A Message to Moms

My Mom sent me this message in an email and I share it with you because I have felt invisible sometimes and it gives some great perspective on those feelings. What a wonderful blessing to be a mother of 5 great kids, and the daughter of a great example. Thanks for the message Mom!

I'm invisible.

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.

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 summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again.

She's going, she's going, she's 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 as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. 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.

Great Job, Mom!

Fun at the Ranch

The ranch brings something new each time we go. It's a place for relaxation...a place to build forts in the trees...a place to work together as a team...a place to explore...a place to just enjoy time together as a family. The frogs can sing you to sleep at night, and it's always been considered a great find when one is caught.

This time we found a nest of birds in the most unlikely of places...an orange cone. We never saw a bird fly in or out...but if you got close to the cone, you could hear those excited babies hoping for a snack. If you looked inside, all you could see was open mouths.

Where are the Lowrys when we need them?

The weather is warmer...the hoses are reconnected...the water guns are full...but where are the Lowrys...our favorite neighborhood friends? Long gone to the hot and humid Georgia! We miss you guys!!

Spring Break with Nana on Whidbey Island

We've had such a good time rock hunting on the beaches of Washington with Nana. We went to Whidbey Island for the first time and strolled the beaches. What a fun and relaxing time exploring for hours.

Time for a swim

Swimming is not something we do very often or something we are very good at, but we have a great time playing in the pool. After a long day of exploring the peninsula with Nana over spring break we took a break and had some fun in the pool. The next morning would be our first trip on the Ferry!

Olympic Game Park

For spring break we went exploring with Nana up on the Olympic Peninsula. We went to the Olympic Game Farm to see and feed the animals. WOW!! Having the bison, musk ox, zebra and llamas take the bread out of your hands is a little unnerving. You just can't get it out the window fast enough sometimes! Just before the llama picture, Rick had the camera pointed out my window, and as I turned around the llama looked as if it would nibble Ricks ear soon if it didn't get bread. I must have had quite the look on my face because Rick spun around panicked that something was going to get him! We got the llama some bread, Rick snapped the picture and I moved the car ahead. But we made it out with every ones fingers intact!

Fun in the Sun

This was one of the first sunny warm days of spring. Of course, the kids think its instanty summer and we should pack out the pool and put on our suits. Not quite yet...but it was good for some water fun. Watch out for Brendan though. He will turn on you in a second!!

Waffle Extreme Traditions - The new version

I've always heard that having traditions in your family is a good thing. Somehow...all our traditions seem to involve FOOD! A few years back, Rick shared an idea from a family he knew for General Conference weekend...something special for our family to enjoy, saved for just those two special weekends each year. We call it WAFFLE EXTREME for breakfast! Waffles with ice cream, whip cream, homemade strawberry freezer jam, chocolate chips, syrup...and whatever else that sounds tempting. This year Nana was here and brought us a fun new pan, so we changed things up a bit.


This pan is called a waffle pancake pan...that seemed all too boring for my group...so they came up with wancakes, panfles, waffakes, and others, but we finally settled on PAFFLES.

We love Waffle Extreme, Paffle extreme, General Conference weekend and great family traditions.

Battle of the Books

Cameron competed with the SCEAM team in the middle school Battle of the Books competition and they WON! They each read books from the list and participated against other teams to answer questions about events in the books. They took first place for their middle school and went on to compete against teams from three other middle schools. They didn't win the final competition, but had a great time.

Alyssa - Then and Now

My beautiful little girl the day we brought her home. She was punctual that day, arriving on her due date, March 24th, 1997...and she continues that habit.

Happy first birthday Alyssa!

I LOVE this picture of Alyssa. We were of course up the canyon to fish and she was very happy to be there!


Now my beautiful girl is 12! What an amazing young woman she is. She is about to finish 6th grade, she is a wonderful Viola player, she reads endlessly and is interested in writing as well, she has found a talent for art (Chinese art in particular), she likes music and has found that she loves Pride and Prejudice. Happy Belated Birthday sweet girl. We love you.