WOW! What a long time between posts!

I was recently called as a Laurel advisor. Big change from the Sunbeams! I loved them and I'm happy that I got to finish out the year with the little tykes. They are so sweet and I LOVE having them squeal "Hi Sister Rowley!!" It's the greatest.

Anyway as I was studying a lesson for the Laurels I went to my bookshelf to find a book by Camilla Kimball and couldn't find it but what I found was one by Carol Lynn Pearson. She was quite popular in the 70's - 80's and went through some very rough experiences but she writes wonderful prose poetry. I opened the book and guess what? It was given to my by the Young Women leaders and girls from 3rd ward (now Peak View), where we used to live here in Flagstaff. It is so sweet with goodbye notes from many girls (including Jana and Annette) and leaders from 1997. I do remember some fun times at girls camp and hiking down West Fork. It was a neat time to come across the book as I had forgotten where it came from. So I have been reading through it again. She writes very poignantly and tenderly and deeply. I think I will share one of the poems here. The title of the book is Picture Window and this is the poem by that name.

Picture Window

Kathleen

Who was out of control

Like a slope of oranges

After someone has taken

Ten at the bottom

Looked enviously at

Susan

Who carried her stress

As gracefully as she carried

The perfect pie

She had brought to the meeting

Last Wednesday night.

Kathleen

Who yelled at her children

Even when they were not

In danger of oncoming cars

And who slammed the door

After she told her husband

To have it his way then

And who once a week at least

Locked herself in the bathroom

And cried

Called

Susan

Who never perspired

And who taught classes called

"Toward a More Feminine You"

And who smiled all the time

And whose children

Always got awards

To ask if she could

Come over sometime

To get a little help.

Kathleen

Who was so disorganized

That she went on Thursday

Instead of Friday

Got a lot of help from

Susan

Who happened to be

Out front in curlers

And wrinkled slacks

And wild-woman eyes

Screaming at her youngest child

Who had just batted a ball

Through the picture window

That framed the lamp

With the beautiful butterflies.

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What do you think? Do you like her writing?

Here is another one.

Path of a Parent

It starts with

Meditation on the toes of a baby

And leads to spiritual exercise

That would break the best yogi

Sitting cross-legged before his lotus:

Serenity

And colic

And three hours sleep last night

Grace

And screams

In the grocery store when the

Oreos are ripped from white knuckles

Harmony

And three Halloween costumes

By tomorrow morning:

A clown and a witch

And a washing machine

To go with Stacey's dryer.

Honor

And another conference

With the teacher

And possibly the principal

Silence

And the roar of motorbike

And rock

And tap shoes on the kitchen tile

Acceptance

And all that is dear

Packing up and leaving home

Path to god-cosciousness

All begun by

Meditation on the toes of a baby.

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Next time: Diapering at 4:00 A.M.