the best of my life

 I was driving to pick-up William from kindergarten, and I turned the radio to Glenn Beck. He was right in the middle of a speech about abortion, and the awful reality of it. He was being rowdy, loud, and forceful -- and then he stopped. He was quiet. Dead airtime. He then spoke again, quietly, through tears. Glenn quoted Les Mis . . . he spoke of when ValJean is dying. With dying breath ValJean said of the child Cosette: She was, "The best of my life." Glenn went on to explain -- right after the awful radio-conversation on abortion -- how children are truly the best of our lives. He explained how precious and priceless they are. Tears welled-up in my eyes, and my heart burned, as I felt the truthfulness of what he was saying. I don't always support his views, or methods, but on that point I fully agree . . . my children are the best of my life. I am so grateful to be their mother. I am so grateful I was able to provide little bodies for their valiant spirits. I am so grateful to provide a life for them. Life is a sacred thing. It must be valued, and protected. What precious treasures they are . . . our beautiful children. I cannot imagine a life without them . . . and I don't have to. They are mine forever. Thanks be to God.

Our children are our greatest treasures. Don't ever forget it. 

Jog Blog

I created a new exercise blog where my whole family documents their work-outs with their phone or camera. The point is to take a picture of our daily workout, and post in on the blog and share thoughts/motivation, etc. It is kind of fun because you have to look around you when you exercise, see the world, and try and find something to take a picture of. I love it. I love looking around me and seeing all of God's beautiful creations. I also love seeing the pictures that my family shares! It is a great way to stay connected, too. 

I also love it because there are so many different things that people do. On the blog you will find post-partum mothers trying to find their figures, marathon runners, 50+ mile runners, crazies who run in -30 degrees in Alaska, old-but-young people, and even the kids post what they do, too! Awesome!

Go to: www.jog4yourlife.blogspot.com 

Feel free to check it out. It should be pretty motivational. I put the link on my sidebar, so you can always see the updates! It is OK to comment there too! Maybe you will find some motivation there for you! 

Happy Trails! 

Boys Can Wear Pink . . .

If they want to be a girl. 

We were in a rush to go grocery shopping, it was cold, so we quickly grabbed the first blanket we could find (a pink one) and wrapped it around Henry. I thought nothing of it. (OK, maybe I thought something of it, but I was in a rush!) Pink blanket, blue blanket, who cares? The baby is warm, right? We made our way to Fred Meyer and we put Henry in the attached baby-seat on top of the cart, and placed the pink blanket over him to keep him warm, since it was FREEZING! We commenced shopping. Charles was pushing the baby-cart around in the produce aisle, when a lady came up to him and said of baby Henry, "Ooooo . . . she is so cute! What a precious little girl." Charles tenderly replied, "Yes, she is a sweetheart. Though she has been grumpy lately, because she is teething." The lady nodded with understanding, and she went on her way . . . none the wiser that she had just gushed cute-girly over our handsome boy. And Charles, well, he just did not have the heart to correct her. It's just a good thing she didn't ask what "her" name was . . . that would have been entertaining. 

Would YOU have corrected her? 

P.S. He was wearing a blue sleeper under the pink blanket, but who is looking THAT deep? 

Family Avengers

Sammi was having a little fun being creative . . . I think I look pretty good as Thor, no? 

Family Rocks. 

Especially ours, cause we are Super-Heros. :-) 

Keeping it Real

I was just getting cozy at the end of the day . . . ready to snuggle and watch a lovely movie with my hubby -- but Henry had other plans. Most of the barf went down into my shirt, all the way to my waist. Instead of relaxing on the couch with a movie, I got to shower and do laundry.

Just a normal day as a mom . . . :-)

Why I Blog So Much . . .

I have been blogging for almost 7 years!

It is crazy to think that that much time has gone by, especially since I can still remember creating my very first blog: www.mari4u.blogspot.com. 

I have had good blog-writing times, and some not so good. But I have been fairly consistent in keeping it updated on a regular basis. It is my journal, my history, my life. 

A Blog, like a journal, is a way to live forever. I have gone through a bunch of family history stories of those who have gone before me, and because of their record, I feel like they are alive and with me. I have come to really know them, and understand them. They are not dead to me. They live! And when I am dead and gone, perhaps my words might yet remain. My children, and my children's children, will know who I am, what I believe, and that I truly LIVED. 

And sure, maybe the world will end soon, and all books and the internet will be destroyed . . . but maybe there is some time left in the world. Maybe there is history yet to be made. And we are the ones to make it, and record it! If you want to be immortal -- even if only while the world keeps spinning -- write a blog (or journal). 

After reading through the histories of my own kin, I am less afraid to die. I know who is there on the other side, I know my ancestors. I know I will be greeted by my faithful pioneer ancestor, Wee Granny, and my great-grandmother Embell, with out-stretched arms. I have questions I want to ask great-grandpa Duncan Kippen about serving a mission in Samoa in the 1800's. I want to wrap my hands around my Grandpa Lindquist's wrists to see if it really took two watchbands to go around them. I want to ask John Murray Murdoch how he managed to go on -- marching to Zion -- after discovering his young daughter's dead body taken from her casket, and finding her thrown in a vat at a fertilizing plant. And boy, do I have a bunch of questions for Charles' family members who have passed beyond the veil! I'll have to remember to bring a pen and paper with me to Heaven, to take notes. 

John Murray Murdoch 

Charles'  ancestor  Frank T. Hines with Franklin Roosevelt 

Those who write down their histories are remembered . . . never forgotten. And as someone who loves to delve into family history, it sure makes it A LOT easier when there is a history written down! 

This is what the Prophet Spencer W. Kimball said of journal writing: 

No one is commonplace, and I doubt if you can ever read a biography from which you cannot learn something from the difficulties overcome and the struggles made to succeed. These are the measuring rods for the progress of humanity.

Your own journal, like most others, will tell of problems that recur constantly in every generation, that are as old as the world and how you dealt with them.

Your journal should contain an image of your true self rather than a picture of you that applies cosmetics to everything you ever did, making you appear to be flawless. There is a temptation to paint with words one’s virtues in rich color and whitewash the vices, but there is also the opposite pitfall of accentuating the negative. Personally, I have little respect for anyone who delves into the ugly phases of the life he is portraying, whether it be his own or another’s. The truth should be told, but we should not emphasize the negative. Even a long life full of inspiring experiences can be brought to the dust by one ugly story. Why dwell on that one ugly truth about someone whose life has been largely prudent?

Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life. There may be a flash of illumination here and a story of faithfulness there; you should truthfully record your real self and not what other people may see in you.

Your story should be written now while it is fresh and while the true details are available.

Writing a journal is the literature of superior people. Each individual can become superior in his own humble life.

What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?

Some of what you write may be ordinary events and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity.

Get a notebook, my young folks, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events.

And now you know . . . THAT is why I blog so much! 

I am not interested in being chastised for not keeping a record of my life! I have too many other weaknesses to add to my list! This is something I can do. Something that can be done.  So record my life, I will. 

I am so grateful for the stories that I have of my ancestors who now dwell in Heaven. I find courage and strength from their lives, and their faith. And when I am gone, I want my kin to know me . . . so that when we meet again, we will meet as old friends, not strangers. 

I am Mari van Ormer . . . immortal.