A New Environmental Friendly Diaper

My friend, Hallie, posted this clip on her blog. I had to share it. I laughed so hard that I about cried. Need a "Pick Me Up"? Watch this!!!

A Huge Surprise!

This has to have been one of the hardest secrets to not disclose to my mother! We got up @ 3:45 a.m. yesterday and were on a plane heading towards Utah at 6:45. With an hour layover in Las Vegas and about 45 minutes standing in line for a rental car, we found ourselves heading towards down town Salt Lake, one of my favorite places on the planet!

Here I am in front of the church's administration building!

We went to lunch at the Lion House Pantry, located in the basement of Brigham Young's historic home. They make the most incredible rolls there. I went to wash my hands there and was leaving the bathroom when in walked one of my best friends from our time at BYU! Heidi Kinmont, who was not only our landlord in Provo but a dear friend, was there for a Dental Conference. We had both been searching for each other, so it was awesome to reconnect! She has my email now.

After lunch, we headed to the Salt Lake Temple. It has to be one of my favorite temples. The buildings architectural details from inside to out are awe inspiring. Plus, the peace felt on the inside is priceless! How grateful I am for the temple!

Check out the detail on this door nob
carved by an early pioneer!

After the temple session, we headed to the Church Distribution center. There I called my mom to wish her a happy birthday. She asked what we had done that day. I told her Ivan had managed to get the day off and one of our friends watched our kids so we could go to the temple. I just didn't tell her it was the Salt Lake Temple!!

I abruptly ended our phone call telling her that I'd call her right back when I saw someone I wanted to meet shopping there as well. President Monson's daughter, Ann Dibb, was right in front of us! We were able to visit with her for 15-20 minutes. We had such a great visit. She currently serves in the General Young Women's Presidency. I was struck with her genuine concern for the youth in our area. She wanted to know how they were doing and what their challenges are. She has to be one of the most loving and genuine women that I have met. I could feel of her goodness and faith as we spoke. What a choice experience!

Sister Ann Dibb

I did call my mom back to finish wishing her a happy birthday as we headed down to her home in Pleasant Grove. We got there around 6 p.m.. I videotaped her reaction! It was classic! I'll post it once I figure out how to do so!

We met my brother Derek, his wife Valerie, and Scotty Catt at an International Restaurant in Provo for dinner. My mom was in shock! We had a great time catching up and visiting with everyone! What a great day!

Scotty, Ivan, me, mom, Valerie, and Derek

For about a month, we've had plans to head to Utah to surprise my mom for her birthday, for business, a niece's wedding, and one of my young women's mission homecoming. Our good friend, Robin Morse, is staying with our kids while we are gone. Thanks, Robin!

The First Five

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! Scary, I know! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations.
I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!

What I create will be just for you.
It'll be done this year.You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a recipe. It may be a cool photo or an article that I think you will like. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? So, here is the catch. You must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment will get a fabulous homemade gift by me! Be sure to post a picture of what you get when you get it.

(I'm adding the same restriction that Suzanne did: You have to be someone I already know...if you have stumbled across my blog and I don't know who you are, welcome! but I'd like to make something for five people that I already know. Thank you!)

Glenn Beck's Testimony

I love Glenn Beck! Have you ever wondered how he ended up joining the Mormon church? Wonder no more. Listen as he shares his life changing experience and how it has helped his family.

My Early Valentine's Day

Earlier this week I pulled a late night trying to play catch up. Around midnight I walked into my bathroom and found these sitting on the counter with a note asking me to go to lunch on Friday.


My husband had lined up a babysitter for Emma and made plans for us to go see Biosphere 2 which has been on our lists of places to see since we moved here 3 years ago. So, after dropping kids, snacks, and valentines at school, we took Emma to Margie Delgado who graciously watched her while we went on our date.


Biosphere 2 is located 20 miles north of the east side of Tucson. It took us about 40 minutes to get there. We took advantage of our Tucson Passport which got us B1G1FREE admission. So, it cost $20 for both of us to get in. If you've never been, this is a place that needs added to your list. It was really interesting.


In the late 80s, Biosphere 2 was built. For 2 years, 8 scientists lived locked inside this Experimental place to see if they could survive. It's basically the largest greenhouse that you will ever see. It contains everything from desert to rain forest plantation. Here are some pictures I took from our visit.

This amazing picture was taken in the Rain Forest Area.

U of A students study botony here today.

It was an amazing tour. Plan for at least 2 hours when you go. The tour takes approximately 1 hour and 15-20 minutes. The place is enormous. I can't imagine being locked inside for 2 years. That had to be hard. They had phones and television, but they were sealed inside for the entire time.

When we stepped out of the "lung", we were excited to see the snow that hadn't melted yet! It's not often that you see this white stuff in southern Arizona! Seeing snow made my day!

We had planned to go to lunch as well, but we knew we realistically did not have the time to go to a sit down place. So, we hit Bashas on our way back and got their amazing taco salads from their Deli area! It was a great day!

Glenn Beck's 9 Principles

Taken From www.glennbeck.com

"Do you watch the direction that America is being taken in and feel powerless to stop it?

Do you believe that your voice isn't loud enough to be heard above the noise anymore?

Do you read the headlines everyday and feel an empty pit in your stomach…as if you're completely alone?

If so, then you've fallen for the Wizard of Oz lie. While the voices you hear in the distance may sound intimidating, as if they surround us from all sides—the reality is very different. Once you pull the curtain away you realize that there are only a few people pressing the buttons, and their voices are weak. The truth is that they don't surround us at all.

We surround them.

So, how do we show America what's really behind the curtain? Below are nine simple principles. If you believe in at least seven of them, then we have something in common. I urge you to read the instructions at the end for how to help make your voice heard.

Related Video - Watch Glenn Beck on Fox News weekdays at 3PM

The Nine Principles

1. America is good.

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

You Are Not Alone

If you agree with at least seven of those principles, then you are not alone. Please send a digital version of your picture to: wesurroundthem@foxnews.com and then stay tuned to the radio and television shows over the coming weeks to see how we intend to pull back the curtain."



I love Glenn Beck! I sent my picture. I hope you do too!

The Truth Has Been Restored!

Lately, I have been feeling so blessed for this simple knowledge. The truth has been restored to the earth. We have a living prophet and apostles who lead and guide us on the earth today. Jesus Christ stands at the head of this church that bares his name. He lives! He is our Savior! I hope you enjoy these videos by Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Holland, modern apostles of the Lord Jesus.

Our Meeting With The Mayor

Today, Kati and I had our meeting with the mayor. I was happy to see that they really had listened to us and had worked at rewording the ordinance in accordance to suggestions we had made. They added the word "unattended" to the Unattended Child In Motor Vehicle Ordinance. They had somehow managed to leave out that word in the original. They also removed the words "in the motor vehicle" for the portion that stated "without supervision by another person in the motor vehicle who is at least 14". So, now you can still be " supervising" if you are within sight or sound of the vehicle. Yeah, we no longer have to stand in fear of dropping the books in the return slot or returning the cart to the cart return!

We didn't get it reduced to an infraction but they did add a clause that for a 1st violation, the person could have the opportunity to complete a diversion program, a 24 hour parenting class. After successful completion, the 1st class misdemeanor would be dismissed. They also removed the mandatory fine of $1,000. The judge could fine the person anywhere from $0-2,500 depending on the severity. The fine would have to cover the cost of the class which would range from $250-$450, so you technically could still be hit with a $500 fine.

With the rewording, I do not stand in fear of breaking this ordinance. With the rewording, children will be protected from being left unattended in a vehicle which was the original goal and the innocent, law abiding parents will be protected as well!

I'm grateful that I live in a community where the Mayor and Town Council truly listen to their citizens. The mayor even gave us his cell phone # and told us we could contact him at any time with any other concerns we might have concerning our town. We have an amazing mayor who truly loves the people and the town that he serves.

This has also gotten me interested in serving on a citizen advisory committee for the town. I'm looking in to the committee for the police. I really think there needs to be a voice of concern for parents of young children. I feel that had there been a parent on the committee, the wording of the ordinance would have been changed before it ever got passed.

I also think I will try to keep my shopping to Marana. Tucson passed an identical ordinance to the original one that Marana passed. For all those moms in Tucson, be careful when you go to return the shopping cart! I hope that Tucson follows the example of Marana and changes their poorly written ordinance as well!

This Just Made Me Laugh!

I'M SO GLAD I FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS!

Never take life seriously; nobody gets out alive anyway

Thanks, Tracy, for the great laugh!

The Job Description of a Parent

My friend, Pam Boshard, sent me the following. It deserved to be shared!

POSITION :
Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma, Mums
Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pops, Poppa

JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging,
permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication
and organizational skills and be willing to work
variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends
and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required, including trips to
primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities!
Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

The rest of your life.
Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,
until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.
Also, must possess the physical stamina of a
pack mule
and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat
in case, this time, the screams from
the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,
such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets
and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and
coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings
for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be a willing to be indispensable one minute,
an embarrassment the next.
Mu st handle assembly and product safety testing of a
half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final, complete accountability for
the quality of the end product.
Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and
janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :

None.
Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills,
so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :

None required unfortunately.
On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :

Get this! You pay them!
Offering frequent raises and bonuses.
A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because
of the assumption that college will help them
become financially independent.
When you die, you give them whatever is left.
The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that
you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,
no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and
no stock options are offered;
this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,
and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

** AND A FOOTNOTE 'THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!! **

Key Points of the Marana Unattended Child Ordinance

My husband, Ivan Ashcraft, wrote up the following after seeing the bias opinion poll on 104.1's website and listening to Jon Justice's Morning Show today. I quote from his email to Jon Justice.

"Jon,

I just want to make sure that you address the key points in Marana's new unattended child ordinance.

• Age limits
• in Marana it is illegal to leave child under 10
• California law specifies under 6
• Marana: supervising person must be
• over 14, and
  
• in the car
• California: supervising person must be
• 12 or over
• in the supervision area
• Level of the crime
• Marana: First class Misdemeanor
• California: Infraction
• Fine
• Marana: $1000 dollars
• California: $100 dollars
• Tucson: $1000 dollars or a 24 hour class

The council member suggested that it is either a $1000 fine or have a catastrophe. I think she meant have a catastrophe and $1000 fine. For example the lady that had her car stolen with her baby from her driveway, upon recovery of the vehicle and her baby would have been slapped with a mandatory $1000 fine and a First Class Misdemeanor (permanent on record). What a way to make a terrible situation worse. Based on you previous opinion, you trust the officer would do what you think would be right. In actuality he would do what he wants regulated only by what is written in the law. He would never call John Justice and get his opinion. Therefore it is imperative that the law be written to avoid poor interpretation. If a person thought the officer was in the wrong, it would cost the person and the public thousands of dollars to address the issue in court.

This law is not a tool to educate and increase the public safety. It is a tool for punishing uneducated citizens.

Your opinion poll on the 104.1 homepage is a loaded question making it completely biased having no value. An effective poll would include the following questions:

If a city ordinance was passed to protect children from being left in a car:

• What should be the age limit for a child left in the car?
• What is the appropriate age limit for the person supervising?
• What should be the level of the offense?
• citation
• first class misdemeanor (permanent on record and may impact future employment possibilities)
  
• What should be the level of the fine?
• Should the judge be at liberty to reduce the fine for an minor offense?
  
• Should there be an option for the first offense to be wiped from the record and the fine waved by taking a class (for which the subject would pay)?

One more note. Wouldn't a law concerning general neglect of a child address this subject? Do we not already have such laws in place? If we don't, we have a lot more to worry about than issuing misdemeanors to a parent for leaving a 9 year old in a air-conditioned car while standing outside of the car to talk with a neighbor. (Again you say that's ridiculous, and again I say that is what the law, as written, specifies as an offense and you are not the officer making the decision.)

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,
Ivan Ashcraft"

Meeting With The Mayor

Kati and I have a scheduled meeting with Mayor Honea on Monday. We are in favor of an ordinance similar to California's Kaitlyn's Law. Click here to view Kaitlyn's law. If our town's ordinance had wording similar to this law, I would not personally worry about being in violation of this ordinance.

A violation is an infraction and not a 1st class misdemeanor and carries a punishable fine of one hundred dollars and not $1,000. It also has better age limits and uses the word supervision verses the wording "another person in the motor vehicle who is at least 14 years of age . If you are outside the vehicle, you are supervising! Returning the shopping card, the library books, pulling out a stroller before removing a child from the vehicle, etc. would not be in violation of this.

Their law also states "When the vehicle's engine is running or the vehicle's keys are in the ignition, or both." That is much better wording than "the key to the motor vehicle is located
in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle."
We also love that California uses 70% of the proceeds from fines to develop and implement community education programs on the issue of leaving children unattended in a vehicle.

We are in 100% agreement that following part of Marana's ordinance should remain as stated:

Section 11-8-2 Protection of children by town

A. Any peace officer is authorized to use whatever force is reasonable and necessary to remove any child from a motor vehicle whenever it appears that the child’s life or health is endangered by extreme temperatures, lack of ventilation or any other condition existing within the motor vehicle.

{00012044.DOC / 3} - 2 - JF 2/3/09

B. No peace officer shall be liable for damages to property caused by the use of reasonable force to remove a child from a motor vehicle as described in this section.

I have shown or forwarded several mothers and grandmother's Kaitlyn's law. All agree that an ordinance worded similar to Kaitlyn's law would be preferable. If you have any suggestion, comments, or concerns that you would like us to bring up with the mayor, please call Stephanie at 407-6364.

This is what Marana passed:

Section 11-8-1 Prohibited conduct

“It is unlawful to leave a child who is under ten years of age in a motor vehicle without supervision by another person in the motor vehicle who is at least 14 years of age if either of the following applies:

A. The conditions tend to present a risk to the child’s health, safety or welfare; or

B. The motor vehicle engine is running or the key to the motor vehicle is located in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

Section 11-8-2 Protection of children by town

A. Any peace officer is authorized to use whatever force is reasonable and necessary to remove any child from a motor vehicle whenever it appears that the child’s life or health is endangered by extreme temperatures, lack of ventilation or any other condition existing within the motor vehicle.

{00012044.DOC / 3} - 2 - JF 2/3/09

B. No peace officer shall be liable for damages to property caused by the use of reasonable force to remove a child from a motor vehicle as described in this section.

Section 11-8-3 Violation; penalty

A. A violation of this chapter is a class 1 misdemeanor.

B. A person convicted of violating this chapter shall be fined not less than $1,000. The magistrate may not grant probation in lieu of or otherwise suspend the imposition of the minimum fine prescribed by this paragraph

News Coverage

Kati Carbonneau and the ordinance passed in Marana were the top story on the 6 p.m. KVOA evening news cast.

My kids and I appeared on KGUN9's 10 p.m. and KOLD13's 10 p.m. evening news cast.

We would personally like to thank these news stations for helping us vocalize our concerns with the wording of this ordinance. We would also like to publicly thank Mayor Ed Honea. He called to today to apologize for the mix-up with Kati's speaker card. He also would like to meet with Kati and I along with other parents to talk about ammending the wording to this ordinance. Yeah! If you would like to be part of this meeting next week, please call Stephanie at 407-6364.

Marana Plays The Anti-Family Advocate

I've had a night to think and sleep on this. I'm pretty upset by the wording of this ordinance that passed last night. Marana prides itself for being an "attractive community dedicated to maintaining a friendly environment where people can work, shop, live and play". I have been a long time supporter of the town of Marana, its' mayor, and most of its' council. This is a breaking straw. The things that drew us to Marana were its' family friendly activities, communities, and schools.

I consider myself a law abiding citizen. I drive the speed limit. I pay my taxes. I try to contribute to my neighborhood and community. As worded, I personally could have been in violation of this ordinance 8 times yesterday.

First violation, I shuffled my kids to get in the car to go to school. I had to run back into the house to encourage the last child who hadn't made it out the door. The other 3 kids (all under the age of 10) were buckled in their seats. But I left them in a car without a person 14 years or older.

Second, I drove down the street to get pick up a neighbor's child to take to school. The kids were "freezing", so I left the car running in her driveway to get the heat going as I ran to the door to get the child. I was out of the car for a maximum of 2 minutes with the car in sight. Yet as written, I technically would have been in violation of this ordinance.

After driving home, I parked in my driveway, opened my garage door, jumped out of the car to grab the stroller to load my 2 year old for my morning walk. I was within sight of the vehicle at all times, but technically I would be breaking the law. Knowing my 2 year old who DARTS and DASHES, I knew she was safer being buckled in her seat while I grabbed the stroller. Technically, this would have been my 3rd violation.

Our church was having a clothing exchange/ clothing drive. I buckled my 2 year old in the car and loaded the 2 large bags from my garage into the van. I didn't have a 14 year old in the car at the time. This technically would have been violation #4!

I volunteered to take a friend's clothes to the church for her, so she wouldn't have to load all 5 young children that she had at her home that day into her car to do this herself. I pulled up to her home, opened the back of my van and loaded the bags she had placed in her driveway, and knocked on the door to let her know that I had gotten it loaded. The windows of my car were open and I did have the keys in my hand and not in the car, but there still was not a 14 year old in the car, so technically this would have been another violation.

I get to the church and park close to the door. I decide that Emma is safer buckled into her car seat watching a cartoon while I unload the car than running wild in the parking lot. So, I unload all the bags by making trips back and forth from the van just dropping the bags inside the churches glass doors. She is in my sight at all times. And even though my car is not running, I am on my 6th violation because I left the keys in the passenger compartment. As soon as the last bag was unloaded, I unbuckled Emma and took her inside with me to transport all the bags where they were needed.

As I was going to leave, I buckled Emma in the car. Someone we knew drove into the parking lot. Her door was open and she was in my sight the entire time. We visited for a few minutes in the parking lot. This would have been my 7th violation because there was not a 14 year old in the car at the same time. I personally feel she was safer buckled in her seat than running around the parking lot or into the street where she could have been hit by a moving vehicle. Guess what? Starting March 5th, we will be required to have all of our children under age 14 technically outside the car vehicle if we are talking to other parents in the school parking lot. Remember it's a 1st class misdemeanor and carries a MANDATORY minimum $1000 fine!
Marana, the friendly community, becomes the instant cold community because none of us can afford to do this anymore.

I drive into my blink and you miss it driveway. I grab my mail from the mail box, and then proceed to remove Emma from the car. Had I unloaded her first, she would have dashed into the road while I grabbed the mail. I know her. I am her mother. My two year old has this fixation with dashing into the road or parking lot. I can not put her down without it endangering her safety. But according to the Town Council of Marana, this would have been my 8th violation. I'm just grateful that I didn't have library books that needed dropped off in the drop box by the library door. That could have been a 9th violation!

I need to write a note on my defense that had it been hot outside I would have taken her inside the house or church first. Any decent mother would have done that, but because there is no temperature clause or distance clause I still would be violating this ordinance.

This new ordinance makes my physically sick. I may not be the best mother on the planet, but my children's safety is always of upmost concern to me. If this ordinance is not repealed, I worry about parents who will become more negligent with their children as a result. It would be tempting to just leave all 4 of my children at home by themselves to drive the 2 miles to drop off the library books than to chance the $1000 MANDATORY FINE and the 1st CLASS Misdemenour that accompanies having the kids in the car. Maybe I'll just have my special needs 5 year old return all the books. For those of you who know my 5 year old, this could be scary!

My other concern is that a child will be killed or ran over in a parking lot at a school or business because moms who are trying to abide by all the laws and ordinances of this great land are required by law now to put their children's lives in jeopardy. I pray that a life is not lost before we can resend this new ordinance.

Please email the media and members of the Marana Town Council with your personal views on this new ordinance. They may not listen to the one, but if they get 100 emails on this issue, they will have to stop and take notice.

Here are all the addresses to copy and paste into your email. These are all the email addresses for each member of the council including the mayor and for every news agency in Tucson.

ehonea@marana.com, HERB@KAIFARMS.COM, rclanagan@marana.com, pcomerford@marana.com, cmcgorray@marana.com, jpost@marana.com, rziegler@marana.com, justice@1041thetruth.com, "Jenny Anchondo" , "Ronquillo, Karla" , news@tucsoncitizen.com, newstips@kvoa.com, news@fox11az.com, lmarble@explorernews.com, emeltzer@azstarnet.com, kgun9news@kgun9.com


Added note: KVOA News is on its way to interview Kati about this ordinance. Watch KVOA today to see Kati's interview! Keep emailing all the above!!!! Our voices might be heard!

An Awful Ordinance Passed in Marana Tonight

I was saddened tonight as I stood in the chamber of the town of Marana and watched our town council pass a new ordinance that prohibits leaving a child, 10 years old or younger, in a vehicle without another person, 14 or over, being in the car with them. It also covers a child left with keys in the vehicle or one with the engine running. As this ordinance is written it applies from parking lots to driveways. Tucson passed a similar ordinance in September with an added clause stating that if it's your first offense, you can take a class without being charged the fine.

Say you drop off a movie in a drop box. Or you drop the library books in the drop box outside the library door and you leave the kids in the car. Say you buckle in your kids and then return your shopping cart to the closest cart return. Say you turn on the air conditioner to cool down the car, buckle in all your kids and walk around your car without a 14 year old inside. This offense, starting March 5th, is now a 1st class misdemeanor. Offenders will face a MANDATORY minimum fine of $1,000!

A dear friend and neighbor, Kati Carbonneau, got there early enough to get a speaker card on the issue. They passed it without even giving her a chance to speak on the matter. She and I had to flag the mayor to bring to his attention that they had skipped her. They finally let her speak, but would not reopen the issue for further discussion by the council. To read Kati's words to the town council, click here!

So, dear friends, you who are parents of children under the age of 10, we are all now HANDICAPPED. We physically are forced to break this ordinance the way it is written every time we step out of the vehicle. If this is the case, the city of Tucson and town of Marana need to resend these ordinances as written or provide the physical amenities that every parent would need to comply to this law. This would include drive-up drop boxes at every major goverment and commercial establishment. Every school would need to have drop off and pickup area so parents would not be required to leave the vehicle. After all, they passed these ordinances. Now, they need to provide ways that every parent can physically abide by these ordinances.

We are starting a petition of register voters in Marana to resend the ordinance as it is written currently. If you are interested in signing this petition, please leave a comment with email address or call me at 407-6364.

Invisible Mother......

My friend, Tracy, sent me this one. I wish I knew who wrote it. It's powerful!

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store.

Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'

Obviously, not.

No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all.

I'm invisible. The invisible Mom. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?

Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated sum a cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going; she's going; she is gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England ..

Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in..

I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.'

It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe .

I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription:

'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.' And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place.

It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over.. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.'

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life.

It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride.

I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on.

The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My Mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself.. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'you're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right.

And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Food Storage Made Easy

I've discovered some amazing food storage resources that are available online.

One of my favorites is Food Storage Made Easy! They have a 3 month food supply planner in excel that you can open, save to your computer, and use. Best of all, it's FREE! Working on this is on my list of things to do today besides laundry and working on my upcoming cookbook.

Click here to get the spreadsheet!
Here is the tutorial on how to use the spreadsheet to calculate your food storage needs.