There has been a lot of sad news floating around the past few days, both in real life and in the blogosphere. So I thought I'd hopefully bring some cheer by posting a poem that my brother Scott wrote in elementary school. I found this in an old e-mail to my mom, and I included what I wrote to her in that original e-mail, because I thought it was just funny. I have not edited the text of the poem in any way. Don't worry, he grew up to be a successful civil engineer, a career choice which apparently doesn't require perfect spelling. Thanks for letting me post this, Scotty.
Dear Kerry,
I wanted to do something to help. I searched through volumes of literature and poetry to see if I could find some words, greater than my own, to offer some comfort in these trying times. I came across this inspirational poem by Mr. Scott Cartwright (perhaps a distant relation?), and I wanted to share it with you. Although hopefully neither of us will ever have to face the great trials that Mr. Cartwright bravely confronts in his poem, the message is still of immense value to you, me, and every man. Mr. Cartwright tells of how to face our problems both intelligently and creatively, and his straightforward approach has been, and will continue to be, a source of great value to many. I believe the poem is called “don’t wery, be happy.”
“don’t wery, be happy”
don’t wery be happy when somone cames to take your bed
don’t wery be happy
don’t wery be happy
fi somone comes to rob your house don’t wery be happy
just call somone
don’t wery be happy
if somone terns of the littes don’t wery be happy
just get out of bed and trn then back on
if you se somone in your closet don’t wery be happy
go up to him and slap his fase so don’t wery be happy
So profound.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Happy Birthday Annie!
Happy Birthday to my sweet baby sis! It's hard to believe that there would be people who know me, or even think they know me through my blog, and don't know about my sister. It's her birthday today, and we're missing her as she shares the gospel in Nauvoo, Illinois. I think about my life 16.5 months ago when she left, and what it is now. There are people that I've become friends with since she left that only know me as my own person, or as Kenley and Parker's mommy. And it's funny because I don't even feel like people can really know me without knowing me in the context of Andrea. I couldn't even begin to describe myself without talking about her. So here's what you need to know...
When Andrea comes home in December, she will be a hugely time-consuming part of my life. I love being with my sister. I could spend most of my life side-by-side with her, doing nothing or something and enjoying every minute of it. Well, that's rose-colored glasses. Enjoying most of it. She does drive me nuts sometimes. Andrea has big plans, and always needs the company. Maybe you just had a kid and you don't really feel like going to Vons to buy ice cream at 11pm? Um, too bad. Maybe you haven't run in six months but she needs company for a tiny five mile jog? Lace up your shoes. Maybe you want to go to sleep because it's after midnight? Oh, please. Yeah right.
I can't picture life without my sister. I don't know how many kids I would have so that Kenley can have a chance for what I've had with Andrea. I'm so very, very lucky to have someone that so totally gets me, even though she is so much of a better person. I don't even want to try to count the times one of us has peed our pants laughing so hard together, the kind where your whole face aches and you just can't stop. And you annoy everyone else in the room. We have the very best times together.
She is the best aunt ever. She loves my kids with a fierceness that amazes me. I know one of the hardest things for her about going on a mission was to leave the kids. I know we've been blessed by her serving, and I know she has too. But I am so excited for her to see the little people they've grown into.
And I have to give my husband a huge, huge shout-out. I am so absolutely grateful for his never-ending patience for my love affair with my sister. Sometimes, I would feel bad about having her over for so long, and I would try to make James come out and be a third amigo with us. Usually didn't work. He is so understanding about the time that we spent together when she was here, and the time I'm planning on spending with her when she gets back. I just keep telling him it won't be forever, we have to spend every minute together that we can, because someday she'll be far away and have a family of her own and she won't be here anymore. I'm sure he looks forward to that day, but he is so kind and patient in the meantime. But it's not like he doesn't get anything out of it. I've promised that he can buy the Star Wars game for the Wii before she comes home so at least Luke Skywalker can hang out with him. Now then. Aren't I so nice?
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Happy Birthday Kenley!
Three years ago I became a mommy, to this teeny tiny sweet little thing.
Many of you didn't know me then, so I'll tell you how it went. Well, and even if you did know me, you may not have known all this. Those first few months were pretty rough. I had fantasies of draining our bank account, and escaping to Palm Springs to lay out by the pool and drink pina coladas. Being a new mommy.... um, for me it wasn't all that fun and glamorous. It was very discouraging. I really only like to do things that I know I'm good at, and parenting... I was pretty sure I wasn't very good at it. I had left my teaching job that I loved, to sit at home without very many friends and let this little person scream angry cries at me all day long. Babies. You devote every minute to them, and they don't smile or act like they really even like you, they just cry. It wasn't that much fun. So we had a rocky start, I guess is all I'm saying.
But now she's three.
She is precious. I am under no illusions that our parenting makes her such a great kid, she's just great. She's obedient, funny, and has great manners. Whenever I buy her something, she thanks me profusely. "Oh, Mommy! You buy me this new pink dress! Thank you, Mommy! It's so cute!" And of course she's just darling.
At times she tries my patience, and we have our battles, which I know will only get worse. But she's so sweet, and really tries so hard to be good. When she's really sad, usually because she's gotten in trouble, she'll try so hard not to cry. Her little mouth turns down, her lips quiver, and she looks away, blinking hard. If you ask her what's wrong, she'll whisper, almost inaudibly, something like, "I'm dest a tiny bit sad." It's heartbreaking. She's not doing it for attention, she's trying valiantly NOT to cry, and oh, it just kills me every time.
She loves princesses, animals, dancing, art, and dress-up. She is a sweet big sister and a big help around the house. She can feed the dog, sweep, Swiffer, dress herself, load the dishwasher, unload the silverware into the drawer, set the table, clean the glass and mirrors, and clean up her toys. Huh. That's quite a list. Maybe she should do all that every day! Imagine how easy my life would be then! She's a good little talker, and uses all kinds of words that amaze me, like already, yesterday, still, probably, etc. Her favorite new word is "cool." I don't know where she picked it up, but it makes me laugh every time.
And she's forgiving. I'm still not that great of a mom. I'm not very patient or interactive, and sometimes I'm short-tempered. But she's always there with her chubby little arms and sweet sticky lips to give me hugs and kisses. Yesterday we had a little feud, and not a half hour later we were sitting on the couch watching TV, and about every two minutes she would tell me, "I love you Mommy. I really like you. I like your hair ties, they're so cute." Awwww.. how could anyone be sweeter than that?
Edited to Add: While I was typing this, Kenley was playing in the kitchen with a new playdough set. She comes trotting back to her room with it all put back in its little case. She really cleaned up every last bit of playdough, and all the tools, put them all in their bag, and then pulled up a small chair and put it back on the shelf where it goes. Little sweetie pie.
Many of you didn't know me then, so I'll tell you how it went. Well, and even if you did know me, you may not have known all this. Those first few months were pretty rough. I had fantasies of draining our bank account, and escaping to Palm Springs to lay out by the pool and drink pina coladas. Being a new mommy.... um, for me it wasn't all that fun and glamorous. It was very discouraging. I really only like to do things that I know I'm good at, and parenting... I was pretty sure I wasn't very good at it. I had left my teaching job that I loved, to sit at home without very many friends and let this little person scream angry cries at me all day long. Babies. You devote every minute to them, and they don't smile or act like they really even like you, they just cry. It wasn't that much fun. So we had a rocky start, I guess is all I'm saying.
But now she's three.
She is precious. I am under no illusions that our parenting makes her such a great kid, she's just great. She's obedient, funny, and has great manners. Whenever I buy her something, she thanks me profusely. "Oh, Mommy! You buy me this new pink dress! Thank you, Mommy! It's so cute!" And of course she's just darling.
At times she tries my patience, and we have our battles, which I know will only get worse. But she's so sweet, and really tries so hard to be good. When she's really sad, usually because she's gotten in trouble, she'll try so hard not to cry. Her little mouth turns down, her lips quiver, and she looks away, blinking hard. If you ask her what's wrong, she'll whisper, almost inaudibly, something like, "I'm dest a tiny bit sad." It's heartbreaking. She's not doing it for attention, she's trying valiantly NOT to cry, and oh, it just kills me every time.
She loves princesses, animals, dancing, art, and dress-up. She is a sweet big sister and a big help around the house. She can feed the dog, sweep, Swiffer, dress herself, load the dishwasher, unload the silverware into the drawer, set the table, clean the glass and mirrors, and clean up her toys. Huh. That's quite a list. Maybe she should do all that every day! Imagine how easy my life would be then! She's a good little talker, and uses all kinds of words that amaze me, like already, yesterday, still, probably, etc. Her favorite new word is "cool." I don't know where she picked it up, but it makes me laugh every time.
And she's forgiving. I'm still not that great of a mom. I'm not very patient or interactive, and sometimes I'm short-tempered. But she's always there with her chubby little arms and sweet sticky lips to give me hugs and kisses. Yesterday we had a little feud, and not a half hour later we were sitting on the couch watching TV, and about every two minutes she would tell me, "I love you Mommy. I really like you. I like your hair ties, they're so cute." Awwww.. how could anyone be sweeter than that?
Edited to Add: While I was typing this, Kenley was playing in the kitchen with a new playdough set. She comes trotting back to her room with it all put back in its little case. She really cleaned up every last bit of playdough, and all the tools, put them all in their bag, and then pulled up a small chair and put it back on the shelf where it goes. Little sweetie pie.
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Nielson family
I've had a few people ask about and comment on the button I added recently about the Nielson family. For starters, no, I don't know this family. Stephanie Nielson is a mom of four in Mesa, Arizona who has a blog called The Nie Nie Dialogues.
I'll stop here and say that "blog-stalking" is a funny thing, reading people's blogs who you don't know. It really makes you realize that we are all basically the same, we mommies of the world, and I think blogging has really made that hit home for a lot of women. It's kind of fun to pop in on someone else's blog and think, "This is what my life might be like if I had four kids." Or if I lived in New York, or if I also ran triathalons or taught middle school, or if I happened to have quintuplets. Reading other moms' blogs makes me feel a kinship with other women, many of whom I don't even know. It's kind of a weird phenomenon, but when something like this happens, it makes us realize that we can use this kinship for good.
Stephanie and her husband Christian were in an airplane accident and are badly burned, in critical condition. Stephanie's burns cover over 80% of her body. Her four small children are living with her sister, who also keeps a blog called C Jane Run. It's amazing how an internet community has rallied together to raise money and send prayers for this family. This miracle has been covered by The New York Times and The Today Show. You can donate at any Bank of America or Wells Fargo, but if that's not possible, please send prayers. You just never know what life brings; a horrible accident could happen to any of us. In Stephanie's sister's blog, she writes that Christian was awake and talking for a few days last week and said he could physically feel the prayers coming to him. Please pray for the Nielson family, that their bodies will continue to heal, that their families might be strengthened, and that their kids will be okay. Thanks, from one mommy blogger on behalf of another.
And, to end on a light note, I'm about 90% sure that James froze the rest of last night's chocolate chip cookies so that I wouldn't eat a whole bunch today. Oh well, babe! They're good frozen, too!
I'll stop here and say that "blog-stalking" is a funny thing, reading people's blogs who you don't know. It really makes you realize that we are all basically the same, we mommies of the world, and I think blogging has really made that hit home for a lot of women. It's kind of fun to pop in on someone else's blog and think, "This is what my life might be like if I had four kids." Or if I lived in New York, or if I also ran triathalons or taught middle school, or if I happened to have quintuplets. Reading other moms' blogs makes me feel a kinship with other women, many of whom I don't even know. It's kind of a weird phenomenon, but when something like this happens, it makes us realize that we can use this kinship for good.
Stephanie and her husband Christian were in an airplane accident and are badly burned, in critical condition. Stephanie's burns cover over 80% of her body. Her four small children are living with her sister, who also keeps a blog called C Jane Run. It's amazing how an internet community has rallied together to raise money and send prayers for this family. This miracle has been covered by The New York Times and The Today Show. You can donate at any Bank of America or Wells Fargo, but if that's not possible, please send prayers. You just never know what life brings; a horrible accident could happen to any of us. In Stephanie's sister's blog, she writes that Christian was awake and talking for a few days last week and said he could physically feel the prayers coming to him. Please pray for the Nielson family, that their bodies will continue to heal, that their families might be strengthened, and that their kids will be okay. Thanks, from one mommy blogger on behalf of another.
And, to end on a light note, I'm about 90% sure that James froze the rest of last night's chocolate chip cookies so that I wouldn't eat a whole bunch today. Oh well, babe! They're good frozen, too!
Monday, September 08, 2008
An Instructional Lesson
HOW TO EAT A CHICKEN NUGGET
by Parker Hampton
1. Pick up the nugget and carefully examine it from every angle.
2. If the inside is made of unrecongizeable gummy "chicken," devour it promptly.
3. If it is an imposter, and actually a homemade chicken nugget with juicy white meat, nibble all the fried coating off and leave the chicken, perhaps feeding it to your family pet, if applicable.
Sunday, September 07, 2008
I don't know that they have those costumes....
"Mommy? For Halloween, how bout I be a girl stingray, and Parker bes a baby stingray and you be a mommy stingray and Daddy bes a daddy stingray. Kay? That sound good?"
This girl is so random sometimes...
This girl is so random sometimes...
Friday, September 05, 2008
Happy Halloween
So my mom informed me that as she and Kenley were looking at a Halloween costume catalog, Kenley picked out several costumes for herself, several for me and each grandma, a "dunk" for Parker ("Pee yew! Stinky sk-sk-sk-DUNK"), and several for herself for when she "grows smaller." Oh, um. I think someone missed the memo. For better or for worse, these days are long gone...
I love Halloween. I can't wait. Apparently Kenley's being a cat and Parker is being a skunk. According to Miss Kenley. And myself and the gaggle of grandmas? I guess we're being witches.
I love Halloween. I can't wait. Apparently Kenley's being a cat and Parker is being a skunk. According to Miss Kenley. And myself and the gaggle of grandmas? I guess we're being witches.
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
We're back!
We just spent the last week in Lake Arrowhead with my dad and Joanie. I need to get pics off of their camera, so I'll share those later. But I was blog-hopping and saw someone linked to my blog and it said I hadn't updated in TWO WEEKS! Not okay.
I'm starting classes this fall at Cal State San Marcos. I have to take six classes before my Special Ed. credential will be "cleared," which just basically means I won't have to renew it anymore for the rest of my life. So I'm a little overwhelmed. Tonight I showed up at the Orientation for my online class without the information I needed to log onto the online portion of the class. I guess I just thought she was going to talk about the class, not that we'd all immediately log into these individual computers and start typing away. Argh. I needed my student ID number, which was conveniently at home. They'll e-mail you that info, but they helpfully send it to your student e-mail, which requires a password to get in. Guess what your password is? Some letters in your name plus some digits in the elusive Student ID number. Niiiiiice. And helpful, because did you hear? I didn't bring that number with me. I felt so stupid.
So I'm stressed over classes, and so much else. There's a lot I don't mind about being an adult, but the pressure of making crucial family decisions is just not my favorite. Can someone just decide for us what to do about James' career, my career, continued education for one or both of us, our house, when to have another kid, and who to vote for? Never mind on the voting, I'll figure that out myself. But can someone else make all the rest of those decisions for us? Thanks so much. And make sure they're the best decisions, agreeable to myself, my husband, my kids, our parents, society, and God. Okay? Okay.
I'm starting classes this fall at Cal State San Marcos. I have to take six classes before my Special Ed. credential will be "cleared," which just basically means I won't have to renew it anymore for the rest of my life. So I'm a little overwhelmed. Tonight I showed up at the Orientation for my online class without the information I needed to log onto the online portion of the class. I guess I just thought she was going to talk about the class, not that we'd all immediately log into these individual computers and start typing away. Argh. I needed my student ID number, which was conveniently at home. They'll e-mail you that info, but they helpfully send it to your student e-mail, which requires a password to get in. Guess what your password is? Some letters in your name plus some digits in the elusive Student ID number. Niiiiiice. And helpful, because did you hear? I didn't bring that number with me. I felt so stupid.
So I'm stressed over classes, and so much else. There's a lot I don't mind about being an adult, but the pressure of making crucial family decisions is just not my favorite. Can someone just decide for us what to do about James' career, my career, continued education for one or both of us, our house, when to have another kid, and who to vote for? Never mind on the voting, I'll figure that out myself. But can someone else make all the rest of those decisions for us? Thanks so much. And make sure they're the best decisions, agreeable to myself, my husband, my kids, our parents, society, and God. Okay? Okay.
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