Career Day for Claire

It was "Job Shadow Day" at Claire's middle school last week.

Claire has expressed to me several times her desire
 to be a labor and delivery nurse.  

She has had many discussions with nurses and some
 doctors that we know about her goal.

They told her what to know and how to prepare for this career.  

But she has also told me that her ultimate goal is to be a mother.

I am proud of her desire to care for and nurture her children. 

I woke Claire up early (as I do) and she helped me prepare lunches 

for the other Little Nies.

She helped me make breakfast and get the children out the door for school.

After we dropped them off, she and I drove to the Y trailhead, 

and together we hiked, just as I do every morning.

We talked about what she was learning at school, 

what she was enjoying at school, and her thoughts about some of her teachers.

I told Claire that all mothers mother differently, and together with

God, they become successful mothers.

With God, they will succeed no matter their background or culture, or lifestyle.

I told her that my desire to be a mother started at a young age.  

I prepared to be a mother by making wise choices early on, 

and I tried to develop my innate domestic qualities.  

I also tried to create good habits of exercise and healthy eating choices

 early so I could be happy while I mothered;
happy with myself and with my family.

Growing up, I never felt ashamed to admit to anyone that I wanted to be a mother.

Motherhood has blessed my life beyond my comprehension.
 I have learned some very valuable lessons that have stretched
and challenged me in ways I never knew I was capable of.
My children were the motivation that I needed to get better from my accident.
At night when I was in the hospital, I would visualize myself changing
diapers, making dinner, holding hands, dressing, and mugging on my children.
I got well because of my 'mother heart'.

I told Claire that no matter what she wanted to be in life, 

a mother is a very, very important goal. 

Later that morning I took her to my friend Susan's office.  

Susan is the founder of Freshly Picked and makes adorable

leather moccasin shoes for babies and children. 

Claire asked Susan some questions about her business like;

 what she likes about her job, and what she dislikes about her job.

Anyway, since  Lottie was with us, she tried on about 40 shoes, 

ate 5 cookies, and bossed Susan around her own office.

After we went to lunch where we had another good conversation about politics.  

I told her that somewhere here in this great country there is mother 

who is raising a future president of the United States.  

That mother is contributing greatly to this boy or girls life,
and helping them make wise choices now (hopefully)
so they can be a moral and wise leader.

Mothers are brave.  Mothers are powerful, and mothers change lives.

Before I tucked into bed, I asked Claire to read this talk by Julie B. Beck.  

I am anxious to hear her thoughts. 

 I hope she will reference these words from this talk as she grows and develops.

"I was recently at a park where I met a group of women with mother hearts. 

They were young, covenant-keeping women. 

They were bright and had obtained advanced degrees from respected universities. 

Now they were devoting their considerable gifts to 

planning dinner that evening and sharing housekeeping ideas. 

They were teaching two-year-olds to be kind to one another. 

They were soothing babies, kissing bruised knees, and wiping tears. 

I asked one of those mothers how it came about that she could transfer her talents 

so cheerfully into the role of motherhood.

 She replied, “I know who I am, and I know what I am supposed to do. 

The rest just follows.” 

(FYI: Lottie brushed my hair as I wrote this post. 

 It felt so good.)

Halloween 2014

  The Nielson family Halloween 2014:

Claire: A teenage witch

 Jane: Annie

Oliver: Surgeon; Dr. Caruso, one of my burn surgeons

Nicholas: Fighter pilot (with mustache)

Charlotte: Olivia, the pig.

And Mr. Nielson and I just wear masks every year.

Before the trick-or-treating begins, we have our spooky family dinner.

Always complete with pumpkin-shaped bread bowls and my famous chili.

Mr. Nielson adds dry ice to the root beer

and The Sweet Tooth Fairy's darling cupcakes for after dinner.

(Because we need more sugar).

 

Halloween this year was perfect.  

The weather was perfect, and it was pretty darn 

perfect that Halloween landed on a Friday.

That meant that we could all stay out late and eat candy by the fire together

after an entire evening of trick-or-treating, knowing we didn't have to

rush off to bed.

It also meant that Mr. Nielson and I could 

watch a spooky movie (I am Legend) together, snuggled in our bed.

It was also perfect because I felt healthy. I saw my 

children excited about the holiday and dressing up.

 And we all loved watching Lottie experience it all.

We are always so lucky to have Justin come and 

photograph our significant life events, and

Halloween is definitely one of those days.

 All together now...

Oh, and let's not forget the Primary 

 Halloween bike ride/parade after school:

I want my children to be happy; I want them to remember that our family 

was always their best support and their best friends.

I want all family life and events- happy, complex, challenging, 

and even difficult- to be their best memories. Ever, because 

together we can do anything.

 The End.