Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Life in the Rain

Life -  is so incredibly amazing!  One minute your wishing the sun would come out and take over the rain... and the next minute you feel so blessed to have things just the way they are!

I just had the most amazing realization of how blessed we all are - constantly, without even knowing it. I was reading a blog a moment ago about a fellow blogger happy to see spring. After reading I went to her comment section and wrote this...
"LUCKY YOU! Nothing but rain here (fore casted for all of "Spring" break!), and my tulips are not even done growing, let alone bloomed. So it was nice to see a bit of "spring" on your blog. :) Be sure and do some rollerblading for me this week! ;)"
Then, before I even had time to push the send button, I had another one of those incredible "ah ha" moments that we all have when we things are quiet and we are still.

I remembered the day before; Devry came to me out of the blue and told me he was going outside for a run. I thought of the rain, and wished I could roller blade, but knew that with so much water coming down the wheels would be too slick. I had never gone jogging with Devry before, but suddenly had the desire to, so asked if he would mind if I tagged along.

For a moment, my mind was totally and completely swept up in the peaceful memory of that hour which I spent with my son in the rain. It was as if all time stood still - just for me - to step back in time for a moment and relive that hour in the rain. The hour in which there were moments when the rain came down so hard and so completely towards my face that I could barely see in front of me.  And

         yet...

                        sigh   :)

... Because of the rain, (the roads being too wet to roller blade, which I do by myself or with a girl friend) I actually went for a jog with one of my 15 YO boys yesterday. We were soaked... but we had a great time anyhow! :) He told me that we should go jogging every day. :D
 I now feel blessed to have rain! :)

Suddenly, I realized that just as the sun and the spring time air was a great blessing to my blogging friend at that moment, THE RAIN is a great blessing to me at this moment in my life.

Yesterday... in the rain... with my son... WAS WONDERFUL! :D

Thank Heaven for all the moments of unwanted rain in our lives!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Levi's Recent Milestones

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be.

~Robert Munsch
Hi! :) Like every happy mom, I have reason to celebrate now and then as I watch my kids reach milestones in their lives. I have decided to start writing about the milestones each of my kids make as a way of celebrating and building memories. So, with so many milestones that Levi has reached this month... his are the first I will blog about. :)

P.S. I wrote this last Sunday, but was waiting to post as I tried to get a hold photos that a friend of mine took of Levi and his friend at the baptism; It never happened... So I decided to take a photo of him in his white shirt and tie today after church. But I forgot! LOL Oh well! :)

December 2009 - Just 3 months ago... almost 12

First, Levi turned 12 years old. Our family was busy setting up for a business show - so were unable to celebrate (we still plan to celebrate  - and celebrate BIG - as soon as the schedule permits!).

BTY - For any who do not know... in the church we attend, 12 is a significant age. At this age children move out of Primary and into the youth group. There are new responsibilities added into their lives; there are more opportunities to serve. They are then no longer in the group called "children," as they advance into the group of "young women" or "young men." Life can change a great deal when turning 12.

Next, a friend of his who was about to be baptized called and asked Levi to speak at his baptism (the day we had talked about celebrating his birthday - and with only a 2 day notice). I watched and listened to him as he took the phone call. Without hesitation, Levi immediately accepted the assignment. There was nothing negative stated about not wanting to do it, or "why me" - just total willingness to speak at his friend's baptism. I'll admit, I was a little surprised. HE IS ONLY 12!  Is this customary? I think it is done, but not frequently (at least around here). I am so thankful that Levi was blessed to have this opportunity to stretch his comfort zone and serve. He is so blessed.

Levi did a great job of both preparing and presenting. The talk was short, but well written and presented with a smile. He also kept his eyes on the audience as he glanced at his written talk. I was SO impressed. I knew he was gifted in particular ways to bless him as a speaker, but I didn't know he was so debonair! Well - for a 12 year old. :)

When he sat down, he told me he was "so nervous." Interesting. The bishop sat beside me and whispered the question "is he nervous?" a few minutes before. I told the bishop I didn't know. He hid it well. I was amazed.

Next, Levi was interviewed and found ready and worthy to be ordained a Deacon. I am so happy to have another worthy Priesthood holder in my home.

And today, Levi passed the sacrament at church for the first time! (BTY - Speaking of today, His father and I spoke in sacrament. I too, was so nervous! Miles did a great job... as usual :)

There are specific things these priesthood holders (young and old alike :) do to serve the members of the church and the community. I am so thankful each time I see the men in my home serving in their Priesthood callings. They are always there to serve in event of a crisis in the community (like when a house nearby burnt down). They are always there to set up or take down chairs at church every Sunday or after activities during the week; to pray for or bless those in need; and as of today, to prepare or pass the sacrament as well.

I think it would be easy for a young man to take this milestone of receiving the Priesthood for granted - to not realize the importance and blessing of their calling. And yet, some know - really know who they are and realize that they are witnesses of Christ; thus, they are great examples of followers of Christ. I think it takes time for most boys to come to this... but to do so at any age is an accomplishment to celebrate.

I am so impressed with each and every man (again, young and old alike :) who magnifies his Priesthood calling and strives to serve as a follower of Jesus Christ.

And now - Levi, though he has been preparing for this and doing much service already - is one of these men (one of the "young men" :) who magnify their callings. He has shown by his willing conduct that he takes being a follower of Jesus Christ seriously.

I must mention that I am also so pleased with Devry and Dausen, as well as of Levi. They participate to the best of their ability, and far more than is evident to others. I am so pleased with their progress, and with all of their efforts; and I know their Father in Heaven is also pleased with them.

Though I cannot take any credit for how great Levi and his brothers are turning out, nothing could make me happier! :D In my daily prayers, I thank my Heavenly Father, for blessing our family by sending these faithful young men to our home.

Normal Verses Abnormal...

Why is it that I worry? I think I have a nervous disorder or something. :O This just can't be normal, to fret and worry about everything... even with a life as abnormal as mine is. Maybe it is normal. Maybe, it is normal for all of us to see our own lives as abnormal, even though abnormality is actually normal!  LOL  :)

You have no idea how much comfort I find when I am feeling abnormally stressed, or abnormally poor, or abnormally inadequate... and then I look over at my very normal son, Levi, and feel like the Lord is saying...

"There you go, Corine; there's the normalcy in your life. Enjoy!"

But it doesn't stop there. Just when I think I can't stand to have one more "abnormal" thing in my life, and I find myself reveling in the smidgen of normalcy that seems to exist... I find that the "normal" bar is raised so high it becomes again, abnormal. :) 

Like tonight... Tonight Levi quietly pulled me aside and informed me that we needed to talk. It took some doing, because his curious brother, Dausen, realized Levi wanted to talk to me alone, and followed us about trying to spy on us. LOL - It was actually quite entertaining. :)  Levi and I finally resorted to taking a walk around the block.

Anyhow... Levi spent time gently bringing to my attention some things he thought I should be made aware of. He was like an incredibly mature adult - only in a child's body. I was impressed; he made some really good points (of course, I was already aware... but didn't tell him that; I just enjoyed the talk and tried to be there for him).

Just when I think my troubles are abnormal, and my life is abnormal... the kids will add to it and do something wonderfully abnormal! Something beyond expectations - and then I realize that .... "normal"  -  is way over rated!

So today, (and hopefully tomorrow, too)... I choose to revel in and appreciate -  the abnormal. :)  I'll post you all about Levi's recent (- normal with a touch of abnormal, -) milestones tomorrow.  (- seeing that it is past midnight now... Er, uh, later tonight -  ;)

December 2009 - Just 3 months ago... almost 12


Spring 2009 ... Barely 11 - (A few of my favorites ;)


Friday, March 26, 2010

Disciplining is SO CONVOLUTED!

Being a mom - no, disciplining, is SO CONVOLUTED! From the moment I was born, I began playing with dolls. OK – maybe not from the “moment” of birth. But, I do have a photo of me holding a doll at the age of two months old; and my earliest memories are of me playing with dolls and pretending to be a mom. That was my big dream. And I was quite sure that my kids were going to be extremely well behaved – all the time. (totaly unrealistic)

But, here I am now… a mother of youth who are most definitely NOT “extremely well behaved – all the time.” I still love being a mom. But it is Not what I expected; I am NOT the perfect mother I thought I would be, and I DON’T have that magical knack for discipline. Oh, but I pray for that talent – still! - In fact, I beg the Lord to give it to me, for the sakes of my children! I pray that I won’t “ruin” them!

Why is it SO HARD to know what to do? Oh – I know – Maybe it’s because kids are sometimes manipulative, and sometimes say things which can promote the idea that we aren’t good parents if we don’t take away those pesky consequences (Not my kids though.. not yours either, right? ;). Maybe it’s because we aren’t sure how strict to be... or what a fair punishment is… and they know it! Maybe it’s because it takes so much time and energy to figure out what to do every time something goes wrong… and some things we seem to never figure out!

Don’t get me wrong – None of my kids are juveniles. Sibling rivalry is most of what they struggle with. They are all very good people, of which I am very grateful. But sometimes my kids get so angry at me for a consequence I let them go through. Sometimes I feel so good about what I am doing, no matter how angry they are; and sometimes I am so unsure and confused about what to do. But I have to do what I can, with the constant hope that they will learn to be wise NOW – while the steaks are low.

I wish that if I did the right thing as a parent – that I could be sure that they would then make the best choices. But I know it doesn’t work that way.

I think it boils down to free agency. I think that when you parent with freedom, sometimes your kids are going to make wrong choices. And when they do, you have to remember that it isn’t your fault that they are making the wrong choice (At least, that’s what I tell myself – I hope it’s true!). In the long run, I believe this is the best way to parent; but it is hard to stick to it because if I would just force my kids to do the right thing, right now – I would get the results I want right now. Why then, don’t I “make” them do the right thing? Because I don’t believe the results of force are lasting. I think force leads to eventual rebellion (even if it is when the kids leave home), and since I really love my kids - that isn’t the result I am seeking.

So, for now… I will keep trying. I will keep praying for wisdom. I will continue to teach my kids the consequences of right and wrong choices and to love them regardless of the choices they make. I will continue to let them make mistakes, and let them suffer the consequences. And I will hope and pray that they will learn wisdom from their mistakes along the way, and will find the strength with in them to make the best choices – before the consequences become terribly big.

PS. But what do you do when you don't know what the consequences should be? I wonder what other parents do when their kids call each other names, or belittle each other? I really wish I knew! Does anyone have an answer for me? I really hope that everyone who reads this will comment - I need all the help I can get!!!  Thanks!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

My Family History Friends :)



Hi! :D I just got home from another Thursday at the Family History Center in Hayden Idaho - and I feel great! :D How can anyone not feel great - after being around such incredible people and soaking up their vibes for the evening? Once each week, I spend four hours bouncing back and forth between working in the office, researching and entering in genealogy data in front of a computer (whether it be for myself to learn and to serve - or for a patron), and visiting with and learning from other wonderful librarians. (I totally love these people. :)

And once a month, I get to be there for 6 or 7 hours, because I need to stay there for the monthly training meeting; which means a 1-2 hour meeting with an entire room of these incredible people just after 5 hours of basking in genealogy and light with other great people. I AM SO BLESSED! Today was one of those days.

No matter how tired I am from sitting... I LOVE TO BE THERE!

No matter how much work I have to do, waiting for me at home... I LOVE TO BE THERE!

I don't know how to explain it - but when I am with these people, I feel loved. I feel like I belong. And without even knowing about their daily lives, their favorites, their dreams, or even about their families etc - I somehow feel that I know a part of them that is so great, that it is enough - to have to love them! Seriously - I just can't help NOT loving them!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Constitutional lawyer has read the entire proposed healthcarebill. Read ...

(There is another copy of this letter below - without added emphasis for those who prefer to read it that way)

A retired Constitutional lawyer has read the entire proposed healthcare bill. Read...

The Truth About the Health Care Bills - Michael Connelly, Ret. Constitutional Attorney

Well, I have done it! I have read the entire text of proposed House Bill 3200: The Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009. I studied it with particular emphasis from my area of expertise, constitutional law. I was frankly concerned that parts of the proposed law that were being discussed might be unconstitutional. What I found was far worse than what I had heard or expected.

To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.

The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out of business, and put everyone into a government run system. All decisions about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats, and most of them will not be health care professionals. Hospital admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical devices will be strictly controlled by the government.

However, as scary as all of that is, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been contemplated If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.
The first thing to go will be the masterfully crafted balance of power between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government. The Congress will be transferring to the Obama Administration authority in a number of different areas over the lives of the American people, and the businesses they own.

The irony is that the Congress doesn't have any authority to legislate in most of those areas to begin with! I defy anyone to read the text of the U.S. Constitution and find any authority granted to the members of Congress to regulate health care.

This legislation also provides for access, by the appointees of the Obama administration, of all of your personal healthcare direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures. You can also forget about the right to privacy. That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3rd and 4th Amendments may provide...

If you decide not to have healthcare insurance, or if you have private insurance that is not deemed acceptable to the Health Choices Administrator appointed by Obama, there will be a tax imposed on you. It is called a tax instead of a fine because of the intent to avoid application of the due process clause of the 5th Amendment.. However, that doesn't work because since there is nothing in the law that allows you to contest or appeal the imposition of the tax, it is definitely depriving someone of property without the due process of law.

So, there are three of those pesky amendments that the far left hate so much, out the original ten in the Bill of Rights, that are effectively nullified by this law It doesn't stop there though.

The 9th Amendment that provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;

The 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.

I could write many more pages about this legislation, but I think you get the idea. This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights... Article 6 of the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to "be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution." If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it, without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway, I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.




For those who might doubt the nature of this threat, I suggest they consult the source, the US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us.

Michael Connelly

Retired attorney,

Constitutional Law Instructor

Carrollton , Texas


WE MUST HOLD CONGRESS ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.


Constitutional lawyer has read the entire proposed healthcarebill. Read ...




I would like every American to read this in its entirety.



--------------------------------

A retired Constitutional lawyer has read the entire proposed healthcare bill.

The Truth About the Health Care Bills - Michael Connelly, Ret. Constitutional Attorney

Well, I have done it! I have read the entire text of proposed House Bill 3200: The Affordable Health Care Choices Act of 2009. I studied it with particular emphasis from my area of expertise, constitutional law. I was frankly concerned that parts of the proposed law that were being discussed might be unconstitutional. What I found was far worse than what I had heard or expected.

To begin with, much of what has been said about the law and its implications is in fact true, despite what the Democrats and the media are saying. The law does provide for rationing of health care, particularly where senior citizens and other classes of citizens are involved, free health care for illegal immigrants, free abortion services, and probably forced participation in abortions by members of the medical profession.

The Bill will also eventually force private insurance companies out of business, and put everyone into a government run system. All decisions about personal health care will ultimately be made by federal bureaucrats, and most of them will not be health care professionals. Hospital admissions, payments to physicians, and allocations of necessary medical devices will be strictly controlled by the government.

However, as scary as all of that is, it just scratches the surface. In fact, I have concluded that this legislation really has no intention of providing affordable health care choices. Instead it is a convenient cover for the most massive transfer of power to the Executive Branch of government that has ever occurred, or even been contemplated If this law or a similar one is adopted, major portions of the Constitution of the United States will effectively have been destroyed.

The first thing to go will be the masterfully crafted balance of power between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of the U.S. Government. The Congress will be transferring to the Obama Administration authority in a number of different areas over the lives of the American people, and the businesses they own.

The irony is that the Congress doesn't have any authority to legislate in most of those areas to begin with! I defy anyone to read the text of the U.S. Constitution and find any authority granted to the members of Congress to regulate health care.

This legislation also provides for access, by the appointees of the Obama administration, of all of your personal healthcare direct violation of the specific provisions of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution information, your personal financial information, and the information of your employer, physician, and hospital. All of this is a protecting against unreasonable searches and seizures. You can also forget about the right to privacy. That will have been legislated into oblivion regardless of what the 3rd and 4th Amendments may provide...

If you decide not to have healthcare insurance, or if you have private insurance that is not deemed acceptable to the Health Choices Administrator appointed by Obama, there will be a tax imposed on you. It is called a tax instead of a fine because of the intent to avoid application of the due process clause of the 5th Amendment.. However, that doesn't work because since there is nothing in the law that allows you to contest or appeal the imposition of the tax, it is definitely depriving someone of property without the due process of law.

So, there are three of those pesky amendments that the far left hate so much, out the original ten in the Bill of Rights, that are effectively nullified by this law It doesn't stop there though.
The 9th Amendment that provides: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people;

The 10th Amendment states: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are preserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Under the provisions of this piece of Congressional handiwork neither the people nor the states are going to have any rights or powers at all in many areas that once were theirs to control.

I could write many more pages about this legislation, but I think you get the idea. This is not about health care; it is about seizing power and limiting rights... Article 6 of the Constitution requires the members of both houses of Congress to "be bound by oath or affirmation to support the Constitution." If I was a member of Congress I would not be able to vote for this legislation or anything like it, without feeling I was violating that sacred oath or affirmation. If I voted for it anyway, I would hope the American people would hold me accountable.

For those who might doubt the nature of this threat, I suggest they consult the source, the US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. There you can see exactly what we are about to have taken from us.



Michael Connelly

Retired attorney,

Constitutional Law Instructor

Carrollton , Texas







AFTER HAVING READ THIS, PLEASE FORWARD....



If you don't care about our constitution, or your rights under it, just do nothing.



WE MUST HOLD CONGRESS ACCOUNTABLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Freedom

Tomorrow I will post a letter (written by a retired Constitutional Lawyer) which shows specific freedoms that will be lost as a result of the new Health Care Reform if it is not overthrown. I thank Richard and Natalie for forwarding this to me. Because the Health Reform has things in it which are unconstitutional, and because the Constitution has authority above all other laws - I have great hope that it will be overthrown! Please keep informed, and pray to know and do all that you can to keep our country free!

For today, I will share just a few of the things that have been on my mind since the 21st (which, though it were only two days ago, feels so much longer with all that has been running through my mind).

I have been thinking about freedom - and the magnificent value of freedom.

I have thought of the cleverness of men, and the way they seek to take away our freedom, in the names of kindness and security.

It has sickened me to see our freedoms being so quickly yanked away from us.

I think of our founding fathers and the great people who fought so long ago to establish this wonderful free country known as America.

My stomach feels sick for the losses that occurred to grant us this freedom, and the reality that if things continue to go as they are now - great losses could be necessary again in order to gain those freedoms back. I pray now, that the American people will wake up and see what is going on, and not let our freedoms be taken away!

I am thankful for people who research, study, and pray to see and to share the truth. I am thankful for people who do blogs about these things... I saw a video on one of these sites which I would like to share with you today.



This video reminds me, once again, of Satan, and his plan. He, like the monster in the movie 300- (and like particular "leaders"), isn't really "nice." In reality, he is proud, arrogant and power hungry - so power hungry that he seeks to take our freedom away to get it.

A scripture has been on my mind a lot lately - it tells what Lucifer did that was so horrible, that he was cast out of Father's presence as a result of it.

...and even so great that he became the devil as a result of that great sin.

3. "Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, AND SOUGHT TO DESTROY THE AGENCY OF MAN, which I the Lord God, had given him, and also that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

4. And he became Satan, yea even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice."

Moses 4:3-4

It was the sin of seeking to take our freedom away...

Though Satan's true motive for seeking to take our freedoms away was out of pride and power, and not one of kindness... Satan knew we would not hand over our freedom for those reasons, so he sought to get us to hand over our freedom under the guise of security, safety - and kindness...

Satan's goal hasn't changed. He is still going about striving to lead the children of God into bondage. Bondage of sin, bondage of addictions, and bondage of dependence, bonds which result from ignorance etc., - some of which are offered in exchange for the very luring guises of security and safety. And he has political leaders under his thumb, aiding him with his evil goals, whether they realize it or not.

There is no doubt about it; the war that began in heaven rages still today - it is the battle NOT ONLY of how we will use our freedom while away from our Heavenly Father; BUT ALSO it is the battle OF MAKING CHOICES which will insure that we KEEP OUR FREEDOM!

To keep it - we must wake up and recognize what bills and laws in question are really there to do... if they are there to be "nice" to us, ask yourself if you will lose your freedom to get that "nice" product being offered... and ask yourself if it is something that should be "handed" to responsible adults.

'Those who would sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither' - Benjamin Franklin
"Our safety, our liberty, depends upon preserving the Constitution of the United States as our fathers made it inviolate. The people of the United States are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts - not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert the Constitution." - Abraham Lincoln

Government is not God. Government is there to serve the people. We the people - are to rule the government - not the other way around!

I pray daily that the "changes" which would take away our freedoms, which are in the process of taking place now... will be stopped! I pray that the American people will wake up and see what is happening, and make their voices heard, and fight to retain our Constitution which keeps us free!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Rise and Shine!

I wrote this on September 29th of 2009. I read it recently and decided that it is worth re-posting. Though I'll admit I hesitate, because I think I have posted too much about challenges, verses the enjoyments in life. I hope I don't give the impression that life for me is all work and no play- nothing but an up hill climb; it isn't. I will try to post more about the fun along the way as well as the "ah ha!" moments... but for today, I hope someone enjoys this. ;)

A lot has been going on in my mind in the past couple of days; I am so happy! Last week I had some really hard days. I even had some really hard experiences yesterday; but you know what... I still feel so good! :D

Something is changing in my mind. I am thinking different than I ever have before. I used to think I saw the glass half full - now I think I didn't. I now see that I actually saw the glass half empty, but thought I saw the glass half full because I wanted to so badly.

Thankfully, out of that desire to see the world in a positive light, I think I am finally truly learning to see the glass half full.

I am learning to not stress about things not going the way I planned, about the kids not behaving the way I would like them to, about myself needing to improve in so many ways, about seeing daily, things that need to be changed and improved in the home schooling program and in other areas.

Though these things used to overwhelm me, suddenly, they don’t. After all, that is why we all came to Earth. As a famous citation makes clear; the frictions of life are what polish us from rough stones into shinny, beautiful pearls.

This is what life on Earth is all about.

It doesn't mean that I am failing if I fall flat on my face over-reacting or have an anxiety attack now and then (LOL- lovely picture isn't it?).

I am only failing if I fail to try.

I need to relax, do my best, and then let God take over.

We all make mistakes. We all get overwhelmed.

We all go through times when we sit in the darkness of despair.

Thankfully, God grants to each of us - every 24 hours - a new day in which to wake up from the darkness of yesterday, and start a new day with the warmth and faith of sunlight and a fresh clean slate. Like mom would say as she woke me up as a child;

“Rise and Shine!”


I have just begun to tell myself this same thing after difficult life struggles.

“Wake up from the darkness of negativity and sadness! Rise and shine! Today is a new day; think positively and have faith!"

I am so thankful for mornings! :D

PS. I have since learned, that sometimes "rising and shining" involves recognizing that some challenges, some pains, some struggles, - are too big for us - and then puting them out of mind and through prayer, turning them over to Christ; thankfully, nothing is too big for Him. :)

(Photo from Google images... Thanks Google! ;)

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

A Birthday Getaway

Important Note: The family who are in this blog gave express permission for me to create this blog - in fact; it was strongly encouraged by the mother of the family. This is an important note- as you will soon understand.  :)  I hope you enjoy this crazy story!

Some of you may be wondering how I spent my birthday.

Well, I spent most of the day in the car, traveling with my family to the southern part of the state. There were two purposes on our agenda: traveling for Miles to speak and teach Remote Control Sailing at a Disability Awareness Conference, and visiting friends.  :)

Now... don't dismay! I really did have a great birthday! :) You see, I LOVE to travel.

I love the drive. I love letting Miles drive :), while I sit peacefully - reading, thinking, and listening to the kids laugh, giggle, & read to each other.
I love the reststop stops where everyone gets out and runs around (though that part was really a lot more fun when the kids were little and they wanted me to play "tag" with them at every rest stop - now they just use the facilities and get back in the car! Oh to have a young child again! - Looking forward to grandchildren will do!).

I absolutely love, love, love the stops made just to look at great views at scenic look out points along the way.

And last but not least - I love just talking with Miles as we drive along (I also enjoy the long spells of silence to sit and think or to read. :D)

Anyhow, on my birthday, after many hours of pleasant and peaceful driving, we arrived at the home of a totally awesome family who are all very good friends with all of our family - Jo, Rob, and their totally awesome 7 children! :) And wouldn't you know it... Rob picked up not one cake for my birthday... but two! I have to admit, I felt ridiculously spoiled with two flavors to choose from. I sampled each. Both were delicious. I suppose 2 small cakes was a good idea with 15 people in the house! :O

I considered the entire trip a birthday gift to myself (or at least, I planned on it before I got there - ha! ha!). You see, aside from the gifts of love and attention from family and friends, the neighbor kids brought over a "gift" as well. They had been over playing, quite a bit for a day or two both before and after we had arrived and brought it with them then - without even saying a word about it. Isn't that thoughtful? :) (More about that later...).

After a day or so of Jo and I bustling about shopping and tending all those kids (her 7, my 4 in addition to how ever many neighbors were there), we finally settled into comfy chairs and really got down to the nitty gritty of diving into the enjoyments of visiting.

We soon found our visit interrupted however, with a knock at the door. It was the mother of the neighbor kids who had been playing over. She was there to let us know that her children had brought over some rice for my birthday - or was that, lice - head lice? Oh yes, (silly me:), it was lice that those sweet kids brought over! Ah well, rice, lice... both are small and plentiful; what's the difference?

Needless to say, I'm sure you know how the rest of the "vacation" went. Jo and I both jumped from our chairs reasuring each other that everything was fine - and that we would get through this with flying colors. We then got on the internet and researched head lice removal, and began the process of cleaning and sanitizing the house, - AND ALL 15 HEADS.

Being the great mom's that we both are, we of course whistled while we worked. Not literally though - because... hmm... er... well, OK, here goes.... I can't whistle! There, I said it! (That wasn't so bad! :) Non the less, the work was done with vigor, cheerfulness, and optimism! Here's a little evidence. ;)


Day One:


"Hi Jo! This laundry thing is great fun! I'm having the time of my life! :D Thank you SO MUCH for having us all over at such an opportune time! :D








"Corine, I'm so glad you're here to share this most wonderful experience with me! :D I am absolutely LOVING doing the laundry today! Don't you love doing the laundry? Isn't this FUN? :D



(That's a rhetorical question... don't answer.)


See how much fun we were having? Don't you wish you were there, too?  (...another rhetorical question :)

With all those children, you can probably imagine how much laundry there was about the house, and all of it had to be washed (especially since one of the kids who had lice went through the little girl's dresser drawers to help them choose their outfits - thus spreading lice to not only the dirty clothes on the floors, but also to the clean ones in the drawers). Yeah! :) (FYI - That smile was a sarcastic smile - not a real one!!!)

I don't think those first two laundry photos did justice to the task that laid before us. Yeah... I better add a few more.

Needless to say... we did a lot of laundry.

There was so much laundry to do that we bagged it up and put it out on the front poarch to ge it out of the way. As you can see, the kids had fun playing among the bags.

------------------------------------------------------

Day Two:
"The secret of getting started is breaking
your complex, overwhelming tasks into
small manageable tasks, and then
starting on the first one."
- Mark Twain






 "I feel like a zombie."







" Yeah, I know. Me too. Is there anything in this house – that does
NOT
need to be sanitized?"


(The first time I ever pulled my hair back since my hair was cut short... )
My, my... don't I look spiffy now? Agg!

In addition to gathering clothes to take to the laundrymat, we bagged up all the dolls and stuffed animals to be stored away long enough for eggs to die. 
After all that, we still had the floors to vacum and 15 heads to treat.


"Never worry about numbers.
Help one person at a time,
and always start with
the person nearest you."

- Mother Teresa


The nearest person is of course... always the youngest! Who in this case, also happened to be the one who contracted the lice from the neighbors!


"Look at what I found up my nose? Aren't I cute? :)"



Jo and I wanted photos of the work in progress... willing subjects were few...


But there were still moments when participants found themselves
willing to have their photo taken during treatment....


Some of those willing to have photos taken... looked like "cone heads."


"Hey, look at us! We're 'cone heads!' "
There were, however, at least two subjects in particular, who DID look cool...
very cool! :)

(One shown after hair cut and treatment, and one before... ;)

 











One of us (I won't say who - ha! ha!) - looked quite drunk,
for just a moment :).
 Though I'm absolutely certain she has never actually even tasted liquor.


Amongst all of the hair cuts and oil treatments that Jo and I did for both of our families, there were other things that needed to be done as well, which our wonderful men went about doing... Like shopping for the oils and lice combs...


Cleaning out the trucks...




Cooking etc....

----------------------------


And then there were the kids. They all helped out with just about everything (vacuuming, all the usual chores, bagging up clothes etc). In addition, there was...





Boiling hairbrushes...












And there was plenty of comic relief...



“Jolynne, I don’t know if this is really what I was planning on doing when I decided to come visit you guys.”



Amongst it all, there were still kids who played...




Wait a minute - I only have Dausen in this collage. I'll have to make another and add Devry! Here goes...



That's better! I love to see their personalities come through in photos. Sarah is very confident and has no problem asserting herself! ;0

Dausen is calm and collect, and smiles a quiet smile - as usual.

And Devry, who is happy and energetic, did a whole lot of RUNNING from Sarah;
but he sure was smiling! :D

I think it's safe to say that they all had a good time. ;)

...Isn't childhood wonderful? :)

I took photos of the kids...


As you can see, we took lots of photos! ;)

Why all the photos?
...Because we were having a really great time! Duh?

 
Who'd have known that a vacation with head lice
could bring on so many fond memories? :)

Thanks so much for having us over - Byrds! We love you!  :D

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Just Having a Good Laugh at Myself :D

This is something that I wrote last year. The incident caused me to chuckle so I posted it today just for the heck of it. :D - off to church now... good day! ;)

Miles, Mindy and I were at the kitchen counter this evening reading the comics. Miles slid a comic over Mindy's way then quietly and seriously told her, "I could see your mom doing this."

I jumped towards the table to take a look; what would be in a comic that I would do?

(you can click on the image to enlarge and read it)



I had to laugh when I read it. Did he mean I would actually do it, or just that I would do similar outrageous things with the same optimistic logic? I can't believe I didn't ask. But I have to admit.. for the fun of it, should the opportunity actually in some possible way present itself, I probably would! LOL


There is also some merit in what he is saying... don't you think? Years ago, I was heavily into weightlifting and cycling, and said the very same thing this cyclist said, a number of times. :)


Just having a good laugh at myself :D

Thursday, March 11, 2010

It's the Climb...

I read a blog a day or so ago which featured the same song on it that I put on this blog when I wrote it a few months ago; consequwntly, I remembered this post and decided to re-post it. Enjoy! ;)


Life is filled with passions that keep it exciting and fun. One of my passions is hiking.

I love to hike. I love going to Tubs Hill for relaxing, easy going hikes in which all my energy goes into focusing on family and enjoying the incredible surroundings.







But even more than that, I love strenuous hikes in which it is a guarantee that at least one large water bottle will be needed for each and every individual, (even then, we are likely to find our lips parched and throats dry before returning to civilization). Men and boys are seen helping women and children through out the terrain; shirts become wet with sweat; all find themselves hot and exhausted well before the hike is over; and the next day one finds ones muscles aching and perhaps even slightly burning with pain.


















These are the hikes I enjoy the most. These are the ones that remind me that in the series of strenuous uphill climbs in life - it isn’t just the destination that matters. As Miley Cyrus puts it...
IT'S THE CLIMB.”
And besides...





























..."the view is great!"   :)


YouTube - Miley Cyrus-The Climb (lyrics)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Nellie and Nancy Oleson... Deprived of Struggles and Failures

Hi. :) I haven't been here for a while. Life has kept me away for a couple of weeks, but I am back to writing. I plan to write and read other blogs, about once a week (time will tell).

I don't know what I will say tonight - only that I need to write. I read a blog earlier today that reminded me of something I had written months ago. This got me to go back and look at it again. Actually, it got me to looking at a couple of my old writings - ones that I think are worth posting again for those who didn't get to see them before, or just as a celebration of how great life really is.

Life is so filled with up's and down's - challenges and struggles - successes and failures (or seeming failures) - and though we would never wish struggles or failures upon ourselves or others, the truth is that they are what make life SO GREAT!

When my kids were little I recall pointing out to them how unhappy Nellie and Nancy Oleson were in the Little House on the Prairie series, compared to Laura and Mary Ingalls.

It was obvious (even to the kids) that having life go just right - getting everything those girls wanted - having a mother who lived to eliminate every struggle that she possibly could from their lives - was precisely what made them miserable.

These girls never had anything to look forward to. They had no struggles to conquer and feel good about overcoming. They had no going without to help them to appreciate all that they had.

And it isn't just about things/stuff. It is about having goals. It’s about having accomplishments, struggles to overcome, weaknesses to turn into strengths etc. The only happiness those girls had, came from the struggles which their mother could not take away from them.

As I reflect upon my life now - I feel good about it. I am happy with it. Though my life is filled with up's and down's and "BLOND MOMENTS" which I must have a sense of humor and some humility to be able to admit - I love it. And, I think all the struggles and weaknesses and mistakes are a big part of what cause me to feel so accomplished, and to love my life.

So, to celebrate how good I feel right now, I might re-post a couple of writings that I had up on an old blog that I removed a few months ago, as well as a couple of writings that I never did publicize before. Perhaps I will post one each day for a couple of days. And somewhere among them, I will post a blog about how I spent my birthday last week. ;)

Meanwhile... I hope that life's failures and struggles and the conquering of them leave you feeling rather good, too.

PS Life is a climb; but the view is great! ;) (And I happen to be of the opinion that the climbing feels great, too!)

"Yesterday's failures are today's seeds
that must be diligently planted to be
able to abundantly harvest
tomorrow's successes."

- Author Unknown