What Really Matters, According to Me

Although dandelion greens and roots are good for food, (my sister and her ex-husband used to 'harvest' them), I don't like for them to grow in my yard. Something about dandelions, they are relatively easy to pull. They do have those spiky leaves, but if you get underneath the whole of the leaves, the thorns point slightly upward and you can mostly avoid the prickles and pull the whole thing, simple root system and all. There is one main root that grows downward and a bunch of little root off-shoots, but it's a pretty easy weed to rid yourself of... unless... Sometimes we're tempted to just mow down the dandelions when we cut the grass early in the season. This is a mistake. Although the weeds aren't noticeable for a time, the root remains. The root grows while the top of the weed regenerates. When you finally get around to really 'weeding' and pull the weed from the ground, you find shorter, more prickly leaves, with sharper thorns, and a deeper, thicke...

A sweet friend of mine has asked how I teach my children to share. Well... I had to think about that one. Here are a few positions my husband and I agree upon, which positions our children accept as the way it is. It was comforting to me when Gordon B. Hinckley said something to the effect that we are stewards over our wealth. We do not own it. It belongs to the Lord. And one of these days we will have to answer to the Lord for the way in which we exercised our stewardship over our riches. So-- here are some basic principles accepted by the Windham Family: 1. This is the house the Lord allowed Dad and me to provide for the use of our family. It is not your house. 2. This is a bedroom in the house the Lord has allowed Dad and me to provide. It is not your bedroom. It is my bedroom, or Dad's, if it belongs to anyone here. 3. These are clothes purchased with money I earned/Dad earned. They are for your use. They are not yours. If to anyone, they belong to Dad and me. 4. These are not ...

Disclaimer: the statements contained in this article are the views of the writer developed over a 27 year period in childcare, early childhood education and by way of living life as a mother of 9 children. No offense is intended. Every child and parent is different and it is the view of the writer that God specifically matches each child to his parents. He will and does provide guidance to each parent as to how to best rear his or her own children by the power and direction of the Holy Ghost, if parents will seek His guidance. No counsel nor philosophy should take the place of this divine guidance. Having said that: There are many philosophies relative to children and their 'things'. One school of thought is that children feel comforted and gain a sense of security in possessions. When a child says: that's mine! and is able to claim physical possession of an item from another child, some believe it is a manifestation of self-affirmation and is related to the growth of conf...

It occurred to me when speaking with my brother the other day that I've forgotten to walk forward after having closed a door behind me...It's like I stepped beyond the door and now, I'm just standing here, not knowing where to go. My mother has recently passed away and so the chapter in my life in which she plays a current role is passed. I have been very busy closing that door neatly; making sure I'm OK; making sure the kids are OK; making sure I call my sister to see if she's OK... It's like when I'm running out of the house, going back a couple of times to get my purse, get the snack, get the sipper cup... On the last trip out the door, I have to make sure nothing gets caught as it closes. I carry an envelope in my teeth that needs to be mailed, I have a book under my arm that needs to go back to the library, I have a bag of clothes ready for the donation drop box hanging from my wrist; none of these will I catch in that door as it closes behind me. I...

Since 2003, when I moved away from Harwood, Texas, I've been back to visit family only a few times each year. The reasons for my leaving my childhood hometown were sound and I have no regrets, and though six years away have brought me back only a dozen times or so, I have visited Harwood more times in the passed two weeks than I have in the passed two years. The road between my house and Grandma's house is long, winding and rough. It passes through two small Texas towns with miles of two-lane old Texas roadway in between. Over hills, around curves, passed cattle, horses and chicken farms; it takes about an hour to get to Grandma's house. It is such a chore to get all of the kids ready to go; snacks, diapers and wipes, a movie to watch on the way, a bottle for the baby, and don't forget the football and air-soft guns... it is a long road between here and Grandma's house, and when we get there, we all need something to do after the first few minutes of visiting in the...

How I Love Her by SRW As the tired sun falls down Long shadows lace the ground And I wander to a time long passed away... Dim evenings years since passed Since my youth, long gone alas! ‘Twas a time my mother kissed all fear away. Do I still see her dear face there In the shadows near the chair Where she held me close to sing me fast asleep? Her quiet melody; A special song she sang for me In a tone so low, and slow and ever sweet... Now time has long since flown. Here am I alone Only pondering the joy of long ago When shadows held no fear For me, with Mother near. How I loved her, and I wonder... did she know? October 22, 1987 revised 11 October 1999 I sang to my mother as she lay upon her death bed. It was a tender, sweet and spiritual experience for me. How grateful I am for those moments beside her bed to say good-bye. Many of my written works, through the years have been inspired by my mother. Mom's great work in this life was family history. Keys to the Gate by srw 30 Dec 19...

Aurale (Lee) Huff 21 October 1927 – 9 January 2010 Aurale (Lee) Huff of Harwood, TX, passed away early Saturday morning at Seton Medical Center-Hays, in Kyle. Services were held at the Harwood Cemetery, Sunday, January 10, 2010. She was born in Harwood to Walter and Iva Huff and was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, Walter Huff, Jr. and Wayne Huff; her sister, Martha Lewis; a son, John Holbrook; a daughter, Melinda Antuna, two granddaughters, Heather Windham and Carrie Antuna, and great-granddaughter, Kindra Albert. Being mechanically inclined, at the age of 25, Lee rebuilt a Hillman-Minx automobile engine with no help other than instruction from her father, who had built airplanes in Harwood while she was a small child. Lee learned her trade in the family newspaper business and, known as a “tramp printer,” travelled across the United States working in newspapers in Houston TX, San Francisco CA, Cincinnati OH, Detroit MI, Modesto CA, and San Antonio TX, where...