The Ort Family

Joy to the World

2011-12-04T21:19:00.000-06:00

I cannot think of Christmas without thinking of the music that abounds during this season. “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” “Joy to the World,” “Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains,” "The First Noel," "Jingle Bells," “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and many, many more come immediately to mind. More than any time of year, I find myself ready to “make a joyful noise” all over the place! This truly is the season of joy. We celebrate the miracle of a baby, born in the humblest of circumstances, who came to save us all. What greater reason is there to have and express joy?

I hope you each make the time for the quiet moments of pondering that will allow you to feel the true joy of Christmas. Then, I invite you to make a joyful noise all around you. Make a joyful noise as you pray meaningfully to your Father in heaven, for your own needs and for the needs of those you know and love. Make a joyful noise as you share your testimony when prompted by the Holy Ghost. Make a joyful noise as you seek out those in need (whether that need is one of food or of a loving, thoughtful gesture) and seek to fill those needs. Make a joyful noise as you spend quality time with your family and friends, discussing the real reason we are so joyful at this time of year. Make a joyful noise as you mend quarrels and forgive offenses. Make a joyful noise as you seek ways to serve more throughout the year. And by all means, make a joyful noise as you sing all the beautiful songs that tell of our Savior's birth. The music we make, whether on- or off-key, is always beautiful when it expresses the deepest feelings of our heart.

With much love to you all this Christmas season,

Sister Jennifer Ort

Some of my faves:

http://youtu.be/pWBjl-jPcVM

En español - 'Los Peces en el Río' - this talks about how even the fishes in the river are excited about the birth of the baby Jesus

Fear 101

2011-07-05T11:14:00.003-05:00

Fear has been on my mind a lot recently. I have had several conversations with friends recently who have shared their fears with me. None of these were huge, life-threatening fears. Instead, they were struggling with small fears--fear of failure, fear of criticism, fear of disapproval--that kept them from doing the good things that would ultimately bring them peace and happiness. With that on my mind, I chose "fear" as the subject of the last lesson I taught in Relief Society. In spite of the fact that the topic had been on my mind for several weeks, I was completely unprepared for the FABulous discussion that resulted. I don’t want to forget this fantastic discussion, so I decided to write out what I can remember from my notes.

First, we discussed what fear is. We had a very long list that included the expected (scared, afraid, worry, pain) and the unexpected (physical response, respect, opposite of love). We considered the different kinds of fear: fear of law, fear of consequences or punishment, fear of imminent, physical danger, fear that is worry or nervousness, fear that demonstrates a lack of faith, and fear that is godly. There are several examples in the scriptures that demonstrate different kinds of fear. In the garden of Eden, Adam disobeyed God and was afraid (Genesis 3:10). According to the Bible Dictionary (P. 672 in the LDS version of the Holy Bible), "Sin destroys that feeling of confidence God’s child should feel in a loving Father, and produces instead a feeling of shame and guilt. Ever since the Fall, God has been teaching men not to fear, but with penitence to ask forgiveness in full confidence of receiving it."

There are other examples of fear in the scriptures. When I think of scriptural examples, Jonah comes to mind. God commanded him to warn the people of Ninevah, who were truly wicked. But, like Adam, Jonah tried to hide, forgetting that there is no hiding from God. But, after only a few days, Jonah, who in is heart truly feared God (in the sense that he respected him, worshiped him), turned to the Lord and was given another chance. It is encouraging to me that the Lord allowed Jonah to do his work, even though he didn’t answer the call perfectly on the first try.
Another well known example of showing courage, in spite of fear, is Esther. The wife of a temperamental king, Esther had good reason to fear for her life. The king decreed that anyone who came to him without being summoned might be put to death. Esther exercised her faith, fasted and prayed, and, in the end, saved her people.

I don’t think most of us will be in the position of having God himself command us to warn a nation of rotten, scary people or to plead for our lives in front of a king who is known for chopping off heads when he’s in a bad mood. However, I do think we are often in the position of needing to speak up to someone who is near us and may need our warning voice. I do think we are in the position of having to say hard things to people we care about or to people who may be in a position of authority over us. I also think that how we respond to the smaller, daily fears—speaking in front of a group of people, saying a prayer at church, calling a church sister we don’t know to check on her, walking into church when we’ve been gone a while, walking into any new place where we know no one, the list could go on forever—will teach us and prepare us to face the bigger fears, when we are faced with something we don’t believe we can possibly overcome.

So, we have to consider, what is fear supposed to teach us and what has God commanded us to do with our fear? Here’s a brief list:

>Don’t fear man more than God (D & C 3:6-7)
>Fear NOT to do good (D & C 6:33-37)
>Speak the word without fear (Phillippians 1:14 + chapter heading)
>Serve God with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28)
>Perfect love casteth out fear( Moroni 8:16 / 1 John 4:18)

One of the sisters, Sister Bradshaw, shared a fantastic experience that really touched me and seemed to perfectly illustrate what we need to learn about fear. She told us that her son had been very afraid of water and did not want to go swimming until she got him a pair of floaties. Once he understood that the floaties would keep him above water, he grew to love swimming at the pool. One day, he was going a little too fast and slipped on the edge of the pool, fell in and went under the water. There may have been an instance where Susan could have chosen to panic, to teach her son that this was scary, but she stayed calm and let the floaties do their job. He slipped, he went under, but in just a few seconds, the floaties brought him right back up so his head was above water. I was amazed at her wisdom and her calm reaction. She taught her son to stay calm, have faith in the floaties that would lift him back up.

What a brilliant example for us to follow! Mortality can really be a bumpy road. We hear often that this life is a “test,” and that we are here to learn and progress. When we slip and fall (whether this is dealing with a crisis or simply forgetting, for a time, to trust in God), what are the floaties that will lift us back up? Another brief list:

>the standard answers to everything: pray, read the scriptures, go to church (obvious,but still true)
>the example of others
>the memory of a better time, or a time when you received peace, comfort or testimony
>service – uplifting in even the darkest times
>___________ (fill in the blank)

After this discussion, I find myself looking on fear as a tool. Fear can warn me of true danger, physical or spiritual. Fear can help me build my faith and prioritize. Am I wasting my energy fearing things that will ultimately make me a better person?

Final thought, from Elder F. Enzio Busche:
“It takes courage and commitment to follow the promptings of the Spirit because they may frighten us as they lead us to walk along new paths, sometimes paths that no one has walked before, paths of the second mile, of acting totally differently from how worldly people act. For instance, we may be prompted to smile when someone offends us, to give love where others give hate, to say thank you where others would not find anything to be thankful for, to accept jobs that others would be too proud to do, to apologize where others would defend themselves, and to do all the seemingly crazy things that the Spirit prompts a righteous, honest, listening heart to do” (“The Only Real Treasure,” New Era, Dec. 1979, p. 5).

Perfect love casteth out fear (1 John 4:18)

Ainsley's Big Spring

2011-06-15T13:16:00.010-05:00

This has been a very eventful spring for Ainsley!
First, she turned 13! Here are a few shots from her party:

Ainsley + delicious chocolate cake made by Grandma Judy

Ainsley + Cake + Candles + Friends

Party Guests:

Jarom showing off:

Ainsley + Presents

After we dispensed with the cake and presents, we broke out the nail polish! It was a load of fun to paint nails with such a large group, but I am afraid there are no pictures of the melee. You'll have to use your imagination!

After the excellent birthday, Ainsley had an orchestra concert:

The 7th Grade Orchestra played very well. Here is a video of Dragon Hunter, their final piece:

Finally, Ainsley was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. Congratulations Ainsley!

Ainsley + Allison

Chloe's Big Day

2011-05-28T14:05:00.009-05:00

May 27, 2011: Burke Elementary Fifth Grade Graduation

Chloe before school, ready to knock'em dead:

As usual, Chloe was ready right on time, so we even had time to take more than one picture!

The Fifth Grade Procession

Mr. Klapmeyer was the MC for the event. First, he introduced the Burke Honor Choir. This year's fifth grade class was the first to have the opportunity to audition for the honor choir. Next year's choir has been chosen, and so the incoming fourth graders got to perform with the graduating fifth grade choir. Ms. Potter, the music teacher, has created a really great program for our kids! They opened with "Watch As We Walk On Our Way."

Mr. Klapmeyer shared a few thoughts before the certificates were presented to the students:

One by one, each teacher introduced their class and presented a certificate to each student. Mr. Norgren's remarks:

Chloe received her certificate in record time (or maybe the photographer needs some training. . . or a tripod to hold the camera steady)

Chloe exits, stage left

Chloe zooms back to her seat

Mr. Wadlow, Assistant Principal, shares a few thoughts:

The Honor Choir closed with "Eye of the Tiger," which has become a theme song for the Burke Elementary Tigers

The After Party in Mr. Norgren's room:

The Graduate

The Graduate and The Teacher

The Graduate and The Brother

The Aftermath of Holly's Most Magnificent Wreck

2011-04-27T15:07:00.006-05:00

Holly had her first, real bike wreck over Easter weekend. It was quite traumatic all around but she got some great wounds to show off. Sadly, the pictures seem pale compared to real life, but you get the idea.

This is Holly a couple of hours after the wreck, still pitiful, but no longer bloody.

The morning after - her eye was quite swollen and difficult to open, but not too bruised.

The most impressive eyebrow

Three days post-wreck, the bruises are very impressive - a lovely, ghoulish green that does not photograph well. You can see, however, that Holly is feeling fine now.

The Good Old Days

2011-03-18T07:29:00.003-05:00

As I was contemplating another summer working (probably) at minimum wage, I decided to look up my old blogs from the Wal-mart days. I can't say I miss working at Wal-mart but it did offer endlessly entertaining people-watching. Here's the first blog I wrote about working at Wal-mart:

I have a new job. I am a cashier at Wal-Mart. It's not exactly a career move, but it works for our family for now. Having spent so much time raising kids over the last ten years, I have led quite a sheltered life. My new job has been quite a surprise. I kept telling myself to have a good attitude and quit being so snobby (like, "I went to college for this? why did I bother?") and appreciate what is. Well, to my surprise, I have enjoyed my new job (so far). It has its moments but it is fairly busy and my co-workers are nice.

Of course, the part I was really unprepared for are the customers! When I am the customer, I usually aim to be friendly but not too chatty. I mean, why would a cashier I've never seen before want to know my life story or all about my health conditions or anything else? What I had forgotten after years of being a mommy is that there are SO many different types of people in this world and they are all interesting! I started keeping a list of some of my favorites. Not all can be posted in this blog, but I thought it would be fun to post a few. Here's a start to my list:

Wal-Mart's most interesting customers:

#1: Mommy gone wild: Early, early on Easter morning, a happy but harried mother came through my line. Her cart was overflowing with Easter stuff--toys, candy, plastic eggs of every variety. . . While I was helping the person in front of her, she began to unload her cart onto the belt. Then she told me that she had already done her "main" Easter shopping but just came back to get a few special things (seriously, there was a mountain of stuff overflowing her shopping cart) but she left her checkbook at home. She insisted she lived only 3 minutes from the store and she needed to run home and stay with her kids and her husband would come to the store with the checkbook and be there before I was done ringing it all up. What to do? Well, the manager said I could suspend the transaction if she didn't make it back by the time I was done. So, I rang everything up--it took at least 20 minutes. Remember, she had already filled the belt/counter/place with stuff and still had a full cart. I had to ring up and then keep unloading her cart and ringing up the rest of it. It took FOREVER and the grand total was $699 and change! And did she come back?? or her husband?? Of course not! I think maybe she was a little crazy perhaps. . . at least, I kind of hope so! Why else would you fill a cart with $700 worth of stuff and then just leave? All that time wasted and you still don't have what you wanted (if she had every really planned to buy it!. Then again, did she meet some terrible end? Was attacked by a nefarious creature on her way home? only the shadow knows. . . .

#2: Playstation Playboy: Okay, early on in my shift last Saturday, I seemed to have a lot of electronics going through my register. If you are not familiar with wal-mart's policies, they will no longer let you walk around the store with electronics in your cart. If you want something, you have to pay for it in the electronics department or have an employee carry it up to the front for you. So, I had a nice little pile of digital cameras and other paraphernalia sitting at my register waiting for customers to come claim and pay for them. They bring me a playstation 3 (I had no idea there was more than 1!) and point to the man who is going to buy it - - seriously, I'm pretty sure he's an actor I've seen on Law and Order SVU playing one of the criminals. He had the look of the quiet, dangerous type. Like, he's nice and quiet and everyone thinks he's harmless but by the end of the show, you find out he's a serial rapist or something (yet another reason I should NOT watch crime shows - - everyone starts to look like a criminal to me!). ANYway, the playstation rang up for $700! WOW! I had no idea! I thought these were toys - - $700??? plus a service plan and sales tax and the total came to $765.90. . . and he paid in cash. . . and I don't mean he handed me several hundred dollar bills. It was a thick stack of fifties, twenties, tens, etc. I have an odd sort of respect (or is it fear?) for someone who can hang on to that much cash. I get nervous carrying more than $20 cash around in my purse.

And from a later blog:

The Winner! and. . . Proper Shopping Attire

Current mood:cheerful
Too add to my earlier list of interesting customers. . . this man wins the award for "Most Interesting Customer":

A man comes up to me at my register holding a package of fluorescent light bulbs. He gives off the "odd" vibe immediately--he's middle aged, long gray hair, wearing all green, with a green coat on a very warm day, hands are shaking just a bit--but he definitely appears harmless. He says, "I wonder if you can help me." I smile and try to put him at ease since he is clearly nervous and/or upset about something--it must be a really big deal if he needs my help! He continues, "I scanned these lights bulbs on one of the machines to find out how much they are and when I scan them, the machine says they are 13 watt bulbs, but the package says they are 15 watt bulbs." He pauses and looks at me expectantly. ??? I'm stumped so I offer to scan it for him. My register shows me the price but not the bulb wattage--too small of a display, I guess. . . or perhaps just a display intended to show the PRICE and not a full description? I explain to him that the package is surely correct. If the price scanner showed it as a 13 watt bulb, it was probably just a typographical error or a problem with the display (I assume? who uses a price scanner for anything but to find out. . . the PRICE?). He looks at me again, clearly he is deeply troubled about this, and says, "I just don't know what I should do?" Now I am really stumped? I've given it my best shot! What else can I offer? I assure him they are 15 watt bulbs and he finally decides to buy them. THANK GOODNESS! A little more light in his home can only be a good thing!

now. . . on to another important topic:
Proper Shopping Attire

1. Fishnets are discouraged under any circumstances.

2. Bare midriffs on persons who weigh in excess of 300 pounds are strictly prohibited. For that matter, unless you are within 25 pounds of your ideal weight, you should adopt a firm "no bare mid section" rule right away!

3. T-shirts with logos from the "Million Dollar Fantasy Ranch" are discouraged at all times--but especially when buying condoms and/or KY jelly. . .
3a. If you really have no other shirts, then please cover the logo so the cashier will not embarrass him/herself by laughing uncontrollably.

4. Formal attire (such as a prom dress or tuxedos) may be worn at your own risk, but we recommend that you avoid the beer/liquor aisle (spills happen there all the time--wonder why?).

5. Cleavage is limited to a maximum of 2 inches unless your cup size is larger than an F (in which case, common sense says not showing cleavage is nearly impossible!).

Spring Break

2011-03-17T21:42:00.004-05:00

Monday - heading out of the city in lovely spring weather:

First order of business: taming baby goats

Here are Nibble's quadruplets playing. Keep an eye out around :15-:20 where one of the babies flops backwards over the log.

and more playing. I recommend you watch without sound, so you won't have to listen to the wind (and the goofy background conversation that adds nothing to the video)

Festival of Strings

2011-03-14T09:27:00.006-05:00

Just like the Pageant of Bands, the Festival of Strings is a concert for all orchestra students, grades 5-12. With the orchestra, even more than the bands, the progress the students make each year is VERY noticeable. Ainsley is only in seventh grade, yet she has improved tremendously! Here is a taste:

Fifth Grade

Sixth Grade (look for the cute redhead whenever Mr. Molina faces the students on the right)

Sixth Grade, Song Two

Seventh Grade (Ainsley is just to Mr. Molina's left)playing Shenandoah

Seventh Grade, Song Two

Ruskin High School Orchestra - Something to look forward to!

Pageant of Bands

2011-03-14T07:03:00.005-05:00

Every spring we look forward to the Pageant of Bands. All of our school bands, from 5th through 12th grade, perform at the same concert. It is really a great opportunity to see how far the student musicians can progress in just a few short years. When I was the parent of a fifth grader, listening to the high school band gave me hope that it would not always be so painful! Now, as a parent of an 8th grader, I am surprised at how far my son (and his classmates) have come! And there is still room to grow.

Fifth Grade - Ode To Joy: One thing that was especially impressive this year was the SIZE of the bands. The Pageant of Bands was moved to the high school to accommodate a larger crowd and more students due to the reorganization of our district last year. So, instead of four schools-worth of fifth graders playing together, eight schools were combined. The fifth grade band was huge!

8th & 9th Grade - His Honor March: In this song, Jarom is playing the marimba. It's the first time we've been able to really see and hear him play on the marimba. He's played it many times, just usually at the back and very softly.

Triumphal Overture - Jarom plays the timpani in this song. Wow - we can see and hear him again! Mr. Tope, the director, mentioned before this song that many students had volunteered to learn a new instrument so their band would have better instrumentation. The young man playing the tuba (easily visible in a red sweater when I focus on Jarom in the video) is one of them, as well as the young women on bass clarinet.

Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words to Each Other

2011-02-18T10:34:00.003-06:00

Just this morning, I read a great blog about arguing fairly in a relationship. It really hit home because often, in the heat of anger, I find myself resorting to tactics that I would not approve of normally. Shortly after reading the blog, I read about Congresswoman Gwen Moore's remarks last night in the debate over funding for Planned Parenthood. I can't find a full and direct quote directly from Congresswoman Moore, but Michelle Malkin summarized it here:

"Wisconsin Democrat Rep. Gwen Moore argued that abortion was better for unplanned babies than a life 'eating Ramen noodles' or 'mayonnaise sandwiches.'"

I went searching for the whole bit, wanting to see if I could find all of Congresswoman Moore's comments and put them in context. I could not find it in the time I have right now. I was really frustrated that I could only find catty responses to her remarks. I did find a nice biography about her that shows that she herself has struggled through life. She has also dedicated many years fighting to become a voice to those who are often ignored. She is not an awful, ignorant woman. She may have said something a bit ridiculous to make a point, but there is much to admire about this woman. It bothers me that she has been reduced to one ridiculous soundbite, so people (the blogosphere, the reporters, individuals who chitchat about it) spend their time ridiculing her comment rather than discussing the actual issue, which I *think* is, "is it right for the federal government to fund Planned Parenthood?"

One of the things that frequently bothers me in our political debates is the complete descent into nastiness and the complete disregard for decorum and civility. If we cannot ever see another point of view, we are in danger of being easily misled or misguided. If I can see and understand another person's point of view, then I can determine for myself whether I disagree or agree - but I will not be misled by my emotions or my prejudice. If I can promote my own ideas, without degrading anothers, then I know my ideas are worth promoting. Enough for now - out of time!

My Favorite Things

2010-12-17T21:08:00.002-06:00

"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things"

Here are a few of my favorite things:

Holly performing "Rapunzel Rap" in her school program

Rebekah performing "Don't Eat a Poinsettia" in her school program (sound advice for all of us)

Ainsley playing the violin with the 7th Grade Orchestra

Jarom playing percussion with the combined 8th/9th Grade Band

My Book Review

2010-05-16T19:30:00.002-05:00

I just wrote my first book review for Our Ladies Room. You can find it here.

A letter to my "representative"

2009-04-09T11:05:00.001-05:00

Regarding your recent visit to Cuba:

Congressman Cleaver,

--Who provided your translator?
--Who planned your itinerary?
--Who invited you to speak in the Episcopalian Church? Did you seek out the church or did the church call you?

I am sad and sick at heart to hear you say, “We’ve been led to believe that the Cuban people are not free, and they are repressed by a vicious dictator, and I saw nothing to match what we’ve been told.” I ask myself, how can our congressman be so naive as to believe this? Did you not study communism in school? Have you forgotten what years of life and freedom have taught you? The problem with Communist dictatorships is that there is no FREEDOM of anything. Dictators can be as charming as anyone and they are experts at arranging pleasant, charming demonstrations of magnanimous gestures but they are not experts at allowing their citizens to speak freely or express dissent. Did you do ANYthing in Cuba that was not arranged for you by someone else? Did you ever stray from your schedule or speak with someone not provided for you by Fidel or Raúl? How is your Spanish? Do you know enough to know if your translator was truly translating or if he/she had instructions to only translate what was pleasant and polite? I won't drag this on any further, you understand my point. The next time you praise a dictator with, “He’s one of the most amazing human beings I’ve ever met,” please remember that many people felt the same way about Adolf Hitler.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Ort
Spanish Teacher and Mother
Kansas City, MO

Quote of the Day

2009-02-22T08:51:00.003-06:00

"We are not born into this world with fixed habits. Neither do we inherit a noble character. Instead, as children of God, we are given the privilege and opportunity of choosing which way of life we will follow—which habits we will form. Confucius said that the nature of men is always the same. It is their habits that separate them. Good habits are not acquired simply by making good resolves, though the thought must precede the action. Good habits are developed in the workshop of our daily lives. It is not in the great moments of test and trial that character is built. That is only when it is displayed. The habits that direct our lives and form our character are fashioned in the often uneventful, commonplace routine of life. They are acquired by practice."--Delbert L. Stapley, "Good Habits Develop Good Character", Ensign, Nov. 1974, 20

Yesterday, a friend told me about this fantastic website: www.readthescriptures.com. It is AMAZING! You can create reading assignments for yourself like, to read the Sunday School lesson each week or have one of the children's stories from "Book of Mormon Stories" sent to you or a customized assignment of your own. Then when you read, you hit complete and it keeps track of your reading. If you read on their website (as opposed to just reading the text from the email they send you), you can highlight and take notes and make journal entries. This is such a fantastic and useful website. Our stake HFPE yesterday focused on preparedness in all aspects, but the best part was the talk by Sister Barbara Pace about spiritual preparedness and how we keep our lamps full of oil: daily scripture study, frequent prayer (as in, daily is not enough - twice daily or more), temple attendance, and visiting teaching. WOW - then this website, and this quote, remind me that *I* have responsibility to do MY part in forming good habits and becoming better. How exciting and how emPOWERing!

Listen to the still, small voice. . .

2009-02-15T09:26:00.003-06:00

Listen, Listen. . .

All of my life, long before I was introduced to LDS missionaries and the LDS church and all that entails, I have noticed a special feeling that I get when I find something that is good or true. I may not have felt it very frequently through my teen years, but I did feel it and recognize it.

As a young adult, I went on a weekend trip to a church-y thing in Indiana. I went with a group from the United Methodist Church in Columbia which I occasionally attended. I wasn't a solid part of that "group" but they were welcoming and I was curious about this odd group of people who were so wrapped up in God. I was conflicted between the partying life I led in college and the responsible, religious life with which I was raised. Both seemed so extreme: like, go ahead and keep partying and come try drugs too or do a complete 180 and become devoted to church as a minister or layperson who talks to every stranger on the street about coming to Jesus . . the kind of people you cross the street or duck behind a cereal display to avoid.

Neither one really felt right. I partied to fit in with my friends and because it helped me loosen up and let go of my shyness. While it was fun, it didn't feel "right" and it left me with guilt. I was just one of the sheep following the herd. On the other hand, when I went to church (having chosen the Methodist church only because I was raised in it), I felt a bit like an impostor (pretending to be virtuous long enough to go to church and feel better) and I wasn't entirely convinced that going to church was anything more than an attempt to please my parents from a distance. They were all very nice, but I was really on the fence.

I remember very little of that weekend in Indiana, except for one thing. Over the course of the weekend, in spite of my "impostor complex" and in spite of feeling really weird around people who were just overflowing with hallelujahs and amens, I felt that "feeling" confirm to me that God is real. The rest of the stuff (the hallelujahs, talking to everyone about being "saved," and the thought of abandoning all fun to be "good") still left me feeling a little weird, but I knew then that God was not a fairy tale. Now, what remained to be seen (or figured out), was whether or not God actually cared what I did or if he wouldn't mind if I slept around or tried pot or followed along with whatever else my friends were doing. Because we already know he has a soft spot for sheep, right?

I didn't have a name for that feeling at that time, but I knew what it meant, or what I thought it meant. This morning as I've been going back over my lesson for Sunday School (topic: I will tell you in your mind and in your heart by the Holy Ghost), I was reminded that I knew what this feeling was long before I knew what to call it. This feeling, that many call a burning in the bosom, is really a direct communication from God. It often comes in the form of thoughts or feelings in our hearts that enlighten us and help us to feel peace. When God communicates with us in such a delicate way, it's so important for us to pay attention to the message. It's difficult to ignore a burning bush or a heavenly visitor, but we do not need a marvelous, miraculous thing to communicate with God. President Joseph F. Smith's said:

"When I as a boy first started out in the ministry, I would frequently go out and ask the Lord to show me some marvelous thing, in order that I might receive a testimony. But the Lord withheld marvels from me, and showed me the truth, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, until he made me to know the truth from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and until doubt and fear had been absolutely purged from me. He did not have to send an angel from the heavens to do this, nor did he have to speak with the trump of an archangel. By the whisperings of the still, small voice of the Spirit of the living God, he gave to me the testimony I possess. And by this principle and power he will give to all the children of men a knowledge of the truth."

I often think of my conversion in terms of the August day that I went to church with the sister missionaries and listened to a talk specifically about the Book of Mormon and felt that whisper of the Holy Ghost in a way I could no longer deny. . .but really, I had been in the process of conversion for some time before that. First, I began to feel dissatisfied with my life as it was. Then I became certain that God was real, though I still wasn't sure if he objected to my partying ways. Then I met the man who introduced me to the missionaries and gradually learned that Mormons are not total freaks and weirdos. Then I met the sister missionaries who gradually, gently taught me line upon line about the truth.

As I look back now, I can see the Holy Spirit whispering to me all along the way, even when it wasn't dramatic enough to stop me in my tracks, immediately. As I go back to preparing the Sunday School lesson after writing this, I think I'll be paying special attention to learning how to recognize the Spirit each day, rather than 15 years later. Happy Sunday!

A Great Video: Both thought provoking and entertaining

2009-02-10T06:08:00.003-06:00

I found this as www.angela-stevens.com. I am one who has also changed my position on abortion. In college, I was very strongly pro-choice (or really, pro-let-us-have-abortions-if-we-want-em. When I thought through the issue, I really couldn’t come up with a good reason why I wouldn’t consider a baby, a baby, after conception. But I was really sympathetic with those who got pregnant at the wrong time and I thought it might be better for those babies to not be born into an awful situation where they were not wanted. I was also very worried about what I would personally do if faced with that situation. I was terrified of getting pregnant and certain I never would or could want children.

A religious conversion really opened my mind to the possibility that I was terribly, terribly wrong. I still struggled with the issue for a short time after my that, but a great lesson on the importance of choice really helped me. That was a sticking point for me: choice IS important. But I had not noticed before how that phrase “pro-choice” has been used and misused are really pro-abortion. Outlawing abortion, or even stating directly that it is wrong, does not remove anyone's choice. The choice doesn't have to be between abortion or not abortion. The chocie can also be between having unmarried sex or not. . . or having unprotected sex or not. . . or keeping the baby or finding an adoptive family.

When it comes right down to it, the so-called pro-choice people are not any more about choice than the pro-life people. Those who call themselves pro-choice don’t just want us to be able to CHOOSE whether or not to have abortions, they are actually getting into the business of insisting that young, frightened, confused women DO have abortions, with as little information provided to them as possible. These young women live with the regret (and the depression and the nightmares and the physical reminders) of their abortion for the rest of their life. There is not a medical procedure in the world that you can consent to without being well informed first. . . except abortion. Where is the choice? If it is really okay and what is being killed is not a baby but a fetus or even a “lump of cells”, what could possibly be lost by giving information about the procedure and about alternatives. . . good grief, I was given information and alternatives when I had a mole removed from my neck, and I kept my clothes on for that procedure.

The Anniversary of Roe v. Wade

2009-01-24T09:09:00.002-06:00

I am not normally a fan of Dr. Laura, but I found this article (through a link found at www.mormonmomma.com) and I may have to change my status. She makes an excellent point that we can and should continue to influence those around us in a positive way. Even while abortion is legal (and it's hard to believe that will ever change - - certainly not under the current administration), we can and should act to help limit the number of abortions. The government will not solve this problem. The government does not do bailouts for babies - only businesses.

Jarom's Story

2009-01-22T17:13:00.005-06:00

Note: I'm reposting this from our old family website that was part of the "Circle of Smiles" webring for www.cleftadvocate.org . Soon, I will get this blog linked into the "Circle of Smiles."

Jarom's Story

Everyone knows, in the back of their minds, that there is a possibility that the birth of their child will have some complications, but we rarely speak of these things. I thought that my husband and I were well read on the “what to expect” until delivery day arrived. Then I quickly realized that we knew nothing about what to expect and we were so unprepared for most of what happened. The labor and delivery were nothing like I planned. Finally, however, our beautiful baby boy was born—Jarom Michael Ort—weighing just under seven pounds. I held my breath, waiting to be happy until we heard him cry. Then I heard the doctor say, “Baby has a cleft lip.” In my mind was one huge “?????” The only thought I dared allow myself was, “It doesn’t matter.” I got one little glimpse of my baby—dark hair, dark eyes, healthy cry, and a gap in his upper lip—before he was whisked away to be cleaned up and examined. As my doctor sewed me back up, I lay there on the table trying to figure out what this meant. I don’t remember if anyone explained to us then what it was or told us about his palate or anything. I can remember searching my memory for any information on “cleft lip”. I really had no idea what it meant but I kept telling myself over and over, “It doesn’t matter. He’s my baby and I will love him and he will be beautiful no matter what. It doesn’t matter.” In retrospect, I think I was afraid to let myself feel anything in regards to Jarom’s cleft.. I was afraid of betraying my baby if I allowed myself to feel anything negative.

The Original Jarom

When I finally got to hold Jarom, an agonizing hour and 20 minutes after his birth, I didn’t spend any time counting fingers or toes. I just held him and examined his funny little face. It took a few looks to become accustomed to his appearance. The gap in his lip was about half of an inch wide on the left side. His right nostril and the right side of his lip were normal. On the left side it just looked like his mouth was open into his nose. Since Jarom’s palate was also cleft, the gap was also on the inside of his mouth. When he cried really hard, you could see that about half of it was missing. When our pediatrician, Dr. Deborah Weems, stopped by the hospital, she was quick to point out that all the tissue Jarom needed was there, it just needed to be “smooshed” together. Dr. Weems was a relatively new doctor, but she had spent time during her residency with Dr. Constance Barone (who would be our plastic surgeon) so she was familiar with clefts and was very matter of fact, calm and positive.

Initially, Jarom had a hard time eating because his cleft was so wide and we did not realize how many different bottles there were for cleft-affected babies. At 6 days old, he was admitted to the University Hospital in Columbia Missouri because he lost too much weight, was dehydrated and jaundiced and we needed help getting him to eat! We were so thrilled when he drank 1/2 ounce in 30 minutes! What he needed was 2-3 ounces every 2-3 hours and he just couldn't get it. So after almost a week, he came home with a nasal gastric feeding tube that went in the right nostril and down his throat into his tummy. This helped him to get all the milk he needed without burning all the calories in the process. He had 20 minutes to drink what he could from the bottle ( a modified playtex nurser), and what was left went down the tube.

Jarom the 2nd

Thankfully, Jarom only had the ng tube for about 2 weeks. At 19 days old, Jarom had his first surgery--lip adhesion. The lip adhesion pulled the sides of his lip together. This did not give his lip a normal appearance but made his lip more functional. He was then able to eat from the modified playtex nurser alone. We had to squeeze the bottle to help him (no suction without a full palate!), but no more feeding tube! At 3 months of age, Jarom had his next surgery—a hernia repair and ear tubes. He was supposed to have had his lip repaired at the same time but his hemoglobin was low and the doctor did not want him to lose that much blood until his hemoglobin went up. And so, Jarom was almost 4 months old when his lip was repaired just in time for Christmas. His lip was repaired December 19 and stitches were removed December 24. Jarom’s palate was repaired a few months later when he was 9 months old. That was the hardest of all the surgeries up to that point. The surgery took longer and the recovery was much harder. It seemed like he did not drink or sleep for 6 weeks!

Jarom, 4 months old, after lip repair

Excluding ear tubes, Jarom’s next surgery was when he was 5 years old. By this time, we had moved to Kansas City and were seeing the team at Children's Mercy Hospital headed by Dr. Virender Singhal. Jarom was scheduled for a palatal lengthening, septoplasty, turbinectomy, and lip and nose revision with ear cartilage graft. All of this was to improve speech and total function of the mouth and to give Jarom a better airway. This was a difficult surgery because it seemed like Dr. Singhal would taking apart everything that had been done and re-doing it! The surgery was long, recovery was slow and before we got home, we had learned so much about the strength of a 5 year old! This was our first surgery where Jarom was old enough to know what was going on and it was quite a change. We prepared him for a lot but forgot to prepare him for the fact that he would look different afterwards. After the initial shock, Jarom adjusted and finally announced a few weeks later the he thought his nose looked great!

The Actual Jarom, taken September 2008

Jarom is now 12 years old. His bone graft surgery was nearly three years ago and went very smoothly. He is in sixth grade and he is as normal as any other obnoxious 12 year old boy! He is both smart and funny. He excels at school and band and is a whiz on the computer. AND he bickers with his sisters, talks too much at school, tries my patience and challenges my ability to answer questions! So far, he has had eight surgeries and is wearing braces. Truly, the cleft is a very small part of our lives right now. Jarom is smart and happy and busy getting into normal boy trouble.

For parents who are just starting out, I would encourage you to enjoy your baby. Get the information you need, particularly on feeding, but try not to overwhelm yourself with too much information. It's best to digest the new information a little bit at a time. What you need to know at the beginning is how to feed your baby, what team will care for your baby and when the first surgery will be. Get through that before you worry about what will happen when your child is 4 or 6 or 16. I would also encourage parents to take lots of pictures before the first surgery. This is the first face of your baby that you will fall in love with. You may find after lip repair that you miss your baby's first smile. It's okay if you feel that way and it's okay if you don't --but you will want pictures either way. Also, don't avoid going in public with your baby before lip repair, just try to prepare a light response that you can give when people ask questions.

One thing that I wish I would have done differently is that I wish I would have allowed myself to feel my genuine emotions (even if they were negative at first) when Jarom was born. I was afraid to let myself think or feel anything except "everything will be just fine". I spent my energy denying my own feelings and reassuring everyone else. There is nothing wrong with having a reaction to the unexpected news that your baby's face is different and that feeding and speech will be difficult and he is going to need surgery to put everything back together! There is nothing wrong with feeling a little overwhelmed at what lies ahead. Really, as Jarom got older and I let myself relax a bit, having a good cry as surgery approaches is a good way to let off steam and, even, to prepare mentally for what lies ahead. I'd so much rather be emotional the week before surgery than to fall apart on the day of!

Our biggest joys have really been the normal joys of parenting any child---his first step, his first word, this first time he asks a question that we don't know how to answer! We have had the additional joy of making it through the first year and thinking, "thank goodness we don't have to do that again for a while!" and the joy of seeing our son grow to the point where the cleft lip and palate he was born with are NOT the biggest issues in his life. Our biggest challenges have, at times, been related to Jarom's cleft. Getting through any surgery, no matter how routine it is to the doctor performing surgery, is ALWAYS a challenge. It is emotional and exhausting in ways I could never have imagined. Feeding Jarom was a big challenge when he was young, both before and after surgery. Actually, feeding was still a challenge after his last surgery (at age 9!). We had to find creative ways to keep Jarom eating (which was really drinking since he had to be on a liquid diet for a couple of weeks) so he would get enough calories after surgery even when he had very little appetite for anything that wasn't a cheeseburger!

So that's the end of our story for now, though we are still in the middle somewhere. It seems silly sometimes to have this all written out, but reading personal experiences of other families really offered me comfort when Jarom was young, so I have hope that this may offer comfort to another.

The Pig

2009-01-22T16:25:00.009-06:00

September 2006: On an innocent visit to Grandma and Grandpa's farm in Grant City, a little (very little) pig named Chelsea became an important part of our extended family. Grandma and Grandpa took the kids to another farm to visit and see the baby pigs. Grandma noticed that a little runt was slightly hurt and getting stepped on and soon this little pig was on it's way home with Grandma and Grandpa.

The first weekend we spent with Chelsea, all the kids enjoyed holding her as much as possible. At that point, she was too little and too weak to resist their affection.

Chelsea spent the following week with us in Kansas City because Grandma had to work and would not be home all day to feed Chelsea. The kids loved having a pet . . . especially one that was so opinionated. Each day that Chelsea grew stronger, she also grew *louder* and she really let us know when she didn't like what we were doing!

Now Chelsea is happily living in a little pen in Grandma and Grandpa's yard. She gets to run around outside the pen quite a lot as well and the kids love to chase her. At first I thought she was scared and running from them but it seems now like she *enjoys* running from them. When the kids head inside, she gets bored and lays down in her pen.

Our family's favorite websites

2009-01-18T10:02:00.001-06:00

Information about our church

To view videos of high sophisticated scientific experiments

Resource for families or individuals with cleft lip and palate or other craniofacial anomalies

My old blog that may be transferred here or just abandoned

If you're a Mormon or a Momma or both, this site has loads of great discussions if you don't mind vigorous debates

Information and updates about the temple to be built in Kansas City I drive by the site on my way to work!!!

Five great ads in only three minutes

School Pictures 2008-2009

2009-01-18T09:54:00.000-06:00

Jarom Michael, age 12, 6th grade

Ainsley Meredith, age 10, 5th grade

Rebekah Jane, age 8, 2nd grade

Holly Marie, age 6, Kindergarten

Our Blog - getting started

2009-01-18T09:43:00.001-06:00

We've had a family website at angelfire.com for many years but it is so hard to edit and update, that I've decided to move everything from our family website to blogger. Some of the posts will be old stuff that I am keeping as part of our outreach ("pathfinding") for cleftadvocate.org.