Farewell to Arms

And April too.

What's up with an entire month flying by with nothing to show for it?

Thank goodness Spring came in all her glory.

I think the theme for my month of April was forgiveness.

Not like I mastered it though.

It was a daily thing. A daily choice I had to make. I'm a girl who can let pretty much everything roll off her back. Not in April. Not to put too fine a point on it but I believe we choose to be offended. And even as negative as I can be, I generally don't worry about others opinions about myself. Now my kids on the other hand, that's a different story. April was my dirty little secret....my indulgence down the path of self-pity.

So, I'm calling May....truce month. In April, I say...farewell to arms. Put away the arsenal of labeling and name calling. Put way the weapons of disappointment and offenses.

It's all good. No more war with myself. And to remind myself....forgiveness is a daily process.

And if you don't like my blog(s) and the information in them....don't read 'em!

They are mine. They are labors of time and love. They aren't perfect but they are mine.

Aging Gracefully

"My doctor told me that jogging could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel ten years older already."

Milton Berle

My Blog is Green

If this really works...

and a tree gets planted because of it...

all my blogging will feel guilt free forever.

Go here to see how to plant a tree for carbon-free blogging.

Friday Observances

Am I hallucinating or did Spring just explode? Is it extra green or what? I think all that brown and grey was finally getting to me....I must have been so used to it that I'm thinking the foliage looks freakish this year. Can't stop staring.

Is time speeding up or am I blinking longer now? I can't believe a whole school year has almost gone by. What happened to painful evenings full of homework? Where did countdown calendars go? All you have to do is blink and it's gone. Maybe I got my time machine wish. I change my mind. I don't want one now.

Why did Cocoa Bean invent the Lemon Raspberry cupcake? I'm certain it has been placed on the earth to torment my dreams. I'll forgo chocolate for this dessert any time.

Did I just ask if time was speeding up? Well, I'm feeling contradictory today. I've been in Young Womens only six months and it feels like forever.

Does it ever sprinkle in Missouri? In 10 years I've only seen it downpour. Yesterday's rain brought a drop in temps too...on came the fireplace with a flick of the switch.

Love.fake.fire.

After reading Val's blog and taking 4 days to contemplate, I've decided my least favorite chore is unloading and putting away groceries. It took me forever to decided my least favorite chore because I really do loathe them all. So, I REALLY loathe unloading. I figured out that's why I don't like cooking....because then I have this whole process of bringing the food to the table. Put on clothes and makeup. Drive to the store and then pry apart the shopping carts only to pinch my finger every time. Walk up and down the aisles finding the decent deals and having my tummy rumble for all the stuff I can't eat without gaining 10 pounds per bite. Pay a fortune to stand in line forever at the checkout. Shove all the bags in every nook and cranny of the car only to have all the bags spill out at the first stoplight on the way home. Make 30 trips back and forth to the kitchen with all the bags, cursing under my breath the whole time. You'd think by now I'd have arms of steel. I try taking as many bags as possible to avoid more trips back and forth and have my arms so weighed down, the plastic is digging into my skin. Unload each and every stinkin' can and jar only to find I have to throw away something to make room for it. The fermenting cucumbers in the bottom drawer have to be tossed to make room. Which starts a whole process of cleaning the fridge. Then run items upstairs, then run items downstairs. Recycle the bags....and lo, the day is spent and so am I. I don't know what it is but once I put all that crud away, I have no desire or intention to haul it back out just to make dinner...so we eat out.

Which leads me to another point. I hate fresh veggies and fruit right now. And I use the word 'fresh' loosely. Nothing tastes like its supposed to. It's all bland. I got a taste of a fresh pineapple brought back from Hawaii this week and about died. Seriously? That's how fruit is supposed to taste. I hear there half the nutrients in veggies now then there was 50 years ago. If that's true, why bother eating fresh veggies anymore. They taste terrible and aren't so good for you. Give me a vitamin any day.

My Friday observance has turned more into a bash day. But you know, this isn't even the tip of the iceberg on my negativity spew. I could go on.

We'll just leave it at that.

Happy Friday, to those of you who love Fridays.

Considering Earth

I've been spending some time thinking about earth over the last week. I found this talk given by Russell M. Nelson....excellent...

"I testify that the earth and all life upon it are of divine origin. The Creation did not happen by chance. It did not come ex nihilo (out of nothing). And human minds and hands able to build buildings or create computers are not accidental. It is God who made us and not we ourselves. We are His people! The Creation itself testifies of a Creator. We cannot disregard the divine in the Creation. Without our grateful awareness of God’s hand in the Creation, we would be just as oblivious to our provider as are goldfish swimming in a bowl. With deep gratitude, we echo the words of the Psalmist, who said, “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”

"As beneficiaries of the divine Creation, what shall we do? We should care for the earth, be wise stewards over it, and preserve it for future generations. And we are to love and care for one another."

And M. Russell Ballard too...
"To truly reverence the Creator, we must appreciate His creations. We need to plan to take time to observe the marvels of nature. Today, we can easily become surrounded by brick buildings and asphalt surfaces that shelter us from real life around us. Plan to share with your family the miracle of buds changing to fragrant blossoms. Take time to sit on a hillside and feel the tranquillity of the evening, when the sun casts its last golden glow over the horizon. Take time to smell the roses."

Happy Earth Day.

10 Ways to Get Over Yourself

I found this interesting article online today:

The Top 10 Ways to Get Over Yourself

1. It's not personal.

Taking things personally is one of the greatest barriers to being effective and is a fundamental roadblock to overcome for high powered living. When we take things personal we spend our time and energy on useless, unproductive thoughts, feelings and actions. Want to simply stop spinning your wheels? Stop taking it personal.

2. Devote yourself to serving others.

Buckminster Fuller had reached a point in his life where he wanted to commit suicide, but rather than waste the remainder of his life that way he chose to devote himself to serving others.

Serving others remains one of the most rewarding - and humbling - ways to rediscover who we really are beyond the image that others have of us and the one we have of ourselves. It's a unique way to fully express our truest passions and bulletproofs the value of our lives from the inevitable winds of fortune and change.

3. Recognize the arrogance of judging.

It's human nature to judge others and exercising good judgment is a necessary tool for survival and success. Recognizing the arrogance of judging our fellow human beings doesn't change us from being judging machines, but it goes a long way towards helping us keep our judgments in their proper perspective.

4. Play outside.

Whenever you're in danger of taking yourself too seriously don't forget the value of play, and by taking that play outside you're also reconnecting with being a part of something greater than yourself. Lay on your back in the grass and watch the clouds, invite the neighbors to join you for a walk, or play catch with the kids, but never forget to play, and don't forget to take it outside once in a while.

5. Appreciate the humor in being human.

The next time you do something stupid or make a terrible mistake, know that the universe is inviting you to be a part of it's own private joke. We humans can be at our silliest when we are taking ourselves the most seriously, so you might as well enjoy the moments you have on this earth with a well developed sense of humor.

6. Admit that you're crazy.

The defining test for qualifying as crazy on this planet isn't what you think it is. If you've got a pulse - you're crazy.

If you're like most people you look back on certain times in your life and see the insanity of it all.

The bad news? You're not cured and you never will be!

The good news? You're crazy!

The next you want to hold back because people will think you're crazy if you don't, being able to admit that you actually are will give you the freedom you need to decide to do it anyway, or not. The difference is the level of freedom of choice you give yourself.

7. Pray.

You don't have to have a higher power to use the power of prayer. Numerous studies have shown that prayer enhances our quality of life and reduces our stress whether you have faith or not. If you do have faith prayer serves to deepen it and will fine tune your intuition and sensitivity.

8. Rest easy in knowing that you're special - just like everyone else.

You are special. There will never be another you, no matter how far back into history you go or how far into the future you can look; one in infinity. And so is every other person on the planet. Even the ones that push your buttons the most, whether it's your boss, your mom or your kids. There will never be another like them in the whole history of humanity; surely there's something new there for you to notice and appreciate?

9. Trust that everyone has a good reason for doing what they do.

No matter how badly people behave and how badly their behavior hurts others, underneath it all they're trying to achieve a positive income. I don't happen to have enough patience to always appreciate that or the logic that makes some people think that they're behavior could ever produce the outcome they wanted, but I've never had any reason to doubt the truth of a desire for a positive outcome.

10. Make solitude and silence a regular practice.

It won't make you sane (smile), but it will help you get as close as any human can.

Our lives are increasingly hectic, chaotic and complicated, and the practices of solitude and silence can bring both peace and meaning to our lives, as well as function as the foundation for keeping our priorities straight as well as helping us to maintain or ability to continually simplify.

All good advice but they left out my favorite:

11. Pull up your big girl panties and get over it!

I bought groceries yesterday for the first time since several days before Easter. Not much, but at least there's some junk for the kids now.

Chloe will be home tomorrow for a short break. As a hen gathereth her chicks...so will I be.

Sometimes it's just better not to say anything at all.

Staying on Track

I have to indulge my online journal with my kids' events once in awhile. It can't always be about me, me, me.



Wait...I thought this was MY Lifetime Subscription.
Who could be upset about attending their daughter's first track meet of the year? Not me...especially when it's 80 degrees and beautiful. I'm lucky, I get to sit back and bask in the sun while she does all the work.

Bridger runs the 800m and 1600m in track. She does pretty well too, considering she started two weeks late because of Annie and she missed the first meet.
She almost has me inspired to take up running again.....almost. I'm sure I'll be over that delusion soon.

Speaking of staying on track...

Hunter had another car "accident" at school yesterday. That makes for 3 fender-benders in 6 months.

So now that the car has been taken away....again...looks like my schedule just went into overload. I need an assistant to keep me on track.

I'm really beginning to wonder if there is any wisdom in God in allowing people to be teenagers. I can't even say that I look back on those years with great memories myself.

There's probably no need to take up running...this teenage 'track' is a workout. The trick is staying on track. Stay the course....stay the course....

STAY THE COURSE.

I (Hart) Vlog

Here's a video of the Hart visit during Easter break.

I Say Hello

For the Sweet & Salty lovers

Recently I saw a post on a blog for bacon chocolate chip cookies.

Sounded intriguing.

So I did a little research online and found a recipe for something even MORE over the top...

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Bacon Cookies.

I have to say...

I am a fan.

Don't go knock it till you try it....you might like it too.

Ingredients

• 6 slices maple-cured bacon, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup softened butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks

Directions

1. Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place the bacon in a large, deep skillet, and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate. Crumble.
3. Beat the sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla extract with an electric mixer in a large bowl until fluffy and smooth. Stir in flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix in the chocolate chips and bacon. Drop cookies by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Let stand 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.
5. Go on. Try it.

Home Remodel

Melanie gave me these....

as a souvenir from the Amish town of Jamesport.

Mr. & Mrs. needed a new home.

So with a cheese platter and candlestick from the antique store....

And a little remodel work....

They got their new home make-over.

Welcome Home Mr. & Mrs.

Here's some links to find more ideas.

Gold For Norway

Last night I attended the World Premier of "Over Havet" (Across the Sea), the music commissioned and composed by award winning and much sought after musicians and lyricists about a Norwegian immigrant. I'm still weepy this morning.

It was truly inspiring and I want to post more about it when I have more time.

The high school is sponsoring a fundraiser for the trip to Norway next March, where our choir will unveil this music in cathedrals throughout the country as well as the small chapel where this immigrant worshiped prior to his exodus to America.

It's a blessed opportunity. PBS is and has been filming the entire process and will be accompanying this trip. We are in need of grant writers, if anyone is available.

This fundraiser is easy. Bring your gold to the school, it will be appraised and cash will be given to you for it's value. 20% of those proceeds will go to this field trip. It's a win-win situation. You get money for jewelry you no longer wear and money will go toward this trip that you never even paid for out of pocket, because it was sitting in a drawer any way.

If you have gold sitting around, consider this as an option for getting something for it and giving as well.

Go Fly a Kite

And if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Or then again...maybe not...

Neighborly Love

What do you do when your neighbor, who is gone half the year and who you've only spoken 10 words to, is constantly coming over and yelling at the mowers and caretakers of your yard?

Apparently, he is completely frustrated with us and tries to contact us repeatedly to discuss lawn matters and we're never available or don't care. So, he yells at the help instead and asks them to relay messages. What?

Apparently, we are destroying his new driveway. What?

Apparently, we are supposed to cut a trench through our sidewalk for drainage. What?

Should I take over a pass-a-long card and a Families Can Be Together Forever video?

I hate neighbors. How's that for neighborly love?

A Half Birthday

Last night marked the 6 month anniversary of one the most exciting nights for the girls. Boyd and I were out of town and Kristin and Dave Bunnell were watching the girls at home.

During the priesthood session of conference, while Dave was away, 8 months

pregnant Kristin quietly and calmly announced , "Um, I think my water just broke", and chaos commenced! Unable to reach Dave, my girls loaded Kristin up and drove her to the hospital, where they helped get her checked in and spent some time with her until Dave could be reached and arrived. It was such a memorable experience.

And so, they were first to see little David after he was born. It is a great story that my girls love to share with people. Last night Dave and Kristin brought little David, a now happy 6 month old, over to take some milestone pictures.

He wasn't sure that was okay at first, but eventually he warmed up.



I'll never forget how excited they were that night when we got the call after midnight in Utah that Kristin had her baby.

Worth mentioning are those darling baby blue eyes and succulent cheeks! Happy 1/2 Birthday David!

He Lives

Accessory of Peace

No, I would not say these shoes are an accessory of peace.

The proceeds from the purchase of these shiny, silver lovelies didn't not go to some worthy cause...

except they do bring ME peace, as I really love them. In fact, I would say they are my 2nd favorite accessory right now.

But my #1 is this:

It's a whistle.

I'm blowing the whistle on peace.

It's a necklace. I've not worn it 3 days in the last almost 3 weeks.

I got it here.

100% of the proceeds go for a cause.

Do I know for sure that they go for a cause?

I'm pretty sure.

Go ahead...judge me. :)

You may think this is a passing fancy. You may think I bought this because I'm on some "kick" right now. Looks to some that I'm just a silly Mom wearing a silly whistle.

You may not know that I have been reading books on war in Africa for over 3 years now. You also may not know that I'm just a Mom. A stay-at-home Mom. Who spends sometimes, hours of the day wondering what I can do and why I was the one blessed to be born in this country, in this time, to these circumstances. Why me and not them? And you may not know that it bothers me that other then my prayers, there's not a lot I can do.

Do we ever know if all of our money goes to the cause? There's only one place I know of for sure that does...do you know?

But one thing I do know....

I feel pretty good when I wear it. And when I do, I think of the causes of others all day. Things like paint color on my wall or my growing out hair roots don't matter so much.

And I know...everyone will be jealous and want one now.

And it does look pretty good with my shiny shoes.

Now that is an accessory of peace. Blow on that.