Bonus Post: Mother's Day!

The other day, all five of us were driving in the van.  I do not remember where we were going, or what time it was.  I only remember the fact that Baby K was so upset; he was screaming his head off.  He was fed, and he was changed... he was just sleepy, and he wasn't going to give up easily.  He was in the seat directly behind mine (the passenger seat, since Hoss was driving).  I was twisted around so that I could give Baby K his pacifier.  While trying to sooth him, I began to sing to him.  I sang about five or more songs, and he began to quiet shortly after I began.

Cuties that I am blessed to call my kids

Once all was quiet, I glanced to the very back of the van to see Big T and Little H watching me intently.  I'm going to be honest with you, at first, I was a little startled.  I smiled at them and winked before turning around in my seat.

Big T and Little H were so quiet and careful to listen, because they love to hear me sing.  I don't want to sound like I claim to be an awesome singer, because I do not claim such a thing.  I can carry a tune, that's about it.  :)  The girls ask quite often if I will sing them a song at bedtime (mostly Little H), but I don't do it very often.  But since having Baby K, I have been singing a whole lot more, because he loves to hear it.  Much of the time, when he is upset, it is the only thing that will calm him down.  He will even try to sing with me by cooing and making cute sounds while I sing... so needless to say, I have been singing a lot more since he was born than I have in a long time, so its no wonder why T and H stopped to listen.

I pondered the incident in the van, and I thought back to my own childhood.  I loved to watch my mother sing.  I loved to hear her voice.  It was just one of those things that made me happy, and helped me feel safe, warm and loved.

My wonderful, talented, and beautiful mother Kathy!

I have a memory of sitting on the kitchen counter when I was quite young... maybe a little younger than Little H.  My mom was singing a song that she wrote.  I was trying to sing along with her.  The only part that I can think of right now is the part that says, "Someone's spilling milk on the floor."  *Mom, you did write that song correct??*

My mother is a wonderful woman.  She is the reason for all of my good qualities.  She taught me how to work, to have a love for music, and a love for our Savior Jesus Christ.  She taught me what it means to serve and love our fellow men.  She taught me through example to have faith in the Lord, and to put all trust in Him.  I have a wonderful mother, who I have patterned my own mothering after.




So, Happy Mother's Day, mom!  I also want to extend the wishes to my Grandmothers Charlotte and Mary Lou, my sister Kendra, my sisters-in-law, and last but not least, my mother-in law, Dixie.  After all, she did raise my most wonderful husband!

T & H's personalities: Princess & Goof

Well, I had better get going, the dinner won't cook itself, the baby won't feed himself (yet), and the girls are calling for my attention!  Who was it that said, "A mother's work is never done?"... I wish they were wrong!

Happy Mother's Day!

Begging, and The Power of Discernment

Where to begin.

Ever since being here in Roswell, I have come to notice that nearly every time I go to a store, I encounter someone asking for money.  Sometimes, it is someone who looks like the world chewed them up and spit them back out, leaving them with a sign, and usually a dog.  Other times, they look, not quite so harassed, but definitely lacking.  And sometimes these people are passively sitting on the side of the road, or walking around the store parking lot.

Picture Source

When do you know that these people are the real deal?  Personally, I don't like to be tricked into giving someone money who doesn't really need it.

North of town, by the Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, is where you typically see the beggars with their signs, sitting and hoping for someone to help them.  If find it interesting, that there is an frequenter there.  I've seen him many times over the last year.  He always looks the same, but I can't help but wonder, "Is he the real deal?"

What Would You Do? video clip.


 I have three examples from my experiences that I want to share:

1.  When we were first in Roswell, Hoss got a second full-time job at a Sprint dealer.  He worked long hours, and was often unable to leave on time (we had one car at the time).  One long wait of nearly one hour, I sat and watched one beggar.  He had approached me when I first pulled up, but once he realized that I didn't have any spare change (I almost never carry cash anymore), he left me alone, but stayed in the area.  I watched as he flagged cars down, asked for money, and collected.  About 45 minutes into my wait, I watched as he pulled out a cell phone and began talking into it.  He then proceeded to a fairly nice car, in which he got into and drove away.  Fraud?  Or did he just hit a rough patch in his life?  Either could be very possible, but my judgement leans toward fraud... partly because as he was walking past my car, I gave him a quizzical look, and he merely laughed heartily and continued on his way.

2.  This encounter happened just a few days ago.  I went to Albertson's to get some ice cream, and some change for Big T's and Little H's field trip to the movie theater next week.  As I was walking to my car, a woman sidled up to me.  Once she had my attention, she began her rapid speech of having kids at home alone (out of town I might add) with no gas to get there.  She was determined to sell me anything... her watch, her ????.... I don't know what else she said, because it was a slur of words.  She was teetering, and she could not focus.  I've been around enough to see when someone is intoxicated, and that she was.  My 'spidy senses' told me "No!  Do not give this woman money!"  So I politely told her that I did not have spare change (which I did not, remember, the cash was for T and H).  She grumbled and walked off.

3.  This is the encounter that prompted this whole post.  Today, after getting a snow cone for T and H, a man came up to me as I was getting ready to leave.  He asked me if I could get him some food.  He was meek, like this was his last resort.  He didn't have a long flashy tale to share with me about how and why he got to where he is.  He was hungry, and he asked.  I did not know what to say.  Due to most of my experiences, I am kind of skeptical.  My internal thoughts went from, "Well, I'm not going to buy him food from a restaurant... I don't have money for that, to I could take him to the grocery store and buy him some food."  However, I found myself ignoring the prompting to help this man.  I, like most people, do not like being put on the spot, and I felt rushed about making such a split second decision.  We have a tight budget.. down to the penny, and plus, I would need to check with Hoss first... I do this before purchasing anything.  So what did I do?  I said no.

Now, before you start thinking that I am a stingy person, please, keep reading.  At this point in the evening, Baby K was hungry and screaming his head off in the van.  But I could hardly hear him.  The only thing that I could hear was the silence within, and the scripture, "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger and ye took me in: [...] Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me (Matt 25: 35, 40)."  I called Hoss at work as I began to turn around.  It took everything I had not to break down on him over the phone.  I explained what happened, and that I had made the wrong choice.  I mentioned that I was going to go back and buy him some food... like I should have.

It took me no more than ten minutes to get back to where he was.  I drove all around, and up the street.  I even looked in the restaurant that was next to the sno cone shack.  He was no where to be found.  I dejectedly drove back home, close to tears for failing as a disciple of Christ.

My lesson?  Never ignore the promptings of the Holy Ghost.  I do not feel bad for denying the first two examples of money, but this one, leaves me feeling the need to repent.




PS for the most recent episode of Sora"s Journey click here.

Feature Wednesday: Lovely T

I am trying to be a more avid blogger.  I want to keep long distance relatives updated on my family, and I want this to be more of a journal of the happenings in my life, as I see them.  So, I am creating Feature Wednesday.  Each member of my family will rotate each Wednesday.  Today?  Its Big T!

Big T took it upon herself to prepare a Family Home Even Lesson a few weeks ago.  I had a paper due for my Communications class, so I was preoccupied with that... I hadn't even thought about FHE (as I look down shamefully).  She created a collage picture of a temple and taught us about them.  She is a dynamic little girl, and I am so glad that she humbled me.  She remembered what was important.  Her words were, "I wanted to make a picture of a temple, but then a thought came to me, 'plan a Family Home Evening lesson too!'"

What a sweet little girl.  I am sure that this will not be the only lesson I learn from her, especially since there have been so many others before hand.

 Family Home Evening is a program that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has encouraged each family to take part in.  Basically, Family Home Evening is a time that the family gets together to learn, play, and grow closer as a family.  We typically have a lesson on a gospel teaching.  We pray, sing hymns, and counsel each other on how we can do better.  The prophet, President Thomas S. Monson encourages each and every family to set aside this time each Monday night.  That is a day that no Church meetings are held, so as to encourage this time.

PS There is a new post on Sora's Journey.  Check it out!!

20: Confusing Feelings

Witold sat in a small windowless room, on a flimsy metal chair with his hands patiently in his lap.  The walls were made of light stone blocks, which gave the room a cold feeling.  There was a metal door with a small window toward the top.  Witold was told that this was where he would be staying while in the human realm, all though there was no bed.

He stood up and walked to the door.  He reached for the door knob to ask Jess how long until Sora would be back, when he realized that there was not a handle.  The only thing there was a circular plate.  The door must have opened from the outside only.  Witold pressed his face up against the glass window to try and see Jess.  She was no where to be seen.

Witold had played off the stories about humans as a story to scare little Kiswan into doing what they were told.  If you didn't do what was expected, then the humans would come and get you.  Even Jess seemed to tiny and harmless, that he immediately put all thought of dangerous humans out of his mind... until now.  He began to pace the room looking for a way out.  He was not going to get this far and lay down.  If tiny little Jess could make him feel so comfortable, then turn around and lock him up, what might she have done to Sora?

That thought stopped him in his tracks.  He hadn't thought about that.  Was Sora alright?  He pulled the stone out of his pack and cradled it in his hand like it was a delicate flower that was beginning to wilt.  The glow that came from it was brighter than it had ever been.  Sora had to be close!  But what if something bad had happened to her, and the stone was left behind?

Picture Source

He marched over to the door and began to pound on it.  The sound echoed through the entire building, but no one seemed to be around.  Where had Jess gone?  What was she going to do with him?  She was so tiny that he could have lifted her with one hand and tossed her aside.

The turmoil inside was alarming to Witold.  He had never had such hostile feelings toward anything.  His heart was pounding in his chest.  He had to break free!  He began pacing again as he felt his adrenaline building up.  Unsure of what he was doing, Witold walked up to wall next to the door and kicked it with all of his might.

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As they waited, Sora and Justin sat on the tailgate of his truck.  The wind had begun to pick up, and in the distance they could see a brown haze.  The trees put off a fragrance that permeated the air, showing off its lush healthy foliage.  Had it not been for an odd twist in events for the day, Justin would have been completely content.  He had never met a girl like Sora before.  She was so down to earth, and exotic.  Her drive alone was an intriguing feature about her.  She never seemed to stray from what she was supposed to be doing.  He admired that about her.  Ever since Sora had seen her friend Witold, she hadn't said much at all.  She seemed to be thousands of miles away, yet she sat right next to him.

Even her sweet aroma trumped that of the lush trees in whose shade they waited.  Justin leaned back in order to pull an apple from the ice chest.  His heart pounded with excitement as he sat back up.  In the split second it took to retrieve the apple, he acted upon impulse.  Justin quickly put his arm around Sora.

She removed her attention from the gravel road and looked Justin directly in the eyes.  They seemed to glow, with the flecks of gold adorning the beautiful brown eyes.  Before she could say anything, Justin leaned in, his cheeks flushing... the sun must have gotten hotter... He paused slightly...


Jess's voice could be heard shortly before it cut out completely, followed by the purr of her little car.  Sora hopped off of the tailgate and dashed through the trees only to see the tail lights of Jess's little blue car.


"Justin!"  Sora called back toward the truck, "She left!  Let's go get Witold!"


Justin slowly slid off of the tailgate and whispered to himself, "Right... Witold."  He wondered why he felt like Witold was more than just a friend to Sora.


Sora was apparently impatient, because she ran back toward the truck, nearly bumping into Justin.  "Let's go in!"


"Wait!  Hang on!"  Justin couldn't help but smile at Sora's percistence.  "We need to go in slowly and quietly to make sure no one else is in there.  The last thing we need is for the mayor to call the police on us for trespassing."


"Trespassing?  What's....." Sora was interrupted by Justin.


"Trespassing is when one person goes in another person's house our yard without asking first."  Justin crouched down next to a bush in order to observe the building.


Justin looked up at Sora, "Well, come on!  You don't want to be seen!"


Sora obediently crouched down as well.  "How long do we have to wait?"


"Well, we need to make sure that Jess is not coming back."  Justin took a bite of his apple and chewed then swallowed.  "We need to give it at least ten minutes."  Another bite..... "Then we'll go in."


Sora sighed and leaned against a tree.


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Sitting across from Justin, Sora had time to reflect on what had just happened.  She knew that she liked Justin, but something about the feelings felt so wrong.  She absentmindedly picked the bark off of a stick.  She wanted nothing more than to choose a partner that she loved, not just the partner that she was told to partner with.  Something strange had happened just before Sore had left the Kiswone Nation.  It was unsettling, and she had tried as hard as she could to push it out of her mind.... until she actually saw Witold riding in Jess's car.


Needless to say, Sora was very grateful for the distraction that prevented Justin from kissing her.  She had to focus on her task at hand.  If she didn't succeed, it wouldn't be very long before no one would be able to fall in love.


Sora timidly said, "Justin, I..." she stopped, "I can't," was all she could get out.

"Why?"  Justin's voice sounded truly hurt.

"I don't know...I just have to focus on my quest."  Sora tossed the stick aside and stood up.

Justin remained squatting down, giving himself time to think.  "Well, I suppose, now that your friend is here, you won't be needing my help."

Sora was very confused at the change in Justin's tone.  Humans were very sensitive beings... even if Justin had Kiswan blood running through his veins.

Justin interrupted his thoughts, "Look, forget it...we can go now."

He climbed the fence and turned around expectantly waiting for Sora to follow.  Once she was over, Justin looked back and forth, and began to stealthily walk toward the building.  Before he could take two steps, they heard a loud crash come from within.  Both Sora and Justin forgot about being sneaky and sprinted, closing the distance between them and the building much faster.  Justin tried the doorknob, and oddly enough, it was unlocked!  He turned the knob, and pulled the door open, trying to see inside through the dim lighting.

Sora stepped through the doorway first, pausing to let her eyes adjust to the sudden darkness.  There was not one light on, and there were not any windows in the large room.  Sora glanced down each wall, and found a short hallway scattered with broken cinder blocks.  Emerging from the hallway was Witold, a fierce look in his eyes.