tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44218935860333408252024-03-13T20:16:47.074-07:00Power of a FamilyApril Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-68690830427813134192020-10-25T13:51:00.002-07:002020-10-25T13:51:29.788-07:00Hearing the Music<p>I want to share something special—something very close to my heart today—that I hope will lift you and strengthen you.</p><div>I’ve been listening to an audiobook by Gerald Lund called "Divine Signatures,” and in chapter three, he shares a story from when he was a young boy with a paper route. (Oh, I love paper route stories…) A woman who was paying him for her subscription didn’t have cash, and because Venmo didn’t exist yet, she took a check that a neighbor had written to her for $27 and wrote it over to him, and then he gave her some change. To make a long story short, he lost the check and was just sick about it. Not only were all his profits gone for the month ($20), but his family would have to come up with the remaining $7 to pay for the papers, and money was tight for all of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>He looked everywhere for the check, but it was nowhere to be found. He then thought, “I don’t know where that check is, but God does,” and so he offered a prayer asking for help finding it. When he opened his eyes after the prayer, he saw the check—just 2-3 feet in front of him, tucked into a tumbleweed. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I heard that story, I remembered a similar story my mother told me that I had not yet written down. (So I’m writing it down today!) </div><div><br /></div><div>She had knee surgery prior to the Alzheimer’s, and it was really difficult for her to move around during her recovery. I remember her telling me she couldn’t kneel to pray anymore, but she knew that God could tell she was kneeling in her heart. 🙂 </div><div><br /></div><div>One day, she was sitting in the recliner next to her bed, having her Divine Fellowship (where she studied her scriptures, prayed, and talked with God), and she said the thoughts and feelings that came to her were <i>so</i> sweet. They brought tears to her eyes, and the more she read and invited the Spirit into her heart, the more the tears came. </div><div><br /></div><div>“After a few minutes, my face was wet with tears and my nose was dripping, and I was such a mess. I looked all around me for a tissue, but I couldn’t find one, and I didn’t want to go through the effort to get up because it was so difficult to move, and I didn’t want to lose that sweet feeling I was having. I decided to just use the sleeves of my bathrobe to wipe my tears and my nose, and then I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer—apologizing to the Lord for the mess, but thanking Him for the beautiful, sweet experience I was having. Then, when I opened my eyes, I looked to the left, and there was a little packet of tissues, standing up on its side right next to me. There was <i>no way </i>I had missed it before. And it wasn’t just sitting in a pile of things. It was propped up, at a little angle so I would be sure to see it—almost as though when I was praying, an angel had come and set it down for me. “</div><div><br /></div><div>I can still remember her thoughtful, humble, surprised-but not-surprised tone of voice as she shared that with me in one of our phone calls, and I remember thinking, “This sweet mother. God loves her so much that He not only gives her His love…He makes sure to hand her a tissue.”</div><div><br /></div><div>That is the kind of faith I want to have. That is the kind of person I want to be. Those are the kinds of experiences I want to invite into our family on a regular basis.</div><div><br /></div><div>Eric, the boys, and I have been reading our scriptures together in the mornings, and in our recent General Conference at church, the president of our church, Russell M. Nelson invited us to look for promises made to the House of Israel. This scripture is one our family read together recently--that touches my heart when I read it because of the closeness and the protection that it offers: “For ye shall not go out with haste nor go by flight; for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel shall be your rearward.” (3 Nephi 20:42) </div><div><br /></div><div>I also love this one in Isaiah 41:13: "For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.”</div><div><br /></div><div>So beautiful.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then before I close, I have to include one more quote from the “Divine Signatures” book. I was listening to the audio, so I had to pause it several times to get all of it typed out, but I think I got it right: </div><div><br /></div><div>"The Lord’s Hand is in our lives. If we will but feel for it in the darkness, we can grasp it and be lifted thereby. Those who do not believe in a God who watches over His children and cares for them will openly scoff at such a notion. That is all right. As the popular saying notes, 'Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.' Those who believe that God lives and is a loving Heavenly Father hear a music that others do not.” - James E. Talmage</div><div><br /></div><div>There is so much divisiveness in the world right now, and the last thing I want is to <i>contribute</i> to that divisiveness (because I know that God, religion, and scripture are topics that can elicit all kinds of emotions), but I also want to make sure that I am using my voice to share the sweetness I feel—and the music I hear—and the power that I know is available to each one of us. </div><div><br /></div><div>God works in unique ways with each of His children. The way He communicates with me will be different than the way He communicates with you. I love that, and I respect that. God's music is composed on an individual, personal, beautiful level, which gives each of us the latitude we need. I just want to encourage each one of us to pay attention. It makes a powerful difference.</div><div><br /></div><div>Much love,</div><div>April</div>April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-43571075616255864282020-10-13T12:10:00.001-07:002020-10-13T12:10:39.979-07:00Three Years Later :) Questions I’m Asking<p>Hello, friends!</p><p>I hope you are well, and I am sending my love from this little corner of the internet. </p><p>My last post was about how my mom was doing, and it has now been almost exactly three years since she passed. I wrote about the beautiful way she transitioned to the other side in <a href="https://powerofmoms.com/todays-secret-disaster-going-change-beautifully-season-2-episode-1/">this post on Power of Moms</a>, if you’d like to read it.</p><p>And do you know that she is <i>still</i> such a beautiful part of our lives? I can’t even tell you how many stories I’ve heard from my siblings, friends, and extended family members about her influence—in addition to my own special experiences. Oh, it’s so sweet.</p><p>And then this past March, our dear dad joined her. He developed brain cancer and had a fairly quick transition, and while I want to record all of the details and stories now, I’m going to leave it with this drawing that Grace made for me:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4M9e2NPsPHo/X4X2PZBByPI/AAAAAAAAT8w/fHgbj0eS6pYYxFWct2FxSTrGwND-tk1ogCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/B1782FDE-712E-41A2-8F12-F576BE98A532.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="931" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4M9e2NPsPHo/X4X2PZBByPI/AAAAAAAAT8w/fHgbj0eS6pYYxFWct2FxSTrGwND-tk1ogCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/B1782FDE-712E-41A2-8F12-F576BE98A532.jpeg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I love that. I miss them terribly, but the thought of them together gives me a lift.<br /><p>A lot has been going on behind the scenes here—our family moved from Southern California to Utah, Alia left to Ukraine to serve a mission for our church, Grace started college, and Eric and I are now raising two teenage boys (Ethan, 17, and Spencer, 13), running LearnDoBecome.com together, and serving in our church callings. Life is full, beautiful, challenging, and fun, and we are growing each day.</p><p>Okay, so why am I writing here again?</p><p>Today I took a couple of hours to think (sitting on a blanket at a local park), and I asked myself a series of questions. The process has been really helpful, so I’ll include the questions here, in case you’d like to do something similar:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What do I need to start doing/stop doing?</li><li>How can I set up my life more optimally so I have more to look forward to?</li><li>How and where can I speak more of Christ?</li><li>How can I set up my scripture study schedule so I can make the most of my time and learn what God wants for me?</li><li>What am I hungry for?</li><li>What do I want to say with my life?</li><li>What would my life need to look like in order to consider myself a true instrument in the hands of God?</li><li>How can I let God prevail in my life?</li><li>If I were to live my true purpose—and be a support to others—what would that look like?</li></ul><div>As I was thinking and journaling, I realized that I need “a place” to record more of the thoughts of my heart. I do a lot of writing, podcasting, and teaching at LearnDoBecome with Eric (which I love—and it has grown so much), but I’ve noticed that I censor myself a lot there because it’s a business, and I feel like I need to be more careful and focused with what I say. Maybe that’s a reality I’ve created in my head, but for now, this blog feels like the safest place to write!</div><div><br /></div><div>So I’m not sure what and how often I’ll be posting here, but reconnecting with a little “hello” was my next action, so there you go. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Question for you before I close up: Who are you? Where do you live? What are you up to? Are there any questions you’ve been pondering in your life that you’d like to share? I look forward to connecting. </div><div><br /></div><div>xoxo</div><div>April</div><p></p>April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-19988379097292318712017-03-07T20:20:00.004-08:002017-03-07T20:20:58.735-08:00How My Mom is DoingIn response to a lot of messages, phone calls, and emails asking how things are going with my sweet mom, I thought I would post briefly here to give you an update.<br />
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Life has been moving so swiftly that it has been tricky to sit down and "just write." And then when I <i>have </i>had time to write lately, I actually couldn't bring myself to do it. Not sure why. It just felt too overwhelming.<br />
<br />
But the kids are at their evening events right now, and I have a few minutes of quiet--so I thought I would open up my heart a bit and let you know what's happening.<br />
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My mom has been doing generally well for the past couple of years.<br />
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It's been a miracle, really.<br />
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The Alzheimer's medicine seemed to freeze time. It didn't make her <i>better</i>, but it stopped her from getting worse. Her helper, Cheryl, has been by her side around the clock, attending to her every need, and our weekly visits have been happy.<br />
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Thursday nights have turned into events where several of my brothers and sisters join me, my children, and my dad around Mom's bed. We carry extra chairs into the room and sit close and tight while we share our weekly updates, reminisce about all the funny things Mom did over the years, listen to Dad's favorite memories, and sing Mom's favorite hymns. (She used to join in a bit, and that always made us smile.)<br />
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About a month ago, however, we made a decision to take Mom off the Alzheimer's medication.<br />
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This decision wasn't made lightly, but all eight children were on board.<br />
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There comes a point when you have to ask if keeping someone artificially alive is the best thing for them.<br />
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Mom's doctor said that she was healthy and strong on the medication and could live for years to come in that state.<br />
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(In bed full time. Diapers being changed regularly. Spoon-fed and monitored day and night. Not remembering a moment of it.)<br />
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I cried to Eric one evening shortly after the decision was made to stop the medicine and asked if he thought it was wrong to let her go.<br />
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"April," he said gently, "your mom is essentially sitting on the bench right now. She can't do anything in <i>this</i> life, and she can't do anything on the other side. Think how happy she'll be."<br />
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That felt right to me.<br />
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So for the past few weeks, when I've gone to visit, there has been a noticeable change. Mom has stopped talking and humming along while we sing. There is zero recognition in her eyes. She's had trouble chewing and swallowing.<br />
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I fed her salmon one night, and she really struggled to get it down. So stressful...<br />
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Another night, I got there late (about 7), and she was already asleep. I hugged her and kissed her and whispered, "I love you," and then Alia did the same.<br />
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Alia turned from the bed with a huge smile and then exclaimed (in a whisper), "She said 'I love you too'!!!!"<br />
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I felt a little pang of envy, as I didn't get a chance to hear that, but I was grateful Alia did.<br />
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Tonight I called Laura, and she told me that the doctor is planning to approve Mom for hospice care again. <br />
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The first time was in 2014. We thought she only had months to live.<br />
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But God gave us a gift of more than TWO YEARS to love her and hug her and be with her.<br />
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This time we still don't know how long she has. She's losing weight and declining rapidly, and although I can hardly type this without breaking down, I think I'm finally ready to let her to go.<br />
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I picked up Spencer from Cub Scouts shortly after hearing the news from Laura this afternoon, and there were tears in my eyes.<br />
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He asked why I was crying, and I told him about his Grandma's hospice care and explained it was probably time for her to go back to God.<br />
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A moment later, I looked at him, and <i>his</i> eyes were watery.<br />
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"Why are you crying?" I asked.<br />
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"Because you are." He replied. "Remember how when you cry, I cry?"<br />
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Then he said, "My birthstone is a sapphire, and do you know what characteristic I have?"<br />
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I shook my head.<br />
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"Emotional healing," he responded. "My teacher told me that."<br />
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After a moment, he asked, "Why is Cinderella so bad at sports?"<br />
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"I don't know. Why? I asked."<br />
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"Because she always runs away from the ball," he replied.<br />
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I laughed.<br />
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"See? You were crying. Now you're laughing. That's emotional healing," he explained.<br />
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(Isn't it so kind for God to give me angels in my own family to help me through this?)<br />
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I'm taking the children to see my parents this weekend. Cheryl is going to try to take Mom to church for the last time on Sunday. I want to be there.<br />
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This time is full of such sweetness. It isn't easy, by any means, but my goodness, it's a blessing to get to spend so much time with the people you love.<br />
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Thank you for your kindness and concern for our family. We so appreciate your love for us.<br />
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Time to pick up the kids. :) <br />
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xoxo<br />
<br />
April<br />
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<br />April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-56126438952759698612016-03-23T06:39:00.000-07:002016-03-23T06:40:16.536-07:00Book Launch Day! Your Children Want YOU!You have been with me on this journey with my mom for <i>years</i>, and I can't thank you enough for your continual love and support.<br />
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Today is an exciting day.<br />
<a href="http://learndobecome.com/zoe"><br /></a>
<a href="http://learndobecome.com/zoe"><i>Your Children Want YOU! </i>is ready.</a><br />
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We have a special launch price available through Friday night--Buy the eBook for $12 and get the audio book free! <br />
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I hope you love it. And I hope you love my mom <i>through</i> it. (I'm going to visit her this afternoon with my children to celebrate. She's doing great.)<br />
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xoxo<br />
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April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-26171172850702280342015-10-14T21:26:00.002-07:002015-10-14T21:26:45.623-07:003 Exciting Invitations and a Little UpdateThere has been a lot<i> </i>going on behind the scenes here. It's been exhilarating (and kind of scary, if I'm being honest), but I feel strengthened from above and so happy to have energy to serve those in my sphere. God is so good.<br />
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Three pretty big projects have come to completion this month, and I'm excited to share them with you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.conferenceformoms.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.conferenceformoms.com/" target="_blank"></a>(1) The Mom Conference</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.conferenceformoms.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="www.conferenceformoms.com" border="0" height="309" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKfDaXTpGvk/Vh8bBezLKJI/AAAAAAAAHqc/Zt8pxgQD1pk/s320/momsummit-logo.png" width="320" /></a></b> </div>
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Saren (my Power of Moms co-director) and Desi (from Unconventional Kitchen) have done the bulk of the work on this beautiful online event (wow, it's been a huge project), but I had the chance to do five of the video interviews, and my life has been SO blessed because of them.</div>
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The conference officially ends tomorrow, but there's an extra replay day on Friday because of some technical issues that happened yesterday, so if you haven't signed up yet, please do! You won't want to miss this.</div>
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<a href="https://powerofmoms.com/index.php?/register/TUenx2" target="_blank"><b>Register here for the Mom Conference (totally free!) </b></a><br />
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<b>(2) The SANE Show</b><br />
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I wrote about SANE awhile back, and it's now been more than a year since Alia and I totally changed our diets--cutting out sugar and processed foods.<b> </b>We're still working on getting the whole family on board (#theylikesnickers), but we have never been healthier and happier, and Alia wants to devote her life to helping other children (and adults) learn that being overweight is a choice--that doesn't involve starving yourself.<br />
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As I have emailed back and forth with Jonathan Bailor (founder of SANESolution.com and NYT bestselling author of <i>The Calorie Myth</i>), I shared my appreciation for his research and program and explained how I feel a kind of calling inside to help share this with the world.<br />
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Well, we collaborated on and launched our SANE Families program a couple of months ago, and now I am the new co-host of Jonathan's podcast, "The SANE Show."<br />
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I'll be writing more about this in the future, but for now, I'd love to share the video trailer (Alia's before and after is in there!) and invite you to <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sane-solution-jonathan-bailor/id541602331?mt=2" target="_blank">subscribe for free via iTunes</a>. We have a new show every week, and I so wish I'd had this information when I was a little girl. It would have saved me years and years of struggles.<br />
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If you have a child who is overweight, or if you are counting calories
and working out every day to try to lose weight (but only ending up
tired and hungry), please join us. I don't want to come across as a
crazy person, but I <i>really, really, really</i> think this is the solution to our country's obesity and diabetes epidemic, and I want to get this information out there. :) <br />
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<b>(3) LearnDoBecome and the STEP Program</b><br />
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I also announced a few months ago that Eric and I just launched our brand new website, www.LearnDoBecome.com. This has been a dream of ours for years, and while the content and podcast will be resuming soon, we've been doing a lot of thinking, planning, and building behind the scenes.<br />
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It's been a gift to get to work side by side with Eric, and it's been fun to see <i>him</i> in "running-a-website" mode while we take turns managing the household and running the carpools. He's super cute behind a laptop... We're creating a platform that we plan to build for the rest of our lives.<br />
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I don't know if you've read <i>Good to Great</i>, but it's an amazing
book, and one of my favorite parts was about identifying your
"hedgehog." What can you do BEST in the whole world? What are you
passionate about? What can drive your economic engine? (Great
questions, don't you think?) <br />
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As we discussed where we can be most helpful in the world through our efforts at LearnDoBecome, Eric expressed his deep love for "Life Architecture"--helping others to map out what they actually want to DO with their lives. More on that in the coming months...<br />
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And as we talked about MY hedgehog, we decided that it was time to take my love for GTD and organization to a new level and build a program that works for moms and dads, husbands and wives, grandmothers and grandfathers, students, singles, professionals, and anyone who is interested in creating a seamless system to manage all the "stuff" that comes at us--so we can use our time and energy in ways that fulfill our deepest purposes.<br />
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I've been working with thousands of moms on this over the past 8 years, and of course I'll still be working with my beloved <i>Mind Organization for Moms</i> community at Power of Moms, but here's the situation: no matter how great the program, a man/student/single/professional doesn't feel super comfortable logging into a website for moms (I don't know <i>why</i>!). Our new program, called <i>Steps to Everyday Productivity</i> (STEP), is co-taught by me and Eric, and it's designed to help people achieve a balance of personal and professional development. I'll share more soon, but the first few modules are up and running, and I am really, really excited about it. <br />
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If you haven't yet joined us at LearnDoBecome, please pop over and sign up for our free guide and audio download, <a href="http://www.learndobecome.com/" target="_blank">"Five Life-Changing Habits Most People Overlook."</a> You'll get a good feel for LearnDoBecome, and then we'll email you when our other resources are ready to go.<br />
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So there you go. Three invitations that I hope will be helpful for your life. <br />
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I look forward to writing more soon and having time to share pictures of my cute parents and stories about what's been happening with our family. (Everyone's doing really well, by the way.)<br />
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Thank you so much for your continued prayers for my mom. I've still been going every week, and I hug and kiss her and sometimes crawl right into her hospital bed so I can hold her in my arms for awhile. Last week she fell asleep on my shoulder, and it was the cutest thing <i>ever</i>.<br />
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Now, if you don't mind me sharing my heart for a second...<br />
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Sometimes, when it's just the two of us, I push my cheek against hers and say, "Mom, there is so much going on. I didn't know it would all get this big. The projects I'm working on are scary for me. I don't know if I'm up to all this."<br />
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She always gets a concerned expression on her face, looks me in the eyes, and then starts a sentence with something like, "Oh, no, you musn't..." but then she trails off and gets distracted by a noise in the hallway or a snag on the corner of her bed sheet or something colorful hanging on the wall, and she forgets what she was trying to say.<br />
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But, like I've written before, I know what she would have said.<br />
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And so one quiet morning, a few weeks ago, I actually wrote down the best advice that my mom and my Heavenly Parents have given me over the years when it comes to facing hard things, and I made an audio recording called "Daily Reminder" that I listen to each day before I jump into my day's work.<br />
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Oh my goodness... That has been one of the most beautiful gifts in my life.<br />
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I don't know <i>how</i> I forget these things from day to day, but every time I hear those reminders, they fill my heart and help me to keep going.<br />
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Because it's not about <i>me</i>.<br />
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Our work is never about <i>us</i>.<br />
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It's about those who can be helped by what we can offer, and it's about listening closely to that Voice who is gracious enough to allow us to be instruments in His hands.<br />
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Okay, I think that's all for tonight.<br />
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Love to all of you! I've missed you.<br />
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April<br />
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April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-53749644051304913222015-07-15T11:05:00.003-07:002015-07-15T11:06:12.054-07:00It's Time to Talk about SANEMany of you know that body image issues have been a struggle for me for most of my life.<br />
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I started counting calories when I was nine, I ate between 600 and 900 calories a day the summer before I started high school, and throughout my first 14 years of motherhood, I tried to eat as little as possible each day--and still get out to exercise (even when I was exhausted from being up all night). That part of my story hasn't been pleasant.<br />
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About a year ago, I started something new. I read <i>The Calorie Myth</i> my Jonathan Bailor, and my frustrations with food and exercise finally made sense to me. He explained the science behind how our bodies work. He told me which foods would help my metabolism to heal. More importantly, he helped me to finally achieve "nutritional serenity," so I don't even have to think about calories anymore.<br />
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I wish I could explain how much this has meant to me. Looking back, I can't believe how many years I spent going hungry.<br />
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(These are my "before and after" photos - I can't tell you how reluctant I have been to post these, but I know it's helpful for people to see...)<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0V-5kmodVA0/VaagVCA1Z5I/AAAAAAAAHhY/T0FzS--uI8A/s1600/April.SANE.Before%2526After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0V-5kmodVA0/VaagVCA1Z5I/AAAAAAAAHhY/T0FzS--uI8A/s640/April.SANE.Before%2526After.jpg" width="598" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
But the story gets better...a lot better.<br />
<br />
My daughter, Alia, started struggling with her weight when she was in third grade. I helped her to count calories (like I did), and I encouraged her to eat less sugar. I also tried to get her moving more and invited her to participate in my workout DVDs. Nothing worked. She kept getting heavier and heavier.<br />
<br />
However, when I started applying the advice from Jonathan and <i>The Calorie Myth</i>, she saw that it was working for me, and she began to follow my lead.<br />
<br />
It was slow at first. We started eating green smoothies together, and I showed her how to get protein into every meal. But over the course of a few months, her entire body changed. Every few weeks, we were heading off to Old Navy to buy her smaller pants and poking new holes in her belt so she could tighten it.<br />
<br />
It wasn't only her body that transformed. She became happier and more confident than I had ever seen her--without EVER being hungry.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvKdtbRVHog/VaagThksguI/AAAAAAAAHhM/qfbGQzd9XaU/s1600/Alia.SANE.Before%2526After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UvKdtbRVHog/VaagThksguI/AAAAAAAAHhM/qfbGQzd9XaU/s640/Alia.SANE.Before%2526After.jpg" width="614" /></a> <br />
<br />
Last September, I reached out to Jonathan Bailor on Twitter and thanked him for making a difference in our lives. Then I invited him on Power of Moms Radio, and he invited me onto his podcast.<br />
<br />
We talked about Alia--and all the mothers, fathers, and children out there who are overweight and/or diabetic--not because they are weak, but because they don't know what to do besides "eat less and exercise more."<br />
<br />
Then we decided we could do something together to help save lives. We outlined a step-by-step program for families--including things like how to grocery shop, how to pack SANE lunches, and how to eat healthfully while on the go. We recorded videos about how to get organized so the process would feel easier, and we interviewed Alia regarding how she made this transformation as a 15-year-old girl.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://learndobecome.com/sane">This week, our SANE Families program has launched. </a><br />
<br />
It has taken <i>hundreds</i> of hours behind the scenes to get it up and running, and there's still a lot of work ahead of us to get it out to the families who need it, but this is part of my Butterfly Project I've been telling you about.<br />
<br />
My life and Alia's life have been so transformed by Jonathan's work that we feel compelled to share it with others who are struggling like we were.<br />
<br />
If you want to hear our podcast with Jonathan and learn more about our SANE Families projects, this is the link that includes all of the key SANE information:<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_1375293784"><br /></a>
<a href="http://learndobecome.com/sane">http://learndobecome.com/sane</a><br />
<br />
So excited about this--and hopeful that we can make a real difference.<br />
<br />
Much love,<br />
AprilApril Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-69761282325501300762015-07-08T09:46:00.001-07:002015-07-08T09:46:19.665-07:00When Your Knowledge of God is Deep in Your Core<br />
<b>***Quick Book Update (before I start this post):</b><br />
<br />
Thank you all for your support and inquiries regarding my upcoming book, <i>Your Children Want YOU! </i>I am more excited about it than I can say, and I thought it might be helpful to let you know what's happening.<br />
<br />
(1) The book is finished. It has taken more than two years, but it's done.<br />
<br />
(2)
I shared it with my dear friend Rachel Nielson, who is more than an
editor. She's a deliberate mother who lost her amazing mom to cancer
years ago (<a href="https://powerofmoms.com/worth-fighting-for/">you can read her story here</a>). Out of everyone in the world, I felt like she could give me the feedback I needed on this book.<br />
<br />
(3)
She did. In fact, her feedback was so good that I decided to take some
extra time to apply all of her edits and publish the book "right."
Rachel has never met my mom, but she knows her. She would say things
about my book like, "I don't think you meant it this way. I think your
mom would have said ____ instead." And she was absolutely right.<br />
<br />
(4)
The book is coming. I feel like it's a sacred project that will not
only honor my mother, but will strengthen others who need her.<br />
<br />
This is what I wrote in the dedication:<br />
<br />
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<i>To My Mother, Zoe:</i></div>
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<i>Even though you can no longer remember these stories, </i></div>
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<i>I am keeping them safe for you and sharing your light with the world.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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So
I'll be announcing more soon, but if you want to receive an email when I
launch, please sign up at <a href="http://learndobecome.com/">http://LearnDoBecome.com</a> (the new site my
husband and I just launched that I'll talk more about soon!)</div>
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<br /></div>
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With love,</div>
April<br />
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<br />
<b>Okay...now here's today's post: </b><br />
<br />
I was about to jump into my day (lots of emails and projects calling my name), but I felt like I should pause for a moment to record a powerful experience that won't leave me. I hope it will be helpful for you.<br />
<br />
Last Thursday, my children and I went to visit my mom (as usual!). We went boogie boarding at the beach first, so we were a bit tired when we got there. I actually crawled into my mom's hospital bed right next to her and took a little nap while she held me. I haven't done something like that in nearly 20 years.<br />
<br />
Well, after our rest time and our dinner, my sister Laura came over to visit for a little while. We pulled up a few chairs around Mom's hospital bed--me, Laura, Grace, and Alia--and then we just talked.<br />
<br />
Mom doesn't participate in these conversations anymore. She usually fiddles with her bedding or hugs her stuffed animal (a blue bunny this week!), and then whenever we make eye contact, she smiles at us like this:<br />
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<br />
A few minutes into the conversation, Laura mentioned that she was teaching a lesson at church that Sunday about justice and mercy. (<a href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/where-justice-love-and-mercy-meet?lang=eng">This excellent talk was the basis for her lesson...I definitely recommend reading it.</a>)<br />
<br />
We talked for a bit about what kinds of questions she could ask in her lesson and about how we have personally felt the Lord's mercy in our lives.<br />
<br />
Then I shared a thought that has been strengthening me for the last few weeks:<br />
<br />
<i>I need the Lord's mercy every single day. Sometimes I look at the challenges--and the opportunities--in front of me, and I think, "There is NO way I can do this. Zero. I don't have what it takes. I don't have the energy. I can't possibly get through this. I am not up to the task." </i><br />
<br />
<i>But then I step back for a moment, and I ask myself, "Has there EVER been a time--even once--when the Lord has let me down?" </i><br />
<br />
<i>And the answer is, "Not once." There hasn't been one time in my entire life when I have felt like I was falling, and when I have called to the Lord for help, and when he hasn't come to rescue me. He gives me SO much more than I merit, and so when I start walking into what seems to be a long, dark, overwhelming time in my life, I only need to remember that I have help RIGHT there.</i><br />
<br />
The power I feel when I remember these thoughts completely lifts me. However, what is more powerful is what my mom was doing while I shared those thoughts.<br />
<br />
"Look," Laura said, "Look at Mom. She's listening. She's here. She's nodding her head."<br />
<br />
I turned to look at my mother (who is about five years into her Alzheimer's), and although she didn't have the words to say it, this is what I felt:<br />
<br />
<i>April, what you're saying is true. The Lord is there for you. He's there for me. Don't give up. NEVER doubt Him. His mercy is a gift, and whenever you need Him--no matter what--He will take care of you. </i><br />
<br />
I wish I could have taken a photograph or a video of her face and her eyes. I wish you could have seen how she wasn't confused or distracted for those few moments.<br />
<br />
<i> </i><br />
And do you know why?<br />
<br />
Because her knowledge of God is so deep in her core that nothing--not Alzheimer's, not dementia, not old age--can take it from her.<br />
<br />
<i>That</i> is what I want for me and for my family.<br />
<br />
Forget about all of the shallow things that get way too much attention these days. <i>They don't matter</i>.<br />
<br />
Forget about the questions or doubts that creep in. <i>They're not from the right Source</i>.<br />
<br />
Life is <i>not</i> easy--for anyone. But I have no doubt whatsoever that God loves us, knows us, and cares for us. It is by His power that we can do whatever He asks.<br />
<br />
I hope you can feel His love for you today. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-51943364817610770122015-06-22T10:14:00.000-07:002015-06-22T10:16:35.162-07:00CocooningI've received several inquiries lately from those of you who read this blog--essentially asking, "How are you? How's your mom? What's happening right now?"<br>
<br>
Thank you so much for caring.<br>
<br>
A <i>lot</i> has been going on these past few months, and I had to take a step back to assess where I am, what I am doing, and where I am going with my life.<br>
<br>
I'll be talking more about this soon, but I'm calling this process my "Butterfly Project," and I've been in the "Cocooning" phase.<br>
<br>
(Eric refers to it as my mid-life chrysalis. Isn't that a fun concept?)<br>
<br>
I didn't talk about my Butterfly Project openly at first because I thought it sounded silly. But as I've slowly opened up about the process to a few close friends, I've discovered that it's practically a universal need to assess and redefine ourselves every so often.<br>
<br>
In many ways, I've been living my life as a caterpillar--staying close to the ground, living below my privileges, and being okay with situations that simply are not optimal. And while I know I have a blessed life with <i>so</i> many beautiful parts, living as a caterpillar is exhausting. You have to crawl <i>everywhere</i>, even though deep inside you know you have the capacity to fly.<br>
<br>
Well, a few months ago, I decided that it was time for a change. It's time to shake things up and get past all of my super-comfortable limiting beliefs and become that butterfly I've been dreaming about all my life.<br>
<br>
This is scary. It's even scary to write about here, but I'm going to make this transformation or literally die trying. (There's nothing particularly dangerous about this process--I just mean that I will either succeed soon or I will keep trying until my days in this life come to a close...hopefully after I hit 100.)<br>
<br>
I want to live my life with purpose every single day and know with
absolute surety that I am pleasing my Creator. I want to breathe deeply
and feel more confident with my decisions. I want to feel joyful--even
when life isn't easy. <br>
<br>
This cocooning process has consisted of spending lots of time in thought and prayer, reading dozens of books that have opened my mind to possibilities, and having hours and hours of important discussions with Eric--who has been my #1 Butterfly Project champion. (He hung these glass butterflies on my wall, and then Alia made this darling caterpillar to inspire me.)<br>
<br>
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<br>
At this point, it's about time for my cocooning to come to an end, as it is starting to feel stifling here in this chrysalis. :)<br>
<br>
So look for more posts coming in the next few weeks!<br>
<br>
Now before I close, I do want to give you a brief update on my mom.<br>
<br>
In many ways, she is doing really well. She's totally off of hospice, and her caregiver, Cheryl, is doing an amazing job. Mom is more responsive than she has been in a long time, and she is even reading a few sentences at a time. (That <i>floored</i> us.)<br>
<br>
The hard part is that she never knows me.<br>
<br>
She knows some people in the family, but I can't remember the last time she said my name.<br>
<br>
Honestly, I'm okay with it now. It's enough just to be with her. I hug her and say, "I'm April. I'm your daughter."<br>
<br>
And she says, "Oh, yes, of course!" (Even though I know she doesn't quite remember...)<br>
<br>
At last week's visit, I was getting dinner out of the car, and Alia and Grace went into my parents' house first. Mom was in her wheelchair by the window, and the girls said, "Our mom is coming in soon. When you see her, say, 'Hi April!'"<br>
<br>
They practiced with her over and over, and then when I walked in, she gave me a big smile and--with the girls by her side, slightly holding their breaths--said simply, "Hi!"<br>
<br>
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<br>
My girls were so darling. They said, "Oh, we're sorry, Mom. We tried so hard to help her say your name."<br>
<br>
I told them it was okay, and I let them know I appreciated their effort.<br>
<br>
Later that night, as I sat alone in my room, however, it struck me just <i>how</i> sweet that was of them.<br>
<br>
To know that I have children who know me and love me is such a gift. They're perceptive enough to know how much it would mean to me to hear my mother say my name. That fills me. <br>
<br>
Thank you for your friendship and your goodness and for all you are doing to strengthen <i>your</i> families. Thank you for caring about our family and this life we're working so hard to live well.<br>
<br>
Excited to share more soon.<br>
<br>
With love,<br>
April (the Butterfly)April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-43749228348740932722015-02-13T11:54:00.001-08:002015-02-18T15:35:38.319-08:00The BEST "Winnie the Pooh" Experience You'll Ever HaveWoodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, California will be featuring "Winnie the Pooh" the first two weekends in March, and if there is <i>any</i> way you can make it, please do! (More details below, if you want to attend!)<br />
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<br />
<b>The quick story: </b> I first saw Wilson High School's "Winnie the Pooh" with my sister Laura when I was a little girl (four years old, maybe?). I was <i>enchanted</i> with the tissue-paper leaf canopy hanging from the ceiling, and the entire production was magical.<br />
<br />
Then as a 14-year-old freshman drama student, I auditioned for the play, and when I was cast as one of the little rabbits, I could hardly contain my excitement. (The cast list was posted right before Christmas break, and I spent several hours of that break hopping around my house to get into character. I know...kind of ridiculous, but this was a DREAM COME TRUE.)<br />
<br />
As a junior, when we did another Winnie the Pooh play (it's an every-other-year thing), I had the chance to be Kanga. Again...a dream come true.<br />
<br />
I had to laugh when I spoke with a recent Kanga (two years ago) because she was <i>born</i> the year I played her part. Hello? When did I get old?<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bgwsqvd_Dj4/VN5PB2C6hII/AAAAAAAAHRo/5fddN7EyCo8/s1600/April%26Kanga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bgwsqvd_Dj4/VN5PB2C6hII/AAAAAAAAHRo/5fddN7EyCo8/s640/April%26Kanga.JPG" /> </a></div>
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This is Mr. Bowden, my high school drama teacher, who has promised never to retire. :)</div>
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When I spoke with him after <i>Winnie the Pooh</i> a couple of years ago, I said, "We have <i>got</i> to get the mom bloggers involved and fill this theater up. No one knows about this!"</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ehdb1YPUyfM/VN5PCFn_nQI/AAAAAAAAHRs/VNxTUC1dWBk/s1600/Bowden.Perry.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ehdb1YPUyfM/VN5PCFn_nQI/AAAAAAAAHRs/VNxTUC1dWBk/s640/Bowden.Perry.png" /> </a></div>
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So this year, that is exactly what I am doing. </div>
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Here are a few more photos, and then details are below regarding how you can get tickets. (Please come!!)</div>
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One of the best parts of the performance is when the characters sign autographs at the end. (I didn't take photos during the show, so this is mostly what I have...) Do you see the smile on my son's face?</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmatoMGPMAY/VN5PFr235gI/AAAAAAAAHR4/7im7xYyKgYI/s1600/BoysAutographsWinniethePooh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zmatoMGPMAY/VN5PFr235gI/AAAAAAAAHR4/7im7xYyKgYI/s640/BoysAutographsWinniethePooh.JPG" /> </a></div>
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There's Pooh, Owl, Kanga, and Tigger... </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OnZKhcKu6sg/VN5PNvGE75I/AAAAAAAAHSI/2EjodFetegY/s1600/GirlsAutographsWinnieThePooh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OnZKhcKu6sg/VN5PNvGE75I/AAAAAAAAHSI/2EjodFetegY/s640/GirlsAutographsWinnieThePooh.JPG" /></a></div>
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And Auntie Robin, Christopher Robin, Roo, and Rabbit:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKhvLvJ6ZJg/VN5PkVu4udI/AAAAAAAAHSw/OTu-SlOAU8A/s1600/IMG_7922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKhvLvJ6ZJg/VN5PkVu4udI/AAAAAAAAHSw/OTu-SlOAU8A/s640/IMG_7922.JPG" /> </a></div>
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The show is lively, fun, and clever, and it is <i>perfect</i> for any child (or adult). Seriously, you will not regret the experience, and you will wish you had brought all your friends. </div>
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So...are you wondering how to reserve your spot?</div>
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<b>Here are the details: </b></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Tickets
are $10 for adults, $5 for kids, and all kids under the age of 1 are
free. (This is a STEAL.)</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">The dates are </span></span></span><span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">March 6th, 7th, 13th, and 14th.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Friday
nights at 7:00 p.m. </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421862412105=2e7e0c6fd4c07479715.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Saturdays @ 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Typically, you can't reserve tickets in advance, but Mr. Bowden has agreed to make an exception for YOU.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Please email april (at) powerofmoms (dot) com with the subject line "Winnie the Pooh" (the subject line is really important, or you might get filtered out) and I'll tell you how to get in touch with Mr. Bowden and which show I will be personally attending with my family. We're also doing a group picnic that day! </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">Can't wait!!! So excited for you to experience it with your children.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">With love,</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="" data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0"><span data-reactid=".2u.$mid=11421899220543=2ea6eff0eb623566045.2:0.0.0.0.0.0.$end:0:$0:0">April </span></span></span></div>
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April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-71214163720058173462015-01-21T21:18:00.001-08:002015-01-21T23:27:22.803-08:00Heaven-Sent LiftI miss you. <div><br></div><div>I miss writing on this blog. </div><div><br></div><div>I wish I could just sit down every day and talk about all the things I am learning, and all the funny things that are happening, and all of the exciting activities that are totally out of my comfort zone, but for which I am very grateful.<div><br></div><div>But tonight I just want to record a simple idea that has brought me more strength in the last two days then I had hoped to receive.</div><div><br></div><div>I woke up yesterday morning with five or six heavy things weighing on my mind, and because it was early, and no one else was awake, I went quietly downstairs and sat cross-legged on the carpet in front of our little gas fireplace to have my personal time with God.</div><div><br></div><div>I read <a x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/04/with-god-nothing-shall-be-impossible?lang=eng&query=focus" x-apple-data-detectors="true" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">this talk</a>, <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">and this particular line jumped out at me:</span></div><a x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/04/with-god-nothing-shall-be-impossible?lang=eng&query=focus" x-apple-data-detectors="true">
</a><div><a x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/04/with-god-nothing-shall-be-impossible?lang=eng&query=focus" x-apple-data-detectors="true"></a></div><a x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/04/with-god-nothing-shall-be-impossible?lang=eng&query=focus" x-apple-data-detectors="true">
</a><div><a x-apple-data-detectors-type="link" x-apple-data-detectors-result="0" href="https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1988/04/with-god-nothing-shall-be-impossible?lang=eng&query=focus" x-apple-data-detectors="true"></a></div><div><br></div><div><b>"Heaven-sent lift will be found for heaven-sent duties."</b></div><div><br></div><div>All of a sudden, I looked at my list of worries I had recorded in my journal and realized that <i>every single one of them </i>was heaven sent.</div><div><br></div><div>I think you can relate....</div><div><br></div><div>Everything involving my family, my work at Power of Moms, or my interactions with God's children is work I am doing <i>only </i>because I want to serve my King.</div><div><br></div><div>I know many of you feel likewise.</div><div><br></div><div>And so I realized I didn't need to worry.</div><div><br></div><div>Instead, I simply needed to ask Him to send the help that He has promised.</div><div><br></div><div>Well, the help came--that "lift" I had hoped for.</div><div><br></div><div>It came with more power and peace and beauty than I feel I deserved. </div><div><br></div><div>My heart has been SO calm, and the past couple of days have felt incredibly empowering.</div><div><br></div><div>As I look back, I can pinpoint the start of this miracle to the moment I read that promise from above.</div><div><br></div><div>So I wanted to take just a moment to share it with you. And I want to make <i>sure</i> you know that for all of your heaven-sent duties, heaven-sent lift WILL come...if you just ask. </div><div><br></div><div>With Love, </div><div>April</div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-333710010244996962014-12-23T21:18:00.000-08:002014-12-23T21:18:01.035-08:00Alia's Room Tour!Merry Christmas week, everyone! Alia is home from school on a break, and so she is guest-posting for me. :) Hope you are all doing well.<br />
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xoxoxo<br />
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Hi everyone! This is Alia, April's daughter, and today I am going to share how I decorated my room on a budget (and mostly by myself). I have received a lot of questions about my room decorations, and I thought that I could answer most of them in a blog post. For the most part, I spent my own money on the things in my room (a few things were Christmas/birthday gifts).<br />
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I got my own room when I was 12, and for two whole years, I had zero decorations. I didn't really care about them too much, and I rarely spent time in my room. Now that I am 14 (almost 15), I spend more time in my room for homework, craft projects, and other things that I'm working on. I really wanted my room to be a space that I loved, and that's just what it's become.<br />
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The first step was painting. I didn't like all the work that went into painting the walls, so I only painted one wall a color. One wall is teal and all of the other walls are white. (I did need my parents' help with this).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZFTdfPcMc4/VJmmZlqX_jI/AAAAAAAAHJY/wtXoidL5Nl4/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-23%2Bat%2B9.26.42%2BAM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OZFTdfPcMc4/VJmmZlqX_jI/AAAAAAAAHJY/wtXoidL5Nl4/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-23%2Bat%2B9.26.42%2BAM.png" height="318" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what you see when you first walk into my room. I love art and color, so my room is full of it. My comforter is from Target (<a href="http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-chevron-comforter-white/-/A-13956897#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=chevron+bedding">HERE</a>), and the matching pillow cases were sold separately (<a href="http://www.target.com/p/room-essentials-chevron-duvet-cover-set/-/A-14276465#prodSlot=medium_1_2&term=chevron+bedding">HERE</a>). I really like these colors, and *bonus* it's reversible! It can also be plain yellow, but for now, I like the pattern. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DBBtJnpZmWU/VJmmx3fsFEI/AAAAAAAAHJg/ua8n7jiYLlg/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DBBtJnpZmWU/VJmmx3fsFEI/AAAAAAAAHJg/ua8n7jiYLlg/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom01.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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My bed is really tall because of these risers. I don't have closet space for everything in my room, so it's kept under my bed. I probably have three rows of boxes plus 4 boxes of fabric. My bed frame was pretty cheap--it's a Universal Bed Frame (<a href="http://www.samsclub.com/sams/universal-bed-frame/103236.ip?navAction=">HERE</a>), and it works for every size bed. We got the risers <a href="http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/tall-black-bed-lifts-trade-set-of-4/1013262713?Keyword=bed+risers">HERE</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hz2SRqibCw8/VJmmyM-bycI/AAAAAAAAHJk/trhcBu7GqpE/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hz2SRqibCw8/VJmmyM-bycI/AAAAAAAAHJk/trhcBu7GqpE/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom02.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
And now for the pillows on my bed. I have the two from Target and lots of homemade ones. This is just a pillow from the craft/sewing store. You're supposed to make a cover for it, but I left it plain and painted it. I didn't have any fabric paint on hand--just acrylic, but it never washes out of fabrics, so I think it works. :)<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgnGcwIjDoI/VJmmyIOtITI/AAAAAAAAHJo/Ndu_ycIqH5U/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wgnGcwIjDoI/VJmmyIOtITI/AAAAAAAAHJo/Ndu_ycIqH5U/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom03.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the back of one of my pillows. I made two of these out of some fabric and batting. I just made a rectangle, sewed it together, and added batting. It probably took an hour for two matching pillows. I love making these, because they are so simple and easy, and you can use any kind of fabric that you want. (Mine are made of a not-too-sparkly gray material).<br />
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This is probably my favorite wall in my room. It started off with one tiny painting, and I've been adding to it for about a year. I got the canvases as a Christmas present, and I think they were on sale at Michaels. I got some of the picture frames from Walmart (2 for $2), and they had lots of different sizes. Also, I use painter's tape to hang all the papers up (so that my paint won't get damaged). One thing that you should probably know about me is that I'll see something on Instagram or Pinterest, and I'll be able to recreate it. Most of the things on my walls are things that I've seen somewhere else. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SmlM_QjxNoY/VJmmyyWh6ZI/AAAAAAAAHJ8/0RwGCHEFC9w/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SmlM_QjxNoY/VJmmyyWh6ZI/AAAAAAAAHJ8/0RwGCHEFC9w/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom05.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I saw this painting<a href="http://www.merricksart.com/2014/04/blogging-essentials-part-2-personalized.html"> HERE,</a> and I really liked how it looked. I printed out a hexagon, traced it, and painted it! Super simple and easy.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peP03jZ_m1Y/VJmmzCyD8_I/AAAAAAAAHKE/Q1s3BvGhbgU/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-peP03jZ_m1Y/VJmmzCyD8_I/AAAAAAAAHKE/Q1s3BvGhbgU/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom06.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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My younger sister helped me with this painting. She found it on Pinterest and drew it on a canvas, and then I painted it. She made one for her room with different colors and with a different animal.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GilnZ7yUPQU/VJmmzXIzD6I/AAAAAAAAHKM/NNPi_aeLEw8/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GilnZ7yUPQU/VJmmzXIzD6I/AAAAAAAAHKM/NNPi_aeLEw8/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom07.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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This part of my wall has things from all over the place. The silhouette is one that I found online, traced onto cardboard, painted, and cut out. The hand is from a project in my art class. We just traced our hand on construction paper, and decorated it with henna designs. The 'A' is from Michaels, and it started out as a plain wooden letter, but I spray-painted it yellow. The drawing is from my friend Lia (You can read more about Lia <a href="http://powerofafamily.blogspot.com/2014/04/lia-and-alia-and-favorite-day-of-my-life.html">HERE</a>). Anyways, I really liked this drawing, so I put it in one of the inexpensive frames from Walmart. The giraffe was just an image that I found online (<a href="http://www.iphonewallpapers.me/giraffe-cubs/">HERE</a>). <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8nGeWriKV_c/VJmmzk27UqI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/1q46vgzxeuw/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8nGeWriKV_c/VJmmzk27UqI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/1q46vgzxeuw/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom08.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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I've seen this painting all over the Internet, and I decided to make one for myself. I made it with melted crayons, so that's why it looks a little bit messy.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvTSuf9xNk4/VJmm0DYPd5I/AAAAAAAAHKY/Lb5Hs4O6qxI/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wvTSuf9xNk4/VJmm0DYPd5I/AAAAAAAAHKY/Lb5Hs4O6qxI/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom09.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I just went to the 'quotes' section on Pinterest, and I found all of these things. I printed them out, and the washi tape at the top is just for decoration (the tape is super weak, and it can't hold anything up).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NYoRJXN6TgA/VJmm0avo_3I/AAAAAAAAHLg/jjG8H8wYO9w/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NYoRJXN6TgA/VJmm0avo_3I/AAAAAAAAHLg/jjG8H8wYO9w/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom10.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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More quotes from Pinterest, and I painted a C.S. Lewis quote onto a canvas. (That was actually my very first painting that went up on my wall).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVl572Zx7K4/VJmm03GRNuI/AAAAAAAAHKo/6FONgk3nSac/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FVl572Zx7K4/VJmm03GRNuI/AAAAAAAAHKo/6FONgk3nSac/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom11.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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I used watercolors for the two paintings at the top (my favorite water colors ever <a href="http://www.michaels.com/artists-loft-fundamentals-watercolor-pan-set/10122060.html#q=watercolor&start=3">HERE</a>). I used permanent marker on canvas for the feather. I just looked at a picture online, and I made my own version of it. It took about an hour, but I think it was worth it!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUPunfcw0vI/VJmm1Hlq7jI/AAAAAAAAHKs/aPvkCkdN7b0/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUPunfcw0vI/VJmm1Hlq7jI/AAAAAAAAHKs/aPvkCkdN7b0/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom12.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
And now for the things above my bed. I used yarn and felt to make the triangles that are hanging above my bed (I also have a matching one above my door). I just cut a bunch of triangles out, and hot glued them to yarn. It was super easy. I made a different one for my grandparents, but it was made of Christmas colored hexagons. I used 5 square canvases for the paintings above my bed. (More on them below).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aDj83aB-Woo/VJmm1oWtCgI/AAAAAAAAHK0/dr_DMJeWfDA/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aDj83aB-Woo/VJmm1oWtCgI/AAAAAAAAHK0/dr_DMJeWfDA/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom13.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here are a couple of the paintings. I sketched them in pencil, and then I painted them. (More info about the drawings below).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lHMQEyMf7Do/VJmm-zxKLwI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/FhqoBt4P5b8/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom32.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lHMQEyMf7Do/VJmm-zxKLwI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/FhqoBt4P5b8/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom32.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used these three drawing books for the paintings (above), and in a different part of my room (getting to that in a minute :) These books make drawing SO simple, especially for kids. I got these as a Christmas present a year ago. The author is Sachiko Umoto, and these are the books I like best. I seriously recommend getting these for your children. I've never found a set of art books that I liked this much!<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Illustration-School-Lets-Happy-People/dp/1592536468/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y">Let's Draw Happy People</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Illustration-School-Lets-Draw-Animals/dp/159253645X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1419359049&sr=1-1&keywords=sachiko+umoto">Let's Draw Cute Animals</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Illustration-School-Plants-Small-Creatures/dp/1592536476/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_z">Let's Draw Plants and Small Creatures </a><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLH_Qf6A-uA/VJmm9PzQs5I/AAAAAAAAHNE/rgioL5jVI-0/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom31.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qLH_Qf6A-uA/VJmm9PzQs5I/AAAAAAAAHNE/rgioL5jVI-0/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom31.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the other side of my room. :) I'll explain more below.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8P67KKyFyo8/VJmm5vzsdsI/AAAAAAAAHLw/NLucN-kntds/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8P67KKyFyo8/VJmm5vzsdsI/AAAAAAAAHLw/NLucN-kntds/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom22.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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I made paper 'pinwheels' for my door, and they are so easy. You take a square paper, and make 4 cuts from each corner to the middle, but you don't cut it apart. You fold every other point (there will be 8) into the middle, and then you can glue and tape them together however you like.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvls8tqFCCs/VJmm5ZaqjvI/AAAAAAAAHLs/bDYJw8Ui4Js/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom21.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kvls8tqFCCs/VJmm5ZaqjvI/AAAAAAAAHLs/bDYJw8Ui4Js/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom21.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a> </div>
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These are my little cubbies, and they hold everything. For example, I keep paint, scrapbook supplies, clay, stamps, ink pads, school supplies, and curling irons/hair stuff in all of the buckets. I got the cubbies from Home Depot (<a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Martha-Stewart-Living-36-in-x-36-in-White-Stackable-9-Cube-Organizer-4904/202040802?MERCH=REC-_-nosearch2_rr-_-NA-_-202040802-_-N">HERE</a>). I put the cubbies together myself, and the instruction were pretty easy. This is one of the things that I spent my own money on. It was on sale, so I got a great deal. The yellow and teal boxes were extra, and I also spent my money on those. (<a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/Martha-Stewart-Living-10-1-2-in-x-11-in-Lagoon-Blue-Fabric-Drawer-4928/202040769?MERCH=REC-_-PIPHorizontal1_rr-_-204149524-_-202040769-_-N">HERE</a>).</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JnAOxYCmtdY/VJmm2CE26jI/AAAAAAAAHK8/xPYOOIoXoaE/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JnAOxYCmtdY/VJmm2CE26jI/AAAAAAAAHK8/xPYOOIoXoaE/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom14.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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This is just an example of what is in one of my drawers. I like having my things stored in these because I don't need to have these perfectly organized and out in the open. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_2OSz-OvrE/VJmm2gcI-8I/AAAAAAAAHLE/UZZ4zBbV-3E/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m_2OSz-OvrE/VJmm2gcI-8I/AAAAAAAAHLE/UZZ4zBbV-3E/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom15.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's what's on top of my cubbies. I got this clock for Christmas when I was 10 or 11, and I really love it, but it was discontinued. You can find it on Amazon, but they are selling it for $200+ and I got mine for $40. One of the best purchases I have ever made is this candle warmer. I love candles and all of the different scents, but it's so dangerous to have candles in our rooms. I got this one at Target, and I love it. (More about it below).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ8PqHtl7hU/VJmm28gl3TI/AAAAAAAAHLI/F-LIET_2IeE/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hJ8PqHtl7hU/VJmm28gl3TI/AAAAAAAAHLI/F-LIET_2IeE/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom16.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the candle warmer, and these are a few of the scents that I have. Walmart has them for $2-3, and Target has them for $3-4, but you can find them on sale most times. I bought the candle warmer for $10 on sale, and this one is similar, but it's a bit more expensive (<a href="http://www.target.com/p/home-scents-electric-wax-melt-warmer-white/-/A-14217477#prodSlot=medium_1_20&term=candle+wax+melter">HERE</a>).<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SeniusXgBtk/VJmm3iOUktI/AAAAAAAAHLU/WdgMB2Nt23U/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SeniusXgBtk/VJmm3iOUktI/AAAAAAAAHLU/WdgMB2Nt23U/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom17.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TU_BhCLA1fE/VJmm31eNPyI/AAAAAAAAHLY/MHnyiPsjcz0/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TU_BhCLA1fE/VJmm31eNPyI/AAAAAAAAHLY/MHnyiPsjcz0/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom18.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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This is what's on top of my cubbies. I have an art project giraffe/bug, a bunch of books and journals, and paintings! I found these on Pinterest, and I love having them in my room. The four square paintings are made of some really thin wood that I found at Home Depot, and I attached little hanging brackets to the back of them. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-409rJ54Kgnw/VJmm46yQZWI/AAAAAAAAHLo/oPnDEA85TKs/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-409rJ54Kgnw/VJmm46yQZWI/AAAAAAAAHLo/oPnDEA85TKs/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom20.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Right next to my cubbies, I have a desk/work area. I'm using this space all the time, so it's super important for me to keep my desk clean. The shelves are just pieces of white wood and shelf supports/brackets from Home Depot. The desk is from Target, but I can't find the exact link. I helped pay for half of the desk, since it was kind of expensive (not more than $100 though.) My parents helped to put the desk together because it was kind of complicated.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qQSTCNr_UkM/VJmm55AUVpI/AAAAAAAAHL0/KUVuKUG-3V4/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qQSTCNr_UkM/VJmm55AUVpI/AAAAAAAAHL0/KUVuKUG-3V4/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom23.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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I got this teal chair from Target too, and it was about $20. I have a little plant too (it's one of the plants that doesn't die easily). I'm kind of obsessed with Easter Island (I'm going there one day!), and I have a little painting of one of the statues. I also have my cutting mat handy (from the craft store), because I'm always using it!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BSJskd4-H9w/VJmm6QzS0gI/AAAAAAAAHL8/aBoiF3SvyZE/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BSJskd4-H9w/VJmm6QzS0gI/AAAAAAAAHL8/aBoiF3SvyZE/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom25.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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This is the wall I was talking about earlier, the one that I used the art books for. My three younger siblings helped to draw a ton of animals, plants, and people, and I used them on my wall. I used my water colors to fill them in, and I love all the colors!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cywyuxd2Bzs/VJmm7TMfg_I/AAAAAAAAHMM/02XuivDQaSA/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom27.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cywyuxd2Bzs/VJmm7TMfg_I/AAAAAAAAHMM/02XuivDQaSA/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom27.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cywyuxd2Bzs/VJmm7TMfg_I/AAAAAAAAHMM/02XuivDQaSA/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
Here are a couple close-up pictures of all the drawings:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrwPBP-pMg0/VJmm7qjsmkI/AAAAAAAAHMQ/l89u9_3sAFs/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrwPBP-pMg0/VJmm7qjsmkI/AAAAAAAAHMQ/l89u9_3sAFs/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom28.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_SodqES6OIo/VJmm8cwAEAI/AAAAAAAAHNI/Y75yckyb0fQ/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom29.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_SodqES6OIo/VJmm8cwAEAI/AAAAAAAAHNI/Y75yckyb0fQ/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom29.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
I totally skipped over my shelves...I'll talk about them now! I have lots of little print-outs. One of my favorites says 'Painting is my happy place' and you can print your own out <a href="http://www.u-createcrafts.com/craft-printables/">HERE</a>! :) I also have this little colorful container to hold my chapsticks (container from Target..Only a couple of dollars). <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GcEymbdC-w/VJmm_WuDTfI/AAAAAAAAHNk/pBKXIob4da8/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GcEymbdC-w/VJmm_WuDTfI/AAAAAAAAHNk/pBKXIob4da8/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom33.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Then I have an 'Up' section of the shelf. It is my favorite movie, so I printed out a few pictures, and I made printable 3D characters! (More info below).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8LgNOS6Uyc/VJmm_ZbfiAI/AAAAAAAAHNc/MQA6_ARSIdA/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8LgNOS6Uyc/VJmm_ZbfiAI/AAAAAAAAHNc/MQA6_ARSIdA/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom34.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
Disney's website has 3D characters from pretty much every movie(from princesses to Toy Story, Cars, Star Wars, etc..), and they were pretty easy to put together. Little kids might need some help following the directions. Also, I don't recommend using tape/craft glue, because they fall apart too easily. If you use a hot glue gun, they stay together and dry quickly. Find them <a href="http://family.disney.com/crafts/up-house-with-balloons">HERE</a>. You can actually just search 'papercraft' in the search bar, and every 3D printable will pop up. :)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bejfYRJkU4/VJmm_3qB2kI/AAAAAAAAHNo/HeepVvx2IMU/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0bejfYRJkU4/VJmm_3qB2kI/AAAAAAAAHNo/HeepVvx2IMU/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom35.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
The final thing on my shelf is a small jewelry hanger. It keeps my necklaces so organized, and it's a cute little tree! Similar one <a href="http://www.target.com/p/branch-jewelry-tree-dark-silver/-/A-14528330#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=jewlery+tree">HERE</a>. I think that adding little personal touches like the 3D printables or art projects not only save you money (most are handmade or very low cost), they help your room to look creative and cute! <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6s4_HzBJk54/VJmnAHz7-lI/AAAAAAAAHNw/UNhHQFhPwyY/s1600/Alia%27s%2BRoom36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6s4_HzBJk54/VJmnAHz7-lI/AAAAAAAAHNw/UNhHQFhPwyY/s1600/Alia's%2BRoom36.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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Well, if you've made it all the way through, thanks for reading! I have loved adding to my room over the past couple of years, and for the most part, I was responsible for paying for the things that I wanted in my room. All the hard work was worth it, and I learned so many skills along the way! (From putting cubbies together to learning how to paint new things). </div>
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Hope you enjoyed this tour of Alia's room! (She makes me smile...I am not even HALF that creative.)</div>
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Good luck with your own decorations, and please feel free to leave comments. Alia would be happy to answer any questions. :)</div>
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With Love,</div>
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April</div>
<br />April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-31440178729031369472014-12-14T23:00:00.000-08:002014-12-14T23:00:10.618-08:00The Christmas I Didn't Know I'd HaveMy mom started receiving hospice care in May.<br />
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Her Alzheimer's had progressed to the point that she needed to be in bed full time, so her doctor signed the form allowing for extra nurses to come in and tend to her at home.<br />
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The prognosis? Approximately six months to live.<br />
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I remember when I heard the news. I started counting on my fingers, "June, July, August, September, October, November."<br />
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Then it hit me that I might not have my mom with me during this holiday season.<br />
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Well, although my mother is still in bed, and although she still doesn't know who I am, she is doing <i>so well, </i>and so I thought I'd post a few photos of this Christmas season that I didn't know I would have. (Plus at the bottom of this post, I kind of opened up my heart regarding what's going on in my life.... Thank you for caring so much about our family.)<br />
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On Thanksgiving, after Eric, our children, and I ate dinner at our own home, we drove into Long Beach to visit my sister and then headed over to Mom and Dad's house to help them decorate their tree. (My dad had called me the week before to let me know the tree was all ready for us!)<br />
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When I saw the little tree on the patio outside my mom's room, I asked, "Where do you want me to set this up?"<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyQVLFCBgGU/VIZ11VhfJsI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/PvHPwEwlcIA/s1600/ChristmasMom%26Dad01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyQVLFCBgGU/VIZ11VhfJsI/AAAAAAAAHHQ/PvHPwEwlcIA/s1600/ChristmasMom%26Dad01.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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In the 27 years my parents have lived in that house, it's always been in the living room.<br />
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"Well," my dad replied, thoughtfully. "I think it should go in here with Mother."<br />
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You see, the heart of the home has shifted to Mom's bedroom. We eat dinner in there with her, we sort through photo albums in there...and it was only fitting that we set up Christmas right where she could see it.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x8wDA0aqYBU/VIZ11ZvEHhI/AAAAAAAAHIM/u_DyhEIrXig/s1600/ChristmasMom%26Dad02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x8wDA0aqYBU/VIZ11ZvEHhI/AAAAAAAAHIM/u_DyhEIrXig/s1600/ChristmasMom%26Dad02.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />This is Cheryl, one of my mom's full-time caregivers. This was her FIRST Christmas tree ever. Isn't that fun that she got to decorate with us?</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHg7n-6KAIo/VIZ12q1v8NI/AAAAAAAAHH8/pGGxOFo9dno/s1600/ChristmasMom%26Dad04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LHg7n-6KAIo/VIZ12q1v8NI/AAAAAAAAHH8/pGGxOFo9dno/s1600/ChristmasMom%26Dad04.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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And the lighting isn't right on this photo, but I still love it. (That's my mom and dad...)<br />
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Grace, Alia, me, and Cheryl--putting on the ornaments:<br />
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My dad always picks one of these paper angels to put on the top. Page and I made them in kindergarten (same teacher, two years apart):<br />
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My mom is SO funny...she never wore headbands like this before, but now she is ready for a party at pretty much any moment.<br />
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Sweet Alia...<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eiJ9YoVmr18/VIZ15e2jBlI/AAAAAAAAHH0/JaRVIGrRIgE/s1600/ChristmasMom%26Dad09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eiJ9YoVmr18/VIZ15e2jBlI/AAAAAAAAHH0/JaRVIGrRIgE/s1600/ChristmasMom%26Dad09.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />The finished tree:<br />
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Ethan and Spencer set up the nativity in the front room so there's still "Christmas" in there. My dad told me that he and my mom didn't have a nativity when they were first married, but one day at church, the Sunday School teacher said that <i>every</i> home should have one.<br />
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The next day, my mom went out and bought this:<br />
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In the weeks since we put up the decorations, our Thursday visits have been beautiful. We eat together and sing Christmas carols. My mom hugs me and kisses me, and I help my dad with paperwork and little household tasks. Really, life is good. It's simple and precious. Such a gift, don't you think?</div>
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But there are hard things going on right now for me, as well. </div>
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Tonight is good, so I think I can write about it without sounding like a downer, but a couple of nights ago, I was feeling really low. </div>
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There are some big decisions I'm trying to make right now, and the demands on my time sometimes feel too heavy. (I won't go into detail because I know I'm not the only one who feels this way...)</div>
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But I had one of the sweetest experiences when I opened up my Bible to Jeremiah 32:27. It says this: "Behold, I am the Lord...is there any thing too hard for me?"</div>
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When I read that verse, I heard my mom's voice in my head. She <i>loved</i> that scripture, and she would quote it often:</div>
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"April, we don't need to worry about that. The Lord will take care of us. Is there <i>anything</i> too hard for Him?"</div>
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I wish you could have heard those words being said in her voice. The confidence, the faith, and the utter assurance that she <i>knew</i> what she was talking about was enough to totally quiet any concerns I might have been having.</div>
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And as I read those words the other night, that same peace came back.</div>
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I've been hearing from a lot of you lately, and I know that your lives are anything but easy. Some of you are going through struggles I can't even imagine, and I wish with all my heart that I could make things better for you. But because I am not able to come do your dishes or sweep your porch right now, I share these thoughts with the hope that they will bring you the same comfort they brought me.<br />
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I have no doubt that as we turn our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to show us our lives from His perspective, He lifts the burdens from our shoulders and helps us to clearly see that life is a gift.<br />
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<span id="goog_1963867445"></span><span id="goog_1963867446"></span><br />
<span id="goog_1963867445">Thank you so much for your friendship. (And Merry Christmas!)</span><br />
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<span id="goog_1963867445">With love,</span><br />
<span id="goog_1963867445">April </span><span id="goog_1963867445"> </span>April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-5477503159206248322014-11-20T08:06:00.003-08:002014-11-20T08:06:58.802-08:00New Power of Moms Site is Live!!Just a quick announcement in case anyone hasn't seen it yet...<br />
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Our brand new Power of Moms website has just gone live, and I couldn't be more excited.<br />
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Our designer, the wonderful <a href="http://www.zachswinehart.com/">Zach Swinehart</a>*, went above and beyond to create this new mobile-friendly site, and Saren's husband, Jared, has been handling all of the tech/login details SO beautifully. (Getting everything on a website to work isn't as easy as it sounds!)<br />
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Add to all of that the effort of our board of moms (who are helping us iron out the inevitable kinks), and you now have a gathering place for deliberate mothers that is poised to strengthen the world.<br />
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Such a gift. I feel lucky to be a part of it.<br />
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So if you'd like to check it out, <a href="http://powerofmoms.com/2014/11/brand-new-website-can/#">click here or on the image below for a little tour!</a><br />
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(And we would LOVE for you to share the website with your friends. Thanks so much!)<br />
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<a href="http://powerofmoms.com/2014/11/brand-new-website-can/#"><img alt="http://powerofmoms.com/2014/11/brand-new-website-can/#" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l-syMYusD-A/VG4Q85MqLBI/AAAAAAAAHEo/8XGgmr6DY0E/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-11-20%2Bat%2B8.03.24%2BAM.png" height="402" width="640" /> </a></div>
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*Need some design work done? I can't recommend Zach enough. <a href="http://www.zachswinehart.com/">Click here to visit his website.</a> :)</div>
<br />April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-49834896384276023992014-11-16T08:06:00.001-08:002014-11-16T08:06:48.537-08:00The Lord Let My Dad Live (and How that Changed Me)A <i>lot</i> has been going on behind the scenes here that I will need to explain in future posts. Some of those things are beautiful and sweet, and some of them are really hard. (But isn't that the case for everyone?)<br />
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However, one experience keeps coming to the front of my mind, and I felt impressed to sit down today and record it.<br />
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A few weeks ago, while I was visiting and caring for my parents, my dad's heart stopped.<br />
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The first time, he fell flat on his back in the kitchen, and since we didn't know what had happened, and since he seemed pretty much fine (though a bit dazed), I had him rest in the front room and watch TV with Grace, Ethan, and Spencer while Alia and I got my mom changed for bed.<br />
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Then it happened again.<br />
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I heard my children scream from the front room, "Mom! Grandpa stopped breathing! Mom! Come help us!"<br />
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I sprinted across the front room, frantically trying to call 9-1-1 as I ripped off the gloves I'd been wearing, not sure what I was about to see or what was going to be required of me.<br />
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Alia pulled out her own phone and said, "I'll call 9-1-1. You take care of Grandpa."<br />
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So I threw down my phone and bee-lined to my dad.<br />
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He was staring straight forward. His body was rigid. There was no breathing. No response. Only a quick gasp or a jerk every couple of seconds, like his body was fighting to live.<br />
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In that moment, I had no idea what to do. I couldn't lift him out of the chair. I didn't know if this was something related to his diabetes or not. He hadn't had any chest pains or <i>any</i> problems earlier (other than that fall) but he'd been totally fine when I sent him to rest.<br />
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So I did what I have been taught to do my whole life.<br />
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I wrapped my arms around him, I closed my eyes, and with all the faith of my heart, I said, "Heavenly Father, <i>please help us</i>."<br />
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Within three second, my dad started breathing again. His body calmed, and he looked me in the eyes and began talking to me...totally unaware that anything had just happened.<br />
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"Dad," I replied as I hugged and kissed him, "We almost lost you. You weren't breathing or responding. The ambulance is on its way."<br />
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At that point, Alia handed me the phone, and the emergency operator guided me to take my dad into the living room and help him lie down on the floor.<br />
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Now the short story is that my dad received a pacemaker the next day--after a frightening night of flat-lining twice at the hospital. Although he has had to go into the hospital a second time since then, he is gratefully still with us, a blessing for which I can't thank the Lord enough.<br />
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But what I need to record here is one of the most precious moments I have ever experienced.<br />
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It happened as I knelt by my dad's side while we waited for the paramedics. I didn't know if I was ever going to be with him again in this life.<br />
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I kissed his cheeks and his forehead and said, "I love you, Dad. I love you so much."<br />
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He kissed my cheek and replied, "I know you do. And I love you, too."<br />
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Such a simple moment, really. But it's one that put everything into perspective for me.<br />
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If I were to have lost my dad that night, I would have had zero regrets.<br />
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Because of my mom's Alzheimer's, I have been at their home practically every Thursday evening <i>for years</i>. I have been going through photo albums with him, we've had fun at the beach, we've eaten dinners together and laughed at funny memories. He's listened to each of the chapters of the book I'm writing for my mom.<br />
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In addition to all that, we have a lifetime of beautiful experiences together...vacations as a family, late-night poster-making for my student council campaigns, hours and hours when I got to snuggle next to him while he read the newspaper or watched TV at night.<br />
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We obviously want to make many more memories together, but when the time comes for us to part, I have a powerful feeling of peace--because we're <i>ready</i>.<br />
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This idea has gotten me thinking about <i>all</i> of my relationships.<br />
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If the situation had been different--if I had been waiting for the paramedics to come for my husband, one of my children, another member of my extended family, or a dear friend, have I lived my life and prioritized my relationships in such a way that I would feel that same peace?<br />
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One of the biggest lessons my dad taught me was this:<br />
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<b>"If there is something that needs to change in your life, do it now. Don't wait until tomorrow or the new year. Make it happen today."</b><br />
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So I'm sharing a few changes I'm committed to making right now. (And I'd love for you to share yours in the comments.)<br />
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(1) I'm going to do a better job taking care of Eric. He gives me shoulder massages and takes me on dates and puts me down for naps. Although he says he's just fine and that he doesn't expect more from me, I want him to know--every single day--that he's my hero and my true love. <br />
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(2) When Spencer puts something on the "Wondering List," I'm actually going to do the research with him. (We looked up tanks and machine guns on Saturday.)<br />
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(3) When Ethan tells me about his Lego designs and goes into detail about everything he loves in the Lego magazine, I'm really going to pay attention. These mean a lot to him, so they mean a lot to me. (I am learning a lot about Legos...)<br />
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(4) When I have the chance to spend time with Grace (who seems to miss me the most when she's at school), I am going to <i>savor</i> those moments and make sure she knows how much I adore her...even when I'm feeling tired or grumpy.<br />
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(5) When Alia asks me to help her with her book or wants to record a podcast with me, I will make it an <i>appointment</i> -- instead of always saying, "I'm too tired tonight."<br />
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(6) When I visit my mom and dad, I want to record as many details as I can...especially asking my dad to tell me more stories from his early years. My children and grandchildren need to know these amazing people who came before them, and what a gift it is that we have this time together right now.<br />
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Am I going to be perfect at all of this?<br />
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Probably not.<br />
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Well, <i>definitely</i> not.<br />
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But the more experiences I have, the more I know that being perfect isn't the point. It's this <i>trying</i>--this consistent work in the midst of the "stuff" of life when we get to take care of the people that we love.<br />
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Sending love to all of YOU today! Your friendship through this blog means more than you know.<br />
<br />
April<br />
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<br />April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-27551283568552133552014-10-02T21:53:00.001-07:002014-10-03T22:00:35.711-07:00Mom's Birthday: Frozen Yogurt with a Special Twist<div>Oh, we had a fun Thursday night with my mom this week.</div><div><br></div><div>First, here's a section of the chapter I read to her, and then there's a fun story at the end. :)</div><div><br></div><div>___________________________</div><div><br></div>One day early in my motherhood, when I had three preschoolers, my husband, Eric, could tell I needed a break. He arranged to take our children out for an afternoon and dropped me off for a special date with my mom (just the two of us!).<br>
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First stop was our favorite frozen yogurt store. <br>
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I was giddy with excitement. I was wearing real clothes. I’d put on makeup and done my hair, and just walking into a business establishment without a diaper bag felt like I was walking into a spa.<br>
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Mom and I placed our orders, and then when we sat down at our table to eat our yogurt, she said, “Now close your eyes for a minute.”<br>
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“What?” I asked—totally confused.<br>
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“Close your eyes. I have a surprise.”<br>
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So I closed my eyes and listened while my mom rustled around with a paper sack she’d brought with her and set some things on our table.<br>
<br>"What on earth is she doing?" I thought to myself.<br>
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Thirty seconds passed, and then a minute. Finally it was quiet, and she said, “Okay! You can open your eyes!”<br>
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There on the table were two crystal goblets and two silver spoons. She’d transferred our yogurt from the paper cups into the goblets, and, with a big smile on her face, said, “Today I am eating yogurt with a queen.”<br>
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I wish I could accurately explain how I felt at that point. <br>
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I think I must have laughed and looked around to see if anyone in the store thought we looked ridiculous, but really, as we sat together with our goblets of yogurt, laughed about the funny things my children had been doing lately, and talked about our lives and our goals and our families, I thought, “There couldn’t be a more beautiful mother in the whole world.”<br>
<br>_____________________<div><br></div><div>Okay, so I wrote that part of my book from my bed on Sunday morning, while Gracie was snuggled up next to me--reading along and making helpful suggestions.</div><div><br></div><div>When I finished, I read the draft aloud to both of my girls (Alia had joined us), and we started talking about what we would do to celebrate my mom's birthday this week. (She turned 79!)</div><div><br></div><div>"I know!" Gracie exclaimed, "Let's give Grandma frozen yogurt in crystal goblets!"</div><div><br></div><div>There are certain ideas that, when you hear them, just feel perfect.</div><div><br></div><div>This was one of them.</div><div><br></div><div><i>All week</i> we anticipated "that moment," when I would read her my story and we would bring in the goblets.</div><div><br></div><div>"Are you excited?" my children would ask.</div><div><br></div><div>"More than you know..." I would say.</div><div><br></div><div>To be honest, I didn't know if her memory would even allow her to connect the two events, but it didn't matter. I wanted to create that moment for my children. I wanted to emblazon that story into their memories so they would never forget their amazing heritage.</div><div><br></div><div>Once we arrived on Thursday with our bag of dinner ingredients and a whole set of goblets wrapped in dish towels, we rested for a bit, and then Gracie and I ran down the street to buy the yogurt. </div><div><br></div><div>"You must be having a party!" the cashier said.</div><div><br></div><div>"We ARE!" I replied. And then I told her ALL about it. See how excited I was?<br>
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<div><br></div>Then Alia decorated Grandma's room with a birthday banner she made out of felt. (She put it behind my mom for the pictures and then moved it to the other wall so she could see it better.)<br>
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<div><br></div><div>Aren't they so cute?</div><div><br></div><div>I ended up not getting ANY pictures of the yogurt and goblets because my video somehow got deleted, and I didn't take other photos because my hands were busy serving the treats and feeding my mom, but I think it's just as well.</div><div><br></div><div>I don't know if the photos could have captured the moment.</div><div><br></div><div>My children, my parents, and I sat together, quiet and happy in Mom's room, reliving her beautiful story from the past and then eating our yogurt out of goblets. </div><div><br></div><div>I got to be the one to feed my mom, and with each little spoonful, I felt more and more grateful for this story I get to live.</div><div><br></div><div>Thank you for living it with me. It's comforting, really, to know you're here.</div><div><br></div><div>Happy birthday, Mom!</div><br>
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<br></div>April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-86119772002560083942014-09-25T21:39:00.002-07:002014-09-25T21:39:50.392-07:00My Next Book Chapter (She Laughed at All the Right Parts)Tonight was <i>such </i>a fun night. Mom was in a happy mood. She ate all her dinner. She hugged me and kissed me, and we read scriptures together and watched Jeopardy, and everything was perfect.<br />
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I had my next book chapter ready for her, and it's kind of a funny one with some cute stories from her past. (You can read it below, if you'd like.)<br />
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She listened to every word and laughed at all the right places. It was precious. <br />
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Here's a still shot from a video Alia captured. You can see the tip of my computer on the left, my dad in the background working on photo albums, and then, of course, there's my mom. Look at that face:<br />
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<span id="goog_1471751032">Isn't the Lord so nice to give us happy moments like this?</span><br />
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Thank you, everyone, for your amazing support.<br />
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Love,<br />
April <br />
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<b> “Oh! That’s My LAY-deeeee!”</b> </div>
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Everyone We Meet Deserves Our Utmost Love and Respect </div>
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When I was in high school, our booster club had a special fundraiser where they sold “Bruin Cards,” which enabled families to receive discounts at several local fast food restaurants.<br />
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My mother thought this was genius. She especially liked taking us to El Pollo Loco for their “buy one, get one free” burritos after we’d had a busy day at school.<br />
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This story, however, isn’t about the burritos. It’s about how my mom treated everyone with love and respect.<br />
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One evening at five, after my drama rehearsal had finished, my mom took me over to the El Pollo Loco drive-thru. When it was her turn to order, she leaned out the window toward the microphone on the order box and said in her cute way—kind of slow and kind of loud, so as not to be misunderstood, “Hello! I would like a Classic Chicken Burrito, buy one get one free with the Bruin Card.”<br />
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The woman who responded through the speaker sounded elated—beyond anything I had ever heard (or have yet to hear) in a drive-thru lane.<br />
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“Oh!” she cried out, like she was greeting a long-lost friend. “That’s my LAY-deeeee!”<br />
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I sat in the passenger seat, stunned. <br />
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What has my mom been doing over here that would elicit that kind of response? How did she get to the point that the cashier at El Pollo Loco wouldn’t only recognize her voice, but would be utterly excited to see her?<br />
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As our car crept through the line, I peppered my mom with questions. Her response was so casual. “This is my friend who is just so nice….”<br />
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I finally met the lady when we picked up our burritos. My mom introduced us. The woman was in her mid-twenties, physically as opposite in appearance from my mom as one can get. But their twin smiles and beautiful souls had somehow connected. “Your mom is so sweet,” she told me.<br />
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This experience at the drive-thru has stayed with me for more than 20 years, but it wasn’t until just a couple of years ago that I saw one of these unique interactions in person.<br />
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Although my mom’s Alzheimer’s was starting to progress at that point, she still liked to answer the phone, and no one could stop her.<br />
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One afternoon while I was visiting, I heard this after the phone rang:<br />
“Hello!” she greeted the caller happily.<br />
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Then after listening for a few moments, she replied, “Well, I’m not sure, but let me check.”<br />
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“Bob!” she called into the next room, “Do we need a new roof?”<br />
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My dad, trying to be patient, but getting a little agitated with my mother’s constant questions, replied, “No, Zoe. We do not need a new roof. We just had ours fixed a few years ago.”<br />
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I listened very carefully at that point—wondering how my mother would explain her answer to the salesman.<br />
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“I’m sorry,” she began with a truly apologetic tone. “But my husband is a party pooper.”<br />
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I stifled a laugh.<br />
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“But you have such a nice voice, and I wish you the very best with your sales.”<br />
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With that, they ended the call, and I sat still…stunned.<br />
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While I would have briskly replied, “I’m sorry, we don’t accept sales calls. Please take our number off your list,” my mother continually showed us through her actions that everyone we meet deserves our love and respect.<br />
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These two experiences weren’t the anomalies. They simply represent the framework from which my mother operated.<br />
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As a result, even though she got pulled over by police officers eight times throughout her life, she never once got a ticket.<br />
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Store clerks and postal carriers would go out of their way to make sure she was well taken care of, and practically every time she got on the phone to address an issue with an insurance or utility company, she got what she needed—simply because she was so nice to them.<br />
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I’ve spent years trying to replicate my mother’s art. I want to be just like her.<br />
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But each time I asked her to clarify her process, she seemed confused by my question. "Oh, April,” she would say, “Everybody wants to do a kindness! Each person in the world has good in them, and they’re just looking for a reason to share that goodness. All I do is give them the opportunity to do so! I explain what I need, I treat them with love, and I show them how their kindness will help me. They are excited for the chance to make that kind choice.”<br />
<br />
As one of the main purposes of this book is to identify what, exactly, my mother did that bonded each of us so tightly to her, I can’t emphasize this point enough:<br />
<br />
When you treat others with love, respect, and kindness—no matter who they are and regardless of whether or not they can do anything for you—your children will be watching closely. They will want to be like you, they will feel safe and protected around you, and if a time ever comes when you need them to care for you, they will feel honored to do so because it is their privilege to do a kindness.April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-71423389074484173652014-09-18T22:13:00.002-07:002014-09-18T22:13:51.240-07:00Reading My Book to Mom<div>
I mentioned in a previous post that I have felt directed to write a book about my mom.<br />
<br />
When I visit each Thursday, I take the chapter I've been working on, and I read it to her aloud. <br />
<br />
For the past three weeks, she's listened, and she seems to enjoy what I'm reading, but I could never really tell if she knew what she was hearing.<br />
<br />
Tonight was different.<br />
<br />
To back up a bit, it was kind of a stressful day. I received a call from my sister this morning, telling me that Mom had developed bed sores and that she needed a new mattress topper and someone to rotate her, clean her, and apply ointment every couple of hours around the clock.<br />
<br />
This developed into a deeper conversation--one that we've known was coming but didn't quite want to face: It's time to bring in night nurses who can tend to her while our dad sleeps. Lisa started making phone calls, and tonight is the first night we have a professional nurse staying up to care for her around the clock. <br />
<br />
I still went in for my usual Thursday night shift, taking my children with me, bringing along a cooler with our dinner ingredients, and packing my laptop, so I could read my latest chapter to Mom.<br />
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We had a wonderful night, and Mom was in good spirits, but as I rotated her, fed her, and cleaned her bed sores, I could just feel that we need to prepare ourselves for this next transition.<br />
<br />
<i>No one</i> wants to lose her, and this is so incredibly hard.<br />
<br />
After we ate dinner, Dad took his evening walk, the boys went into the front office to watch TV, and Alia and I sat at Mom's bedside. It was quiet and the sun was just barely setting--the perfect time to read. So I pulled out my laptop and shared the stories I'd drafted on Monday afternoon.<br />
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She listened carefully as I read, quiet and focused through the whole thing. <br />
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When I finished, she looked me in the eye and said, "That was very sweet."</div>
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Then as I hugged her, she said, "You have a beautiful way of...."<br />
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As she trailed off, I could tell she didn't know how to complete the sentence.<br />
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Then she paused for a moment and simply said, "Tender."</div>
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I rested my head on her chest as a few tears escaped from my eyes, and then I heard her whisper, "Thank you, Heavenly Father."</div>
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As she said those words, I remembered that distinct impression I received from the Lord a few weeks ago, instructing me to write:<br />
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<i>April, you need to make this record. There <u>is</u> time for you to
write. It will be a gift for you to read it to her. And even though she
may appear not to know what you are reading, she will know. And she will
feel the love you have for her. And she will see clearly that her work
in this life has been worth it.</i> </div>
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<br /></div>
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I hugged her even tighter, a bit of an emotional mess by that point, and then she held my face in her hands and looked at me with eyes that showed that she was <i>really</i> there and said, "I love you. I LOVE you."</div>
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There couldn't have been a more perfect moment. It was truly a gift.<br />
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<br /><br />Now if any of you happen to want to read the draft of the chapter that I shared with my mother, I've included it here. <br />
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Thank you for being with me on this journey. I'm always tired when I get home from Long Beach, and sometimes I don't feel like writing about it. But I keep getting the feeling that these experiences aren't just for me--that there are others out there (who may never comment here and who I may never meet) who need to hear these stories. So whoever you might be, God sends His love.<br />
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And now for today's chapter... <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Hole in the Nylons </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Miracles will happen for you.</i> </span></div>
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If there’s one thing that all of us would like to see more of in our lives, it’s miracles. Wouldn’t you agree? I yearn for miracles. I pray for them. I hope for them. And one of the reasons I know they are possible is because I’ve seen them happen over and over again in the life of my mother.<br /><br />This is one of my favorite stories, simple as it may be, that reminds me to trust that miracles can happen.<br /><br />One Sunday morning, many many years ago, as my mother was getting ready for church, she realized that she had a hole in her nylons, several inches above her shoe line. She searched everywhere in her dresser for another pair, but to no avail. Reaching down to her ankles, she tried to stretch the nylons every which way—hoping that perhaps she could hide the hole inside her shoe or under her skirt, but no matter how much she tried, that hole sat in the same spot. <br /><br />For a proper woman like my mother, having this gaping hole was somewhat of a catastrophe, but it was time to go to church, and she couldn’t spend any more time worrying about those nylons.<br /><br />Taking just a moment to herself before joining the rest of the family, she gently offered a prayer: “Father, I’m so sorry that I didn’t check my nylons yesterday, and I’m sorry I don’t have an extra pair. I want to look my very best as I go to worship Thee, but for today, this will have to do.”<br /><br />She then helped get all of her children into the car, drove to church (where my dad, having early morning meetings, was already there), and sat down with the family on our regular pew.<br /><br />A few minutes later, still feeling badly about her nylons, she glanced down at her leg. <br /><br />The hole was gone.<br /><br />She felt around the sides of her calf, up by her knees, and down by her ankles, but she couldn’t find the hole anywhere.<br /><br />Completely puzzled by this point, she took off her shoe, and there—on the very bottom of her foot—was the hole.<br /><br />I heard this story dozens of times while I was growing up. “April,” she told me, “There was no way that hole could have moved to the bottom of my foot. I had done everything I could to try to position it there. The Lord helped me that day. He understood what I needed, and that was a little blessing He sent just for me.”<br /><br />Now I know that seems like such a simple, inconsequential thing, but the lesson it basically shouts is that miracles happen. And they’ll happen for you.<br /><br />I remember one Saturday afternoon, when I needed to get five-year-old Grace to her last soccer game of the season. My husband had planned to go with me to help with our two-month-old baby and our other two children, but a last-minute urgent need from a neighbor required his assistance, and I told him I would be fine.<br /><br />Once we arrived at the soccer field, I heard Grace gasp, “I forgot my socks and my soccer cleats!”<br /><br />We were all devastated. There was no time to return home, this was her very last game, and there was no way they would let her play without shoes and socks.<br /><br />Having learned from my mother’s example (over and over again), I gathered my children around me in the parking lot, and we offered a prayer—apologizing for forgetting the socks and cleats and asking that, if it were possible, Grace would be able to play her game.<br /><br />We approached the field in faith, and moments later, we ran into a friend of ours whose son had just finished his game. As we explained our plight, our friend said, “Why doesn’t she wear Braden’s socks and cleats? He’s the same size as Grace!” We thought that was an excellent idea, so our two five-year-olds sat on the grass and made the transfer. It was perfect.<br /><br />These kinds of miracles happen often. They’re always timed “just right,” and they remind me in such a powerful way that we are not alone.<br /><br />One of my very favorite miracles happened on my birthday a couple of years ago—shortly after my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s—when she was in a rehabilitation center for a broken hip.<br /><br />As a special treat, my husband stayed home with our four children and sent me to visit her alone for the day. During the one-hour drive, I was thinking about a list of questions I had written down that morning—things I was hoping the Lord would help me to understand about my life’s course, like how I felt I was continually stretched too thin and that my efforts simply didn’t measure up.<br /><br />Though I felt a sweetness during the drive and an immense feeling of support, I didn't receive any specific answers to my questions.<br /><br />When I arrived at the center, I was privileged to have a wonderful lunch with my dad, my sister Laura, and a neighbor of ours who had come to visit. I sat next to my mom and held her hand as much as I could. She was quiet, but happy. This was a blessing by itself because, up to that point, she hadn’t been doing very well. She had been crying a lot and repeatedly asking when she could go home. <br /><br />The nurses had explained that she kept trying to find a way out. One day they found her way out in the corner of the facility by the vending machines. Other days, she would sit by the emergency exit. One time she made the alarm go off.<br /><br />But that day, she was calm and happy--totally at ease.<br /><br />Now there are two very special things about the visit that I feel I can share. <br /><br />The first is that they served birthday cake that day.<br /><br />Once a month, the facility celebrates all of the residents’ birthdays at the same time. <br />I asked the nurses if they always serve cake on the 19th, and they said no, that it changes every month.<br /><br />Then it struck me that this was a tender mercy from the Lord. On my birthday, when I got to go spend the day with my mom--who I missed so much--He arranged for them to have cake.<br /><br />The second special part of the day was a sweet experience I had while my mom and I were sitting alone in the lobby together. I had my arms wrapped around her, and she started speaking very quietly--almost indistinctly.<br /><br />I listened closer, and I could hear that she was giving me counsel and advice. <br /><br />Moving my ear as close to her lips as I could, I soon realized that in her calm, encouraging, beautiful voice, she was answering the exact questions I had written down for the Lord that morning. <br /><br />I won't record the specifics because it was such a sacred moment, and the counsel was just for me, but this was one of the most precious miracles I have ever received in my entire life.<br /><br />My mom has had dementia (which developed into Alzheimer’s) for pretty much the entire time I have been running Power of Moms. She doesn't know how to use the Internet, and she isn't involved in my day-to-day life. But as we sat together, and as she talked to me about my responsibilities, my choices, my struggles, my heart, my goals, and my daily work with my family and with my organization, it was as though she knew everything. I can't even think about the experience without getting choked up. No one besides the Lord could have known what to say to me, and He chose to deliver that message through the voice of the one from whom I needed to hear it the most. <br /><br />I hesitated to even write anything about this experience here--because some things are just so special that you don't want to put them out in front of the world. But in this case, I feel like He wants me to share this so that if you are struggling, you will know that He is aware of you, too. <br /><br />I have zero doubt in the Lord's capacity to perform miracles. I know He loves all of His children--from every religion and background. He knows we all make mistakes and that we struggle and that we need help. And when we turn to Him, He has a limitless ability to supply everything we need. <br /><br />Miracles happen. They are beautiful. And they are available for all of us.<br /><br />
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With love,<br />
April<br /><br /> </div>
April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-53934359341014037972014-09-16T11:02:00.000-07:002014-09-16T11:02:39.667-07:00Time for a Self-Assessment :)These past six weeks have been beautiful in so many ways, but in other ways, I feel like I am going through the hardest time in my life.<br />
<br />
Do you mind if I take a couple of minutes to do a self-assessment? I'm guessing that many of you are going through similar things, and maybe if we can go through it <i>together</i>, it won't seem so tricky.<br />
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I think one of the things that has made it so hard lately is that I'm not making the time to sit down and write--to step back and process everything that's happening. <br />
<br />
I mean, I'm doing good things with my time--things that I've felt directed to do and that help the people around me, but sometimes I feel like my routines and responsibilities come in such quick succession that there's not enough time to really <i>see</i> what I am doing with my life. (Do you ever feel like that?)<br />
<br />
I'll start by typing out a little summary of what's been happening around here: <br />
<br />
My husband and I work together every day from home. That's a <i>dream</i>, right? We have a partner desk, and so we face each other while we hold our meetings and type on our computers. We've started recording podcasts together and working on some pretty amazing projects for Power of Moms/Power of Families. He jogs behind me while I rollerblade. He puts me down for naps when I'm cranky. He whistles at me and steals kisses during the day. I'm head-over-heels for him. Our work isn't easy, but we're growing<i> together</i>.<br />
<br />
A lot of my time recently has been spent helping my children start the new school year--with special shopping
trips for each one (where they learned how to shop on a budget and buy
just a few new things they really needed), Back-to-School Night, and all kinds of other little details. We're in a good daily routine
now, with morning scripture study and our afternoon smoothie--plus lots
of time to talk, prepare meals, and sing together. Our relationships
have never been so good. <br />
<br />
Every Thursday, we take care of my mom. I've been writing that book I mentioned a few posts back, and each week I hold her hand and read her a new chapter while she rests in her bed. She doesn't seem to understand what I'm reading, but at the end she always smiles and says, "That's so nice!" <a href="http://powerofmoms.com/2014/09/what-our-challenges-make-possible/#sthash.sNfytk1R.dpbs">(A part of one of my chapters was posted on Power of Moms last Tuesday, if you'd like to read it.)</a><br />
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Power of Moms is growing and becoming <i>such</i> a blessing--to my own family and to others. This community is a joint project. I don't take the credit. But there is something so incredibly powerful happening over there, and I feel an enormous responsibility to do a good job with this. So...we're in the middle of mobilizing/redesigning our site, automating a bunch of systems in our database software, promoting our <a href="http://www.powerofmoms.com/webinar-information-page">new webinar series</a>, building <a href="http://www.powerofmoms.com/radio">Power of Moms Radio</a>, and working on dozens of other projects that fuel the site and community. Honestly, I had no idea what a big job this would be, but it's exciting...and sometimes overwhelming. :)<br />
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I've also been spending quite a bit of time with my calling at church (which I <i>love</i>). I get to be the Personal Progress Coordinator, which means I help the Young Women (ages 12-18) to set and move forward on personal goals. This gives me the opportunity to work closely with Grace and Alia, and I've been creating some new templates and frameworks that will hopefully help the girls to draw closer to Christ--in a way that will have a lasting impact on their lives.<br />
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Then there are the more personal systems I've been trying to put in place. This summer, after being inspired by <a href="http://funcheaporfree.com/2012/10/the-7-bank-accounts-every-family-should/">Jordan Page over at Fun, Cheap, or Free</a>, I completely revamped my spending plan. I thought I was pretty good at budgeting before, but Jordan has helped me to take it to a whole new level. I can't even explain how much this has empowered me.<br />
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And after reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Calorie-Myth-Exercise-Weight-ebook/dp/B00DB3A27E"><i>The Calorie Myth</i> by Jonathan Bailor</a>, I changed up my diet so I'm now eating 10+ servings of vegetables a day, balanced with lean protein, whole-food fats, and low-fructose fruits, and my body has never felt stronger or happier. (I get to record a podcast with him on Friday, and I'm so excited!) Now I'm trying to get my whole family on board (we're moving in the right direction, but wow, it's a process).<br />
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I'm also trying to make time to <i>really</i> be in my scriptures each day. I want to hear the Lord. I <i>need</i> to hear the Lord. He is so, so good to us.<br />
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And in the midst of all this, I know He wants me to get enough rest, to read good books, to sit and think, and to realize that everything doesn't have to happen <i>right this minute</i>.<br />
<br />
I know I have a good life. I'm living my dream in pretty much every part of it. <i> </i><br />
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<i>None</i> of it is easy, but I generally feel so grateful and happy.<br />
<br />
But here's one element where I need to improve: I need more faith. More faith that the Lord will bless me with the power to do all of these things I feel excited and inspired to do.<br />
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I'm guessing that's the hard part for most of us.<br />
<br />
In Sunday School a few weeks ago, we read in 1 Kings 17 about the widow who gave Elijah the first portion of her very last bit of food. (Remember that story about the barrel of meal and the cruse of oil that never failed?)<br />
<br />
I raised my hand in class and asked how I could better apply that to my life right now. "I feel stretched too thin sometimes," I said. "I wonder if I'll have enough time/energy/patience/ability to do what I feel the Lord wants me to do. How can I better trust in the Lord? How can I know that He will help me?"<br />
<br />
And then others in the class started raising their hands in response. At least ten of them. They shared beautiful experiences from their own lives--when they were <i>sure</i> they weren't going to have what they needed, but the Lord came through...every single time.<br />
<br />
Something amazing happened as I listened to their stories.<br />
<br />
I felt the sweetness of the Spirit tell me that the Lord is totally aware of me. He knows how hard it is for me to move forward each day. He knows how I feel during this whole process of losing my mom. He understands my anxiety over the projects that require so much of my energy, and He recognizes that every day feels like I'm digging into the barrel for that <i>last</i> handful of meal.<br />
<br />
But He keeps giving me <i>exactly</i> what I need. He sends mentors and helpers and angels to assist me. He helps me to breathe and to see the vision He has for me. And His Spirit lifts my heart--not so much that I don't have to stretch myself, but enough that I have total confidence that I am not alone.<br />
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So that's where I am today. Grateful for Him. Grateful for this life. Hoping that I will one day get to the point where this all doesn't feel so hard, but working desperately to enjoy the process, even while it <i>does</i>.<br />
<br />
With love,<br />
April<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-15641670665322239852014-07-28T12:12:00.003-07:002014-07-28T12:12:55.359-07:00Richard and Linda Eyres' New Book: The TurningRichard and Linda Eyre are like a second set of parents to me.<br />
<br />
About 15 years ago, I knew them only through their books (which are amazing), but over the past seven years, as I have been running Power of Moms with their oldest daughter, Saren, I have had the chance to <i>really</i> get to know them.<br />
<br />
And if there is one thing they absolutely stand for, it is the family. <br />
<br />
Well, today is the first day of the launch campaign for their most recent book--<i>The Turning</i>--and I just ordered my copy on Amazon.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://the-turning.com/team-turning.html">If you'd like to learn more about their book or join their book launch team, simply click here! </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.the-turning.com/images/theturningbook.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-48204981512073293902014-07-27T15:48:00.002-07:002014-07-27T15:49:36.005-07:00EFY "Power of One" Class<a href="http://ce.byu.edu/yp/about.php">Especially for Youth</a> (from this point on written as EFY) is a conference organized by a group of amazing individuals at BYU for youth between the ages of 14 and 18. There are sessions held all over the U.S. (and maybe the world...I'm not sure), and I feel so grateful to have had the chance to be an EFY teacher since 2008.<br />
<br />
I first attended EFY when I was 17, and it was honestly a life-changing experience for me.<br />
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To dedicate a whole week to spiritual growth and enjoy great friendships with like-minded individuals was empowering, and I always had this secret wish to get to teach there.<br />
<br />
Well, back in 2007, our friend John Hilton--who has been involved in EFY for years--came to visit, and he said, "You know, April, there aren't a lot of mothers teaching at EFY. Why don't you apply?"<br />
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I'd never even <i>considered</i> the idea before. I didn't even know I <i>could</i> apply. For some reason, I had assumed teachers were chosen by invitation only.<br />
<br />
But that little idea took root, and within a couple of months, my application was in. (There's a funny story that goes with this about how I had to write out my application in little bursts of time because I was nursing Spencer at the time, and it was a period of my life where I rarely changed out of my pajamas...but I <i>did</i> eventually get my application in, and I was thrilled to be accepted.)<br />
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This is the Monday evening gathering at the session of EFY I attended this month:<br />
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And, really, what made this extra special was having my 14-year-old daughter, Alia, with me this time. In the past, I've gone alone, and it was 100 times better to have Alia there. She came to every class and even helped with one of my classes. Love her.</div>
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Here's my "teacher view" of one of my classes (so fun that the room they assigned me is the EXACT room where Eric and I met 16 years ago). </div>
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And just in case any of you are wondering what kinds of things we teach in these classes, I recorded my "Power of One" class and thought I'd include the link here. <a href="http://www.anymeeting.com/powerofmoms/E051DC87834B">(You can click here or on the image below to watch it...)</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.anymeeting.com/powerofmoms/E051DC87834B"><img alt="http://www.anymeeting.com/powerofmoms/E051DC87834B" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1dmV7064lBE/U9WBf0xFvlI/AAAAAAAAGnI/pGZLFGWmFxI/s1600/PowerOfOne.png" height="241" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure if my schedule is going to make it possible for me to go back to EFY again, but I'll keep my fingers crossed. It is a fantastic experience, and I feel blessed to have been a part of it.<br />
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With love,<br />
AprilApril Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-26645907125634940372014-07-25T15:02:00.000-07:002014-07-25T15:02:09.427-07:00Introduction to the Book I Need to WriteDear Friends,<br />
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I've been thinking about you a lot lately. I don't know most of you personally, but for those who do comment here on this blog, I feel such a close kinship with you.<br />
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In fact, I keep feeling the desire to write here more often--just so I will have the chance to interact with you and learn from your wisdom.<br />
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It's amazing how we can gather together online, even when we're living our separate lives in different places around the world. This is a true miracle to me.<br />
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Right now I'm in the middle of our family's bustling summer activities.<br />
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We got back a couple of hours ago from a pool day with some friends, I just completed some computer work, and I'm heading downstairs in a few minutes to make snacks for my children and tidy the kitchen a bit.<br />
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But my heart has been full these past couple of weeks as I've been thinking about the book I need to write this year.<br />
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And since everything is quiet right now and the impression to type it here is coming strong, I decided I better pay attention to these feelings.<br />
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So here we go...the first draft of the introduction to my book:<br />
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____________________________________________________<br />
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My mom is currently in the last stages of Alzheimer's. It started a few years ago when she began to forget minor details--like where she put her phone or who had come to visit her that day. Then she started forgetting <i>major</i> things, like how to drive herself home or which bank held all the money she and my dad had saved.<br />
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I still remember the first day she couldn't recall the names of all her children--because my name was one that she'd forgotten. And now, as I write, she is in bed full time, with hospice care coming in three days a week because her legs have forgotten how to stand.<br />
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With millions of people suffering from Alzheimer's, our situation isn't entirely unique, but I have felt a consistent impression to write this book, and I'd like to explain the "why" a little bit more.<br />
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A couple of years ago, I wrote an article for my Power of Moms website called "Your Children Want YOU!" That article, which was read by more than two million people, included the first public mention of my mom's memory loss (we didn't know then that it was Alzheimer's).<br />
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Since that time, as I have continued to write about our family's experiences and the powerful lessons my mom taught me, I've discovered that the story of her life isn't something I can keep to myself. People who have similar feelings of adoration for their mothers seem to want someone to put words to what they feel. And people who have painful memories of their mothers want to know how they can break the cycle in their own families. (These are brave, beautiful souls.)<br />
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So an idea came to me to write a follow-up book--<i>this</i> book--and share the stories that illustrate how my mom exemplified deliberate motherhood and how I am trying <i>so</i> hard to be like her. <br />
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As my mom's health slowly declined, I decided to write a chapter at a time and read it to her during my weekly visits.<br />
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But as her decline became more rapid, I stopped writing. I felt like I didn't have time and that maybe I should wait until she goes back to God. And <i>then</i> I can write.<br />
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But on a recent visit to my mother's bedside, the instructions came clearly:<br />
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<i>April, you need to make this record. There <u>is</u> time for you to write. It will be a gift for you to read it to her. And even though she may appear not to know what you are reading, she will know. And she will feel the love you have for her. And she will see clearly that her work in this life has been worth it.</i><br />
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So I am writing--imperfectly at best--because I don't think it is possible to adequately capture the <i>immense</i> love I feel for my mother and for her lasting influence on my life.<br />
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But I do what I feel the Lord wants me to do, and I hope through this process, these stories that are so close to my heart will be helpful to you, as well.<br />
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With love,<br />
April<br />
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<br />April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-70160934127135660482014-07-19T23:29:00.001-07:002014-07-19T23:29:25.086-07:00Recording the OrdinaryWe just got home tonight after traveling for two weeks as a family. (It feels so great to be in our own little place again!)<div><br></div><div>Grace had a basketball camp at BYU the first week, and Alia and I attended a conference called "Especially for Youth" the second week (I was a teacher, and she was a participant), </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-trQ8f75-AfY/U8thjL3k2iI/AAAAAAAAGk4/G65CAxbgojE/s640/blogger-image--567528315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-trQ8f75-AfY/U8thjL3k2iI/AAAAAAAAGk4/G65CAxbgojE/s640/blogger-image--567528315.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br></div><div>and in the midst of all that, we spent lots of time with family and friends, attended Eric's high school reunion, and simply enjoyed the beauty of the mountains, lakes, and rivers in Utah.</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ACRgpkyZK2M/U8thwpSU9pI/AAAAAAAAGlQ/hPRbgXEEF24/s640/blogger-image--1062983982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ACRgpkyZK2M/U8thwpSU9pI/AAAAAAAAGlQ/hPRbgXEEF24/s640/blogger-image--1062983982.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AAOBFDr-wjc/U8thn1wEObI/AAAAAAAAGlA/M-J8mEjEXwE/s640/blogger-image--1868881420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-AAOBFDr-wjc/U8thn1wEObI/AAAAAAAAGlA/M-J8mEjEXwE/s640/blogger-image--1868881420.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div>I don't typically write up vacation details on this blog (because I worry about leaving anyone or anything out), and I always feel like I need to write about "important" things so I don't waste the time of anyone who happens to stop by and read this, but tonight I had the feeling that I need to start recording more of the ordinary (because someday the details of this "ordinary" life might mean more to me than I know).</div><div><br></div><div>So here's what happened today:</div><div><br></div><div>- We had a ping pong tournament in my sister's basement:</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ye5aqZqODs8/U8ths2s335I/AAAAAAAAGlI/__6etK50Bz0/s640/blogger-image-305436834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-ye5aqZqODs8/U8ths2s335I/AAAAAAAAGlI/__6etK50Bz0/s640/blogger-image-305436834.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">- Then the cousins ran down the street and chased our car while we all waved goodbye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">- We drove for 10 hours to get home--singing our favorite songs for at least three of those hours, reading books and watching movies for a few more hours, stopping for lunch at Cafe Rio, and (of course) Eric let me take a great nap. He's so good to me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">- We also had a wonderful talk on the drive and read through the "Entertainment and Media" section of a little pamphlet from church called "For the Strength of Youth." (You can google it if you want to see what it says.) We talked about how media can be fantastic for helping us learn, communicate, and become better people. And we discussed how easy it can be to get distracted by screens and waste precious time. Today was also the first day I really talked with Spencer about what pornography is. He's only six, but I wanted to start the dialogue now so that he will know which things are appropriate and which things are not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">- I read on Facebook today about a friend of a friend's whose husband of 16 years died in a car accident, and how she and her six children have been so blessed and cared for during this traumatic time. (I can't even imagine...)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I held Eric's hand tight during the whole rest of the drive and thought deeply about how I want to live every day with no regrets--making sure my family members feel my love and doing everything I can to listen to God and be an instrument in His hands. I want to be totally ready to go whenever it is my time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Yes, it's easy to get caught up in the insignificant details of life, and yes, I am anxious to get our garage organized and our bedroom painted.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But when I really think about what's most important, it's the people I love and the work God wants me to do. (Doesn't that feel so simple?)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So that's my record for now. Hope all of you who are reading this are feeling strong and supported today. I wish we could all just sit around and <i>really </i>talk at the end of each night, but for now, I invite you to share any thoughts you've been having lately, and I will just consider this the next best thing! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">With love,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">April</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br></div><br></div>April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-76688863987558022182014-06-26T11:20:00.000-07:002014-06-26T11:20:32.423-07:00What I Need to Say About Faith, Power, and WomanhoodI typically stay out of "media firestorms."<br />
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It's simply not where I feel my voice is most effective.<br />
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I write often about my faith, and I do my best to strengthen families and help people of all religions to find common ground, but I rarely feel the desire or the responsibility to add my words to a flurry of voices--many of which seem to be arguing simply for the sake of arguing.<br />
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But this week, the church I love has been prominently featured in mostly all (if not all) of the top media sources--discussing women and the priesthood--and the headlines have made my heart hurt.<br />
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I understand that this is the way media works. They grab onto issues that strike at the core of controversial topics, and they write their stories in a way that will generate the most clicks and the most heated debates.<br />
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I also understand that there is a lot of deep emotion involved here--and there are women with serious questions and concerns that need to be discussed and resolved. I am all for calm, meaningful discussions.<br />
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It's just that jumping into the middle of a heated debate, where the focus seems to be more on "getting attention" than "getting to the heart of the issue" has never appealed to me.<br />
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But the other day, I read this line in one of the articles: "Most Mormon women stay silent on the issue of equality."<br />
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And the more I thought and prayed about this, the more I felt that I needed to say <i>something</i>--not in an attempt to throw myself into the craziness out there, but to leave a record for my daughters and granddaughters who may someday wonder where I stood on this subject. I simply can't risk my silence mistakenly communicating the idea that either (1) I don't care or (2) I wasn't allowed to speak. (Neither of which statements are true.)<br />
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Today, I am going to share just a little bit of my story and create a simple record of things I know to be true. <br />
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In one of the interviews I read, a woman at the heart of this movement said that she had been raised by a mother who said, "one day women will hold the priesthood."<br />
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This struck me to be <i>so</i> different than the way my mother (a lifetime member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) raised me.<br />
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I don't know if she and I ever talked specifically about women and the priesthood, but in essence, her words and actions said this:<br />
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"Through our faith in Jesus Christ, both women <u>and</u> men currently have the privilege to receive <i>all</i> of the blessings the Father has for us. There is no need to wait for anything. The power is yours. Now. And I'm going to show you how to access it."<br />
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And then she did.<br />
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She taught me to pray. She taught me to <i>feast</i> on the scriptures. She taught me to listen to promptings from the Spirit, she taught me to serve others and happily do whatever God asked me to do. She showed me how to work side-by-side with my husband and train my children and turn to the right Source for anything I could ever possibly need.<br />
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And as she taught me these things, I was an eyewitness to the fruits of that kind of faith.<br />
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Angels minister to my mother. Miracles happen. Her influence and light extends across the globe to <i>millions</i> of people, and there is a beauty and peace and unbelievable power that even the most eloquent words will never come close to describing.<br />
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I am a grateful, happy member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I feel 100% equal to my husband (who loves and honors the priesthood he bears) and to every other priesthood holder I have ever known, and I know that my ability to serve within our church is <i>magnified</i> by the priesthood--not diminished. Not once have I felt slighted or unappreciated because I am a woman. Not once.<br />
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I feel empowered, cherished, protected, and blessed--and confident beyond measure that the Lord is aware of each of us and wants His sons <i>and</i> daughters to receive every blessing He has for us.<br />
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Our church is a living, growing organization. And yes, if the Lord needs to make changes, they will be directed by those given the stewardship to do so. I trust that. <br />
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I feel for those who have obviously not had the same experiences I have had. I in no way mean to diminish their pain or their situations by sharing my opposite view, but in all the areas I have lived--coast to coast--the experiences I have shared above have been the rule--not the exception.<br />
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So to my daughters and granddaughters, please know that I have absolute confidence in the way our church is organized. Please remember that you are a cherished child of God, and that your potential to influence and strengthen the world is limitless. And please do everything in your power to carry on the legacy of faith that is your <i>privilege</i> to carry.<br />
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I am leaving the comments open on this post, and I am happy to answer any questions those who are reading this might have. I do ask that all comments and questions be written respectfully, in a way that generates helpful discussion.<br />
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With love,<br />
AprilApril Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-73090700458661549812014-05-25T22:27:00.003-07:002014-05-25T22:27:40.803-07:00LiftedMy mom is declining. And it's happening faster than I thought it would.<br />
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She's sleeping about 20 hours a day now. Her legs won't let her stand. She's forgotten how to write her name. She needs to be reminded to swallow.<br />
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But there's something powerful happening that I felt I needed to record tonight.<br />
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I'm being lifted.<br />
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This morning when I woke up and thought about the various challenges that are hurting my heart (my mom's situation at the forefront), I whispered, "I can't do this. It's too much. I'm not strong enough."<br />
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But a couple of hours later, during the closing hymn at church, we sang this: <br />
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<i>Fear not, I am with thee. Oh be not dismayed. </i><br />
<i>For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.</i><br />
<i>I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand.</i><br />
<i>Upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand.</i><br />
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At that moment, the message was for me, and I heard this:<br />
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<i>I'll help you, April. You don't need to be afraid. I am with you. Trust me. I have never let you down.</i><br />
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And those words stayed with me all afternoon...as I thought about how I will say goodbye, as I considered how to start the conversation with my dad about "final arrangements," and as I spoke with my mom briefly on the phone (I could feel what she was <i>trying</i> to say, but all I could hear were partial sentences and slurred words).<br />
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Then tonight I was given two tender mercies.<br />
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The first was from Grace, who could see my tears as we got Spencer's room straightened up before getting him into bed.<br />
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"It'll be okay, Mom," she said. "I mean, would you rather have grandma remember <i>nothing</i> and be with you physically--or remember <i>everything</i> and be with you spiritually?"<br />
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Her wisdom touched my heart, and I turned to her and opened my arms. We just stood together in the center of the room, hugging each other tight.<br />
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Then Alia went into the office and started printing something off the computer, and after I reminded her it was time to get to bed, she said, "One minute...you're going to like this."<br />
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The next thing I knew, she was downstairs playing a simplified version of "Blue Moon," the song my mom used to always play on the piano.<br />
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I stood at the top of the stairs--mesmerized--and watched her play--thinking about how <i>blessed</i> I am to have children who know exactly how to take care of me. If there was one song in the world that had the power to calm my heart tonight, that was it.<br />
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When I walked to the bottom of the stairs, she stopped and pointed to another piece of sheet music. "I printed the harder version for you."<br />
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Now, let me stop here for a moment to explain that I have heard my mom play Blue Moon for 36 years, and I have never once been able to play it myself. She didn't have the sheet music, and I never took the time when she was healthy to ask her to teach it to me. When I have tried to pick it out on the piano (watching videos of her and attempting to copy her hands), I've ended up totally frustrated.<br />
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But tonight when I sat down to play the music Alia had found, it was the exact same key and <a href="http://forpiano.com/FILEX/B/d01je83jf8/richard__rodgers--blue_moon.pdf">the exact same music my mom has been playing all these years</a>.<br />
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I am not much of a pianist, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjNQPt5bdPE">here's a little video</a> in case you'd like to hear it:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/OjNQPt5bdPE?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
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I don't know how much longer my mom has, and I don't have a clear understanding of everything this process is supposed to teach me, but I am absolutely certain that the Lord is aware of our needs. And just as He is lifting me and my family during this time, I have zero doubts that He will do the same for you.<br />
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Much love,<br />
April<br />
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April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4421893586033340825.post-34488916753325349262014-05-24T13:01:00.000-07:002014-05-24T13:01:02.842-07:00Top 5 Reasons We Love Grandma PeggyToday is the birthday of my sweet mother-in-law (whom we affectionately call Grandma Peggy). <br />
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Every year as her birthday approaches, I always wonder how I can adequately express how much I admire her.<br />
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So today I thought I would gather my children and share a little bit about why we love having Grandma Peggy in our lives.<br />
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<b>(1)</b> <b>When you go to Grandma Peggy's house, she rolls out the red carpet.</b><br />
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There are usually freshly-baked cookies, beds all made up with colorful quilts--and chocolates on the pillows, tasty snacks, toys and new pajamas for the kids, and basically anything you could possibly want or need--all prepared with love. But the most important part of that whole set-up is Grandma Peggy--there with her arms extended, ready to give each of us a hug. She has this amazing ability to make everybody feel like they're at home.<br />
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<b>(2) With Grandma Peggy, you never get the feeling that she is too busy for you.</b><br />
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The fact of the matter is that Peggy <i>is</i> really busy--working long hours at the school for the deaf, taking care of her friends and family, serving at church and in the community, plus managing all of the "normal" stuff that needs to happen when you're running a household.<b> </b><br />
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But whenever you call or visit, she sits back and somehow figures out how to make things work so you don't feel rushed. Sometimes I just talk and talk and talk--about things going on that I hadn't even intended on mentioning. But having such a sweet listening ear just brings it out of me.<br />
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<b>(3) She has a beautiful talent for encouraging others.</b><br />
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I could go on forever listing the ways she cares for young children at her work and how she supports all of us in our various activities, but one of my favorite stories is about what she did for a missionary who was serving in the Philippines alongside one of her children. He wasn't receiving any letters or packages or anything from his family, and Peggy simply couldn't live with that. So she started writing to him--regularly. And she sent him special things in the mail. Someone she had never even met--and most likely would <i>never</i> meet. Yet she wanted to take care of him while he was serving the Lord.<b> </b>I love that.<br />
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<b>(4) Grandma Peggy is <i>funny</i>.</b><br />
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With six children, who have lively personalities of their own, there's always something unique going on at the Perry house. Peggy embraces the humor. She plays games, helps with dress-up parties, and even poses for ridiculous photo ops for her daughters to post on Instagram (I won't re-post them here). Her laugh is comforting, and she's such an example to me.<br />
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<b>(5) Grandma is the birthday/holiday QUEEN<i>. </i></b><br />
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Ever since I joined the Perry family 15 years ago, Peggy has shipped packages our way for every birthday and major holiday. She's honestly an expert when it comes to being thoughtful.<b><i> </i></b><br />
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Alia gave a talk in church for Mother's Day, and this is what she said about Grandma Peggy:<br />
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<i>My grandma loves to give gifts, and she never ever forgets a holiday! On Christmas, Valentine's Day, Halloween, birthdays, and many other holidays, we can expect a knock at the door from our mail carrier or a package in our mailbox.</i><br />
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<i>These aren't just normal packages--they are covered in stickers, and sometimes personalized for the person or the holiday! She fills the packages with toys, books, movies, and candy. I've even been able to help her fill a few myself.</i><br />
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<i>I can really see how much love and effort she puts into each one!</i><br />
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<i>Because my grandma loves and never forgets her children and grandchildren, I was reminded of a scripture from Isaiah 49:16. The Lord has promised us that He will not forget us because He has "graven us upon the palms of His hands." And our promise to Him is that we will not forget Him, for we have engraven Him in our hearts.</i><br />
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Happy birthday, Grandma Peggy (Mom)! You have one of the sweetest hearts I have ever known, and we feel <i>so</i> privileged to call you ours.<i> </i> <br />
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April Perryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12798231506799751891noreply@blogger.com0