Musings: Just Ramblings for the New Year

I do love the new year.  I love the idea of pushing the refresh button on my life and resetting my aspirations and goals.Yes I have goals, and probably a lot of the same ones I had last year.  Still trying to lose those pounds and all, but other than that I am ready for 2015 to make me a better person all around (hopefully less all around by next year;)

Looking back to Christmas last year, I realized I do love Christmas as well. But I think it's like having grandchildren over.  No I don't have any grandchildren, I've just heard from other grandparents how it is. It's exciting, fun, exhausting, exhilarating, chaotic, messy, lively, entertaining, crazy... I could go on, but you get my point.  And so when they leave, or you put the Christmas decorations up, and go on with your life, you are sad, but a little relieved. That's kinda how I'm feeling right now.  Sad, but ready for some kind of order in my life. (So...in about 5 or so years, I'll revisit this concept so see if I am right.  I should have grandkids by then;)

I was pretty much sick during the Holidays, but I still enjoyed them.  I was trampling through Walmart at 1:00 a.m feeling like a truck ran over me. Twice.  But I survived.  We survived. A lot of things didn't get done.  I told my kids, we may have a different kind of "White Christmas"  if I didn't catch up on laundry.  But we made it through fully clothed.  It always works out!  I enjoyed wrapping up in my blankie with my kleenex box watching my kids "Just Dance" after my 4 hour nap on Christmas.  It was all good.  All good.

I'm feeling better,  and now I'm an organizing- get rid of clutter- become a better me- maniac!  Here I come 2015!

Musings: Christmas Letter

Making Minor Moments Memorable in 2014

Hello friends and family!  We just thought we would give an update of the family situation.

·         Erickson family camping trip

·         Yellowstone

·         Disneyland with a surprise visit to Legoland

·         And a million other little things that make a year:  dinners together, playing together, helping each other, and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ as best we can.  (Just speaking positively.  We had our share of stress, frustration, and chaos)

·         Mikaela

·         Going to school at UVU

·         Working at the testing center

·         She’s” got the moves like Jagger” when it comes to dancing

Chelsie

·         Senior at Mountain View

·         Plays the viola with the orchestra

·         Is super smart and unintentionally makes me feel dumb by her scientifical knowledge

Alyssa

·         Sophomore at Maeser Prep Academy

·         Plays volleyball for Maeser

·          Has discovered her inner artist when it comes to creating delicious, nutritious, pulchritudinous food.  (Pulchritudinous means pretty ;)

Braden

·         6^th grader at Suncrest Elementary

·         Loves to play football

·         Eats, drinks and sleeps Legos

Jaycie

·         4^th Grader at Suncrest Elementary

·         Sings in the school choir

·         Puts Tigger to shame with her happy bounciness

Marc

·         Working at DHI

·         Plays softball with the boys

·         Receiving letters from AARP continually (He turned the big 5 0 this year)

Brenda

·         Still on a quest for matching socks

·         Volunteer at the Homeless shelter in Provo

·         Became a substitute teacher this year

Koda

·         Our new little doggie

·         Is on backyard  border patrol protecting us from the evil birds

·         Adds so much fun to our family

A special thanks to our good good friends Kent and DeeAnn Slade which helped make our year memorable by taking us to Yellowstone, Disneyland/Legoland, Wicked, Odgen temple open house, and introducing us to our cute little doggie…and many other little great things.

Some of you we see often, others not so much.  However, know we love you and are so grateful you are in our lives.

And we wish you a Merry Christmas and a great 2015!

With love,

The Minor family

Making Minor Memories: August to November

Major (or should I say Minor) catch-up time on pictures.  Name has been changed from Five for Friday to Making Minor Memories, or Memories for short.  Too much pressure to do it on Friday.  

Thanksgiving 

 Ogden Temple Open House 

Hiking Donut Falls for Labor Day

Yes, Birds LOVE Mikaela's car...not only for resting

Snow!

Musings: Elf on the Shelf? Good or Bad?

It was the month of Christmas, and this mom was getting ready doing my parenting thing, decorating, baking, making lists, pulling out my Elf on the Shelf, when all of sudden, I found out through social media that I am a bad parent for doing the Elf on the Shelf.  What?!?  I didn't know there was controversy.   I thought I was providing a fun addition to the Holiday Spirit.  I thought I was a fun mom!

According to the experts, which includes psychologists, bloggers like myself, and others, I am doing my kids a disservice by having this Elf on the Shelf in my home.  And this what I found:

 1) It just adds to the lie about Santa! Santa is not real.  Why do we promote it even more with one of his elves.

2)  It can be manipulative.  Parents use it as a crutch for their parenting skills.  "You better be good, Elf is watching and is going to tell Santa"

3)  Really?  An elf coming into your house and being mischievous and making messes?

4)  It makes moms work extra hard each night to have the Elf do something fun and creative.  Believe me. I do Pinterest.  I understand the pressure.

I am sure there are many more, but those were the main ones.

After reading the controversy, I started questioning my decision to do Elf on the Shelf.   Am I  promoting the commercialism of Christmas which I despise?  Am I using it as crutch for my parenting?  Am I caving into social pressure to make our little elf as cute as the Jones'.?

After my introspection, I came up with this.  First of all, we didn't buy the real Elf on the Shelf.  It's a generic version under $10.   In my ignorance of not having the book, and never having read it, I did not know little Elfie was watching for Santa looking for naughty and nice kids.  I thought he was a fun little elf adding to the magic of Christmas.

Which brings me to my next thing.  The Christmas lie about Santa Claus.  Trust me, I have wrestled with this, and those parents who tell the kids right off the bat about Santa, I understand where they are coming from.  Yet we do Santa Claus and the Elf at our house.   And now that I have teenagers and smaller kids, I have learned it is okay to do the Santa Claus thing. The teenagers eventually figured out about Santa and are not emotionally scarred by it.  Yay!  In fact, they have said as I have proclaimed; They loved believing in Santa Claus..  It made Christmas magical.  And in the transformation from the literal belief in Santa to the belief in the Spirit of Giving that Santa represents, they have a great love for Christmas and all it's magic, and a great love for why we have Christmas in the first place.   (For a great read about this and the symbolism of Christmas,  I Believe in Santa Claus by Diane G. Adamson is perfect read.)



And last but not least,  the extra work, I get that more than you believe.  I fail at the Tooth Fairy.  The Tooth Fairy usually makes the round of the gathering the prized tooth after about 3 weeks or so.  I am so teaching my kids patience! :)  Honestly, I would never do the Elf on the Shelf  for that very reason.  However, I have a teenage daughter who has creative ideas and loves doing the Elf on the Shelf thing. So when I forget, which I usually do, she's got my back.  

So there.  I am not a "cotton-headed ninny muggins" (from Elf) mom for doing Elf on the Shelf.  I  am a very imperfect mom, just having fun at Christmastime. And whether you let Elf on the Shelf at your house or not, that's okay. Whether you have deeply philosophical reasons for not doing it or just don't want to do it, good for you!  Enjoy your kids!  Enjoy Christmas and let's let us all celebrate this amazing time of year together.

Making Minor Musings: Repost

A Letter to Thanksgiving

Dear Thanksgiving,

I know sometimes you get forgotten squished between the candy-gorging Halloween and the Christmas Machine, but I want to pay you my respects on this Thanksgiving Day.   I wonder sometimes it's good that you're forgotten.  I think if I put a light-up turkey on my front lawn it would  ruin the effect.  I like that you are a quiet holiday, one that causes me to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday:  Remembering the oh so many blessings I have.   

 I think of Thanksgiving as  Christmas' quiet brother, the one who doesn't get a lot of attention but it helps Christmas get the right kind of attention.  You see, as I give thanks for Him and remember Him, it helps me remember the true meaning of Christmas.

So I know you are much too mature to ever feel slighted, but I just had to let you know that I honor and celebrate Thanksgiving.  And I will try to celebrate it every day.

Your friend,

Brenda

And in my humble opinion, nothing honors or celebrates any holiday like the Charlie Brown gang.

Wednesday Words: New Blog

Just an official notice to my all those who care.   I have moved Wednesday Words to a new blog called My Wednesday Words.  It will be a little like the Wednesday Words I have done in the past, but a little different.  Wednesday Words now will be focused on humanity and service. 

Making Minor Moments will be about what it says:    Making Minor Moments.  So if you want to hear about my family, Making Minor Moments is the one.  If you wanna a simple discussion and my thoughts on Social Issues I care about, Wednesday Words is for you.  

If you don't care about either, that's okay too.

Here is the link to Wednesday Words:mywednesdaywords@blogger.com

Wednesday Words: Conference and Prayer

Loved Loved Loved General Conference!  So last Fall during General Conference, I was a struggling (Depression of 2013) and Church things were hard, Conference was hard.  But I remember Saturday afternoon, Elder Holland got up and spoke.  It was about Depression.  I sat on my couch and cried.  And I wondered maybe Heavenly Father does know me (yes, at the time I was having serious doubts).

Fast Forward to this General Conference and I am a feeling great, excited for conference, prepared for conference by praying for specific answers.  Well guess what, my PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED!  God has called living apostles and prophets on the earth to guide His church. Yes God lives, and He loves His children.

As you know I'm a wanna be social worker. I have been praying to know how I can best serve those that are less fortunate--the poor.  I prayed for that before Conference and was floored when, guess who gets up and talks about poverty!   Yes Elder Holland!  Has there ever been a talk in the history of General Conference that spoke directly on poverty?  Not that I am aware of.  And yet here he is talking so sincerely, compassionately about my personal passion.  

This year I sat on my friend's (Kent and DeeAnn) couch and cried.  God is a personal, loving God who answers simple prayers like mine. Amazing.

Elder Holland said: 

.. I don’t know exactly how each of you should fulfill your obligation to those who do not or cannot always help themselves, but I know that God knows, and He will guide you in compassionate acts of discipleship if you are conscientiously wanting and praying and looking for ways to keep a commandment He has given us again and again.”

There's the promise.  God will show me the way.

Right now I will continue to work at the Food and Care Coalition in Provo, pray for the poor, and as a family  provide homeless kits for the homeless..   Then I will pray and search for other opportunities and do "what I can do."