Oh, There’s Sunshine in my Soul

sun·shine-something (as a person, condition, or influence) that radiates warmth, cheer, or happiness….

What a wonderful concept…to surround ourselves with “sunshine”…those things that bring us happiness and joy! We all could use a little bit more sunshine in our lives each and every day! Abraham Lincoln said, “Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” I believe this statement to be true! I believe that being happy is up to us! We make the decision (whether conscious or unconscious) to be happy and content with our own lives. However, I also believe that there are people who seem to make it easier for us to find joy! Think about that person in your life! The one who makes you smile by simply walking in the room! The one that fills your heart with peace when all you do is hear their voice! The one you can’t wait to see! The one who makes everything right! The one who fills your life with...sunshine!

Now…think about your life without them! Think how life would be if you were not able to open the windows to your soul and let the warmth and brightness of your sunshine in! How dark and cold the world would be! Sunshine is a gift from above! A gift that should not only be returned-but shared with others! Life is too short to stay inside when we could be out enjoying the day, soaking in the rays of sunshine that fill the air!

Are we the sunshine in the life of others? Are we a source of warmth and happiness to those around us? Do the people we love know we love them? Does the light within our beings send out rays of happiness….waves of pure, natural sunshine? Let today be the day that we take the sunshine thoughtfully conferred upon us and Pay it Forward…let your rays of sunshine bring warmth and happiness to the life of another!

Thank you to those who brighten my days! Thank you to the Sunshine in my life!

"Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves"

James M. Barrie

Tragedy on Clark Street

Tragedy has struck the littlest of the M's! Mallory's little poodle, Lacy Loo, was hit and killed by a car last night. All who knew Lacy are so aware that she loved to run around outside. Even moreso now that the weather has been warm. She had lots of energy and loved to run and play. The Allen's next door came to our aid and helped me get Lacy back to the house. (they are the best neighbors-they keep an eye on us) Mals and Jared built a box for her burial. Tonight Mals and her dad will pick a final resting spot and bury her sweet, little Lacy. We had a long tearful night! It is a sad day for the M's!

Oh, the blog.............

I have been working on a most profound blog for about a week now! And it just isn't ready! I have been a little under the weather so my brain is a little foggy! I can't get away from the thought that I need to post a little poem I wrote for one of my classes. I am sure it has been read by everyone in the fam but you can read it again. I am not a great poet by any means but I was given the assignment to share my experiences with a grandparent in a "creative" way. So, I came up with this short poem about Grandma (Donna) Anderson. I hope it brings back your own memories of this strong, little lady.

My Grandmother Through the Seasons
Emily Matthews

I look out my window and watch- as winter turns into spring
I take a moment to reflect on her- and how much that she means
To that little girl who looked to her as an extension of her own mother
Her gentle ways and kind words of love made me float above all others

I never understood how someone so small could be so awfully strong
Yet she was always there to help me through those days I felt so wrong
Spring is when the Earth renews and awakens from its sleep
And with each spring I feel her smile and twinkling eyes so sweet

She was always there in summer- to take us on camping trips
We went from Yellowstone to Zion’s Park- but her backyard was the hit!
Those summer nights on the back porch just talking meant so much
She told us stories of days gone by and taught us families must stay in touch

Fall was the best time of the year- ‘cause I always felt connected to her
Our birthdays were just days apart- and I wanted to be just like her
I close my eyes and smell her stuffing- as we sit at Thanksgiving together
With a barrel of belly wash too big for the fridge keeping cold outside in the weather

Winter brings my sweet memories of shopping and going to lunch
It was time I got to spend with her- which to me still means a bunch
Her generous heart brought strangers around to spend the holidays
She taught me that everyone is welcome- even if we don’t share names and ways

She sat with me when I was sick- hugged me when I would cry
Never once did I question she loved me- I knew ‘til the day she died
She accepted me for who I am even when I made mistakes
I am who I am because she was near and supported the choices I made

We can’t stop the seasons from changing- or the world from turning around
But with each season I spent time with her- I kept growing and learning how
To be a better woman who cares and shares and loves
I hope she likes who I have become- as she watches me from above!

Happy June to you all! School is out, the sun is shining, the breeze is warm, the Red Sox are winning again! What more could a gal ask for?

Seattle....Sheep....It must be Summer!

For those of you who have not heard about Mackay's summer plans. . . he has gone to Seattle, WA. He caught the Seattle bug last year when he went to visit Mel and Ben, with Blaine. He has been anxious to return for almost a year now. He is ready for a new life experience! I just hope I am ready! He will be working with Ben, learning what hard work is all about! He met a bunch of kids last year and he has kept in touch with them, so he won't be lonely! He left yesterday and I miss him already. He has been my sidekick for a long time now....but I know he will have a great time! And he can't stay by his mother's side forever. Even though I wish he could! He just better call me a lot!

With Mack in Seattle, it will give Mals and I the chance to have an adventure of our own. She may be sick of me by the end of the summer but hopefully we will just grow closer. Mallory is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her 4-H project. Yes, she will be raising lambs again this summer! She is quite the animal lover! She wants to be a vet someday and tries to bring home any animal she sees. She has a dog now, Lacy Loo, a toy poodle. What a challenge she has been! Yet, she wants another dog, cat, and horse! If she isn't a vet.....she could always open an animal shelter (hopefully on Quirk Street!). She is so much like my sister Angie, wanting to take any stray animal she sees home! If your pet goes missing, give me a call-you never know-it might be hidden under Mallory's bed!

The summer also holds for us the Williams Family Reunion in St. George. Angie and Blaine (hopefully) are going with us. It has been a long time since I have been to any kind of family reunion but it will be nice to go south, relax a little, and get reacquainted with family I haven't seen in a while. And I want to make sure that we have representation for Mom at her family reunion.

I am planning on running (jogging, maybe) in the Fourth of July 5K this year. I am a little behind on the training but am ready to kick it into gear. Maybe Mals will join me! I will update you on that later!

I am excited for summer! The birds are singing, the sun is shining, school will be out by the end of the week! The M's are in great need of rest and relaxation! New adventures are straight ahead! I hope I survive!

the "network".

Well, the first real catastrophe at Mom and Dad's has occurred!!! Last Friday, as I was driving home from work, I got a call from Mack in a bit of a panic....a water pipe in the basement was broken! Water was everywhere! For those of you who don't know this-our basement has dirt walls! Water + dirt = MUD! And we didn't know how to turn the water off! I have never felt so helpless. Alas....Thanks to a quick-thinking (and incredibly handsome) friend, help was on the way!

Now, I have never had the need to call on the members of my church. But what is a gal to do when there is no husband and her dad is millions of miles away (love ya but miss ya Dad!)? Incredibly, as the bishop of my ward pulled up in front of the house I realized that everything would be okay. As soon as the water was turned off and the damage was surveyed, the troops were called in! I can only hope that the military has the same efficiency as the "Mormons" do! In a matter of minutes there were a dozen plus people in the house. Plastic was laid on the carpet-boxes from the basement were quickly moved up-a shop vac was soaking up the water-men were cutting pipe, replacing pipe, soldering pipe, checking pipe for leaks.....All of the wet clothes were hung on the line-wet papers and other items were laid out on the counter to dry.

As all of this was happening, there I am, watching the work happen with my mouth wide open! I had no idea what to do! With one phone call, people I don't really know very well dropped what they were doing and came to my aid! How does one express thanks for such a kind deed? I am so lucky to live among people who help others-no matter what!!!!

There are still things to be done! The clean up is moving forward! But, nothing of consequence was damaged! And don't think there weren't offers to take things home to wash! I am so grateful to those who helped! Thankful for those who let their husbands and sons leave the dinner table to come help some chick down the street! I am not sure how you thank someone for such kindness! But now I have one more thing to add to my list of things to be thankful for.....the "Network!" I am truly blessed!

"How beautiful a day can be - When kindness touches it"

-george elliston

Graduation...

Saturday marked the end of my quest for higher education. Although classes ended in December and my diploma is already framed, commencement took place on April 19, 2008. At first I thought it was just silly to take the walk. But the need to mark the end of this particular journey seemed in order. As commencement ended, my brother gave me a hug and said, "Welcome to the Club." What a great club to belong to...the college graduates! A goal I have always wanted to reach but little things kept me from attaining that elusive degree. But with the support of my family, friends, and other loved ones, I was finally able to complete my Bachelors of Science from Utah State University [Go Aggies, Go Aggies, hey-hey-hey!]

Thank you Mallory, Mackay and Duane for supporting my every move. Thanks for putting up with hours of classes, studying, and writing papers. For helping each other with dinner, homework and housework. Thank you for being strong and independent! I love you!

Thanks to all of you "Club" members, for setting the example for your daughter, sister, and friend. Thank you for encouraging me to just go for it! For reminding me that I could actually do it! Thank you for listening to all of my educational stories. Thanks for your love and support!

Thanks to my employees, my boss, and everyone I work with on a daily basis. You are my second family and I will never forget your help and support! Thank you for helping me proofread papers, explaining statistics formulas that I just didn't get, and putting up with leaving early and studying every spare second I could squeeze in.

I thank my professors who paved the road for me to follow. I have learned not only the course material but who I am and who I want to become! Thank you for helping me to stretch my mind and let in new ideas about the world me! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with me. I will never forget the life lessons I have learned from you!

I was never alone during my quest! Thank you all for pulling me along, pushing me forward, and letting me lean on you!! It may be my name on that beautiful piece of paper but your names will always be in my heart every time I see it! Thank you for helping me reach my goal! I love you all!

I want to be like the lotus flower

...from the depths of the muddy bottom of a pond, it emerges. It flourishes in clear ponds and muddy lakes. With roots buried deep in the dark soil-its stalk emerges and aims for the heavens-as it shoots through the water-to ultimately unfold a beautiful blossom! A flower that appears to be lazily floating on the water's surface. One petal at a time, the lotus begins to bloom with the first rays of sunshine. A symbol of renewal, transformation, and new beginnings- - the embodiment of unlimited potential...

I want to be like the lotus...No matter where my roots are planted-Whether life is clear or murky-I aspire to bloom with the morning sun! I long to become something beautiful. To take the daily struggles of life and and turn them into opportunities to grow strong and straight, with my sights set on the surface. To reach the morning when my soul can bloom! Petal by petal-each joy, each pain, each smile, each tear, each triumph, each trial....each experience sculpting the beauty of the blossom waiting to burst with the warmth of the sun!

How easy it would be to get stuck in the muck of life instead of pushing ourselves toward the surface where we are free to become what we are meant to be....more beautiful with each moment in the sun!

Throughout our lives, there are times when we are given a gift....a chance for a new beginning. These times of transformation may not always be what we planned for our lives. But-If we perservere, our stalks will become thicker and stronger on our journey to the surface. Making the morning bloom sweeter than we imagined.

Let us be like the lotus....constantly pushing ourselves out of the muck-stretching with all of our strength toward the surface-where the suns rays give us the opportunity to show the world our beauty!

A New Beginning

I have decided to jump on the band wagon and start a new blog. I have blogged before and have added some of my previous entries to this blog. I am ready to take the opportunity to share the life I have with my children with those I love. Right now it is just the three of us! Me-Mack and Mals! Em and the M's (do you get it now?) But there are so many we look to for love and support. Together we are on a new adventure, learning new things and working together to make our family successful. We are just getting started. But I am excited for our chance at a new beginning. And it is a good way to share fun times with each other across the miles.

2007 is gone....hello 2008!

2008! Wow! It seems like all I do these days is look back-analyze the past year-and hope for a better future. And yet, the beginning of a new year is a great time to take stock, count blessings, and set goals for the coming year....2007 was full of challenge, change, and chances! It was one of the hardest years of my life! But I made it. Thanks to good friends and family, I survived! And I am excited to spend the next year living, loving, and making the most of my days with the ones that I love!I am happy to say that I am now a Utah State University Alumni with a BS in Family, Consumer and Human Development (whatever that is, right?)!!! For the first time in years, I am not registering for classes, setting schedules and buying books. I am reading for fun! I am spending time with my kids! I am exercising! I am feeling! I am starting to enjoy life again-a new life-but my life. I am spending time just being me! And I am hoping that for now.....just being me is enough!

I bought myself a little desk calendar....with "wild words from wild women!" I can hardly wait to read what women have to say! My favorite quote right now is:"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. -Eleanor Roosevelt "Old Eleanor was a smart one....no doubt about it! I love to read her quotes and thoughts! I doubt I will see her words in "wild words from wild women" but you never know. What is wild to one person may be timid to another. You never know, one of those wild women may inspire me! To do what? That is for me to discover! And I am ready! (that was random) Well, whatever 2008 has to offer....I am ready!

Enough Reasons to Smile

For some reason, I can't keep from smiling today. During the past week a new baby has come into my family (through my brother and his wife). To share time with one of our Father's purest creatures fills my heart with love and happiness. Isn't it interesting that we always have enough love to share as our circle of family and friends gets larger? But somehow there is always enough to go around. If we choose to give it!The weather is still beautiful!! It is November and people are still golfing outside my office window. Most of the leaves have fallen from the trees and I know snow is right around the corner. But the crisp fall mornings and warm afternoons....still make me smile!I have started to count my blessings every day. Each night as I get ready for bed, I think back on the day that has just finished and count all the good things that happened to me. The good is outweighing the bad! And I am discovering a theme.....my children! I will never be a perfect mom but the love I have for my children has taken on new meaning. They are my life, my everything! I am finding I have more patience than I once thought. They are fun, smart, capable, obedient, silly, and they are mine. I love spending time with them. There is a feeling of love and understanding in our home. How long it will last, I am unsure....but I want it to feel this way forever. I know how it got there and I know how to keep it! It is up to me!There are so many reasons to smile! Some are obvious and out there where everyone can see them-others I keep close to my heart. Things are starting to fall into place for me. I know that I am on a long road but if I keep moving and take the right turns - - one day I will look back and know I am where I am meant to be. For now, I will just keep moving and keep smiling....I have a lot to smile about!