Quotes

Last week in bookgroup when we were discussing "Life is So Good" my good friend Rosanne Keeler mentioned this quote: "It does not really matter what judgment we pass on a book. What matters is not what we do to the book but what the book does to us." {A. N. Wilson from "C. S. Lewis, A Biography", page 289}.

Later in the week Rosanne emailed us another quote she loved that is a quote from C.S. Lewis:
"...It is always better to read Chaucer again than to read a new criticism of him." {C.S. Lewis 'An Experiment in Criticism page 122}

In Rosanne's email she added this: "From these two quote, I have often thought about myself and the scriptures. It is always better to go to the source, read the scriptures, and to let those books change me." (Rosanne Keeler Jan, 26, 2009)

I wholeheartedly agree. So often, especially with the scriptures, we try and find another source when the best way to read them is straight from the Bible or Book of Mormon or whatever scripture you happen to be reading at the time. The same with the classics. I truly admire my son-in-laws that have read the classics, instead of just talking about reading them! If you are going to read Chaucer - read Chaucer - don't read someone else's impression of him. You will be very pleasantly surprised. When I was growing up my father had tried to get me to read Pride and Prejudice a couple of times. I wouldn't even try. I had read some Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters books for school (and hadn't like them) and assumed they were the same thing. The day I had to read Pride and Prejudice, I could not put it down. It is still one of my favorite books to this day. I love Jane Austen! No one does Jane Austen but Jane Austen.

As humans we will always try and find the easier way. Cliff's notes and other books will always be there to help those that will not read the books. But how wonderful is the world that opens up to you when you actually open your mind to what the author is actually saying instead of someone else's interpretation. It is like going and seeing a movie for yourself and not just going by what someone has told you.

Life Is So Good

My book review is about "Life Is So Good" co-authored by George Dawson and Richard Glaubman. It is about George Dawson, the grandson of a slave and his life. Richard Glaubman admits that he went to George to write a 'poor me - pity me' story and instead came out with this inspiring book. George never let anything get him down. He always wanted to learn to read and at 98 - he finally got his chance. He got his GED at 101. He passed away at 103. It is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. You will never look at your life the same after reading this.

Monday's Heroines

Todays heroines are Doreen Brugger and Christina Dittmar. Doreen was my voice teacher, friend and confidant for several years before she became my step-mother. Step-mother has a such a negative connotation but in this instance it is not. She is a wonderful addition to the family. As my teacher and friend she was there when I desperately needed a shoulder to cry on. She laughed with me and literally let me cry on her shoulder as I watched my mother die and couldn't be with my oldest daughter for the birth of our first grandchild. She was there for me when I found out I had a lump in my breast just a week before Heidi's wedding and let me rant and rave about that. When Dad said he was marrying Doreen, I was thrilled. I knew he needed her and I hoped they would be happy. They seem to be very in love and very happy together. I can't ask for more than that. Doreen is a very blessed addition to our family and the best thing I can say about her is that she loves my father.

I am very fortunate with my sister's daughters in that they are really extensions to my own family. I love them as much as my own daughters. Christina is my sister's youngest daughter. I was at my sister's house when Marianne kept saying she just didn't feel good. My friend Lynda Havard said, "I think you're pregnant." Marianne said she didn't think she could be. Happily she was pregnant with our Christina. She has been a joy from day one! One of my most fun memories of Christina was the day I had bought the soundtrack from the musical "The Secret Garden". Christina might have been 4 but not much older. I had the CD in the car and she was riding with me. All of the sudden she started singing along with the music. I asked her if she had ever heard the music before. She said no but it was the way the music was supposed to go. Not only is Christina musical she is kind and beautiful. I would love to live close to my family and have everyone within walking distance. This includes our daughter and their families, my sister and her husband and their daughter's and son-in-law. Since we live in the real world, I am content with email and telephone calls. Christina is the kind of teenage daughter that every mother dreams of.

A Memory

I have been reading several biographies lately and the thing that has struck me is how important it is for a child to spend one on one time with their Dad. One of my most favorite memories is going to Berlin, Germany for several days with just Dad, Grandma and Grandpa Brugger. We stayed at the Berlin, Hilton. I am sure the trip had been planned for a long time and Mom must not have been able to make it. I was only 10 and yet I was allowed to go and spend this time as an adult with my father and grandparents. I had to be on my best behavior because Grandma Brugger didn't allow anything else but I had the most wonderful time because I was with my dad. We went to the Berlin Zoo and stood and watched goats run up and down a 'mountain' for quite a long time. They were so much fun to watch that I know there were some incredible sights to see in the zoo (the European zoos were incredible) but all I remember were those funny goats. We saw the sights and went to the 'Wall'. I felt a little bit afraid the whole time because we were so close to the Berlin Wall and yet I knew I was safe because I was with my dad. It was a wonderful trip and as it turned out the first of many.

We each have times that are special with our parents. I loved being with my 'very own special father' whenever I got the chance. My father labeled himself 'my very own special father' when I was as Senior in High School and dating someone that I wasn't sure I wanted to date anymore so I was fasting about it. As it turned out I kept dating him but broke up with him just before I left for Utah. He was the whole reason I ended up coming home for Christmas and I met my future husband. If mom had believed me when I kept telling her I had not said I would marry the guy, I would not have met Clyde until much later - if ever. So I guess things worked out for the best.

My father was very supportive as I struggled in 9th grade - going to a seminary class outside of our ward. It was a class that did not want me and even the teacher ostracized me. But Dad would drive me faithfully every day. I went because I knew that at the end of the class Dad would be there and life would be good. Fortunately, though I didn't know it at the time, we were moved from there to a place that increased my testimony and started me on a better path with friends that would be there for me to this day. Almost every move we made from the time I was in the 9th grade on was because of me. Yes, they benefited Dad's career and helped others but the Lord was literally lifting me out of bad situations and putting me in better ones so I would be worthy to marry in the temple when the time came. He protected and blessed me more than I deserved. I know that is because of the prayers of my parents. I understand that now better than ever.

Tuesday Book Review

I have read a couple of books this week but the one I want to write about is Marley and Me BY John Grogan. I laughed through 9/10 of the book and then sobbed for the rest of it. Though our Lady was not near as naughty she was sneaky and it made me miss her. I guess every family has one outstanding dog - be they good or bad and Lady was ours. I marvel at how beautifully behaved Bo is and what a sweet dog he is. Labs have a great reputation but in truth most of the Labs I have met have been more on the Marley side than on the Bo side. I am looking forward to reading the next book by John Grogan though. He had everything you wanted in the book. He took you through every emotion and told a great story.

I love this quote from the book: "No one will call him a great dog - or even a good dog. He was wild as a banshee and as strong as a bull. He crashed joyously through life with a gusto most often associated with natural disasters. He's the only dog I've ever known to get expelled from obedience school." We have all known dogs and people that we love even though we aren't quite sure why. I am sure that we are blessed for it but in truth our lives are richer because of them.

I also finished the Host and I read most of it a second time. I have decided the book is about pure Christ-like love on the part of Jamie. You don't find that much. I have not enjoyed a book as much as this since - well lets see - since Eclipse!

Monday's Heroes

This week my heroes are our Davis family. It just so happens that both their birthday's fall this week. Pam's was last Saturday and Chris' is the 22. Works out well.

Pam is our youngest. She was kind of a surprise. She also made me the most morning sick of all the girls but she was worth it. She caused us a couple of scares during the pregnancy because she would lay so still. When there hadn't been any movement for a couple of days, I would have to go to the hospital and be put on the monitors to be sure she was Okay. Now we know she just sleeps very still and was going through growth spurts - a pattern she would follow her growing years. I was put on the 'pit' with Pam and 2 hours later was holding her in my arms. I had never even thought of the name Pamela until I looked at her. I had always known her middle name was going to be Eloie for a beloved neighbor of my parents whose birthday was just a few days after Pam's birth. When I looked at her - I knew her name was Pamela. I forgot to consult my husband on this and just filled out the birth certificate on my own. He had other ideas (and like our Heather - he never lets us forget it!).

Carianne and Heather both have much in common with their youngest - hence why I only wanted two children. If Heidi and Pam had not been surprises - they would not be here. But somehow my calmer babies appeared in the end. How I was so blessed I will never know. Had my body help out, I would have had more but I couldn't. What a great way to end. Unfortunately Pam was so quick and smart we didn't really let her be little very long. I would forget she wasn't as old as her siblings. When I got tired of washing clean clothes because Carianne and Heather were to lazy to put their clean clothes away and so they would just toss them back into the dirty clothes - I decided that everyone was responsible for their own washing. Pam was 7. One evening I walked in and Pam was showing her older sisters how to wash! She was always amazing and smarter than her years.

Pam and Chris are amazing as a couple and parents. We are so glad to have Chris as a son-in-law. He is the perfect companion for Pam - but I knew that the first day he walked in the door to home teach her. I don't know if I ever told them that or not. I had major Deja Vu when he came to the door and knew he was my future son-in-law. He is a great man and we are lucky to have him. Dutch is an amazing young man we are grateful to add him as our lastest addition to our grandchilren. The Davis family have taught us many lessions and set a great example. When things get really bad I know how hard it is for them daily. They have one really great neighbor on one side and a miserable neighbor on the other. Their miserable neighbor really tries hard to do just that - to the point that now they can't even let their dog out back because it bothers his. Their neighbor on the other side is sweet and kind and what a neighbor should be. Yet, Pam and Chris still try to be Christ-like to both neighbors. They have learned with the miserable neighbor that they now just have to avoid him but they made several attempts to make peace. The neighbor refused. I have to say they did far more than I would have ever done and I admire them for it. But then they do acts of service and goodness that make me proud as a parent all the time. I am truly grateful they are ours!

Jason F. Wright and Stephenie Meyer

This isn't as much a book review as a post about two of my current favorite authors. I have read The Wednesday Letters and went to the library and checked out Christmas Jars (because everyone knows that I love Christmas) and I am hooked. Jason Wright is going to have to go long and far not not remain on my favorite list for a long time. Plus the fact that he picked Virgina, my husbands birth state, to currently reside in - well what more is there to like! He is living where Clydes family pretty much originated from before they moved out to Danville. I think that is one of the reasons I loved The Wednesday Letters so much - because I knew where it was and though I had never personally been to Woodstock - I had been to enough of the small towns in Virginia doing genealogy - that I knew what Woodstock looked like and felt like so that made the book more fun. The sisters in our ward that went to Time Our for Women loved his lecture last year here in New England. They are disappointed there isn't a Time Out for Women close by this year. They were extremely impressed when he commented last week on my blog - actually so was I!

I have also decided that no matter what Stephenie Meyer puts her hand to - I like. I am just about finished with The Host and as with the Twilight series - I cannot put it down. So to me that is obviously the mark of someone I will read in the years to come. Is this loyalty because they are LDS? No. I didn't know Jason Wright was a member of the Church until I had finished The Wednesday Letters. I like that the books are well written. I will read a well written book no matter who the author is - that is why I love to read. That is why I keep going back to Taylor Caldwell and some of my favorites from years gone by. Few authors know how to tell a good story anymore without muddying it up with sex and gore. Both of these authors do.

Monday Heroes

Anyone that knows me, knows that our daughters' and son-in-laws are my heroes. It is a fact of life. Today because it is their anniversary, I am honoring Heidi and Andy Bahlmann. They have been married 8 years. Heidi was our first daughter to be married in the temple. It was a beautiful ceremony and quite a day (the ending of 6 weeks that I never want to go through again!). She was a beautiful bride. She and Andy have taken to heart the things they were taught and are rasing their children in righteousness in the gospel. They are an amazing couple and I love them dearly. I could write all day about the wonderful things they do and the example they set for me to follow. That is what heroes do.

All of our daughters' and son-in-laws are better parents than we were. I am so proud of the honorable and wonderful people they are. We are truly blessed. Where they learned their parenting skills was not from us. Where they learned their marriage skills was not from us.

This week our oldest grandson, Marcus (Heidi and Andy's oldest child) will turn 7. He is also a hero of mine. He is an outstanding student and tries very hard to be a good big brother. Each of our grandchildren have such outstanding attributes. I cannot believe how blessed I am to have 9 such outstanding souls in my life.

Our youngest daughter will have a birthday this week too but I am saving her for me hero next week.

The Book of Mormon

Last Sunday I was thinking about reading the Book of Mormon. Our YM's President had been bearing his testimony about reading the Book of Mormon and it triggered a memory of Larry Sprouse asking us how many times we had read the Book of Mormon when we would come in for a temple recommend interview. That was about 25 years ago. At the time Clyde and I had lost count so now it would be impossible come up with a count. I do remember at the time being startled that I couldn't come up with a number. We weren't being boastful but it was legitimate. Between reading it for our own scripture study and as a couple we had read it so many times we couldn't come up with a number. There is no need to count now. The Book of Mormon is such a part of my daily life that I really cannot function until I have spent a few minutes reading it. I know some people that think you have to spend at least an hour studying the scriptures every day and it becomes overwhelming for them - therefore they don't do it. Really as little as 5 minutes is fine but it is essential to a days well being. For me that few minutes frequently gets much longer but that is my choice. It is because the desire to read is so strong I can't stop.

As a worker in the temple I have read the Book of Mormon twice, sitting and waiting. That has been an incredible experience. I know the Book of Mormon is the Word of God and I am grateful for it in my life. It is one of my greatest treasures.

Gene Autry's "Cowboy Commandments"

When I was a little girl 'Westerns' were all the rage. They were the most popular TV shows (Bonanza, Gunsmoke, etc) and John Wayne was probably the most well known movie star. Flags were flown at half mast when John Wayne died. How many movie stars can brag about that? Unfortunately when Gene Autry died, people thought he had been dead for decades! (Gene Autry died October 2, 1998 in California). When Clyde and I lived in El Paso, a radio station on Sunday evenings would play old radio shows, like Fibber McGee and Molly, The Shadow and Little Orphan Annie. One of the shows was the Gene Autry Show "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy." I remember hearing Gene's 'Cowboy Commandments' or 'Cowboy Code' then but the other day they suddenly appeared on the internet again. I had not realized how important they were to our every day living as I grew up - but pretty much everyone followed this code. Here it is:

1. The Cowboy must never shoot/hit first. You must never hit a smaller man or take unfair advantage.
2. He must never go back on his word or a trust confided in him.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly and animals.
5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously insolent ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action and personal habits.
9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws.
10. The cowboy is a patriot.

What popular Christmas songs did Gene Autry record or write?
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Here Comes Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman (you know me - I had to fit Christmas in here somewhere!).

The Wednesday Letters

I usually write my book review on Tuesday but I couldn't resist the pun. The book I wanted to write about this week is 'The Wednesday Letters" by Jason F. Wright. Heidi gave it to me for Christmas - so I knew it was good. I started reading it Christmas Day and had it finished the next morning. It is a beautiful story and not at all what I expected. I thought it would be like Daddy Longlegs where it is a series of letters. It is not. It is about discovering the letters and then how much they meant to the person that had received them and the people that discovered them. It is definitely a must read.

I re-read the Tale of Despereaux after seeing the movie. I understand why the movie was changed because what reads well in a book does not translate well to the screen. There is a lot of wandering in the book where there is not time for that on the screen. I like the interpretation of the movie. It was definitely made to be a 'G' rated movie and even the book would have been 'PG' - which is not bad but they were obviously going for the milder rating. Hurray for them! I know I am a little nutty but I am a big advocate of supporting 'G' rated movies. They are too few and far between. My fear is one day they will be extinct!

Monday's Heroes

I cannot settle on one hero and I don't know two of these men personally but I admire them all. The first one is an odd one for me. It is Claiborne Pell. He is a former Senator from Rhode Island that passed away January 1st. He was a Democrat and from everything I have ever heard and read about him - he was a fine gentleman. He is the one that started the PELL grant for those of us that have taken advantage of that. He has other things that he started and he has many building here in Newport with his name on it because of his contributions to the Arts. When Vice President Biden's first wife and daughter were killed in a car accident, Senator Pell and his wife were at the Biden's door within hours to take things in hand. It turns out the Biden's only knew the Pell's from the senate but the Pell's saw a need and stepped in. He deserves to be a hero on many levels.

My second hero is Thomas S. Monson. He is the prophet of our Church and an amazing human being. I have been watching 'A Brand New Year' that I am sure he spearheaded and I am grateful to have inspired leadership every time I watch it. Our ward had a fireside last night for our youth and they were mesmerized with the music and the messages. We truly have a loving Heavenly Father to give us such an amazing prophet right now. I was thinking today that since 1972 I have personally met all of the prophets. This will hold true until Boyd K. Packer and then it will be a while if ever again. I have met a few of the current 12 but not like I used to know. Interesting how things change. Thomas S. Monson is truly a hero to emulate.

My third hero is Clyde's co-worker, Will. They had to travel to Baltimore today and Will has ended up being a great traveling companion. Ordinarily I don't know if Clyde ever arrives somewhere because lets face it - he is a Luddite and refuses to get a cellphone. But Will insisted that as soon as they landed, Clyde had to call me to let me know all was well. If there is a problem, I am to call Will's cellphone. Thank you Will.

My last hero is my neighbor across the hall. I have no idea what his name is. We had a snow storm over the holiday weekend and because of that there has been residue snow and ice because the maintenance crew was on skeleton crew and could not keep up with it. Our kind neighbor saw me slip on the ice this morning so he went out and before I had returned from dropping Clyde off, he had the ice shoveled off the front stoop and the parking spot where we usually park - all shoveled out. When I went to thank him, he said, "We're neighbors and therefore family. Your husband helped my daughter shovel out her car during our last storm. It was the least I could do." We truly have a unique stairwell right now in that we do kind of watch out for each other. I tell people about that and the reply is, "Well they aren't from New England." Well it is sad but true. Acts of service make people heroes in my book.

A New Years Prayer

My friend Karyn Halverson put this poem on her blog. I liked it so much I asked her if I could use it. Here is my wish for you this New Year.

A New Year Prayer

~ Unknown ~

May God make your Year a happy one!

Not by shielding you from all sorrows and pain,

But by strengthening you to bear it, as it comes;

Not by making your path easy,

But by making you sturdy to travel any path;

Not by taking hardships from you,

But by taking fear from your heart;

Not by granting unbroken sushine,

But by keeping your face bright, even in the shadows;

Not by making your life always pleasant,

But by showing you when people and their causes need you most,

And by making you anxious to be there to help.

May Heavenly Father's love, peace, hope and joy be with you in the year ahead.