In Search of Heaven

I just finished reading my favorite Authors, new Book "In Search of Heaven" by Anita Stansfield. She wrote a foreword to this book which is unusual. It intrigued me that she wrote this, She writes so much about human relationships and how our choices affect the outcome of our life. One of my favorite things about her books is her characters are real. They make mistakes and they face the consequences of those mistakes. In most stories people want happy endings and in her books they do always end happy but does not life also end up happy. The knowledge that we get to be with the ones we love in the end are what this journey we call life is about. So of course there will be hard times and struggles but with the gospel there is always light waiting for us. In her foreword she talked mostly about the intimate relationship of husband and wife and it sacred place in marriage and life. This made me even more intriqued than as usual, I devored this book.

This is what it says on the back of the book

"A strange and disturbing conversation overheard while secretly perusing the pages of the family Bible in the Barrington’s study . . .

A mysterious yet intriguing book of scripture left unattended on the street . . .

An elusive new religion that beckons from halfway across the world . . .

The daunting task of becoming the governess to the Barrington children . . .

A proposal of marriage without a declaration of love . . .

Thus begins an epic that takes a young woman from a position of servitude to unrelenting challenges that will test the very limits of her courage and faith.

With vividly painted settings that range from the wealth and grandeur of the Barringtons’ English estate to the vast uncharted vistas of America, you will be caught up in a saga rich with the promise of eternal implications."

Okay so I don't want to ruin the story. But I love Eleanore and her faith and courage in following what she feels the Lord is telling her. Eleanore loves book and "Upon entering the bookshop, she always had to close her eyes and take a deep breath, just to inhale the smell of books. Then she stood for a long moment and looked around, pondering all the magic within the pages of neatly organized books for sale." I do this also at the library or any book store and even the book section at Target. I just love books. So I was extremely happy that the book began with her search of a new book. And when she went to read the bible she "paused as if greeting an old friend." I feel like that with my scriptures before I open them. I am not an elequent writer, so I loved seeing some of my own feeling put into words.

The story does talk a lot about the husband and wife relationship and it sacredness. This was an arranged marriage which would be a challenge in itself. I loved how Mr. Barrington or James was understanding, clear and patient with his wife. She was so much younger than him. Their relationship was an amazing example of communication, honesty and overcoming unforeseen challenges. I gained some more understanding and a different perspective.

Eleanore taught me a lot and that is what I love about reading, is the learning and taking stock of my own feelings and life and my favorite part of reading in losing myself in story. This Anita book was so amazing but not has treacherous as some of her others. I cannot wait to read more of the Barrington Family saga, her website is on my links on the side. Happy Reading!

Happy Birthday Sharon

Today is my friend Sharon F, Birthday and I wanted to let her know how much I love her. We became friends in college and we had almost every single class together. Kersten and my cousin Dave were their home teachers in our ward. We became fast friends quickly. We taught stress management to Polli's sixth grade class and were called the Mrs F's. We sat next to each other at college graduation and celebrated that we were finally done. It was so heartbreaking for me when they moved to Florida but we did get to go see them and continue our friendship. I admire that Sharon is so adventurous. She is continually finding new things to challenge herself and to make her life more exciting. She is so fun and just being with her you know that something is going to happen. She has taught me so much about being a mother. I love and admire her so much. Happy Birthday Sharon. You are a kindred spirit and I count myself blessed to call you friend.

Tulips

Yesterday the doorbell rang and when I opened the door I saw this. I grabbed my scissors and tore into it because it had my name on it and mysteriously my husbands cell phone number


It was very hard to open and I had to use scissors, a knife and all my strength to tear open the box.



I did finally see that there was something beautiful inside although it was attached as though it was not ever suppose to come out



All my efforts paid off, when it was all said and done. There were TULIPS

How sweet and thoughtful my dear husband is. I called to thank him at work and he acts so innocent. Until, I reminded him of the phone number he gave to him, that is only his. He picked out the vase which is square and I love. I have been so spoiled this holiday already as I received all my presents early. He gave me Cinderella 3 A Twist in Time DVD, the new Anita Stansfield "In Search of Heaven" and now these tulips. Wow I am one lucky women. I will make sure and review the other two items. Thanks again my love. You always go overboard. I love you

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan

I just finished reading a beautiful book called "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. I love reading book that are historical and tell something about a time and place I can't dream or imagine. The writing is exquisite, she paints pictures as a young chinese girl goes through life doing only what she know best. She is writing her memoirs as an 80 year old widow, thinking back on her life. It is fasinating to learn more about the culture of this time. And a little girls struggles to just be loved, feel love and figure out who she is.,

Here is one of my favorite paragraphs from the book

"I am still learning about love, I thought I understood it -not just mother love but the love for one's parents, forone's husband, and for one's laotong. I've experienced the other types of love-pity love, respectful love, and gratitude love. But looking at our secret fan with its messages written between Snow Flower and me over many years, I see that I didn't value the most important love--deep-heart love."

It was interesting to see how through her life she tried so hard to follow customs and be obedient and in the end she saw so many of her mistakes and her triumphs that we all have in life. And her regrets were only for the people that she loved and cherished. It was well worth the read and I read over different parts and passages afterwards.

Cherie

Happy Birthday Cherie

Today is my friend Cherie's birthday. I hope she has a marvelous, fabulous day. Cherie was my next door neighbor when we lived in our old condo. For a year and a half we barely even talked in the hall till once again the power went out and I commented on how annoying that was. We started talking and realized that we had a lot in common including a common friend. She and my cousin Dave's wife Polli have been friends since childhood. Well, this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. I sometimes still long for the days of the condo where I had good friends so close. Cherie is amåzing. She is so very thoughtful all the time. She is constantly thinking of ways to help the people she loves. She is a fabulous mother to Spencer, she has unlimited patience and love for this boy. I will never forget her walking the sidewalk back and forth as he cried. She sacrifices so much to make sure he is taken care of. She is a great example to me. She collects Barbies like I do. She love the skunk from Looney tunes, Pepe lepew. She loves the band Erasure. Her favorite color is peach and coral. She makes me think of life in a new and better way. She lifts me up whenever I get to see or talk to her. Which is not enough now that we moved. I am so grateful to call her my friend. She is one of those rare people in the world that you know will always be there. I love you Cherie. Happy Day

Fleeting Moments

Noah has been struggling with settling his mind down at night for the last week. He goes to bed on time but plays with his Donald Duck and Pal his Dog, read books, plays lightsabers or trucks in his bed. At first he would turn his light on so he could see but after he got in trouble for that he now uses his dog flashlight. When Kersten or I go in there and ask him what is wrong he talks to us in his Noah way, that his mind is going so fast. He is thinking about "pboo pboo" (sound of shooting gun), "beep beep" (a dump or scoop truck backing up) "choo choo" (trains), "shwoo, swhoo" (lightsabers with the sword movements), waaoo waoo (sirens of sheriff or firetrucks) "shoo shoo" (anything flying). The funny thing is if we ask him if he is tired he says "Yes". And he will close his eyes and say "Rest". And a couple minutes later remembers something else he need to play or look at. He is really good to stay in bed and not get out but we hear him up there some nights until 11:00pm. It worries me that he is not getting enough sleep since he will not hear of napping ever since he does not have a binky anymore. We both are flabbergasted in the best way to approach this new development. He has always been so good at bed time and gone right to sleep. Any suggestions would be helpful

Last Night when I went in to see if I could calm him down enough to fall asleep, I climbed into his big boy bed and asked him if I could hold him with is "B" (favorite blanket). He climbed into my lap and I held him in my arms like I did after I would feed him when he was tiny. He snuggled right in and closed his eyes. At that moment I had a realization of how fleeting small moments like these are. I remembered his face as an infant exactly in the same place as it was now. The lighting almost exact to then a small nightlight. We are now even in a different room and the furniture is changed. He is so much longer, heavier and so much more a boy. I hugged him tighter to me, Knowing now that I will continue to get these peaceful moments to remind me that I will always and forever get to be this sweet boy's mom. The moment came and went so quickly. Noah's eyes were done resting and he had to tell me about his book. But for that one fleeting minute, I had peace and I got to hold my boy.

Root Beer Float

I love Root Beer Floats. For some reason lately, I think about them all the time. I finally ate one this afternoon to see if it is everything I remember and more. Now I have to have Diet RB and it just doesn't quite make the cut. Growing up we had Root Beer floats quite frequently at birthday parties at my Grandparents house. They remind me of summer days on their patio, playing red light, green light or simon says with my cousins, climbing trees and swinging on a rusty swingset. They represent in my mind was is carefree about childhood. How life seemed so simple but so hard at the same time. RB Floats signify knowing no matter how much you torture your younger siblings and cousins that at the top of that hill at the end of the yard waiting there is a hug and encouragment that no matter what you will always be loved.