Tonight I'm feeling impressed to write about an experience that pushed me pretty close to my breaking point. It is still about a month fresh. I have one son. He brings me so much joy. He and I have a wonderful relationship. He is a boy; he is crazy, energetic, happy, somber, serious, playful, thoughtful, protective, and loving. It makes me crazy and yet melts my heart when he says, "Mom, Mom, Mom, MOM, MOM...," in increasing volumes in an attempt to get my attention. When I finally say, "WHAT?!" he gets very serious and says, "I love you mom." He goes out of his way to make sure that I know he loves me, and helps me remember to seize opportunities to express my love to my children. On Tuesday, November 14th I held Joy School at my house. We have a group of 5 kids that get together and learn how to learn. It was my turn to give the lesson and activities that week. Joy School ended at 11. Around 12:15 my mother-in-law came over to watch my kids so I ...
If you can smile when things go wrong And say it doesn't matter, If you can laugh off cares and woe And trouble makes you fatter, If you can keep a cheerful face When all around are blue, Then have your head examined, bud, There's something wrong with you. For one thing I've arrived at: There are no ands and buts, A guy that's grinning all the time Must be completely nuts. ["Smile, Darn You, Smile," as quoted by Jeffrey R Holland, "The Will of the Father," Jan,17, 1989.]