Shell's Diaries

I've written a few posts earlier this year about my oldest child turning 12, him entering his last year at elementary school, and just the fact that my little children, aren't so little anymore.  But is wasn't until this past week, that it really hit me.  My 12 year old is trying to become more independent, and I kind of don't like it.   I'm realizing now that I need to wear different hats; not the just mother of preschool, elementary school age children hat, but now the hat of the mother of a pre-teen.  I am by no means the best parent out there, there are plenty other mothers scoring higher points than me... but I can honestly say I feel like the choices I've made in raising my children so far, I am comfortable with.  But now?  I'm not so sure.  I hope the way I'm raising this pre-teen of mine will prove  to be effective as he grows into a full blown teenager, and then a man.  (I should clarify right now, I am not excl...

There have been a few posts/comments made lately on Facebook about how we should just take one holiday at a time, about getting through Thanksgiving before we dwell on Christmas. That somehow Thanksgiving gets over shadowed when we start to do our Christmas shopping in early November, or if we listen to Christmas music around the time we put on costumes and  infect our bodies with candy galore.  My blog post isn't going to be about defending my  joy of listening to Christmas music weeks before Thanksgiving, but rather, how if I fill my life daily with gratitude, then when the time comes for us to stuff ourselves silly with turkey, sweet potatoes and pies, we won't have to search far and wide to figure out what we're grateful for, we won't feel like this is the only time of year we really do think about the many blessings we have. I do not believe most of think that way, but I AM trying to think about my blessings on a more consistent basis, and recognize them when th...

I could never just pick "one" song that touches my heart more than any other.  If ANYONE knows me, they know how much I love music, how much I love to sing.  I have so many "favorites" in so many different genres.  And oft times I'll hear myself saying, yet again... "This is my favorite song".  But why only have one? I have tons!   ( Excuse me while I take a blog break..... my nearly 4 year old Hailey has asked for a pedicure, and I must give in... don't want to miss out on these precious childhood years that are passing all too quickly.  Be back in a jiffy) Okay, back.  Where was I?  Oh yes... my many favorite songs.  I'm not going to bore you with the particulars of what I like and don't like.  But I will say, if you were to ride in the car with me, you'll find my radio stations tuned in to country music.  Never listened to country  music until I went away to Ricks College, in Rexburg, Idaho.  Couldn't stop listening f...