“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”  -Unknown
 
 I spent the day at Women's Conference yesterday and it was the best day I have had in a long time.  It was sunny, I was with my sister and one of my friends, I was getting lots of exercise.  Then I ran into one of my dearest friends from Chicago. She grabbed me and when my eyes focused and I registered who she was I screeched with delight and immediately started to cry as we embraced in the tightest hug ever.

It was a remarkable experience to see this woman who was my inspiration as to who I wanted to be like when I "grew up". We served in a Stake Primary Presidency together, and Relief Society. Our children were best friends and she is the type of woman I hope to become-- Kind, thoughtful, spiritual, genuine, real. She is a virtuous woman of God and she made a difference in my life.

I suspect that this reunion I experienced at Women's Conference with my dear friend is what Heaven will be like as we are reunited with those with whom we have interacted with during our life.

I also ran into one of my friends from college-- I haven't seen her in over twelve years. I have thought about this woman often and I have even tried Googling her so that we could reconnect. We also were good friends, and she was a pivotal friend... I love how the Lord blesses me with very specific tender mercies just when I need them most.

*****
My friends are my Tender Mercies from The Lord.

I appreciate every single one of them.

I found my thoughts centered around all the friends that I have had over my life as I drove home from BYU last night.

I am so grateful for every single one of them-- Old and New.

Women need Women.

Once you have experienced what it is like to have a real girl friend, you are never willing to go without it again. Ever. That is how I feel about all of my friends, who are scattered over the globe. What a blessing they have been in my life, and the majority have been sent into my life right at the exact moment I have needed them.

A Tender Mercy, indeed.

*****
I love Women's Conference.

It is the best time of the year for me, and I look forward to it all year long. I know that I will finally get my bucket filled when I go and it doesn't matter what class I take. I come away motivated to try harder to be a better mother and wife. To be more present in the little moments of life.

My friend, Carol,  really wanted to go this class for the last hour on Pioneer Stories. I was rather uninterested, but I wanted to hang with her, so I went. Can I just say again how things are never as they seem?!

This class was not about Pioneers, but about Faith. It was exactly what I needed to hear and I was so glad that I went to it.

That is always what happens to me at Women's Conference-- the class that I least want to attend ends up being not only the class that is the most spiritual for me, but the one that answers the secret prayers of my heart.
*****
One of the classes today said that when you experience those Tender Mercies in your life it's the Lords way of letting you know that he is pleased with your life.

I really like that.

Everyone needs to know they are on the right track, and when you receive that Tender Mercy, you know The Lord approves.
*****
When you always hear the same word or message in every talk you hear, then you know that is the Lords way of trying to teach you and help you change.

Every year it's a different word or phrase that I hear.

This year, I have heard repeatedly the word Distracted.

I know that The Lord is trying to teach me about being distracted and how to avoid that trap. I am starting to realize what it is that I need to be studying so that I can become a little better.

Satan distracts us from our lives and relationships-- and sometimes we're even distracted with good things. He's tricky like that. Stupid Satan.

Stop the distractions to be more engaged... Present More.
*****
I'll be writing up my favorite quotes or nuggets of information over the next couple of days, so watch out for those!

1. Too Much (Live) - Dave Matthews Band
2. Freedom 90 - George Michael
3. Like We Never Loved At All - Faith Hill
4. Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks
5. The Remedy (I Won't Worry) - Jason Mraz
6. Better Man - Pearl Jam
7. Across The Universe - Rufus Wainwright
8. Silence Is Easy - Starsailor
9. Out Of Hand (Extended Version) - The Mighty Lemon Drops
10. Breakout - Swing Out Sister

Bonus: She Will Be Loved (Acoustic) - Maroon 5  *This is the best version of this song. Period. I mean bongo drums? Yes please!

I’ve watched the movie, The Blind Side, about a dozen times and I never get tired of it. It’s probably one of my favorite movies, and it’s one of the few that I don’t mind seeing over and over again.

However, this weekend as I found myself glued to it again, I was watching it with a new set of eyes. I found myself watching the deliberate actions of the main character, Leigh Anne Tuohy., and asking myself what would I do?

She was not this boys real Mother and had nothing invested in him other than she saw him as God see’s him.

You don’t have to be the physical Mother of someone to be able to see them as God sees them—you just have be willing to look with a different set of eyes—to see past your blind side.

Leigh Anne Tuohy does that.

We all are born into this world with exactly the same five things: Innocence, Beauty, Love, Potential and the Ability to harness the Power of God.  Then life happens and we become scarred and to some of us it happens more strongly, and harshly than others.

When she looked at this giant of a boy, she didn’t stop at the label that society had placed on him, but rather saw those five things that we all are born with. Ms. Tuohy simply saw past her blind side and Acted. I suspect that she lives her life the way I  hope to live mine—Deliberately and with purpose. She consciously sees in people the five things we all brought with us when we were born: Innocence, Beauty, Love, Potential and the Power of God. 

Years ago in some sort of employment training I was receiving, the president of the company asked each of us how we wanted to be remembered, and what we wanted said about us in our obituary. Everyone was giving half hearted answers expected from inexperienced  twenty-something’s. When he asked me I responded very honestly “That she made a difference.” He then asked me how I planned on doing that, and I had no idea, plan or response for him.

He then proceeded to morph my honest feelings into a long, loud diatribe on how being the best employee and offering the best customer service anyone had ever seen would make a difference—in the lives of every single person we came in contact with.

I guess that’s true, on some level.

Yet, as I watched this movie again this weekend, I found myself thinking about that employer of mine from decades past and my honest response to his half-interested question: “How do you want to be remembered and what do you want said about you in your obituary?”

I think my answer is still the same… but different, too.

I do want people to say that I made a difference in their lives and that I helped them to feel better about themselves when they were in my presence. I want them to say that she lived deliberately and with purpose and saw everyone the way God see’s them—as a worthwhile individual.

I’m not there yet. But, Leigh Anne Tuohy is. She felt something that day when she saw Michael Ore walking down the cold streets of Memphis. She didn’t just think about him, and hope he would be OK… She Acted Deliberately.

She made a difference in the life of one person.

I’m not saying I want to go out and find a homeless child to save—but if I did, would that be wrong? (I don’t by the way, Jefe, so no worries.) What I am saying is that I want to make a difference. I want to live deliberately and I want to be better at Acting on the feelings I get.

I want to see past MY blind side to who the person really is and what we all originally brought with us: Innocence, Beauty, Love, Potential and the Power of God.

I want to be like Leigh Anne Tuohy.

 “How do you want to be remembered and what do you want said about you in your obituary?”

This was by far the best book that I read in 2010. I CAN. NOT. WAIT. for this movie!

I have a pet peeve.

Actually, it's one of many, but this one is pretty huge.

I am a pet owner. I only let my dog run around in MY backyard. Unless Moxie lets her out the front door, and then it turns into a comedy routine as we try and persuade her to come home.

She does her business in the backyard and I fully expect to scoop poop from MY dog in MY backyard. That's something that you sign up for when you get a pet.

However, I do not ever expect to find dog poop in my front yard. Mostly because Hello. My dog poops in MY backyard.

So, call me crazy if I freak out a little when I walk across my front yard and step in dog poop.

Don't mind me if I go a little postal when I see a dog squatting in my front yard.

I'm a good neighbor when it comes to my pet. I don't let her roam the neighborhood. If she starts barking, I holler at her to shut up or I actually bring her inside. I keep her on a leash when I walk her. She is generally seen and not heard.

I NEVER let my dog go poop on someone elses lawn. LIKE EVER. That's just rude. So, pardon me if I freak out a little when I find someone elses dog poop on my lawn.

How totally rude is that? Keep your dogs home to poop in your yards people. It's nasty to walk to the mailbox on the first warm day of the year-- BAREFOOT-- and step in dog poop.

It makes a person little cranky.

Happy Easter!

I may have a slight crush on John C. Reilly. Just sayin'.

Imagine what it would be like if TV actually were good. It would be the end of everything we know." - Marvin Minsky

Thing 1 was finally able to get her teacher to accept her homework. However, as he took it from her, he said "This is a piece of crap." Nice. I am baffled at the way the High School teachers treat the students. I totally understand that the majority of the kids are probably butt-heads. But, in an A.P Class, you typically have the cream of the crop... the kids who WANT to learn. Why make their lives more difficult by treating them like scum? It boggles the mind.

She is just trying to make it through the AP Test which is coming up in two weeks and then we can visit what it is that we need to do. If anything at all.

I wonder if it wouldn't be easier to just let this year end and then praise Allah that she will never have to take another one of his classes ever again.

*****
I'm pretty excited because I was given some digital scrapbook software to try and I have to be honest and say that it totally ROCKS.

I am NOT a photoshop lover. It's hard to use, it confuses the snot out of me and I want to gouge my eyes out with forks.

However, this software has the exact opposite effect.

It is SO easy to use in fact, that after I installed it, I made a 33 page album for Moxie in less than 15 minutes.

Seriously Awesome!

It has this awesome Auto Fill capability where you choose the template you want to use, click FILL and then let the computer do the work. I had to go in and center the pictures a few times and then type in my journal entries on the page and then it was done. It just keeps repeating all the pages until all the photos from the album you chose have been used. You can also drag and drop the order of the album once the pages are made, too.

It was amaze-balls quick and I freaking LOVE IT!

I think I will finally be able to get caught up on the thousands of photos that I have. I LOVE scrapbooking, but I am so behind now that I just don't even know where to begin. I love that I can pick an already made album and then load the pictures in, add some journaling and be done.

Once I am done, I can get all jiggy with it and create my own templates and get all frou-frouy but until then I am going with clean, and simple so that the memories are recorded before my Alzheimer's takes over.

I have a 50% off coupon for the software, if you want it-- SAVEMOM50. Just enter it at checkout.

*****
 Moxie found a black sharpie and proceeded to color her entire arm black.

All of it. Black. Every last inch of her hand and arm is black.

Do you know how hard it is to get Black Sharpie off a little persons arm?

Pretty dang hard.

My new mantra with her is "You're killing me, Smalls. You're killing me."

*****
Thing 3 has been playing soccer for the past couple of years and I think she's finally starting to figure out how to do it. She actually pulled some moves on Saturday that made all the parents on the sidelines stand up and take notice.

She did the best fake that I have ever seen from an eight year old kid. It brought a little tear to my eye! This kid is GOOD and I see potential in her like crazy. She's willing to listen to me when we talk soccer.

Finally I feel like I have something to bond with my child over and it's actually really fun for me to stand behind her when she plays goalie and coach her. This has been a very good thing for our relationship!

*****
Guess what I am doing on July 14th? I'm watching Harry Potter #7 BEFORE it's released to the general public!

Jealous?

You should be.

*****
Have an awesome weekend, peeps.

I'm looking for some good books to read... any suggestions?


1. Star Witness - Neko Case
2. Way Out - Farewell Milwaukee
3. California Song - Brooke White
4. Sempre Avanti - The Quarter After
5. Cold in California - Ingram Hill
6. Union Suit - Patrick Bloom
7. When You Love Someone - Kidd Rock
8. Billy Holiday - Alex Woodard
9. Straight to You - John Milstead
10. Submarines - David Lowry

Bonus: Go Walking Down There - Chris Isaak

This conversation happened between Moxie and my sister.

Sister: Hey Moxie. Whatcha doin'?

Moxie: Looking out da window.

Sis: Oh. What do you see?

Moxie: Popcorn.

Sis: {laughing} Really? What's it doing?

Moxie: Popping.

Sis: {more laughing} Where's it popping?

Moxie:  On da tree.

"No one means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous."- Henry Adams

I feel contemplative today, which is reflected in the music I was listening to as I wrote this. I have always been of the opinion that teachers are right and students are well... Students. I am having a hard time reconciling the idea in my head that teachers treat my child one way when I am not present and do a 180 when I show up.

I send my kids off to be educated for 6.5 hours a day. I trust the educators that they are treating my child the way they would want their child treated... Educated. It troubles me to actually see with my own eyes the hypocrisy.

My child had been telling me that her teachers said/did things and I chose not to believe them because no adult in an educators position would tell my child they were the dumbest kid they have ever taught and that they were going to fail their class. Over and Over and over again. No Educator, I thought, would purposefully not accept homework, until I stood (hidden) and watched the exchange myself.

No child should have to deal with that kind of harassment from an adult that is supposed to be educating them.

We teach our children to respect adults and speak to them a certain way (at least I do) and when the child is disrespected and treated unfairly, it's unrealistic for me to tell her "You go tell him to accept this work and to quit talking to you like that."

She can't do that. It's counter-intuitive.

I'm conflicted because if I take these discrepancies to the administration the likely hood that these teachers will verbally assault and embarrass my child in front of her peers is very high. They will take their aggression and anger out on my child-- the kids tell me about the teachers humiliating students just to be mean ALL THE TIME. 

I just don't know what to do.

I don't want to be the helicopter parent because that enables my children and they need to learn how to solve problems themselves. However, they also need to know that I will be their advocate and help them. And, I don't want to be the bitchy Mom either, but I will if that is what it takes to stop the madness.


Seriously? WHAT DO I DO??

*****
Someone accused me the other day of doing nothing but surfing the internet and ignoring my family and house.

I find that accusation offensive.

I would just like to point out that my laundry is all folded and put away.

My house is clean (the kids rooms look like a bomb went off it them, but I don't clean my kids rooms).

My dinner is made first thing in the morning. 

My dishes are done and the floors are swept and mopped.

I have dusted-- including the baseboards.

My bathrooms are  clean-- so clean in fact that if you wanted you could eat off the floors.

The only thing I need to do is wash my windows -- in and out.

I clean my house every day and THEN I get on the computer.

And then I clean it again, or rather do the 15 minutes pick up right before Jefe comes home from work. 

And further, I don't spend the entire day on the computer either. I give myself a set time frame and I get done as much as I can in that time frame and I schedule out things to post as much as possible.

Also? I rarely watch TV. You would be AMAZED at how much free time you can find when you're not glued to the TV mentally masturbating your mind.

I could be catty, but I will refrain.

Just this once.

*****
Mother Nature is killing me softly with her Bi-Polar behavior.

Yesterday it was Sunny. Rainy. SNOWY. Then sunny again.

Seriously. Make up your mind already.

I don't think I can take much more of this.

*****
I feel pretty blessed to have the friends that I do. They keep me grounded and when I start freaking out, they bring me back to reality.

They know who they are, and I appreciate them more than they know.

*****
Here's hoping the weather girl wasn't wrong and we're actually going to see the sun AND 60 degree weather.

I sort of need ol' Mr Sun to start shinning around here. My mood needs improving. Heck, even the DOG needs the sun. I think she has S.A.D. too.  Which would explain her lazy demeanor all winter and her puppy like behavior when the sun is shinning.

I need the sun like I need air.



1. Deep Red Bells - Neko Case
2. Hold On - Cassandra & The Gravel Road Band
3. Great Big Sky - Doug Cowen & The Basics
4. Train - David Ford
5. You're My Witness - Clay Walker
6. Everything I'm Not - Jackopierce
7. Old Ways - The Watson Twins
8. Stacked Brown Boxes - The Dimes
9. I've Been Let Down - Mazzy Star
10. James - Camera Obscura

Bonus: Heartbeats - Jose Gonzalez

“ I like long walks. Especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.” – Fred Allen

(all photo’s shown in this post taken and edited with my iPhone)

Let me tell you what! We had quite the hoops that we had to jump through to finally get Thing3 baptized. Not because any one of us wasn’t worthy. No. Just because certain people who will remain nameless (crazy family) were completely uncooperative.

Not wanting to share baptismal water? (check)

Not allowing anyone not in their family there to witness? (check)

Crazy.

But all that aside, the child was dunked on a fine, warm April Fools Day and it was a lovely affair. Aside from the crazies, that is.

Her older siblings—Thing 1 & Thing 2—gave both of the talks and they knocked it out of the park. They were personable and talked to her, teaching her from the scriptures. I was impressed because they each prepared their own talks.

We re-scheduled the silly bounce house for the weekend and the kids had a blast bouncing themselves into oblivion all weekend long.

*****

Jefe and I took off right after the baptism for Sun Valley. We had this little vacation planned for over a month—including already paying for it—and it just wasn’t feasible to cancel. The kids, or more specifically Thing 3, didn’t seem to mind that we ditched them with all of their cousins and Grandparents for the weekend.

It took us a good 3 hours to unwind enough to start joking around again like we weren’t stressed with life.

I think the speeding ticket may have been the icebreaker for us. I have a tendency to drive like a bat out of haites when I go places and this past weekend was no exception. I was crusing along at about 97mph when I spotted the copper. I immediately slowed down, BEFORE he scanned me I might add (because my fuzz buster never went off), but he saw me cruising along and turned on his lights before he came out of his hiding place. I immediately pulled over and Jefe reminded me to not admit to anything.

The officer approached the car and asked if I knew why I was being pulled over.

Speeding, sir.

I clocked you at 86, how fast where you going when you saw me.

Uhhhh… 86. (probably slower, but I froze people)

Well, I’m giving you a ticket for 86. You’re going to fast. And you should slow down because we’re doing a blitz in Idaho today. You’ll get another ticket if you don’t.

Jefe looked at me, and burst out laughing. 

Yes. I totally admitted to speeding.

I am a self narker. Hear me roar.

Jefe bought a Bingo Ticket while we were in Idaho and won $60 bucks. Which is good, because then I only had to come up with $25 bucks to cover the speeding ticket.

Buzz. Kill.

*****

This was the first time I have ever been to Sun Valley and it was heavenly. We vegged like lazy fools and ate ourselves into oblivion. This time of year is the best time of year to fish the Salmon River—because the Steele Head are spawning. Jefe spent his time fishing, and I spent mine reading in the car on the banks of the river.

To most that would sound utterly boring, but for me it was divine. Jefe was happily fishing, and I actually enjoy watching him fish and I was reading without interruptions.

We had excellent food and slept in without guilt.

It was a much needed, relaxing weekend.  Even if it DID snow. But, the last day we were there was super sunny, quite cold but delightful.

I think one of the best parts of the entire weekend was the commercial-free radio station that we found that played strictly 80’s tunes of every kind! We were singing at the top of our lungs like a bunch of crazy fools and it was a total blast!

 

*****

It has rained almost every single day this week, with last night bringing over an inch of snow.

It’s spring break people.

Which means that my kids have been forced to stay inside all week.

Why yes. I do need to be committed to the mental house, thanks for asking.

*****

The murder room is finally NOT a murder room.

I got my new carpet in there yesterday and I can not believe how amazing it makes my house feel!! Out of this world awesome!

I cannot wait until I can get the hardwood floors installed and the carpet up the main entry staircase. It’s going to completely change the entire house and maybe help me not hate it so much.

When I was cleaning up the gross stuff, after ripping up the carpet, I noticed something quite disturbing.

Blood Stains on the concrete.

For real.

Blood Stains on the concrete UNDER the Murder Carpet.

Holy Crap!

Does that mean that I’m a psychic and it really WAS a murder room?  That could explain a ton of things—Like all the slamming doors.

Or it’s just teenagers.

But either way, the blood stains were disturbing to find.

But my carpet? Yeah. I love it and I’m going to marry it.

Thanks Universe.

(And Jefe & all your hard work!)

*****

I’m pretty excited for the next little while because I have been working on some pretty funny posts and I think you’re going to like them. They may included hairbrained ideas, horses and the great outdoors. Oh, and there is one about the Witness Protection Program and a Gold Coin Chocolate that wasn’t chocolate.

Seriously. I had myself in stiches as I wrote them, remembering the ridiculousness that is my life. It could be a Sit Com.

*****

Have a great weekend. I’m hunkering down and finishing up the new series that I started last weekend—The Mortal Instruments. (I hear there is going to be a movie! Sweet!)

Right now there are four books and I’m truckin’ through them quicker than a baby eats candy.

I’m really enjoying them! They are a good read that requires very little thinking! Just the kind of book I like!

 

Catch ya on the flip side!

1. I Gave You All   - Mumford & Sons
2. Dueling Guitars – Heitor Pereira & Doug Smith
3. The Scientist (live) – Coldplay
4. The Limerick Rake – The Pogues
5. World At Large – Modest Mouse
6. Fire & Rain – Mat Kearney
7. Magpie To The Morning – Neko Case
8. Rendezvous – Bruce Springsteen
9. Black or White – Michael Jackson
10. Miss Halfway – Anya Marina

Bonus: Some Say – Rascal Flatts

I wanted to buy a candle holder, but the store didn't have one. So I got a cake. – Mitch Hedberg

It’s sort of a big bummer that Mitch Hedberg died. I mean he’s like a brilliant, stoned hippy looking comedian that states the obvious. I used to watch his shows and laugh so hard I would snort. 

That’s sayin’ something.

*****

I’m hoping that by the time you are reading this we are dunkin’ Thing 3. It’s been quite the ridiculous ride to get this child baptized. I mean, HOLY COW can you say HOOPS?

We had to cancel because the entire family had the barfing plague and we didn’t want to run the risk of her barfing in the font. Or doing something worse, if you know what I mean.

I jumped through hoop after hoop to try and arrange the baptism—including getting permission to get her baptized in my parents stake.

The short of the long, which I do promise to write—after I’m not so mad about it—involves another family, a flat out refusal to share baptismal water with us, or anyone for that matter, no one being allowed to be in the building at the same time as the first family, a weird power struggle where we were the pawns and a thousand phone calls.

I just want my kid baptized. Here’s hoping she’s happily sliding on her ginormous inflatable while Jefe and I are cruising off for Sun Valley.

Yeah. We totally got our kid baptized and then went on vacation. What are you supposed to do when you’ve already paid for the vacation and you’re the pawn?

You just go with the flow. And bribe your kid. With giant inflatables.

But, I’m in Sun Valley. Having a rip roaring relaxing time. And I don’t feel one bit guilty. At all. Only slightly.

*****

I slept with the windows open last night and it was simply divine. I even put my iPhone in the iHome and played a thunderstorm all night long.

I slept like a baby and it was mighty fine.

*****

My laptop’s wireless card died.

I am major bummed because now that means I have to use the money I was saving to buy my iPad to buy a new laptop. I mean I can’t be expected to exist with a non-functioning laptop now can I?

It totally blows. My laptop is about 2 years old, so I guess it’s time for a new one, but still. It sure didn’t last very long.

I’m now $400 further away from my iPad. Won’t someone buy one for me, please? Either gadget would be a most welcome gift.

#justsayin’.

*****

My new carpet will be installed by this time next week. I’ll be writing my random 10 while I rub my toes in my brand spankin’ new carpet.

It’s one thing on my list that I made at the beginning of the year that I want to accomplish. Only four more things that I need to cross off: Disney World, iPad, Clients for Jefe and my designated amount of earnings a month. Hot Dang, I am well on my way.

*****

Have a groovy weekend. I’m sitting in the cabin in Sun Valley, reading a novel and feeling every ounce of stress leave my bones. It is a welcome respite from the crazy month I have had.

Life is good.

Catch ya on the flip side!

1. Times Like These – Kid Rock
2. I Wish I Was the Moon – Neko Case
3. Anything Is Possible – Darius Rucker
4. The Milkshake Song – Angry Salad
5. Move Along – Chris Isaak
6. What I Wouldn’t Do – A Fine Frenzy
7. Harpeth River – The Watson Twins
8. Stay With Me – Amos Lee
9. Colide (Live) – Howie Day
10. California Gurls – Katy Perry
Bonus: Sign No More – Mumford & Sons

A friend is someone who is there for you when he'd rather be somewhere else. – Unknown

My girlfriend called me yesterday and told me she would be at my house today to help me clean for the big shin-dig tomorrow. She knew that Moxie had been puking all week, thus making me puke right along with her so nothing had gotten done. Except the food ordered and the carpet cleaner rented.

It’s been one giant puke fest over here and the only thing that is keeping me from blowing real chunks are these oils. I rub digest Zen on my belly, and I can immediately feel it easing the nastiness in my gut.

I know my friend has a million other places she would rather be, but she was willing to drop everything and come to my house and scrub bathrooms, and clean carpets with me so that I wouldn’t be embarrassed when 25 people descended on my house.

Except now not only is Moxie puking, but Thing 1 and Thing 3—the girl getting baptized tomorrow.

Or was getting baptized tomorrow.

In between pukes she begged to push the date back.

Consider it done, baby.

Especially since Mommy is now joining the ranks of the infested.

This is a killer bug and its hanging on for dear life.

No baptism for us.

This month, anyway.

*****

I haven’t slept in over 2 days. I’m exhausted, but I’m afraid to sleep because Moxie has a strange aversion to puking in the toilet or bucket or bowl or garbage can. I have to hold her while she pukes… on me.

I sort of hate that.

In light of the puke fest happening over here, the rest of my randomness will be bullet points. Because  I just don’t feel well. At. All.

• It’s freaking snowing again at my house. I am sick of the snow. If it snows one more flake I just may go postal on Mother Nature.
• I’m sort of glad we postponed the baptism. Only because it’s freaking snowing and we had rented a giant bounce house for Thing 3 and all the cousins to play in after the baptism. I had gotten a huge sandwich and vegetable and brownie platter for everyone to consume and watch the kids go crazy in the bounce house. It’s snowing. A giant bounce house in the snow, with the stomach flu would be miserable.
• I am sort of bummed about the puke fest and the snow because we had one helluva great party planned for tomorrow. Everyone I love—mine and Jefe’s family—all in the same house with good food and entertainment for the kids. What more could a person ask for?
• Did you know you could ship frozen food? Me either, but apparently you can. I got a package yesterday of frozen meals. The box was freezing! They packed it with dry ice, and it looked like a Dracula movie when I opened the box.
• I have a big announcement coming out in my newsletter this weekend—if I can get feeling better long enough to write it. Seriously. So freaking awesome. You are going to want to make sure you subscribed to the newsletter so you can see the big unveiling of what I have been working on. I am so excited about it and I think you will be, too.
• Did I mention that it’s snowing? I hate Mother Nature.
• Not only am I sick, but I have only 12 hours to utilize the carpet cleaner that I rented yesterday to clean the rest of the carpets in my house. While being sick. Good times.
• My new carpet for the murder room is being installed the week of spring break. Awesome.
• I want an iPad and iPhone4 so bad I can taste it. I am willing to work for one. Instead of paying me with cash, I actually told a client recently that they could just pay me with an iPad or iPhone. They just laughed and handed me a check. I want the items instead of cash—I’ll spend the cash responsibly on student loans or some other adult thing. I want these frivolous items just because.

Have a great weekend people. I am sure it will be better than what's going on over here.

Catch ya on the flip side.

1. Hurricane Drunk – Florence & The Machine Memories –
2. Weezer Baby I Want You – Amos Lee
3. Replay (Flo Rida Version) – Iyaz
4. Smells Like Teen Spirit – Tori Amos
5. Coming Home To Me (featuring Julie Miller) – Patty Griffin
6. Hug My Soul – Saint Etienne
7. 30 Minute Boyfriend – Julian Casablancas
8. Dry Country Girl – Rascal Flatts
9. Let It Go – Zac Brown Band
10. What’s Up – 4 Non Blondes

Bonus: Nothing Left to Lose – Mat Kearney 

Sympathy.

It’s what God wants us all to do—be all sorts of sympathetic to those around us. I think I’ve got that puppy mastered to a tee—If I were going to toot my own horn. Which I am, since this is my blog.

I see someone crying and I start crying right along with them. I don’t have to know WHY they are crying—I just join in on the cry fest. I don’t even have to KNOW them to cry with them. If it even looks like you might start to cry, then the water works turn on for me. Totally out of my control.

For example: I was in an Airport, trying to maneuver my way through the crowds when I saw a woman sitting on the floor, talking on the phone with tears streaming down her face. I slowed down, watched her sobbing, and I started to cry. Right there in the Airport, big ole tears for a complete stranger.

I’m a sympathy laugher, too. I can hear someone laughing and I immediately join in with the laughter—even if I don’t get it. Or know them.

I start smiling and the more they laugh the bigger my smile gets until my sympathy laugh bursts from the depths of my soul. 

Ha ha ha what are we laughing at? ha ha ha I have no idea, ha ha ha but they’re laughing ha ha ha so I will, too. Ha ha ha ha.

I’m also a sympathy puker.

I’m so sympathetic to your puking that if you just make the sound of someone puking… I’ll start to puke. My gag reflex is super strong. And sympathetic.

Remember that scene from The Goonies where Chunk confesses about how he made fake puke and then went to the balcony of the movie theater and made the puking sound? Yeah. My kids love that scene and play it over and over again. Because of the reaction they get from me. Just hearing that makes me start to gag. And laugh. But gag none-the-less.

Or is it None the less? Or None The Less? Or nonetheless…

Either way,  I’m a sympathetic puker big time and It’s a rather inconvenient trait to have when you have children.

Moxie was sick yesterday and was puking. Big time. Like every 30 minutes she was puking and she’s still just little, so she doesn’t get what’s happening to her. She would try and hold it in with her cute little hands and then beg me to take her to The Dentist.

 “Please Mama. Take me to da Dentist. There is some fing  wong wit  my mouth, mama!”

Every time she would puked, I would puke. 

She puked. I puked. She puked. I puked. It was like a merry-go-round ride. Which, btw, makes me puke. I hate even watching those things. I’m such a puker.

Jefe says he knows when we’ve lived in a place to long when we start marking the “puke zones”.

“Remember that time mom got sick and puked right there? Yeah. That was embarrassing.”

Being sympathetic is not for the faint of heart. It takes great courage to be sympathetic… Especially the Sympathetic Puker.  That is actually one trait I would trade in for something else. Anything, really.

I’d even be willing to be a Sympathy Jerk, if I could just get rid of being the Sympathy Puker.

A friend is someone who will help you move. A real friend is someone who will help you move a body. - Unknown

 

I put that as my status update a while back on Facebook, and it was hysterical to see what my friends came up with. I found myself laughing and nodding because the ones I predicted to comment, were the ones who commented.

I love it when I can count on my friends to be funny.

*****

I have a confession:

I completely, 100%, over the moon DIG Disco music.

I know.

Most people find it totally Gaggy.

Not me, baby cakes.

Something happens to me when it comes on the radio—my bum cannot remain seated and I HAVE to dance. Whether it be in my office, the bathroom, kitchen or—much to the horror of my children—the car. Or even worse: the grocery store.

Disco comes on and I. Must. Dance.

Like long and hard.

Swaying my head and feeling the groove makes me feel all sorts of sparkly happiness inside.

*****

The Universe has finally complied and I am getting new carpet.

That’s right! I’m getting carpet. New as in BRAND NEW carpet people!

The room that looks like someone has been murdered in seven time over is finally heading out to the Trash Man! Can you tell I’m excited? Because I am!

Hallelujah!

Praise Allah!

Pass the egg nog!

*****

Moxie had a birthday—Shout Hooray!

She turned Three this past week, and I find myself feeling rather verklempt.  She is growing up so quickly and I have been enjoying every single second of this child’s life. Which makes me feel rather remorseful—I wish I would have been more relaxed and enjoyed my other three children this much.

I was much too uptight, and cared about things that truly didn’t matter. In my defense, I did start to realize that by the time #3 came around. She went through a phase where all she wanted to wear were her brothers Star Wars shirts. And I let her, must to the consternation of my Mom and neighbors.

In the long run, matching socks, in style hair/clothes and clean play-rooms really don’t matter. Memories and secure children do.

I wish I would have understood that better when I was a young Mom. Now, being in my forties with such a vast age difference, I can see the benefits of being laid back. You can be strict in the same sentence… just choose your battles people. Choose your battles.

*****

The fact that the weather is finally cooperating and it is actually SUNNY and starting to get warm has greatly improved my mood.

I am a sun worshiper and I am glad that my God has finally decided to show her face.

*****

I have the most exciting news that I am going to be “unveiling” next week and I can’t wait to finally tell you all about it!

It will explain so many things—the who’s and why’s of everything and you don’t want to miss out on it!

You should subscribe to my newsletter so that you won’t miss out on my major announcement.

Name

Email

*****

I just got my Women’s Conference schedule and I can’t wait! I have found classes each day that I am dying to attend—so much so that I am willing to skip to go stand in line to make sure I get to attend them. One is being taught by our very own Courtney Kendrick and her sister Stephanie.

I have asked several people to go with me. Again. And, they have all told me NO.

I’m starting to get a complex regarding me, Women and Women’s Conference. I hope it’s them and not me.

That being said, I love Women’s Conference, and I am prepared to attend alone. I spend the majority of the time alone anyway, so “sleeping” alone doesn’t scare me.

In fact, after attending RootsTech where I was 100% alone for the entire week, I sort of dig it. It allows for me to do what I want to do, when I want to do it. And, I am able to get a lot of thinking and self examination done without looking to alarmingly weird to those that are with me.

So, as of now, I am going to Women’s Conference alone. I’m thinking the dorms would be a good option for me this year. Then I’d never have to get back in the car until the event was over. I don’t mind the Cafeteria food and I am not afraid of being alone. I’m a pretty chatty person—and  I’ll chat anyone up and try and make them laugh.

Wave at me if you see me. 

*****

I am getting excited because I have three trips on the horizon for me and I can’t wait. It’s nice to have things to look forward to. It helps break up the monotony of life… Of laundry. Which, btw, has exploded in on me again. I am planning on having a hot Friday Night watching Movies and folding. AFTER the nephews birthday jam at Chucky Cheese.

I sort of hate Chucky Cheese.

But, I will go for this nephew because he thinks I am the bees knees. Who wouldn’t want to attend a party where you’re the bees knees? 

*****

Have a groovy weekend peeps!

Catch ya on the flip side!

1. Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe – Barry Love
2. At Last – Neko Case
3. Mexico – Delaney Gibson
4. Best of My Love – The Emotions
5. I Want You to Want Me – Chris Isaak
6. Over the Rainbow/ What a Wonderful Life – Israel ‘IZ’ Kamakawiwo’ole
7. Sky Open Up – The Watson Twins
8. Too Much Nothing – Haley Bonar
9. Jails and Bombs – Amos Lee
10. In Your Eyes (Acoustic) Sara  Bareilles

Bonus: You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine – Lou Rawls

I have been a little burnt out from blogging so I took a long, much needed break.

I wrote up all those Bucket Fillers back in November, scheduled them to post through the end of January and then I literally walked away.

Before Christmas, I realized I needed to re-evaluate a bunch of things. I had to remember what it was that made me fall in love with blogging in the first place.  It just wasn’t FUN anymore and that was puzzling to me.

When I started this whole journey, it was for me to record things for  my children and to be a creative outlet. It was a way to showcase my children and their beauty. A way for Jefe to see what we were doing during the day while he was off slaving at the office.

Blogging became a way for me to change the way I viewed my life.  What I mean is that instead of freaking out when Thing 3 flooded the shower because she wanted to swim, I took a picture to immediately document it. Rather than blowing my top when she threw two dozen eggs all over the floor to see if they would bounce, I took a picture and wrote the story down.

I started living more authentically. I was recording my life—my stories—and I wanted to make sure they would be ones that my children would be proud to read when they were grown.

I taught myself how to look at my life with new eyes—and it felt good.

I am a “what you see is what you get” type of a woman. I presented an authentic view of me… Jefe seems to think that I have made us out to be more well adjusted and happier than we really are. Maybe to some I did. But for me,  I choose to see or remember things with my new found perspective. I try to live authentically, and to find the good, the positive, and the happy  in all the moments of life now. I try to actually LIVE my life rather than waiting around for the next big thing to happen so then I can be happy. Blogging helped me to realize I was in charge of not only my perspective on life, but my happiness as well.

Only now?

It felt more like a chore and because of that, I feel like I stopped living my version of authenticity.  It became something I needed to cross off. I felt no creativity, no words or ideas were churning in my brain. And as such, I think I became somebody less than.

In February I had the opportunity to attend two conferences—at no cost to me. Basically it was a 2 week vacation without my family, and time to think and ponder about everything. And, I did.

At the Storytelling Conference, I feel like I found my voice again. I had stories coming to my memory constantly.  That’s what happens, at least for me, when I listen to other people tell their stories. I remember.

I felt myself remembering what it was that made me fall in love with blogging in the first place.  It was giving the stories in my head, in my life, a VOICE.

 That’s why I loved blogging—The Stories. Mine and yours.

It felt good to have the ideas roaming around inside my noggin again. It felt good to need to turn on that recorder to dictate the ideas that were coming to me faster than I could spew them. It felt good to pull out my pretty notebook where I keep all my “lists” of things I want to write about.

I was remembering, and it felt good.

Then I went to Roots Tech, a conference that The Church put on and is a mash up of Family History and Technology. I was uncertain how this conference would benefit me, or my readers, but I was excited to be invited to attend by Family Search, and I am so very glad I went.

It was The Lords way of intervening into my madness. He has a way of helping us to remember things, and understand things right when we need them most. I felt like I spent an entire week on a spiritual high—learning things about myself and The Gospel that I hadn’t been prepared to experience. It was a phenomenal experience and some parts feel rather sacred.

I finally felt justified, as I attended this last conference, in all of my efforts with blogging. People in my ward, and sometimes in my own family, have given me a really hard time with the fact that I like to blog. “It’s such a waste of time!” is often what I have heard said about blogging. However, what I came away with from RootsTech was that I was participating in Family History and it was important.

For the first time I felt not only relief but encouragement.  What I was doing was not silly, trivial or useless. It had meaning, it had purpose and My Church understood what it was that I was trying to do. That validated me and that was what I needed.

I feel like I have fallen in love with blogging all over again.  I feel excited to write again and I feel the ideas and stories percolating inside my noggin’.

My ideas, opinions and stories matter and they matter to the people that matter most—My Family.

Some day they will read these words of their Mother and find comfort in them. They can read them and feel inspired to try a little harder to do a little better. That is why I started blogging and that is why I continue.

For Them.