My Amazing Parents

This week we learned about parenting. I learned SO much, Brother Williams is an incredible teacher. The things I learned and read about made me appreciate my amazing parents even more. Mike and Cheryl Carson are two of the most amazing people you will ever meet. They love the Lord and they love to serve Him. They are wonderful listeners and advice givers. I would like to take a moment to talk about each of them individually. :)

My Dad

Micheal Ray Carson: incredible musician and even more amazing father. He makes the best waffles and has a great laugh. He is fun to watch movies with and still takes me out on daddy-daughter dates. He is gentle and loving and without guile. 

One of my favorite childhood memories of him happened when I was about four. I was pretending to be the scullery-maid version of Cinderella, so I wanted to scrub our kitchen floor on my hands and knees like she does in the movie. In my four-year-old mind I thought that liquid dishwashing soap would be the best thing to use to get the linoleum especially clean. As I scrubbed, bubbles and foam began to rise inches above the floor, so I scrubbed harder to make them go away. Obviously this only made the suds multiply, until I was literally up to my elbows in them.  I was sure that I was in big trouble. I began to cry as I continued to scrub. I heard my Dad’s footsteps behind me and I was terrified of the punishment I was sure I would receive, not because I thought it the nature of my father to punish, but because I was sure that was what my terrible misdeed called for. I was surprised when my father, laughing under his breath, knelt down to my level and asked so gently and calmly, “Are you Cinderella today?” I nodded as I wiped my tears away. “Here, let me help you clean up these bubbles.”

My Dad is amazing. I love him so much. :)

Those of you who have had the privilege of listening to my Dad's music know just how lucky you are. :)

My Mom

My dear, kind, sweet, beautiful mother: Cheryl Ann Higginson Carson. This lady is a doll. I am so grateful for her. She and I talk for hours on end and I consider her to be my best friend. She is an amazing author and speaker and has a beautiful gospel-oriented perspective on life. Also, she is CONSTANTLY crocheting. And what for? To donate the things she makes to the Humanitarian Center. She is so selfless and caring, I look up to her so much.

Here is a picture of her with some of her creations. Those are doll dresses behind her!!! (My Dad and she had a little photo shoot.)

Here is one up close. Isn't it darling? :)

I love my parents so much. They are truly incredible people. I will forever be grateful to them for all that they are and all that they have done and do for me!

What Do I Want to Be When I Grow Up?

I am currently studying Child Development. When people used to ask me what I wanted to do with my degree, I would tell them all about how cool it would be to work in Psycho-social Rehabilitation or be a Child Life Specialist. Sometimes I would tell people I was really close to what I really wanted to do: be a mother. Why was I so bashful about this? Because we live in a world today where being a stay-at-home-mom is looked down upon. Lately I have had a change of heart toward the way I feel about what I really want to do with my life and my time. Being a mother to God's precious children is the most noble thing that I could possibly do. And even more importantly, I know it is what He wants me to do. Now, if you ask me what I want to do with my education, I will tell you openly and proudly, "I want to be a mommy." And that is the honest truth. I love this quote by Marjorie Hinckley:
“I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails. 
I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. 
I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. 
I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. 
I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. 
I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” 

Communication--what does that even mean?

Today in class we began our discussions on communication, and it was SO interesting! It really helped me realize that having healthy, honest, Christlike patterns of communication in any relationship takes practice and work, and you have to keep at it all your life. That doesn't sound like much fun, does it? Well, maybe at times it isn't, but I know that in my own experiences it has been so rewarding. And making these kinds of sacrifices and filling our hearts with charity and understanding for those we communicate with helps us in our journey to become more like our Savior.

Yesterday in church someone said in their testimony that "Prayer is a form of work. We need to put time and effort into our conversations with Heavenly Father." I had never thought of it that way before, but it is so true! I think of how my prayers used to be when I was younger and I compare them to the way I pray now and the difference is astounding. I have come to love my communication with my Father in Heaven. It is something that I diligently put time and effort into, and the blessings I have seen in my life because of it are endless.

Also, I would like to say that I am very excited for Wednesday. That is the day that we are going to talk about counseling with our spouse and the Lord. I took a marriage class from Brother Williams a few semesters ago, so I know that this is an extremely powerful lesson. Can't wait!