Home: Van Meter, IA

Memories of Mom

The other day someone asked me to tell them about my mom, and what she is like. This is the image that instantly came into my mind. This is what I think of when I think of my mom. This hairstyle, those glasses, and that dress. (I am sorry to my siblings for posting this.... we all look a bit awkward;)..... and somehow I kind of have the same hairstyle....

So how did I answer that question? My mom is amazing. The most amazing woman I know. She is smart, witty, beautiful, and kind. What she gave us when she had so little to work with was miraculous. She makes the best English muffin bread I will ever eat. She taught me that it is never to late to send a thank you note. And that saying thank you is essential to a happy life. If you are bored you are not creative and being lazy. (and she can give you a chore to fix that) She taught me the fine art of dovetailing work projects. She loves poetry and would read to me the gingham dog and the calico cat, and the spider and the fly whenever I wanted as a child. She taught me that God answers your prayers... but not usually the way you expect him to. She embraces traditions in all their glory! When I am sick she is the first person I want to know... and wish she could come over sit on my bed and rub my back. She is the kindest gentlest soul.. but will not stand for anyone pushing her kids around. I get my competitiveness at games from her. She let me imagine/dream BIG. She was concerned about the idea of me moving to New York... but loves what I do, and always wants copies of my work. She taught me that I always have choices, to never feel trapped. I have her hands. She has a way of making a trip to the park feel like a mini-family vacation. She taught me that a coat of paint can make almost any piece of old beat up furniture better. She is more concerned about who she is and what she does, than what other people think of her. She is capable of turning rice into about 40 different types of meals. She sometimes tells the punch-lines to jokes before she tells the jokes. She is the only person, other than me, that I know who loves Muppets Christmas Carol... no matter what time of year it is! She believes in life-long learning, and often suggests books for me to read. It is because of her that I love the constitution, and the history of this country's founding. It is also because of her that I have a supply of salt in my food storage "It is gold." The smell of Jergans lotion reminds me of being little and sitting on her lap at church. She always encourages me to not talk about doing things but try entering into the realm of the done.

I Love you Mom!

A Great Saturday

Read a Book

I have a habbit of reading too many books at the same time, and planning ahead the next books I will be reading. This results in a large stack of precariously stacked books on my nightstand next to my bed. Here is what is currently on my nightstand:

Over Sea, Under Stone
Candle in the Darkness
Emotions Revealed
The Book of Mormon
The Proper Role of Government
Common Sense
The Spiritual Lives of Great Composers
The Virginia Convention
The Law
The Bulletproof George Washington
The Holy Temple
New Ideas from Dead Economists
Return to Sawyerton Springs
The Watercolor Artist's Bible


sigh... I need more hours in my day...