Pyles of Clutter

Just thinking...

I don't like to buckle my seat belt. I mean, I really don't like to buckle my seat belt. I hate that tight feeling when you put it on. I hate that someone is telling me I have to wear it. I don't like it and have gotten away without wearing it for years. But Terry asked me to wear it for my safety. So every time I get in the car, I put my seatbelt on. Because I love him and want to please him.

This week, I sat reading the "Church News" as I procrastinated doing my chores, when I read this statement made by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland:

I've wondered how many other problems we would solve for our missionaries and, therefore, how many other issues we would not have to discuss quite as much if we truly loved God, if we really, truly loved Him with all our might, mind and strength."

Oh my.

That made me think of a scripture I read recently in 2 Nephi 33:6~

I glory in plainness ; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

When I read these words, the Spirit whispered to me of the conviction Nephi had when saying this. He loves his Heavenly Father! He loves Jesus Christ!

Do my actions show how much I love my Heavenly Father? Do my actions show gratitude for all the blessings I've been given? Do my actions have an effect on those around me? I hope so, but I'm afraid that often I fall short. I'm afraid that I haven't been loving the Lord with all my might, mind and strength.

In our weekly FHE, Terry taught us that we are being admonished to live the principles of the gospel with precision. The definition of precision is "exactness; accuracy; strict conformity to a rule or a standard; definiteness." Terry asked Zoey what she thought precision meant, and she said, exactness. Exactly right. We must live the gospel principles, keeping our standards high, with exactness, in order to show our love for a kind, and gracious, and giving Heavenly Father.

And that's what I've been thinking about.

Rain is falling...

It's raining outside. It's really one of those kind of those "curl up with a blanket, a cup of cocoa and a good book" kind of day.

Congratulations are in order!! My niece Samantha and her husband, have a bouncy new baby boy, born last night! I'm hoping to get up to the hospital to see them today. I love new babies! So sweet.

I can't believe that it's February already. Is it just me, or is time just going faster and faster every year? So crazy! Every day, I think, holy cow! Where did the last week go? Sheesh.

Last night, I went to our father/daughter jazz club performance. For the first time ever, Terry isn't doing it. Oh...I missed seeing him out there. I know he felt a little ridiculous doing it, but I miss seeing his laughing face, shaking his booty. It's a pretty fun dance, but I was just missing the sparkle.

I'm having a love/hate relationship with my reading glasses. I love having them to read with, but I'm finding if I wear them for too long, I get a headache. And I can't see long distance with them at all, so I either have to wear them low on my nose, granny style, or up on my head, sunglass style. It's not a big deal, except I get tired of having them on my head all the time. I guess I better get used to it.

Hasn't this weather just been weird? I know there must be some consequences to this mild weather down the road, but right now, I'm loving it.

I'm hoping I'll get a little more motivation this month and get some more things done. I'm really tired of seeing certain things on my list. Do you make to do lists? Do you carry over stuff that you don't get done in a day? Do you make a new list everyday? My lists are the same everyday. Until I finally get them done. Which can be a long time. ;)

Zoey has a really bad cold and I've basically quarantined her to her room. She came home from competition on Saturday with no voice, and I thought she just had been talking and yelling a lot, but then she was worse on Sunday, and has had no voice every since. She coughs incessantly, and has a runny nose. Poor thing. Just a bad time of year to get sick!

Everyone else is doing just fine. Way to go, college kids.

I think that's it for me. No more random thoughts. It's time to get crafty.

Love,

Me.

Tasty treats!

I've been doing a lot of baking again!  I love baking.  I love the feeling of creating I get when I see something go from just a bunch of individual components to something really yummy.  Love, love, love!

I'm a banana buyer.  Every time I go to the store, I come home with bananas.  I don't know why, since the only person that really eats them is Terry, and he only eats one a day for the potassium.  Consequently, I usually have more "going bad" bananas in my house than a person should.  So I'm always looking for new and fresh ways to use up those three, or six, bad bananas.  In my quest, I found the most yummy new banana bread recipe!  I had to share!

Banana Sour Cream Bread

1/4 C sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 C butter

3 C sugar

3 eggs

6 very ripe bananas, mashed

16 oz sour cream

2 tsp vanilla

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

3 tsp baking soda

4 1/2 C flour

1 C chopped walnuts (I don't like nuts, so didn't use these)

Preheat oven to 300^. Grease four 7x3" loaf pans.  In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 C sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon.  Dust pans lightly with sinnamon and sugar mixture.  In a large bowl, cream butter and 3 C sugar.  Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon.  Mix in salt, baking soda, and flour.  Stir in nuts.  Divide into prepared pans.  Bake for 1 hour, until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 

I baked mine in slightly smaller pans, and they only took 45 minutes.  The bread stays moist for a long time, and is just the right balance of cinnamon-sugar-banana goodness. 

Enjoy!

For 7 years, I've been doing this stuff.

We had two drill competitions in the last two weekends.  The first one was in Spokane, and last weekend we were here in M-town!  

It's been a great season so far, and I'm very much looking forward to our time at state and nationals.  I think it's going to be another stellar year for us!

We have four numbers this year; pom, kick, military, and dance.  This is our pom costume.  We will be taking it to nationals, but not to state. So far, it has won in the pom category both times. (Although at our competition, we didn't give ourselves trophies, even though we were the high score.)

It's always good to be on top, but it's also hard to always have everyone gunning for you!  Must stay on our toes, literally! 

I'm very excited to see what's in the future for this team!  They are special!!

 

 

 

Read it!

So I know that I said I haven't been reading, but I did finish the book I've been reading since October!  (That is just sad to see, isn't it?)

I read the book "Prayers for Sale" by Sandra Dallas.  Sandra Dallas wrote the books Persian Pickle Club and The Diary of Mattie Spencer, both books that I thoroughly enjoyed.  When I saw this one at the library, I wanted to read it based on how much I loved the others.

Prayers for Sale is about Hennie Comfort, an 85 year old woman living in the mining community of Tenmile, Colorado.  One day, a young, fragile woman comes to her front gate, and points at a sign on the fence, "prayers for sale", and asks for a prayer.  Hennie realizes that she can be the answer to this heartbroken woman, and as she befriends her, we get to her the stories of her life.  Hennie has gone through a lot in her life, burying two husbands, losing a daughter, and living the hard life of a miner's wife, and widow.  Her stories are entertaining, and contain many life lessons, lessons that are still valuable for today.

My recommendation; read it! 

And I'm going back to the library to find another Sandra Dallas.

It's gotta happen.

Just a thought today:

Doing the same thing over and over but expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity. ~Einstein

When Tyson was working at Anasazi, we talked about the percentage of children that relapse when they leave the trail.  Tyson told us that this is the reason that they hold counseling sessions with the parents also, to try and convince them that the environment the child came from also has to change or their old habits, behaviors, etc, will come back. 

If you are trying to change your life, if you are looking for something different to happen, if you want a new outcome to your perspective, then you have to look for and embrace the change. 

That's it.

Love,

Me.

Can you clean the fish tank?

Yep.  It's been that kind of day.  You know, the kind where you get up and have great intentions and then you turn around and it's 2:00 in the afternoon.  And you haven't done anything.  Bother.

SO. 

Here I am on the computer, doing a blog post, because I've felt a little guilty about not blogging lately, when I don't have a reason, never mind a good reason, not to be posting.  It just hasn't been happening. 

I have been busy.  On Saturday, we had our first drill competition.  It was awesome people.  We are so awesome.  I know, I know, that sounds a little pigheaded, but really it's just the truth, and what can you do, but speak the truth.  We took three routines, and came away with three first place trophies.  You really can't do much better than that!

(it's so nice to be back!)

I have soooo much stuff to do.  I promised myself that when the wedding was over, I was going to spend some time reading, and sitting around, and just recuperating from being overwhelming busy with wedding and Christmas.  What a farce!  I have had a couple days where I didn't do anything, but generally, that was because I had a migraine and just couldn't function.  Where is my book reading time!?  It isn't coming this week.  And probably not next week either.

Did I tell you that I got a new calling?  Yep, Stake Young Women's.  So far, it's been a piece of cake and I've totally enjoyed it.  I mean, what's not to love!  Go to the dances, sit around and visit, or stand up and get my groove on.  Hang out with my Zoey, and embarrass her as only a mother can.  Well, those days, I can see, are pretty much over.  We are starting camp stuff next week.  People, I am not a camper.  I see fun times in my future.  Fun times. 

As I sit here, letting my thoughts race through my head, I look over at my fish tank and realize that better put that on my to do list.  It's a mess.  Really.

Does anyone else get tired of fighting against feelings of..... whatever is bad going on in your life?  Right now, I'm frustrated, anxious, fed up, worried.  I fight against those over and over, knowing that I need to just give them up and give them over to God.  And yet, here I sit, fighting them all over again.  So. Very. Tired.

We are getting into the Christmas spirit in our house!  Yes, you read that right.  The Christmas spirit has finally come to our house.  The Christmas music plays every day, I'm watching Christmas movies while I work in the kitchen, I've been doing some baking, and working on Christmas (New Year's)(Valentine's Day?) cards.  I'm only a month late....

Okay, I need to finish whining and go do something constructive. 

Peace Out.

 

Doing the same thing

Today, I got up at 5:30 with Zoey and made her lunch, then Tessa's lunch.  I got her breakfast, then started on the dishes.  I said morning prayers with her, then went to her room and picked up, and made her bed.  I snuck a minute back in my bed, then went to clear off the table, and pick up the living room.  I got Tessa up, got her dressed, brushed her hair, made her breakfast, told her to brush her teeth, siad morning prayers, got her coat on her and sent her out the door.  Then, I went to make her bed, and mine, and back to the dishes.  I took out the garbage, and started the washer. 

Just like I do every day.

Honestly, I'm glad I've always stayed home with my kids.  I think I had an advantage because I was always there, no matter what time they left, or what time they got home.  I can read my kids body language like an expert, because I've been around to see the highs and the lows.  Sometimes, the kids have hated that, because when they're upset, I know.  And sometimes, they don't want to talk about it.  Too bad.  I want to know what's going on. 

Some kids got a little short changed.  Tyson, for instance, didn't really get much attention when he was a senior, because I had a baby that year.  Having a baby before was not that big of a deal, but I was out of practice.  And old.  So this baby was a little more of a handful, and my attention was divided just a little too thin.  I'm not convinced though that it would have changed anything.  I just have a tad bit of guilt over it.

Anyway, as I was putting away dishes from the dishwasher, dishes that I wash everyday and put away every day, sometimes several times a day, I was thinking about the fact that I live a pretty mundane life.  I stack the same glasses, and the same plates.  I wash and fold the same clothes.  I sweep and mop the same floor.  But still I know, that this is where I'm suppose to be, and my family, and me, have been blessed for my desire to stay home, and take care of my children. 

So I'll be doing the same thing tomorrow, and the next day, and the next... you get the drift.

Today, I'm doing it with snowing falling, and hot chocolate. 

Wednesday Wanderings--Terry's birthday edition

 It is Wednesday, January 18, and Terry's birthday.  He really loves it when I make a big deal of his birthday (false! He hates it!) so I think I'll do a little blog post about how wonderful he is!

*Terry is a busy guy!  In his quest to do loans independently (call us if you need money! and have good credit!) he stays pretty busy.  While you are your own boss, you are also your clerk, secretary, mailroom, and all around gopher.  Terry is, also, back teaching school out at the college.  He has two classes again, thankfully closer together this time, but it still takes up most of his morning.  He is busy!  Enter my computer.  I need to have three things running in order for my life to function.  One, my washing machine.  Two, my van.  Three, my computer.  Well, my computer got a virus.  So I did what I always do, I complained to Terry.  He then researched it out on his computer, and then made some phone calls, and then made a plan, and then encountered a road block, and then found a way around the road block, and then got the virus off my computer, and then got all the important stuff off my computer, and then wiped my computer clean, and then reformatted my computer and then reinstalled all the important stuff, and presented me with a faster, easier computer.  It's wonderful.  I love it.  (Except I'm still trying to figure out all the new, faster features.  Technology is not my friend.)

**Terry is my keeper.  Always, he is looking out for my health and well being.  When I got into running, I just started running one day.  The next day, he was researching shoes, and what was the best way to run, and what my nutrition should be.  When I ran my marathon, he didn't simply go to a couple of check points to cheer me one, he came to EVERY SINGLE ONE, from mile 7 to mile 23, until I made him go so he could get to the end to wait for me.  He would run beside me through the check points, make sure I was drinking, and trying to eat something, take my pain meds, etc.  He was constantly checking on me.  Even here at home, I get that treatment.  Last night, I battled a migraine most of the night, and it's exhausting.  So when I sat down to read the paper, but didn't have my reading glasses, it seemed like too much effort to get up and get them.  Without me saying one word, Terry got up and got my glasses and brought them to me, so I could read our horrible newspaper.  He is my hero.  And I'm incredibly blessed.

***He is always, always thinking of our children.  Out of nowhere, he'll pipe up, "I was thinking about so & so today, and I think I need to talk to them about this."  Okay.  And then he'll talk to that particular child, and then find out the child was struggling with something related to that subject.  I love that he can do that.  I love that he has chosen to stay close to the Lord, and have the Holy Ghost in his life, so he knows what our children need, before they do most of the time.  This is what Megan wrote in a blog post recently:

 I know all of my friends count their dad as their hero and my dad is definitely my hero and will always be. The one thing about my dad that I don't like is that he can persuade you to do anything. If you have a choice and he thinks you should take option A, He will make all the things tied with option A look so good(which they normally are) and make option B look horrible. Everything else I love! I hope every man has a chance to raise a daughter. It will for sure change their life!

I find that irritating too.  ;)  But I've had lots of practice combating it also. 

Terry has been in my life for 25 years now.  And I'm excited to have him for the next 25+ years.  Some year, I'm going to completely ignore his hatred for social situations and have a big party for his birthday.  But not today.  Today, I'll just do a little wandering about how much I love this man. 

Happy birthday, Terry.

Try this again

So my computer is still on the fritz. As soon as it gets fixed, I'll do a wedding round up. In the meantime, send some good vibes for a speedy recovery!