</div>
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**I have faith that learning to play the banjo and mandolin, knitting, and making art will help my
creative abilities and be an advantage in the next life</div>
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**I have faith that I was inspired to start a blog and write my thoughts down so I could help someone else who is reading them</div>
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So that is how I am showing faith right now in my life. I'm not walking across a prairie or freezing in the mountains with no food or help in sight. But the pioneers did not walk their whole entire lives--which sometimes I find myself thinking they did. No, that was but a short period of time in their lives. Then they settled in towns, building homes, raising children, living their faith through their daily commitments. </div>
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And that is what I am trying to do!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_TnIUCvN5jHHA_xlNlE8OCfypJ4f1REtvc4lViwrd5pSP5tHAlJd9c0wQtVC7-xV-DNwA44ReUD6D7itxbqiqV09WAHuYFPolXrfTjfCYVdMKoEcjRtyK7FahjrWBKVoEdB8ErsfMZHL/s1600/quote-be-faithful-in-small-things-because-it-is-in-them-that-your-strength-lies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_TnIUCvN5jHHA_xlNlE8OCfypJ4f1REtvc4lViwrd5pSP5tHAlJd9c0wQtVC7-xV-DNwA44ReUD6D7itxbqiqV09WAHuYFPolXrfTjfCYVdMKoEcjRtyK7FahjrWBKVoEdB8ErsfMZHL/s320/quote-be-faithful-in-small-things-because-it-is-in-them-that-your-strength-lies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks for reading,</div>
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Cathy</div>
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****************************************************************************</div>
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-11775778897555123402019-05-26T21:00:00.000-07:002019-05-26T21:00:40.414-07:00Parenting Tip - Do it AloneThose who know me, know I love to hike. A friend and I have been hiking together for the past 10 years or more. Lately my hiking buddy has had some physical problems that have kept her indoors, and this has really cramped my style. Summer is coming with it's hot weather and we quit hiking then, so I've been desperate to get outside while I can and enjoy nature and the wildflowers--which are plentiful this year.<br />
<br />
I decided I would just have to hike by myself and even wished for about 2 seconds that I had a dog I could take with me. I don't feel it's safe to hike alone, but as I was thinking back to some of our past hikes, I realized there are lots of hikes that are so popular you feel like you're walking on the freeway. So Friday I went to Pinnacle Peak in Scottsdale and hiked alone--I mean with the other 300 people that were either passing me or I passing them.<br />
<br />
And it was fun. It's a different experience to do things on your own. I never do things on my own, and just stay home if I can't find someone to go with me somewhere. It was ironic, though, as I was hiking I was listening to a podcast entitled "<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcasts/">Go Someplace Alone</a>" (Gretchen Rubin Happier). They were listing the advantages of going places alone, and there I was walking, listening and experiencing what they were saying! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5l37HeDWBIqFnlLLP7qJwcYOXScFCaT46TFpPKsoeaervKOjALD4kB6KJkCg6lbT1Z68RY1_2aHTJEeSEFLpojMCWSGAXIyoluYt9L2GWurnDe1WfWQ974gVtJSlh7uevAv_gYYE_xoL/s1600/hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="876" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5l37HeDWBIqFnlLLP7qJwcYOXScFCaT46TFpPKsoeaervKOjALD4kB6KJkCg6lbT1Z68RY1_2aHTJEeSEFLpojMCWSGAXIyoluYt9L2GWurnDe1WfWQ974gVtJSlh7uevAv_gYYE_xoL/s200/hike.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Here are some of the advantages I experienced:<br />
I could listen to podcasts driving to the hike and while I walked<br />
I walked my own pace<br />
I walked further than my friend and I usually do because she gets tired before I do<br />
I stopped and rested whenever I wanted to on the steep sections<br />
I looked at the scenery and enjoyed nature<br />
I took pictures to send to my grandson and didn't feel guilty about taking "one more picture"<br />
I jogged on the down sections<br />
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I <u>did</u> miss my friend, but I learned a valuable lesson: I can have fun and experience things differently by myself.<br />
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One of the podcasts I listened to while driving to my hike was about not comparing yourself with others. Good thing I listened to it and I even laughed at myself, because I constantly compared myself with the hikers running past me or looking more stylish than me in their hiking clothes.<br />
<br />
And speaking of podcasts, I enjoy pondering and thinking about the things I've heard on a podcast after it's over. I always benefit from doing this and get thoughts on how I can incorporate the ideas I've heard into my life. This is a time when the Spirit can teach and instruct me. Sure enough, a couple of ideas came to me as I hiked down the mountain at the end of the podcast.<br />
<br />
These are my favorite podcasts:<br />
<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcasts/">Happier</a> with Gretchen Rubin<br />
<a href="http://www.ldsliving.com/pages/allin">All In </a>- LDS Living<br />
<a href="http://www.ldsliving.com/pages/this-is-the-gospel">This is the Gospel </a>- LDS Living<br />
<a href="https://speeches.byu.edu/">BYU Speeches</a><br />
<br />
Oh, here's another fun thing I do by myself. I'm taking mandolin lessons and my teacher gave me a book of duets. It's hard to get with others to play duets, so I record myself playing the piano accompaniment then I play the recording while playing the mandolin. It's nerdy, but enjoyable. Last week I took it a step further and <i>recorded me playing the mandolin </i>while playing the recording of the accompaniment and --whoolah! I've got a recording of me playing the full duet. It's amateurish, but it was so fun!<br />
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What are you NOT doing because you have no one to do it with? Can you rethink it and do it alone? Can you use technology to help you? Try problem solving the issue and you may find out you enjoy things on a whole different level when you do them with your best friend--YOU!<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
<br />
Cathy<br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-4433131472176240162019-04-29T12:13:00.000-07:002019-04-29T12:13:02.312-07:00Music Tip- Influence Your Small Circle<br />
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Saturday night I went to the MCO concert (Millennial Choir and Orchestra) at the Mesa
Arts Center with a friend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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This
choir is composed of hundreds of singers from age 4-adults and is led by two
brothers who came from California where they initially started a choir like
this one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now 11 years later they have
choirs/orchestra in California, Arizona, Texas, Utah and Idaho.</div>
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The
brothers, Brandon and Brett Stewart are exceptional musicians with conducting,
piano performing, choral and arranging talents that are inspirational. Their
focus is on religious and patriotic music. They arrange music that starts with
one group singing, and then they add the other choral groups to the mix to
build to a gigantic choral and orchestral masterpiece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It truly is amazing, sometimes overwhelming
and very inspirational.</div>
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As
I sat listening to one magnificent song after another and pondering on the huge
undertaking it was to bring all these singers and instrument players
together—the composing of the music, the rehearsals, the mechanics of
organizing the singers along the balconies, when to walk in, where to go when
they’re not singing, getting them quickly on stage, organizing a trip to New
York during the summer with all singers in the 5 states performing at Carnegie
Hall, etc, etc, I began to feel very small and unimportant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to feel like I am not worth anything
as far as music is concerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All my
little efforts at teaching piano, ukulele and music classes with the moms/tots
were so unprofessional and puny and inconsequential, that it was almost
laughable to think of myself as a fellow musician.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure I can play the piano, but never on the
level one of the brothers who went to Julliard can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure I have learned to play the ukulele,
banjo, dulcimer and mandolin, but only on a very amateurish, beginner
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure I have organized small
groups to perform, but only for retired people who don’t care or understand how
unprofessional we sound.</div>
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I
started thinking that I was worthless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These brothers have touched thousands of lives with their musical
talents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have influenced a circle
of thousands in several states—thousands of people who both perform as well as
listen in the audience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My circle of
influence is tiny.</div>
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But
as I listened to the last song, Nearer, My God to Thee, and heard the
beautiful, inspirational music, I felt God’s love for me as He gave me these
thoughts:</div>
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"You are not worthless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need you to bring music to others who would
never come in contact with the music you’re listening to or be influenced by
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who would bring music and happiness
to Grandpa Tom when you bring the children to his care home for music classes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love him just as much as everyone else
sitting in this concert hall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
Grandpa Mike, whose smile and excitement to see the children make his whole
body jump with joy, even though he can’t say a word to express his delight. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need you to bring music, joy and happiness
to him as well as Grandpa Reuben and Grandpa Gene, for I love them too and in
their later years, they deserve to be happy and to find joy and feel love from
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /> </span><o:p> </o:p>And
remember how thrilled Danielle was to see her husband and children sing and
play the ukulele?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said she hoped
they would continue to play together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What about Chloe’s mother who said Chloe doesn’t like to be in front of
people, yet there she was playing her ukulele and smiling and enjoying herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have billions of children living on earth.
I need you to help me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though you
think your circle of influence is small, I need you to touch their lives and
care for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have placed you where you
are and count on you to share my love with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are important to me and I value your
contribution. I love you.”</blockquote>
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I sat weeping, feeling God's love for me. So
now I don’t feel worthless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel like
I am needed and though my musical abilities are small and may not be
professional on a grand scale, I feel I am talented and gifted with musical
ideas and teaching abilities that I need to continue to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m excited to share music with those around
me! What a privilege and blessing!!!!!!</div>
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What about you? You, too, have a circle of influence. Look around you at your husband, your children, your grandchildren, your neighbors, your friends. Be the person they need in their lives right now. Can you cook and take them something? Can you listen to them? Can you just love them? <div>
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You can, and so can I! Let's go do a small and amazing thing!<br /><div>
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Thank you for reading,</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Cathy</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-4518836838798858182019-04-29T11:55:00.000-07:002019-04-29T12:13:53.821-07:00Music Tip - Music Wins Every TimeIt's the end of April and with it comes the end of my ukulele classes and my mom/tot music class. I'm excited to have more free time now, but sad to end my teaching of a wonderful group of children and adults. I took my ukulele classes to perform for senior citizens and my last mom/tot music class was kind of bitter/sweet. One of our grandpas who really loved us coming and responded well was moved to another facility--so we didn't get to say good by to him.<br />
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Here are some pictures with the ukulele classes, mom/tot music class and the residents. They love us and we LOVE them!<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
<br />
Cathy<br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-26612468474961826092019-03-10T21:12:00.001-07:002019-03-10T21:25:24.709-07:00Parenting Tip-It's the little things that count!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love reading about the thru hikers who hike the Appalachian Trail-- a 2,200 mile long trail that goes from Georgia to Maine. I dream that maybe some day I will hike it, but then I remember I don't like sleeping on the cold hard ground! I bumped into a post on You Tube of a family of 7 hiking the whole trail (which takes several months) and the youngest child was only age two. I watched several of their posts, envying their days of hiking and enjoying nature, that is, after it finally quit snowing for several weeks. They were living a life with intention.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbsdRXCBXyCaKgDyKbpg3kwbFgsV5ZPMMAoGRfhAMX8twCU3sduDTIrgeZAAMl-NgX6A2DOARwv9Byl156cB1lKuOG0xFucNq6nPRvi0sNx7YkTT2UK73IDB9SJiI1mo6S58zM-YSgPf5/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqbsdRXCBXyCaKgDyKbpg3kwbFgsV5ZPMMAoGRfhAMX8twCU3sduDTIrgeZAAMl-NgX6A2DOARwv9Byl156cB1lKuOG0xFucNq6nPRvi0sNx7YkTT2UK73IDB9SJiI1mo6S58zM-YSgPf5/s200/book.jpg" width="132" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A couple of days ago I started reading a book about another family of 7 who took a year out of their normal lives to sail </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">from the Caribbean to New York City</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> with their five children (the youngest with Down Syndrome). They had little money and little experience, but they had big dreams and lots of ambition. They were living an intentional life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last night I started reading a book about following your ideas and dreams, though they may appear "stupid" and not achievable, and see where they can lead you. Your idea may be the next million dollar start up business. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I reflected on a conversation I had with a retired doctor who was volunteering at the same refugee center where I was teaching English. I had asked him about his past and he told me his glorious life of traveling here and there and everywhere doctoring, teaching and doing wonderful things. When I told him I had grown up on one street in Mesa and married and moved to the next street over and had raised my children there and still lived there--a street away from my parents-- he put his hand on my forehead and said, "Cathy, we need to get you some help!"</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHRnsVROLCMgAy9ldtbE5ICmcDhQK9ELvmFBPAEXscR_DiRVX38ecJvz8cKAruhmOty1w5OcJM58NDyB7O4-6Hgw5gTJpG-tXfOf7PqTJY0dM9EgINlS8tKZkItOLm2GJ3z5tWRFrIVmv/s1600/boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="1072" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHRnsVROLCMgAy9ldtbE5ICmcDhQK9ELvmFBPAEXscR_DiRVX38ecJvz8cKAruhmOty1w5OcJM58NDyB7O4-6Hgw5gTJpG-tXfOf7PqTJY0dM9EgINlS8tKZkItOLm2GJ3z5tWRFrIVmv/s200/boat.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, I have lived a pretty risk-free, non exciting sort of life. I've only hiked a few miles on the Appalachian Trail when visiting grandchildren who live in Virginia, I have never been on a sailboat, but did get the courage, once, to ride on a water tube behind a boat in Tennessee. And I've never started a million dollar business </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">from scratch</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> , though I have had a piano studio for 43+ years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I obviously could never write a book about my adventuresome life. But I have lived a life that has been intentional, fulfilling and happy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have intentionally stayed at home to raise, teach and nurture my children. I have lived in one very small home with only one bathroom (for most of the time) and taught my children how to work, how to share and how to make do with what you have.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have intentionally taught my children to love God and to serve others who not only live far away, but may live right in your neighborhood and are just as needy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have felt fulfilled as a mother as I watched all my children pay their way thru, and graduate from college, then marry fine individuals and are currently raising wonderful families. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have felt fulfilled as a grandmother each time I babysit and play with my grandchildren.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcP3rDzkQeSZSq1DLnrzehYZTsMpoAAQAaXL9ShwftwY75W4LP8gxVrsuT3vB2ZTVgMHOoflZOSwe2YSWAt57SJi_giX13Q1m229Bdcalm0OSfc0yDKZv3BkEHrm7WGs49npnxaL4Lsz1/s1600/hike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="495" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcP3rDzkQeSZSq1DLnrzehYZTsMpoAAQAaXL9ShwftwY75W4LP8gxVrsuT3vB2ZTVgMHOoflZOSwe2YSWAt57SJi_giX13Q1m229Bdcalm0OSfc0yDKZv3BkEHrm7WGs49npnxaL4Lsz1/s200/hike.jpg" width="167" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have felt overly and abundantly happy as I watch the sunset from my kitchen window while washing dishes, or hike in the desert with a cherished friend, or finally play a song on the banjo it has taken weeks to learn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>By small and simple things are</i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> great things brought to pass</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Alma 37:6-7</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You don't have to do a great and grand adventure with your family. You can, if you want. But please don't underestimate the seemingly small and simple things you are doing every day. The sense of peace and security you give to your children by living your "routinely, boring" day cannot be taken lightly. It is HUGE! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take a close look at your day, at your life, and at your family and marriage. Smile and acknowledge all the good you are doing. Go be adventurous! Go to the library, the museum, sit and help your child practice an instrument, draw, paint, run around in the backyard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whoo whee! Life is good!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading,</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cathy</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-18858386837352500682019-01-20T14:13:00.000-08:002019-01-20T20:46:54.754-08:00Parenting Tip - How to be a StudentI'm in my late 60s, but I'm a student.<br />
I teach piano and ukulele lessons, but I'm a student.<br />
I've already graduated from college and completed a music endorsement, but I'm a student.<br />
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I'm a student because I'm taking mandolin lessons (I'm on week 3!)<br />
I'm a student and just enrolled in a gardening course.<br />
I'm a student and taking a fabric art class.<br />
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But there are many other areas where I'm a student, too.<br />
I'm a student because I'm still learning from my children and grandchildren.<br />
I'm a student because I'm still practicing things like learning not to judge and how to have faith.<br />
I'm a student of the scriptures and learning new things each day I study them.<br />
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I bet if you looked at your life, you would realize you're a student too!<br />
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Sometimes it's fun to be a student. I love to learn and accomplish new things. It's fun to learn to play a new song on the mandolin. Other times, it's not really fun being a student. Not when I cower in fear or uncertainty instead of exercising faith.<br />
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It's easy to say, "Well, I'm just a student, that's why my efforts were not the best. That's why I was wrong and goofed up." or "Hey, what do you expect? I"m just learning?"<br />
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However, being a student-- a really good student---means there are certain requirements we need to fill, certain repetitions we need to perform, and a certain amount of time needed in order to acquire our new skill.<br />
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As a teacher, I tell my music students to practice slowly and play the notes correctly so their brain understands what to do. I tell them to play a short section of their song many times in a row, perhaps 5-10 repetitions. I tell them to watch their fingering and do it correctly each time so their muscle memory can help them later on.<br />
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As a mandolin student I play the G scale on my mandolin over and over again. My teacher says it's important to use the pick correctly, so I play slow and carefully. I'm making progress but I wonder if I'll ever be good enough to play fast.<br />
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My teachers are kind and encouraging, both in my music, gardening and fabric art classes. There are some days when I can almost hear God, the Supreme Teacher, talking to me and encouraging me. "Cathy, be slow and careful in how you want to judge that person." "Cathy, I know you've read your scriptures countless times, read them again and pay attention this time." "Cathy, you may not think you're making progress, but you are, hang in there!"<br />
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I'm a student for life-- learning and progressing one step and one day at a time. I will take it slowly, practice carefully and correctly, and enjoy each little success along my path.<br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-58418651089547136672018-10-22T08:32:00.000-07:002018-10-22T09:46:21.525-07:00Parenting Tip - I'm Not in Control TodayHave you ever been in a bad mood? Out of sorts! Mad at everyone and everything?! Having a "terrible, horrible, very bad, no good day"(s)?!<br />
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That has happened to me <i>so many times</i> during my life, and I'm sure in your life too. Sometimes when I stop to analyze my feelings, I find out that why I'm feeling so mean and rotten is because I'm not in control of certain situations in my life. Things are happening around me that I can't do anything about. And that feels horrible.<br />
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Here are some examples that you might just relate to:<br />
the car needs new tires--no money to pay for them--but it's new tires or an accident's going to happen<br />
your son is dating a girl you don't like<br />
one of your child's teachers require way too much home work, putting lots of pressure on your child<br />
your child has no friends and you don't know what to do about it<br />
you have no closet or storage space in your too small house<br />
your brother has a big gorgeous home with less children and plenty of closet space<br />
your husband is working overtime but you need help with the kids<br />
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I could go on and on with the examples, but you get the idea.<br />
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This summer when I was in Nauvoo, I was having lots of great experiences, but sometimes not having a lot of fun. I realized it was because I was not in control of my situation. I didn't have a car and had to rely on other people to take me where I was suppose to go. I would make new friends and then they would leave after two weeks to go home. Then I had to make another friend and arrange for more rides......<br />
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So after losing my first new friend when she went home, I analyzed my feelings, realized the problem and wrote this song for myself while I went for my daily walks after lunch one week.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I’m Not in Control<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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(tune: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mary Had a
Little Lamb, minor key</i>)</div>
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I’m not in control today</div>
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And I guess, that’s okay</div>
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I need another’s point of view</div>
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I guess they could be right--- it’s true.</div>
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I’m not in control today</div>
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And I guess, that’s okay</div>
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So calm myself and count to ten</div>
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Then breathe and count again!</div>
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(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Major, happy key</i>)</div>
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God is in control today</div>
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And with that, I’m okay</div>
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He sees a broader point of view</div>
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His ways are always true!</div>
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God is in control today</div>
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And with that, I’m okay</div>
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His tender mercies help me see</div>
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His sweet abiding love for me.</div>
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Writing this song really helped me understand that yes, I won't be in control of my situation lots of times in life, but God is always in control. If I rely on his perspective and ask for guidance, he will help me see and understand what I can do to help myself. And he always loves me and sends tender mercies if I keep my eyes open to notice them.</div>
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I hope you can get control of one of your life situations or at least learn how to deal with it. When I can't control a situation and change <u>IT,</u> I try to find <i>something--anything</i> I <u>can do that I'm totally in charge of.</u> Then I feel better. Find a craft or sewing project, do some cooking and baking, or read a book you want to. Going for a walk always helps too. If all else fails, declutter a drawer or cupboard. That ALWAYS makes me feel better. And it's so much easier to do when you're mad, too!</div>
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Thanks for reading,</div>
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Cathy</div>
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PS Have you read this book lately?</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-57778996683686463892018-08-30T11:33:00.003-07:002018-08-30T12:22:21.257-07:00Parenting Tip- Make the most of 10 minutes a day<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif, EmojiFont, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
I was in Nauvoo volunteering in the costume department for most of the summer - 7 weeks. I was helping with the Nauvoo Pageant, that takes place for one month every summer. The British and Nauvoo Pageants tell the story of the missionary work that took place in Great Britain (for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints), the acceptance of the gospel by thousands of people there, and the exodus of those Saints in coming to Nauvoo to help build up the Church. Then the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the exodus to Utah.</div>
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The following is an excerpt from an email I sent to my family:</div>
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This Nauvoo experience is taking me out of my comfort zone and making me grow and stretch. This week I had to become more friendly, look out and befriend new volunteers who have come, ask for help and pray to be able to do hard things. I have relied on the Savior's atonement and He has helped me learn and grow.</div>
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Someone pointed out to me all the things that have happened to me while being here serving: my water pipe broke in the back yard, a tree in my front yard has broken in half tearing out half the tree, and possibly ruining all of it, my laptop broke, but miraculously someone was able to fix it, my phone quit but I discovered I can use my <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">kindle to read emails and books AND it has a camera. So yes, bad things have happened, but I have seen the Lord's hand in resolving most of them too.</span></span></div>
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I have been pondering about something here, and that is how much work and time and expense has gone into the little details that not many people notice. Also, how important the details are and the importance of individuals--the ONE. Example: The pageant is put on for a month. The core cast do the speaking and singing parts for the entire time. But families come for 2 weeks at a time to perform the group parts and dancing. Every week a new group comes (20-25 families). They spend a week learning the dances and movements while watching the group from the week before who came a week before them, actually perform on stage. Then their second week, they perform while the new families that have just come learn and watch them. This entails directors and choreographers teaching the same dances and movements to a new group every week. This means we rip out hems and wash costumes and remark hems and re sew hems on skirts and pants every week. This means the logistics of housing and feeding families is huge. BUT this means 125+ families get to participate and have their testimonies strengthened and renewed. This means hundreds of individual lives are touched.</div>
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Another example: There are two fabric temples used for the pageant. One for rehearsals and one for the performance. They are huge panels that are tall and hoisted up the tower every other night (they are used for the Nauvoo pageant, not the British pageant). 80 women in Utah sewed on them for 6 weeks several years ago. They have cross stitching on them, soft sculpture, ribbons, applique, etc. Hundreds of hours were spent on the temple panels. And they are used on stage for only 10 minutes during the pageant! </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">I couldn't comprehend why all that work was done for a mere 10 minutes of show time. But a new roommate came last night who helped sew on the temple panels. In fact, it was her sister who was asked to make the panels. She said women came every chance they could to work on them and she said what a privilege it was and how much they enjoyed doing it. And when I said, "yes, but for only 10 minutes?" She replied, "but they've been used for 15 years already and 10 minutes times 3 nights a week for 15 years is a lot of use!"</span></div>
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So I've been pondering: what do I do, or could be doing for 10 minutes a day, that when added up, will effect my life dramatically?</div>
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What do I do, or could be doing for 10 minutes a day with my children, that when added up, will effect their lives dramatically?<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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Cathy</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-4975683863470564132018-05-04T09:38:00.000-07:002018-05-04T09:39:22.890-07:00Parenting Tip - Be Inconsistently ConsistentI've noticed two main attitudes that develop in families when things get hard. Either they quit doing the hard thing completely and let it drop, or they make adjustments, streamline the "hard thing" for awhile and then get back to doing it again.<br />
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I've seen this happen over and over again as I have taught piano lessons. The family begins lessons with enthusiasm and commitment and practicing begins in earnest. Then after a few months, LIFE happens. Soccer games, illness, busyness in school and Church, financial problems--you name it, suddenly it becomes too hard to fit practice time in and lessons drop.<br />
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I've experienced this over and over again with family/personal scripture reading, Family Home Evening, and family prayers. You have them consistently but then LIFE happens. It becomes too hard to schedule them in because of late night games or teenagers are at work or your kids have too much homework, or Dad is out of town. And the scripture reading, FHE and prayers drop.<br />
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Life is full of HARD things. But it is in doing those hard things, that real growth and benefit is acquired. So I propose:<br />
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BE INCONSISTENTLY CONSISTENT!<br />
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I've seen it with my piano families. Those who keep on taking lessons and practice when they can, actually do make progress. Example: I teach twins in a family who is very busy raising pigs and goats and showing them at county fairs around the state. When county fair time arrives, they have to miss a lesson here and there and they are so busy with travel, that practice time becomes 10 minutes instead of 30. But they don't quit, they make adjustments and simplify, then get back to normal practice when the fairs are over.<br />
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Another example is my son's family. My daughter-in-law has taught piano to some of the children, exchanged giving lessons with another mom and has even quit for awhile. But when I visited them last week, I was amazed to hear my granddaughter and grandson playing popular music that was quite advanced. In fact, my grandson is accompanying his school class at their Spring Concert. By being inconsistently consistent with piano practice, these two grandchildren are enjoying piano and progressing at it.<br />
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What about scripture reading, prayers and FHE. Each time we read and pray it becomes a thread we weave into our family's tapestry of spirituality. Some days,weeks,months we may be consistently weaving while at other times, the progress is slower. But as we continue to try to be consistent, our pattern takes form and our tapestry grows in beauty and strength.<br />
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Teach your children to do hard things. If you have to make a new chore chart, do it. Give a pep talk, give it. Be a "mean" parent. Be it.<br />
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Teach yourself to do hard things. If you have quit exercising and eating healthy, begin again. My daughter has run 13 half marathons and 2 full marathons, but hasn't ran for two months. Will she begin again? Of course. Life happened and she had to take some time off, but she is still a runner and will continue running in the near future.<br />
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Hard things are hard. But they can be tackled, achieved, and overcome as we continue working on them. We are not perfect and not expected to become perfect in this life. But we can learn, acquire skills and progress as we step forward, fall back, then step forward again. As we consistently keep trying amidst all our inconsistency, we are doing what we should be doing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV9CTlMqMj1rRxmQRi7XlcP8WaGAoyD3OrnXSrO_t4oI-X0w0m4u8bFdgBu25-8wx0kx_3nF8ohw3L5Yq464Gpx2_O8ugv2x4nJzsoYy8DzMlyxlLi70QDay4D4rzrI46Y4xrXQ-Hv4IM/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaV9CTlMqMj1rRxmQRi7XlcP8WaGAoyD3OrnXSrO_t4oI-X0w0m4u8bFdgBu25-8wx0kx_3nF8ohw3L5Yq464Gpx2_O8ugv2x4nJzsoYy8DzMlyxlLi70QDay4D4rzrI46Y4xrXQ-Hv4IM/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
Good luck to all of us!<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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Cathy<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-78609220398596577702018-03-02T08:18:00.002-08:002018-03-02T08:36:30.742-08:00Parenting Tip - Ending Screen Time Peacefully<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Screen time. That's a new phrase I didn't know when I was a young mom. Did you mean screen door?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nope. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Screen time. The time when your child is no longer in the world, but has entered another realm, be it fighting aliens, watching Bob the Builder, or creating his own world with Minecraft. It is very hard to come out of that reality and enter the "now" world. It's not like going to the park and giving your child a 5 minute warning that you'll be leaving soon. It's not like giving your child a 15 minute deadline to get his room cleaned. At times like those, your child is still in this world, he is present in this environment and is alert to what is going on. Not so when he is in screen time.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.parent.com/how-to-end-screen-time-without-a-struggle/" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> French clinical psychologist</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, Isabelle Filliozat, has a peaceful, brilliant way to reduce screen time temper tantrums. Enter your child's world. Sit down by her and gently ask a question about what is going on. <span style="font-size: x-small;"> "</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.02px;"><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.8); font-family: "source sans pro" , "verdana" , "geneva" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.02px;">Once the child starts answering your questions or tells you something she has seen or done on screen, it means that she is coming out of the “cut-off” zone and back into the real world. She’s coming out of the state of flow and back into a zone where she is aware of your existence – but slowly. The dopamine doesn’t drop abruptly, because you’ve built a bridge – a bridge between where she is and where you are. You can start to communicate, and this is where the magic happens.</span></span><br />
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You can choose to start discussing with your child that it’s time to eat, to go have his bath, or simply that screen-time is over now. Because of the minute of easing-in, your child will<span class="Apple-converted-space" style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span>be in a space where he can listen and react to your request."<span style="font-size: 22px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So how do you avoid melt downs when getting your child to end screen time? I encourage you to read this brief, well written article, <a href="https://www.parent.com/how-to-end-screen-time-without-a-struggle/">"How to End Screen Time Without a Struggle."</a> It explains the science about what is happening in your child's brain when he is in screen time and the technique for scientifically helping his brain adjust back in to the real world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks for reading</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cathy</span><br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-38005136157453384232018-02-20T19:54:00.000-08:002018-02-20T19:54:40.596-08:00Parenting Tip - The Contrary ChildI have written several posts about <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/2015/01/ta-da-the-launch-of-my-quiz-on-the-four-tendencies-learn-about-yourself/">Gretchen Rubin's 4 Tendencies</a> and how knowing what your tendency is can help you understand yourself. It can also help you understand others, of course, when you know theirs. <br />
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Gretchen gave a link recently to an article about how to motivate your unmotivated student. She says this is a "rebel" tendency. Interestingly, the author doesn't call children like this "rebels" but "contrarians". To each, their own! I like the label contrarian better than labeling a child a rebel.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtB_fvxhjwzMmnGI07AYRXo_La-LsY87W5Hwjv7bHLZE1ppAzZYcusAWijAZCiqvGzlBaUj30KAffkP3dbgr8DTAZysqO6tb3FtBM8KRbHTXZ9dUL1-i-kmCJn2zg9YXogoXMHOurx8kP/s1600/cutting_unmotivated_to_motivated_paper_sign_with_scissors_cg1p88286799c_th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQtB_fvxhjwzMmnGI07AYRXo_La-LsY87W5Hwjv7bHLZE1ppAzZYcusAWijAZCiqvGzlBaUj30KAffkP3dbgr8DTAZysqO6tb3FtBM8KRbHTXZ9dUL1-i-kmCJn2zg9YXogoXMHOurx8kP/s200/cutting_unmotivated_to_motivated_paper_sign_with_scissors_cg1p88286799c_th.jpg" width="200" /></a>Here is a <a href="https://www.hmc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Insight_issue9_11_BarbOakley.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=other&utm_campaign=opencourse.GdeNrll1EeSROyIACtiVvg.announcements~opencourse.GdeNrll1EeSROyIACtiVvg.7sCNYf0QEeepfQ4cXnij4g">link to the post.</a> <br />
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I really like <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/2017/08/update-on-rebel-preschooler">Gretchen's approach</a> to <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast-episode/podcast-38-do-you-hate-being-told-what-to-do-maybe-youre-a-rebel">dealing with rebels</a>, as well. You can't make a rebel or a contrarian do something and in fact, telling them to do something makes them NOT want to do it. Instead you give them information, consequences and choices. Then the situation is in their hands. I also think you need to give rebels/contrarians space. Walk away, don't nag, and let the decision come when they are ready to make it. Indecision on their part, may start the consequences, but that is their choice.<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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Cathy<br />
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-62685256936495634952018-02-06T14:18:00.000-08:002018-02-07T06:26:57.002-08:00Parenting Tip - How to have Resilient Children<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJJunFi1n3BzTFtN_8wMtm8OdnF2Rvq_y_2HmVnoAlI8_CsOg_kU-WYevMRL3HcJXdUgYMn0Ju_R3eCi37Vd4VGi5Hpmh2vWIKUp2wZGUSkhMaDRO1k9RL7sDuA97v9SEadIs-P-BZujK/s1600/560685_10151193985633349_740567451_n1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="454" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivJJunFi1n3BzTFtN_8wMtm8OdnF2Rvq_y_2HmVnoAlI8_CsOg_kU-WYevMRL3HcJXdUgYMn0Ju_R3eCi37Vd4VGi5Hpmh2vWIKUp2wZGUSkhMaDRO1k9RL7sDuA97v9SEadIs-P-BZujK/s200/560685_10151193985633349_740567451_n1.jpg" width="188" /></a>What is resiliency? To me it is the ability to bounce back after having set backs, negative experiences or trauma. It is the ability to assume our role and feel comfortable with ourselves and our lives and get back to "normal" after having experienced changes in our lives. <br />
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Your whole family has been down with the flu for weeks. But now you are finally back to your schedule. You aren't derailed forever. You are resilient!<br />
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Sometimes BIG changes hit you: you just had a baby, your mother died, you are moving, your husband lost his job, your child was diagnosed with leukemia. But seemingly small changes can also impact us and throw us for a loop as well: soccer season starts, you get a new Church calling, your husband is working overtime and not around to help, your sweet 11 year old becomes a tween. How do we deal with these changes in our lives so that we don't get thrown off track. How do we maintain our family's schedule so our days run smoothly and our children feel safe and secure? How can we be resilient?<br />
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I think we need to remind ourselves of the BIG picture. Step back and look at what is happening now, but also what happened before and what will happen after. Get a larger perspective of life. Yes, your car is broken, with no money to fix it immediately in sight and you feel smothered in your house with your kids. No, this won't last forever--though it seems like it. Your income tax return will pay for the repair in the near future and in the meantime you can take little adventures around the neighborhood with your children. You have managed before and you can manage again. You are resilient!<br />
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It is important as adults to be resilient, but how do we teach resilience to our children?<br />
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Your graduating senior didn't get the scholarship she applied for, your son didn't make the team, your daughter's best friend moved and she has no friends now. Help your children see the BIG picture. Help them see their strengths, and new possibilities opening up. Don't discount their emotions, but let them express their feelings and empathize with them. Help your children see other choices available to them. Let them decide their course of action. Listen to them without criticizing and condemning. Let them feel what they're feeling, but gradually encourage them to "think out of the box".<br />
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Teaching children to be resilient starts when they are young. It starts with you, as the parent, letting them make choices. It means letting them fail, make wrong choices and own their own problems. It is not solving your children's problem but it is offering your love, safety and confidence in them. It is helping them see alternative solutions and possibilities.<br />
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Teaching resilience means not fixing your child's problem but teaching him to fix his own problem.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Resilience</span></b>. Not a word we talk about or hear about much. But what a powerful word!<br />
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Thanks for reading,<br />
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Cathy<br />
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<br />Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2722966263074951876.post-24056221976111125622018-01-16T16:27:00.000-08:002018-01-16T16:27:04.473-08:00Parenting Tip -The silent tragedy affecting today’s childrenI wholeheartedly agree with this post. It is written by an occupational therapist, Victoria Prooday on yourot.com<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px;">There is a silent tragedy developing right now, in our homes, and it concerns our most precious jewels - o</span><em style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; word-wrap: break-word;">ur children.</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px;"> Through my work with hundreds of children and families as an occupational therapist, I have witnessed this tragedy unfolding right in front of my eyes. </span><em style="color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px; word-wrap: break-word;">Our children are in a devastating emotional state</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, serif; font-size: 17px;">! Talk to teachers and professionals who have been working in the field for the last 15 years. You will hear concerns similar to mine. Moreover, in the past 15 years, researchers have been releasing alarming statistics on a sharp and steady increase in kids’ mental illness, which is now reaching epidemic proportions:</span><br />
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<li style="word-wrap: break-word;"> <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/any-disorder-among-children.shtml" style="background: transparent; color: #fd885d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out, border-color 100ms ease-in-out; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">1 in 5 children has mental health problems</a></li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;"><a href="http://www.jaacap.com/article/S0890-8567%2813%2900594-7/abstract" style="background: transparent; color: #fd885d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out, border-color 100ms ease-in-out; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"> 43% increase in ADHD</a></li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;"><a href="http://time.com/4572593/increase-depression-teens-teenage-mental-health/" style="background: transparent; color: #fd885d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out, border-color 100ms ease-in-out; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">37% increase in teen depression</a></li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;"><a href="https://www.pas-meeting.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PAS-2706411-Plemmons-Williams-Suicidality-Trends-PAS17-PR-FINAL.pdf" style="background: transparent; color: #fd885d; text-decoration-line: none; transition: color 100ms ease-in-out, border-color 100ms ease-in-out; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">200% increase in suicide rate in kids 10-14 years old</a></li>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;"><em style="word-wrap: break-word;">How much more evidence do we need before we wake up?</em></strong></h2>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">No,</strong> “increased diagnostics alone” is not the answer!</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">No</strong>, “they all are just born like this” is not the answer!</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">No</strong>, “it is all the school system’s fault” is not the answer!</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Yes</strong>, as painful as it can be to admit, in many cases, WE, parents, are the answer to many of our kids’ struggles!</div>
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It is scientifically proven that the brain has the capacity to rewire itself through the environment. Unfortunately, with the environment and parenting styles that we are providing to our children, we are rewiring their brains in a wrong direction and contributing to their challenges in everyday life.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;">Yes</strong>, there are and always have been children who are born with disabilities and despite their parents’ best efforts to provide them with a well-balanced environment and parenting, their children continue to struggle. These are NOT the children I am talking about here. </div>
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I am talking about many others whose challenges are greatly shaped by the environmental factors that parents, with their greatest intentions, provide to their children. As I have seen in my practice, the moment parents change their perspective on parenting, these children change. </div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;"><em style="word-wrap: break-word;">What is wrong?</em></strong></h2>
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Today’s children are being deprived of the fundamentals of a healthy childhood, such as:</div>
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<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Emotionally available parents</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Clearly defined limits and guidance</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Responsibilities</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Balanced nutrition and adequate sleep</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Movement and outdoors</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Creative play, social interaction, opportunities for unstructured times and boredom</li>
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Instead, children are being served with:</div>
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<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Digitally distracted parents</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Indulgent parents who let kids “Rule the world”</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Sense of entitlement rather than responsibility</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Inadequate sleep and unbalanced nutrition</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Sedentary indoor lifestyle</li>
<li style="word-wrap: break-word;">Endless stimulation, technological babysitters, instant gratification, and absence of dull moments</li>
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Could anyone imagine that it is possible to raise a healthy generation in such an unhealthy environment? Of course not! There are no shortcuts to parenting, and we can’t trick human nature. As we see, the outcomes are devastating. Our children pay for the loss of well-balanced childhood with their emotional well-being.</div>
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<strong style="word-wrap: break-word;"><em style="word-wrap: break-word;">How to fix it?</em></strong></h2>
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If we want our children to grow into happy and healthy individuals, we have to wake up and go back to the basics. It is still possible! I know this because hundreds of my clients see positive changes in their kids’ emotional state within weeks (and in some cases, even days) of implementing these recommendations:</div>
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Please read the rest of the <a href="https://yourot.com/parenting-club/2017/5/24/what-are-we-doing-to-our-children">post here</a>:https://yourot.com/parenting-club/2017/5/24/what-are-we-doing-to-our-children</div>
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Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15533178147107805323noreply@blogger.com0