In My Heart On Thursday

"The nursery rhyme ends when a spider comes along and frightens Miss Muffet straight off her tuffet.  I have wondered about what kind of lesson this is for a young girl.  If you're eating your curds and whey and a spider comes along, I don't think there's anything wrong with picking up a newspaper, smashing it, and going back to your breakfast."

-Sloane Crosley, How Did You Get This Number

Back In the Day-Walking Through Fountains

This photo comes from the time in my life I like to call my "fountain days."  What happy memories come flooding back as I think about the free-spirit I was back then feeling the invitation of refreshing bubbling water.  And its impossible to think about fountain-hopping without also thinking of my old friend Jason.

I started college when the internet was still a novelty.  Sitting in the campus library I signed up on a Christian dating site and quickly met two fantastic people.  One of those people was Jason and it was only a matter of months before I hopped on a plane to New Jersey to meet him. My mom dropped me off at the airport a little confused and a lot scared and horrified.  I figured that out when I didn't think to call her upon arrival and she hunted me down by phone at Jason's grandmothers home.(Important clarification: Jason and I were always just friends.  Our hotel rooms always had two beds and we never even held hands.  I'm not sure my family has ever believed me.)

I learned a lot of important life lessons while cavorting around the country to meet Jason.  Here area few of the gems that stayed with me:

Always have food available for the needy.
I met Jason's grandmother that very first weekend.  In her kitchen drawer, where you and I might keep the dishtowels or utensils, she had a full stock of SPAM, just in case somebody ever stopped by collecting for the food bank.

There really is a wrong side of the tracks.
On a business trip in Baltimore, Jason's company put us up in the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in .  One night while out on a walk we crossed a bridge and immediately found ourselves in the most run-down neighborhood I've ever been in.  I was terrified and even Jason gave pause as we walked in one block, over one block, and out one block.  A girl followed two steps behind singing the theme from "Reading Rainbow" until we reached the bridge where she stopped and we high-tailed it back to luxury.

Security guards do a lot of looking at you funny, not much anything else.
Washington D.C. is fountain mecca and where I took my first wet foray.  (Don't panic, I never got up the nerve to actually walk through the reflecting pool on the National Mall!) This is where I also learned that the Benjamin Franklin monument is very slippery and that getting on a subway train while soaking wet is a freezing cold terrible idea.

I don't know why I eat the way I do.
Slipping into a local diner and sharing an order of fries, Jason looked perplexed when I quit eating halfway through.  When he asked why I answered without thinking, "Those ones don't have ketchup on them."  Only then did I realize I had that little oddity.  I pour ketchup all over the top of my fries and quit eating as soon as the ketchup-ed fries are gone.

Any place can be interesting.
Several times Jason's work took him to Killeen, TX, and I'd meet him down there.   Killeen, TX, is to pawn shops what Washington D.C. is to water fountains.  Aside from the military base there is no reason to go there.  South of Killeen, however, is Georgetown, TX, and a beautiful bed and breakfast with rooms in the carriage house.  Heading north halfway to my home in Iowa you'll find Wichita, KS-also a very boring city.  But if you're their on the right night you'll witness the most incredible lightening storm and then have the adventure of getting stuck in flash flooding.

Criminals can look just like you and me.
Jason always told me his older brother had been exiled from the country for bank embezzling.  Once while on a country drive he nonchalantly asked if I'd ever done anything illegal and then told me the details of his entrepreneurial side business producing fake credit cards for teenagers.  One of the last times I saw him he got notice that he was to have a meeting at the Pentagon and shortly after that a letter letting me know he wouldn't be contacting me anymore.  Either the most elaborate "Hey, I don't want to see you anymore" I've ever received, or a guy who got himself into some big trouble.  I'm still leaning towards the later.

And that's a shame.  I will forever look back on that relationship as one of the truest and most free of my lifetime.  The adventures we had and experiences I gained still make my happy heart leap.  We all need that one moment in time where the person we're with and the places we are fit magically into place and continue making us feel giddy, happy, goofy, and free no matter how it ended or where it led.

Now you're heard mine, so tell me, when were your "fountain days?" 

In My Heart On Thursday

"Every day when you see what another person needs to do better,

 improve that thing in yourself."

                                                                                                         -Ben, my husband

    

The Devil Hates You

That's what my husband said to me last night.  I had just told him I was really unhappy and felt like I was being punished for 15 years of selfish decisions.  He saw it differently.  This is what he had to say:

We have two incredible children.  The older is brilliant and funny and incredibly hard to lead.  He lives life with complete emotion and isn't easily swayed to do what he knows is wrong.  The younger brought to earth the joy of heaven and a smile that can brighten even the darkest day.  They are both supported by the love of their Heavenly Father and my role is to raise them righteously.  As strong as they are, they will still need a mother who can teach them how to love and serve and rely on the powers of the Atonement in hopes of returning to live with their Father in Heaven.

The devil is aware.  He knows the struggle it's going to be to get at my children and attacks the target he sees as weak.  That's me.

"...and he shall wear out the saints of the most High..."-Daniel 7:25

A few weeks ago I read an enlightening commentary on the Devil as Accuser.  The author described Satan as the one who incites us to sin and then stands by to remind us, accuse us, and taunt us about every thing we have ever done wrong.  My husband equated the devil to "The Big Tattle-Tale." When he stands before God and brags about the terrible we are doing, the Lord turns away without giving his words one moment of thought.  Not to be rebuked, though, the devil retreats and returns to working on an audience more receptive to his message.

"And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."-Revelations 12:17

It became clear to me after reading this article and doing my own study of the scriptures that Satan is after the righteous.  He has nothing to gain from a person living a life less than that.  That is the point my husband, last night, was making.  As I try to follow the commandments of God and raise my boys to make righteous choices, the devil attacks me.  He gets afraid of losing ground and when I don't make it easy for him he sends his minions to surround me with a constant barrage of evil thoughts, self doubt, and thoughts of giving in to make sure that he wins in the end.

"Submit yourselves, therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you...For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us...that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."-James 4:7, Romans 8:18,38-39

My night and conversation with my husband did not end with a great lightening of worries and cares; the devil's stronghold is hard to break.  But I was able to get out of bed this morning knowing that I have a new opportunity each day to access the blessings of the Savior's Atonement for me. The Devil may hate me, but the Lord has not given up on me.  He will protect me, and my boys, until that day when I can once again stand before Him full of humility and account that I tried my hardest with the life that was given to me.  

In My Heart On Thursday

"Living is like tearing through a museum.  Not until later do you really start absorbing what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering-because you can't take it all in at once."

-Audrey Hepburn, via Timeless-An Audrey Hepburn Inspired Blog 

Janice at Roller Coaster Ride has made my day by sending me the "One Lovely Blog Award." 

 I want to do the same by passing it on to the blogs bringing joy to my day:

Food and Cooking 

6 In the Kitchen

eat, drink & live healthy

Kids and Toddler Learning

Toddler Approved

Smilemonsters

Home and Family

The Pursuit of Happiness

Memoirs of Mrs. Harris

Church and Faith

Brenda Anderson's Scripture Squiggles

Visiting Teaching Surprise

The Kansas City Temple Chaser

Gospel PrinciplesTPBlair

Take a glance at one or two and see if you find something to inspire you. 
And thanks to the fabulous people authoring the blogs I love! 

All the Things Propelling Me

Want to go on a tiring trip?  Come along on a journey through my brain today...

-Beck is watching Super Why on PBS and they're teaching him to "Save Water."  If Ben were he he'd be telling me he's tired of our kids being indoctrinated by liberal thinking in their television shows.

-A bigger house would be really nice, but we've stayed in this one too long.  The neighborhood and our church callings have affectionately attached themselves to us.  That's just great.

-I wish it was warm enough to hang the clothes out on the line.  I wish I had a line.

-We're going to watch "Up" tonight for Family Home Evening.

-I don't know anyone having a St. Patrick's Day party this year.  That's weird.

-Peyton turns one this week and the only present we have for him is sippy cups.  Also, I'm in denial that we're celebrating his birthday by going absolutely nowhere new and exciting.  

-I'm pretty sure I've lost weight since Ben started his "Biggest Loser" diet, but I'm not getting on the scale because I'm probably wrong and that would just be depressing.

-Wondering if I should do a real Joy School next fall instead of the fake one Beck's in now.  Would anyone I know be interested?

-I never want to know first-hand what it's like to have thousands of bodies washing up on shore like they are in Japan.

-Wish I could stop wanting to go camping in northern Scotland.   It's not happening until at least next year.

-I like looking at the red balloon bouncing on my dining room floor.

I could go on and on...and on...seriously, nothing important is coming out of this thinker today. 

 What about the thoughts in your head on this Monday?

In My Heart On Thursday

"Adventure is fun and exciting and not like anything at home.  It's looking back and knowing you can do something-because you did it."

-Nan Jeffrey, Adventuring with Children

What was your last adventure?

Idea For Something New

I got my first scanner recently and have been excitedly digging through boxes of photos and momentos looking for items to give a renewed online life.  One of the things I've found are Ziploc bags full of magazine cut-outs that once upon a time I used in my scrapbooking; so many cute sayings and moving illustrations that aren't doing me much good in a drawer.

Sorting through the piles I found this cute cut-out and thought it would make a great banner for my blog.  So, combining it with random photos I've unearthed, welcome to my new feature, Back in the day;).  Let me know what you think!

This photo invoked a belly-aching fit of laughter from my husband once I explained that the very professional looking clowns were my mom, my sisters, and me (that's me on the tricycle).  

He's hardly one to be surprised at the things our parents make us do-he grew up performing in his own eclectic line of "family shows."  But, nonetheless, he thought it was pretty funny.

My mom was a creative and motivated lady when her girls were little.  There were always craft projects in progress and new ideas brewing.  My five sisters and I always knew she was a great artist and her most impressive talent was being able to use her beautiful handwriting completely backwards.  I don't know how or when she honed that skill, but little girls don't think there's anything much cooler than seing their names written in reverse cursive.

Our hometown held an annual summer "Old Settlers" celebration with a special morning parade.  These were where I remember my mom's biggest ideas coming forth, as can be witnessed in the photo above.  There was no special reason for us to be in the parade.  We weren't promoting a cause or advertising a business.  My mom just set to work making each of us our very own clown costume and put us in the parade.  Naturally.  Why wouldn't your family parade in front of the entire town and half the county for the fun of it?

I'm sure there were other times we entered the parade as a family.  I don't remember.  When I was older I do remember my mom being in charge of the PTA float.  She dressed all the neighborhood kids (including my sisters still in elementary) in different occupational uniforms and spent hours dubbing a cassette tape (that's right, I said dubbing a cassette tape) with the opening lines of Whitney Houston's "Greatest Love of All" to play as they proceeded past the crowds.

I feel my mom's influences in my life nearly everyday.  Often it's in the times I'm wondering why I struggle so much with being a fun and loving parent, wondering where my anger and quickness to punish come from.  My husband looks at me peculiarly each time he comes home to find a brand new craft project splayed across our dining table.  He completely doesn't understand the fun in working side by side my sisters at a weekend craft show.  Or why I get so excited about our children winning cheesy baby contests so we can decorate a "float" and be in the parade. 

This photo of my family "clowning" around is a joyful reminder that my creative and positive quirks come from my mom as well.

A Little Self-Promotion...

...a little out of the norm for me, but I'm going to try it...

I'm being featured today at Who's Your Editor!

AubrieAnne at Who's Your Editor started a Weekend Wonders feature a few weeks ago and it's my turn.  Head over to find out a few random and few deeper things about me, and then take a look around.  She's got a great literature/reading/grammar blog.  I love it!

Also, don't forget you can now get Wandering Still updates on Facebook and Twitter. Then, check out my blogging grant application on Mom Central.  You can vote every day and I'd love the support!

And finally, 

THANK YOU

for the inspiration and motivation I receive from each of you each day!

In My Heart On Thursday

Before the thought that's inspiring me, a bit of business to get out of the way.

~You can now find Wandering Still on Facebook and Twitter.  Link to either one on the right side of this page or by clicking the hyperlinks above.

~I've applied to win a blogging grant at Mom Central.  It's an idea I feel passionately about and have dreamt of for a longtime.  This would be the opportunity to make it work.  View my vision and vote at:

  Exploring Out My Front Door

And now the words you came here for...

"No amount of falls will really undo us if we keep on picking ourselves up each time. 

 We shall of course be very muddy and tattered by the time we reach home.

  But the bathrooms are all ready, the towels put out,

 and the clean clothes in the cupboard."

                                                                              -C. S. Lewis