Hello, again!

I don't usually respond to challenges to answer questions about myself , but I couldn't turn down my favorite Canadian daughter-in-law.

1. What's your favourite day of the week and why?
Sunday would be my favorite day. Since we make it a practice not to work on the Sabbath I have a legitimate reason to not do any housework and laundry.  And then a lot of our family come over after church for dinner and discussions and fun!  Today Matt and Mir made supper (so delicious!) and Emme made an incredible cake (Wow!).  It was delicious and we all had such fun just talking and joking around.  Hayley surprised everyone by coming into town early so that made it extra special.  After all the dishes were done and the kitchen clean, Matt and Mir left to put their kids to bed.  Mike and Emme stayed and after scripture study we played a game.  It was a great day!


2. Recount an embarassing moment.
There are SOOOO many to choose from.  My favorite one takes too long to tell.  So, I'll just choose the three times I've asked someone when their baby was due only to have them tell me they weren't pregnant.  I don't ask now even if they are in labor.

3. What was your favourite toy or game as a child?
My parents, in fact my whole family, roller skated when I was a child.  We went to a skating rink every week and I loved that. I started skating when I was eighteen months old and my mother said I could skate better than I could walk.  But I remember when I was really little that I liked to sit on my dad's skate at home and roll around in the house.  I was so little and his skate seemed so big and it was like a little scooter.


4. What does your name mean?
Well, Courtney, Elaine is Greek and a variant of Helen, or French and it means "light" or "shining light". And, though you didn't ask, I've always liked my name a lot. Thanks, Mom.

5. If you could have any occupation (and you had no limitations of obtaining that occupation), what would it be?
Hmmm.  This one took a while.  I think when I was younger my secret dream was to be a country/western back-up singer.  I would love to speak multiple languages fluently and be a translator.  Anything that took me traveling around the world.  But, honestly, I'm just happy doing what I'm doing: nurturing, loving my family and trying to make our home a beautiful, clean, safe, loving environment for the most important people in the world.  I feel lucky.


6. What is your guilty pleasure?

Candy, specifically: chocolate caramel pecan candy, pralines, divinity, and fudge.  I don't get to satisfy that pleasure too often anymore. I've been dreaming of making pecan pralines.  Maybe Christmas.

7. If you could change anything about your appearance what would it be?
I would love to change my teeth and hope to do so in the next year or so.


8. If you could raise awareness about one topic (education, poverty, AIDS, etc.) what would it be?
Child abuse.  Every child is so innocent and vunerable and deserve all the love and tenderness their parents can give them.  It breaks my heart to see children treated unkindly or to hear of abuse in any form.  Parents need more support and training.

Why I love plants

I remember weeding my parents' yard when I was very young. My dad had made a very good weeder by fashioning some metal onto the end of a pole. He had probably welded it. I don't know and can't ask him since he died 35 years ago. But welding was one of his talents. He had many talents and I remember knowing that he could fix anything from my watch to something on our house or car. I think I got my love of the outdoors from him. I know I only ever wanted to be outside with him, and never inside cleaning the house or cooking.

We had hydrangeas and wisteria, a banana tree and a huge fig tree in our yard. I now have the first three and hope to be able to plant the fig tree, too. It's not fair, though. I grew up in a place where it rained constantly and consequently everything grew so easily. Now, it's a challenge to grow anything that likes to be watered more than once a month-or every two months. It doesn't rain very often here. But, thank goodness we have a well and a sprinkler system. It still takes a good while to water all the potted plants and they already have to be watered every other day or so. But, I love them. I call them my babies. And, sometimes I think my children are jealous of them!

Who couldn't love a plant? The colors are so beautiful. The different greens that can be on plants is amazing. The flowers are magnificently colored. I don't know why anyone would prefer jewels to plants. If I had a palace I would decorate it with all sorts of flowering plants, not expensive jewels. And, as a mother, I appreciate that these babies are always where I left them, never talk back, only give joy and enjoyment, and rarely make messes. But the nurturing of a child is a wonderful thing, too. It's just more demanding. And it takes longer to see the fruits of your labor. Maybe I like plants so much because it takes less patience.

I enjoy my garden fountain so much. I love sitting outside looking at the garden and listening to the gurgling water. It is so peaceful. And, with five (sometims, six) children still at home, I need peace.

I know that Heavenly Father created all these beautiful plants for our enjoyment. I imagine He could have sent us to an earth that would have satified our physical needs but not have been beautiful . Instead He wanted us to have pleasure and joy. I'm grateful for His love and kindness and generosity for sharing these beautiful things with us.