A Mother's Prayer

This video is pretty raw (no special effects or time changes of the slides). I just wanted to see if I could get the program to work on the blog. :-)

Happy Mother's Day to Grandma!

The kids thought they would sing a little song for Grandma. :-) Happy Grandma's Day! Just think Mom -- all these lovely people would not be here without YOU (dad helped too!!) :-) Thanks!

Just a side note . . . . . today at church ALL the men got up to sing Love at Home. It was SO cool! There were only women and children left in the congregation. :-) It sounded so great! It was a very sweet moment for the women. :-) I thought it was a great thing to do! I want it every year! Better yet, every Sunday! Yeah!

My Mother

When I think of my mother, I think of music. She has a gift, a special gift of music. She has passed her gift on to each of her children. A gift that we too can pass unto our children, and so on, forever! :-) When I think of my mother, I remember this song (see above video). Long ago, when she was in high school--she was the star of the play Calamity Jane. A role that she played so well! Or so I have been told, many times, by many people!

Now, moving forward a few years. I was riding with my mother who was driving a large, awkward, motor home (to Homer from Anchorage, a long drive). I was her co-pilot at the time. We were having a great time talking about the past and lots of interesting things. She then was at the point of crazy-tired and she decided to "wake-up" by singing at the top of her lungs. She sang "her" song. She sang Secret Love. I remember thinking, WOW!!! I always loved it when my mother would "jam-out" whether singing, and most especially--on the piano. She carries music with her, where ever she is. From Alaska to Samoa, and back again!

We would spend hours gathered around the piano, as a family, singing and singing. She has played for us on so many occasions -- I cannot possibly recall half of them! She has shared her talent most readily. She has NEVER hid it, or refused to share. She plays the piano for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE!!! She is such a treasure to our family, and to all who are showered by her sunshine!

I have a particular love for my mother. She has been an example of great steadiness in my life. She never "freaked out" or lost her cool. Yelling was not part of her mothering, rather, she used "looks". She was good at it too, and still is! She was the kind of mother who would say something like, "I am going to pull the car over if you don't stop" and then to the side of the road we would go! She said it, she meant it! She was always so strong, so positive, so loving. She has a grand capacity to love all. She was a mother to SO many children, besides her own. Our home was always filled with people, aunts, uncles, relatives, friends. She welcomed all, and treated everyone so well they always wanted more!

My mother loves teenagers. When other mothers would complain about "the teenage years" my mother would talk about how wonderful they were. She believed it too! She loved working with the youth. So many roadshows, productions, choirs, musical numbers. She was so involved with the youth, and she loved them, and they knew it. :-)

Now, while on a mission, the youth flock to her (and my father). They have adopted them as parents, as so many others have in the past. They are so loved, and I know they will be missed by their Samoan children. We are grateful to the "Samoan kids" for giving hugs and kisses in our absence! I know I am so looking forward to real hugs, rather than "SKYPE" conversations!!

My mother has often been accused of exaggerating stories. :-) For example: Let us say that she was out "whale watching" in Alaska. Perhaps, there may have been about 5 whales, on a cloudy day. Then it is my mothers turn to share the story. Suddenly, there were 100 whales--all jumping out of the water at the same time--while a super-nova occurred, and exploded directly above the ocean scene. (Okay, so I exaggerated her exaggeration, a bit.) Now, was she making her story up? NO! NO! I understand now, I really do. As a mother, I see things differently than I used to. I see magic! I see things that only a mother--full of excitement and dreams--could see! My mother does not see what a normal person might see--she sees MAGIC!! I love it! :-)

Mother, you are so dear to me. Now that I am a mother, I love you so much more, I appreciate you SO much more, and I adore you so much more! I will always be grateful to you for your example of motherhood, steadfastness, and strength. When I think of you, I think of strength and great courage. Never do I think of fear, or doubt. Thank you for being strong, for being fearless, for being "Mom!" It is the very best thing you have done, and will ever do! Thank you for being MY MOMMY!!! I LOVE YOU! I will do my very best to carry on the legacy of love that was created years ago, by the mothers before me. In the tradition of "Wee Granny" I will, "Keep my face toward Zion". "Zion" for me -- is family!

Happy Mother's Day MOMMY!
I LOVE YOU!!
Mari

Happy Working Song

For those of you who can hear the background music (not sure if it works in Samoa?) This is my new favorite song from Enchanted. I sing it everytime I clean.:-) HA! Maybe if I sing out the window, and call for some animal friends to help me, my house could sparkle!! I am going to try it . . . Ahhhhhhaaahhhahh, AHaaaahhhaaaahh, Ahhaaahhhaaahhhhhhaaaaaa!!

One More Month!

Mom watching out the window (in Alaska) for the mailman to deliver their mission call
Mom and Dad received their call to Samoa!!
Dad and Mom before they left, with little baby Stephen (Kary's baby)
Dad as a Samoan Missionary
Mom as a Samoan babe :-)

I cannot believe my mom and dad will be back from their mission in about one month! It has gone by SO fast. Since they have been gone we have moved, had another baby, and started a new job. I think pretty much everyone in our whole family has moved and changed their lives in a pretty dramatic way, since they have been gone! We are SO excited to see them again. My kids can hardly stand it! This blog has been a fabulous way to stay in touch with them while they have been across the ocean. They have been able to see William (who they have not yet met) and watch him grow. What a great tool! I love my parents so much. I get little butterflies when I think about seeing them again! ONE MORE MONTH!!! HOORAY!!! I am ready for some Samoan love!

Sunny Sunday

Here is how our family "rolls". We need to get a "Wide Load" sign!
A pretty resting place. My favorite -- Weeping Willows, and water. I just love it! :-)
Sammi playing by the river
Daniel kept throwing rocks, and he almost got me in the head! We are working on aim!!
CHEESE!
Mom and Daniel-Boy :-) Notice the flower in my hair. It was a gift from Daniel, and that is where he placed it. So sweet. :-)

The Three Geeks. :-) My older sister use to call us younger 3 children "the geeks". She even made a sign at YW's camp that said, "The Geeks Room". When we asked her what "geek" meant she said, "It means, I love you!" Thanks Kary!
I am ready for my year worth of hugs Grandma and Grandpa!! :-)
William says, "Yes master, what is thy bidding?"
Mom and Sammi-Sunshine

Mom and William Turner. My little Pirate is working on his fierce look. Argh! :-)

Lounging in the sun. Ahhh. . . this is the life!

Sammi is squeezing the love out of William :-)



Today was a beautiful day! We spent much of the day outside. It was just the perfect temperature! It was a lovely Sunday. We took a long walk down to the river, and threw some rocks in the water. We threw softly (of course) it was Sunday! :-) It was just such a lovely day to enjoy God's glorious creations! We walked and walked, and came home a bit crisp, but happy. :-)

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Yesterday, Daniel had a heck of a day! First we decided to go to the school to let the kids ride their bikes. Charles tuned up their bikes and got them all ready to go. Sammi's bike was working great, but Daniel's bike was too small, and the chain kept falling off (time for a new bike). He was pretty sad about it. Then we got home and Sammi and Daniel decided to swing on the hammock on our back deck. They are not actually suppose to swing on the hammock, but the so enjoy it! Anyhow, as Daniel was swinging, his bottom hit the deck, and so he came inside. He was crying, softly. Then he went in his room to change and he really started crying and saying he could not sit down. I went in to examine the problem (on his bottom) and I found that he had an extremely large splinter -- in his butt! OUCH! He was brave, but crying in pain. We tried our best to get it out, but there was no success. It had gone straight through his shorts, underwear, and deep under his skin! Weird! So, after reminding Charles (who had needles and tweezers in hand) that he is a doctor of law, and not a doctor of medicine -- we decided we had better find an Urgent Care, and get Dan some medical ass-istance. ;-) So, off Dan went with Charles to visit the doctor. When they returned home Daniel had Dairy Queen in hand, and a tube with his splinter. I was told they had to numb his bottom, and then cut the splinter out. Fun! Luckily, Daniel is tough, and proving to be our most medical-attention-inclined child! Sheesh!

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Besides all of that silly business, we are all very well. We are loving this Spring. It has been a long time coming!

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Lots of love!

Mari

A Year Ago

One great thing about a blog is that you can look back and read over the years of your life, with pictures and comments too! I LOVE it! I looked back into the May archives and I found some pictures of little tiny William. I hardly remember him being so small! I just thought I would post some old pictures, since I have not taken any the last few days!