You Are Love By God

I read a really good quote this morning by Jeffrey R. Holland that mirrors how I feel. "I testify that no one of us is less treasured or cherished of God than another. I testify that He loves each of us—insecurities, anxieties, self-image, and all. He doesn’t measure our talents or our looks; He doesn’t measure our professions or our possessions. He cheers on every runner, calling out that the race is against sin, not against each other. I know that if we will be faithful, there is a perfectly tailored robe of righteousness ready and waiting for everyone, 'robes … made … white in the blood of the Lamb.' May we encourage each other in our effort to win that prize is my earnest prayer."

Have an awesome day with the assurance that God love you!

The Mystery of the Forehead Mark

Last Sunday morning Jacob woke up with this red, circular mark on his forehead. I quizzed him and quizzed him about it, "Did you fall off your bike? Did you hit your head?" He couldn't think of anything that he did to cause a mark on his forehead.

When he came upstairs this Sunday morning with the same mark on his forehead I was totally puzzled. "Did you sleep with your forehead on anything? What caused this mark?" Jacob finally told me this week that he thinks he knows what caused the mark. He said that when he was vacuuming the stairs on Saturday he kept putting the nozzle of the vacuum cleaner on his forehead. He said it felt "good." Can you say "sensory seeking?"

So, yes, he gave himself a vacuum hickey on his forehead! What a kid! I may not ask him to vacuum the stairs next Saturday:).

A Funny Way to Spend Saturday Night

My husband and I were home with just our two kiddos on the autism spectrum on Saturday night. Nathan was busy looking at picture books, so my husband asked Jacob if he wanted to play a board game with us (he wanted to play a video game but we told him that his time was up). So after pouting for a few minutes he said, "I want to do family history." "You don't want to play a board game with mom and dad," we queried? "Nope, I want to do family history. Just think of all those people out there waiting to be discovered."

We have a unique kiddo there. If you are looking for a fun past-time try the free www.familysearch.org. Jacob LOVES attaching sources to his family members and expanding our family tree.

https://familysearch.org/

Hug Someone Today

When I was dating my husband in college, I remember that if he gave me a hug that all of my stress and worries about finals and papers due seemed to lessen, and all was right with the world for that moment. Last night he got home from a trip and gave me a hug, I felt the stress just drain off of me. I didn't realize that I had been so stressed this week--that working as a "single parent" for the times he is gone is really hard!

So, today I am thankful for a good and wonderful husband, Justin Anderson, that has ridden the roller-coaster of life with me through good times and bad, happy times and sad. I am thankful that his hugs still cheer me up and comfort me. I feel blessed!

I want to give a round of encouragement to all of you single-parents out there that bear so much of life's burden's alone. I am also not naive enough to think that all marriages are happy ones. God bless you if you feel alone and struggling! I have always also found great comfort in the peace that can only come from God.

Go hug someone today!

Drink in the Smell!

I LOVE Spring! I love going outside and having the sweet perfume of all the blossoms drifting through the air. It is such a refreshing and happy smell to me! It reminds me of a quote from the "Anne of Green Gables" movie:

ANNE: Aren't these blossoms fragrant? Smell them, Marilla. Drink them in.

MARILLA: Enough of that nonsense. It's you I want to hear about, not drinking in blossoms. [to Katherine] You must be real tired, Katherine. Come and have a cup of tea on the veranda.

ANNE: Oh, let's go slowly, Marilla. I've dreamt of this moment all year. I want to soak it all in.

So, go outside and "drink in" the smell of Spring today!

Of Buttons and Sewing Skills

"Okay," I told my kids last night, "Here is a button for each of you and some thread, a needle and some fabric. Now let's see if you remember how to sew on a button." They all did pretty well remembering how to thread a needle, but then none of them could remember how to tie the knot at the end of the string. They all got their buttons sewed on (with a few minor crisis' here and there).

At the end of our activity one of the kids commented, "We should do this once a month, mom, so we can remember how to do it." Okay...maybe we will. :)

Good Friends

One good thing about having lived in several places is that we have met a LOT of wonderful people. This past week we saw some wonderful friends from Arkansas and met for dinner with some friends we originally met in California. When I meet friends like this I am so thankful that we can just "pick up" right where we left off. We talk, we laugh, we share life's experiences and we buoy each other up.

I am so thankful that I have been blessed to meet so many AMAZING, talented, and kind people wherever I have lived. I just figure that someday I will know a LOT of people in heaven :).

Of Modest Shirts and Second-Hand Stores

Confessions: I have never felt comfortable in immodest clothes and I like to shop at second-hand stores. The other day I found a couple of new shirts for myself at a local second-hand store, but they needed to be modified so that I could wear them comfortably. So, I bought an extra shirt and cut it up so that I could place a little strip of fabric to cover up the "cleavage" area of the shirt.  Two shirts down, two to go. I am happy with the results!

LDS Apostles Love Jacob’s Flood Pants!!!!

Today I'm sharing a story my husband wrote about a funny thing that happened to our family:

A couple of days before LDS General Conference, we all went to Temple Square. We parked under the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and were walking in the building when my wife, Tamara Klein Anderson, noticed that our son, Jacob, had major flood pants going. He forgot his belt so he was pulling his pants up even higher to keep them on, giving him a good 6” flood. Tamara scolded Jacob telling him to put his pants down!

Just as went round the corner we recognize two Apostles, Jeffrey R. Holland and Neil A. Andersen, walking up toward us. Elder Holland commented, “Usually I hear mothers telling their boys to pull their pants up!” Then Elder Andersen said, “I just want to shake the hand of a boy whose mother asked him to pull his pants down.” And he shook Jacob’s hand! We had a great laugh, though we still need to shop for some new pants!!

The Myth of the All-Knowing Mom

As a mom I have my limits. I know that there are times that moms seem to know all the answers, solve all the problems, and could even solve the issue of world peace if needed. I think there is an image of mom as some super-human that can do it all and be it all. I'm sure that is what I thought the job was when I signed up for the job.

The truth is that I do know a lot and have learned even more about mothering and motherhood since I embarked on this journey 17+ years ago. But I also have strengths and weaknesses.

One of the first times I had to face my incapacity as a mother was when Nathan was 2 1/2 years old and still wasn't speaking yet. He had not been diagnosed with autism yet and I had been trying to help him learn to speak for what felt like a LONG time. He qualified for a pre-school by our home, and I really struggled sending him to preschool when I still had our oldest at home with me. BUT, I had realized that I had been trying for a while and maybe there was something a professional could do that I couldn't. At the preschool Nathan got Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapy--services that helped him begin taking some baby steps in the right direction. I am glad now that I swallowed my pride and helped my son get the help he needed.

My philosophy on motherhood is now this: It takes a village to raise a child. I am thankful for soccer coaches, teachers, therapists, friends and even math tutors that have helped me fill the roles where I am not strong. I realized I don't have to be a pro in EVERYTHING, and it is comforting to know that.

I think the BIG secret is that as we work together we are stronger! Thanks to all of you who have loved and helped my children along the way. They are better and stronger because of you. And a special shout-out to God for being the best and only All-Knowing and Best Parent! He has helped me with my kids when I didn't know where else to turn.

Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness month! I am thankful for my two boys that are on the autism spectrum. They have taught me a lot about love and patience.  They are unique and perfect in their own way. I am so thankful that God chose to send them to be a part of my family!

I could not have said this when they were first diagnosed because having a child diagnosed with autism is very overwhelming. It is a domino effect that changes your entire life. But, what I learned is that just because my expectations for my life changed doesn't mean that my life is terrible. In fact, life with kiddos on the spectrum is wonderful!

My kiddos help me find joy in simple things that I think that most people overlook or take for granted. I also love how pure and sweet these kids are (even when they get big). Granted, there are moments that are more bitter than sweet, but the sweet outweigh the bitter.

So let's celebrate all the unique kids and adults with autism this month. Let's find joy in the fact that they wonderful just the way they are! Let's rejoice in the fact that we are each "normal for me."
#autismawarenessmonth #normalforme #normalformemom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAVsWBhNV2M

Going "Purse-less"

I went "purse-less" a few months ago with this handy-dandy phone case. I am so much happier not having to carry and keep track of a purse! My new phone case has this slot on the back that allows me to carry 3 cards (two of which are ALWAYS my driver's license and debit card).

I have since found out that SAMs Club now has an app where you can input your card number and just let them scan the bar code at checkout from your phone. Also, the local library said that they can use the same process and scan the barcode on your phone from a particular app that takes a picture of your card.

Technology can be amazing! I never thought in my huge diaper-bag-toting days that someday I'd be running errands with something the size of my phone!

Lessons from Spring

One of my favorite hobbies is gardening. The peas I planted a few weeks ago have poked their little heads above the surface this week. I love seeing leaves budding on the trees, watching bulbs push their way to the surface after a long winter's nap, and even watching my peas break the surface the dirt in my garden. For some reason I find this whole process miraculous year after year.

I guess gardening is symbolic to me of the different phases of life. There are times when we feel like we are buried beneath loads of dirt and trials, when it is cold and we are miserable and wet. But...there is hope in the renewing power of Spring! Life will get sunnier, and as we push up toward the sun and keep growing, God will help us harvest good things from our trials: wisdom, experience, and understanding.

So, don't give up hope, push on up toward the sun/Son and find joy in the journey of growth!

Find God's Purpose for You!

Fixer Upper is one of my favorite shows to watch when I have a moment.  I LOVE this story Jo tells about finding and following God's purpose and promptings to her in her life. I believe each of us has a unique purpose, and as we take time to talk to God about it, He will help us find it!

There is no way I would have EVER written a book if God hadn't given me the idea and kept reminding me patiently over the years.  I wouldn't have ever started a blog if it weren't for direct impressions that this was one of the things I was supposed to do.  I prefer to be a private person...but God has other plans.  Who know where it will lead.  I will just have to trust that God's viewpoint is better than mine.

What does God want you to do? Have you asked Him lately?

http://thoughtfulwomen.org/2015/04/05/hgtvs-fixer-upper-star-joanna-gaines-shares-powerful-story-all-women-need-to-hear/

Book Update

Book update: I got my first rejection letter end of last week. I was surprised but not discouraged. I think my kids were more disappointed than I was.

I've lived long enough to realize that when God tells you to do something you just keep on persisting until you find the right window that He opens. So, now I get to find another company to whom I can submit my book. Any suggestions?

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Over 14 years ago I was involved in what should have been a fatal car accident. I spent a week and a half in the hospital recuperating and years healing after that. As I lay in the hospital bed that first night I was suddenly faced with my mortality and stunned to realize how fragile life really is. I spent a lot sleepless nights in pain but so thankful to realize that ‪#‎BecauseHeLives‬ even if I had died I knew that someday I would live again. My heart cannot even express how thankful I am to know that Christ rose again on that third day. I am thankful to know that death is not the end and that I can be with my loved ones forever! 

Perplexus Mazes

For anyone that likes mazes or anything like that, may I suggest any of the Perplexus mazes.  ALL of my children like these mazes...from the simple ones to the complex ones.  I was surprised to see that even Nathan (with low functioning autism) LOVES these mazes.  My kids will sit for 10-20 minutes at a time working on "solving" these mazes.  Even my eldest's son teenage friends will come over and each sit down with a maze for 10 minutes.

Grab a maze today!  They are fun!

Funny T-shirt and Funny Husband

Here is another funny t-shirt that my husband just bought.  One of the things I love about my husband is his sense of humor.  I tend to be more serious and he keeps us laughing.  When he proposed to me almost 19 years ago he promised, "I'll keep you laughing."  He has!