The End of the Year Thoughts

I just wanted to write to tidy up the year. I kept a blog for a whole year now. Wow! Time sure flies, even when you're not having fun.

These reflections are more for me than you. :)

First, the first feeling/thought that comes to my mind is of gratitude. When I choose to not put forth the effort to be grateful, then I'm miserable. I am very grateful for so many things I can not even name them all. Mostly, my Father in Heaven and for His generous hand in my life. I'm thankful for my husband and children. For the heritage that is mine. What great people I come from! I'm thankful for prayers, answered and unanswered. There's lot more, but I only have a few minutes to write.

Second, I have to start with gratitude. I'm so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and wise, obedient leaders that have commanded me (and others) to keep a food storage and become prepared in all things. I'm so grateful that my husband is totally on board with it too. I have learned skills and sacrificed vacations and other fun stuff to put up a food storage. What a blessing it has been! I just love all things that have to do with preparedness. And I just love that, although many people mock me, my kids have grown up learning that this is just a normal way of life. They will receive blessings just because they don't know any other way. At least that's what I hope.

Third, I ponder a lot on how to change. From losing weight to being more friendly, open-minded, spiritual, etc. This and my kids occupies most of my thinking time. :) Though I do try to ponder on ways to serve people too. One thing I have learned this year--actually that I have grazed the tip of--is that the Lord gives us blessings. We can receive blessings through prayers, hands on head, by being obedient--but it is US that has to accept and take the offering from the Lord. I have heard some amazing promises made by the Lord this year---it's interesting that so many of them have not been accepted...I'm 100% included in this observation. There is some way and I think it's easy, to accept these blessings...but that's the part I haven't figured out yet. Yes, faith is part of it...but I think I sell myself short somehow...I know I do. It's a resolution to draw closer to the Lord and figure some of this stuff out.

Fourth, I'm disappointed in the elections this year. Not just with the results, but with the fact that there were no really good, qualified men or women to even run in the first place. You may disagree, that's fine, just remember this post isn't for you. :) Just don't leave comments about this particular paragraph unless you support me...ha ha ha. I'm feeling vulnerable. Back to my point...when I voted for Bush II the 1st and 2nd time..I was totally committed. I just loved him. (He's since disappointed me) I felt his convictions and I felt that he was a good, god-fearing man. God-fearing is very important to me in a leader. I'm sad that the American people are so selfish as to think one man can give them so much. The selfishness disappoints me too.

I work hard for what I have. My husband is self-employed. We can never receive unemployment. We pay amounts of money for health insurance that you can't even imagine, unless you're self-employed. We have six children that we take good care of. We pay amazing amounts of money in taxes every year. Yet, I have a "friend" who has seven children. Her husband works a decent job, nothing great, but they haven't paid a DIME in income tax for over 20 years. Me and my family pay for theirs. To me, it's just not right. And YET, we had two men running, one just a bit more liberal than the other, who want to give my "friend" MORE money. There is NONE to give. Where is the accountability?

Here's mine. I chose to marry a man with two children. Then we chose to have four more ourselves. We pay for all of them. Make sure they're fed and clothed and have a Gameboy and a Wii. :) We choose to be self-employed and therefore enjoy the perks of that and also suffer the cons of it as well. But, we pay our taxes and our debts. We do not receive anything from the government and it's my intention never to do so. So, I guess that's another thing I have to be accountable for. So be it.

I just think if we all spent more time thinking about how to do for our ourselves and our neighbors a bit more, we'd be happier and more content. I think we'd expect more from our leaders as well.

This will certainly be an interesting year to come. I don't expect much good to come from our government. I truly hope I'm wrong.

Fifth, I think I'm done after that rant. Just a quick thought. Because of the upcoming trials, I look forward to being compelled to focus on the Lord. I feel it already. I have not been disappointed in Him. I don't understand sometimes. But, I'm ok with that. I'm 40 now. I've learned something about patience. I've got a while to go, but I just hope I can be more of what He knows is in me. I want to see every blessing realized. I want to teach my children to depend on the Lord. They've got to be better than me. That's my hope and my desire. Their struggles will be so much more difficult and different than mine. I pray that I will be able to teach them what they need to know to survive.

If you've stayed with me to the end, I guess I owe you a fresh loaf of bread.

Happy New Year!!!

I lost my mind!

Just a quick vent before I move on.

Well, even the most prepared person every once in a while becomes unprepared.

I thought I'd do some baking today. But, I was low on butter, chocolate chips and eggs. I usually buy those things at Sam's Club because I buy in bulk. So, I loaded the four children up in the car and drove them over there. We were doing pretty good until Leah announced she had to go poop. So, I race to the bathroom pushing the cart with ALL four children on it. They thought it was great.

The poop wouldn't come out.

I go back to shopping. Earlier, before the poop, we passed by a demonstrator lady that was visibly upset and talking to someone that she didn't feel well. I went back by her to get something else and she was alone. Many of you know that I'm nosy, but it's usually because I want to help. I was torn. But I did it anyway. I told her that I had overheard that she wasn't feeling well and was there anything I could do for her.

Bless her heart. She was having a bad day. Her 30 year old son had passed away a little while ago and she is missing him terribly around the holidays. So, I stopped and chatted with her for a while. I cried with her too. I'm sad for the pain of others. She hugged me when she saw my tears. I hope I left her with a few words of peace.

Meanwhile, my children are RACING each other up and down the aisles. GEESH!!!

I think there was another poop scare but that didn't go anywhere either.

We get out of Sam's and I still have most of my sanity. So, I venture to ShopRite because I'm looking for some pepper jelly. I bought it somewhere before. This is when it all broke down for me.

Note to self: Leah belongs in a cart until she's at least 25.

No pepper jelly at ShopRite, ACME, Pathmark or Walmart. So, now I'll have to make my own. Dang it!

Needless to say, I'm tired and don't want to bake now.

Oh, third time was the charm. Leah pooped. WooHoo!!!

What Have You Done?

What have you done?
I stole this from Kristin Bonacci. I have bolded all that I have done from this list that someone emailed me. I've done more than I thought, but still have tons to do! There are, however some things that I hope never to do, like food poisoning. Yah, no thanks!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept overnight on a train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when your're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden a water bus in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagra Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen Amish country
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in movie
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. One cavity or less

Just Some Random Things

Yesterday I gave Leah some Cheerios type cereal for breakfast.  She came out to the living room where I was on the phone and said, "Mooommmyy, I duhn wan some polka dot cereal."

I thought that was funny.

Thursday night, I was en route to a stake welfare committee meeting.  I had made dozens of cinnamon rolls during the day to take to the meeting.  I stopped at the Hess station to fill up and grab some milk.  The man pumping my gas just seemed to sad and miserable.  More so than typical for a gas station attendant.  

I asked him how he was doing.  He said that he was doing better than he had been earlier in the day.  I told him that I had something for him that was going to make him the happiest man in the world.  I reached in the car and brought out a big GIANT cinnamon roll.  Still warm even.  I gave it to him and he thanked me.

Let me tell ya.  I loved that feeling.  He didn't gush all over me about what a great person I was.  He didn't sing my praises about how yummy it tasted.  He just said thank you and went into the little shelter there between the gas pumps and ate the cinnamon roll.  My heart just got bigger and bigger.  THAT was the spirit of Christmas.  I didn't do anything to change his life.  I just made a few minutes of it a little sweeter.  I'm so grateful for that opportunity to serve.

Our Family Home Evening

I am sad to say that I have never really felt or been deeply engrossed in the spirit of Christmas.  I've felt twinges here and now but I've always kinda been a grump.  Too much trouble and mess.  I do enjoy giving gifts.  I enjoy shopping and trying to be thoughtful with the gifts I give.  All in all, though, I've just never been interested in the whole Christmas theme.

That is, until this year.  Something has happened to me this year.  I'm different.  I think I know what happened.

Last month, I designated November as Gratitude month in our family.  I hate multiple Family Home Evenings on the subject and even created a new family tradition.  I made up "leaves" to hang on our sad little Christmas tree left up from last year that has been hanging out behind the couch.  Everyone wrote something they were thankful for each day and hung it on the tree.  Our little tree was full of Fall-colored leaves.  The Sunday before Thanksgiving, we celebrated our Thanksgiving because Jen and Jessie wouldn't be with us for the holiday.

We had all the fixin's and after dinner we read our leaves.  We laughed and enjoyed each other's company.  We realized how to make it even more successful next year.  

After reading the leaves, I talked to the kids about what December was going to be.  Our Service month.  We're planning on finding ways to serve others as Christ would do.

We've never really been a service project type of family.  To me, service projects are so complicated.  I enjoy the service for the arranging and delivering seems to be my downfall.

I'm so thankful for the gift of the Holy Ghost that helps me be a little less brain-dead than I am. :)

Monday night for Family Home Evening, we talked about selflessness and service.  Our service project was to write Christmas cards to the US military servicemen and women.  We had a box of 25 cards.  Everyone was able to participate, even Leah.  Sam and I encouraged the kids to express gratitude for the service rendered.  Then they drew pictures and colored things.  

There were moments as I watched my family, that tears filled my eyes and the true spirit of Christmas gently enfolded us all.  I was grateful that even the littlest was able to participate.  I was grateful that my two teenage step daughters struggling with their feelings about their two homes and religion, were able to feel the spirit of family and unity and service.  I was thankful for my three in the middle who wrote and drew and joined in completely.  I was thankful for my husband's participation and very pithy notes to the servicemen.

I have been spending more time with my children.  Enjoying their spirits and laughter.  I'm grateful to finally feel this spirit that changes lives and lifts all to a higher more enlightened level.

My report

Today is December 1, 2008.  Today is the day after the 160-day challenge ended.  

Here is my report of my own efforts.  

1.  Really, I crashed and burned.  I did not accomplish what I had intended to accomplish.  It was too hard for me.  Really.  I didn't have the ability to write a book of fiction.  So, because of that, I gave up.

2.  In the early days, back in August.  I was doing everything I said I wanted to do.  This resulted in other blessings.

Although I didn't write the book I still want to write and know is in me, I did spend time in my scriptures and writing about my understanding of them.  Because of this, when I was asked to speak in Stake Priesthood Leadership Meeting, the talk was all but written.  What a great blessing!!

I actually have quite a few scripture writings that I feel are quite insightful.  

3.  During August, again when I was really applying myself, I happened upon a great business opportunity that I have really grown to love.  StoryKeeping is the process of interviewing others and gathering/recording their stories to be burned onto CD or uploaded to a website.

This has combined my love of story and my love of family.  I wish with all my heart I had recordings of my best friends and family who have passed.  I wish I could have my Grampa Snow relating his "corny jokes".  Or my dear friend Jolene with her sweet little voice.  These things would be priceless to me.

StoryKeeping allows me to do this for other people as well as myself.  I have been working with Estate Planning Attorneys, Hospices (to train their volunteers to be StoryKeepers) and nursing homes.  Gathering these stories before they are gone.

If this interests you, you're welcome to check out my website at www.keepingstories.com

I'm not trying to sell you anything.  Just relating my experiences.  But you can earn money too. :)

4.  I have learned through the 160-day challenge that it's not easy to change my life.  Just because I put a fancy title on it and figured out what my routine would be, I didn't prepare so much for the bumps or distractions.  The StoryKeeping thing was a huge distraction, but it was a really great distraction.  But, it was a distraction and took me away from my goal.

As I stated earlier, I didn't know how to write a book.  Fiction or otherwise.  Now, do I need to take a class or read a book or visit websites or pay someone?  Probably. 

I think I've learned that there are other things that are more important for me to learn and change than writing a book at this time.  So, I feel comfortable with setting that "book" on the shelf for a while until it becomes more important to me.  The thought and feeling about the book and what it will contain won't go away.  Hopefully.

So, I'm going to turn my attention to other things that I know will be challenging for me but a little easier because I know how to do it.  Learning a language or losing weight come to mind.  There just has to be application and consistency.

Although I crashed and burned and have no best seller book to deliver today, I am a better person for attempting the change and learning a little more about myself.

I intend to start another journey if anyone would like to join me.  Once we get some of the wrinkles out of this, we'll be unstoppable. :)