Endurement

I think it's safe to say that pretty much everyone right now is experiencing spring fever in all it's glory. It's not as though something specific has happened, and I can't blame one thing, per say, but I think Natalie said it best when she said...I feel like my legs might start running on their own and run away with me. I just gotta get away!! I'm feelin' it....as I know many others are too.

What makes it worse is that there is so much to be grateful for. My family is healthy, other than someone thinks He has the Swine Flu (he doesn't so no worries) and Hunter is still writhing with stomach pain. We are blessed to have a Dad and husband who is employed and provides for us. We have all our needs met. We have the gospel. We have a Savior. I mean...it doesn't get better than that, right? Then why on earth does it feel so hard to crawl out of this winter hibernation?

These are the days spoken of about enduring to the end. I don't think it necessarily takes some life altering, shocking experience to put you on the wrong path. I believe it's the little things that we do and that happen everyday that weigh us down. I know for me....hearing about GM crashing is just downright depressing. I think of all those who will lose their jobs...their livelihoods, their income, their employment. And even though it mildly affects me...I own a GM made car (think warranties cancelled and repairs not being able to be completed due to the shutting down of 3,000 dealerships...some in our own town), I'm not concerned about me. I'm more weighed down by the sadness I feel for others. I'm sad that more families will suffer. I think worrying about our country and economy has weighed me down about as much as anything else going on.

Thank goodness for seminary. Thank goodness that I get to read the scriptures every day and find comfort. Thank goodness I get to read the words of prophets and leaders who give me strength to endure. Today's enduring will be because of these words by Jeffrey R. Holland...

“Life has its share of some fear and some failure. Sometimes things fall short, don’t quite measure up. Sometimes in both personal and public life, we are seemingly left without strength to go on. Sometimes people fail us, or economics and circumstance fail us and life with its hardship and heartache can leave us feeling very alone.

“But when such difficult moments come to us, I testify that there is one thing which will never, ever fail us. One thing alone will stand the test of all time, of all tribulation, all trouble, and all transgression. One thing only never faileth—and that is the pure love of Christ.

“…Only the pure love of Christ will see us through. It is Christ’s love which suffereth long, and is kind. It is Christ’s love which is not puffed up nor easily provoked. Only His pure love enables Him-and us- to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

I can endure because of Him. After all wasn't He able to endure it for me?
I can endure petty people. I can endure disunity. I can endure worldliness. I can endure the choices and sins of my children and myself, I can endure spiritual downfalls, I can endure depression, I can endure heavy debts and burden, I can endure embarrassment, I can endure heartache, I can endure disappointment, I can endure self-doubt and insecurities, I can endure anger and impatience, I can endure economic downturns, I can endure wicked government, I can endure apathy, I can endure consequences....I can endure through this winter hibernation and spring fever...
I can endure because He loves me.
I can at least endure today. And there is sun today. But even on the dark days...there's always the Son too.

A Night On the Town...

was the theme for this year's Oak Park Prom. I'm not gonna lie...I wasn't excited about this night for a few reasons. But, it's done and thank goodness it is.

Highlights:

Modest dress...yeah!

comfortable shoes

party bus to haul 20 kids

chocolate bag from McCormick and Schmicks

midnight curfew...kept

no tornado

safe return

Because of schedule conflicts and me being, let's face it, downright not excited about this dance....I was unable to see Chloe off and take pictures of her date. She did take a camera with her but didn't get many pictures. I'll say it again...I'm so glad it's over.

I seriously need the sun to come back out.

8 Things Tag

Time to tag it up a bit...this one is from Laretha...

8 Things I am Looking Forward to:
1. a day to sleep in
2. more terrific weather and a change of scenery
3. surviving the next month of crazy schedules
4. having visitors come
5. something pink in July
6. school being out...which means seminary being finished
7. decorating and organizing projects
8. did I mention...seminary being over!

8 Things I did Yesterday:
1. walked Lola
2. massively bruised my leg running into the wall with garbage in my hands.
2. shattered glass lid to Lola's dog food jar....spent hours cleaning up shards...cut myself good
3. QT-Diet Coke
4. Salvation Army trip
5. soccer game
6. vaccuumed and cleaned out a closet
7. enrolled girls in swim team
8. taught seminary, bought breakfast for next day seminary, blogged, gave away free stuff, put a dent in the mess of my office by throwing away two bags of garbage...

8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
1. Finish college
2. Lose weight
3. Decorate and work on my house whenever I want...with no thought of expense.
4. look like I'm 30
5. sleep through the night
6. lay on a beach and read books for the rest of my life
7. have a do-over with my kids
8. have a good self-esteem

8 Shows I Enjoy: (this one is tough for me...I don't watch much tv)
1. American Idol
2. Anything on HGTV
3. Real Housewives of New York
4. Glenn Beck
5. Seinfeld
6. E!
7.
8.

8 Friends I am Tagging: (I'm trying to not tag someone who's been tagged)
1. Kiera
2. Amber
3. Sam
4. Shaila
5. Melanie
6. Melissa
7. Fia
8. Ali

Off to start the day....I'll be watching for your 8 things!

Facebook Much?

According to CNN, you know you're a Facebook addict when

1. You lose sleep over Facebook
2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook.
3. You become obsessed with old loves
4. You ignore work in favor of Facebook
5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in a cold sweat

I would post the steps of how to quit facebook but instead you can go here...
But I would never encourage anyone to give up blogging!! That's not an addiction...blogging serves a purpose! For instance...
I even made myself a button....on the sidebar. Don't ask me how I did it, because I couldn't tell you. All I remember is that it took me reading through 4 different tutorials, going back and forth between the two and experimenting for about an hour. There goes another hour I can't get back!

I could do it again...if I had too...but as an OCD friend once said to me..."I'd rather stick a bacteria infested fork in my eye". Not really, but I could be bribed.

It's raining...shells

The first night I got to Myrtle Beach, I walked down to the beach in the dark and could hear my feet crunching...
I pointed my camera down and took a picture of what it was I was crunching on...and saw this...

There's seriously so many shells that you can sit in one place all day, sifting through them and picking only the very best and still leaving millions for everyone else. Every day you wake to a beautiful sunrise and a new batch of shells. And as if it couldn't get any better...there are miles of white sandy beaches too!The only drawback...I'm so distracted I can't keep my eyes on the kids I'm supposed to be chaperoning.
I loved South Carolina...and will definitely go back and explore some more someday.

I've even reserved my spot.

I have only two words to say...
Myrtle Beach.

Weekender

Things I learned from our Easter, Stake Conference broadcast, and ward camp fundraising weekender....

I learned....

Milk products ie:...whipped cream...are not good for your hair.

When children are given an opportunity to throw cream pies at someone, they become quite aggressive. It's like the little guy being given a chance to inflict pain or harm to the big guy...the chance that they don't often get. It's a little unnerving actually, how quickly the line forms to watch someone suffer.

Your own children do not appreciate witnessing their Dad being the brunt of all the aggression and humilitation.

Too much of a good thing....like whipped cream, is not good. Not good for the eyes, the hair, the skin....

Whipped cream sours and smells terrible just like milk does.

I also learned this weekend that everyone loves a good talk by a General Authority, about the Savior....everyone...

I was reminded of a little seldom heard, old quote..
Fix it up
wear it out
make do,
or do without.
A difficult concept for many of us who don't know what it means to live without. We ought to be careful, for that may be us.

It was also a boost to my spirits to hear of the Savior's last week on the earth. In biblical accounts, He spent much of His last week before His crucifixion in the temple. It was a priority for Him. Is it any wonder that He would spend as much time as He could there when I can't seem to make it my priority once a month? If the temple was a central figure in His life, why isn't it in ours?

I also found that children like a good egg hunt. It doesn't matter if it's raining and freezing cold.

In preparation for Prom, I discovered that all the amazing and beautiful shoes I've bought for previous dances get thrown off as soon as the dance begins and never worn, except for pictures. Instead of being bitter...which I'm not...I bought sparklie flip flops for this year's Prom instead. No use throwing away good money!

What good is it to experience things and not learn from them?

It was a good weekender...

Off the Wagon

I'm feeling it this morning.

Too much sugar over the weekend.

What is it with me and sugar? I love it. Can't get enough of it. Even when it leaves me feeling sick and hollow inside.
It's my crack.
I better take a break from it today. At least until lunch.

Easter Greetings

A sliver of my favorite talk....ever.

Unsolicited and Welcome Advice

I Dreamed a Dream

Albeit a shallow one...
I could have sworn when I woke up this morning that I would have big full lips and a wrinkle free face. I dreamt of Botox all night long. It must be the conversation I had yesterday about being a terrible Poker player...my face totally gives me away! But...maybe if I had Botox...my expressions wouldn't be as noticeable. As if I were a Poker player anyway.

A couple of years ago I heard that the new cool thing in home parties was Botox parties. I've always wondered what those would be like. What happens when you run out of Botox...do you just inject jello? Hey...let me whip up a batch of peach jello and before it solidifies you can suck it up in the syringe. Ah, no thanks.
I hope I never have that dream.

Method to My Madness

More than 20% of the 292 of the self-made American billionaires on the most recent list of the World's Billionaires have either never started or never completed college. This is especially true of those destined for careers as technology entrepreneurs: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, and Theodore Waitt.

So, there's hope for me! Now I know why I can't get motivated to go back to school. :)

And aren't I a technology entrepreneur? I mean...I blog, like...everyday right?

If...I had a million dollars for every time I blogged...I'd be a billion....wait, I guess I'd be a $445 millionaire. I'd settle for that.

Goodbye Bean

This morning we said "Goodbye" to Chloe's subcutaneous cyst...lovingly named "Bean". He has made his abode on Chloe's back/shoulder for several months now. I took her to the Dr. to have the marble sized growth finally removed after giving it a couple of months to go away on it's own.

We thought maybe we would discover it was her twin...like on my Big Fat Greek Wedding...and that they would find teeth inside.

Not really, but it was pretty funny to joke about it.

Gotta love Lidocain....

Farewell Bean...go home to that heaven made for cysts and other living tissues...may we never see you again.

This month's VT message...

...brought to you by Twilight.

At church we have this program for women called Relief Society. Not a bad name huh? It really describes the mission of women in the world....to bring "relief" to others everywhere. Within this program is another program called Visiting Teaching. Each sister or woman is assigned a companion...a partner in crime!! Actually, it is a crime of love they perform. These partners are then assigned to several ladies in their ward...or church boundaries. The goal is to visit these ladies at least once a month. To actually go to their homes or meet them somewhere. Usually a short uplifting lesson is delivered from scriptures and talks given by General Authorities, maybe a prayer, sometimes a treat or yummy thing and always....love. The idea is to get to know someone that perhaps you don't know very well and to see that that "sister" feels "relief". Often, this relief can come in ways of service. I've known Visiting Teaching companions to babysit, clean toilets, provide rides, stock cabinets, sew curtains, cook dinner and pretty much do all the wonderful things that women have the capacity to do...love and take care of people.

Sometimes we like to joke around a bit with Visiting Teaching. By now everyone on the planet has read or heard of the Twilight series of books written by Stephanie Meyer. But, what people might not know is that Stephanie is LDS...that's right...a member of my church. So, Mormons are especially in love with her. Some of us like to try to break down her books into gospel principles, which I think is pretty funny. I've always just accepted her books as entertainment and not as sneaky ways of teaching the gospel. But...I think it helps some justify their obsession with the books....which obsession, I don't think is necessarily a bad thing! It's just a funny thing....hard to describe. It reminds me of all the years I justified spending a fortune and time on all the scrapbooks I made...because that obsession is all about doing family history...right? I took it over the top a bit.

Anyway, someone emailed me this cartoon the other day and I thought it was hysterical!

Hopefully, I've done a decent enough job of explaining what Visiting Teaching is to get the joke of this cartoon. HA!! Rather than using the scriptures, like we should...these ladies are using Twilight to teach. So classic. But....maybe only funny to me!!

What it reminds me of though, is my Grandpa. My Grandpa Argyle...the one who passed away in December, was once a Bishop. Grandpa was addicted to watching "All My Children". He never missed a day. And when he had to miss, he always recorded and watched every episode. He did this for DECADES. While he was Bishop, he used to joke how he could use scenes from All My Children, to counsel members. Only he wasn't joking. He really did compare many marriages, crimes and things of passion to All My Children's characters. I believe I even heard him say that he advised some people to watch the show! He always tried to get the "good message" out of the bad show, which I'm sure made him feel much better about watching it.

My point? There is no point...just my observation of something so funny to me. I guess it's been on my mind quite a bit lately since the movie gets played once a day at home. In fact, we watched it last night, my second time ever, and for the first time, I saw Stephanie Meyer in it. I don't know why it's taken me a couple times of watching it to see her. I also saw some other interesting things.

I guess I better re-read New Moon to get next month's Visiting Teaching Message.

Re-do Friday

I wish we could have a re-do sometimes. Like....Forgiveness Fridays.
I wish this guy had been alive last fall. I would definately wish for a re-do.


I thought this blinkie was classic...this is how I feel on Fridays...I'm so far behind, I thought I was first!!

Here's a perk to being an Idol....
So stinkin' cute.

At least I have a hot date with my hubby tonight. For real.

Thursday

Which Part Is Mine?
She was only a dairy man's daughter,
she was only a child of thirteen;
but the stars on the radio brightened her nights with a dream.
So she called up her best girlfriend Jenny
'cause she thought they would make quite a pair,
She said, "Let's you and me, try to sing harmony

at the amateur night at the fair."
But she only had the range of an alto,
so the part she knew best went to her friend.
And when Jenny's soprano drowned out the piano
they'd have to start over again.
And the dairyman's daughter would then say,
"Which part is mine?
and Jen, which part is yours?
Could you tell me one more time;
I'm never quite sure.
And I won't cross the line
like I have before.
So please help me learn which part is mine,
and which part is yours."


She grew up and got married to Bobby
kept him working on his MBA
they had two little redheaded children,
and one on the way.
Everybody said she could work wonders,
and she wondered what everyone meant.
She played so many roles, it was taking its toll
and she feared that her time was misspent.
So she opened her heart to her husband.
They discussed everything on her list.
From the kids, to the job,to her feelings for her Bob.
But what it really boiled down to was this: She said:
"Which part is mine?and Bob, which part is yours?
Let's review it one more time;
I guess I"m not sure.
And I won't cross the line
like I have before
if we just define which part is mine,
and which part is yours."


Every sleepless night knows many mothers
who are wond'ring if they've done alright.
And the dairyman's daughter knew
more than a few of those nights.
Had she given her son too much freedom?
Had she smothered her two teenage girls?
Did she spoil them too much or not trust them enough
to prepare them for life in this world?
So she opened her heart to the heavens
and she spoke of her children by name.
And the prayer that she prayed
that her kids would be saved
had a very familiar refrain.
Which part is mine?
And God, which part is yours?
Could you tell me one more time,
I'm never quite sure.
And I won't cross the line
like I have before.
But it gets so confusing some times.
Should I do more, or trust the divine?
Please, just help me define which part is mine,
and which part is yours.


Did you hear me?
I can feel you near me.
It is the answer
that I've been longing for;
just to know you hear me,
and to feel you near me.
It's all the answer
that I've been longing for.

Did you hear me?
I can feel you near me.
It is the answer
that I've been longing for;
just to know you hear me,
after I've done my best,
and to feel you near me.
I know you'll do the rest.
It is the answer that I've been longing for!

Michael McLean

Thursday is my most tired day. When I get up for seminary it's about all I can do to not crawl downstairs. Sometimes my eyes don't even open for 10 minutes. Last night was another difficult night.

It's the music I put on for the kids to prepare the classroom that saves me. This morning it was...Which Part Is Mine?
I will gladly burn anyone a copy who wants one....to help you feel and know that He hears you.
Happy Thursday.

Wacky Wednesday

One of my all time favorite books as a kid was Dr. Suess' Wacky Wednesday.

"A shoe on the wall? Shouldn't be there at all."

I guess if I woke up with a shoe on the wall...it would be a pretty wacky day.

I see a lot of great things on blogs for Wednesdays. One of my favorites is Nikki's Wishful Wednesday. After you read her wish lists...your wish list will change.

Wednesday this week is the day I finished painting the black crown moulding in my room. It looks so awesome! Hardest paint job I've ever done.

Happy Wednesday!