Scared Straight

A month or so ago I had Julia cornered for a heart to heart. Since she is no longer in the seminary program at church, not taking college courses (which usually includes a religious course), and not attending sunday school (she is working with the children's primary) I had some concerns about her spiritual welfare. Wanting to express myself in a way that she would understand I said, "You know Julia, the first thing that happens when you stop reading your scriptures is you start showing up in public wearing a tube top."

Feel free to ask me advice about your parental concerns.

~Caryn Stapp, parenting expert

No stopping a Tidal Wave

I suppose once you stamp and send 250 announcements to your child's wedding you can't easily stop the nuptial tidal wave. Of course it is not impossible. About a year ago I received an invitation to a wedding of the daughter of an old friend. Two week later I received a retraction to the invite. The wedding was off. What happened? I know nothing. But I can guarantee that the mother of the unbridled youngster was worked to the bone to no end.

I am being worked, tested... but with ribboned and embossed announcements now in the air mail system, I'm extremely certain there will be a happy ending. My daughter is getting married. She is going to the temple. She is going with Ben. Ben will happily take her there. We are going to celebrate together with family and friends. Ben will take her to a new home. Then they will have 10 grand kids for me to kiss.


The announcements are out, there is no stopping it and I'm extremely happy!

Counter Argument

See if you can find the counter argument in Samuel's paper here (typed without correction)

My Dad deserves the award "The Top Helper". He helps clean. He finds things that are lost. And he fixes things that are broken.

My Dad keeps things tidy. He helps clean my room. He makes the yard spotless.

My Dad always fixes broken things. He fixes dishwashers to spinklers. The things he fixes are always good as new.

I know you probably think my Dad is lazy. But when it is working time he is the best. He keeps things spotless. He is a great seeker. And items that are broken will be fixed.

Samuel Stapp

A Message For Our Day

Engaging Thoughts

Rachel and Ben called last night. There's going to be a wedding. I already knew it, but it became more concrete with the diamond on her hand. Here are some thoughts running through my head.

1. Ben is adorable, funny, tall, good and will produce like children.
2. Rachel is happier than ever and she has an immense love for Ben.
3. Rachel and Ben are going to the temple! Curits and I could not ask for more. It is the true blessing of life. I thought giving birth to her was the incredible moment, but this!!! Wow!
4. I hope I can get to the fabric store, and then there's the cakes, food, decorations, money, December weather, it's going to be the party of the year!!
5. Grateful for my sisters and friends! Feel the faith, it can be done (in a wheelchair).

Feeling Young Again

I have not showered since last Wednesday. Almost a week. To boot, I played a sweaty and crazy ball game that day (about 5 hours after my last shower). I don't think I stink, but people aren't really being straigtht with me either. It's like I am a child again. Sometimes people talk like I'm not in the room. Natalie came over and planned my life through 2020 (that's when my leg heals and I become an adult) Julia has 100% been treating me like a baby. If I don't have my leg at just the right angle...well! She has been rubbing my head and has totally taken over the household and raising my boys. Curtis bought me some baby wipes. I believe these have to do with the no shower dilema in which I find myself. When they start serving creamed meats and showing old Barney reruns, I might has well throw in the hooded towel.

ps. I love you all!!!

Change is Humbling

I remember the first week I stood in front of the 3-11 year old singers at church.. They were extremely intimidating. Their little patent leather shoes shining in my eyes. An older young lady glaring me down. Older boys slouching and scowling. One girl lifted the dress over her head and caught me off guard. Hmmm...Maybe if I try that I could get their attention. I thought better and just started wearing strange costumes and using dramatic accents.

A year and a half later and I feel comfortable making a fool of myself in front of 30 some odd young children. Kids are my passion. They young ones like to wrap their arms around my leg and tell me family secrets. I especially love this part. We have cried together (mostly the sunbeams when they don't get called to help). The 9-11 year old boys have gained so much self-confidence by pointing out every one of my minute flaws. (Believe it or not, the teachers can sometimes be the hardest to control. I have perfected ways to bring them down.)

In a few weeks we will perform our years work for the parents! It will be my last moment with these little friends. A wonderful way to go out! Looking forward to the change and the humility (or humiliation) I will experience in my new life experience.

Coming Back to the Fold!

It is Saturday.  I'm going back on Facebook today!  I have something really important to say to the world and it cannot wait!  And I feel out of touch!  Besides, I've got to see how my husband is doing anyway.  

All of you who thought I was a strong willed person , think twice!

I vaguely remember my new password, something about addiction or the 12 step Facebook anonymous program.

facebook hiatus

I'm officially taking a break from Facebook!!!  YES.  I have had a great summer eavesdropping on everyone's life, photos, information.  I especially have enjoyed responding to FB friends ups and downs.

Years ago I took the plunge and said goodbye to T.V.  What a wonderful thing that was.  I'm not so sure I will be as happy about getting off Facebook, as it is so much more entertaining.  I will give myself a week.  I have not taken myself off the social network.  I should know in a weeks time how I feel about the facebook fast. 

I have changed my password and made it so difficult to remember that I cannot get on without working things out with the password police.  I have taken it off my bookmarks, and this morning actually felt relieved about it.  It was license to refocus on my own family (which was the purpose of getting FB in the first place).   

Anyway, all you FB friends (I took my twitter bookmark off too, but may have to get back on this because I get into Julia's mind through this medium) who read this blog, you can call me or email me or better yet, just come over!  I love you ALL!!!

Costco Photo

I wrote this entry last spring for another blog, but I was using my own advice today at my beloved Costco.

Costco has a great price on 4x6 photos. 13 cents!!! I made 150 photos of my Mom for around $20 for her funeral. The folks who attended loved them.

Here are some ideas for using your 13 cent print.

1. A marriage anouncement photo in glossy or matte (I will not be needing this advice anytime soon, right?)!
2. Kid photo postcards (put the photos on tagboard and send them across the planet).
3. A special gift with all your photos. You can have a spectacular DVD made there for only $14.99.
4. How about a 13 cents glamour shot for your valentine.
5. Take pictures of places around town and do a treasure hunt!
6. For 13 cents you can take a picture of your kids room when it is clean and frame it.
7. Send a family photo along to the IRS with your tax return.
8. Download a picture of _________ and use it for dart practice.
9. Take a picture of your baseball team and save money on team pictures!!!

I mean for 13 cents, you can't go wrong.  I'm doing a really fun idea for my church primary choir!!!

Forced

An object may consistently gravitate homeward, to its parental pull, yet there is a time, a force, a strong industrial size power, which known senses alone cannot detect, that reels the object to another, more meaningful mass.     ~c. stapp 

Big Flowers, Sewing, and the Salsa

It's harvest time!  Here is what we have growing.  Swiss chard (not sure why), carrots (all over and eaten), basil and other herbs, two varieties of peppers, 5 varieties of tomatoes, blackberries (all made into pies and smoothies),  2 types of squash, okra for Julia and Curtis, and sad to say strawberries that aren't doing well.  We are also the proud parents of six sunflowers, which average around 10 feet tall!  Their circumferences are unbelievable.  This is on of the few that can still hold its head high.

Also here for your viewing pleasure, I am finally finishing up Julia's quilt!  I will hopefully be done by tomorrow morning (when Julia return from YW Camp)  Thanks for all the help Rachel and Nat!

Tomatoes are dripping off the vines! I have been picking about 20-30 a day!  Here are some of the finest on the grill ready to make salsa.

The lovely black somewhat carcinogenic finish will make a fine batch.  I also roasted the jalepenos.

photos by Rachel Marie Stapp

Take out the Verbage

Words I prefer not to hear (or say if I can help it). 

Boring, bored:  When people use this word I cringe.  It is a way of saying I don't enjoy the people I am with, the gifts God gives, so just entertain me.   Instead use "the trip was uneventful" or "thank you for this peace and quiet" or "I had plenty of time to think".

Hate:  I had a missionary companion that used this word so much, that I rarely ever say it.  There is too much to love and enjoy.  The source of hate is powerful and leads to misery.  Instead use:  "this is not to my liking" or "instead of the liver and onions I think I will have the chocolate mousse".

Crap (or carp*), Suck and all those other words that pass as non-curse words:  Guard your tongue and what flows out.  These word limit your brain power and leave an ugly impression. Imagine a fine and beautiful woman appearing, then opening her smile to blackened teeth.  It is such a turn off.  Instead use:  "of all things" or "that takes the cake" or "how could that be" or "that is unbelievable"

*Curtis was explaining to us how some of the women at Young Women's Camp were using course language and instead of saying the word he spelled it C-A-R-P.  Carp?    

Silent Night and Alma 34

Alex woke quietly today. I didn't think much of it. Breakfast went by and I even got a few hugs out of him. I started talking to him. Telling him his chores and duties and stuff like that there. Not a word of dissent. What's up? I realized around 10 am that I hadn't heard a single peep. Samuel spilled the beans. Alex had taken a Vow of Silence. (like a monk) Samuel warned him he would have to brake the vow during his writing class today. But after that and by 1 pm he had his mouth taped up. The taping last a few hours, even long enough to make an appearance with the tape during all my tutoring and to do an errand up the street at a neighbors house. We played baseball with 7-8 families at the park. Not a peep!

As a family we read scripture in the evening. Curtis instructed our son that monks chanted and read scripture aloud as part of their dedication. Tonight we read Alma 34 in the Book of Mormon. It is an insightful and long chapter. We split the 41 verses 5 ways. Around 8 verses per person. Alex was third in line. You could here a pin drop when his turn came round. Was he going to read? If you have the book and chapter open you can see as the third reader, Alex was fortunate to get the shortest set of 8 verses. He opened his mouth.

Tonight I heard some of the wisest words ever written from one of the greatest voices of all times. Alma 34:17-24

10 Reasons NOT to Blog

10.  I'm busy making panini (those sandwiches with lines on them)

9.    It's hard to open up the bottle inside

8.   People are looking over my shoulder

7.   My thoughts seem extremely shallow

6.   Have you read the Judge Clarence Thomas biography?

5.    Busy watching FACEBOOK to see if anyones status has changed (refresh, refresh, refresh)

4.   I am getting to0 old to count backward from 10.

2.   It's almost summertime and I've been preoccupied shopping for a bikini that looks nice.

1.   Spending enormous amounts of time deciding if I "Like" each persons FB status or not.