The Hands of Women

After receiving an email entitled "Grandma's hands" I have had these thoughts go through my mind and feel the need to put them on paper.

I have looked at my hands many times in wonder of the miracle that hands are. I have used my hands in so many ways. From making mud pies as a little girl to making real pies as an adult. Holding children, wiping tears, trying to create art. Caring for laboring women as they bring their babies into the world. Caring for those who are on their journey of passing from this life. Loving my husband and children.

I watched my Mother's hands as she cared for me and others in our family and saw love there. I watched my Grandmothers hands as a young primary aged girl of 9- 12 ... Grandma Barker as she taught me how to knit and embroidery, Grandma Charlesworth as she taught me how to crochet. I watched all three of these beautiful women as they became more frail until they parted from this life. Oh, how I miss these wonderful ladies and all they did with their beautiful hands.

Recently I have watched my sisters and my hands begin to look the way I remember my mothers to look when she and her sisters were in their forties. I have been amazed at the work these wonderful sisters hands have done and do everyday.

I see how friends have served me and my family and many others with their hands.

I look at my beautiful little girl Ashlyn's hands as she holds them up to mine to see how close in size they are and I remember doing that with my own Mother's hands. I see her busy little hands and hope that I will be able to teach her all she needs to know for her to be pleased with the work of her hands.

In a new way I look forward to what my hands will do as a grandmother myself.
When I have become frail, will I be proud of all I have done with my hands?

I can truly say that I will raise my hands in joy when I get to see my Mother and wrap my arms around her again. I will no doubt be overjoyed at hugging all the generations of women that have passed on before me. One thing that I know is that the Savior has made all these wonderful reunions possible for each and everyone of us.

The work of a woman and her hands is a wonder to behold from the day they are born until they pass from this life to the next.

I am grateful for the hands and souls of all those who have touched my life, both female and male. But this is a short tribute to the hands of the women in my life.

Be well and be happy!!!!

Football Results

Patsy came down from Ogden to attend Lake's game. Lisa came and took pictures. We went to cheer on Lake and his team. It was freeezin cold and wet! They played on turf at the high school and we had frozen players sliding around on the field. Cheer as we might the team lost this came and came in place 2nd for the league.

We are so proud of how hard they worked this year. I know the boys were disappointed that they didn't take 1st but, We are all proud of how hard they worked and how much they learned. We will be looking for them to take the skills they learned from this year and come back next year and kick so serious hind quarters.

Championship Hair Tradition

Lake's Viking 7th grade team plays in Championship game Wed. at 5:30 pm. The team if they go to the championship game bleaches their hair blond before the game.

When Lake asked if he could bleach his hair blond with all the guys on the team I said "yes, but it will probably be orange not blond". Well look at him now.

I went and helped one of the mom's bleach the boys hair. Lake's went blond and some of the boys went strawberry blond one boy's hair went orange red but, the one that we thought would go orange red (ie Lake) went nice and blond. Just had to share.

Trick or Treat

Friday night Teancum and Karen Came trick of treating. But they gave the us the treat or trick which ever you want to call it. They gave us their leopard gecko, his name is Geeko. He is really a cute little guy and always has a smile. He is a rather quiet pet. For us he is a treat. I never thought I would allow a reptile in the house but, he is fun.

Here he is.... MR. GEEKO

Halloween Costumes for this year

Just wanted to share the kids in their Halloween Costumes!


Ashlyn as Hannah Montana-



















Lachoneus as Cleopatra-

I have to say that Lachoneus is a brave soul!

Costal Trip

Ashlyn and I took a trip with my sister Patsy to take my sister Karen back to her home in East Wenatchee, Washington. We started out on Oct. 19th from Ogden and made the drive in around 13 hours. When we left I was sick with either food poisoning or flu. Patsy drove the whole way and Karen sat in the back seat and kept Ashlyn happy while I slept much of the way.
It took me 41/2 days to feel half decent, so we mostly hung out at Karen's house for most of the time we were there. I have to say although being sick I enjoyed just hanging out with my sisters.

Ashlyn spent a good portion of the week playing with Lilly (Karen's grandaughter that lives with her dad Jared in my sisters basement). They had all kinds of fun. Ashlyn got royally spoiled by her aunts. :>)

After we left Karen's house Patsy, Ashlyn, and I drove to Seattle and to dinner down on the water at Ivar's. We took a few pictures of the space needle and Pike's St. Market and then drove out to Ocean Shores.

We got a hotel that was right next to the beach.

When we woke up we opened the sliding glass door to the deck and listened to the ocean waves hitting the beach. After a lazy morning and a good breakfast we went out to the beach to play.

It was in the low 60's but was so peaceful and sweet. I have always felt that the ocean speaks to my soul but it was sweet to see that it speaks to my little Ash's soul. Like mother, like daughter. After a day at the beach we headed to Astoria, Oregon. We ate at a mom and pop type diner and got food poisoning from the the worst clam chowder we have ever eaten, or the other seafood we ordered (The food wasn't even good). Ashlyn ate a few fries and wouldn't eat her chicken sandwich and I had to agree with her after looking at how slimy the sauce on it looked. I am sure glad she didn't eat it; cause Patsy and I had dibs on the porcelain god throughout the night. Thank goodness it was only the 24 hour kind.
The good thing was that we were in an awesome hotel called Cannery Pier Hotel that was right over the Columbia River with the soothing sound of the water lapping against the pier. We had a deck that we could walk out and watch the ships going up and down the river. It was SO beautiful. If I could have got Dean and Lachoneus magically there with a way for Dean to provide a living I think I would have Stayed. Oh well!
We ate lunch at a much better restaurant and actually enjoy our clam chowder. We went and watched the seals and then headed toward home. I won't bore you with all the weird things that happened to us on the way home. But, suffice it to say that even though we tried hard to get home for Lachoneus's playoff game on Tuesday the 28th before 7pm, we didn't make it back to Ogden till the game almost over. The Lord was watching over us with prompting and guidance to get us safely home without our van giving out totally. And he heard the prayers of this mom that his team would win and go on to the championship so that I could be to his last game of the season. I know to many that is a silly prayer but, for me, it is important that I get to be there since I already missed one game.

FOOTBALL

Football, football, football. I think I have a love hate relationship with this game. I hate to watch it unless someone I know is playing. Since Lachoneus is play this year we live football. Practices 3 times a week for 2 hours each and then a game once a week. So far they have played 8 games and Lake's team (7th grade Pleasant Grove Vikings B/Carley Team) has 6 wins -2 losses. They are a pretty good team. So anyway I find myself yelling myself hoarse cheering them on. All to the sad embarrassment of Ashlyn.

Anyway here are some pics. My camera doesn't do action well and all the games are night games. Lake is #46 in the blue jerseys . If you need further help locating him look for his beautiful brown skin he is the only one on his team with beautiful brown skin. That is except for one of his coaches.
So I have to tell you this funny story. They were taking team pictures and the photographer said coaches stand behind your sons. So the coaches stood behind their sons but Coach Baskins (who is african american is standing on the opposite side of the group from Lake) stays where he is. Then the photographer says 'OK, sons stand in front of your dads' she repeats this several times. No one moves but I hear a slight laugh coming from some of the boys. LOL They said something to to each other about here thinking that Lake was Baskins son. So Baskins (who doesn't have a son on the team but, loves football and coaching the boys) catches on and walks around the back of the group and stands behind Lake and puts his hand on Lake's shoulder, saying OK I'd wouldn't mind being his dad. Poor Photographer!!! How could she have guessed that Lake has white parents and coach Baskins doesn't have a son on the team. This will be one we laugh over for a long time. (you just had to be there to get the full affect.)

Sagebrush Flats

We took a ride up to Sagebrush Flats to see the colors change. We had folding chairs up in back of the truck and the kids were sitting in the back. Dean commented how he wished he was back there with them enjoying the views so I told him I would drive and he could ride back with the kids. Now I have to tell you I didn't think I was going fast but as I driving along I hear the kids laughing and making comments about how fast and bumpy the ride was. Mind you they had no idea that I could hear them through the open windows. Then I heard Dean say "Who are you and what have you done with my wife." So I said "did I just hear you say--who are you and what have you done with my wife". With a little twinkle in his voice Dean said "Why yes--you did. I didn't know that you could hear that." Then they all giggled a little more. Yes, that was a fun moment in my week.
Ashlyn called me and said "Mom come and look." She was so excited it was like she had found a treasure. And she did, I love the Heartshape in the stump of the tree. Don't you just love nature!
*(Teancum it is by where we park to go to hike to "Your tree" as Dad and the kids call it. --From your hike with Dad years ago).

My art classes began again today after a break for summer. It felt GREAT! I don't know how to explain the therapy that I recieve from doing an art project. I have to say that if you need an outlet find one that recharges you and then go do it. My class is once a month but I wish that I could afford to do it at least weekly instead on only monthly. Heck, who am I fooling I would love to go to class everyday.
What makes art class much more fun is having my sister Patsy come down to take the class with me. She also spends the night before and a night or two after to hang out and have fun. It is a highlight of the month for all of us at our house. As Ashlyn puts it Yea! Patsy is here, Patsy is here! The only thing bad about having her come is when she has to go home. We wish she could stay here all the time.

For Labor Day we did some cleaning in the morning and I taught Ashlyn how to do sudoku puzzles with pictures in a sticker book. She caught on quite quick, she is such a smart girl. We had Teancum and Karen over for a lunch BBQ. While I was cooking Ashlyn was singing along with High School Musical game on the wii. Teancum, Karen and Lachoneus played "Killer Bunnies". It was a very interesting background noise for me. (Let me tell you that as I sang Little bunny Fu-fu all those years ago I never imagined that those bunnies would become "Killer Bunnies" in a Game for the 2000's.) But I really have to say that the interaction and laughter of the kids was fun to listen to.

Teancum and Karen took off before Lachoneus had to go to football practice at 5:30 pm. Dean took Lachoneus to practice and Ashlyn hung out with me. When Lachoneus got back and ate dinner we had Family Home Evening. Ashlyn taught the lesson and share the story of Nephi and his brothers going to get the brass plates. We talked about how the Lord wouldn't ask them to do anything he wouldn't provide a way for them to accomplish it. We talked about how Laman and Lemuel murmered. We talked about which example we follow. I was sure reminded of how I need to check my attitude. Ashlyn did such a great job teaching our lesson with her innocent 7 year old spirit.

I felt joy in watching the growth of my little family.

Family Trip to Yellowstone July 2008

Believe Christ!

So what do you do when you have a child get into drugs and throw out all the values you have tried to teach them. You go through all of the stages of mourning. Yep, you got it I say mourning. I have been bouncing around in them since I found out that my son has fallen in the that spiraling pit of addiction to drugs and the life of lies that revolve around it. I cringe at the things people have shared with me that they have seen him do. I shake my head and cry.
One of the first things I have done is blame myself for not being a good enough mother. Somehow I keep coming back to that conclusion over and over. The other thing is pray with all my might for my son to somehow overcome this devastating addiction. The Lord and I have had some mighty talks. It is amazing to me how the answers that give the most kick come in the form of soft whisperings to my soul at the most interesting moments. Like walking down the street having the thought come clearly to my mind 'No matter what mistakes you made as a mom, Unless you actually held him down and shoved the drugs down his throat or shot him up (He) is the one that is ultimately responsible for the path he is on. He is the one that has to want to overcome and do something worthwhile with his life before he can be saved.' Or sitting in a lesson in Relief Society and having the words spoken clearly to my mind 'Believe Christ, that is what it all comes down to. Do you believe Christ and what he has promised he would do for us.'
'You have done what you can now leave the rest up to Me his Savior. I'll tell you what to do to help when I need you to help him. Otherwise work on teaching the two that you have at home.'

That is so hard for me!!!! So it really does boil down to do I Believe Christ and accept what his plan is for my son that has gone away from all he has been taught. Can I let go and let God as the saying goes?
Believe Christ!!!

Flags of Freedom this Memorial Weekend

Today I went with my friend Lisa and her cub scout group to place flags in front of Veteran's grave markers. As I read each name aloud as the flag was placed for each Veteran I couldn't help but think of my own Father Earl M. Charlesworth and his service to help fight for freedom in WWII, and my Father-in-law Vern E. Hale who fought in the Koren War; and just how fighting in a war surely effected the way they looked at life. They were called upon to sacrifice more than most of us will ever truly understand. My husband Dean served in the Air Force doing real world missions for six years during a peaceful time in history. Unlike our fathers, he never saw the brutal ravages of war up close and personal or have to take an other's life; yet military service had an effect on him and our family. I hurt when I think of what our Fathers saw and dealt with in battle. Yet I know that in no way does that ache compare to theirs or any other who has had to bear that burden. As I stood over looking the flags that wave over the resting place of our American Soldier I stood a humble woman to see how many have served in wars from our small community. Thinking of my own family brought to mind the many families that sacrificed as they watched their loved ones ship out to war and then return different men and women than when they left, as well as those that never returned home. I'm thankful to live under that blanket of freedom that so many have, are, and will continue to fight for that we may all be free.

A special Thank You to all who fight for freedom. Especially you Daddy!

Love, Jan

I'm Here

Life is a challenge! I don't belive in fairy tales anymore---I believe in something even more amazing and that is the Love of God and His Son Jesus Christ and the blessings of the Holy Ghost.

I believe that the Lord gave me a Loving Husband to be my partner in this life and eternity. He gave me Dean, a man that is willing to go through life with me and stand by me all my earthly challenges and still he LOVES ME.

Then the Lord Blessed Dean and I with four strong spirited children. Teancum, Alec, Lachoneus, and Ashlyn. Each a wonder and a miracle to us.

While Teancum served his mission in Melbourne Australia we were blessed to host a young adult Australian girl by the name of Jenny, who quickly became affectionatly know as our Jenny Bean and we her American Family.

Following Teancum's return from his mission he dated and married his beautiful Karen on May 31, 2007. Teancum made a wonderful choice for his eternal companion. We are grateful each day for how they bless each other and our family.

So even though life is a challenge I have this wonderful family that keeps on pulling for each other to succeed. I know that many prayers are said in behalf of each other and that to me is better than any fairytale written.