Dream Kids

It was 5:30 on a Saturday morning. She was awoken by the sound of playful children in the room above her bedroom. This had been a frequent occurance during the past week. She was getting used to it, but on this particular morning she was exhausted. She'd worked well past midnight helping a good friend. She enjoyed helping this friend very much because...well...it was enjoyable. Although she knew it was probably a futile attempt, she sighed, took a deep breath and cleared her mind in an attempt to drift back to sleep. She dosed in and out, mostly out.

During a moment of peaceful slumber she was again awoken, this time by movement on the bed. Two children had crept into her room wondering if she was almost ready to fix their breakfast. Moments later they left, somewhat disappointed that they'd be on their own this morning.

After several hours of fitful sleep and having finally succumbed to the fact that she'd be tired today, she got out of bed, slipped on some clothes and went upstairs. The rooms were quiet. Maybe the children are hiding, she thought. It was a favorite game of theirs. She discreetly avoided the places where they would be hiding and walked around pretending to look for them.

Suddenly she heard whispers in her daugther's room. She gently tried to open the door so she could peek in on the children's game only to find that the doorway was blocked. Then came a whisper, "Look on the table first."

She turned and went to the diningroom table. On it had been placed a bowl of her regular fiber cereal with milk and a plate with a hard boiled egg and salt sprinkled on the side. Near the dishes were two well-designed heart-shaped cards. On them were written simple words of adoration and gratitude.

She hugged her beautiful children, thanked them and ate the healthful breakfast. Then, she thanked them again. They reponded with, "We love you SO much! You do SO much for us!"

4 Year Anniversary

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The host remembers 11/11/03.

Though I did not include in this podcast the spiritual experience we had on Thursday in the doctor's office before Dr. Whiting ordered the first blood test or my experience with my good friend, Linda, on Saturday morning during a training meeting at school, I remember them as if they were yesterday.  I will be eternally grateful for Dr. Whiting's expertise and 'prompting' and Linda's unfailing support.

This Time Last Year: Unrase The Picture!

At one point during the hospital stay, Logan's IV line was "un-hooked" so he was somewhat mobile. I had taken a picture of his infected area. It was the kind of sight that is painful to look at it, but at the same time you can't stop yourself from looking. He wanted me to erase it. You can see what a tough kid he is to walk and laugh through the the pain. This is by far my all-time favorite video of Logan! When I need to cheer up it always does the trick.

This Time Last Year: Hair Loss

While in the hospital with the infection, Logan was barely able to walk due to the pain "down there." When you spend 24-7 in a small room with a child you are bound to have some very special conversations. One of them was just after Halloween.

Logan and I were discussing how his hair was falling out again. I asked him what he thought about it and he told me he would sing a song about it. He had such a positive attitude and it was such a great song that I pulled out my camera and asked him to sing it again. It was even better the second time. Some of you may remember me sending the lyrics by email, but it's much better coming straight from Logan. (Sorry it's side-ways. I don't have a program that can fix it.)

THAT WAS THEN, THIS IS NOW!

Some of you might remember that last Halloween Logan was in the hopsital with a very painful and serious infection. The people up there are great, though. Jarid and I were able to wheel Logan's bed and IV pole around the halls of the cancer unit and Trick-or-Treat to volunteers who were set up with loads of candy in the hallways.
This year he was a ball of energy! He excitedly went to school to participate in the school Halloween parade and class party. Then Grandpa and Grandma Patty drove him up to Primary's for some IV chemotherapy. Almost as soon as he got home we left for the ward Halloween party and Trunk-or-Treat(from the backs of cars in the parking lot.)
While there we heard there was a care center all ready for trick-or-treaters, but not many were going. So, we went over and visited them. Julian gave a grandma with Alzheimers a huge hug. I'm sure the woman thought she was her grandaughter and that I was her daughter. We left not only with candy, but with a warm feeling in our hearts.
Last year, Julian spent Halloween with her cousins. I didn't get to see her until the next day. This year I did her make-up on three occasions and took her trick-or-treating in the park after school. FUN!!
My photographer friend took a picture of me (dressed as a biker in Jarid's gear) with a real live biker who was handing out candy at the park. I'm pretty sure he was safe. I'll get the picture from her and load it later.


BTW, Jarid went to work dressed as a Sheriff's Deputy. Hehehe!

Row Yer Boat

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My first experiment using Audacity.

Hey! It worked. I wish I'd warmed up my voice and practiced a little. :-)

Now that I've figured out how to do this on my PC, I can re-ignite the Carterista Podcast! Is that applause I hear?? HAHAHAHAHA!

An October Christmas Gift!

On Tuesday night, my mom's brother Uncle Jim, and his wife Aunt Jean, stopped at the Farmhouse on their way through Utah to visit my parents. All the family in the area gathered for dinner, good company and, as always with Uncle Jim, great story-telling!

Mom made dinner exactly like Grandma Southward would have made it. She even used Grandma's own pans. Stories were told about grandpa and others.

At one point, Logan shyly approached Uncle Jim and whispered in his ear, "Are you Santa Claus's helper?" Uncle Jim's face brightened as he answered in his deep voice, "Why, yes, I am. Would you like to see a picture of me when I'm helping Santa?" Logan nodded as Uncle Jim reached into his pocket, pulled out a small metal box, opened it and produced the most wonderful picture. In awe, but deeply satisfied Logan walked away with picture in hand.

In truth, Uncle Jim and Aunt Jean are both Santa's helpers. They graduated from a special Santa's Helpers School in Canada several years ago and built a Santa's Workshop in the storefront next door to their own business offices in California. Each year they open their arms and hearts to children, especially those with diablities, who are much more comfortable in their presence and on his lap than they would be at any mall. And when they tug on his beard, he doesn't mind and it doesn't come off !!

Later, the kids had great fun playing games on the front lawn in the dark with only the glow of the porch lights. Just before we had to leave, Uncle Jim showed the kids magic tricks and the kids showed Uncle Jim some magic tricks, too! It couldn't have been a more perfect evening...a Chirstmas gift in October.

The Law of the Garbage Truck

I didn't write this and I don't know who did. But, I completely agree with it and I'm on the lookout!!! :-)

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she/he can get back her/his focus on what's important.

Five years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a taxi cab in Indianapolis. Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Indianapolis Airport. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly.

So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it.
And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did.

So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."

I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense,"the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well, now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses. Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you?

First Frost 2007

The kids and I were excited this morning to find a
beautiful frost covering everything in sight.

Among the most interesting were these

patterns of frost crystals.

Can you guess the surface on which they formed? :-)

FARMHOUSE HONEY HARVEST

This is the honey that bees make.

These are the combs that hold
the honey that bees make.

This is the hot-knife that removes the caps
from the combs that hold
the honey that bees make.

This is Ben who chews on the wax(YUM!)
that is cut from the combs
that hold the honey that bees make.

This is the barrel that spins the combs
to release the honey that bees make.

These are the kids who turn the handle
on the barrel that spins
to release the honey that bees make.

This is the bucket that catches the honey
from the barrel that spins
to release the honey that bees make.

This is the story of how the Carter's made Honey with Uncle Ben at the Farmhouse. :-)