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.

I have been Tagged- help me out!

Everyone reading this HAS to do it. I tag anyone who hasn't had this memory tag on there blog yet!! (Remember to post a picture of yourself.) If I am doing it you should too. It will be fun to see what everyone remembers about me and even more fun, what I remember about you!! haha!

*Here are the directions:
1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember, good or bad.
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.Come on all my blog followers... I want to post some about you, let's see this on your blog!!!

Rent this

I would have passed this movie by over and over until a friend told me I had to see it. I was nervous about the whole idea of an anatomicly correct doll being a wierd guy's mate, but she assured me it wasn't too weird (or nasty).

I added it my Blockbuster by Mail list.... and voila'. I got it. I was excited to watch it, but nervous with the kids around, so I shooed them out and started the show. Mike and I watched, a little bit nervous, as the story unfolded. I was surprised to find the script witty and unexpected. Lars is a 26 year old man who is on the brink of complete insanity, afraid of contact, conversation, and social situations. He is heartbreaking, and Ryan Gosling plays it flawlessly (though never as cute as Noah in The Notebook).

As the movie (subtle and simple) plays on and he opens up to his new 'girlfriend', friends and family have no choice but to play along. That is when the beauty begins. Layers of his pain begin to peel away and "Bianca" becomes a symbol for all that he has held in for so long. It is surprisingly touching and engaging (I have to admit, however Mike did fall asleep, it is kind of quiet and over 100 minutes long). Overall it really has left me thinking about people, and the lives we live, and the pain we carry. The way everyone rallied around Lars and his new girlfriend, and the doors that she opens for him, were actually sweet, strange and funny, maybe, but sweet.

If you know me well you know it doesn't take much to make me cry, and this was no exception. Lars and Bianca can not last forever.... and believe it or not I cried through the end of it all. Silly, but perfect. I love it when I see a movie and it is a completely new experience for me, full of fun and pain, and bits of everyday life that I can relate to, but delivered in a package that is beautifully scripted, acted, musicly scored and filmed. I am actually going to have to carve out some more time tomorrow to watch it again before I send it back. This is no Weekend Top Grossing movie or shoot them up thriller, but it is film making at a simple level... art.

Inspire me

Now, I am not hitting as hard as I had hoped I would, mostly because of my headaches (which are starting to go away, thank heavens), BUT I have to say it made my day today when Janna picked me up to go to the gym and said my legs looked skinny..... *loveyouforsayingthat*. I am slowly starting to get the idea of this whole thing.... Ran a mile and a half while talking. It is something.

dear everyone reading my blog...
"What inspires you to get up and get moving?"

Conversation Starter

For those of you who follow me on Facebook, you see another version of this t-shirt on my back, and you know how much I love it. I decided to throw this on yesterday after the parade and wore it most of the day. I still had it on when taking my kids to the carnival for a couple of rides which I promised them earlier in the week. What I didn't realize is the stir it would cause. A husband signaled his wife from across the crowd and pulled her behind me to read it. Another couple whispered and pointed and talked as I turned around, wathcing so they could read the front. As that was happening another man walked up to me and actually asked me about Dave Ramsey and if I had seen him LIVE (an enthusiatic YES!). Even a group of teens behind me were reading it and laughing, saying "that shirt is cool". I kind of had to pretend like I didn't notice and act normal, but it was a wierd experience.

Are we all so overcome in the "debt is normal" mindset that to see someone saying something different is really that strange? I think we have forgotten how great it feels to own assets over owing on liabalities. Mike and I are currently paying off our 1st and 2nd mortgage, and I wanted to include this quote (which I used in my "Freedom" talk in church on Sunday- a whole different Blog post!) for you guys all to think about this weekend.

Owning a home free of debt is an important goal of provident living. ....a mortgage on a home leaves a family unprotected against severe financial storms. Homes that are free and clear of mortgages and leins can not be foreclosed on. When there are good financial times, it is the most opportune time to retire our debts and pay installments in advance. It is a truth that the "borrower is servant to the lender."
James E Faust

Until next time... I must wash my shirt and wear it more!

What's Up, Doc?

The blessed journey that is 'going to the doctor' is one I try to avoid. I can't say, why, really, it's just I will try about anything to NOT go to the doctor. Mike, however is tired of me ignoring the pain in my head (which has caused pain in the neck and back) which has continued for 5 weeks or so.

Today was the day. Surprisingly my Dr. came into my room before I had even filled out the paper work and signed all of my privacy act information (another thing to hate at the Dr.s) and quickly started asking questions while pushing on different areas of my head. Weird enough, a spot just behind my ear sent me through the roof, possibly my mastiod sinus, plus the back of my head hurt when he pushed on the area that has been bothering me. My options- treat this like a sinus infection (which I have heard causes localized pain if the sinuses in the back of the skull get infected) with a heavy dose of Augmentin, or proceed to getting a CAT scan. I choose to go with the prescription first, but if my yummy dose of antibiotics doesn't nip the pain and throbbing then I have to get a CAT scan in a few weeks. yip-yip- yipee.

One complaint- I wanted to pay for my visit when I was leaving, and they were all baffled at the front desk, and couldn't figure out how I should pay, or how much it would cost, and wanted me to wait and go talk to the ladies in 'financial', so I figured I would pay tomorrow since I have to take my son in for shots. But really- is it just me, or have things gone completely amiss in this world when someone wants to pay for her appointment and the front desk can't handle that?

Local Kudos- kids haircuts~

I have decided to begin my own little local reviews- so occasionally you may see a rant or a kudo given for a local business.

I had an awesome experience at the MATC school here in Spanish Fork (by ALA charter school). I had a client come in with the cutest GLITTER GEL TOES, and she paid only 15 bucks for it. She got them done at the school, so I called and they got me in the next day- plus they take late appointmets! Love it!

When I was there (my toes were so gosh darn cute, and lasted 6 weeks!) I noticed boys haircuts were 4 BUCKS! Hello! I have 3 sons- that is a miracle to me. I scheduled an appointment for my oldest- but when we came back and my younger 2 saw the cute girls cutting hair they whining for haircuts, too. The instructor at the front desk was so nice. She smiled and said "we would love to work them in!" and before I knew it my boys all had their hair cut, for under 15 bucks! We tipped the girls (who were super friendly to my boys) and left. I was thrilled! They do all sorts of services, but I can recommend the glitter toes and kids cuts. Here is the number.... MATC Cosmetology 492-2968.

Much better.

So, if I am totally honest I still have a tiny bit of strain on the back of my head, but it is so small compared to how I felt last week. I can't believe it- I too, can now swear by the "cash-only-stop-in-and-get-popped old Chiropractor". Last night I actually dreamt I was getting adjusted. Strange.

Now, I have to own up to the mess that is my house. I got up and cleaned yesterday, but that was from Sunday night dinner, so I didn't even make a dent in the rest of my house. What a sad world.... when mommy is down, the rest of the house somehow multiplies in clutter and chaos. Am I the only one that knows how to fill the dishwasher?

Ahhh. The simple life.....