Lifetime!!!

Last week I became a Lifetime Member of Weight Watchers! That was a big day for me. What that means is that I don't have to pay to go in and be weighed and attend the meetings, unless I have gained two pounds or more over my goal weight. That will keep me mindful of what I eat. I've learned a lot the last few months, and I have to say that I am so glad my own children have learned these same things much earlier than I did. I thought I was a good mother, feeling my children well, teaching them good health habits. But I'd always been able to eat anything without it affecting my weight so I hadn't learned to be careful about how much fatty and sweet food I ate. It all caught up with me after I'd had all my babies and especially when I reached menopause.

I am feeling so good now, though, that I never want to gain back any of that unneeded weight. One day I will have to return and report to my God what I did with this body He gave me. I hope I will be able to tell Him I took good care of it and thus was able to be a more useful and fit tool in His hands.

Cindy Lou

I warned you I would be blogging about my children. Tonight I am going to get started carrying out the threat. And since Cindy usually gets saved until last because she is the youngest, I chose her as my first post.

Yesterday I was going through a box of memories; you know, the cards, letters, sticky-notes, etc. you just can't throw away because they remind you that someone loves you. Although I have put together books for each of my kids with samples of their handwriting, report cards, schoolwork, artwork, etc. and have given them to them, I still have a few things here to warm my heart. I came across two Mother's Day cards that Cindy gave me when she was 7 and 8 years old. I had to call her and read them to her so she could get a good laugh. Here's the poem she wrote in the first one: "I love you little I love you big. I love you like a little PIG! Love, Cindy W." The background of the poem was a computer-drawn pig.

In Indiana the school taught phonetic spelling, so keep that in mind as you read what she wrote in the second card: "I can't beleav that it has been 8 years seins I was born. You were 32 wein I was born and now you are 40! But even thogh your 40 I guss you can have a Happy Moters day! Love, Cindy."

Is there any wonder Cindy has chosen to build upon her writing and public relations capabilities by seeking a PR degree?

My due date for Cindy was May 18th. I started having contractions early, first on May 1st, my dad's birthday, then on May 9th, my mother's birthday, and then on the 16th--Michael's and Katy's shared birthday. By the time the 19th came I was so exhausted from lack of sleep as the constant contractions were keeping me from resting, and I told the doctor that by the time the baby came I wouldn't be worth anything. He sent me to the hospital and started the labor that morning and she made her entrance into the world about 5:30 p.m. She didn't want to share her birthday with anyone else, and she did get her own. But I should tell this story, too: I had thought about when was the ideal time to have a baby, since I'd had some in the spring and some in the fall. I had picked the time I wanted to have my sixth baby and was able to start the pregnancy right on schedule. However, I had a miscarriage and lost the baby. That meant I would have to wait nearly a year to start all over again. One day I was in the shower and pondering the situation and I thought I heard a voice say: "I don't care when I'm born! I just want my body!" Cindy spoke to me long before I got to see her and smell her and hold in my arms. And I've been learning from her ever since!

Cindy was my baby, and my buddy for a few years after the others had all started school. When we moved to Indiana we explored our new town while the others were gone all day. We discovered Aldi's, which became our favorite grocery store. We put lots of miles on our van as we became acquainted with our town and Northwest Indiana. We talked and talked while we were on the road. She made up jingles, and I could kick myself over and over again because I didn't get them on paper. She would have been a great advertiser! One of my favorite moments when we were on the road was when we were listening to a tape recording of "Chicago." "If you see me walking down the street, look away, look away, I don't want you to see me this way." Cindy asked me, "Why doesn't he want her to see him that way? Is he...naked?"

Cindy made a little booklet of cartoons which depicted office doors with signs on them. I wish I could remember them. That's one of the things I passed on to her for her posterity. I think one of them was "Office of Wildlife Resources" and the sign hanging from the doorknob said "Gone Fishing."

My journal has many entries with cute things Cindy said and did as a child. She was always so delightful and I called her my "sunshine." She still lights up a room when she enters.

I've always been able to count on Cindy for laughs, hugs, intelligent and deep conversation, for understanding, help, and for reminders of how much Heavenly Father loves me. After she left home and we became empty nesters I looked forward to her frequent phone calls that helped me realize that although she was a young woman living in a grown-up world now she still wanted that connection with Mom. That meant more to me than I can express.

Now she is a married woman, belonging to that handsome Eric. But although he can call her his, there will always be part of her in me, because without Cindy I would not be complete.

I love you, Cindy, my sunshine, my darling!

Sluffing

I know it's time for a new post. But I'm going to read a book instead. However, I am planning to do a post about each one of my children, so stay tuned...

Tag! I'm It!!

I may have been tagged before but this is the first time I've decided to accept the tag. I wonder how many of you (my family) will already know these things about me:

4 jobs I've had:

1. Sales clerk at J. C. Penney in Roosevelt 2. Receptionist/sales clerk at a mobile home sales lot 3. Multi-tasker at Student Relations at Weber State College (mailed packets to potential students, typed, etc.) 4. Cleaned house for a rich lady in Omaha, Nebraska (had lots of belt trouble with her Kerby Vacuum Cleaner!)

4 movies I've watched more than once:

1. An Affair to Remember 2. Bridge Over River Kwai 3. Pride and Prejudice (the long one) 4. The Sound of Music

4 TV shows I watch:

1. BYU Devotionals 2. Mormon Tabernacle Choir Broadcast 3. The Closer 4. Law and Order

4 people who email me regularly (actual letters, not just forwards):

1. Linda Anderson 2. Katy Rush 3. Diane Allen 4. Ethel Oswald

4 favorite foods:

1. cashews 2. cherry tomatoes 3. pecan pie 4. quesadillas

4 places I want to visit:

1. All the LDS temples in the world 2. Wales 3. Clifton Park, New York (Alan's new home!)
4. Some beautiful white-sand, isolated beach

4 things I'm looking forward to in the next year:

1. Going to Clifton Park, NY to see Alan, Jessica, and their girls for Thanksgiving 2. Going to
O'Fallon, Missouri, to spend Christmas with David and Amy and their boys and then taking Amy and boys with us to DeRidder, Louisiana, to attend the open house the Badgers are having for Cindy and Eric 3. Getting new carpet for my living room 4. Getting released as a Cub Scout Den Leader (if God wills it so)

4 things I like about my husband

1. He is a good father 2. He is smart 3. He is a hard worker 4. He provides well for our family

Now I guess I'm supposed to tag four people, and if you've already been tagged let me know:
Katy Rush, Elizabeth Lemon, Nathaniel Lemon, and Laura Washburn

My turn, my turn!!!!

Well, you probably have wondered what I thought when I read your blogs, Amy and Cindy. (I always knew Cindy wanted to be Amy.) Am I shocked about who was kissing whom and who throws what away? No. Because your blogs made me start thinking about the things that I never told my mother. And I can't think of anything that she didn't know that I would want to share with ANYONE ELSE! EVER!!!! But I thought that maybe there were some things I could confess to my kids...

1. I posted an entry on the Lemon Family Reunion site Saturday night and said I was tired and I was going to bed as soon as I finished my post. Well, I didn't go to bed. I suddenly decided I wanted to read your blogs. So I did, but I didn't dare comment on any because I had already said I was going to bed. So I let all of you think that I hadn't yet seen your blogs. Even though I did. And I went to bed that night pondering just how I would respond to Amy and Cindy especially and making a mental note to call Emily and congratulate her on her lost tooth!

2. Sometimes I watch a BYU devotional instead of read my scriptures. That's when I'm too tired to pick up the books.

3. Sometimes the cats get on the table and lick some food and I don't want it to be wasted so I still give it to your dad and don't tell him it has cat germs.

4. I like to wear sexy clothes but not in public.

5. I used to hide treats in my closet so I wouldn't have to share them with my kids. (Look where that got me--I had to join Weight Watchers!)

6. I haven't scrubbed my bathroom sink and counter for two weeks. (Just wiped it a few times.)

7. Sometimes I actually consider cheating on my points for Weight Watchers. Because I'm hungry and want to eat more. I could eat zero point foods then but sometimes I just want to sink my teeth into something really, really bad for me!

8. I tore some pages from some journals because I didn't want my kids ever to read what I had written.

9. I have had piano students I did not like. Not one bit.

10. When I was teaching at Ben Franklin Academy I lost it one time and left the classroom to have a good cry.

11. I have the desire to have a home as clean and organized as Amy's but I just never get there all the way. But I'm working on it. I need someone else to come in and throw things away for me. I spend too much time reading everything to determine its value, and also I have to decide what I think I should send to my kids so they can have a moment or two of reflection on the past before they throw the items away. Or recycle them. Whatever.

Wow, it's good to get all that off my chest! I bet you can't believe how wicked your mother is!

My "To Do" List

A few years ago our home teacher, Don Davis, suggested making a conference "to do" list so we'd be able to identify the things we felt we should be doing as discussed in General Conference addresses. I make my list after the November Ensign arrives when I can read the talks and underline specific items I want to work on. Sometimes I don't necessarily have to do anything differently but just keep doing what I've already been doing.

One thing the prophet, President Monson, said this time was that we should show gratitude for everything. Of course, I've always known that, and I've tried to be a thankful person, but the first thing on my "to do" list this time is to pay more attention to everything around me and let Heavenly Father know I am aware and grateful for all His blessings.

First on my list tonight is family, and most specifically, I am grateful for my grandchildren who make me smile so much! The things Amy and Jessica shared in their blogs this week about Michael and Emily made me laugh, and I talked to Michael, Emily, Isabella, and Corbin this evening and it wouldn't have mattered if I had a broken leg or a flat tire; hearing those youthful voices tell me what they're up to would have made me forget any pain or frustration.

I could go on and on about the grandchildren, but I'll put all that in my journal instead. Right now I'm going to do some reading and go to bed. Being so happy today has made me tired tonight.

If any of you want to help me make a "to do" list, share your impressions of conference with me!

I'm not as young as I used to be...

I nearly forgot I had a blog. Somebody mentioned the word a day or two ago and something stirred inside me and suddenly I remembered! I've been busy, but that's not unusual for me-- that IS me, always trying to get something done. And it's getting harder and harder for me to do what has been so natural for me all my life. As I continue to add years and miles to this body of mine I keep getting reminded that I must pay better attention to what it is telling me. And lately it has been telling me to slow down, don't walk so hard, watch what I put into it, etc. My advice to all you young women: Don't wait until you are older to do the things you should do to keep in shape.

By the way, I did reach my goal and now I am at the maintenance phase in Weight Watchers. Five more weeks of not gaining more than two pounds above my goal and I can be a Lifetime Member which means that I don't have to pay unless I gain too much. And I only have to weigh once-a-month when I'm Lifetime. But the success of the program, which is why it works for me, depends on that "Return and Report."

So this blog really didn't have much content, but at least it's an effort to keep me blogging.