Wordful Wednesday: Unity in marriage

Jeremy and I are perfectly united in every way. :)

So I thought I'd share an article I wrote about another lovely couple who was married the same year that Disneyland opened.

You can read the article here, at this terrific blog.

oops! I forgot to mention that it is the lovely and inspiational Cocoa from Chocolate on my Cranium who hosts Wordful Wednesday. There were some excellent posts written about this topic this week. If you feel full of words on this subject you should link up and share!

Wordfull Wednesday: Poetry

This was going to be my contribution to Cocoa's Wordfull Wednesday even before I read her post. She talked about writing poetry for music. Well, I truly believe the two are intertwined. It must be my heritage. In Finland there is an old folk tale that tells how the world was made. They believe it was sung into existence. The mountains, oceans, trees, sun, moom and every living thing was willed into the world with words and music.

Our family was asked to sing a song at church and we chose "Love is Spoken Here" by Janice Kapp Perry. There is a verse for girls and boys, but no verse for parents. So I willed a verse with words and music. (All those years and dollars worth of music lessons, put to good use here mom and dad!)

My sincerest apologies to Sister Perry. Hopefully she'll forgive my humble attempt.

The words might be a little hard to read above (you can click on the music to enlarge it):

Father, we thank thee for our children.
We pray that Thou wilt bless them,
And give them comfort in their fears,
And help them see hope through their tears,
And help us teach them with Thee near,
Love is spoken here.

Share your poetry or check out others' at Chocolate on My Cranium.

Sonja's Stewed Gratitude

For the little tiny particles in the air that miraculously connect me to people around the world.

For humongous grocery stores with their dizzying assortment of food.

For the joy of running on a cool, crisp day toward snow capped mountains, away from the chocolate chips in my pantry.

For the constant tug on my arm, ever pointing me toward something new.

For little, messy hands that reach for mine.

For eyes that sparkle with curiosity.

For the kind words that lift me up.

For other people's wit, that makes me laugh.

For the sacrifice of so many to keep our country free.

For scripture heroes who inspire me to live the gospel.

For the guidance of a living prophet.

For imagination that takes me to other places and times.

For the love of dear, dear family and friends.

For the blessings of the temple and the chance to live with my family forever.

For someone who loves me in spite of me.

For a fridge with an ice dispenser.

For all the variety of nature.

For music and dance that fill me up with good cheer and gladness.

For good books that become part of my life.

For modern medicine and the fact that we now know that leeching is bad.

For toilet paper and flushing toilets.

For SLR cameras that make it look like I know what I'm doing.

For the chance to try again tomorrow.

For gorgeous sunsets that take your breath away and make you wish you were an artist so you could paint that fleeting, heavenly scene.

For warm beds to snuggle in on cold, wet, dark mornings.

For stretchy, forgiving denim jeans.

For sweet memories that bring tears to my eyes.

For lasik that makes those eyes see better than they use to.

For fathers who sacrifice so much for their children.

For mothers who stand firm in the gospel and give so much of themselves to their children.

For grandmothers and grandfathers who faithfully send birthday cards and make us feel so good.

For all these things and many more I give thanks, dear Lord.

Read other thankful thoughts and share your own at Chocolate On My Cranium.

The Issues

This post was submitted for Cocoa's Worldfull Wednesday. We were suppose to focus on one of a number of political issues. I thought I had scheduled this for Wednesday! I was wrong, so it is a day late.

Conversation a few days ago with my 9 and 7 year old children.

"Who are you voting for, mom?"

"Senator ___________."

"Why?"

"Because he is the one that stands for more of the same issues I believe in."

"Like what? What issues?"

"Well, he believes parents should have a choice in education, he believes that law-abiding citizens have the right to bear arms, and he is against abortion. That is very important to me."

"What's abortion?"

(Sigh.... I better keep it simple.)

"Well, sometimes a woman gets pregnant and decides she doesn't want to have a baby and goes to the doctor to have the baby taken out of her."

(Wide eyes)

"What do they do with the baby?"

(Pause....How do I answer? I don't want them to loose all their faith in humanity before they are even teenagers! Nevertheless, I decide to go with a very simple, honest answer.)

"Well, guys, they take the baby when it is really, really small. Some people think that when it is that small it is not a real person and so they destroy it. It's very sad and I do not think that is right. And so, I'm against abortion."

(Now, I expected that there might be some emotion, but was still a little overwhelmed by the response.)

"WHAT????" (Eyes are tearing up.) "Mom, how can they do that?" "That's LEGAL?" "How can that happen??" "They kill the baby???"

(Now there are full blown sobs.)

And then my 7 year old daughter whispers, "Oh, those poor mothers...they will be so sad forever."

(That's when my eyes started to water.)

I'm about to tell them that it is a very complicated issue. That there are lots of scenarios. I wanted to comfort them by saying that some scientists don't think the embryo can feel anything. But then, why should I try to smooth over an issue that should make everyone cry out in horror? My 9 and 7 year old's shock and tears are proof enough to me that it really isn't complicated at all.

It's about life and death.
It's about right and wrong.

The adversary would like to blur the lines until it is too hard to see them or until we just don't care anymore.

What can we do?

I want to see children being taught to reverence life, rather than see it made a complete mockery in video games and television. We need to protect their sensitivity to light and darkness! How frightening it is to think, that in a few decades our world might be lead by children who have spent SO MANY hours in front of a screen showing violence, rudeness, disrespect, and vile behavior. We NEED to protect their sensitivity by taking them outside and showing them the marvels of the world God created, by teaching them to pray earnestly and to increase their faith, by having consequences for bad behavior, by loving them unconditionally, and by LIMITING THE SCREEN TIME.

I want to see more legislation that promotes adoption as an alternative and that teaches the long lasting effects of abortion. It's very foolish to think that a woman can go back to "normal" after having an abortion. It is not the easy "fix" that people believe it is.

I believe very strongly in a woman's right to choose. She can choose to be responsible before she gets pregnant! I realize that there are some instances where a woman becomes pregnant because someone else was selfish and evil. I believe so strongly, however in adoption and that the innocent life that was brought into the world because of a wicked deed, need not perpetuate the evil, but, given to a warm and loving couple could be the cause of healing and forgiveness and love.

We live in a time where we do not have the luxury of being passive. We can be a force for good. And, while the issues can seem very overwhelming, the best place to start is at home.

BUT, be prepared to be taught (and humbled) by your children.

Fear ala Edgar Allen Poe

*This post is being submitted for Scribbit's Write-Away contest. This month's theme is: Fear.


Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over all the fears that make me tremble to my core.
(I thought of wars, I pondered needles and those freaky little beetles,
that I hear will nearly always crawl by hundreds on the floor.)
While I nodded nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis my dear daughter," I muttered, "tapping my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."

But now my mind was fretting, that some bed she might be wetting,
And I thought of all the laundry that this tapping might produce.
With a sigh, and no relief, from my husband fast asleep
I rose and got my robe on--here I opened wide the door; --
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams every mother's dreamed before;
Was someone in bed reeling? To the hospital I'll be fleeing?
I trembled at thought of blood or vomit on the floor.
I listened in the darkness for a cry, or quiet implore
Only darkness, and nothing more.

Now my mind was racing and the floor I now was pacing,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
My heart was turning, turning, all my soul within me burning--
And the thought, most dis concerning was of a stranger at my door
With my dear ones flying, crying, "Nevermore!" "Nevermore!"

So, while running to their bedroom, trying not to think of "redrum"
I tripped and fell on something in the hall.
'Twas a little motor tractor, whose batteries were a factor
in the poor thing tapping, rapping up against my chamber wall.
This! The very gentle tapping that I heard upon my door,
A Fischer Price toy tractor, only this and nothing more.

Now, quite certain of my error and relieved to say the least,
I went still to find my children sleeping soundly and in peace.
But, sleep, for me was futile as I pondered for a long while
Of my greatest fear, beyond the wars and bugs.
I went again into the darkness to those children I adore,
I'm reminded how I love them now and will forevermore.


This post was written for Chocolate on my Cranium's Wordfull Wednesday.
The topic was: Your worst fear.

Wordfull Wednesday: Inner Beauty

Cocoa is hosting Wordfull Wednesday, and this week's topic is: Inner Beauty. May I recommend that you read her post on the subject. It is beautiful and as the mother of 6 daughters, very heart felt. And if you'd like to add your two cents, hop on over and link away!

What is the first thing you notice about someone when you meet them? Their hair? Their skin? Their clothes?

For me, it's the eyes. This may be because my dad is an ophthalmologist. I grew up around talk of corneas and retinas. I got my first pair of glasses when I was in 4th grade. My first pair of contacts when I was in 7th grade. I had the miracle of Lasik five years ago. I've even worked in an ophthalmic clinic. So, I've spent some time with an eyeball or two.

Their structure is fascinating. But there is something more than structure. Others have noticed it too. Someone once said, "The eyes are the window to the soul." Whether science can confirm this is debatable and not probable. I have observed, however, that I can get a glimpse of a person's inner workings from their eyes.

I have the good fortune of knowing many good, honest, wonderful people. One thing I have noticed about them is their eyes. They are bright. It doesn't matter what color they are, if they are shy or outgoing, how old or young they are, or even if they are be speckled. When people are living righteously, there is something familiar inside their eyes. A sparkle. I often notice this sparkle in children. Their eyes are just bright.

I believe it is a reflection of their inner beauty. Of the bright and divine spirit within. Imagine having a mirror that reflected what was on the inside. It's hard to fake that light. Even the most famous super model can't pretend the genuine luminescence of a pure soul.

I want to protect the bright eyes of my children. I want to teach them to look inwardly and recognize the divinity in themselves. I want to teach my children to recognize that radiance in others so that it doesn't matter so much what is on the outside.

I imagine that over time, little pieces of "dust" can settle over that lamp inside us; Discouragement, doubt, disappointment, sin, and so much more. Clouding our spirit like a cataract. We don't feel confident or happy and it shows in our eyes.

But there is hope! We can call on the doctor of eyes and souls! We can shake off the "dust" and revisit our divine potential by doing those things that bring us closer to God. As we do, our spirit glows,

and our eyes can not contain it.