Resolutions

I don't like to make New Years resolutions, since I end up breaking them before I get through the 1st week of the year. So this year I decided that I wanted to try something new. Sunday at church listed in the bulletin was 4 resolutions that I thought I would try. I thought they sounded familiar so I looked them up online at LDS.org and found them in an Ensign article from 1994. So I'm going to share some of it here, my thoughts are in RED.

Resolution
1- I resolve to expand my intellectual horizons, to increase in wisdom. (D&C 88:118; D&C 90:15). What we choose to read will make a huge difference in the development of our minds and character. I have never really had a problem with this, I love to read now that I don't have to read.

2- I will be resolute in preserving and strengthening my physical health. It is impressive that more than 160 years ago the Lord revealed a health code, the Word of Wisdom, that can make all the difference in how we feel and perform. With good health, we can be happier and more successful. Without it, we are curtailed in almost every way. I do have a problem with this I have had problems my whole life, luckily for me I don't have health problems that go with it. I plan on memorizing D&C 89

3- I resolve to be a truer friend and to become more socially acceptable to people of high standards. I can be more open with myself and push myself to walk up to strangers to introduce myself.

• Become genuinely interested in other people.
• Smile. (Remember, the Lord commands us to “be of good cheer.”)
• Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.
• Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.
• Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.
• Make the other person feel important—and do it sincerely.

4- I will grow spiritually—I will increase in favor with God. This will be my biggest challenge, this past year I have really tried to not do this, believe it or not I have not succeeded in it. I have tried to prove to myself that Heavenly Father does not care about me but he just keeps getting in the way, so now I guess that it is time from me to try it his way.

• resolve to overcome as much as possible the sin of pride.
• Resolve now that you will read from the scriptures daily.
• resolve to really pray and not just say prayers.
• remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy

I have decided that these will be my Resolutions this coming year, and if I fall I can start over again every Sunday when I partake of the sacrament. I also know that my wonderful friends will also help me by reminding me.

Taken from Dec 1994 Ensign article by Elder Joe J. Christensen
Of the Presidency of the Seventy

Not Baking As Much This Christmas

Ok here's the List

~Oatmeal cookies- Done but may make one more batch, they are my hubby's favorite.
~Sugar cookies- Done, but Burned to black 2 doz. may have to make another batch, probably not.
~Sausage Cheese Balls- Done 146 beautiful little balls, Ready for Christmas Breakfast.
~Williamsburg Ginger Cakes- Done, But I love these may have to make more after Christmas for New Year's party.
~Reindeer Poop- Done, sounds gross but taste great.
~Pizzelle- Still have to make, but waiting until the kids are in bed, easier.
~Chocolate Covered Pretzels- Not done and not sure if I they will get done.

As for the no doing as much baking, this is only about 1/2 of my usual list.

My Kitchen is clean, my back hurts and I'm still not done. I also have presents to wrap and have to go to Wally World for last minute shopping. Why do I always put everything off until I run out of time?

Been There, Done That, and Still Procrastinating.

I BELIEVE!

Ok, I went to bed early last night, 3 hours of sleep the night before just doesn't cut it for me, (I LOVE sleep) even though I took a 15minute nap that didn't help either, So off to bed I went. I get up this morning ready to get the day started and come downstairs to a mess, now grant-it the living room was not clean before I went to bed, a stack of DVD's on the table, the piles of laundry still waiting to get in our much to small for a family of 4 the washer (Another story for another time). But I was not expecting to find that my girls had left me an even bigger mess when I got up this morning, I should have theses are my kids I'm talking about. But they did and I was about to blow my Top and pull them out of bed to clean it up, BTW it is 4 am. I decided that I would let them sleep for about an hour more, I wasn't ready to deal with crumply kids yet.

So I thought Will at least clean up my mess. As I was staring to work on the mess that I had I came around the end of the Blanket Chest/ coffee table, And what do my wondering eyes see but 6 neatly wrapped presents laying uner our Christmas tree, I know that they where not there before I went to bed, you see I am the only one in the house that Wraps Presents and I have not done that this year. So I go to find out who has been wrapping boxes with my wrapping paper. then I realize that i don't have that kind of paper. That's when I noticed the gift tags on each present says "To:" then names a member of our family "From: Santa"my heart melts and I begin to cry. as I sat there on my knees looking at these gifts I also find laying on the table 2 giftcards with money for our favorite store. I cried even more, I say a prayer of Thanks to my Heaven Father because I BELIEVE, that there is a Santa, this is the 2nd year her has been to our house and left presents for us.

After this I decided that I'm not going to get my girls up early to clean the Livingroom and I finish cleaning it, they have a little pile of things that they need to put away in their room but other than that they are going to get up a Happy mom, today.

Thank you Santa, you made my day.

Not a Vacation

Why is it that when you are looking forward to something, something always gets in the way. Like all week long I could not wait until Friday evening so I could start my 2 week vacation by spending the evening watching a movie with my girls. Well I got the movie "Horton Hears a Who" but I also got a Headache that turned into cold chills (no fever just felt like I was freezing to death)then turned into an upset stomach, which in turn turned into a miserable night for me. I slept on the couch hugging a bucket, I never used it, all though I think if I had I would have felt better. Then this morning the headache came back with a vengeance, I spent most of the morning sleeping on the couch again with an ice pack on my head. My wonderful hubby, who is also not feeling well (Head-cold for him) did go to our neighborhood 7-11 and got me a Big (imagine 50 gallon drum) cold coke, we have found out if you take your own cup in you can get "refills" for 89 cents. This finally settled the stomach and helped the head. So I was able to get up and work on cleaning my kitchen.


Now this evening it's starting all over again, BUT! this time it's my youngest Evelyn's turn. Good thing I have already been through it so I know what will help her. She is now in bed with a movie, ice pack, Pepito bismuth in the belly and some Tylenol for the headache, hugging the bucket just in case.


Been There, Done That, and Have the T-shirt.

The Value of a Smile

It cost nothing, yet creates much.

It enriches those who receive, without impoverishing those who give.

It happens in a flash and the memory of it sometimes last forever.

No one is so rich he can get along without it, and no one is so poor but that he is richer for its benefits.

It creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business and is the counter sign of friends.

It is rest to the weary, daylight to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and nature's best antidote for trouble.

And if in the hurry and rush of the day, you meet someone who is too weary to give you a SMILE -Leave one of yours.

For no one needs a smile so much as those who have none left to give.

Author Unknown


When I went to work for Lowe's home centers many years ago I was given this by our Area Manager. I have cherished it since then and thought I would share it with my friends.

The Imperfect Mom

"There is no one perfect way to be a good mother. Each situation is unique. Each mother has different challenges, different skills and abilities, and certainly different children. The choice is different and unique for each mother and each family. Many are able to be 'full-time moms,' at least during the most formative years of their children's lives, and many others would like to be. Some may have to work part- or full-time; some may work at home; some may divide their lives into periods of home and family and work. What matters is that a mother loves her children deeply and, in keeping with the devotion she has for God and her husband, prioritizes them above all else."

M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 108

I love this quote, I don't think I can added anything to it, except that I need to be a better mom.

Wassail, Wassail/ Mannheim Streamroller

Thanks, Stephanie, for a great tag!

1. Put your music on a listening device on shuffle (like an ipod)
2. For each question, press the button to get your answer
3. You must write down that song name no matter how silly it makes you look
4. Title this post what the answer to your last question is
5. Good luck and have fun!

IF SOMEONE SAYS ' IS THIS OK' YOU SAY? You Make me Feel Like a Natural Woman/ Celine Dion

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF? Dany Dwr/ Enya

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A BOY/GIRL? Fins/ Jimmy Buffett

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY? The Longships/ Enya

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE? What is Christmas/ Trans-Siberian Orchestra

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU? Endless Love Songs/ Hollywood Love Songs

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU? In the Bleak Midwinter/ Westminster Boys choir

WHAT DO YOU OFTEN THINK ABOUT? Lone Palm/ Jimmy Buffett

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE? O That I Were an Angel/ Mormon Youth Chorus

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY? Prayer/NXL

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Stars/ Broadway cast of Les Miserables

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE? Air III/ Lee Galloway

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING? Blow, Gabriel, Blow/ Cast of De-lovely

WHAT WILL PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL? Christmas Irish Washer Woman/ Unknown

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR? Silent Night/Enya

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET? The Butterfly/ Celtic Woman

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS? The Way We Were/Hollywood Love Songs

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NAME THIS EMAIL? Wassail, Wassail/ Mannheim Streamroller

So now it is your turn to play along!! I tag whoever would like to play along. This is a fun one!

Found the switch

Earlier this week I couldn't find the switch to help me with blogging now I think I have found it. 2 in one day that is amazing and I have more floating around waiting to come out of my fingers but I have to find the time to sit still. I have to remind myself that I am a mom and I have to take care of the family. So if I get a chance later to night to sit and let me "fingers do the walking" I may post some more but don't hold your breath, I don't want any blue readers.

Been there, Done that, and it doesn't fit here.

70 Birthdays

Last weekend my neighbor, Claudia, the best in the world, had her 70th birthday. What an amazing feat and honestly she doesn't look a day over 50, she doesn't act a day over 20. She is always making something, either scrapbooking, baking cookies for anyone that happens to come by, to planning and cooking every meal (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) with the extras for her whole family on the 4-day Thanksgiving weekend. If the grandkids come to visit they will not be bored she has been known to go tubing on the river, take them to the water park, snow tubing or shopping at the mall, on top of feeding them 3 meals a day that she has planned and worked on for a week before their visit. Oh! Don’t forget the Baking anytime a family member comes to visit they get at least one of their favorites of hers.

Her family is not small either, the "VA kids" include (I might forget 1 or 2) Diane and her husband with their college age daughter (I'll talk about her more later) and teenage son. Then next is Chuck and his girlfriend plus he has at least 1 son (this is where I forget). Next are Kelly and her hubby the crazy sports fans. And last but not least the baby Kim with her husband and their 2 teenage daughters. Then there are the kids "Down South" that I can't even remember all of them, but I do know that there are 3 Sons and families that lives "Down South," so let’s add them into the mix, equals one big family.

Then she has her extended family, the college age Granddaughter, has caused Claudia’s family to grow to I don't know how many but I do know that she spends every Saturday baking cookies or making dinner for a dorm full of Grammie lovers. (Oh BTW Grammie is the name that all of her Grandchildren blood or not call her.) Then there are my 2 rug rats that think Claudia is the best thing next to cookies and juice boxes. They are over there at least every other day, every day if they sneak around mommy. She has never asked for them not to come over unless she has been sick or if she is working on something that they can't help with, like painting the living room. Even if she is in the middle of working on her scrapbooking she will find some time to let my girls do a page of their own. She also counts the two older children (my Husband and myself) as part of her extended family. She is also known around the neighborhood as the one that will have the most beautiful yard in the spring and summer and the friend that you can just talk to.

But back to my story, sorry I ramble but I wanted you to know what this lady is to my family.

So last weekend her VA children decided to throw her a Surprise Birthday Party, she has never in all her years had a birthday party so this was a big deal. Also her kids are not the greatest at keeping secrets so this was especially hard on them. But they had 11 family members there and had invited 1/2 the neighborhood (I think we numbered 11 too) we all hid in her kitchen waiting for her to come back from picking up the college granddaughter. As she they walk through the door and we all said Surprise she fell to the floor (something she always does when surprised) she was so "Floored" that we were not sure if she would get up but finally she recovered and couldn't believe what was going on. She thanked every one of us with a hug (that is all we needed) then we had food like you would not believe, all made by the kids. She received cards from everyone and a few small gifts from some but I think the best present of the night was seeing all those that she considers family in her home at the same time, we did miss the "Down South Kids" but everyone else was there. It was the best birthday party I have ever been to, the love that was felt there is the kind that you can only feel from a family and Claudia has the best family she could want. And I'm proud to call myself part of it.

Been there, Done that, and hope I live to 70!

WHY????

Why on earth would a completely sane woman in her late 30's sleep on the living room floor?
Why would this same person also get up every 2 hours with out setting an alarm clock?
Why would she decided in the middle of the night, 11:30 pm to be exact, to clean the bathroom that 20 minutes earlier was clean?
Why would she decided to wash clothes in the middle of a perfectly good night for sleeping?
Why would she THINK that cleaning a carpet in the middle of the night was a good thing?
Why would she not want to get/give hugs from her beloved hubby?

Because this woman is a MOM and this woman is me! My oldest Elisabeth decided yesterday that she needed to come home early from school she was not feeling well. First off the Vice-Principal came running into the Lunchroom saying "you need to go to the office Elisabeth is in there and she doesn't look good!" well what am I to think I go running into the office and find Elisabeth in the nurse's office as pale as a sheet, and looking a little green around the gills. So I take her home nothing happened most of the afternoon while I was on the Bus. But then when we got home all heck broke lose, I have had maybe 3 hrs of sleep and that's adding it all together. I have cleaned my bathroom 2-3 times in the middle of the night, done at least 2 extra loads of laundry, cleaned the carpet in the bedroom with a sleeping child still in bed a sleep. AND I slept on the floor of the living room so that I could be next to my precious child in the night (she slept peacefully on the couch, all night, once all the plumbing issues had been flushed out). So now at the start of what should have been a SNOW DAY!!! I have to get my butt up and drive a school bus then come home and finish the jobs that I just could not get done with one eye open and the other one trying to sleep. I hope my Family knows how much I love them, because once the holidays are over with I'm going to have a big break down and go into hibernation for the next 6 months. OH DARN!!!! I can't I'm a mom!

Been There, Done That, and don't want the T-shirt (it smells like spew!)

BTW I don't want hugs from my Hubby because I don't want to spread the love, so I guess I will be sleeping on the couch, until I decided that I don't have the "plumbing sickness."

Fire in the Sky

I am one of the fortunate people that get up before the sun, which means I get to watch it rise. my two favorite times of day are sunrise and sunset. Now you know that everyone of them is different but not every one is beautiful or spectacular, there are average sunrises or sunsets. Well today I got the rare opportunity to see a beautiful sunrise. I was driving the bus (as always) when I noticed what appeared to be a fire. The more I looked at it the more I noticed that it was not a fire but the sun coming up. It set the sky on fire. I was reminded of the old saying that my Grandfather, a seaman himself, taught to me “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning." Well I should have known that we would have a sunless day, but it made me curious as to whether the saying was true or not. So I looked up online what it meant and here is what I found out.

Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning. A red sunrise reflects the dust particles of a system that has just passed from the west. This indicates that a storm system may be moving to the east. If the morning sky is a deep fiery red, it means a high water content in the atmosphere. So, rain is on its way.

Red sky at night, sailors delight.
When we see a red sky at night, this means that the setting sun is sending its light through a high concentration of dust particles. This usually indicates high pressure and stable air coming in from the west. Basically good weather will follow.

So according to this we should have had a bad day for weather, which we did no sun and rain. We should also have a good weather for tomorrow, but the weather man says otherwise, he is telling us that we are in for some more of the same and maybe snow too.

I love looking at sunrises and sunsets they remind me that Heavenly Father is a wonderful artist. The color pallet he uses is of the finest quality. He has the Deepest Reds and the most Beautiful Blues. My challenge is the next time you find yourself up early run out and watch the sunrise, it WILL brighten your day.

Been There, Done That, and have the Pictures

Can't find the switch.

I know that my friends have been bugging me to post some more here, BUT I think that my Brain has stopped working. I am having problems getting the stories that are floating around in my brain to float down to my finger tips and out on to the keyboard. if anyone has any idea of how to jump start my brain again I'm up for them. just post them in the comments and I will try them and see what I come up with. Thanks in advance.

Been there (I think), Done that (I'm sure I have) and looking for the on switch.

My Wonderful Husband

I have by far the most Wonderful Husband in the world. He is thoughtful, bringing me gifts of my favorite cookies or candy. But the most wonderful thing he does is the cleaning, vacuuming and cleaning the kitchen up for me just about every weekend or his on his day off. This is no small feat either for him, he doesn't just clean the areas that you see but he always picks up all the furniture to vacuum (sometimes I don't like this because he doesn't always put it back the why I had it) he also removes everything off the counters to clean and scrubs the kitchen well. I will not describe how he cleans the bathroom, just that he does a wonderful job there. He is always thinking of me and how he can help.

Well this morning I decided to surprise him, he didn't get to clean on his day off this week so I decided that I would clean for him today while he was out donating plasma, and running errands. when he called me about an hour and a half later I realized that I would not get finished in time, but I thought why not let him go somewhere he always wants to go, but we never have the time or gas. Well he asked and I said sure. I have now finished and am very proud of myself. the only things I didn't get done was 3 loads of laundry but that is a never ending battle with our small machine. The kids even helped with the vacuuming and making our bed. Now we just have to wait for him to get home and see what he thinks....

Well it took him a few minutes to see what we had done, but over all he was surprised. It wasn't what he was expecting. I'm not sure he knew how to act for the rest of the day, so he decided to that a nap.

Friends

This is for all my friends Past and New, But it is also for one special friend. I know she doesn't remember but she had a profound influence on a young woman's life, even when she was young herself. In fact she is the one that gave me this Poem (I collect poems) on a magnet that has hung on my refrigerator ever since, the background picture has become faded through the years, now going on over 20, but the words are a clear as ever. I truly believe that all of my friends where there with me before the world began.

What made us Friends in the long ago
when first we met?
Well, I think I know;
The best in me and the best in you
hailed each other Because they knew
that always and always
since life began our being friends
was part of God's plan.
George Webster Douglas

To All My Friends