Category: Blessings

Posted on

My Christmasy Folks

One year, when I was a kid, my Mama gave my sister and I one of these little ornaments. She told us that it reminded her of her Swedish grandmother–whom she loved and missed very much.

She helped me be very proud to have a bit of Swedish in me. She was such a cute little mom.

Sooooo many things remind me of my momma at Christmastime.

One November, many years ago, I made her this for her birthday. It made her cry–I knew it would.

Then there was my funny little dad–I believe I’ve mentioned him before. Can’t you just see that little twinkle in his eye? We use to give him gingerbread ornaments because every year, he would make a million sheets of Honeycake to make into gingerbread houses all over the valley. Many people knew him as the “Gingerbread Man,” and with good reason.

Sooo many things remind me of my dad at Christmastime.

Then one December, I made him this for his birthday–because it was so him. It made him cry–I knew it would.

Soooo many things remind me of them…

at Christmastime.

Posted on

{ The Christmas Child }

“There is a magic in Christmas. Hearts are opened to a new measure of kindness. Love speaks with increased power.

“Of all things of heaven and earth of which we bear testimony, none is so important as our witness that Jesus, the Christmas child, condescended to come to earth from the realms of His Eternal Father, here to work among men as healer and teacher, our Great Exemplar. And further, and most important, He suffered on Calvary’s cross as an atoning sacrifice for all mankind.

“At this time of Christmas, this season when gifts are given, let us not forget that God gave His Son, and His Son gave His life, that each of us might have the gift of eternal life.”

Gordon B. Hinckley

Posted on

These Things…

I know to be true:

~”Bob the Tomato” from Veggie Tales is actually cuter drawn on a MagnaDoodle than he is in real life–depending on the artist.

~It’s much easier to type in a cold basement if you have these glorious fingerless gloves–now, I just need a pair of my own…so I don’t have to swipe April’s.

Thanks, Amy!

~ I must have been born in the wrong era because this old, turn-of-the-century farm house just makes my heart pound right out of my chest–rock foundation, root cellar, “gingerbread” and all. Oh, where’s that single Scottish Farmer when you need him?

*sigh*

~ A willow tree is very generous with the leaves–which should make incredible garden compost…

…very generous indeed.

~ I have a very, very happy son…

…with a very, very happy fiance’–woooohooo!!

~ Miss Chompy–if she so chooses– has a bright future…

with the circus.

All is well.

Posted on

A Few Changes…

for the bald kid.

My cute, faraway boy has a new companion. His name is Elder Johnson and he is—get this–bigger than the bald kid! This is highly unusual news.

This boy of mine is used to being the absolute giant–since he was a kid. In fact, years ago, he was handed the keys to a mini van at a youth activity and told to “take that group of boys home.”

His reply?

“Dude, I’m twelve. I brought my skateboard.”

It will be nice for him to look someone straight in the eye–at last.

Another change–he has left his beloved town of Tomck and moved to a different–much bigger city that he calls, “Krasno.” No idea how to spell what it’s really called. He says they get lost quite a lot and have to ask for directions.

Now, he lives in one of these random little “doms” in this very big complex…thirteen hours away–from his last town.

But the biggest change of all is that the temperature is dropping and it’s been snowing for about a week now. He looks kind of cold–poor guy. And wait, are those dark circles under his eyes?

He promises me that he’ll be going out this week to buy some nice, warm boots and a big, cozy fur hat. Hurry boy–hurry!

Your silly mama needs to know that you are safe, and healthy, and happy and warm.

Then all will be well in my heart.

Oooh, I miss you my boy.

Posted on

All The Single Ladies

Fear not. I won’t be singing to you anytime soon–or dancing, for that matter. Either option would be an unpleasant experience for both of us.

Last Friday, I was invited by LDS Philanthropies to a Blogger Luncheon to learn more about a new scholarship program for single parents.

(I’m the little hobbit in the back.)

We heard all kinds of facts and statistics about the difficulties of raising a family as a single parent. Even though I’ve been a single parent for 12 years, I was still stunned by the numbers. For instance~

Did you know that:

• 28 percent of children now live with just one parent.

• 40% of children under 18 experience a parental breakup.

• 90% of single parent families are headed by females.

• 60% of children living in mother-only families are impoverished.

• Single moms median income is only about 25% what a married couple make.

The truly moving part of the meeting was when Megan Fletcher–the sweet little gal in the middle–got up and told her story. Receiving the *Stella Harris Oaks Scholarship to LDS Business College changed her life and gave her and her daughter hope for an amazing future. And she’s positively adorable besides.

Beat that.

The kind fellows in charge of the meeting explained that they were several Scholarships short of meeting their fundraising goals for the coming year. In the month of November and through the magical powers of the blogging world, they hoped to raise $7,200 total–the cost of one full scholarship–for some deserving young parent. Hmmmm…

Helping others and offering a bit of hope is quite an inspiring thing…

but then so is a focused group of mom bloggers.

We came to the conclusion that helping one parent just wasn’t enough and that with all the incredible bloggers out there in the world–with all their amazing readers, we should be able to do much, much more.

I told them that Gracious Rain was “in.”

So, here’s the simple bottom line. If you’d like to hear Megan’s story yourself–click on the widget on the left. Then see if it doesn’t inspire you to do something…wonderful. If it does, please give, whatever you can. Any amount–no matter how small will help.

And if you’re inclined to share this message, they’ve even made that easy too–just click “Share.”

With your help, we can see to it that–

a little hope goes a long way.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Perfect-Size.png

*Stella Harris Oaks–a single mother who raised three children alone, after the death of her husband. One son became a world renowned eye surgeon and another became a University President, State Supreme Court Justice and inspiring religious leader.