Pssst... Hannah can spell

Bernie and Ning Spears our wonderful, incredible next door neighbors were over eating dinner this evening. I was eating a burger with everything on it and Bernie asked if it was going to be like that Hardees commercial where the beautiful, young woman is enjoying her burger a little too much. I laughed and Ashley said that was borderline risque (the commercial). Bernie's reply was that it was beyond risque and then he spelled out that he thought is was P-O-R-N. Hannah perks up at this and says, "What does P-O-R-N spell? Porn? Mom, what's porn?" It was hilarious! We had to play it off like Bernie spelled B-O-R-N-- by the way she was not fooled. Bernie forgot that she can now spell--very well I might add. I am going to have to explain
P-O-R-N pretty soon. I guess "the talk" is not too far away. At least she will be familiar with some of the verbage.

I cried

I can be an emotional person, although I do try to keep my emotions in check. BUT, I am not afraid to admit that American Idol-- yes, American Idol made me cry tonight. I LOVE Danny and he was sent home tonight. But, it wasn't just about him being sent home... As I listened to him sing "You Are So Beautiful to Me," a Joe Cocker song and one of my favorites, I was thinking he must be singing this to his wife (who passed away of heart problems 10 months ago in her 20's). I heard Ashley call from upstairs, "I don't know how he can sing that..." How did he sing that when his emotions must be so raw from losing her? His heart must be aching and full in so many ways...I just had to cry thinking of the beauty of our (as mortals) ability to love. I know it is soooooo cheesy and I am really probably am a cheesy person underneath my tough exterior, but I was just grateful for love and Jesus Christ. He teaches how to love completely because his love is perfect. I have been trying to love that way in all aspects of my life and fall short, but that is the other great thing-- He makes up the difference. So, all this from American Idol! Can you believe it? I really am nuttier than you all realized or maybe you did and were trying not to hurt my feelings. It is okay. I am a tough cookie. I grew up with George and Shane as brothers-- they teased me relentlessly ;0)

Now do I watch the finals? I really don't like Adam Lambert... One (a phenomenal U2 song) was awful last night. Maybe Kris can take him. He is really cute and he can sing. I am a little embarrassed. What if I am the only one who watches American Idol in my peer group? LOL. What do I care? Have you seen what I wear to take Hannah to school. If that doesn't embarrass me (or Ashley and the kids) then nothing will. Maybe I will take pictures sometime. And I complain what the kids wear--

Seriously?

Having gone to the Seriously, so Blessed blog a few times I am not sure I really like it. Her humor though funny at times, seems a little over the top. Her latest post about blessing her babies has some truth to it, (http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/), but I have only once heard a birth story from the pulpit. And that was a new member from my mission-- who was a little nutty... Anyways, what do you think? Is she over the top? I guess, although some of those generalizations hold true, we sure aren't in Utah but in the beautiful south. Zion is where you can get to the beach or the mountains in a couple of hours and see no less than 30 Baptist churches on your way.

Jokes on me

Just an fyi... That last post... The lady on that blog was joking. I guess some people will believe anything ;0)

And you think I have it bad

My husband thinks I am a nut about couponing... Well, I have nothing on this woman-- http://seriouslysoblessed.blogspot.com/2009/05/holy-crud-couponing-rocks.html-- Katie linked me up to her blog--- WOW!

Is there such a thing as a pathological couponer?

Motherhood

Reflecting on motherhood is such a bittersweet thing. This week is a time to remember our mothers and their love and care, but my thoughts often turn to my own children and the kind of mother I am to them. Do I teach them enough of what they will need as they grow? Will they be women of strength, integrity, love and faith? How can I give them what they need and what God wants them to have? Will they one day call me blessed?

Motherhood is little of what I expected when I began, but so much more than I could ever deserve. Sometimes all the little voices and needs seem to come all at once and I can't handle another minute and other times the soft whispers and giggles are what Heaven must be. I love it and I love them. I hope they feel it and that I can move them to be the people that I pray for them to be. Here is a poem I searched all over for that President Hinckley shared a few years back. It reflects the beauty of being a mother...

"You are the vacation I did not take;
You are the pearls I cannot buy;
You are my blue Italian lake;
You are my piece of foreign sky."

Ann Campbell "To My Child"

May we celebrate the beauty of motherhood and childhood daily...
Shannon