Wednesday, December 29, 2010

I have to have a Root Canal...

and I am terrified.

I've made two appointments.

The first one was before Christmas.

I sat in the chair for about 5 minutes, then all but ran out of the office.

But not before they made me another appointment for after Christmas.

The appointment was for Monday at 8:00 am.

Sunday night I couldn't sleep.

I searched the internet for facts about Root Canals.

I scared myself so bad that at midnight I canceled my appointment.

I called my dentist the next day and apologized...

He was nice and talked me through it.

He told me to call when I was ready,

but not to wait too long because the tooth will only get worse.

I know I have to do this, but....

I am terrified.



Tuesday, November 02, 2010

The Sun Came Up Anyway

Even though I willed it not to.

I even skipped seminary this morning in the hopes that the sun would not show it's face.

But, alas, it did and with it came the drying of the tears,

And the Lord, GOD, will wipe away tears from off all faces.
(Isaiah 25:8)

and with that came hope.





Friday, October 15, 2010

It's a good day when...

...you are getting out of your car with your three daughters and the new 9 year old neighbor kid who's coming to play with your son asks, "Now, which one of you is the mom?"

And please go see "You Again".  Best chick-flick ever!


Sunday, July 04, 2010

This is how Things Really Are

So at around 10:00 pm this evening I got on my computer so that I could just quickly print off this talk for my daughter to read because I think she spends too much time on her computer.  But before I went to that talk I checked my email and then some of my blogs.  Then I started to get off only to remember that I hadn't printed off the talk for her.

It is now 11:34.  Maybe I need to read the talk again myself.......

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Zzzzz......

My phone is slowing way down...it's so slow that it's almost dead.

My computer is slowing way down...it's almost dead too.

I wish my life would slow down...

But not to where I am dead.

Just to where I can handle it again...


Wednesday, June 16, 2010

SIX PACK ABS.....GUARANTEED!!!!

I have found a new form of exercise...guaranteed to give you six-pack abs or your money back!!!!

All you have to do is catch a cold, or the flu, or pneumonia...which ever floats your boat.

Then when your lungs are filled up with fluid, just start coughing....and coughing.....and coughing.

Try to take a deep breath (that is if you can get past the sharp pain in your lungs).

Repeat for as many sets necessary for desired effect, believe me...you won't be able to stop yourself.

Your sides will begin to feel the effects after 4 continuous days of this.

(I want my money back.)

Friday, April 09, 2010

So Very Blessed

Today while running errands I listened to Dennis Prager.  A caller was telling a story about a friend of his who is a quadriplegic.  To sum up, his friend was wheeled into a room with a young man who was also a quadriplegic.  The friend tried to initiate a conversation with the young man only to discover that the young man was paralyzed from the mouth down, so could not speak.  The friend kept track of this young man.  Eventually the young man was given an optical device where he could use his eyes to look at letters to spell what he wanted to say.  Those who provided it for him asked him if he could do anything, what would it be?  

Would he like to go to Disneyland? 

No

Would he like to go to Disney World?

No

They really wanted to do something for him so they told him they would do anything or take him anywhere he wanted to go.

What would he like to do most in the world?

He typed....

S M I L E


Wow.  

I smiled all the way home.

I smiled at my children when I got home.

I am smiling right now.




Monday, April 05, 2010

Still Rowing



Last night as I knelt in prayer and reflected with the Lord upon the day (being Easter) my mind reviewed the many references to the Saviors Atonement given in General Conference.    As I proffered my deep gratitude this post came to my mind. 

To recap, I had been going through a horrific struggle in my life.  A struggle that had taken a few precious years away from me.  I clearly remember the hopeless feeling I felt while on my knees and then crying myself to sleep.  I clearly remember the dream.  I clearly remember the feeling the next day as I was driving in my car and suddenly understood how the Atonement works. 

It’s been over three years since I’ve had that experience and as I contemplated it I realized that I still struggle against the things I struggled with then.  I still get that panicky feeling.  But I am still rowing. 

Only, I am not rowing alone; if so, I wouldn’t have made it this far. 

My little craft is like an acorn cap bobbing in the current of the Mighty Mississippi.  My oars are like toothpicks with which I am frantically paddling to navigate the currents and whitewater that constantly threatens to capsize me.  And I have been capsized.

But still, I have made progress.

Because each time I have been capsized, I have been scooped up, dried off and set back on course.  I have been guided on my way, pushed from behind, and in the worst of times, I have been picked up and carried in the palm of His hand.

I love Easter and the opportunity it affords to contemplate the great, eternal sacrifice of our Savior.  But I love even more that every day I can avail myself of that sacrifice.  Every day the Atonement is alive and working in my life. 

Every day is a new beginning.

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Legal Eagle

 He's legal today!


Here he is working on his Eagle Project...


 for which he finished turning in the last of his paperwork today....  :O

All's I have to say is this:

You know that Mother's pin they give you when your son earns his Eagle?

Well...I earned it!

Happy Birthday Bug!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

In Which I Discover "New Editor"...

Wow...look what I can do!  I've always wanted to do that!

It's been so long since I've really messed around with my blog that I didn't even know about "new editor".
And then there are so many things that I hadn't really paid attention to before...like quotes, how nifty that you can just hit that little quotation mark and they automatically indent...

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Luck O' the Irish?















Today I was in a rushto get out the door. After a quick shower and hastily applied make-up I quickly perused my closet for something suitable to wear. I threw on a little used shirt and a hoodie and sprinted to the car so that I could make it to class on time.

When I got to class everyone was talking about the color of their clothes and all of a sudden it dawned on me that today was St. Patty's day. I had completely forgotten!

And then I looked down at the shirt I was wearing and burst out laughing in amazement...it was BRIGHT GREEN!!!

I never wear this shirt!

And to wear it by accident today of all days...Well I can only say it's the Luck O' the Irish!

And just FYI...
never iron a four-leaf clover,




because you don't want to press your luck! :)

Dia duit!



Tuesday, March 09, 2010

That rock don't roll...

Some kids are like marbles rolling down the sidewalk;
you can barely keep up with them.

Others are more like:


Saturday, March 06, 2010

Stretching is good.

Unless it is imposed upon you by your almost 18 year old son who wants to be a lawyer and he is a logical, sequential thinker and you are not.

Then it hurts.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

They come...and they go...

Today is my birthday.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Actually it was yesterday...which was 17 minutes ago, but who's counting?

Exactly. Who's counting? My mother-in-law brought the traditional cinnamon rolls over this morning (she does it for all our birthdays) and asked how old I was. I had to stop and think...for a good 2 minutes. When I reached my mid 30's I quit keeping track. I mean, what's the point after that? It's just a number after all.

My favorite part of the day was when my visiting teachers came over and brought lunch for me and my kids. No one has ever done anything like that for me before. It was so much fun! They gave me a picture of a wheat field because they knew how much I loved Elder Bednar's General Conference talk. I had mentioned how I wanted a picture of a wheat field to remind of being consistent. I was so touched by their thoughtfulness.

So as the song goes, I'm "one year older and wiser too!"

Actually, I've been contemplating that. How much wiser am I now as opposed to last year? So I went back through my posts to see what I learned this year and here's what I know:

Home is not a beautifully decorated house. Home is where my family is.

Biggest Loser workouts hurt.


Growing a garden is very satisfying, but just be sure to put chicken wire around the garden boxes before your cat messes up the perfectly planted rows of lettuce and carrots doing his business.

Sisters make life worth living. Oh, and brothers too...(hi boys!) (not like they read this or anything)

Juggling can be hard with so many balls, but Somebody is always catching the ones I miss.

I have the best husband in the world...sorry ladies.

Trees are strong and beautiful. I am a tree.

When you want to change other people, it really does work if you change yourself first.

Scripture reading produces soft feet.

Yoga is very satisfying, but painful!

And last, but not least: The Lord giveth and he taketh away, but in taking He is really giving.
(Haven't blogged about that one yet...)



What have you learned this year?

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

I Have A Dream

In the event you decide to try yoga, you will probably find that you enjoy it

But you will probably hobble around like an old lady for a few days

You will not enjoy going up and down stairs

You will not enjoy getting in and out of your smallish car

Or any other activity that involves moving from a standing position to a sitting position

(Including the loo)

And you will not be able to do this just yet:



But a girl can dream!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Tattooed

Today I met a Holocaust survivor.
She told us of her experiences.
She was 20 at the time.
She was in Auschwitz.
She has a tattoo.
A number.

A16786

It's on her arm.
She let us touch her tattoo.
It was an almost reverent experience.
She told to forgive those who trespass against us.
And she told us to always look forward to the future.
Her words and her spirit are forever tattooed upon my heart.




Sunday, February 21, 2010

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Reflections Of The Sole


I have been blessed with dry skin. Yes, I said blessed.


Who, in their right mind, is grateful for dry skin?


OK, so I’m not always in my right mind…just stick with me.


For most of my life the soles of my feet have been dry and rough with deep, painful cracks. Putting on a pair of nylons without running them was nearly impossible. I have tried all kinds of remedies, but to no avail…until I met Burt.


Meet my best friend: Burt’s Bees' Coconut Foot Crème.


I have a little ritual. Every morning when I shower I scrub my feet with a pumice stone. Then after the shower I apply a liberal amount of the Foot Crème on my soles and slip on a pair of socks. I wear the socks as long as possible before getting ready to go. Sometimes at night I’ll put on more crème and wear the socks to bed. When I do this on a regular basis, my feet become soft and supple. I can wear nylons without running them. I can wear sandals and not be embarrassed by my cracked heels. Life is good.


But sometimes I get rushed…or lazy. I skip the pumice stone. Or I don’t want to take the time to rub the crème on and put on the socks. It’s a thick, oily crème that requires a little time to rub in (like maybe 30 seconds). So I skip that. If this only happens once or twice it’s not too noticeable. It might take a few times of getting back in the habit before my feet are soft again, but it’s not too hard.


Sometimes, however, I get out of the habit. Way out of the habit. So far out that my feet become very dry. They begin to crack. Then they begin to bleed. It is painful to walk on them. It hurts to put shoes on. Life is not good.


When I ponder on this as I am showering and scrubbing my feet I think of this scripture from Isaiah:


How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! ~Isaiah 52:7


I have another little ritual. Every morning I awake at 5:50am. I get dressed and gather a pillow, a blanket, my scriptures and my ponderings journal. I drive my daughter to seminary and while she is in class I snuggle down in the seat, say a prayer, and read and ponder my scriptures. When I do this on a regular basis my soul becomes soft and supple. I am open to the inspirations of the spirit. I can “run and not be weary, and walk and not faint”. Life is good.


But sometimes I get rushed…or lazy. I skip on the scriptures and take a nap. Or sometimes I just rush through the reading and don’t take the time to really ponder and let the truths sink into my soul. If this only happens once or twice, it’s not too noticeable. It takes me a couple of mornings of getting back into the habit to keep my soul open to enlightment, but it’s not too hard.


Sometimes, however, I get out of the habit. Way out of the habit. So far out that my soul becomes very dry. Relationships become strained, sometimes even painful. I begin to crack. My soul begins to hurt. Life is not good.


My temporal condition is a daily reminder of my spiritual condition. My sole reflects my soul! If I want to keep my feet beautiful, I must take care of them daily. Every morning as I am getting ready for the day and I am tempted to skip the foot crème, I remember the pain of having dry, cracked heels and so I choose to apply the healing balm that will keep my feet soft and supple. Likewise, this little ritual reminds me that if I want to bring good tidings and peace to those around me, I must keep my soul beautiful by applying the healing balm of the Word of God each day.


And that, my friends, is why I am blessed with dry skin.


Wednesday, January 06, 2010

In Which

I'm happy to report
that my laundry is done...
for this week anyway
Yes, I did 17 loads in 4 days
No, it was not fun
But it was cheap
I made my own laundry soap
It only costs .007 per load
Ok, I'm not sure that is right
but I can't find my calculator on my computer
That's how computer savvy I am

Ok, I'm done writing in short sentences without periods. . . . See all those periods? Oooo and even a question mark.

Ok, I'm being a bit silly.

You know what I did this morning? I put a pad of paper and a pen by my shower so that as soon as I stepped out I could record my thoughts before they dissipated into thin air. The first four lines I typed are what came out of my head.......

OK! So not everything that I think of in the shower is profound,

but...
but...

I did think of another post that I am working on that is pretty profound.

So get ready to step on over
I'll be putting my best foot forward
Stepping out in style
Tappin' my feet

Perhaps sometime in the near future I'll post it.

(But don't hold your breath.)

And now I'm tiptoeing off to bed.

Goodnight.