Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Change The World

I would have missed a thousand conversations that just come when one sits still and waits for words to come.

But I didn’t miss any of them.

Thanks to him. 



As he began the conversation, unexpected tears fell on my kitchen counter. With clarity, I realized his transformation was secondary to an even bigger story—a story that could quite possibly bring solace and hope to those wondering if they too could let a loved one just be.




Thursday my son is received his scholarship award from his sophomore college year. He is a voracious reader and loves helping his friends who struggle. He was awarded the scholarship for his work in Graphic Arts—a program designed by his teacher for students who complete their classwork with exceptional quality and enjoy self-guided learning projects. My son was expecting about three or four hundred dollars for his work this past semester. When he opened the check that came in the mail he was completely shocked to find it for ten times that amount. He's never missed a class.  


But here’s the news worth celebrating …

My son takes time to hug me, hold doors open for strangers, and play with the cat. He visits his grandparents and finds it perfectly normal to have conversations that last for thirty minutes. When he gives birthday gifts, he buys them with his own money. He searches the scriptures in great detail, never forgetting to take pictures of his favorite ones. He remembers people’s names, asks questions, and listens intently. He notices in photos of friends captured beauty my critical eyes fail to see.

On Sunday the two of us had a long talk. As I struggled to fall in line with his line of reasoning, I reminded myself who I was with. I reminded myself it was time to listen and learn from the greatest Life Coach I’ve ever known.

About midway through our talk, my son said, “When my friends on Facebook post pictures, I've noticed that they looked so happy before and now bam. There’s a concaved look in their cheeks. Can you see that? Plants that Jesus put on the earth to make you come eye to eye with Satan! That is what I've been sitting on my bed and studying today.”

And as I do multiple times a day, I closed my tearful eyes and thanked God for this child who reminds me to look for the blessings in unexpected places. I can't help but consider what life would be like if I’d chosen to tell my son that mistakes were bad. Where would we be? The world would have two less Livers of Life. Our hearts would be less fulfilled. I would not be the mother I am today. His life could have very well been cut short. Instead, I am blessed to experience the joys of life that used to elude me. But thanks to my son, I don’t miss them anymore.

So to the spiritual people of the world and those who are blessed to raise them, I say this:

Thank you for being. You are an anomaly in this fast paced world. And we need you. We desperately need you …



Monday, June 29, 2015

Sense Summer



Monday: 10 am “Go to peaks,” Morg left for work at 7 and waved to me from his car pulling out of the driveway and got paid from both his jobs, crowded parking, sunbathers set up in the parking lot and out in the road next to their cars, picnic lunch on the deck, another trip to the wavepool, the second one we made it to the tubes and water.

Sunday, June 28, 2015

The beginning is always today

I believe: An ordinary life can be extraordinary, there is beauty in imperfection, and that magic can be found in the everyday.


And I have a question: what are thoooossse?! Lol

Life is meant to be savored. Enjoyed even. Max ordained a priest, by Ben on this 102 degree day. I believe religion is meant to inspire you to discover magic in ordinary moments and accompany you on this beautiful adventure that is life. On the night of the Stanley Cup final, when Max was watching the captain of the Blackhawks hoist the cup about his head, he told me that it gave him goose bumps. If Max believes that life should be lived with a full heart and open eyes, I'm joining him, and getting lost in the beautiful.




Maximilian is a special boy devoted to discovering magic in the ordinary. He touches the soul of all those around him through thoughtful questions and striking opinions that capture life's beautiful journey. For anyone who is tired of trying to fit ill-considered standards of what life is supposed to look like or reaching for unattainable ideals – Maxidoughshis gives you permission to just go ahead and toss them. Embrace imperfection. Celebrate your messy life. Shine a spotlight on small, everyday moments – he is special, and he is my son. If you are looking for the most caring, inspirational teenage son around  today – you’ve come to the right place.


What makes Max special:


• Hair, that has got flow • 160 pounds of high quality, muscle toned body • Thought-provoking prompts, along with questions on how he can obtain a partriarchial blessing • Stories from seminary he shares about how to live authentically and with purpose • Zero drug using • Named one of Oly's hottest players of 2015 out of 54 trying out and invited to join his Wolf Pack • Recognized as one of District Camp's Top Three skaters born in 1999 • Wolf Pack: six week intensive training camp with power skating one hour a day, weights everyday followed by ice baths, swim recovery, field training, and boxing once a week 



Saturday, June 27, 2015

Friday, June 26, 2015

Things To Do This Summer



Pick wild flowers
Roast Marshmallows

Dance in the rain

Play in the sprinkler

Take a road trip


Picnic at a concert

Do yoga outside at sunrise
Or maybe sunset  
Read a romance novel

Have a water balloon fight


Plan a drive in movie night 


Go on a girls camping trip


Build sand castles
Make strawberry popsicles

Roll down a grassy hill
Paint my toenails neon shades
Listen to jazz at a sidewalk café 
Make a pitcher of fresh squeezed lemonade 
Write sidewalk chalk poetry
Sleep under the stars 

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Wonder...

Instead of wondering when my next vacation is, maybe I can enjoy a life I don't need to escape from. 

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Love Your Parents

I love my dad - I'm so busy helping my boys while they're growing up that sometimes I forget that my dad is also growing old.



{He turned 76 today and my mom had a surprise party for him tonight in Midway}

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Friday, June 19, 2015

Missing Pieces

When there are missing pieces in life, things don’t feel quite right.




Despite the moments of sureness, I could not ignore the missing pieces—the important parts that made our life a life before the divide. These certain missing pieces created a painful void that I couldn't deny.






For the first time in four years, my nine-year-old son did not have me home with him after school everyday.





For the first time in four years, my thirteen-year-old son did not have a piano instructor who taught him both the singing and playing.




Morgen stopped singing and the joy slowly diminished from the pluck of his guitar strings.




For the first time in years, I was reading a book without a vampire in it.


For the first time in my life, I did not take action. I waited. I trusted. I listened. I let go.




For the first time in my life, I allowed myself to simply BE despite the urge to fix the hurts and fill the spaces. My prayer was that by being quiet, I would know when the right thing came along; I would know when to take a different road.


It came six months into our transition when I went to a church event with two of my sisters at Temple Square. It came the week after that when I was called in for a job interview. It came again one month ago when I felt called to bring my boys rollerblading one Sunday evening just before sunset...


With each deliberate action, a missing piece was divinely filled. Last week, nearly three years since it was filed, it appeared that those pieces were no longer absent. I looked through the lens of my camera with tear-filled eyes to see less emptiness and more life …





Boys wanting to go bowling and having fun together. (Fat Cats has $1 everything all summer long!) 




Morgen joyfully striking and humming “Amazing Grace” with his extraordinary new job and paid off car (a beautiful professor divinely appointed who recommended him for the tuition reimbursement award) …




And me, dancing to my fight song with new sister nurses and celebrating a completed capstone to graduate in mere weeks …


Three years ago, I never would have imagined these words from my lips.

Two years ago, I wondered if I should be doing more to fill the missing pieces.

But in the waiting and the listening, the voids were filled far better than I could have ever planned.

My friend, I have spent a couple of years gathering hope. And I think it was so I could offer it to you today. Whether you face a physical move or one of life’s many transitions, there’s a good chance you have some missing pieces. And although these holes feel empty, and stressful, I want to offer a suggestion most likely the opposite what your head is probably telling you to do: 

Maybe the most powerful thing you could do right now is just close your eyes and envision a positive outcome.