Friday Favorite...on Wednesday

Wow, talk about time passing quickly when you are busy-let's just pretend to hit either fast forward or rewind, and it's Friday.  My new obsession favorite is the internet radio station from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I LOVE it!  If I did it correctly, you should be able to click over there------> and listen to the station right now!  If you are fancy and have an iPhone you can download the app and listen on there-I don't have one-so  my very Favorite way to listen is on iTunes.  You can download the podcasts and listen to whatever you want, whenever you want!  You can listen to General Conference, Music from the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the scriptures, or they have original programming, that's my favorite right now.

Here are a few of my Favorite Programs: 

This program is exactly what it sounds like-conversations with people you want to hear from!  Inclduing current Apostles Elder Perry, Elder Bednar, Elder Scott, and Elder Oaks.  They are accompanied by their wife or in Elder Scott's case his daughter.  It is a candid, unique opportunity to hear them speak from the heart, and on so many topics.  The interviews with the Apostles are conducted by Sheri Dew, and are truly wonderful.  I have also listened to the interview with Michael F. Moody who oversaw the creation of the new Hymnbook back in 1985, and that was quite interesting.  These are my favorite two episodes:

Conversation with Elder L.Tom Perry and Sister Barbara Perry

Elder Perry and His wife are so friendly and have such great stories to tell, I loved listened to them.

Conversation with Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Sister Kristen Oaks

And the story of how these two met and got married-after he was an Apostle was so sweet.  I loved listening to them, inspiring!

Okay, I have to share this one too, they are amazing!  Sister Dalton currently serves as General President of the Youn Women's Organization of the Church.  I loved her all the more after listening to both of them talk about raising their family, why virtue is important in today's world, and the way they work together to do what the Lord asks them.

Conversation with Sister Elaine S. Dalton and Brother Stephen E. Dalton

Another of my favorite programs is

This program features half hour interview with current and recently returned Stake and Mission Presidents for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all over the world.  Amazing!  I have listened to recently returned or currently serving Presidents from Thailand, Japan, Russia, New York, Spain, Switzerland, and look forward to the rest! 

I particularly enjoyed this conversation with recently returned President Reid A. and Sister Diane Robison from the West Indies Mission.

You can find these programs and more here: http://www.lds.radio.org/

 Go here to find out more:
Mormon Channel

Or here to find out all the ways to listen to this incredible blessing technology has made possible:
http://radio.lds.org/eng/how-to-listen

Talent Show Talents

 I've been taught about talents since I was a small child, all through my teenage years, and into adulthood I've attended more lessons than I can remember about how we all have talents.  We just have to try hard, find ours, and develop them, so we can share our talents and bless the lives of others.  I have a confession, I've never liked those classes.

image found here

Most of the time these lessons focus on what a friend of mine recently called "Talent Show Talents."  All those talents you can show and define, ones with tangible results from practice and hard work.  Dance.  Painting.  Playing an instrument.  Singing.  Gymnastics.  Sculpting.  Drawing.  You could also include "State Fair Talents"  especially in the LDS culture.  We love our talented quilters, seamstresses, bakers, cake decorators, those who make flaky pie crust or bread like manna from heaven, and talented home designers who are recognized for their style and flair.  Another set of tangible talents can be found in the athletic arenas of life, those who run fast, jump high, and throw a ball are lauded and praised for their abilities.

I can't do any of those things, and I've tried.  I'm simply not a talented athlete, dancer, or artist, I don't have a fabulous sense of style, I don't bake pastries that take your breath away, and no matter how hard I practice I will never sing like an angel.  And I tire of hearing people espouse these talents as the only examples.  I tire of hearing how it is our responsiblity to find, share and develop these talents.  I promise, I've looked.  I don't think it was a joke when my Jr. High Choir teacher asked me (in front of the entire class) to please only mouth the words, as I had a voice like a frog and it ruined the song.  I've taken classes and lessons, and haven't found a single "Talent Show Talent" I can share to bless the lives of others. 

I do believe we all have talents that we can use to bless the lives of others, and most of them aren't glamourous.  I have a friend who can listen and lock what I tell her away like it's in a vault, that's a talent.  I have a friend who always knows just when I need a smile and a hug, and she gives them, that's a talent.  I have a friend who is always the first to welcome a newcomer, or say hello to a visitor and that's a talent.  I have a friend who is the most amazing, patient, loving mother, that's a talent.  I have a friend who does whatever is asked of her well, and quickly, and usually does more than you ask, that's a talent.  I have a friend who is a gifted teacher, who draws the most out of every class and subject, that's a talent I love being blessed by.

image found here

I could keep going, but I think you get my point.  There is more to the realm of talents than those we can demonstrate on a stage or display on a wall.  I despised all those lessons as a young woman because I walked away feeling like I just wasn't good enough, or worse, like I wasn't as loved and blessed because I couldn't do those things.   Even as an adult I have picked up the subtle cue that I'm just not talented.  Several years ago I attended a Relief Society weeknight meeting where the talents of every woman in attendance were highlighted.  You know what the best they came up with for me was?  "Home remodeling"  I have never remodeled a home in my life!  I couldn't believe it.  Sure I had painted some walls and taken down some popcorn ceilings in my time, but that does not a remodel make, let alone a talent for remodeling.  I felt awful, less than nothing.  I sat and listened as the musical talents, organizing abilities, and artistic abilities of my friends were lauded, and felt like nothing.  "Not even my friends could come up with some area I was talented in," I thought. "How sad is that?" I wondered silently.  And later, as I pondered on my feelings that night I realized I have my own talents, but they aren't "talent show talents."  People don't see my talents, and  that's alright, I'm thankful to have learned I can give and serve in other ways.  Over time I have learned that while I love the way my soul stirs as the piano is played, or sighs in reverance at the elegance of dance, some of the  most valuable talents are those we never see, those we never hear, and those we never taste.

Look who's Driving

That's right folks, Kiefer is legally on the road! And all it took was:

• 3 trips to the DMV

• 2 trips to the Social Security office

• 1 attempt at passing the written test (okay that was old school, now it's on a computer)

Oh, and $7.00

3 trips to the DMV you ask? That's right-go with me here:

1. 1st trip (Monday w/ Mom)-find out someone else is using his Social Security Number

2. 2nd trip (Tuesday w/ Dad) After 2 trips to the S.S. office on Tuesday Dad runs K to the DMV to obtain the elusive permit-no dice, you must allow at least 24 hours for the system to register the S.S. office authorization-really? And no one thought to mention that at any point during the 5 phone calls, previous DMV visit, or the 2 SS visits? Really? Gotta love that government bureaucracy!

3. 3rd trip (Wednesday w/ Mom)-Eureka! We've struck gold, thankfully, we talked with a very kind woman in the AZ state office of investigations who looked into the matter while we were on the phone, and straightened it all out. She even gave me her direct number so I could call her from the DMV if they denied him again! We love Doris!

2 trips to the Social Security office--why 2 trips you ask?

1. Tuesday morning-not wanting to waste my time I go online and check out the Social Security website and look for information on what I need to do, because I'm a little (who are we kidding- a lot) compulsive I also call the national Social Security number as soon as it opens and find out exactly what I need to bring, and say and do to get the verification of Kiefer's number so he can get his permit. Then I strategically plan out my visit, I know if I get there first thing there will be a crowd of early to rise, beat the rush, get on with my day folks, go too late and I'll run into all the "finally got out of bed, guess I'll go to the Social Security office and yell at the employees about my benefits" folks. When I arrive I am euphoric- only 4 people ahead of me-unheard of at any government office, I know!!! I patiently allow the slightly scary man to paw through my purse, and smile when he tells me he will have to watch me power down my cell phone, and I am required to leave it off the entire time I am in the building (?what do they think I am going to do with it I wonder?). And, I wait, patiently. For me that is a big deal, I am not known for my patience and gentle demeanor when trying to resolve what I consider an insanely ridiculous problem.

My number is called, I proceed to lay out all my documents, birth certificates, student I.D. card, passports, my own driver’s license, and I was quite pleased that I spoke kindly and calmly. Until she said no! Then I was irked, excuse me? I said. "I'm sorry" she says, "but I need to protect his privacy." "From his mother?" I ask with an unbelieving voice. "Yes, at the age of 12 children are entitled to act for themselves and request their own information, but parents are no longer allowed to do so. I will need you to bring him here so he can request we verify his number." I explain that he's in school, and surely that's more important than protecting his privacy-from his mother! Look at all this paperwork I tell her, see here is my name on the birth certificate, here is my passport, and my license showing I am that same person. I ask her to just check and see if I have the right number, if it's wrong do nothing I say, I will come back. If it's right just print me the paper to give to the DMV, after all-I already have the number! And, I'm his mother-he's a child!



Then she tells me she "actually needs to verify that he is alive, all this paperwork just proves that at one point in time you gave birth to a child with this name. He may not be alive anymore."



So, steaming mad, and silently cursing our right to privacy, I drive to the high school and drag my son out of Chemistry, and down to the DMV we go. This time we've run right into that second crowd I mentioned before, and it's a little scary. Remind me sometime to tell you about first impressions. We wait, and it's not too long, better than I anticipated, in fact. Our number is called, and we walk up to the same lovely lady. I mutter to Kiefer that he should be nice, seeing as I had yelled at her just a short time ago. He is mortified, and I'm sure was silently cursing his luck to be born to a mother with quite a mouth on her. The lovely lady takes time to make a complete examination of our documents-the same ones I had presented and she had already examined I might add. She has a few choice words of wisdom to impart, and a gentle jab at me when she asks my son to breathe loudly, so she can make sure he is still alive. He looks at her a little oddly, but complies, and is promptly handed the paper with the stamp that verifies he is entitled to use the Social Security number listed above. We leave in a big hurry, before anyone can decide to do a physical, or something equally ridiculous.



As we leave I mention that he may want to grab his lunch and eat in the car, I'm not sure we will make it back to school in time for him to eat there. He doesn't have it he says, I ask where it is. Enter the sheepish grin as he tells me he ate it all before 2nd hour-but not all at once, some of it he ate before 1st hour-just so I don't think he was a pig or anything! Okay then, quick stop to grab him a hamburger-or two, stop by the house to add some fruit, and back to school he goes. **Note to self: write down all he eats in a day and post, all mothers of teenage boys will understand and commiserate with me.**

So, back to the point! Kiefer is legally driving, so if you are in the neighborhood proceed with caution, he's behind the wheel. Truthfully he's better than I expected, he's coming right along, and I'm sure will be ready to get his license in August.

CONGRATULATIONS KIEFER! You were a real trooper through the whole mess, patient and kind to everyone. The only comment he ever made about it was "If I had known it was going to take this long, I would have brought another book. One may not be enough." Typical!

And, in case you were wondering: *You can not get a credit report for a minor without beginning a fraud case with each credit reporting agency.  *You must call the Social Security Administration and ask them to begin a fraud investigation after you have called the credit agencies, not before*  Right now it seems the only thing done with his number was the Drivers License, and that could have been clerical error.  We will keep going just in case.  It should take 6-8 months to know for certain.*You can not get a new social security number unless all 3 major credit reporting agencies alert the SSA that your credit is such a tangled mess-through no fault of your own-there is no possible way to straighten it all out, then SSA will look into whether or not you should be given a new number, it is very rare I was told>

Friday Favorites

Another week gone by, in a flash!  I'll have you know I have a whole bunch of posts floating around in my head, and a couple in draft state here on the computer, and no time to sit and finish them.  Hopefully soon, but until then, here are a couple  favorite ideas  I have found on the internet (yes, I'm still an insomniac, not as bad, but still not a solid night's sleep).

Ideas on Organizing
http://www.j-a-girl.blogspot.com/
(Just a Girl Blog)

The first post I came across on this blog was titled "Make Life Easier part Dos"

It was all about organization

It made me feel giddy

I felt a kindred soul

I heart her sock idea, have I mentioned my kid's socks are my mortal enemies?

She only has 2 kids, so it's a little simpler, but I think I could come up with something similar.

Now, if only I could get my kids to actually get the socks from their feet to the basket...another battle for another day (I'm open to ideas)

This is another simple solution I really liked, easy to put away, and easy access...just one question...how do you keep 4 boys from missing the toilet and hitting that basket, conveniently full of T.P.?  I dream of the day I don't clean pee off the bathroom floor.  It will come, right?  I fear it will only come when the boys leave the house, and then I will miss them-even more than I abhor their bathroom floor right now.

Baby Sitting Incentive Plan

 http://www.everydayromneys.blogspot.com/

She pays the baby sitter:
$1 (for the whole night NOT per hour) if the house is TOTALLY clean when we get home



$1 if no one calls us on our phone to resolve a fight

$1 if the kids are in bed when we get home

$1 if they do something (read books, play games, go on a walk) with the younger kids besides TV

and then she pays the babysat:

$1 if The Babysitter says they were good, so they have incentive to be pliable and obedient



I thought this was brillant!  A night out---without a phone call????
Unheard of! 
And a house that's totally clean when we get home??
Pricless!!

My kids are enamored with the idea of earning money, they love having a few bucks to save or spend (depending on their personality), and it's a great way to teach so many life lessons.  Haven't tried this one out yet, but I'm going to put this plan into action, soon.