My Ode To Prayers

By Nina S. Jones

Prayer is a blessing

that can’t be used up

you can pray when you’re fasting

You can pray when you sup

You can pray when you’re happy

You can pray when you’re sad

You can pray when your child’s been

particularly bad

You can pray when you’re standing

You can pray on your knees

You can pray when you’re driving

You can pray when you sneeze (gazunheit!)

You can pray for repentance

You can pray for relief

You can pray in the mountains

You can pray on the beach

You can ask for assistance

You can start off your fast

You can hope for the future

or let go of the past

You can ponder the scriptures

You can find out your mission

If you’ve nothing to say

you can shut up and listen!

It’s not that important

the what or the when

its that Heavenly Father

becomes your best friend

How blessed is our life

how happy our soul

when we make constant prayer

a true lifelong goal

The End

Aloha Oye Vey!

Well, we're back and we had a marvelous time. Kauai is an incredible place just in case you didn't know.

We stayed with some lovely and dear and crazy friends - all in one bundle. Lucky, lucky us. These are the Allens (this picture is a little old, but its a good group shot of Greg, Joanne, Griffin, Morgan, Drake, and Conner). You'll see shots and videos throughout this blog with various members of the family, including Greg's parents, Greg Sr. and Debbie.

Here's the view from their home across the Wailea River (two times of day):



And of view OF their house:




Yeah, I know. Amazing. Sorry the pic is so dark.

This amazing piece of property is for sale, by the way, as is a mall near the shore, and land for a multi housing development. If you know of anyone interested in investing in the Garden Island, I've got some numbers for you to call!

I made a New Years resolution to do scary things, and boy have I been getting lots of opportunity to do so. Some of the things I did were - climb up to the top of Sleeping Giant...

This is Ron on the highest part of it (obviously he doesn't have to challenge himself to do scary things, they just come naturally to him).

Here's the view from up there......pretty spetacular!

We also kayaked (no shots - didn't want to take the camera out on the water.) It was a gorgeous day!

Then we shopped (probably the scariest of all for Ron (lol).

The first picture is Ron and I at Bubba Burgers. The second picture is Ron at the Lihue Farmers Market. We bought fruit we had never seen before. It was so good! Ron is holding an ice cold coconut.

Meanwhile I did one of MY favorite activies - a pedicure.

Note the cute flower. Some fun!

We DIDN'T go on this road, but we did go 4 wheeling at this beach

These guys, by the way, are kite sailing. We didn't do that, but we enjoyed watching it!

(You'll have to watch this video sideway - can't seem to find a way to turn it, I'm afraid)

We saw some other interesting activities - a new style of transportation (paddling on a surfboard standing up)

We went on a train ride around a sugar plantation.

The most amazing adventure, because my kids were sure I wouldn't do it starts with a few videos:




(Another sideways video, I'm afraid)

This next video is strictly proof for my kids....

That right - we went Zip lining!!!! And it was so much fun (after about the second line). There were 7 lines in all.

Another great adventure was to take these surfboards and go fluming the ditch. There are irrigation ditches throughout the island. They were built in the early 1900s by the Asian immigrants. The ditches are no wider than from your finger tip to finger tip. You not only ride through ditches, but you go through culverts (tunnels). Very scary. Very fun.

Here was a lovely evening taking the Allen's motorized 'dock' up to Fern Grotto:

Here are some fun sites....

A tree tunnel on the way to Poipu

A pencil urchin...

A gecko....

A group stretching session

An onion volcano......

...and of course, the wild Kauai chickens (they really are everywhere)...



On our final day in Kauai, we went snorkeling. There were some beautiful fish. I, sadly, got seasick. Ron went out a few times. I think he had lots of fun. Here he is going from one site to another.

And our final video....

The kinda mom.....

I was watching a rerun of Spanglish this afternoon. It's an incredible movie with an incredible story about motherhood. I highly recommend it (the edited tv version, of course).

I was wondering, at the end of it, which of the two mothers I best reflect. One would hope that I was Flor, the woman who would and does give everything she has, and will be. I can comfortably state that I have given my children my all. I could be Flor.

But the thought niggles at the back of my head that I might be more like Deb - the desperate character who blindly gives only what she wants and takes more than she knows from everyone around her. Deb isn't stupid or blind, she's just so self absorbed that she acts that way. She would do anything imaginable to be wonderful. Unfortunately, she's not very imaginative - or more correctly, her thoughts are so self absorbed that her sacrifices are shallow and empty.

I've had my moments of sterling motherhood. I'm pretty sure that my children could tick them off point for point, because such a big deal has been made out of them. I see little snapshots in my head....protecting my broken child like a momma bear, standing at a doorway about to enter hell itself, being wheeled into a surgery in order to get my hearts desire, I've done it, and I'd do it again. But those moments don't, in truth, make me a great mother and I grow weary of the facade of dedication those moments have become.

I'm a bold woman and I love my children. Doing any and everything I can for them is a natural reaction. But I know now that the greatest moments of motherhood are the times when we step back and let our hatchlings fly. I do them more favors when I remember that.

My kids are so talented, funny, intelligent, beautiful and good. They really are and I'll match them pound for pound with anyone elses' children. I simply could not love them more.

Its going to be so much more important for them to recognize the amazing creatures they are rather than to falsely attribute their talents (or faults for that matter) to me.

A mother can stretch her wings and glide

shielding the young that are by her side

Or she can drop back so she can see

her children as they are meant to be

Gloriously free

Out with the old....

I'm loosing an old friend but I've gained a new one! Ron bought me this piano in 1982. It's a 1913 Brewster made in New York State. He purchased it from a man that renovated it by hand. Probably not the best job ever done but pretty darn respectable and it was beautiful to me. I sat down immediately and began to play - or at least 'play at' playing the piano.

Ron stood there for a few minutes and then said "if I had known you couldn't PLAY the piano, I might not have gotten it" (smartypants)!

We've spent many fun times banging on this ol baby. I'd always hoped one of my children would gain the skills I didn't have - but sadly, it appears that the Dale family musical talent didn't carry through my line.

When the time came to move up to the Northwest, we worked on selling the piano. No one wanted it. No one. The sound quality is not concert level.....very tiney (it would work well in a ol New Orleans jazz joint). At last moment I gave the piano to my dear friend Janet Hancock as compensation for letting me stay with her a couple of months. She accepted it gracefully, but when I came back a year later to pick up a couple things still in town, it became clear that the last thing she needed was a piano - she was just too nice to tell me.

So we wheeled the ol' thing into a little trailer and Ron drove it home (I flew, thank you very much). It was a death defying drive, from what I gather. Poor Ron.

It took five members of the Sequim Football team to move it into the rental house and then, when it was time, into our home here on Burnt Hill. It's a funny thing. I didn't think about where the piano would go when we designed the house. We stuffed it into the living room for a time, then we pushed it into the dining room. Audra would play it here and there. Me even less. We had a piano tuner come out to put new coaster wheels on it (which makes it MUCH easier to move about), tune it up and to let us know what it was worth. Nothing Antiques Roadshow would clamor after. But it's well loved.

Still, when I spotted a black electronic piano at Costco a few months back that had some fun little buttons I fell in LOVE. It's nothing fancy, but I knew that it would fit right into a corner of the living room. I was so excited. I dropped every hint I could think of hoping Ron would buy it for me for Christmas.

Just this last Tuesday night (Christmas Eve Eve) it became clear that Ron had completely forgotten about it. Oh, the pouting and consternation he got!

The next evening - early evening, Ron drove up with my piano. It was the last one - in fact it was the floor model. He had gotten off early to go get it.

When he got it inside, we discovered that it didn't have the power cord. It didn't matter to me. It wasn't the fact that I had an electric piano that did cool things and fit perfectly into my living room. What mattered to me was that my husband got it - reluctantly - late maybe even - but he wanted to make me happy (or maybe to make me "NOT" mad). I was perfectly prepared to pout my way through the first Christmas with no children at home. Ron gave me an easy target by not listening and preplanning - but when has Ron EVER listened or preplanned? It's just not his way. I, on the other hand, am a planning fiend! Of course I had my shopping done months ago. It just comes naturally. But for Ron to go against his grain makes me think that maybe I need to go against MY grain and be happy for all the gifts he gives me everyday, like hard work, talent and true love.

So now I have a new friend - a fun little toy that has already helped make some special memories between my beloved and me. I'm hoping to find a new home for the old piano. It's been a dear and deserves some lovin. It'll be a little sad to see it go, but I'm learning that change is a good thing.....most of the time.

Christmas Survey

My favorite daughter-in-law challenged people to post their answers to the following survey. Who am I to argue?

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags – and to be honest – USED gift bags. I’m a cheap, cheap woman.

2. Real tree or Artificial? Much to my husband’s chagrin - artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? Not even sure we’re going to get around to it this year, to be honest

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? No! But Ron and my kids are crazy over it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My dad made my sister and I a refrigerator and stove/sink set that if I remember correctly, really ran water. At least in my mind it really ran water! We didn’t have to pay for it (water that is) in those days, so it’s POSSIBLE

7. Hardest person to buy for? Ron. He gets whatever he wants throughout the year and I always seem to pick the wrong brand/style/color anyway.

8. Easiest person to buy for? Me!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes. We have a few.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Both – and it’s a family newsletter more than a card.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Ron gave me the worlds ugliest ring once. I could even pretend. It went back the next week. He doesn’t buy me jewelry anymore.

12. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Throughout the year. I’m usually 80% done by October. This year I was a little late – November. Still have nothin’ for Ron or Mom. I just have no idea what to get them.

13. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I refuse to answer that one.

14. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Prime rib and Sweatheart Salad

15. Lights on the tree? Of course. Multi-colored.

16. Favorite Christmas song? Whatever is the most smaltzy tear jerker of the season. But by the next year, I hate it and move onto something else. Muppets Christmas Album with John Denver will NEVER get old.

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Hopefully soon we’ll travel. There are lots of Grand Kids to see, ya know.

18. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen. But do you recall, the most famous Reindeer of all?

19. Angel on the tree-top or a star? Ceramic angel by the name of Francis Grace.

20. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? My kids all got their tradition of pjs on Christmas eve and everything else on Christmas morning. I HATE opening gifts up the night before. Then there’s nothing to look forward to.

21. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crass commercialism

22. Favorite ornament theme or color? I have all glass ornaments now

23. Favorite food for Christmas dinner? Hey, didn’t you already ask that on #14?

24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Happy, healthy children. Especially my son-in-law who will be returning from Afghanistan in January. Job security in my new business. Honest - I don't need any THING else -

What I Know

Ours is an apostolic church. I just don't have an apostolic heart. I'm always afraid that I will offend someone or cause discomfort. The Internet has provided an avenue for virtual anonymity, or at the very least, a platform to be able to say what we might not have the courage or fortitude to say in person. I'm not sure how virtuous that is, but at the very least, I appreciate the opportunity to practice my faith by offering my inner most thoughts.

The church in which I belong to has taken some amazing hits lately. I believe with my whole heart that the Church leaders knew that by taking a public stand on a very hotly contested issue recently, that we would be thrown into the public light for close examination. I will not hide from that light, nor will I shirk my duty as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to express my support and gratitude for honest and inspired leaders. The world may not understand, but if they were to look inside our faith rather than believe the nay saying of others, they would see that we are a Church of love and unshakable faith. We are committed to the Lord's commandments, and no one else. Our foundation is strong and sure and never has nor never will be based on public opinion or speculation.

Twice a year, every year, our Church holds General Conference. Our Church leaders speaks to all of us - and their counsel is broadcast around the world. I cannot more concisely or eloquently express the truth better than this 11 minute review of counsel from our last conference (October, 2008). If you really want to know who we are, you will find it here in this video. If you want to know more, this link also takes you to the conference in its entirety (the 11 minute review is the first video and is entitled "New Highlights Video":

http://www.lds.org/conference/sessions/display/0,5239,23-1-947,00.html

A poem by my dear friend, Theodocia Atkin best reflects where I'm at today:

LAST REQUEST

I'd like to take a little break
and put myself at ease,
to reminisce, and rest awhile
and regroup, if you please.

I'd like to hear celestial music
and feast my eyes upon the view,
and then, dear Lord, I hope you'll find
some work for me to do.