Crazy Summer Ahead!!

I sat down last week to put my upcoming events on a calendar--I was literally floored at how busy the next few months will be. It started yesterday, with two Easter Egg Hunts. This week, I have a field trip to New Orleans (with Seth), Easter lunch at school with Adam and Seth, and a Field Trip to LSU (with Noah). I teach the Relief Society lesson next Sunday, which also happens to be Easter Sunday. At least I can look forward to a yummy dinner!!

The week following Easter is our Spring Break. I plan on taking the kids with me and heading to Alabama to visit with my parents. Jeff will drive in that Friday evening (probably with the Gomez's) for Becky McCain's temple wedding to Steve Ennis. We are so happy to be able to share this happy occasion with them! We will attend church with my parents, then drive home that evening.

The next day (May 2nd) is John John's 6th birthday. He is growing up so fast! Mom will come to our house that Wednesday so that I can fly out Thursday to Salt Lake City to attend the LDS Story Maker's Writing Conference. I am so excited about this! i have so much to learn and cannot wait to listen to the speakers, etc.

I'm flying in late Saturday night so that I can be here for Mother's Day on Sunday, May 8th. It will be my last Mother's Day with Adam in Primary. I wanted to be sure to be there to hear him sing a song for me. (little sob!) The following Saturday evening is the Celtic Woman concert in Bossier City, LA. I am SO excited to get to go and hear them--as well as get to meet a couple of them afterwards. What an awesome Mother's Day gift!!!

The following week will be our Cousin's Camp. Tara and her family and my parents will try to come together and let the kids PLAY, PLAY, PLAY! It will be so GREAT to get to visit with them!! The week will end with an adults' trip to Bocage. We've rented out the whole house for a leisurely break for the grown-ups. We will tour it and Houmas House that weekend. Sunday is the extra special day as Noah turns eight and gets baptized. We are so proud of him!!

May 29th will mark Seth's 10th birthday. He has become such a responsible young man. I am so proud of him! Then, on June 2, Jeff and I fly out to Switzerland for his conference. We will be visiting Switzerland and Italy for 11 days. I am really anticipating this! It has really been a lifetime's dream of mine to see Europe. This will be phase 1!!

After Europe, we have Father's Day and Lilah's 3rd Birthday. Then, we move to Alabama!!!! In late July/early August we will head for California to visit family and attend my niece's Cami's wedding...What a Summer!!!

Tax Day :(

Up until two years ago, there was very little positive about April 15th. My sister, however, saved the reputation of this day by having her seventh baby on April 15, 2009. We were so happy to have him join our extended family. He is the silver lining to the dark cloud of tax day.

First of all, I want to say that I understand that as citizens we need to pay SOME taxes. We do need roads, bridges, and a military. I would prefer the government get out of education, leaving this important topic to families and communities. Healthcare is also an area that government subsidies and regulations have harmed. So although I agree that limited taxes are necessary, I find the reasoning behind the decision of who pays and calculating how much they pay to be unjust and off the mark. I think the Lord designed the perfect fiscal plan. How much does the Lord require of us? He asks us to pay a "tithe" or 10% of our increase. It matters not if we are rich or poor or somewhere in between. All are required to pay the same percentage. This is certainly a remarkable number. Setting aside 10% of our increase causes us to live within our means, sacrifice, and recognize just where we get our "increase" to begin with. Although it is enough to cause us to pause and evaluate ourselves spiritually and financially, it is not a crippling percentage.

The whole idea of a progressive tax is unjust. Why--you may ask? Shoudn't billionaires like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs have to pay a higher percentage of their income than the anonymous welfare mom down the street? In my opinion, NO! Ten percent of Steve Jobs' increase is a tremendous amount. Why should we--who did not conceive of, or develop--the Iphone or Ipad get to confiscate the fruits of his labors? He will already pay a vast amount more than the anonymous woman in the example.

Now, let's consider Mr. Jobs gets to keep his own money. Does he put it in his mattress and guard it like a miser--preventing other people from "sharing in the wealth"? Most likely not. He would more than likely invest in companies, municipalities, and maybe even real estate. This infusion of capital into the system only strengthens and builds it. Jobs are created and people once on unemployment are able to go back to work. Perhaps his wife--I'm assuming he's married, don't know for sure--frequents luxury businesses. You know the kind, those wealthy Ladies-who-lunch patronize. Perhaps she has a massage and a pedicure. Or maybe she has her hair colored and styled. Selfish, selfish behavior in these economic times, right? Totally unfair that she can obtain such luxuries when so many others can't, right? WRONG!!

Mrs. Jobs is giving business to the massage therapist. She is helping the pedicurist pay her rent. The hair stylist depends on her clients patronage so that she can buy groceries, etc.

The economy is far too big and much too complex to be "managed". It is laughable to even believe it is possible. Vigorous exchange within a free market allows the greatest prosperity for the most people. With more people keeping more of their own money, they are able to act on the economy in various and diverse ways. Businesses that provide meaningful products or services at competitive prices flourish; those that don't are allowed to fail. The free market system is truly the most efficient system known. Let's not cripple our own progress by focusing on equality of outcomes. Let us strengthen ourselves with equality of opportunity. This in addition to wise decision making and hard work will lead to greater and greater prosperity for ourselves and our families.

Summer Travels

I have always wanted to travel. By U.S. standards, I have been a few places. I have visited 37 of the 50 states--lacking only the northeast, Oregon, and Alaska. I have been to Mexico several times, visited Canada, stayed a month in Guatemala, and visited Brasil twice for a total time of two and a half months. I have enjoyed meeting new people, eating exotic (to me) food, and seeing the beauty of the earth. I am so excited, now, to be planning our upcoming trip to Europe.

My husband has a work related conference in Switzerland. We will be spending 4 days in that beautiful country, then traveling south to Italy to spend 4/5 days in lovely Italy. I have been wanting to visit Italy for over 15 years. As a high school student, our school took a week and a half long trip to Italy. The cost was $1400 and I did not have the money to attend. I so longed to go and was very sad when I was unable to participate. Now, my time has come! I believe I will actually really enjoy it more now. My culinary senses have expanded, my appreciation for art and architecture has blossomed, and I have my husband to share it all with!

I cannot wait to see the beautiful snow covered Alps, taste the exquisite chocolate, and see the picturesque villages that inspired Heidi. I am anxiously awaiting to taste the bounty of Tuscany, see the lovely old buildings, and see (in person!) Michelangelo's David. Not in an art book, or on a poster--but in the flesh (or stone--:) ).

So much of the enjoyment of traveling is in the anticipation--and I am truly "flying on the wings of anticipation" in preparing for this experience.

Laundry--And Why I Enjoy Doing It!

A Facebook friend of mine recently lamented that he had laundry to do. A group of women at my church were excited about an activity next month that would include learning how to make our own inexpensive and effective laundry soap. The pile of laundry on my "to-do" list seemed to multiply overnight (actually, with a few children who still wet the bed, that did happen)!!!

Laundry seems to have been on many people's minds this week. I began to evaluate how I felt about laundry. Actually, it is one of my favorite chores. That may be surprising to some, but I really enjoy the feeling I receive when dirty clothes go into the washer and come out clean. I'm sure if we did not have the convenience of a washer--and had to depend on the old fashioned washboard--my feelings toward laundry would probably change. But laundry, the modern way, is an enjoyable responsibility.

A clothesline--to me, that is the laundress's dream! I enjoyed one is Alabama, but they are pretty useless here in humid Louisiana. There is something so relaxing about hanging sweet-smelling, freshly laundered clothes on a line. The methodical process of hanging the clothes gives plenty of time to let thoughts wander. Sometimes I plan my upcoming days; other times I use this time outdoors to say a quiet prayer in my heart. I might think of an interesting book I've read, or hum a favorite song. It really is the kind of required responsibility that leaves the mind open to many possibilities. Then, there is the secret pleasure of seeing those clean clothes swaying in the breeze. Yes, I definitely believe it to be my favorite chore.

Too much of anything, though, can be overwhelming. At this point in my life, with 6 small children contributing to the laundry load (and not yet old enough to significantly help--at age 12 they will take over responsibility for the vast majority of their personal wash), I can sometimes feel defeated. There is so little time when all the laundry is washed, dried, folded, and put away. Last year I was able to help the situation greatly by purchasing two washers and two dryers. This has been a great blessing to my life. Not only does the laundry room stay neater, but the entire process has literally been halved. Definitely one of the better purchases we have made!

I love the scent of Gain Laundry Soap and April Fresh Downy Fabric Softener. They have been my personal standbys for over twelve years. I am excited, though, about learning to make my own. I can imagine a small burst of pride at using my own homemade laundry soap (perhaps scented with a lovely lavender essential oil). I will definitely give it a try and see if cleans as well and smells as good as what I use now. I will post later on this subject once I have more information.

Belly Dance!!!

Yesterday I began to learn the art of belly dance! I am so happy to be learning this beautiful style of dance. Our instructor, Margo, is fantastic. She teaches a fun, feminine, wholesome dance style. As a student of Lebanese Folk Dance, she expressed her dismay at how many Western peoples view belly dance. It was not designed to be an entertainment for men (as many in our culture mistakenly believe); but a celebration of the female form primarily practiced with and for other women.

The biggest difference between the dancing we are accustomed to and Belly Dance is the isolation of body parts. When we dance we often move many parts of our body at once. Not so with belly dance. Margo compared it with wearing a black top and white pants--the contrast allows focus on individual parts as opposed to the whole. So, when the hips are moving the upper body is held still. When the upper body is moving the lower body is held still. And, hardest of all, when the rib cage is in motion the shoulders as well as the hips are held still. This is much harder to do than it sounds!

I have found my ability to isolate leaves a lot to be desired. But, I also know as I practice and continue to devote time and energy to this endeavor I will be able to master it.

What's For DInner?

Part of the reason I started this blog was to use it as a journal. Because it is MY journal, I can write about whatever subject pleases me at the time. Well, the subject that pleases me at this time is WHAT WE HAD FOR DINNER!!!

My husband teases me if I put our culinary experiences on Facebook--so, I am going to use this forum to express this very important part of my day. After all, as the homemaker in the family, planning, preparing, and serving delicious meals falls under my jurisdiction. It is an important part of my "job".

For dinner tonight, we had barbeque chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, and Easter cookies (sugar and chocolate chip) for dessert!

It is Monday night, which means it's FHE. This stands for Family Home Evening.

In 1915, Joseph Fielding Smith, then Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, with his counselors, instituted Family Home Evening (FHE). He urged families to get together once a week, and for parents to instruct their children in the word of God. He said that it was a time for families to "spend an hour or more together in a devotional way—in the singing of hymns, songs, prayer, reading of the Scriptures and other good books, instrumental music, family topics, and specific instructions on the principles of the Gospel and on the ethical problems of life, as well as the duties and obligations of children to parents, the home, the Church, society and the nation." Chapter 39: Strengthening Families in Family Home Evenings," Teachings of Presidents of the Church: JosephF. Smith, (1998)

This is a most cherished family tradition. Most FHE's involve a lesson. Some are just "fun nights" like playing games or going to see a movie. I have a testimony that the regular practice of Family Home Evening helps strengthen family bonds, as well as aid in increasing our faith in God. It is a wonderful program that I benefitted from as I was growing up. I am so happy to be able to share this blessing with our children.

Classical Music--My Favorite!

My favorite kind of music is classical (and I include in this Baroque, Romantic, Classical, Etc.). I love the smoothness, the drama, the beauty. Listening to my favorites never fails to uplift my soul and send my spirits soaring. The pieces I love the most are:



Pachebel's Canon in D




Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata



Beethoven's Fur Elise



Beethoven's Ode to Joy




Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring


Bach's Air on a G-String




Debussy's Claire de Lune




Brahm's Lullaby




Vivaldi's Four Seasons (Especially Spring and Winter)






Handel's Messiah





Handel's Water Music



Chopin's Nocturnes (Pick Any! Love them!)