A thought worth sharing.

I promise you'll get a lot of mileage from this if you'll give it time to work on you.

"So, is the glass half empty, half full, or just twice as large as it needs to be?"

Meme.

Okay, so it's been two weeks since I was tagged but I only figured that out today because, against all odds, I was able to finish reading an entire post on Stacey's blog in one sitting. That didn't sound quite right. What I'm trying to say is that I LOVE to read anything that Stacey writes. She is a master of nuance and dry humor. Generally, as I'm taking it in and savoring each bit, pausing to laugh out loud two or three times at each comic crescendo, I am interrupted by Q or A or T or C or E. But today, I made it from beginning to end, in large measure because I was able to ignore the pleadings Q - he was in need of his 11 am snack. He ate at nine, and I decided he could WAIT. I needed comic relief more than he needed his cereal. Good thing, too - because now I have a job to do while he's eating that cereal and I might just have enough time to complete the assignment before he needs something else.

My mission, as I have chosen to accept it is, to divulge 7 interesting tidbits about myself. You may or may not know that:

1) I have kept journals since I was quite young. From my early teens and into my college years, I was hopelessly devoted to whatever young male I had a crush on at the time, and wrote about my feelings extensively. I almost got rid of the journals because reading them was so painful and embarrassing. My dad, a counselor, made a comment that assuaged my grief. "Why should you be embarrassed about being completely normal." So, now, I look at those journals as a gold mine of story lines for the books I will someday publish. Keeping the journals also honed a writing skill that today I'm very grateful for.

2) I have sent one book to a publisher, and it was REJECTED! I will try again, with that one and others because I think I have something to say. I can lighten someone's load with words. That is something worth working for.

3) Stacey was the one who introduced me to the blogging world. Thankfully, I haven't been exposed to the negative side of cyberspace. I have four blogs now, and each one has a job to do for me or for others. I love being able to reach out and bring a smile to someone on the other side of the world that I don't know. Sometimes, when I feel bluish, I check the sitemeters on my blogs to see who's been by. Weird? Cheers me up for some reason, and that's enough.

4) I had 5 sisters and had never lived with anything as smelly as a boy until my own "son" was born. My husband is impeccable when it comes to personal care and hygiene. I now have 3 sons and two daughters. I have a whole lot coming in terms of potential smelliness, and well - at least my daughters will have a clue what they are in for.

5) Where some have books, I have paper crafts. I am motivated by competitions. If I don't have something specific to work toward, I make excuses like "the dishes need to be done" - and I ignore my need for creativity. (Except for the blogs.) I enter contests to give me a fixed goal, a focus and a deadline. Currently, I am working on an entry that includes 10 small projects. I will take at least 100 photos, because I won't be getting anything back. It's still worth it on so many levels. It's like breathing pure oxygen.

6) I am not a stickler about many things. Let the kids eat Easter candy until they get a stomach ache. Messes will get cleaned up, eventually - I won't waste energy getting angry about it. I just refuse to expect myself to exercise control over every teeny tiny little aspect of my family's life. They will learn to put things where they belong the 500th time they can't find it there because they dropped it somewhere else. I try to meet basic needs. I try to emphasize the most important of basic values - including work. I don't, however, think the people in my life should feel second to the things in my life, although we do need to respect the value of things and be grateful for our blessings. Despite all this, I have often been called mean by my children. I know this to be one of the sweetest compliments a child can offer his or her parent. I revel in it.

7) Someday, I'd like to be an architect. I believe it's in me. I may be 65, I may only consult with homeowners wanting to remodel, but I think I'd love that. If I can pay my way through "retirement" by consulting with homeowners on their dreams, hallelujah! Dreams come true sometimes, this could be one of those "coming true" kind.


And now, I'd like to know more about Kersten, Ms. Earl and Angelina. It's okay if it takes a while for you to get this tag. It took me 2 weeks and I know we are all dealing with VERY SIMILAR challenges. Good Luck girls!

The Pink Crayon

An excerpt from Knowing When to Persevere and When to Change Direction, a speech given at Brigham Young University by Janet G. Lee on 14 January 1992.

When my daughter Stephanie was five years old, I took her to register for kindergarten . . . A teacher was sitting just outside the room with a box of crayons and several sheets of blank paper, and I smiled confidently to myself from across the hall as Stephanie was asked to choose her favorite color and write her name. "She could write all the names in our family," I thought to myself. . . But Stephanie just stood there. The teacher repeated the instructions, and again my daughter stood still, staring blankly at the box of crayons with her knees locked and her hands behind her back.
In the sweet, patient voice that teachers use when they are beginning to feel slightly impatient, the teacher asked once more, "Stephanie, choose your favorite color, dear, and write your name on this piece of paper." I was about to come to my daughter's aid when the teacher kindly said, "That's okay. We will help you learn to write your name when you come to school in the fall." With all the restraint I could muster, I watched Stephanie move into the classroom with a teacher who believed my daughter did not know how to write her name.
On the way home I tried to ask as nonchalantly as possible why she had not written her name. "I couldn't," she replied. "The teacher said to choose my favorite color, and there wasn't a pink in the box!"
I reflect on this incident often as I watch my children grow and observe life in general. How many times are we, as Heavenly Father's children, immobilized because the choice we had in mind for ourselves just isn't available to us, at least not at the time we want it?. . .
In other words, what happens when we look in the box, and the pink crayon just isn't there? It is so easy to lock our knees, put our hands behind our back, and do nothing when the things we wished for and dreamed about are beyond our reach. But to do so would defy the very reason we are placed here on this earth. As hard as it sometimes is to understand, stumbling blocks are essential to our progression.
Remember what the Lord said: "If thou are called to pass through [some] tribulation . . . know . . . that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good" (D&C 122:5-7)

On Weakness, and a Pure Heart

President Brigham Young (1801–77) told us to have courage despite our weaknesses: “In addressing a congregation, though the speaker be unable to say more than half a dozen sentences, and those awkwardly constructed, if his heart is pure before God, those few broken sentences are of more value than the greatest eloquence without the Spirit of the Lord and of more real worth in the sight of God, angels, and all good men. In praying, though a person’s words be few and awkwardly expressed, if the heart is pure before God, that prayer will avail more than the eloquence of a Cicero [a first century b.c. Roman orator]. What does the Lord, the Father of us all, care about our mode of expression? The simple, honest heart is of more avail with the Lord than all the pomp, pride, splendor, and eloquence produced by men. When he looks upon a heart full of sincerity, integrity, and child-like simplicity, he sees a principle that will endure forever—‘That is the spirit of my own kingdom—the spirit I have given to my children.’ ” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young (1997), 149.

I read this at breakfast this morning, and it made my heart sing.

Something new and FUN!

I ran onto the City Daily Photo group last weekend, and when I found out how simple it was to be a part of it, I jumped right on board. It has been very fun and I have already started to get feedback from people around the world. I have especially enjoyed the things about Portugal. I also love seeing parts of the rest of the world, too. Someday, I'd like to see a lot more of it because the parts I'm acquainted with, I love. There is something to love just about anywhere - which is the best part of City Daily Photo. Mine is listed at the right: Salt Lake City Daily Photo.

Action Provoking

It's very inconvenient to be mortal -- you never know when everything may suddenly stop happening.

Here's the thing about that. I believe that life will move forward after death, although in a different state, a spiritual state. Nevertheless, as far as Earth life goes, when you die, things you can't say or do things for the ones you love any longer. Your time to make things happen expires, in a way. Right now, I am here, and I want to make a lot of good things happen. I want to be sure I give my family the very best of me, because I know that at some point there will be a time when I can't do that anymore.

Last Week was great!

Except for the part where I forgot that the deadline for turning in school track registration was Friday. This morning, I remembered but not with enough time to take it in to the school office when I dropped the kids off at school.

Then, when I was looking for the track form, I found an envelope - unopened - in my stack of mail. I vaguely remember it being in our mailbox sometime last week. Well, it was for E - an invitation to a birthday party that happened on Saturday morning. YIKES!

So, now, even though last week was amazingly packed with a big service project culmination for my church group (I was in charge of the project), beginning of baseball practices for the boys, and a birthday party for E - I still feel like the biggest geek in town.

Now, I've got to get over to the school, because on top of the track form, E forgot her "Leprechaun Trap".

Amazing how much can fall through the cracks, even when we are doing our best, isn't it? This is going to be a lesson in "letting things be" and not wasting my time on worry. The only way to come out of moments like this happy is to figure out what you actually can do to rectify things, and do it.

Meet my friend Stacey

Multiple choice question:

I have asked Stacey for permission to run this post from her blog (Life's a Funny Thing) because:

a) I am currently in the same situation with my 12 year old son - and the humor factor here makes it easier to deal with.
b) Nearly every mother of a boy is going to experience something similar at some point - and ought to be able to get a good laugh out of it.
c) Thinking about this entry while doing any menial chore makes me chuckle, which makes the work go faster.
d) I want you to get to know Stacey because she is amazing.
e) All of the above

The answer is E - all of the above.

MONDAY, JULY 16, 2007

Father vs Son

"There's something wrong with your son."

My son. If Hubs' tone of frustration wasn't enough to tip me off, the fact that Son had just somehow become my son and mine alone, made it very clear I'd come home to another father/son dispute.

"Problem?"

"Well, I told him to shower and he was gone three minutes, then came back with perfectly dry hair and still smelled like he'd spent the afternoon playing field hockey with a herd of mountain goats."

"Hmm. You told him to shower with water and soap and shampoo, right? Because you have to be specific with him about that."

Hubs looked affronted. "Yes, of course. I'm not new around here, you know."

"I know, but you did you give him any further instructions?"

"Such as?"

"Well, you know that he thinks if he actually had water coming out of the shower head, and if the soap and shampoo were physically present with him in the shower, then technically he followed instructions, right?"

"Are you serious?"

"Sadly, I am. Also, you have to remind him to stand under the water, not just near it."

"What's wrong with him?"

"Other than being twelve?"

"Oh. Right. So now what?"

"Okay here's what you say: "Stand under the water coming from the shower head. Pick up the soap. Lather it up, apply it to your body until the dirt is gone, then rinse. Also, the shampoo? It goes in your hair. You lather it up, in your hair--not just in your hands-- and then rinse it out."

"So is it that he doesn't understand the concept?"

"Oh no. He's just looking for a loophole. A technicality, as it were."

"So I didn't handle it right?"

"I wouldn't say that. In fact, hosing him down in the driveway while you washed the car is, I'm sure, a lesson he'll remember for years to come."

"You think?"

"Definitely. And hanging that pine tree air freshner from his collar? Inspired."

"Really?"

"Oh, absolutely."

Hubs will get the hang of this eventually. I'm not too worried, though. Son is bound to discover girls any time now. When he does, I have a feeling getting him in the shower will be the least of our concerns.

It's nearly Spring again, and I'm Feeling Good

"Feeling Good"

Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Breeze driftin' on by
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Blossom on a tree
You know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good

Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know
Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when day is done
That's what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me

Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me

And I'm feeling good

A quick little thing

I prepared 16 fleece blankets to serge yesterday. My hands are doing much much better, obviously. The "To-Do" list that I posted last Saturday has only two items left. I need to finish the blankets, and E's birthday invitations (which also need to be delivered). Otherwise, we are ready for her parties this week. Also this week, we will be putting together the Newborn Kits at church. Then, I want to concentrate on Stampn' Up! for a while. There is an "Artisan" Contest open to demonstrators. I know that if I don't try, I'll regret it. I love taking a little time to make beautiful things. It renews me on a lot of levels. So, that's it. Just a little about what I'll be doing this week, and month.

Newborn Kits

One of the things I've been working on for church is a service project - we are collecting items for Newborn Kits. These kits will go to areas of the world where mothers are unable to provide for even the most basic needs of their babies. They contain a layette gown, 2 bars of soap, 4 diaper pins, 4 flat fold cloth diapers, a blanket and a pair of booties. It has been a pleasure for me to put my mind to this and think of the good these items will do. None of the items are disposable. They will last a long time. They will probably be used by far more than just one baby. They will do a great deal of good and bring a lot of comfort to the women and babies that receive them.

We have to understand that in some areas of the world, there aren't resources for each child to go home with even one blanket of their own, clothes to wear, or even a cloth diaper. Some babies go home wrapped in newspaper. It's true. So many babies are lost each year because their mothers cannot keep them warm. We can help. We can give. We need to be grateful, share our abundant blessings, and wrap Our Father's little ones in the most love and comfort that we can. As we bless them, our lives will also be blessed. Today, I'm going to go through all of my old fabric to determine what might be used for blankets. I am sure that I have something that I can give, beyond what I've already done. My hands are feeling much better, so I'll keep praying and hope they can get me through some sewing for some precious newborn babes.

She takes the fall. . .

down about 7 concrete steps, landing squarely on her hands. 36 hours later, the wrists are starting to regain their strength and she feels much more confident. This amazing recovery can be credited to Grandma, who came to take her small children for the day, and good friends and sisters that brought dinner, picked up her older children from school, and did little household tasks that she couldn't get her body to do. Yesterday was a veritable sick day! Rest was needed and rest she had. What a wonderful and amazing thing!

A little about me.

I saw this on my cousin's site, (Embrace Fears - link on the side) and was curious to see what photobucket would bring up for me, so I'm going to play around a little and enjoy a few minutes of me time.

My age at my next birthday (39 Photo of Florida State Road 39 Bridge)




A place I'd like to visit (Island of Fyn, Denmark - as my grandmother says "my people come from here."





Two of my favorite places (Portugal and Okinawa, Japan - both places have molded me)





Favorite Object (Flowers)




Favorite Food (Soy beans - steamed straight out to the shell.)




Where I live (Salt Lake Valley)




My middle name (Ann - since I'm soon to be a working girl again, I thought this was quite appropriate)




My college major (Interior Design)




Bad Habit of mine (Letting things pile up)




Favorite Animal (Okay - I know - butterflies are INSECTS, but they are my favorite non-human so I'm going for it.)




Favorite Color (Soft Sky is my favorite today)




Name of pet (Used to have a fish named Little Foot)




Favorite Holiday (My children's birthdays - I plan for them for months)




And now, the sweetest words I've ever heard.
"Mama. Seep."

A, needing an nap, came to tell me about it, the dolly.
Signing Off now.

Space and Pooh Bear

I have E's room about ready. Everything is painted. All that's left is to move in the dresser and fill it with clothes. This has peaked Q's interest in his own room. He told me the today that he wants his room to be Space and Pooh Bear. It took some work, but I finally deduced that he was referring to the color of space (dark blue) and the color of Pooh Bear (yellow orange). I was quite surprised at how specific he was. Those, incidentally, are the same colors that his first bedroom was painted in. It makes me happy that even though comfort to him is in colors he remembers from the old house, he is settling in here (after nearly 1 1/2 years) and wants to bring the old colors to the new house rather than go back.