The Cheering Section

At my daughter's recent basketball game, the star was playing with a 102 degree fever, the center had been feeling sick all day, and for whatever reason, Michelle was a bit sluggish.

I noticed she was running slower than usual, and her reactions were a bit delayed, but it still bothered me when a man a few rows down started yelling “Michelle!! Get the lead out!” I wondered who this man was and what made him think he could yell at my daughter.

And that wasn’t the only thing he said. He had other corrections for her as well. She should have gotten the rebound, she should have stolen the ball, her passing should have been better, etc., etc. I noticed Michelle glancing up at him while she played and I grew irritated with his yelling.

Then I noticed something else. He wasn’t the only one yelling at her. There were others who would yell, “Good job, Michelle!” when she scored. There was a group of men at the top of the bleachers yelling to the ref to watch the throwing elbows of the girl guarding my daughter, and there were those who would yell, “Nice try, Michelle!” when she would attempt to steal the ball and fail, or shoot a free throw and miss.

I realized that with just a few exceptions, I didn’t know any of these people.

It struck me how people I didn’t even know were cheering for Michelle by name, offering suggestions on how to improve, and buoying her up when she failed. I began to think about all the school teachers she has had, all the coaches, friends, and church leaders who have cheered her along from the bleachers of her life, and I wondered how many others there were who I had never known.

And my heart swelled with gratitude for their love and concern.

Then, in my mind, I saw numberless people beyond the veil, watching, prodding, and cheering. I could hear them say, “Come on Michelle, get the lead out!”, “You can do it, Michelle”, and “Good job! That’s the way!”

And tears welled up in my eyes.

How grateful I am to know that through out the day, there are many people, some I know, and many I don’t, some on this side of the veil, and some on the other, who want to see my daughter succeed and are cheering her on.

How grateful I am for cheering sections!

Sweet Pictures

10 Things I learned about myself this past week

Here are a few random things I learned about myself and my life this past week.

1. 1. 1. I can have all the resolutions I want, but nothing is going to happen unless I have a plan and work that plan.

2. 2. 2. I can waste a lot of time on the computer.

3. 3. 3. I absolutely love my church calling teaching the 16/17 year olds in SS. I truly think someone in Heaven loves me.

4. 4. 4. I LOVE a full house. Whether it is all my kids home, or Michelle and all of her friends hanging out. Having a house filled with people warms my heart.

5. 5. 5. I don’t do well the first week all my kids go back to school. Can you say DEPRESSION?

6. 6. 6. The birth of a grandbaby brings out all your maternal instincts. You want to cuddle him, feed him, take him home. And of course you know so much more than the parents and so you want to tell them how to do everything. BUT . . . the best thing you can do is give them a little space, bite your tongue and say “Good job!!” Eventually they will figure it all out. After all, our kids survived us.

7. 7. 7. When it comes to the different love languages, mine is definitely TIME. Nothing says love to me more than having someone make time to be with me. And nothing says “I don’t care about you” more, than when someone is always “too busy”.

8. 8. 8. That said . . . date nights with my husband, going out on weekends with friends and lunches with girlfriends are some of my most cherished activities.

9. 9. 9. I loved my life when all I had was pre-school children. All my friends were the same age and we spent our time with play dates, FHE groups, American Mother’s Association, Joy School etc. I was positive life would never get better.

Then the kids got older and could care for themselves. We had a little more money and a lot more freedom and our weeks were spent attending school activities, helping with homework and weekend dates where we didn’t have to pay a babysitter. I loved my life and was positive it would never get better.

But I decided the other day that I am in the very best phase of life right now. With Michelle home, we still spend our weeks at school activities, (basketball games) but we also get to play with grandchildren without the responsibility of raising them, can travel, have fairly good health, I am not wasting any effort trying to measure up to someone else, and I no longer care if company shows up and my house isn’t clean. I am absolutely positive life can't get any better, which I guess means . . . it is all down hill from here.:-).

10. The best part of trying to incorporate a healthy lifestyle is exercising with friends. The worst part—by far—is the lack of rich, creamy chocolate!!!

It's A Boy!!

Enoch Wesley

Born January 5, 2011

5 lbs. 15 oz, 19 inches long

This picture was taken just a few minutes after he was born.

And this picture was taken about 45 minutes after his birth.

Today was one of those days you hold in your heart forever.

Although three weeks before his due date, due to some complications, the doctor decided today would be a good time for our little Enoch to be born. His parents checked into the hospital around 3:30 this morning and I followed them there several hours later.

Around 11:30 they broke Kali's water and at 12:3o she was at 4 cm. We were told to relax. Since this was her first baby and she was on an epidural, it would be about another six hours or so. But Enoch had other plans. At 2:40 Kali was at a ten and at 3:06 he made his entrance into the world.

I stayed in the delivery room until just before the doctor arrived and then joined Wes (who had just arrived) and Kali's dad in the waiting room across the hall. Kim, (Kali's mom) remained in the room for the birth. Kali invited me to stay, which I appreciated, but I know that when you are at ten centimeters, you wouldn't care if the high school band was in watching, but afterward you do, so I decided to wait outside.

Truthfully, I could barely stand being outside the room. I kept creeping closer and closer to the door so I could hear what was happening. My heart was with them as they cheered Kali through her pushing. And I completely burst into tears when I heard the little cry.

It has been a very long and difficult pregnancy so to have the birth go so effortlessly was more than we could have hoped or prayed for. We appreciate all the friends and family members who have kept Kali and little Enoch in their prayers these past several months.

Today was truly a blessing and one that brought great . . .joy to my journey!

A New Year--something to dread or eagerly anticipate????

I used to always hate January 1. There was something about a new year that terrified me. If I made it through the previous year primarily unscathed, I felt there just had to be something ominous lurking in the year to come, and I was not eager to meet it.

And to be truthful, we have had some difficult years.

We have also had some very good ones.

But either way, I am beginning to learn to view the start of a new year as an opportunity for growth, expansion, and adventure, rather than a potential carrier of bad news.

This coming year already holds promise of good things. We are expecting a new grandbaby in a couple weeks and another in late summer. Those events are certainly happy ones to look forward to. Also, Kristen graduates from college in April, and if all goes according to schedule, Ryan should graduate in December. Now, that is exciting!

And so after reading many blogs about goals/plans/resolutions and words for the year, I have decided to select my own word for 2011.

It is LIVE.

One of my favorite movies is Ever After, (I have always been a sucker for Cinderella), and one of my favorite lines from the movie is when the queen says, “The important thing, is that she lived”. I love that! When I die and return to Heaven, I want to feel that my time on earth was not wasted, that while I was here I truly lived.

So I am going to "live" this year. Which to me means . . .

L. I am going to learn new things, go new places, meet new people, develop new skills, and hopefully learn how to use my new computer and get better use out of the camera I got last year.

I . I am going to incorporate a healthy and active lifestyle.

V. I am going to value the important relationships in my life—beginning with my husband, my children, friends, those I serve in church callings and people in need.

E. I will exercise faith. I will read, pray, study, and face whatever challenges this new year may bring, with courage and trust in my Heavenly Father.

And so when this year dwindles to an end, I want to be able to say that I truly, deeply, and courageously . . . lived.

Best wishes to you all on a very happy new year!!