I can’t even count how many lectures I heard on the value of living in the “mission field” before I moved away from Utah. They were often relayed in the same tone of voice that one might announce a homemaking meeting or potluck dinner, that sing-songy Mormon lilt that’s well intentioned if somewhat insincere.

I been trying on posts all morning, but none of them seems to fit quite right. I’ve already written about President Hinckley on both my other blogs and his name continues to generate numerous hits in the news, on all sorts of blogs and be heard on a growing number of special programming on radio [...]

Driving in the van, after dropping kids off at school.
Sam: My teacher is mean sometimes.
Me: When is she mean?
Sam: When we’re leaving she doesn’t say goodbye. That’s mean. That’s why I’ll get a shotgun and shoot her.
Me: *stunned into silence*
Sam: That’s a joke, Mom.
Me: Well, you shouldn’t joke about shooting someone.
Sam: Why not?
Me: Because shooting [...]

I was on my mission when President Hinckley announced the creation of new smaller temples, one hundred temples by the end of the century. That’s the first example that comes to mind, of when I felt the Spirit tell me that President Hinckley was a prophet of God. As a missionary I saw how much [...]

A few weeks back I heaved myself onto the paper-covered table for that highlight of the year: the annual pelvic exam. I was anxious, as usual–speculums and gloved fingers are not my idea of a good time. But I was even more anxious about what the doctor might say after his little tour of my [...]

To get to Funger Hall at The George Washington University, you get off the subway at Foggy Bottom.  Take the escalator up, and you will be deposited in the heart of campus, such as it is.  Turn right, and walk down 23rd St, until you hit G St.  Funger Hall is on the corner.

Disclaimer: Lest you think I am just another “Yes!” girl, I will tell you I believe there are times it’s OK to say “No.” Sometimes there are extenuating circumstances of which ecclesiastical leaders are unaware. I also believe it’s better to decline rather than accept a calling one does not intend to fulfill.
I never learned [...]

(Walking 4-year-old out of the pediatrician’s exam room, where he was found to have a sinus infection, an ear infection, and strep throat.)
Receptionist: Would you like a sticker, Sam? (Points to the plexiglass sticker display, which recently replaced the candy basket.)
Sam: *shakes head*
We walk out of the office.
Me: No sticker, huh?
Sam: Stickers are crap.

I was raised all over the place. We lived in the middle, mid, center, smack-dab, equistat, heart of the heartland, Missouri; the deep, very southern, way down south in Dixie, Georgia; The blindingly cold, very very out of the way Northern Michigan; very easternly, very New England-y, very colonial Maine; and have finally settled out [...]

My 12-year-old daughter (on her way to bed for the night): “Everybody shut up!”
Me: “That’s ’shut up PLEASE!”’

So . . . are you a member of a book group?
Are you in a ward group? A neighborhood group? Are you a member of a book group that has been meeting for years and years (even before Oprah made it cool)? Are you in a new book group that’s still [...]

There were a zillion reasons to say “No.” I can’t pronounce “Segullah.” I don’t even run around the block, let alone finish full marathons. I’m too old. And while I’m fairly certain I can write better than a number of the reporters at a certain local newspaper, I can’t hold a candle to many of [...]

As one who oft’ complains about her calling, and made her #1 new year’s resolution to “stop being antagonistic at presidency meetings,” I felt humbled when I read Gold to Give, an essay from the latest issue of Segullah.
To hit the pillow on Sunday night, exhausted and still in your stockings, having had to economize [...]

Time for another word challenge! It was so much fun to read the great pieces we got last time. Just to recap, I’ll give everyone a word and you, in the comments, do a quick free-write of a paragraph or two with your best interpretation of the word. I’ll do mine below.
This month’s word is…

Some time long ago Dalene traded the lush greenscape of the Pacific Northwest for the comforting mountains of the Wasatch front where she lives with her third-grade teaching husband and their four mostly fun kids. With a forever-ago degree in English and French from BYU, Dalene once worked for a local newspaper, has dallied [...]

Come join us as we explore the nuances of consecration: we consecrate ourselves as Relief Society Presidents and Primary pianists; in Mozambique, Idaho, Ecuador, and Nauvoo; as exhausted pregnant mothers and bewildered missionaries. It’s all in the Fall/Winter 2007 issue of Segullah, which you can read here.

I grew up fearing I’d never get married. Does everyone worry about that, or is it just me? I don’t know. But in my case, I had just reason to worry:

I’m forced to close my eyes, they’re stinging. Is it just the hot steam or is there something toxic in there? Oh yes, the exploded potato from earlier in the week. It’s now black and charred to the bottom of the oven, I make a conscious decision to think about cleaning that [...]

I walked out the front door fuming. I could’ve smacked that kid right across the face — and felt good about it. I was so ticked off about her snarky attitude, her willful disobedience, her provoking comments. It was a good thing I had a breakfast date with some girlfriends. I had to give myself [...]

Sue will be our illustrious guest blogger in January. In response to my plea for an introduction, here’s what she wrote:
“I can’t thnk of an intro right now because I just saw ‘Enchanted’ and I’m too busy twirling around the living room pretending I’m Giselle to worry about telling you who I am in [...]