Tender Mercies

I had an experience yesterday that caused me to stop and reflect on the events of the past couple of months. Before sharing that I’d like to preface it with an explanation of the phrase that came to mind after my experience yesterday.

In the April 2005 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder David Bednar gave a talk entitled, “he Tender Mercies of the Lord.” He spoke of an experience he’d had the previous October where he realized that the Lord was aware of him and his concerns at that present moment and he said the following:

“Near the conclusion of the singing, to my mind came this verse from the Book of Mormon: “But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Nephi 1:20).

My mind was drawn immediately to Nephi’s phrase “the tender mercies of the Lord,” and I knew in that very moment I was experiencing just such a tender mercy. A loving Savior was sending me a most personal and timely message of comfort and reassurance through a hymn selected weeks previously. Some may count this experience as simply a nice coincidence, but I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often, the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them.”

He went on to say, “Since last October I have reflected repeatedly upon the phrase “the tender mercies of the Lord.” Through personal study, observation, pondering, and prayer, I believe I have come to better understand that the Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindnesses, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly, the Lord suits “his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men” (D&C 46:15).

Yesterday I experienced one of those “Tender Mercies”. Actually as I began reflecting over the last couple of months or so I realized January and February have been full of tender mercies.

Yesterday I went to pick up Dee from school. At her school some of the kids are picked up in the back and some in the front. I pick Kayryn up in the back. The driveway behind the school consists of basically two “lanes”. The lane closest to the school is for pulling as far forward as you can and then wait for your child(ren) to come out then pull out into the second lane and go on out so others can pull forward.

With all the snow we’ve had over the last couple of months – it just keeps hanging around- that second lane has gotten pretty narrow and the wheels on the driver’s side of the vehicle are riding on snow that has been packed into a slippery solid mass.

After Dee got in the car I pulled carefully out into the second lane and began to leave. Just as I was almost to the end of the “driveway” I came up beside a very large (it sat quite high) van. Just as I got nose to nose with it a petite little first grade girl darted out from between it and the car in front of it right into my path. I wasn’t going very fast but I basically had no reaction time. I didn’t see her and she didn’t see me until she darted out.

I drew in a sharp breath – there was no air in my lungs to scream at that moment – and slammed on my brakes. I wasn’t completely on the snow pack but I still slid what felt like a couple of feet but was probably only a few inches. I slammed on the brakes, gripped my steering wheel in a death grip -there was nowhere for me to go, I had a huge van on one side of me and a large snow bank on the other – and waited for the sickening thud of my van hitting that little girl.

The thud never came. When I began to breathe again and time started to move once more, I realized that I had come to a stop, I could see the top of the little girl's head. She had to be standing with her nose just about touching the van just over the front wheel well. She turned and ran as fast as she could back onto the sidewalk. When she turned to look at me - oh you should have seen the look on her face, it was pure fear- she made this little pitiful gesture like she was waving me on, conceding the ride of way to me.

I don’t believe the driver in the van next to me was even aware of what happened. I don’t know if she was sitting too high up in her van or had not been looking our way. I rolled down the passenger side window and you could tell the little girl thought I was going to yell at her. I simply asked, “Are you ok?!” She answered in the most pitiful voice, “Yes,”

So I took a deep breath rolled up the window and tried to calm my pounding heart and drove out of the school parking lot. If I’d hit that little girl even though I wasn’t going very fast at all, as little as she was it would have sent her flying and I believe it would have hurt her pretty bad.

Dee hadn’t even seen the little girl until we stopped. She was in the front passenger seat and was looking at me when the little girl darted out. Afterwards she said, “Mom you should have seen the look on your face!!!” I asked her if it was as terrified as the look on the little girl’s face when she was standing on the sidewalk afterwards. She said, “Yes!”

I told Dee I didn’t know how in the world I hadn’t hit that little girl. Then I realized yeah I do. There was divine intervention there. That little girl and we had just experienced a tender mercy of the Lord, for which I am so grateful!

Birthday Bash

We had Dee’s Birthday party this past week. I can’t believe she’s fourteen. She wanted to decorate the house for the party and I was more than happy to let her handle that. We found the cutest cake.

She had eight of her friends over. We’d told her when she turned 14 she could start wearing makeup so we had her Aunt bring a Mary Kay Rep over and do makeovers on the girls.

They got some instruction on how to properly apply age appropriate makeup and got to put on makeup and take home some fun “goody bags” filled with some of the things they’d tried on. Hopefully they enjoyed it. I know if I was a fourteen-year-old girl I’d been thinking, “Score!”

After the makeovers the girls headed downstairs while we cleaned up. A few minutes later I heard Dee say, “Whoever that big black bag belongs to, you may find some gum in it.” We turned around and looked at her. The bag belonged to the Mary Kay Rep. Dee continued, “My friend was trying to spit her gum in the garbage and it landed in your bag. I just thought I should tell you.”

The lady pulled everything out of her bag and sure enough down at the bottom was a chewed piece of gum. Fortunately, it was “hard” and hadn’t stuck to anything. The lady thanked Dee for telling her. Imagine finding that little treasure a few days later and wondering where it came from.

Christmas Time

It’s that time of year again and Christmas is in the air. Some don’t like that it seems to come so early, but I just can’t seem to get enough of the feelings it brings. When there’s even a slightest possibility that the radio stations may be playing Christmas music, I start scanning the airways.

When I see the lights and hear the sounds of Christmas, memories flood my mind as remembrances of times long past wrap me warmly in their embrace.

When Christmas songs play on the radio I’m once again snuggled by my grandpa’s side as we drive through our small town searching the neighborhood roofs for Santa and his reindeer. I’m almost positive we spotted him one year.

We’d laugh and chat as we wondered what treasures we’d find under the tree the next morning. Then we’d make our way down Main Street, “Ooohing” and “Aaahing” over the brilliant lights and decorations covering the streetlamps and storefronts, while the sweet sounds of “Silver Bells” drifted dreamily from the car radio.

My grandpa has been gone for several years now and though there are no more Christmas rides through the small town I grew up in, I still have those memories to bring him close once again.

Looking back I can’t recall many of the gifts I’ve received through the years but I still remember and cherish the memories of the time spent with my family and the traditions we’ve shared.

I have children of my own now and we’ve started traditions with our children in hopes that they too will have memories that they will treasure throughout their lives.

One of our traditions includes an annual Christmas Eve trip to Grandma’s for dinner and a “talent” show with all the cousins. The cousins have a gift exchange (they draw names earlier in the year and all the presents must be under a set amount).

Then finally, the best part of all, they all open their present from Grandma and Grandpa. Every year it’s the same present – pajamas. The kids laugh and giggle as they watch to see what kind of pajamas everyone gets and then they race to an empty room to put them on and come out for pictures.

Grandma has asked the kids over the years if they wouldn’t rather have something different “this” year and each year she is met with the same answer, a resounding “NO!” Each grandchild whether they’re 9 or 23 insists that they must get pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa. It’s tradition and they’ll have no part of changing it.

According to the article, “Family Traditions Are Important” by Marsha K. Weaver, “Family traditions are the threads of life that bind us together as families.” Traditions not only strengthen us, they help connect us to our pasts and give us a sense of who we are and where we come from.

Our families are a great blessing and the holidays are a wonderful time to thoroughly enjoy them and help create memories that will bind us together and last a lifetime.

Marathon Men

Do you ever feel like some people are just gluttin for punishment? Some days I think that would describe my husband and my son.

They ran their marathon in September. They did pretty well but didn’t finish in quite the times they would have liked to so DJ is saying he wants to run another one, Dave’s not so sure. He’s done this twice already.

As part of the preparation for their marathon Dave and DJ decided to ran a half marathon the month before the actual marathon. On the day of the Half Marathon Dave ran the race in the morning, then went and played a soccer game afterwards and then they both hiked to the top of Mount Timpanogos, coming down the mountain that night in the dark – that’s 33 miles in one day. I heard the trek down the mountain in the dark was quite an adventure.

They started their day at 4:30 AM and got home the next morning at 2:30 AM. Some people’s kids…

It was cold and rainy on the day of the Marathon but Dave said the rain didn’t last long. The cold however stuck around. One of Dave’s best friends from High School flew in to run the marathon with them. Dave said they ran together the first mile and he didn’t see his friend again. His friend has been running regularly and Dave told him to go on ahead.

Dave’s knee locked up at about mile 8 and he at times was dragging his leg to keep going. Some of the other runner’s offered him some Ibuprofen but he doesn’t like to take pills so he turned them down. Finally at mile 18 he accepted a big horse pill of Ibuprofen. He didn’t have any water so he had to just put it in his mouth and let it dissolve. It was disgusting. He finally found someone with some extra water so he could rinse his mouth.

The pain finally stopped at mile 19 and Dave could finally stop running again. He finally caught up to DJ at mile 22. DJ was having a hard time too. He was very sore. They both said if they do this again they’ll train more.

Suffice it to say they limped around for a couple of days after the marathon. The things some people do for fun!

Autumn Time

This is my favorite time of year! I love the crispness in the air, the excitement of a new school year and the memories of past holiday seasons as they begin to tug at my consciousness and dance through my thoughts trying to entice me to revisit the excitement, anticipation and wonder I felt as a little girl.

The other seasons are wonderful in their own way but there's just something about Autumn that's like a soft comforter around my heart as it connects my “here and now” to wonderful memories of times past and the anticipation of all that's yet to come.

I hope you are having a wonderful autumn as well!! Take a few minutes, step outside in the fresh air, close your eyes, take a deep breath and just be. Be in the moment and just enjoy it.

Hooray For Haircuts!!

Okay, I’m running just a bit behind. I originally wrote this July 13 but am just getting it posted. It has been a crazy but fun summer. I can’t wait to see what happens next. At any rate here’s the July post.

Believe it or not we’re still here. This month has been so jam packed I can’t even believe it – more than I could possibly tell in one sitting so I’m going to start with haircuts.

Jake, our 75 lb Great Pyrenees, Australian Shepherd mix started it. It has been extremely hot and he has been extremely miserable. So, in spite of the fact that the lady we adopted him from told us to never cut his “hair”, we finally took pity on him and took him in for a shave.

He looks so cute. He looks like a cross between a big puppy and a small bear. I love it. I think we should keep him like this always – but I don’t think he’d be too happy with us in the winter if we did. But for now he’s a much happier camper.

Then miracle of miracles, DJ got his hair cut. We’ve been after him for quite a while to cut his hair (we’re talking months and months and months), but he’s asserted his free agency and refused. Some may think we should have cut it off in his sleep and while I’ll admit that thought crossed my mind and that threat even crossed my lips, we figured that if that’s the worst thing he ever does we’re doing pretty good.

At any rate while he was in Japan, he finally saw the light – actually he felt the humidity and his hair refused to do anything except lie limp on his forehead . So he decided to let one of the teenage girls that was there with his delegation cut it. Now that wouldn’t have been so bad but, this particular girl had never cut hair before – all I can say is she must have been cute, because this is a kid who will not let anyone but his Aunt Cindy touch his hair; needless to say the cute girl butched it.

So he let another girl try it, she’d never cut hair before either. She didn’t do much better. Finally they found another girl in their delegation that said she cut hair in her basement so she tried to fix it. It looked okay but it still needed some help. However to be fair, the only thing the girl had to work with was a pair of office scissors.

Picture it if you can, DJ sitting out in a parking lot in the hotel they were staying in surrounded by about 30 girls watching him get a haircut with a pair of office scissors wielded first by two girls that don’t know what they’re doing and the third trying to fix the mess with inadequate scissors. Meanwhile standing to the side is their Japanese liaison watching apprehensively – okay worried to death - that his hair is going to be slaughtered and his parents are going to freak out. Meanwhile the staff of the hotel is laughing in disbelief and taking pictures to put on the hotel’s website.

Actually it didn’t turn out too bad but the second day he was home he had his Aunt Cindy fix it for him. It looks so much better than it did before he had it cut. I really like it and believe it or not, so does he! YEA!!

Not to be left out, Dee got her hair cut too. Actually I encouraged that one. Her hair is so long and so thick it’s almost unmanageable. I talked her into getting about 5 inches cut off and getting it thinned. Then she wanted to put some natural high lights in it. I think it turned out way cute!! Though I have to admit, when her aunt went to thin it I was on the phone and just happened to glance up right as Cindy had what looked like a pair of regular scissors poised three inches from her scalp and cut! I about had a heart attack right then and there and the phone almost hit the floor!

I didn’t realize the “scissors” were thinning shears and only took out strands of hair, 11 or so inches long, every so often and not the entire section she was holding. Boy I’m telling you my heart stopped for a split second.

Everything turned out well and everyone looks terrific. All I can say is “Hooray for haircuts!!!!”

Shopping Adventures

The kids needed some summer clothes so last week I decided to be brave and take them both to the mall at the same time. Dave had a soccer game so he was planning on picking up DJ on his way to his game and taking him with him; so I figured it wouldn’t be too bad.

When we got there I looked for clothes with DJ while Dee went and looked in the girl’s department. DJ picked out one shirt and one pair of shorts and he was done. There was nothing else he wanted. That left us with a lot of shopping time before his dad got there and I knew he’d get bored quick. I also knew he’d be leaving when his dad did arrive so I took the shorts and the shirt from him.

Dee on the other hand was anxious to shop but she’d gotten taller and thinner since our last shopping trip so we weren’t sure what size she was and she wanted me to come help her look. DJ of course had no desire to stand in the girls department while we searched through an endless assortment of racks in search of the perfect outfit. (Ok, Dee doesn’t relish that either, but it’s just got to be done.)

DJ said he’d just go stand outside and wait for his dad but I hated for him to do that since it would still be a while before his dad arrived. I asked DJ if there was anywhere else in the mall he’d like to look. There wasn’t.

I knew he needed shoes and ‘Penny’s didn’t have any he liked so we thought we’d try another store in the mall and see what they had. I figured we’d go back to Penny’s afterwards and shop for Dee’s things.

I forgot all about the shirt and shorts, which were still on the hangers, lying in my arms. We walked out of the store halfway across the mall, past the security and info desk until we found a mall directory. Then we took the escalator to the second level walked halfway back across the mall again and just as we reached the other store I happened to look down and to my horror saw the shirt and shorts with the anti-theft devices still attached lying in my arms. I just about had a heart attack.

I couldn’t believe I’d walked out of that store with those things in my arms! I also couldn’t believe no one had stopped me. I’m sure the Lord was looking out for me because I don’t think anyone would have believed I’d accidentally taken those things from the store or that I had every intention of going back and doing more shopping.

I sheepishly walked back into JC Penny’s, found a sales associate, told her what I’d done. I explained to her that I still wanted the clothes but had some other shopping I needed to do first and asked her if she would hold the clothes for me until I returned so that I could purchase them then. She had the funniest look on her face but she took them and didn’t call security on me. (I don’t know what it is with me and funny looks from store clerks.)

The clothes were still there when we finally made it back to retrieve them and I didn’t get arrested. However I did notice a young man who was trying to look like he was folding and straightening clothes sticking kind of close to us.

Then today at the grocery store – the same one I had the memory lapse in as I was signing my check – I was checking out. I’d unloaded my buggy (for those of you unfamiliar with that term that’s a shopping cart.) and pushed it through the lane so the gentleman bagging my groceries could start putting them in it.

After a second the checker looked at me kind of funny (I’m telling you I’m getting a complex about the funny looks) and asked, “Do you want your mushrooms?” I looked back at her blankly and said, “Huh?”

She repeated her question, “Do you want your mushrooms?” Now I was confused. Two thoughts ran through my mind almost simultaneously: 1) Do I want my mushrooms where? and 2) Does she mean do I want to hold onto the little treat I was buying. You see, when you buy a candy bar or something they always ask if you want to keep it with you or if you want it in the bag; so I was expecting that question but the mushroom question totally threw me.

When I looked at her again this time with a totally baffled look on my face she said as she pointed to my cart, that I’m telling you just moments before was completely empty and said, “Do you want your mushrooms?”

This time I looked where she was pointing and to my surprise saw a package of mushrooms, sitting pretty as you please, in my cart. Somehow I’d missed them and pushed them through the line without paying for them. Feeling sheepish once again, I apologized and told her I hadn’t even realized I’d missed them. Then shaking my head I proceeded to tell her about my little adventure at JC Penny’s. I somehow don’t think that lent much to my credibility.

The moral of the story – always check your arms, shopping cart, top of your purse or anywhere else you might have laid something before exiting a store and think twice before sharing your “adventures” with uninterested third parties.