Please, Don't Hang Up

I had the grand opportunity of going to a wedding reception for one of my best friend's son. The whole Beck Family was in attendance and I took a trip with them back into the old neighborhood of "Aegean" and "Herring" Streets. I was taken back by the added years of reality, when in my mind I still saw "cowboys don't cry Lyle," "You Hugh," "my likie Kali" and "Nan's younger sister, Julie"...Julie has a daughter that is older than the age I see Julie in my mind. Oh, and we talked in our youth that there would be a Laurel Ellen and a Carole Jean and I finally met them. Crazy how they went from being spirit children to young mothers themselves. Then there was Brother and Sister Beck...my heart was overjoyed to be among such dear friends from such a pleasant period in my life. There are not words to express what I was witnessing, but it was beauiful just the same. I had an extremely difficult time making an exit. I was enraptured by all the tender feelings that had resurfaced.

There was the sweet smell of a spring rain in the air which only enhanced the sensations I was feeling.  I deisred to share this joy with someone who could relate and revel in the experience with me. Chelle was off to Youth Conference. So, the first thing I did when I hopped into my car, was call my father and mother. Sure enough, they were thrilled with the report. We laughed and dad encouraged and built me up. I didn't want to get off the phone and end those pleasant feelings, but Rick was calling on the other line. I wrapped things up with dad and thought to myself "do I build my son, Noah in the same manner that my parents build me? Does Noah enjoy being with me as much as I enjoy being with my parents?" All I could think about is how onry Rick and I have been with him, not because of him, but because of our current situation.

I stepped back into reality of being THE parent instead of being THE child. I phoned home. Rick was watching the game and so he handed the phone over to Noah. Noah had been kept home from school today because of a cough and cold. His little voice sounded so innocent and pure. Listening to him speak, absolutely made my heart melt. The fact that he wasn't feeling well, made me want to be with him all the more.  He talked to me about "Aliens," "Lights in the Sky," "Rain and wind," and so much more. I was enjoying being on the phone with him and didn't want him to hang up. We talked from the point of the mountain clear until Redwood Road where he said "good-bye."I wasn't ready for a "good-bye" yet...I was still in the moment. I jokingly said, "Oh, so you don't want to talk to me anymore!" The rest of the ride home was me alone with my thoughts. I wondered if that is how Heavenly Father felt. Does He love to hear my voice? Does He love to hear me talk about anything, just to hear me? Does His heart melt especially when I am needy or feeling ill? At the end of my prayers is He wishing I would not hang up just yet? Is a phonecall from my son to me, like prayer is to my Heavenly Father? I do need to talk to Him, really talk to Him, and talk to Him like I believe He is there listening and is going to respond back. I need to talk with Him the way I talked with my father only moments ago. I know He is there. I know He loves me. I know He wants to help me. I know He wants to discuss the recent issues with me. Why, knowing all I know, is it that when I kneel to pray the moment my eyes shut, my mind starts to wonder and I am filled with anxiety about not giving the respect my Heavenly Father deserves?

What I learned from Noah: Heavenly Father wants to hear my voice and I hang up way too soon.

What I learned from my father:  Talking to Heavenly Father would be a lift. He would encourage and build me in a way that only He knows how to do. Go talk to Him....and please, please don't hang up just yet.

Catch Phrase

I am worried if I don't get some of Noah's recent sayings written down, they will escape me. Here are a few that I still remember:

Regarding the olden days--"Did you have t.v. back in the day?"

Regarding things based on a true story--"Is this a real base story?"

"What are you looking at punk?"

"Whoa, didn't see that coming!"

"Mom, will you get me a snackaroo?"

Regarding being able to see down my shirt--"You better shut that hatch..."

What I learned from Noah: He is hilarious, his timing is impecable, and though I thought I would be able to remember every single word, well..."Now what was I saying?"

What I learned from Noah's Mom: WRITE IT DOWN!

"Easter Lilly.. Don't Eat Me!"

When one has a child in the home, every holiday is an event. Easter has come and gone. Ours was relatively simple, yet,  there were still some memories to note. We do not have many decorations for Easter--just enough to fit on the mantle. Last year, Da Vinci had a hey day attacking the "Harry and David" Bunny that contained a variety of Easter treats from mom and dad. My first task was to paint Mr. Bunny, replace his eyes and nose, and with clean, white, fluffy fur---give him a "new do." I have to say, he turned out better than before--Bunny Makeovers???  Don't even go there.

Immediately, Noah had to dye hard boiled eggs even though Easter was at least two weeks away. I was amazed at all the choices--glitter. flourescent, camouflage--I had to remind Noah, that I grew up in the day when there was only one choice--"PAAS" regular colors. (Kind of like our parents had to walk a mile in the snow, we had one choice to color eggs.)

Noah enjoys the Traditional Easter Egg Hunt that Aunt Linda and Uncle Mike host. There are eggs to color, eggs to find, money to count, and lots and lots of children. This year it was my hair that needed coloring and the money I counted was what it cost me to have those greys covered. I am grateful that the Rutters still wanted Noah to come. He had a fabulous time and loves the company as well as the activities.

Noah was anxiously awaiting a visit from the Easter Bunny, especially since the incident with Larry the Leprechaun. Noah is just plain thoughtful--cookies for Santa Claus, celery for Larry and carrots dipped in chocolate for the Easter Bunny.

The dinner table appeared to be empty without a center piece and so I splurged on a beautiful Easter Lilly in a pastel purple container. It seemed to liven up the Kitchen area too. Noah walked by the Lilly with a concerned look on his face. He inquired, "Mom, what is that?" and "Can you take it back?" I explained it was a beautiful Easter Lilly and no, I was not going to take it back. As the days progressed, so did the Lilly and so did Noah's concern. The plant began to bloom and what I viewed as being lovely, was creating stress for Noah. "Mom, I have been watching that plant and every day a new flower opens." I told him that was because it was a living thing. He no longer walked close by the plant. From a distance, he was waving odd toys and food by it. I asked him what he was doing. "Trying to feed the plant so it won't be hungry and eat me."Click--the light went on--I think he thought it was a Venus Flytrap like he saw in the play "Little Shop of Horrors" that Maddie was in last year.

What I learned from Noah: Children are VERY impressionable and they REMEMBER things that an adult, such as myself, would not even notice. I need to pay more attention to the details.

Strike Three (and I'm not talking about bowling)

I hope I can still remember how to post--it has been that long. There are so many wonderful distractions that I have discovered on the computer with "Smilebox" and "Shutterfly."I have a gabillion (less than a gazillion, I think) ideas and new events that I wish to address on top of magnifyng my callings and perfecting my domestic skills.

The other day the phone rang. I didn't recognize the number. It was the Marv Jensen Fitness Center calling regarding Noah's baseball team. His team was minus a coach and they asked if either my husband or myself would be interested. I discussed the matter with Rick and he said he would be willing to do it if I would help. I told them that my husband would gladly do it. When I picked up the Rosters it said that I was the Coach and Rick was my Assistant. "I AM NOT THE COACH!"

So, the first team meeting was just a clinic and doggone the Coach, if he wasn't going to be gone. Rick was going to St. George and leaving me to run things. This was not what I signed up to do--RUN THINGS. Thank goodness for BITTER cold weather. All I had to do was hand out the team shirts and caps, get them enthused about our first game on Tuesday, and give them a refreshment. Naturally, I want things to run smoothly and so I made a refreshment sign up sheet and then reminder magnets for the refrigerator. The moms of players thought "You are so organized" and the dads are like, "as if I needed a magnet to remind me and even if I did need a reminder, I wouldn't use a magnet." (Venus verses Mars thing again and that is why I need Rick to be at all the games--TO RELATE TO ALL THE DADS!)

Rick went South. I was trying to muster up the confidence to step in for Coach Rick. I could tell Noah was thrilled. I asked him if he was excited that his dad and mom were going to coach his baseball team.   He corrected me quickly, "Mom you are not the Coach, you are the ASSISTANT Coach."Strike One-- Boy was I ever put in my place.

Later during the day, I overheard him talking to Grandma about baseball, "Yeah and my dad is going to be my coach and my mom is going to be the 'INSISTANT'coach."That was Strike Two and even though it is probably true, it didn't sound too great. The next conversation was with Grandpa and by now we were loading the car. Again in a very excited voice Noah said, "I'm going to play baseball and my dad is going to coach me and my mom is going to be the 'INSENSITIVE' coach"--ouch and Strike Three.

What I learned from Noah:  No matter where Rick may be, Dad will always be the "top dog" and the leader of our home, while Mom will always be just the Assistant:) and I'll take "Assistant" over "insistant" and "insensitive" any day.