On the Jones side of the family, we like to take a cousins’ photo on Easter. We’ve done it for the past few years. Totally forgot this year so we tried on Mother’s day, when we also celebrated birthdays. It’s always a challenge to get them all happy, smiling, and looking the same direction!
It’s amazing how much these kids grow in a year:
2009:
2010: 
2011:
My husband and I took the kids to the movies this weekend. That’s something we almost never do. But the oldest was dying to see “Pirates of the Caribbean,” so dad surprised him with that. I took the younger two to see “Kung Fu Panda 2.” I had really no expectations for it. The first one was cute, but not my favorite movie. I was delightfully surprised by this movie!
I was also surprised by the “life lessons” weaved into the movie. Without any spoilers, there’s a point in the movie where Po, the panda, realizes that the goose who has raised him isn’t really his dad and he begins to question who he really is.
He meets someone who tells him, “I’m sorry your story has a really horrible beginning, but that’s not who you are now.” Pretty deep thought for a kids’ movie!
I’ve known people who have let their future be predicated by their past. They had a horrible upbringing…... their parents didn’t love them enough...their parents loved them too much...they were foster kids...they didn’t have the childhood they thought they deserved…...whatever it was, they used that as their excuse for not doing anything with their future. Sad.
I’ve also known people who came from those same kinds of backgrounds and have done everything to rise above. Those are impressive people. Those are people I look up to.
It makes me think of a phrase that I learned from a teacher in school. It’s a 10-word phrase made of all two-letter words, “If it is to be, it is up to me!”
I made a digital sticker for a reminder for you and me! I put a butterfly on it because the butterfly is a great symbol of change! Click on the picture or the link to download.
Preface: We live in a wonderful community with a lake and boats for the residents to take out. My mother-in-law lives in the same community and takes the kids out (Ty mostly) with her.
On the way home from scouts this week:
Ty: “Hey mom, when the boat docks open, can I see if I can go out on a sailboat with Grandma?”
Em: “I wanna go too!”
Me: “Well, we can all go. We all went last summer and had fun, or you guys could take turns with Grandma.”
Ty: “Well, I get to go, because I know more about boats than she does.”
Me: “Ty, you know more because you went more with Grandma last summer, but she can go too.”
Ty: “Mom, I know more about boats, because I’ve been playing ‘Lego Pirates of the Caribbean’ a lot.”
Yep, he said it!
I read this when I started college just a mere few years ago. Okay, more than a few years ago. I’ve kept this handy and read it on occasion.
Fascinated by the conduct of flying geese, Dr. Robert McNeish, wrote "Lessons From Geese" for a sermon in his church in 1972. Demonstrating the power of a good idea, his essay spread and has become a classic statement of the importance of teamwork.
Fact: As each goose flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another.
Fact: When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson: It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's skills, capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or resources.
Fact: The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up their speed.
Lesson: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact: When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again. Then they launch out with another formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong.
Fact: When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of flying alone. It quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we stay in formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their help and give our help to others.
Mathematically, 1+1=2. Synergistically, 1+1=3. For example, you can lift a 10-pound weight with your right hand and a 10-pound weight with your left hand, but when you use both hands to lift weight, you an lift more than just 20 pounds. Don’t believe me? Try it!
We’re better together than we are separately!
Dear Child,
I can’t even tell you how horrible that simple phrase made me feel. “I know you can’t come on the field trip.” It wasn’t stated in understanding; it was stated in sadness. Yes, I signed your permission sheet, but you were right, I couldn’t check that box that said I would be able to chaperone your trip. I told you I was sorry, but I could see the disappointment on your face. I don’t know if you could see the disappointment on mine.
I tried to explain that one of the reasons I couldn’t go was because I couldn’t bring your little brother along. But of course, you knew the other reason…mom has a job. Yes, I get to work from home, but I do have to work.
We’ve had this talk before, about why I work. We’ve had this talk when we talk about allowance too, about how there are always things we want, but we have to earn them. Working for them (chores for you) makes you appreciate them and it also helps you decide how much you want (or don’t really want) something.
In my ideal world, Dad would still be happily employed and be able to work from home like he used to. In my ideal world, I wouldn’t HAVE to work, but rather could work if I wanted to. In my ideal world, I could chaperone all of my kids’ fieldtrips and help out in your classrooms. I could sign you kids up for all of the activities that you want to, whether it be karate, gymnastics, horseback riding, etc., because I would have the time to take you to all of them and no worries about finances.
In my ideal world, life would be fair. Grandmas and uncles wouldn’t have cancer. Teachers wouldn’t have brain tumors. Everyone who wanted a baby could have one. Wonderful people wouldn’t have incurable diseases. However, this isn’t the world we live in. We chose to come to Earth and we chose to be tested. Otherwise, how would we grow?
Dad and I try to be examples to you kids in the value of hard work. I know how hard it is to have Dad gone so much for work and have me work too. I get it. I understand it. Trust me, it’s hard on us too. But we all make choices and it’s a good lesson in commitment and hard work. We love you guys. We love where we live. We feel so strongly that it’s where we need to be at this point in time…for you kids and for us. Because of those choices, we do what we have to do.
So, I’m sorry that this time I can’t chaperone your field trip. But I’m even more sorry that it makes you sad. I’m not sorry, however, that we are setting good examples for you, in responsibility, accountability, and commitment. Don’t ever forget that we do all these because we love you kids.
With Love,
Mom
Hubby’s playing with the kids for a minute, so I’m posting my thoughts on Food Storage. I know people (yep, I know people) who are doing really well with food storage, it really motivates me. One of my favorite things about my Utah home is my cold storage room in my basement. Not only is it extra room, it’s cold room, ideal for food storage.
Food storage to me is more than just stocking up for a disaster, it’s about having that extra jar of peanut butter when I run out, or a “meal” waiting downstairs for when I haven’t time to plan or run to the store.
There are more than a few companies around who sell the pre-packaged food storage food and I have been curious. eFoods Global is a premier food reserve company in Utah. This isn't your ordinary food storage or military-style MRE food. This food tastes awesome! Trust me on this one. It is to-die-for delicious!
Their mantra is: SERVE, SAVE, SHARE. You can SERVE it tonight for dinner, SAVE it for future times of need, and SHARE it with others to help them get prepared. The foods have a 15-year shelf-life and include things like chili, beef stroganoff, chicken and rice, broccoli cheddar soup, corn bread, and many more.
eFoods is currently offering 6 FREE meals to anyone who will take their "FOOD FREEDOM TOUR". The tour is a series of 5 short videos illustrating why being prepared with food storage is important, and why eFoods is the obvious choice. The tour is located here: http://prepareandprosper.myefoodsglobal.com. The 6 meals are FREE and customers are asked to pay $9.95 for shipping.
I have started watching the videos and will finish them. Six free meals and the chance to try a great product to add to my food storage is definitely worth the little time investment involved! If you watch and get free meals, let me know what you think. Do you have any favorites? What’s your “rotation” plan?
I’ll update after we’ve gotten our free meals and tried them out!
Disclosure: The links are sponsored by eFoods Global, but, as always, the thoughts and opinions are mine!
If I were to describe myself in one word, taking away the obvious, “mom,” “wife,” etc., I’d say “Reader.” I’m a reader. I love to read, whether it’s reading for fun, knowledge, enlightenment, etc., I love to read. I love books.
I know a lot of people love to read and there are those people who don’t (gasp!) love to read. To each his own. As a mom who loves to read, I have always encouraged my kids to read too. It was/is easy when they are young. Books are colorful. Books are fun. Books rhyme. As my kids have gotten older, I’m always on the lookout for books that will hook them.
Emma, 7, is easy. Give her any book about any animal and she’s good. Austin, 2-1/2, is easy. Give him any book about cars, tractors, Buzz Lightyear, or Lightning McQueen and he’s good.
Tyson, 9, is a different story. He enjoys reading, but it has to be something that he gets invested in. He’s read a few series that have been fun for him, like the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series and the “How to Train Your Dragon” series. Stuff like that.
I’ve read every book that Brandon Mull has written. I know that Tyson would love his books. The Fablehaven series. They hooked me from the first page. Fablehaven is the the story of a hidden refuge for mystical creatures that is run by Kendra and Seth’s grandparents. “Inside the gated woods, ancient laws give relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies.”
Kids are curious and rules get broken. Kendra and Seth must save Fablehaven, their family, and their lives. It is an awesome story that totally appeals to adults and kids, boys and girls. I could not read them fast enough. Has Tyson read them? No. Why? The answer is simple, because MOM likes them. I’ve tried for months now to get him to read them, but no.
On Monday, Brandon Mull came to the kids’ school for an assembly. He talked about the Fablehaven series, as well as his first book in a new series, The Beyonders. He talked to the kids about his inspiration for writing. My son came home so excited and told me that Brandon Mull was going to be holding a book signing in our neighborhood that night and how much he wanted to go. I was so glad, because I knew about the book signing and knew I’d have to convince the kids to come wait in line with me. There aren’t too many people I’d give up my time to have some books signed, but Brandon Mull is one of those authors I’d give up time for. I didn’t have to do any convincing at all. The kids happily came with me, excited to meet him.
Luckily, we didn’t have to wait too long at all. We arrived early and got in line near the front. I was excited to meet Brandon Mull and to tell him how much I love his work, but I was also excited that Tyson came with me and got excited to read The Beyonders. I’m afraid I’m going to have to fight him for it!
Thanks, Brandon Mull, for writing books that excite kids to read, that excite boys to read, that excite parents to read too!
Disclosure: Brandon Mull has no idea who I am other than the fact that I gushed about his books like a preteen at a Bieber concert on Monday night! I just love his work and wanted to spread the word.
