In a Mess

Am I the only who has ever walked into a friend's perfectly clean house and felt sick? Looking around and knowing that waiting for me back home is a pile of laundry, sink full of dishes, and upstairs bathroom that is more like a spook alley display.

For anyone else who has ever had that happen, you should come see me today. You would feel happy. Very, very happy. Over the weekend my house has become a dump, and I kind of don't care enough to do anything about it.

Today is a day of rest. I will worry about it tomorrow.

Keeping Busy

I am not sure what I was thinking, but this summer I had a panic, worried I will never get out of debt unless I get working.... but the thing is, I am working.

I'm not sure why I feel, some times, I have to leave the house 'dressed up' to feel like I am working. The last few weeks have kept me hopping, and the free time I was planning on when school started has been filled with appointments. My Dave Ramsey phone call also helped me appreciate what I have.

I realized how lucky this really is- I kind of have the best of both worlds (seriously, I am so blessed! :-) and had to take a minute to thank people who may be reading this blog... many of you are clients, or have sent clients my way, and I have the best clientele imaginable. I realized by switching gears to do something I enjoy, doing it with a better attitude, and being grateful for the ability to do it, I have more business.

It is very humbling to know I have friends and acquaintances who trust me..... in a perfect world we wouldn't need help in working out stress, tension, and troubles... but this world isn't perfect. So I guess that means I have a job.

I talked to Dave Ramsey

Ummmm hello, he is kind of hot in this picture, right? (Thanks Cassie, for agreeing with me!) My husband disagrees, and said attending one Total Money Makeover Live event is enough..... I simply suggested we travel and see him again, that's all. The show was AWESOME..... okay, back to topic. I will not become a Dave Ramsey groupie.

I responded to an e-mail about working moms that stay home, and got a call from his office. Lara hooked me up to talk to Dave, which I did today, while pictures of the kids and our family scrolled on air. What a cool thing- to have listened to him for over a year and a half, and now I got to talk to him and be part of his message. It was a pretty fulfilling moment. He was complimentary and excited, and thinks my massages are cheap (hey- 40 bucks is kind of a lot around here!) and I was thrilled to be on the show.

We are still working on our debt snowball, working on the last debt... our second mortgage. I can't wait until the day comes that I am screaming in his ear on that phone... "We're Debt Free !!!!" . Today was just a taste of that goal.

Thanks Fox Business and Lampo for calling me and letting me in on the show. It airs Labor Day, on the Fox Business Network (which Spanish Fork cable doesn't carry) if you get it.....let me know! Until then I am just doing the happy dance.

I got to talk to Dave.

While you were sleeping....

Stupid computers. Stupid "Antivirus 2009". Stupid Dell- not sending out an XP disk with the computer. Stupid Technology.

My computer is down.... I like to say 'sleeping' because I am trying to use The Secret to fix it (hasn't happened yet) and keep positive that someone will show up able to fix it.

I have missed my online therapy. I miss my friends and family. I miss funny comments.

HOWEVER my laundry is caught up and my floor is vacuumed. Hmmmm. Should I draw a conclusion here?

Things that kind of freak me out

~School shopping in general. Kind of a rite of passage in and of itself, but also a lot of trying on, negotiating the 'weird' items, whining, and even picking up of children who lay on the floor and try to 'fall asleep real quick' while I find their size. Boys.

~ My oldest son is buying school clothes in real stores. (You know, Aeropostle, American Eagle, etc.) It is weird to be in there with the teens, everyone texting and giggling and smearing on lipgloss. I want to just yell "Run, Bambi, run! You are too young for this world!" I miss Children's Place.

~ My 20th year reuinion. Can you say 'denial'? Complete, total, utterly unabashed denial. Please tell me I don't look as old as everyone else (but I know I do). Seems like just last year I was applying blue eyeliner and using Aqua Net to keep my poufy bangs in place, while discussing crushes with my BF. 20 years? Scary.

~How tired I am. I sleep in, I want to nap, I want to be massaged and pampered. I want a maid. I don't want to do those dishes...... I am tired.

I keep telling myself school will start and I will find my good productive groove again. At this point I am actually praying it will happen...... I kind of need a miracle.

Yet another thing my children will never appreciate me for

Cute kittens, lots of pee and poop.

Unlike the house I grew up in, we don't ignore urine, and someone must clean it up. I have spent many a night crawling on the floor, sniffing around (ohh! now that's a fun job) and scrubbing and drying and spraying with carpet foam. ( I have actually found that Pine-Sol removes pet odor quicker and better than almost anything else we have tried).

Can I get a holler, please?
Anyone?
Does this not make up for the bad mom moments and brownies snuck in the car? And to think, my kids give me a blank stare when I ask them to put the cats out.... "why do I have to do it?" they almost always say.

Hey kid- you want to switth jobs, here?

More charms to show off, mostly because the memory of making them does my heart good. My Italy charm and small Believe necklace are to the side, while Lynnae's Raggedy Ann charm sits front and center (but the back was so stinking cute, too, with a little row of naked "Ann's" side by side, their little hearts exposed). I am missing being crafty, but honeslty my house is too chaotic (read: messy) to start any new projects. Soon. I promise, soon.

Photo by Shannon- for more of her stunning photography (seriously, this is her hobby!?!) check her 100 pictures in 100 days on my Lovely Link box.

Another day in Paradise

Today I actually got a brownie I had saved in the fridge and went out to my van to eat it. Yes, a little bit warm out there, but it was very quiet. 5 minutes of peace.

Baptism Saturday

There are many things I love about religion. Rituals and ordinances are some of those things. I find great comfort in the timeline of completeing ordinances in our lifetime, and I also find the symbolism of all we do especially inspiring. Baptism is no exception of symbolism and importance in it's rite of passage.

Being Primary President allows me to witness these amazing little children tip toe into a font reaching out to a hand of someone they love. It always touches me, but never so much as when it is my own child. Parker chose to be baptized by his cousin Thomas (Melanie's oldest son,) and had Mike confirm him. This turned out to be so overwhelming and spiritual. The sharing of the day with my sister and her family- and the chance my kids had to see someone they look up to so much perform the baptism was profound.

One of my favorite things about this day is the bond it forms between me and my kids. It has always been a great day, and my kids tend to stay close to me, hugging me and sitting near me, obviously feeling an increase of love in their happiness. Parker was very affectionate and many times during the day wrapped his arms around me, saying "I love you, Mommy". It makes me realize how sensitive our kids really are to these tender feelings of light and truth.

I shared some advice with Parker. I reminded him to pay attention to the feeling he gets when he is baptized and confirmed. Those deep feelings of happiness and self-worth are seeds of our eternal nature. Those seeds are the stirrings of truth, and when you feel those in your life you never need someone else to tell you what to do- for you will be inspired from within to live the life you are meant to live. I am grateful for a belief that allows me to live, and teach, the idea of eternal worth.

I am more gratful that the actions and decisions of a child can inspire us to be better. I realize I have such a long way to go.