spring break

Seriously, how long ago was this?...forever.

We stayed in Green River and hiked around Arches, Goblin Valley, Little Wild Horse Canyon and the Green River itself. It was memorable. It was the first trip with just me and the kids (and a lot of my family). I remember:

Wind, wind, wind.

A teething Landon screaming in the night in our small motel room complete with the neighbors pounding on the wall.

Happy kids, jumping and playing on the rocks.

Helpful sisters and parents.

A tired mommy.

Me and Logan

My dad and Landon

Katrina, Evelyn, Ella

all of us

relief society

I was asked to share my thoughts on parenting and personal history at a relief society quarterly activity tonight. It was my first public speaking since our lives got flipped upside down 8 months ago, so of course I was emotional, but I think I was able to keep it in check enough to be understandable...I hope. This is what I shared:

Debbie asked me to talk for a couple of minutes on parenting. I am the parent of 4 kids, Ella (6), Lincoln (4), Logan (3), and Landon (11 months).

As a parent, there are so many things I wish to teach my kids, but sometimes at the end of the day, I'm satisfied if the kids were dressed, we ate 3 meals, and maybe we read a book together. We have a tradition of playing "best and worst" at the dinner table. We go around the table and each person shares the best thing that happened to them that day and the worst thing. You know it has been a good day when none of them can think of a worst thing that day. Or maybe it just shows how bad their memories are.

We have definitely had hard times as a family, but we have had so many good times. I keep a blog and have documented lots of silly things my kids have done, like when Lincoln yelled out "faster, woman, faster" as we were driving down the road...or how when I told Logan I was tired he said I didn't need a nap because my "eyes were turned on." Unfortunately that day I was unable to find the off switch.

So many great moments are documented and I love looking back through my posts. There was one post I never published as it was a little close to my heart that I would like to share. It was a post I did one night as I pondered being a mom and why I was even doing a blog, especially during a time in my life that has been especially painful...figuring out how to be a single mom. Several months ago, I wrote this:

The real reason is that I want my kids to be able to look back at this time and see how we were during this time of our lives. We cried...a lot...and we were sad...a lot...but we also were very happy. We loved each other more, held each other tighter, and prayed more often. We kept on doing all the things we should be doing to help us through this, like prayers, scriptures, being nice, sticking together. I want them to know I loved them. I never stopped loving them. I didn't turn my back on them. It's okay to have problems and trials and hard times, and they will have more, but what is important is what are they going to do about it. Don't run away, don't ignore, don't pretend its not happening. Face it, deal with it, and then live your happy life. That is what I want them to know...and hopefully by the time they read this, I will have convinced myself.

I love my kids and I love being a parent. I thank my Heavenly Father every night for them. Thank you for letting me share.

***I will be updating pictures and fun things soon...promise***

I want to be a lioness

"I have said lately that women are like lionesses at the gate of the home. Whatever happens in that home and family happens because she cares about it and it matters to her. She guards that gate, and things matter to that family if they matter to her. For example, if the lioness at the gate believes in the law of tithing, tithing will be paid in that family. If that family has a humble little portion of ten pesos coming in, that lioness will safeguard the one peso if tithing is important to her. If that lioness at the gate knows about renewing her baptismal covenants with God, she will be in sacrament meeting on Sunday, and she will prepare her children to be there. They will be washed, cleaned, combed, and taught about that meeting and what happens there. It isn’t a casual event, but it is serious to her, and it will be serious to them. The lioness at the gate ensures that temple worship is taken care of in the family. She encourages that participation. She cares about seeking after her ancestors. If the lioness at the gate knows about and understands missions, missionaries, and the mission of the house of Israel, she will prepare future missionaries to go out from that home. It is very difficult to get a lion cub away from a lioness who doesn’t believe in missions, but if the lioness believes in a mission, she will devote her life to preparing the cub to go out and serve the Lord. That’s how important she is. Service happens if she cares about it."

-Julie B. Beck

11 Things

1. My children will not buckle their seatbelts until I have said in my most enthusiastic voice, "buckle up, buttercup!"

2. Logan spilled some of his morning oatmeal on the floor one day, hopped off his chair quickly, stood directly over the spill and repeated in a very assured voice, "i've got it", and then proceeded to get down on hands and knees and lick the oatmeal off the floor.

3. I've been enjoying singing "Tangled" songs with Ella. I love catching her in the rearview mirror when she is using her most beautiful voice (and face) to sing the songs.

4. Lincoln ducks his head shyly and puts his fingers in his mouth after he scores a goal in his soccer games. Every time, without fail, and the goals were numerous. Not a cocky boy that kid.

5. Landon has a fake laugh, no kidding, and he uses it on me all of the time. Sweet boy.

6. Logan wears the same thing every day, a blue basketball jersey and shorts set. Sometimes I sneak in a wash between wears...sometimes.

7. Love Ella's cute jumpy dance after she scores a goal in her soccer games. It brings back memories of sports when I was a kid and the excitement and weird physical maneuvers I know I used to come up with when happy.

8. Enjoying healthy Landon. It has been a while.

9. After showing me how fast he could run from one end of the house to the other, Lincoln tells me, "I should have saved that one for my soccer game, huh mom."

10. Lincoln said to me as we were driving, "Faster, Woman, Faster!" What?

11. I appreciate the opportunity to teach the kids that even though we might have a really bad day where it seems like everything is going wrong, usually things look better in the morning and we will all be happier.

wonderful

I've been cleaning the house, listening to Logan (3 years old) and Landon (10 months old) giggle, laugh, and scream in joy as they play together downstairs. It truly is the most wonderful sound and makes me smile. Just wanted to share. Love those boys.

Boyd Hyde Smart

Wednesday after school we rushed down to Salt Lake City to Promise Hospital knowing our time was short with grandpa. My four kids and I donned our yellow gowns and walked into his room to say our goodbyes. Ella looked like an angel with her gown too big and the light shining behind her. Landon wiggled, wiggled, and wiggled in grandma's arms, taking it all in. Lincoln and Logan were shy, but told him they loved him. Grandpa Boyd looked at all of us, smiled, winked, squeezed my hand, whispered our names, and called Ella "sweetheart." I miss him, but I am comforted by where he is going and that he will continue to watch over us.

Boyd Hyde Smart (Logan, UT)

Loving husband, father and friend passed away peacefully March 31, 2011 in Salt Lake City following complications from a heart attack in January. Boyd was born March 4, 1930 in Dayton, Idaho to Veril David and Rosella Hyde Smart. Boyd married his sweetheart, Phyllis Going Maughan, on July 28, 1950 in the Logan LDS Temple. Boyd and Phyllis recently celebrated their 81st birthdays and 60th wedding anniversary.

Boyd started his career as an electrician with Union Pacific RR and then at Utah Power and Light Co. for 38 years where he worked as a lineman and later became manager over the Montpelier Idaho district. Boyd was blessed to have a very long and productive retirement where he and Phyllis never rested.

Boyd was always an active member the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he served as Bishop three times, a member of the Stake Presidency, long time temple ordinance worker and sealer in the Logan Utah temple. Boyd and Phyllis served two missions (New Zealand and Los Angeles). He leaves a lasting legacy of hard work, service and faith.

Boyd’s main hobby was helping his children and grandchildren build and remodel homes. He loved the outdoors, camping, traveling, working in the yard, and being at their cabins in Bear Lake and Logan Canyon. Boyd was a true friend to everyone and was loved and admired by the many people who knew him.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis, his sister Verla (Rey) Hyer, brothers Demar Smart and David (MaryAnn) Smart, and sister-in-law Barbara Smart, eight children: Christine (David) Peterson, Ogden UT; Craig (Shirley) Smart, Logan UT; David (Betty) Smart, Millville UT; Larry (Joyce) Smart, Providence UT; Tom (Kathy) Smart, Montpelier ID; Marilyn (Dennis) Vanderbeek, Rigby ID; Charlotte (Jason) Brandley, West Point, UT; and Jason (Ellan) Smart, Logan UT. Thirty one grandchildren and 54 great-grandchildren. Boyd was preceded in death by one brother, two sisters and one great-granddaugter.

A viewing will be held on Sunday April 3, from 6 – 8 PM at the Nelson Funeral Home (162 E 400 N, Logan UT). Funeral services will be held Monday April 4, 11 AM at the Logan 9thWard (125 E 500 N). Friends may attend a viewing at 10 AM prior to the service. Interment will be at the Dayton, Idaho cemetery.

Many thanks to the caring staff at Logan Regional, McKay Dee, and Promise hospitals.

Our lives haved been forever changed by Boyd’s thoughtfulness and love. Although we will miss him greatly, we are comforted by the thought of the many arms that welcomed him to his great reunion.