Climbing Mountains

Every year my family climbs the Middle Teton as a reminder that we can do hard things together. This year it was just a small intimate group; Erik, Jesse, Megan, Shane and me. We were blessed with a perfect window of climbing weather, great snow to slide down on (we all know this is the favorite part) and beautiful views! It was one of those perfect days your heart takes a picture to hold on to forever.
The prophet Spencer W. Kimball once said, "There are great challenges ahead of us, giant opportunities to be met. I welcome that exciting prospect and feel to say to the Lord, humbly, "Give me this mountain,' give me these challenges."

This year when I started off the climb I made a choice to "Make it Light" by just making that simple attitude choice before things got hard made all the difference. As I climb I always find myself praying for the strength, protection, good weather and a cheerful heart to carry me to the top. Then, when in life I find myself facing different kinds of  mountains to climb I see in my minds eye those climbing days and I know with God's help I can do all things, even climb rough mountains and I can choose to make it 'light.'
My prayer is that my children can know and remember these life lessons taught by the mountain so, when they face their own challenges and mountains to climb they know that together with the Lord we can do ALL things, and even enjoy the views!

Happy Mothers Day!

What a Sweet Surprise! My daughter after reading my blog went on a search for a very special mothers day gift for me. After hours of internet surfing she found a copy of the 1965 book "When I grow up" like the one I had as a little girl that inspired my book "I want to be a Mommy"  Wow what great memories and emotions flooded to the surface when I opened the gift. What a sweet surprise, what even made it all the more meaningful was the thought and effort behind it, and the precious letter of gratitude attached which for every Mother is a priceless. Thanks Darling!

A great Tradition! For 25 years now my husband has awaken the children early mothers day morning to go climb the mountains behind our home to pick a bouquet of wild flowers for me. It is my favorite! It brings back memories of my first daughter 18 months old standing at the door with her arms full of wild flowers just a grinning at her accomplishment. I Love my family they treat me like a queen and not just on Mothers day. Thank you for a wonderful Mothers day!

5 Stars!

wow reading reviews can be rough. I was on Deseret Books website and saw some wonderful reviews about my new book, "I want to be a Mommy" thank you! But,there was this one that disturbed me and hurt the ego a little. she titled it "Might send the wrong message" and only gave it 2 stars. My gut reaction was I wanted to have a word with this women. She obviously missed the jest of the book, or drinks pickle juice for breakfast. The original title was "More then a Princess" and the parts she labeled "fears" the transitions phrases of but.."what if's" are to lead the reader to the conclusion that a Mom can do all those things and still be a mom. A big "Dah" I hope my readers get from the book. If you pay attention the "what if's" have to do with and strengthens the next dream. Wow, like I said it was rough on my ego... Which I like to check at the door when going places. I guess I will have to do that before reading any more reviews. My art is my creations sort of like a child and it's always hard to hear critisim of your children. So, I guess to mother bear in me is writing this blog today. Hopefully the Goldielocks in me will write the next one.Thanks again for reading my books. And being a Mommy and a Grandma is the best! I give it 5 Stars!

"You Can Be ANYTHING You Want To Be!"

Hi,

It looks like you found my latest book "I Want to Be a Mommy" directing you to my blog. I Hope you're Enjoying it!

I had a book when I was little. I can't remember the title but it was of a girl looking in a mirror and imagining all the things she could be when she grew up. I wish I still had that book! I remember it was simple and it left an impression on me. I have always believed I could be anything. I even remember telling my Mom I wanted to be a

Go-Go dancer and was so surprised by her reaction, "Absolutely not!" I just wanted the boots! I didn't know what that career entailed. I have always wanted to be a Mommy! And I now know what that all entails. And I love being a Mommy! Now I have the thrill of being a Grandma!

The story behind "I Want to Be a Mommy" began when my first daughter Sarah was really young and I was telling her she could be ANYTHING she wanted to be when she grew up! We dreamed big...a professional soccer player, a gymnast in the olympics, I even remember her saying a mountaineer ranger (whatever they do.) Then she asked me, "What do you want to be when I grow up?" I thought that was so stinking cute I wrote it in my "funny things my children say" journal. And that's where I found it when I returned to it's pages years later. Now, I'm always telling my daughter when my grandchildren say something funny, "WRITE IT DOWN!" because you think you'll never forget, but you do.

The little model for the book was Natalie Stevenson. I discovered her at East Layton Elementary in her kindergarten class. I was looking for a model that looked like my daughter years ago. Natalie and her Mom were a delight to work with!

My hope is when you read this book to your children it will help open the door of dreams and possibilities to BE ANYTHING! It's never too late either! I'm still dreaming of what I can be when I grow up!