Who Will Protect the Children?

Dear Emi,

The last couple of nights have found me restless, thinking with intermittent sleep and dreams.  Sometimes I feel like the world's problems are on my front doorstep and I am left to solve them before my children exit the house.  I have heard the same story, twice now, from two different apostles, and it won't leave my thoughts.  I will give you the shorter version, coming from Elder Oaks:

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland recently shared the experience of an LDS police officer. In an investigation he found five young children huddled together and trying to sleep without bedding on a filthy floor in a dwelling where their mother and others were drinking and partying. The apartment had no food to relieve their hunger. After tucking the children into a makeshift bed, the officer knelt and prayed for their protection. As he walked toward the door, one of them, about six, pursued him, grabbed him by the hand, and pleaded, “Will you please adopt me?”⁸

Every time that story replays through my mind I see GARY, who is now 6 years old, grabbing my pant legs, with his freckles streaked by tears....."will you adopt me?"  Then everything falls apart.....And I am up all night again.

Two nights ago there was a vp debate and one of the final questions concerned abortion.  One of the candidates said that he believed that it was not a good practice, but he couldn't force his belief on someone else......women had to have a choice...  My mind will not leave this either.

Emi, women have a choice.  The moment they begin to have a sexual relation with someone, THIS IS WHEN THEIR CHOICE IS MADE.  Then each choice after that must be made in behalf of the child.   I keep wondering when we will wake up and realize that there are consequences to every action we take.  As much as any politician or otherwise would have you think,  YOU CANNOT LIVE ANY WAY YOU WOULD LIKE, AND NOT EXPERIENCE THE CONSEQUENCES.  

Emi, be good to the children.  They need us. We are their protection.

Love, a sad Grandma

A Month of AWESOMENESS

Dear Emi,

I am finding that "so much to do...so little time" applies to my life more every day.  It is great to be a mom!  Life is full of fun and meaning!  However, before the month flies beyond us, I wanted to report on the AWESOMENESS that is going on around here :)

#1  JOE TURNED FOUR on October 2nd.  The best way to describe Joe is a TENDER-HEARTED kid with a TEMPER.  In preparation for the big day I made a crown, a cape, a superhero mask (which will also fill in nicely for Halloween) and a tractor cake.  He was in heaven.  The birthday was great, but the following pictures were AWESOME.  I don't promote brotherly disharmony, but when someone wants to blow out your candles....then apparently the gloves are off.

This is how the birthday party began...

This is how it ended......

#2  The following picture says it all....look this debate up in the history books :)  (Even if you aren't a Romney supporter, you have to love his family and how his boys love him!)

#3  My niece McKayla participated in the Distinguished Young Woman of Idaho contest this past week!  Ally and I got to go!  She was AWESOME.....stunning on stage, talented, well-spoken, and the list goes on.  However, more than all of that together, she is GOOD.  Each night there was a table in the foyer where parents and friends could set things and a cute little girl would run them down to McKayla or the other contestants   In return, McKayla could send things up to us.
It is affectionately called the "UP-DOWN TABLE."  On the last night McKayla got a note that said something like this, "McKayla!  You are beautiful  Good Luck!, Love Maggie, the Up Down Girl."  McKayla is AWESOME at being good and making others feel good about themselves!  And this picture is more than AWESOME....McKayla performing her piano selection.

#4  This week, President Monson, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints announced that the age requirements for serving a mission had changed.  For years, it has been that young men are eligible to serve at age 19, and young ladies are eligible at age 21.  No Longer.....Young Men at 18 and Young Women at 19.

There are many many AWESOME things about this, but I wanted to share just a few.  The Lord is Brilliant and every once in a while it becomes TOTALLY evident that He is at the helm of His church.  As is the case here.  It seems like years and years of changes, preparation, and announcements have been leading up to this  moment.

Secondly, the youth of this particular generation are READY.  They are smart, good, and most importantly, burning with testimony.  As one of Jared's seminary students put it yesterday, "There is no more time to mess around."  It seems with every passing day, the lens is sharpened, and the work moves quicker....now it is time to pick up our pace.  We are at T-10 until Ally or Sam are ready to wear the name tag!  Like I said, I love being a MOM!

This is AWESOME!

Emi, Be good!  It all happens so fast, don't miss out on a single minute of it!

Love, a busy, but very happy Grandma

P.S.  If you choose to serve a mission Emi, your Grandpa Foster always said, "Nobody has ever died of homesickness!"