Thoughtfulness

One of the wonderful traits of my dear husband is his thoughtfulness.  This is something I really need to work on, but I hope my children are learning it from him.  I do see some evidence of this in the little things that they do from time to time.  Malan for example asked me one day what my favorite color was.  I gave her a list of about 5 and she has remembered them all and whenever she makes me anything- a card, picture, bead bracelet, etc. she makes it with those colors that she remembers are my favorites.  Although all the kids show evidence of inheriting thoughtfulness, Malan seems to exhibit this trait the most.  Like her dad, whenever we have a treat or special food without all family members present, she will make sure we save some for those who didn't get any.  I think it's interesting that she is often the kindest, even though she is also the most picked on by her siblings.

love dad dont break up love mom from amelia love

I need to post today no matter what!  I have a few partial entries started and I thought I would finish one of them, but when I sat down to write I had a brain cramp.  I took a little break then sat down again and Amelia came and sat on my lap.  I asked her what I should write about and she said "love."  I asked "what about love?" and she said, "love your husband and don't ever break up!"  I asked if she worried about Rustin me breaking up and she said, "no."  I let her write the title of this post!  She even did most of the spelling herself.   I sure hope that none of my kids worry about us breaking up.  We don't really give them any reason to worry.  We don't fight or argue (honestly, we never have!), we go on regular dates, and we are not shy about "innocent" PDA in front of them.  We are a perfect match and I am even more in love with Rustin now than I was when we were married 15 1/2 years ago.  All of that said, I think my parents could have said the same thing about each other when I was young, and yet I think my greatest fear was that they would split up or that I would lose one or both of them somehow.  I don't know where that fear came from, but I hope I can keep my kids from feeling it.

I guess I'm feeling a little sensitive about the subject of losing a husband right now because of a couple of events that have taken place this week.  One of my good friends had a scare with her marriage and thought her husband was leaving her.  That freaked me out... mostly for her, but it made me think about my marriage and reminded me that I can never work too hard to keep it strong and happy.  The other event that has my mind considering the loss of a spouse is the unexpected death of the father of one of my best childhood friends.  He is my dad's age and died suddenly of a heart attack this week.  He was also one of my bosses for a few years when I worked at his dental office.  He was a good man and has a great wife with whom he spent most of his time working and traveling.  For years I didn't particularly envy their relationship as he was a little grouchy and particular and she was sweet and patient, but I came to realize that he did love her and and she him and that was made clear in the number of hours they spent together everyday in the office, at home, and on the many vacations they took together.  You just can't spend that much time together and not love each other!  Thank you Garn and Catherine for your example... Garn you will be missed, and Catherine, Mary and all the other Ford clan, you are in my prayers!

To my kids.  I guess I can't promise you that dad and I won't be separated by death at some point, but that separation is not permanent, and I can promise you that staying with your dad FOREVER is my number one goal!!!

Train up a child

The other night Logan and I were out later than usual grocery shopping after his basketball practice.  When we got home the girls and Rustin had already read scriptures together.  Logan got ready for bed and lay down.  After a while he came in and asked if I could read scriptures with him.  He said he had already done his own scripture reading, but that he wanted to read where our family is ready together too.  So, I went and read to him from the Joseph Smith History.  We recently finished reading the Book of Mormon together as a family and he has started over on his own.  He told me after I read that his goal is to finish the Book of Mormon on his own this year, and so far he has read at least a little everyday.  He also told me that he has a goal to earn 20 merit badges this year.  When he told me these goals I thought to myself, "that may be a little too ambitious for an 11 year old to actually accomplish,"  and I considered trying to temper his lofty ideal in order to keep him from being disappointed in himself.  But then I thought, "those are not completely impossible goals - if he believes he can do it, and we encourage it, it could happen!"  So instead I asked, "what can I do to support you in accomplishing those goals?"

Someone reading this who knows Logan may be surprised that he would have these goals and be as spiritually sensitive as this incident illustrates.  It's true he often struggles to control his actions and torments his siblings and parents mercilessly.  But he really is a great kid, with a kind heart and a desire to do what's right.  He is always the first to offer to pray in most circumstances, and he prays thoughtfully and sincerely.  I used to think that he would volunteer to pray just so that he wouldn't have to sit through a long mom prayer, but I know now that he does it because he feels it (most of the time).  I'm so grateful for moments like these that remind me of this good side of him.  I need to learn how to help him let it out more often.  I guess I need to just expect it more, and think of him this way in my head more than I currently do.  Although I know that a lot of who Logan is is just his nature, I'm pretty convinced that parents do have something to do with the way their children "turn out."  I'm always hopeful that I am "training up" my children in the right way (although I don't usually feel that I'm doing such a great job at it), but moments like these give me encouragement to keep trying.

This was a year and a half ago, when Logan found a couple of baby birds in our yard.  He spent a lot of time and emotional energy on trying to get those birds healthy and able to survive on their own.

Logan the Tenderfoot

I've always loved outdoorsy stuff, but for some reason I've never been that excited about scouting, but I think I'm starting to now that I see what it is doing for my Logan.  He is really excited about earning merit badges and moving up in scouting.  I think it really helps that his dad is such a a good example.  Rustin earned his Eagle when he was 13 or 14, and he is encouraging Logan to do the same.  It also helps that Rustin is the Young Mens President so he is always involved in scouting stuff too.  The two of them went on the Klondike Derby campout this last weekend and had a great time.  Last night we had a court of honor and Logan was awarded his Tenderfoot and he got a carpentry merit badge (which Rustin helped him and the other boys earn).   Way to go Logan!  Thank you Rustin!  I love you both!

Daily affirmations

I'm on a role and not falling asleep at the keyboard yet, so I'm adding another post.  This is a list of self-talk affirmations I wrote a few months ago.  It felt kind of silly to write it, but reading it now, I see that it would be very useful for me to actually read it daily... memorize it... come to believe it... and then become this person.  My plan is to have my blog made into a book that will serve as our family scrapbook as well as my journal, so I'm just going to post whatever I feel like posting as often as I can.  I just thought about what I just wrote... not sure I really want my personal journal to be the family scrapbook, maybe I'll have to do 2 blogs, one just for me, and one for friends and family.  Yikes!  I haven't even done 1 blog well... now 2?!  Where is my brain?  Should have gone to bed long ago.  Anyway, here are my "affirmations";

I can act quickly and efficiently using every available moment to work toward accomplishing my goals.

I can be patient with my children.  I can have fun with them and say "yes" often and "no" only when necessary.

I can take care of my body by eating healthy foods and few treats, exercising daily, and going to bed at a reasonable hour (10:30 ish).  OOPS!

I can smile and laugh often.

I can put the Lord first as I use my time and resources.

I can keep negative thoughts and feelings from entering my mind.

I like this picture because we all look genuinely happy... and well... we are... most of the time!  We even look like we're having fun (note daily affirmation above).

Photo update

You'd think that we don't take many pictures around here if you compare the number of photos to the number of words in my blog.  Here is an initial attempt to correct that misperception.

Most recent (professional) family photo.  Logan, Rustin, Malan, Jana, Evan, Amelia.  November 2009

Love my goofy baby!  January 2011

Sisters!  Need I say more?  April 2010

Daddy's girls!  Malan and Amelia's 1st ballet recital.  I cried!  I didn't realize how much it would affect me to see my girls doing something that I love so much!  December 2010

Logan is a great big brother!  He's becoming so responsible and helpful!  April 2010

Amelia Beth

Since Amelia is now in kindergarten, I was pushed to write her name story (like I had done for Malan and plan to do for all the kids) so here it is.  I love this picture of her.  It captures one of her truest moments of being Amelia.  Not sure that will make sense to anyone but me, but oh well!


Amelia comes from a family of mountain lovers.  Her mom and dad met and dated mostly in the mountains rock climbing.  Amelia and each of her siblings got their first names from mountain peaks.  Amelia peak is located in beautiful Yosemite National Park in California and is named Amelia Earhart Peak after the famous adventurer and pilot. Amelia Earhart Peak rises 11,974 feet out of Yosemite Valley and offers a rewarding 14 mile hike to the summit. Amelia’s family hopes to hike all of the “name peaks” before the kids graduate from high school, but for now we practice on shorter hikes and love to camp and rock climb together. This summer, while camping, Amelia asked if we could sell our house and buy the campground and live there year-round. We probably won’t go that far, but we do need to camp more often and Amelia makes it a fun time for us.


Amelia's first name also happens (not accidentally) to be the name of my 3rd? great grandmother Amelia Eliza Slade Bennion.  Amelia was a Mormon pioneer who's strength and courage have inspired me many times while reading her history.  I hope someday my Amelia will cultivate the same strength and will for life that grandma Amelia had.


Amelia is the only child in the family that has a nickname that is used regularly. She became known as Mia (pronounced Mee-uh) when she was born and her then 20 month old sister Malan couldn’t pronounce Amelia’s full name and it always came out as Mia. I (Amelia’s mom) have spoken Spanish to her since she was born and mia means “mine” in Spanish, so even though most people now call her Amelia, I still call her Mia because she will always be “mine”.


Amelia’s middle name comes from her great-grandmother Pauline Beth Ostler. Grandma Ostler is cheerful and huggable like Amelia and is a wonderful cook. Her mostly-sweet masterpieces are loved and shared by all the grandkids, but I think Amelia has a special appreciation for those sweet treats (and food in general) because she is always asking for something to eat! Grandma Ostler is also an avid reader and Amelia seems to be following in her footsteps. Although she doesn’t read words yet, Amelia can often be found in a quiet corner with a stack of books “reading.” Grandma Ostler is Amelia’s last living great-grandparent and is now 90 years old. She and Amelia share the same birthday so Grandma Ostler is exactly 85 years older than her namesake.


Amelia’s last name, Ostler, comes from England where it originated as an occupational surname referring to inn-keepers. We don’t know if the family tradition started way back then, but in recent history the Ostler line is full of gracious hosts who love to make guests feel comfortable in their homes. Amelia continues that tradition in her own silly way by entertaining guests with crazy antics and spontaneous talent shows. There must be some mountaineers in the Ostler line as well because Ostler is also the name of a majestic looking mountain peak in the Uintah mountains. We look forward to climbing Ostler peak together soon also!