Forgiveness

We watched the video on forgiveness below in Young Women's class Sunday. I used it in our Family Home Evening lesson tonight. It made me cry both times.

Forgiveness has been on my mind lately, as I strive to forgive people in my life and in Steve's life who have hurt us. I know it's important to forgive others, for my own spiritual growth, but also because it's a commandment from our Heavenly Father. It isn't always easy though.

While I consider myself a fairly forgiving person, the kind man in this Mormon Message is one of the most forgiving people I've ever heard of. This story of his experience in forgiveness amazed me.

http://www.lds.org/media-library/video/mormon-messages?lang=eng&id=2010-07-14-forgiveness-my-burden-was-made-light#2010-07-14-forgiveness-my-burden-was-made-light

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry
Photo Courtesy: http://www.sharinggodsgrace.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Give-Forgiveness.jpg
Video Courtesy: www.lds.org

A Tug of War

 

A Quote from the Sisters of the Quilt Series

 

So my sister, Nikki, left three books for me at my mom's house to take home and read. One glance at the covers (picture of an Amish girl) and I thought, "Hmmm. Probably boring, but we'll see."

 

Turns out they were great!

 

I have weird taste in books. I usually like mysteries, but will read just about anything that doesn't have graphic sex and loads of cussing in it. It HAS to have an interesting story. So my favorite authors range from Jane Austen to Clive Cussler to Beth Revis to Janet Evanovich. It depends on my mood.

 

I started the first book in by Cindy Woodsmall's series and couldn't put it down. I finished all three in a week. Woodsmall weaves a story of love, loss, family dynamics, religion, the Amish culture, and does an amazing job!

 

One quote from the second book, "When Morning Comes," caught my eye. The main character, Hannah, has endured some pretty heavy stuff. Her parents have abandoned her, her community thinks the worst of her, and the man she loves wants nothing to do with her, so she left her familiar life for life out in the Englischers. (Yes, that is the correct spelling.) She slowly finds her way outside of the life she's known, but she feels torn.

 

Here's the quote:

"The world she now lived in and the one she'd been raised in seemed to battle within her constantly. Each pulled her in an opposite direction, as if she were the rope in a tug of war." (p. 268)

 

I read that and it hit a nerve with me. I've felt that way since I started teaching seven years ago. The home I was raised in (and the lifestyle I had grown accustomed to) is not the one I have today. I admit I was pretty spoiled growing up. I thought things were going to turn out differently.

 

I have felt a change happening within myself.

Part of it is getting older and my body changing, as well as my kids getting older, but the rest of it is having a career that is tugging me to become someone different than I was. It's not a bad thing, but it's uncomfortable. Who likes that much change?

 

I planned on being a stay-at-home-mom like my mom was and having a passel of kids. I planned on staying out of the world and living in my bubble of life with my kids and hubby. That didn't happen.

 

I planned on being a totally different person. Nicer. Saner. No luck.

 

My dad bugged me for YEARS to become a teacher. I tried the major at BYU and nothing really clicked for me, so I earned an English degree instead. Little did I know, twelve and a half years later, I'd use that degree to become a teacher!

 

Being a teacher is part nature, part battle for me. I'm the oldest of five kids and naturally bossy, so that part comes easy. The secretarial stuff (taking roll, grading, creating lessons, attending meetings, etc.) is a breeze. The actual teaching is like breathing. I love it. It flows out of me. But teaching itself is just a small part of what I do each day.

 

Part of the battle is the disciplining part.

 

Ugh.

 

Not my favorite part.

 

Avoiding confrontation used to be something I was good at.

Not any longer. I have confrontations with students (and sometimes parents and teachers) daily. This has helped me with my own children though. It's been a blessing really.

 

Am I better off than I thought I'd be? Mentally, emotionally, and spiritually--- yes. I feel like I'm doing what Heavenly Father wants me to do. I'm in the right place at the right time. I read today that opposition is something we encounter daily to help us grow. We have to have it to grow.

 

Teaching has REALLY helped me grow.

 

Life has REALLY helped me grow.

 

I had no idea.

 

I hope I'm still nice enough when it's all over.

 

:o)

 

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry

Photo: http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6156/6190938784_6769246e33_z.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Time for . . . Me???

I've noticed my boys need my time less and less. Turning twelve and thirteen last year changed their lives and mine. They're suddenly busy with Young Men's (church group) or Mutual (combined Young Men-Young Women church group), sports, music, and their friends more and their dad and me less. They can cook/prepare their own snacks and most meals, even if they don't want to. They're pretty much self-sustaining, except for the daily reminder to shower and used deodorant. ;o)

Their idea of a fun Friday night isn't watching a family movie with us anymore, but playing Xbox, watching a movie they like, hanging out with guys their own age, or listening to their IPods. Childhood things are tucked away, and teenage activities have taken their place. I have to wince a little over this.

My life prior to this period revolved around what my boys wanted or needed to do each day. I'm a "hands on" mom---I took them to the library, enjoyed the kid programs there and helped them pick out books. I drove them to the park, pushed them on swings or played referee between them and their cousins. They enjoyed going grocery shopping with me and fought over who would push the cart. I came up with fun activities for Saturdays and days off from school. We explored museums, bird sanctuaries, and skate parks. I had grown used to being there for them all of the time and thinking things wouldn't change.

Now they don't need me to watch them every second of the day or even want to hang out with me 24/7 anymore. Seems like a good thing to most parents, right?

Still . . .

Having no younger children has left me at a precipice. What to do with this free time? I have felt a real loss. Actual tears have been shed. Finding a way to channel my helpful "mom" energy has been a challenge.

I miss being needed by little people. I guess it's a good thing I'm a teacher. I channel some of it into helping my students. Some of it has gone into cleaning my house better. (Ugh.) Some has gone into my lessons with the Young Women at church. Steve and I go on more dates and spend more time together at home than we used to. I've read gobs more books and watched even more movies and "Poirot" episodes.

Steve's been really supportive through this crisis of mine and has encouraged me in writing. I think he's got the right idea. I would love to finish the two stories I've started. I think writing about funny things that happen in life would be a kick. So, who knows? I've always believed that when one door closes, God opens another one. It's just not usually the door I would've picked. In this case, I don't have much of a say in keeping my kids little.

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry
Photos: Me Clock: http://maizehutton.blogspot.com/2012/08/make-doily-plate-clock.html
Circle pic: The Henderson Ladies Me Time Group, Henderson, NV




 

My Guys

If you know me at all by now, you know I'm a mom to two boys and we're a blended family. Never in a million years did I think I'd only physically bear one child and become a stepmother to another! It has been a learning experience for all of us. There are absolutely amazing days and darn difficult days, but thinking back to my own childhood, probably not too much different from a non-blended family, except that there are more people (bio parents, grandparents, etc.) and feelings involved.

I love my kids and my hubby. I pray for them every day, sometimes several times throughout the day, depending of much patience I have. ;o) As the boys grow older, I worry about how well I've done as a parent, and am sometimes kept awake at night thinking about what I could've done differently. But peace is found after prayer and the acceptance that my boys learn from their mistakes and they have lots of love and support from Steve and me.

My guys give me more happiness and pure joy in watching them accomplish things than they will ever know. For a girl who dreamed of having three or four kids, and at least 1 girl, Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when He gave me my guys.

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry
Photo: Corrina L. Terry, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV, 1/13.

Who Could Turn From Christ?

This evening I learned one of my Laurels is not really interested in Christ or the gospel anymore. It tore a piece of my heart. Who could turn from Christ?

A Laurel is a girl in our church between the ages of 16-18. Her age alone, you might say, would be answer enough for my question. True. I can hope she will come back. I can pray she does. Then it hit me. "Call her."

"Who, me Lord?" I asked. And so my conversation with my Heavenly Father began.

"Yes. You, Corrina."

"She won't listen to me. She doesn't know me well enough or trust me yet."

"She will."

"I'm afraid."

"Of what? A girl?"

"Yes. I've opened myself up to her and the other girls I teach week after week. What if she throws it in my face?"

"She won't."

"How . . .?"

"Call her."

I picked up the phone and called before I lost my nerve. Her mother answered and told me to try in an hour. She'd be home. She also wished me luck.

I tried in an hour and a half. (I said I was nervous!) No answer. It went straight to voicemail. I left a message.

No call back from mother or daughter.

I tried again an hour later. This time it rang. My heart jumped. I swallowed nervously. Mother answered and took the phone to daughter.

Here is the gist our conversation.

"Hi! It's Sister Terry! How are you?"

"Okay, I guess."

"Is everything going ok?"

"Yeah. I'm just going through some stuff."

"Anything I can help you with?"

"No. Not really."

Silence. (I was hoping she'd open up a little. Nope. She was quiet.)

"Well, . . . I called to ask your help. I'm giving the lesson on Sunday, you know how the new lessons don't have manuals? I'm asking the girls in class to each read, ponder, and pray about a scripture, then come to class prepared to share your thoughts and feelings. Could you help me? Will you be there on Sunday?"

Silence a second too long.

"I'll try." (Less than enthused.)

"Thank you! The scriptures are---wait. I'll wait for you to get a pen. Let me know when you're ready."

Noise in background as she searches for a pen. Finally after some time a pen is found. She's ready.

"Matthew 11:28-30 and John 14:27."

After some further small talk, I told her we missed her and loved her and looked forward to seeing her on Sunday. She was less than enthusiastic.

I am hopeful. I'm also an optimist.

I pray about the scriptures I assign to the girls each week. You may wonder what her scriptures said. They are:

Matthew 11:28-30
"28 ¶^aCome unto me, all ye that ^blabour and are heavy laden, and I will give you ^crest.

 29 Take my ^ayoke upon you, and ^blearn of me; for I am ^cmeek and ^dlowly in ^eheart: and ye shall find ^frest unto your souls.

 30 For my yoke is ^aeasy, and my burden is light."

 

and

 

John 14:27

"27 ^aPeace I leave with you, my ^bpeace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be ^ctroubled, neither let it be afraid."

 

Was God guiding me tonight or what?

After we hung up, I was shaking and couldn't help but cry a little. Not about her brusque manner with me, but because she leaving the light and walking out into the dark. I know that God loves her. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, loves her too, and she's turning her back on both of them. The two people (at her age) she should be turning to most! Why???

I hope she comes to our class on Sunday. I pray she does! I pray she reads those scriptures and is brought closer to the Spirit, who will in turn, bring her closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. We'll see what Sunday brings.

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry
Photo & Scriptures: www.lds.org

New Year's Resolutions???

Why call them "New Year's Resolutions?" Shouldn't they be called, "Corrina's Resolutions" or "My Resolutions?" It's not the New Year that wants to make changes. It's me.

I usually make a few resolutions every year. This year, I plan on keeping up my usual running, reading, writing, etc., but my biggest resolution is to SLOW DOWN.



I find myself running 60 miles an hour every single day. By Friday after school, I am exhausted, run down, and miserable. (And that's going to sleep every night by 10pm and waking up at 5:20am. That's 7 1/2 hours of sleep! I could get more sleep, but I think that should be enough.) No more dragging. I can't take it another week.



So . . . here's my plan.

1. DE-stress. Don't worry so much about EVERYTHING. I can't solve every students' problems. I can't save the world. I can solve my sons' problems and my hubby's problems though. Don't take everything so seriously. The world will not end if my house is still a construction zone a year from now.

 



2. Make sure I'm eating good foods every 2 hours. (Low blood sugar issues that leave me up and down all day. Eating regularly helps keep my moods even.)
3. Still go to sleep by 10pm; earlier, if I can.
4. Continue to take the guys to their music lessons and Mutual. Smile about it. This time with them is fleeting. Some of the best conversations I've had with them has been in the car driving them somewhere.
5. Remember the beauty around me through what I see or through my memories.
6. Slow down.



Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry
Photos: http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-slow-down-10/
http://hidastaelamaa.fi/2012/11/hellita-hetkeksi-viikon-luennot-ja-tapahtumat/slow-down-lifestyle-concept-2/
http://www.pfadvice.com/2012/03/19/slow-down-save-money/
http://www.minimalwall.com/2010/07/28/slow-down/

Dusting off Memories

Sorry to miss writing last night. The hubby and I had our much belated Anniversary Date! We had a delicious dinner and dessert and walked around the Venetian Hotel, pretending we were in Venice. It was late when I went to sleep.

The good news is that the ideas are flowing this evening!

Every year at the beginning of January (or so depending on my time) I go through my second hand filing cabinet to clean out our financial files and store them elsewhere for seven years. Joy. I know. Ugh!!!

This year, as I replaced old, cruddy manila files with crisp, colorful, new ones, I made room in the lower drawer for some files. That meant throwing out files I never use. I went through every single file to determine what to keep and what to remove.

I came across several file folders of keepsakes I hadn't seen in years! 

Some I had hung in my rooms in high school and college.

 

 

Some were cards from people I love who have passed on.

 

Some were quotes, poems, or Open House fliers from temples I'd been to.

 

Some were postcards that remind me of trips I took with my family or the last gift tag from my Grandma and Grandpa Thacke.

 

The last one made me chuckle. It was a Wish List/Dreams from when I was around 25 (almost 20 years ago!) You have to promise not to laugh. I was young. Can you even read my messy writing?

 

Sadly, I have not travelled to any of the places I listed, except back to New York City, and I did go to several graveyards and churches there.

 

I have written children's picture books, but have not published them. (Deseret Book turned me down on one.) I've written a TON, but never written an entire novel. Short stories and poems I can handle, although I do have the beginnings of two excellent novels on my computer right now.

 

Happily, I have obtained my masters degree, but in Teaching (and I've gone on to complete 28 more credit hours besides.)

 

Why weight was such an issue to me then, I have no idea. I have weighed 125 pounds since then and hold pretty steady right around there. It's not a big deal to me anymore.

 

I love genealogy, but don't make enough time for it.

 

I have a nice, personalized home and was blessed to have one child. I also gained a stepson in my second marriage.

I've also ran a 5K and a 10K. (I never believed I'd run like I do now. Walking was enough for me then.)

 

I'm no longer married to the man mentioned on this list. (Don't worry. I'm happily married to Steven Terry and he's finishing his degree in teaching.)

 

Looking over this list, I realize I still want to finish it and I will.

 

Someday.

 

I'd also like to add to it.

 

I'd add:

Get sealed to Steven J. Terry. 

Get out of debt.

Send my sons (worthy and prepared) on missions.

Pick them up from their missions and meet the people they taught and baptized.

Send my boys to college.

Attend their college graduations.

Attend their temple weddings.

Babysit their children.

Teach my grandchildren everything I know.

 

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry

Photos: Corrina L. Terry 2013

 

 

Haircut!



There's nothing like a haircut and color to pamper a girl. I leave the salon feeling like a million bucks! (Wish the picture of ME was better, but at least my hair looks good!) ;o)

 

Thanks to Tiffanie Welch Campbell for her amazing talent at cutting and coloring hair! She's also fun to talk with! 

 

 

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry

Photo credit: Corrina L. Terry

When It Rains . . .



So we're on our third major appliance purchase in six months; my hubby resuscitated a fourth one from the brink last year. I'm starting to lose faith that any appliance we own will last more than ten years.

We had a twelve year+ washing machine finally kick the bucket last spring. We bought a used one cheap through some shady repo people. It lasted about four months, so we ventured into RC Willey for our first big appliance purchase as a married couple. (Five years last month!) I love the washer we bought, but not the price. :o/

The dryer soon followed, but was replaced by one my sister-in-law gave us. It was fairly new and from Costco. We were grateful and it worked well for about eight months, then went cold on us. We considered having my hubby fix it, but he is already so busy with work and school that we decided to buy a new one. It matches the washer we bought several months prior. (Why are matching appliances important? I don't understand that.)

Anyway, about two weeks ago the dishwasher died. The original dishwasher that came with the house was actually excellent. I loved it, but it hit the ten year mark about six months ago (at the same time as the washer died) and croaked. Sigh. We bought one from a guy on Craigslist. It started leaking in the fall. After spending $30 on parts and about twenty hours working on it, Steve fixed it. We counted our lucky stars and prayed it would continue to work. It didn't. It died the week before Winter Break and Christmas. It couldn't have happened at a worse time.

Luckily, we have RC Willey nearby. I've been a customer of RC Willey for about eighteen years, but honestly, I haven't used them this much (with the exception of the original washer/dryer I bought with my ex-husband in 1995, a couch in 1997, and a fridge in 2003) until last year. They've been more than happy to see me walk in and spend money though.

Thus begins the dishwasher saga.

We bought a great dishwasher, but they didn't have the color we wanted. It had to be shipped from Salt Lake, so we came back the following day for it. We got it home, rolled it up to the house, and it was leaking water ALL over the place! There was no sign it had sat in snow/rain and it was wet inside. With our luck it was broken.

We called RC Willey. They said to bring it back. It was too late for us to get there, so we arranged to bring it back the next day when the NEW dishwasher they were replacing it with would show up on yet another truck from Salt Lake. When we exchanged the dishwashers, the warehouse worker told us that the original dishwasher had probably been tested at the factory and that's why it leaked. Really?!?! No one else had mentioned that. Thanks for telling us!!!

We picked up the new, new dishwasher the night before our trip to Utah. It was too late to make a run to Home Depot or Lowe's, so it sat on our kitchen floor while we were gone. (Did I mention we ripped out the tile in the hallway, dining room, and kitchen? It's cement until we're ready to re-tile. That's why there's an ugly floor in the picture above.) My sweet hubby ran to Home Depot tonight after getting back from our trip to buy the part we need to hook it up. (He's that kind of a good hubby.) After two weeks I'm ready to use my new, steam-option dishwasher!

We've decided that when it rains, it pours. Our fridge is next. It's over ten years old now. It makes weird noises sometimes. I'm sure that it is waiting until the very worst moment in 2013 to give up the ghost. Yeah. I can't wait. 

P.S. As soon as I posted this, my hubby informed me that RC Willey had sold us the wrong dishwasher! This one had no electrical plug to plug it in. There are 2 models of this one. We were sold/given the wrong one. See what I mean? Appliances hate me.  ;o)

P.S.P.S. 1/3/13: Steve called RC Willey this morning and they informed him that most dishwashers do not come with electric cords anymore. They are purchased separately!!! Would've been nice for our salesman to inform us of this. Steve bought the cord at Home Depot, attached it, plugged everything in, and it works beautifully!!! Finally!!!

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry
Photo credit: Joshua Rhodes

First Day

The first day of the new year.

 

January 1st, 2013.

 

I can't help but wonder what 2013 will bring. I'm hopeful for good things. Aren't you?

 

 

 

 

I started off well---got 8 hours of sleep then ran 3 miles. Then I ate donuts and read a book all day.

(I ate good stuff too, don't worry, and reading is good for you!)

 

I'm happy and healthy. My hubby and kids are too. So are my parents and in-laws.

(We pray this continues.)
 

 

We have our faith and testimonies in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ.

(We're part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you want to know more, write me a message below and I'd be happy to talk with you about it.)

 

We have loads of family members we love.

(Well, most of them. Not naming any names, but . . .)
 

 

We can pay our bills.

(We wish we made more money, but that will come in time.)

 We have fun together!

(We're probably certifiable, but we love spending time together.)

 

Hope your 2013 is excellent! I'm excited about mine!!!

 

Copyright 2013 Corrina L. Terry

Photos: http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/rusak/rusak1006/rusak100600354/7254591-fire-number-1-on-a-black-background.jpg

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4149/4963585320_3e7378d74a_z.jpg

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/my_documents/my_pictures/2011/may/66E_number1bluewithstarsbalvb2.gif

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Number_1_in_green_rounded_square.svg/512px-Number_1_in_green_rounded_square.svg.png
 

 

Conference Room Please!

J and I sit here in a conference room at the Brian Head Town Hall taking advantage of their free WiFi and to get out of the packed car. He's at the end of his cold and didn't feel like snowboarding with his brother and dad, so he's stuck with me!

We left Duck Creek this morning and the guys had a day of snowboarding planned. I had planned on a leisurely afternoon grading papers, entering grades online, and possibly curling up with a book somewhere. (No skiing for me. I'm babying my knees these days.)

The people here in Brian Head are super friendly and nice to allow us use of their conference room. (On New Year's Eve the Town Hall is hardly a bustling place.) I was able to spread papers out all over the conference table instead of my dashboard.

It's not how I expected to spend the last afternoon of 2012, but I'm glad J's with me. He's a good kid, even if he won't let me take pictures of him. I usually have to sneak them.

Brian Head itself is a gorgeous area, all season long. They have good food, lots of lifts, and even a tubing run! It's changed a lot since I last skied here in 1991. (Sad, I know.)

(Steve & D after a day of snowboarding.)



Happy New Year everyone! 2012 has been awesome!!!

 

 

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry

Photos: Corrina L. Terry, Unknown

A Walk in the Snow

 

This is one view of my walk in the snow today. For fun I marched along my summer jogging route. It usually takes me about 30-35 minutes to jog it in the summer. Today walking in compact snow, it took me about 50 minutes. (Not that I was complaining. It was GORGEOUS!)

Living in an older part of Vegas, I'm surrounded by homes, concrete, and pavement. I love looking towards the mountains in the east, where the temple is, and in the west, where there is a snow cap in the winter, but I miss living closer to the mountains like I did in Provo and Salt Lake. This is why coming to Duck Creek, one of my favorite places on earth, is home to me.

On my walk today I recommitted myself to finding beauty wherever I am. I also drank in the scene around me. I took a picture (literally) to post here and send to my mom (she couldn't make it up here), but also to keep in my mind for those days when I've had enough of the city. It's something I've done since I was a kid. Those scenes and memories have kept me going when my spirit was low.

Below is a small cabin on the edge of the forest service land. It's tiny, but darling, and it's backyard is forest service land for miles. Steve and I hold a dream of owning it someday. We'll see. Owning any cabin (or piece of property up here) would be a dream fulfilled!

 

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry
Photos: Corrina L. Terry

View From My Front Porch Today

So my goal of blogging every day of my Winter Break crashed and burned yesterday. We were running errands and putting out fires from morning 'til night. I literally laid down in bed at about 11:30 last night. I was so dang tired! I thought about blogging, but just couldn't get motivated.

Part of WHY I was tired has to do with the pictures posted today. We were getting ready for a winter visit to the cabin at Duck Creek, Utah. It was in the low 20's when we got here, but gorgeous. We are enjoying every minute and are lucky enough to have my brother Truman and his lovely wife, Megan, with us. From our Winter Wonderland to wherever you are---hope you have a great Saturday!

 

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry

Photos: Corrina L. Terry

Blogging Again!

I'm blogging more often because a) it's Winter Break and I have time and b) I have a new laptop!

The picture above is my new baby. I love it! I needed a new laptop for classes I take for my post-Masters (only 10 more credits to go before I max out at Masters + 32 credits), but also to show church videos to the Young Women in my Laurel class. (My hubby got tired of me dragging his laptop to church every week.) Now I can drag my own laptop and blog whenever I want to! Yes!!!

You can probably tell it's sitting on my bed on my lap desk. I do my best thinking (and hopefully best writing) sitting here. Thought I'd give a realistic view of it.

I challenged myself to blog something EVERY DAY of Winter Break. I feel rusty and out of shape writing. It's been a LONG time since I've blogged or even written anything for fun on a regular basis.

Today I don't have anything profound to blog about, but my sister and her family is in town, RC Willey messed up on our dishwasher order, and I've been eating too much chocolate. Besides that---I have a new laptop! :o)

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry
Photo: Corrina L. Terry

Missing Christmas

 

I'm not a huge winter/snow fan, but I love Christmas. From December 1st through Christmas Day, my radio is tuned into the "all Christmas songs" station. I sing, I hum, and I belt out Christmas tunes like a pro. Well, maybe not a PRO-pro, but I try.

 

I'm always a little sad the day after Christmas.

 

The presents have been opened.

 

 

The Christmas feast eaten.

 

Time with family is over and most people go back to work.

 

The radio station goes back to their top hits from the 80's and 90's.

 

But a tiny piece of Christmas magic still lingers in my heart. I can't wait until NEXT Christmas!

 

What will have happened in a year? How will things be? What fun presents will I find for my hubby and the boys?

 

I think back to all of my favorite Christmases and add yesterday's to my list.

 

We were relatively healthy. (Poor J.)

We were with family.

We were able to give our boys presents that they asked for.

We gave service and gifts to others. (The surprise ones were my favorite.)

We read about Jesus' birth from Luke.

We read President Monson's Christmas article and chose what gifts we would give the Savior and others this year. (A great tradition I hope we carry on.)

 

It was a Christmas worth missing.

 



 

Copyright Corrina L. Terry 2012

Photos courtesy of: mi9.com, 123rf.com/photo, unknown.

 

Merry Christmas!

"Merry Christmas to all,

and to all a good night!"

 

 

It was a beautiful day. The only downside was that J was/is sick. :o(

We got to play, talk, eat, visit, and spend time with our family today. It was one of the best days of 2012! I love spending time with my hubby and boys and my big, crazy family. Just wish J felt better.

*

Merry Christmas! I am so grateful for Jesus Christ. He came to earth to teach us and to save us. I can't imagine how his parents felt holding him the night he was born. They must have been amazed and overwhelmed of Him and the responsibilities that lay ahead of them. I am also grateful to our Heavenly Father, who allowed His Son to come to earth and to die for our sins. He trusted Jesus Christ to do the right thing. We are so blessed that he did.

 

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry

Photos: Corrina L. Terry and Unknown

 

Lesson Learned (The Hard Way)

I had hoped to post a picture of three beautiful pies I baked for Christmas dinner tomorrow. Instead, I've got three hideous pies to post and a lesson learned.

When following directions in making pies, it's best not just to double check that you've added all of the ingredients, but to triple check. I forgot the eggs.

So I will begin again after dinner tonight. I bet I never forget the eggs for this recipe again.

Merry Christmas Eve!

The NEW and IMPROVED pies:

Hurray for second chances!

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry
Photo: Corrina L. Terry

Counting My Blessings

 

I may not be wealthy by the world's standards, but according to God's standards, I am one of the wealthiest women on earth. I have so many blessings to be thankful for.

I was born into a loving family, with good parents. They not only provided me with food, clothing, education, and shelter, they did everything they could to teach me right from wrong. They supported me in my interests and taught me about Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

 

I cherish my education. To my family, education was a crucial part of our personal growth. We read, wrote, learned, attended college, and in my case, continue to. I am so grateful for my education. It has made me a better person inside and out.

 

My friends are kind and patient with me. Some are old and some are new. I have learned so much from them and enjoy sharing my ups and downs with them.

 

I was told having a baby was nearly impossible for me, but was blessed to bear one amazing son, my gift from God, J. J is wiser than his years. (Don't tell him that.) He is more than I could ever hope for in a son and I look forward to watching his future successes.

 

Heavenly Father also sent a wonderful man late into my life to be my husband, partner, and friend, Steven J. Terry. He makes me laugh and is the best kisser on the planet! ;o) He's also a wonderful priesthood holder and father.

 

Steve brought with him a son I didn't bear, but call my son, D. D has taught me more about myself than he will ever realize. He has so much to be thankful for if he could just see it. I am grateful that he is part of our family.

 

I have a rewarding job that allows me to help, teach, and guide others. I know this responsibility is a gift from God who also blessed me with talents to be able accomplish this work. (Some days better than others.)

 

My calling in the Young Women's program brings me joy every week as I teach them about God and Jesus Christ. These girls are future leaders and mothers. I look forward to seeing their lives as women in the gospel.

 

My house may be small, my paycheck even smaller, but as you can see, I am very blessed.

 

 

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry

Picture from: minority-opinion.com

Feeling Peace

 

The youth in our ward sang carols at several "old folks" homes last week for a service activity to celebrate Christmas. The kids were hyper and happy. They had only one more day until Winter Break. The adults were tired and subdued; it was the end of a long week, but we were glad to be part of giving service to those who need it dearly.

 

Our son, D, asked how singing could be a service to someone. I explained to him that some people live in retirement centers and rarely have visitors. They are older and may be sick or their friends and family may not visit enough, so having new faces come in to sing brightens their day. He seemed content with that.

 

As we sang I felt peace. Those we sang for were glad to have us. Some sang along or clapped. Others smiled and their eyes lit up. We received hugs, handshakes, candy, and positive comments. We were doing God's work and I could feel the love He has for each of His children---old and young. He knows us and sees us and loves us!

 

(Me, Grandma Thacke, my Mom in summer of 2009. Gran died in early 2010 from cancer.)

 

I also missed being around my Grandma Mildred Thacke. There's nothing like Christmas to remind us of those we have lost. Gran was a pistol---funny as can be and quick to have an opinion on EVERYTHING. (My hubby tells me that I remind him of her. I don't think I'm half as funny though. Just opinionated.)

 

I miss hearing about her life. I miss being able to ask her questions about the Great Depression, World War II, and Vegas in the early days. For a moment I forgot I would see her again. I panicked, but the panic was quickly replaced with peace again.

 

That peace is the knowledge that God sent His son, Jesus Christ to earth to live, die, and be resurrected for our sins. We will live on in spirit after our earthly death. We will be resurrected and our families will live together forever. Jesus ensured this for us. Our brother Jesus' life began in a humble stable and is celebrated by us as Christmas in December. Christmas is a holiday to celebrate His life.

 

I am so grateful for this poignant moment I experienced in a rest home just days before Christmas this year. It was a beautiful way for me to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.

 

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry

Nativity picture: newest-download.blogspot.com

Family picture: Corrina L. Terry

 

The Epiphany Summer

The photo above was taken over Memorial Day weekend. I blinked and already it was September. Wasn't it just June?

We had lots of fun (and work) this summer. The boys went off to various Scout Camps and visited their other parents. Steve enrolled in a training that kept him busy both weekdays AND most weekends, so we didn't do much as a whole family. I worked, but towards more degrees.

I call it "2012: The Summer Alone."

I was alone for weeks without the boys and until late evenings without my hubby. I knew I had to keep busy or I'd go crazy, so I signed up for 18 credit hours. It was a program entitled "Technology in the Classroom," and was all online. I had never before taken an online class. I was out of my comfort zone. I freaked out. I panicked. I cried almost daily for the first week. (We slogged through a HUGE manual on Microsoft Office 2010 in the first 3 weeks alone. That was just ONE class. Trust me. It was painful!)

Looking back what got me through it was lots of prayers, really reading my scriptures daily, and FORCING myself to sit down every day for 3-8 hours and slave away at learning new programs. I haven't been that uncomfortable in a long time, but it was worth it. I'm way more comfortable using technology in my classroom. The pay increase alone will assist our humble little family to pay off debt in a more timely fashion. Plus I learned to be more disciplined. The downside was that I was so sick of being on the laptop all day, that I didn't blog!

I also learned to survive on my own again. It's been almost 13 years since I've had more than 5 or 6 days without kids. That alone was an epiphany for me. I got a glimpse of life in 6 years when my two little punks are out of the house. I'll be sad, but I'll be prepared with a class (or 2 or 3) to keep myself busy.

This summer I realized the following:
1. Keeping busy is good for me.
2. My dogs CAN be trained to take a walk without dragging me along.
3. Too many mint M&M's aren't worth the extra run/walk time it takes to burn the weight off.
4. My hubby and I can talk about things other than our kids.
5. I've still got it when it comes to taking classes.
6. I'm not afraid of computer technology.
7. I can be alone all day and it's alright.
8. My Heavenly Father must really love me.

Hope you had a great summer too!  :o)
Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry

Mother's Day

Taken from the talk I gave in my ward on Mother's Day, 2012.

Mother’s Day is a sensitive day for many people. As women in the gospel, we are all loved by our Heavenly Parents the same, whether we are married, single, divorced, widowed, have children or are childless. It wasn’t many years ago when I avoided Mother’s Days and found any excuse to be somewhere else rather than in a ward full of happy mothers and babies.

 

 

I recently discovered that I have friends and female relatives who look on Mother’s Day as a day of insecurity in how they are raising their children.



I can’t help but feel that satan  (lower case on purpose here, he doesn't deserve upper case) is happy when we have these feelings of doubt, sadness, and regret. Heavenly Father wants us to be happy---no matter what situation in life we are in. We can't let these feelings keep us from striving to be the best mothers we can be.

“We women have a lot to learn about simplifying our lives. We have to decide what is important and then move along at a pace that is comfortable for us. We have to develop the maturity to stop trying to prove something. We have to learn to be content with what we are.”
― Marjorie Pay Hinckley

 

 

My talk today is not to emphasize what we may not have as women, but to examine what we do have. Everyone has a mother. Not every mother is the same. Some are good mothers, while some are not. I teach middle school in a rough area of Las Vegas. Many of my students are blessed with kind and hard-working parents, but some are not. The parents that abuse, neglect, and ignore their children break my heart. The gift of parenthood, of Motherhood, is a not something to be taken lightly and our children are not objects to be tossed aside when a burden or in the way.

One of my favorite examples of good mothers is in the Book of Mormon. The Stripling Warriors who fought under Helaman were the children of converted Lamanites known as the Ammonites. Their parents had made a covenant never to shed blood, but their male children, the Stripling Warriors, had not. They fought to protect the freedom of their families. They were known to have the greatest courage among all of the Nephites. Here’s why. In Alma 56:47-48 it says, "Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the ^aliberty of their ^bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their ^cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their ^amothers, saying: We ^bdo not doubt our mothers knew it."

These young men had courage because their mothers had followed the principles of the gospel and taught them to follow the principles of the gospel also. While some of them were wounded in battle, none of them were killed.

 

 

If we were born to goodly parents, as the Stripling Warriors were, we have had good examples of mothers to follow. If not, we may have found “mothers”  in our Primary teachers, Young Women leaders, or Relief Society sisters, seminary teachers, teachers at school, grandmothers, aunts, older sisters or the mothers of our friends.

I have been blessed with a mother who has been a good example to me and many other young people. She decided to be a member of the church when her parents did not have an interest in the gospel and often attended church alone or with her grandmother. She had a strong desire to be married in the temple and raise a family in the gospel. She kept her eye on this goal as she grew up and never gave up on it; marrying my dad and raising 5 kids in the gospel. This is a legacy that she is giving her children, grandchildren, and generations to come.

My mom also welcomed into our home any of our friends or family members who needed a place to stay or live. My friends from high school and college still remember this and ask about her when I see them. She is also an example of strength. When my dad was bishop of the University Ward she took all 5 of us kids to church (actually in this building) on her own. We may not have been the best behaved children in the ward, but instead of doing the easier thing, staying home, she showed me that if she could do it with 5 kids, I could do it with 1 son. In my first marriage my husband worked weekends, then was sent to San Diego for a year and then the middle east for 6 months. I could go to church with my son while I was divorced, and now when Steve has to work. I am so thankful for her example of strength and courage to me.

I have also been blessed with two “angels” in law (see my earlier blog posting about these angels in my blog history), as I like to call them. Most people are not blessed with one good mother-in-law, much less two. I am.

Darlene Rhodes, my ex husband’s mother is also an excellent example of a woman in the gospel to me. Even though I am no longer married to her son, we still consider each other family. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the mid 1990’s. She has endured this disease in faith and in good spirits as she has slowly lost mobility and depends on others to assist her. Darlene's testimony remains strong and she does not mourn her condition and ask “Why me?” I know this because we have had several discussions about it, but I also know this from her example. She never whines or complains, but goes about her life with a smile on her face, determined to enjoy life.

My other mother-in-law, Rhodell Terry, is also an excellent example to me, as well as a source of strength. She and my father in law, Lamar, were both divorced single parents with six small children between them when they married. She became a brave mother of six children under the age of five and ten years later had four more.

After my divorce, while dating Steve, and then marrying Steve, she has been positive, supportive, and helpful in steering me through the complications that divorce and step-parenting bring. Her advice and listening ear have helped me more than she will ever know and I am grateful to her for all she has done and continues to do for us. She is a woman of faith who knows and loves the gospel.

No matter what our circumstances today, I challenge each of us, especially the women, not to think of where we lack or what we don’t have, but to think of the “mothers” in our lives who have made a difference. I am forever grateful to Sis. Abbott, Sis. Thompson, Sis. Hyte, Sis. Stewart, Sis. McConnell, Sis. Alger, and others who taught me correct principles in Primary, Young Women, Relief Society, and thru their actions. They are all true ladies in the gospel and have mothered me in various ways as they have served in their callings and served the Lord.

In closing I want to share one of my favorite quotes from Marjorie Pay Hinckley:

“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor’s children.
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.”
― Marjorie Pay Hinckley

I am so grateful to be a woman. May we all take a moment to think of the women in our lives who have been mothers to us.

 

 

I bear my testimony that these things I share with you today are from my heart. The gospel is true. Jesus Christ lived and died for us. I am so grateful for my ancestors, who sacrificed so much to join this church and move West. I am also grateful for goodly parents, who like Nephi, taught me right from wrong. I love my husband, Steve, and am grateful for him in my life, as well as our two boys. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Copyright 2012 Corrina L. Terry
Photo: eberhartsexplorers.blogspot.com