One summer night, years ago, I met a different kind of nine-year-old. He was day and night from my little boy, the one I had left at Grandma's, safely watching videos and eating popcorn, with instructions negating any chance of taking part in neighborhood night games (hide and seek, kick the can ... Read More
“There’s No Way I Signed Up For This!”
I believe the doctrine that teaches that we chose to come to earth, that before we came we were prepared for mortality over eons of time by God Himself, and that we were aware of the trials that might come our way. On Spirit filled days I sometimes form a faithful picture of my final pre-earth ... Read More
The 12 Steps – God’s Rx for Pain – Introduction
My ears suddenly perked up as I heard the teacher say, “Sometimes we refer to addiction as self-medication.” I’ll never forget the moment I was introduced to that concept. I was sitting in a graduate level class for students desiring to become addiction recovery counselors. I remember thinking, ... Read More
With One or With All – 12 Step Parenting and Prevention
I clearly remember the day I sent my first child off to public school. She wasn’t the traditional child of five. She was a teenager entering junior high school after being taught at home for six years. She was the first of five to leave my little educational nest. I prepared her that day with all ... Read More
My God in Simple Terms – Addiction Prevention
Several months ago my nephew received the Priesthood. As a special surprise for him my sister-in-law asked each member of our extended family to write him a note. In this note we were supposed to share something of ourselves. She gave us several ideas. The option I chose was to put into words some ... Read More
“Good Job Grandma!” – Step 12 Service by Example
I’ve spent a lifetime teaching children about doing good and then keeping a careful watch over them. I’ve taught children all about prayer, who we pray to, the reasons we pray, and the parts of prayer, how to open a prayer, and in whose name we pray. I’ve listened to their prayers and whispered ... Read More
“I A Princess!”
The princess theme has been a massive marketing success. Princess dolls, and posters, and playthings abound. The fascination of today’s little girls with Princesses has definitely hit my family. I have five little princesses of my own: Eliza, Madeline, Samantha, Gracie and Esther. Eliza, now age ... Read More
“You Are More Important Than The Couch!” – Step 5 – Confession
I started babysitting when I was about 10 years old, mostly for my own family. I had one little sister and by the time I was twelve I had five little brothers. My favorite part of the babysitting was when everyone was finally in bed. That was when I could watch TV, make cookies, or just work on a ... Read More