SMILENSYLLI

The Flying Pig 5k 2009

2009-05-03T16:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was one of the best days of 2009 for me. The 2008 Flying Pig 5k was the first event I ever entered and it changed my life forever. This year, I have been working to increase my walking speed and even add in some running. Have you seen my legs? Let's just say, they are pretty short so to cover the distance, I've got to really move them. In 2008 I finished the 3.2 miles in 1 hour 15 minutes. I was thrilled just to have finished. Yesterday, as I crossed the "Finish Swine" the clock read just over 58 minutes. My goal was to do it in under an hour since my two previous 5k times had been an 1 hr. 2 minutes. What a day!

I was thankful to have my training buddy/coach, Maura with me the whole way. She pushed me to run and helped me keep my walking pace fast. I must say that I surprised myself with my ability to run as far and as fast as I did--keep in mind the short legs and add to it about 60 more pounds than I would like to be carrying next year. This has been an amazing year for me. I have experienced so much personal growth and have found out some really neat things about myself along the way.

There were so many great things about yesterday. The first thing was that we had ten people representing Pink Princess Racing in this years Flying Pig. Maura, her daughter Mikayla and her sister-in-law, Rhonda, all ran the 10k event. Eric called them "The Three Ten-ers." My sister, Margaret and my step-sister, Laura walked the 5k with me and Maura. My niece, Cortney, Maura's daughters, Mikayla and Jessica and Maura's son, Tanner along with his friend, Joe, joined Rhonda in running the 5k. We all met or exceeded our personal goals for the day.

For several weeks I have been visualizing myself doing well in the race and beating my previous times. That morning I had prayed for extra angels to help me on my walk. One of the highlights of my walk came about the 1.5 mile mark. I was walking as fast as I could go and I looked down on the ground. There right in front of me was a leaf from a ginko tree. I looked up and there on the side of the road was a ginko tree just full of beautiful green fan-shaped leaves. I knew this was an answer to my prayer for angels to assist me. Years ago, I worked with a special friend, Debbie Brown, who is an angel in my life. She loves the outdoors and especially waking outdoors. She would frequently go for walks during her lunch break. In the spring she would bring me ginko leaves. "They are a symbol of good luck." she told me. I knew at that moment that my dear angel friend, Debbie was with me. This gave me an extra push to move on and finish what I had started.

Seeing Eric on the sidelines near the "Finish Swine" was another wonderful moment. Hearing him cheer me on, gave me the extra boost to run as I finished the race. His love and support has helped me as I have traveled this journey. I am thankful that I can count on him to help me and I look forward to being there for him on his first 5k.

After the race, we headed over to my Dad's house for our first annual post-race Pig Out. Bobbye had prepared homemade spaghetti sauce and we enjoyed a wonderful spaghetti dinner, complete with salad, garlic bread and ice cream for dessert. It was an awesome way to end the festivities of the day.

Have You Missed Me???

2009-03-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

Today is a happy day for Eric...when he saw that I was sitting at the computer trying to log into my blog (and having a rough time doing so) he asked, "Are you going to post? Is the drought over? Has the silence been broken?" Well, I can't say that the silence will be all over. My time these days is limited and I confess that after sitting in front of a computer all day at work, I am not exactly interested in sitting in front of one when I get home.
So....Have you missed me? I won't bore you with all the details of my life since my last post, which was before Christmas. (A fact that Eric tossed out to me last week in a feeble attempt to get me back into blogging) I will say that I have been concentrating my efforts on my walking/running goals. I am proud to say that after the holidays, I really got down to business. Even though it was cold outside, I was walking the miles on the inside. In February, I set a goal to walk 100 miles. I didn't quite make it, but with some crunching the last week of the month I did manage to eek out 90 miles.
Of course the weight loss is going slow, but I feel better. In looking at my calendars from last year, I don't know what I weighed this time last year...(I was too frustrated to even step on the scale--another story for later). I am proud to say that I am down 26 pounds from my weight in August of last year, which is when I started weighing myself again. To me that is huge, though some days I wish it were more. Then I tell myself..."Sylvia, you aren't gaining and this is a good thing."
I am thankful for the spring. The past two weeks have been amazing. I have been able to get to the park and walk outside. I have even been running--slowly--but running. Maura has been such a good trainer--she is tough, but kind--forceful, in a nice way--She makes me want to do better and as any good trainer, she pushes me to do things I think I can't. The picture above is from one of our first times running. It felt great!
As we were at the park today, I was nursing a blister on my toe, so we didn't run until the end of our 2.5 mile walk. She made me run farther than I thought I could. As I was nearing our finish line she commented on how great I will feel when I am 20 pounds lighter. Now there is a mental picture!
I am thankful for her. I am thankful that we have set our goals to do this. The Flying Pig is our first event this year. I am walking/running the 5k. My long range goal is to be able to walk/run the Thanksgiving Day 10k. I can totally do it. What a blessing it is to have a healthy, strong body! I am thankful to Heavenly Father everyday for my body. Growing up as a fat kid, I never thought I would feel that way or do anything like this. Heavenly Father really will make our weaknesses into strengths if we will humble ourselves. I know this to be true--but that is a story for another post. Thanks for reading...I'll try to be better about posting because I know you care.

The Christmas Spirit

2008-12-18T02:06:00.000-08:00

It has been 9 years since my mother passed away and this Christmas has been the most difficult that I remember in all that time. I have missed her so often during the past several months and I am not sure exactly why. I have really struggled to have the holiday spirit, however this past week I had some experiences that have made it a little easier to open my heart.
The first happened a few days ago. I was walking out of the office after a really crazy day at work. I just wanted to get to the car and go home. I passed a woman and a little girl who appeared to be about 4 years old. The little girl was singing at the top of her lungs,
“Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is coming to town!”
The next experience happened today in Sacrament Meeting. There was a special musical number performed by the Matthew and Zachary Zalar along with their mother. It was a medley of Christmas hymns and Matthew played the violin. I wasn’t prepared for the feelings that rushed into my heart. I thought of my mother and how when I was younger, we would do the same kind of things. Both Bobbye and I cried and cried.
After church, as I was putting the nursery toys away, I saw Savanna Prince walking down the hall. She had candy from the Bishop’s office in her hand as she greeted me with a huge smile. I hugged her and asked her if she was excited for Christmas. She said that she was and she was looking forward to getting presents. I agreed with her that it was fun to get presents at Christmas. As she followed me into the nursery classroom, she said, “Sylvia, Christmas is Jesus’ birthday and WE get the presents!”
It took me a few minutes to fully comprehend what she said. As I did the tears began to flow once again. I am thankful for the wisdom of a 5 year old. This Christmas I hope each and every one of you remember how blessed you are because Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ gave US all the presents. May your hearts truly rejoice during this wonderful holiday season.

I've Been Tagged...Games I don't play well...

2008-11-14T21:34:00.000-08:00

Maura, http://www.pamperedprincessmaura.blogspot/, tagged me. I will confess right now that I don't play games like this very well. I may be amending the rules somewhat because there are just some games I stink at and this is one of them. My understanding of this game is that I must

a) link to the person that tagged me.

b)mention the rules of the game

c)tell six quirks about myself

d)tag six other people

e)comment on their blogs to let them know they have been tagged

I am hoping so far that I have accomplished the first two rules. So on to the quirks...

1. I love to do dishes. A clean kitchen makes me so happy. Cooking the meal is fine and I enjoy that too, but cleaning up the kitchen and making things organized and sparkling just really satisfies me. The rest of the house can be in total chaos, but if the kitchen is clean and organized, then I am a happy camper. I like to cook, but refuse to do so in a dirty kitchen. So in our house, that means, Eric does most of the cooking! About once a month, I get really frustrated and attack it with all my might. That cleaning lasts for a week or so and then it is trashed again. Since returning to work full time 8 years ago, I have had to learn the art of selective neglect. I selectively neglect this dirty kitchen because I have more important things that need to be done in my limited time. This habit has saved my marriage since I am married to "Messy Marvin".

2. I hate to leave home. I know this may sound odd, but I could stay home for days on end. Those of you who have been to my house, know that I have everything anyone could ever want or need so I wouldn't have to go out for a long time! I have noticed that this is an interesting paradox, because all my life, I have had to be gone from home. My secret desire is to be locked in my home for a month...oh, the things I could get done!

I have had tremendous opportunities to travel and each time I have a trip coming up, I get really nervous. I just hate to leave. This doesn't stop me from going and having a great time, but I really enjoy coming home.

3. I have really weird sleeping patterns. When I was younger, I considered myself a "night person". I functioned the best between 10pm and 2am. This didn't work well while I was in school. After I got married, I had a few years when I could still stay up late and sleep in. When I started back to work full time, I had to learn to go to bed early and get up early. Usually I am asleep before 10pm and I get up around 5am. Sometimes, I wake up even earlier. This happens frequently on the weekends. I have found that I get a lot done early on Saturday morning because everyone else is asleep.

4. I have a fear of drowning. Not so intense that it keeps me out of or away from water. In fact I love the water. It is just every now and then when I am driving across a bridge, I think about the car plummeting into the water and what I would do. Part of me thinks I would try to escape and then another part of me thinks I would just let go and surrender myself to the deep. I hope I never have to actually face that fear. When I was a little girl, we lived in eastern Pennsylvania and we would have to drive to one of my parent's friends houses a lot. She was an elderly lady named Sister Jonnsen. The road to get there was narrow and winding. On one side was a river. I would be scared every time we drove on the side of the road closest to the river especially in winter when the roads were covered with ice and snow.

5. I have a two new loves...Cruising and Florida. After having such a great time on my recent vacation, I have spent hours dreaming and planning about a return trip. I am totally in love with Florida. Now I am smart enough to know that I don't want to go there in the summer, nor do I really want to live there--way too hot! But just like Utah, a visit now and then is perfect.

6. I have two things that I have never done, but would like to do before I die. I have never been to Disneyworld (or Disneyland for that matter). I would like to go there just once. Not to ride the rides but just to experience the atmosphere of "The Happiest Place on Earth". Of course it would be fun to sleep overnight in the Princess castle! The other thing I have never done, but would love to do is to attend the Tucson Gem Show which is held every year in February. It is one of the premiere gem trade shows in the world. It is strictly for business owners so I will have to either know someone or have my own business. About ten years ago, Eric's mother got to go to the show with her Sister in Law who owns a quilt shop in Tucson. She bought me a really neat sterling silver and opal ring. She told me that there is so much to see you can't even see it all. I just want to see all the gems.

Ok. so here is where I don't play the game too well. I am going to "freeze" on tagging anyone else. Number one, I don't know how to link people. Number two, I am sure that it is so late in the game that everyone I know has already been tagged. So thanks for reading my quirks. Feel free to comment and know that you are all safe...there'll be no tags from me!

The Extreme Gardner Girls Conference

2008-11-08T03:10:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, I just returned from attending the Extreme Gardner Girls Conferece. I am hoping that this will become an annual event. Last Fall my sister, Debra decided that as sisters we needed to take a vacation together. She arranged for us to take a cruise to the Caribbean and told us to get our passports and make arrangements to get to Florida. This conference was a year in the making and well worth all the sacrifices made to attend. Debra wanted this trip to allow us to bond together in a special way. I was thankful for the chance to spend more time with Laura because she is our newest sister and though I took care of her when she was three, I didn't really know her as a grown up.

Traveling with Bobbye is always an adventure. For those of you who have not had the experience, let me just say that if you like to melt into the background, don't travel with Bobbye. Everyone knows who you are when you are with her. This trip was no exception. Margaret, Bobbye and I flew down to Florida on Saturday Oct. 25th. We were picked up from the airport by the hotel shuttle. The driver immediately played a joke on us by telling us it was his first day driving and he wasn't sure how to get back to the hotel. We found out later that Debra (who was the first to arrive) had arranged for him to play a trick on Bobbye when he picked us up. Soon we were joined by Martha, Mary and Laura who were flying in from Salt Lake. Then the laughter began...

Sunday morning we attended Sacrament Meeting at a local ward. The ward choir director was sitting in the pew in front of us. When she heard us sing, she asked if we were moving into the ward. Sorry, just visiting! That afternoon, we drove down by the beach and ate lunch at this cafe which had booths that were on gliders. It was fun to feel the breeze and listen to the ocean as we ate lunch.

Monday morning we took the shuttle to Port Everglades where we checked in and boarded our cruise ship. There were lots of people there, but it was organized really well and soon we were greeted by Royal Caribbean staff directing us to the lunch buffet on the pool deck. Our staterooms were not ready yet so we went up there and enjoyed a wonderful lunch. As we sat at our table eating, laughing and visiting, I marvelled at the fact that I was actually on a cruise ship for the first time ever!

Before too long, we were leaving the port and our cruise was underway. Tuesday morning we were in Key West. It was very windy and a little chilly however, I got some really great pictures from the top deck of the ship.

Wednesday we were in Cozumel, Mexico where we booked a shore excursion called the Deluxe beach break. They took us to this resort and we got to sit on the beach for a few hours. It was partly cloudy there so the temperature was perfect.

Thursday we were in Belize City, Belize. We took an excursion to the Mayan ruins. It was an hour by bus and then another hour and a half by boat up the Belize River. The site where the temples were was really neat, but it was definately in the jungle. There was a lot of mud, rocky terrain and bugs.

Friday was Halloween and we were cruising all day. It was fun to just hang out on the ship and visit. There were lots of activities going on and we spent the day enjoying each other's company.All too soon, we were back in Ft. Lauderdale. We spent Saturday together and we all headed for home on Sunday morning. I was so thankful to Debra for having the inspiration to plan and organize such a wonderful outing. I am thankful for my sisters and for the opportunity of spending time with them in such a unique setting. After the holidays we are going to plan our next conference. I am sure it will be another wonderful event. I also want to give a special thanks to Bobbye. Many of you knew my mother and what a special woman she was. She always made us feel important and loved. I am so thankful for Bobbye because she has the same attitude toward us. I am thankful that she loves me so much. She was a major contributor in making the Extreme Gardner Girls Conference a success.

I learned many things from attending this conference. First of all: The Gardner Girls Rock! We are all awesome, talented, funny, smart and beautiful women. Second: It is important to take time to do things with the ones you love regardless of the sacrifices you have to make. Third: Cruising is a great way to vacation. I have never felt so pampered in all my life. I am looking forward to taking Eric on a cruise someday.

THE MARCH OF THE PINK PRINCESS

2008-10-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

The other day I took a few minutes to read some blogs. As I was reading "Through Rose-colored Glasses" I realized that it had been a really long time since I had posted. The main reason for this is because I have been focusing on my fitness goals and also some other personal goals. Sorry for my long absence...

Wednesday as I was doing my in home walking with Leslie Sansone (4 fast miles) I realized for the first time in my life, I actually set a goal in January to lose weight and have accomplished this goal. It has been a long and frustrating path. I have struggled with health issues, stress from work and periods where I just lacked commitment. Despite these and other challenges, I have managed to drop more than 20 pounds since January. Of course, my hope at the beginning of the year was to lose more than this, but the fact that I have actually accomplished part of my goal is really significant.

It was interesting for me to note that the majority of my weight loss happened after I returned home from vacation in July. I had committed to walking the Black Squirrel 5k with Maura and I knew that I needed to get conditioned for this. August was a great month. September didn't start out so wonderful because I had a sinus infection. The week leading up to the Black Squirrel was really bad because I had to work a lot of overtime due to the wind storm. When the 27th of September dawned, I was pretty exhausted.

Regardless of this fatigue, I had committed to the event and I was going to do it. I admit that I was not adequately prepared and by the time I hit heartbreak hill, which was early in the course, I was seriously questioning my sanity. I was thankful for two angels (Rhonda and Stephanie), who walked with me and helped me finish. It was hard. My pace was slow (about 21 minutes per mile). I was the last person to cross the finish line, but I finished and was proud of my accomplishment.

The best part of the event was when I was coming down the last big hill and I saw Maura, Mikayla and my niece, Cortney coming up the hill to greet me. They came to find me and walk me in. I had no idea how demanding this course would be and I was totally unprepared. As I pondered the event later that day, I realized that only the first few hundred feet and the last few hundred feet were flat. Everything else was either up or down hill. What a challenge. I told Maura, next year, we are training on those hills.

On the way home from this event, we drove through Winton Woods and discussed the possibility of doing the Run for the Nuns 5k which was the following Saturday. I was not sure I wanted to do any hills again so soon. Maura called the sponsors and found out that the course had been changed so we decided to go for it. I will save this experience for a future blog. I will say that doing the Run for the Nuns was the most fun I have had since I started this journey earlier this year.

For the past two weeks I have been very committed to my walking/jogging. I am working to build up my stamina for my upcoming cruise. The other day, Eric wanted to inspire me so he printed out my finish line pictures for all three 5k walks I have done. To my surprise, I could really see the difference in my body. I am thankful for the changes and I am looking forward to even more as I continue working toward reaching my fitness goals.

So, I am still a slow walker, but my pace is getting faster. I still want to complete the 10k at the Flying Pig in May. In January when I sat down and set my goals for this year, I never imagined where they would take me...but I am totally loving it!

This is me finishing the Flying Pig 5k on May 3rd.

This is me finishing the Black Squirrel on Sept. 27th. My nephew, Heston is cheering me on as I cross the finish line.

This is just before I crossed the finish line at the Run for the Nuns on Oct. 4th. I am celebrating beating my time from the previous week by almost 4 minutes.

I Didn't Know...

2008-06-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

I realized a couple of weeks ago that it had been over a month since I had posted anything new. Although I felt guilty, my busy schedule did not permit me to remedy the situation until today. Yesterday as I was watching QVC--one of my favorite things to do--I heard a new term that I thought was blogworthy. The hostess was talking about how the recent economic challenges have made it more expensive for people to take traditional vacations. The consequence of this was that many were opting to stay home this summer and participate in recreational activities either at home or closer to home. She called this a "STAYCATION"!

Now, I don't know about you, but this concept is not new to me...I can remember as a child that our family took several staycations. In fact, most of the 21 years that Eric and I have been together, we have taken a staycation during the summer. Last year during our staycation we put the laminant floor in our computer room. It was both physically and mentally taxing for me and when it came time to return to work, I felt like I needed another week to recover. This was an especially good staycation because it came the closest to simulating how I feel when I have to return to work after a traditional vacation.

What a surprise for me to find out that all these years, I was just ahead of my time--and so were my parents! I'm guessing that there are plenty of you out there who were also ahead of your time--now we can rest easy because we know that we were veteren staycationers before it was chic!

Now of course, the best part of this new discovery would be if I could actually participate with "the crowd" in my own staycation this year. Truth be told, I would love to do this because I really enjoy being at home with Eric, my four kitties and my sweet doggie. Alas, I am sorry to say that once again, I am not going to be in vogue. I have already purchased tickets for TWO vacations this year! Oh, well.

Wow, I really did it!!! My Life Has Changed Forever

2008-05-04T11:04:00.001-07:00

It was hard to do, but I did it! When I sat down to write out my goals for 2008, I never imagined I would find myself actually wanting to go downtown and be around a whole bunch of people walking in the rain. I started my walking program to help me lose weight. This has been particularly frustrating since it isn't happening the way I would like (but that is for another blog). When Maura mentioned walking the 5K at the Flying Pig Marathon, I thought, "ok, I can do this."

I worked really hard in January and February to get my walking distance up to 4 miles at time. In March I started having some health issues so cut back a bit and I completely stopped in April. I was very frustrated and wasn't even sure I would be able to do the 5K even up to last week. On Tuesday I made the decision that I had set this goal and I was going to do it even though I had not walked in over a month. I put in my slow walking DVD and managed to do 2 miles before I quit. I did ok so figured I would just go for it.

Friday at the Health Expo was a total blast. Maura and I checked in and picked up our posters, T-shirts and other goodies. We walked around and I just took in the atmosphere. At this point, I have to interject that I usually avoid crowds, events and the like so this was highly out of character for me. Maura was so knowledgeable about things and I loved her enthusiasm. It really lit my fire and made me eager for the events of the next day.

I hardly slept at all Friday night. We got up at 5am and were out to door by 6 to pick up Maura. We got downtown and parked in a great spot--I have to say here that this was my real fear--where to park so that Eric didn't have to do a ton of walking. I prayed that things would go well and they did. Shane told us exactly how to get where we wanted to be and we parked about as close to the action as you could get. Once we were there, I was more relaxed.

It was wet and drizzly when Maura started, but I really enjoyed cheering her on as she left. She inspired me so much and I was extremely proud of how well she finished. It was a highlight of my day to stand there at the "finish swine" and clap as she crossed. She totally rocks! It was fun to see all the cool stuff they had for the racers once they finished and it made me excited for my turn.

We went back to the car and hung out for a while. We ate snacks and watched the people walking by on the sidewalk. We could see that the rain was starting again--so much for the weather forecast that said the rain would be over by 9am! Silly weathermen!!! When it came time for my race, it was pouring down rain. I was really excited despite the wet conditions. The thing that impressed me the most was the participants...there were all kinds of people: young, old, skinny, not so skinny, people in wheelchairs and some were even blind. When Maura initially mentioned I should do this walk, she told me about all the different people who participated. Seeing it for myself, just drove home the point that everyone can participate if they want.

I started off strong and confident, the first mile was easy. Maura was talking to me and coaching me the whole way and I was so thankful. I could have done it alone, but she wanted to be there with me. Her encouragement helped me get through some really rough spots where I would have been tempted to quit. Before we got to the 2nd mile marker, I could feel the blisters starting to form on my feet because my socks were so wet. There was a point where the course was not marked well and we--like many others, because we were following the crowd (also a lesson for another blog) went the wrong way. We had to backtrack so that we could get back on course. We could see the finish line, but still had about half the course to run so we joked about going across, but decided we did not want to cheat ourselves from having the full experience. On we walked.

When I was nearing the "Finish Swine" Maura broke off from me and ran ahead to meet up with Eric. I was left to walk the last part on my own. It was at this point that I had two profound thoughts which brought tears to my eyes. The first was that I was actually going to accomplish my goal which made all the work and sacrifice worth the effort. The second thought was about the Savior when He atoned for our sins. When the suffering got difficult, an angel was sent to strengthen him, however, there was a point where he had to finish the task alone...and he did. Maura was the angel that strengthened me. She stayed with me until it was time for me to finish the race on my own.

This experience has changed my life forever. I am now really excited about walking and running other marathons. I have set a goal to run the 10K next year and I also want to walk the 5K with my sweetheart, Eric. My heart is full today as I contemplate the numerous blessings the Lord has bestowed upon me. Maura, you are the best. You were sent to me at a time when I really needed you.Thank you for your support and encouragement. To those of you reading this (since you have persevered to the end of this rather long posting) this is an open invitation to join us next year. We would love to share a walk/run with you.

A Fresh Perspective

2008-04-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

This week marks the one year anniversary of my nephew, Louis, getting sick. For those of you who don't know the story, I will give you the highlights. Louis lived here in Ohio for about six years. He was raised as a member of the church but was not active as an adult. Louis and I have always had a close relationship and so during the time he lived here we relied on each other for help and support.
Last April, he went to Mercy hospital with pain in his abdomen. He was transferred to UC where they treated him for a blood clot in the main vein coming from his liver. He was doing pretty well with his treatment, however during a procedure there was a complication which caused him to go into respiratory and cardiac arrest. The doctors and nurses were able to bring him back, but were certain that he would not live. I was at the hospital when this happened and it reminded me a lot of what you see on tv.
We were blessed to have two worthy Priesthood holders working at the hospital that night who were able to administer to him. The blessing was beautiful and comforting to myself and also his mother. In the days and weeks that passed, Louis got stronger and eventually was able to be moved to a long term care facility in Utah so his mother could be close to home. In Nov. he came home from the nursing home and now lives with his parents.
He still has a long way to go. He cannot speak, but his facial expressions let you know what he is thinking. He requires constant monitoring, but he is home and he is happy. This brings me to my story for this week...I called my sister to see how she was doing and the Relief Society president answered the phone. At first I thought I had dialed a wrong number, but she assured me that I had not. She told me that Martha was busy with Louis and he was having a problem so they were taking him to the hospital.
Later that night, Martha called me to explain that Louis was choking on some mucous and they couldn't get it out. She shared with me how wonderful and calm his brother, John, was as he called 911 and explained that they needed help. She said that John looked at Louis and told him, "Louis, you stay here with us. You don't go to Grandma! Stay with us."
As I have thought about that statement the past few days I am amazed at John's perspective. He is 16 years old and he shares a large portion of the responsibility to care for his older brother. It would be easy for him to resent the time he has to sacrifice to care for Louis. It would be easy for him to resent the time that his mother has to spend taking care of Louis. My sister said she feared that they were going to lose Louis and she was sure that my mother was there during this episode.
I also know that this past year for Louis has been frustrating. One day he is healthy and able to go about living his life the way he wants and the next he is trapped in a body that won't work. I have wondered what impact John's words had on Louis. I have marvelled at the love John showed for Louis. Most of all, I am thankful because I understand how John came to love Louis so much.
When John was little, Louis was a lot older and he loved John and always went out of his way to do things with/for him. One might think that would be the reason, but the real reason that John begged Louis to stay with them is because he truly loves him. I believe this love came as a result of the example of my sister and my mother. My mother cared for my handicapped sister, Julie for 20 years and allowed each of us to take part in that. The privilege of caring for Julie is one that I treasure to this day. I miss her a lot. Martha now is doing the same thing as she teaches her children while they care for Louis.
I know for a fact that we love those we serve and there can be no greater blessing than this. I am so thankful for John's insightful words..."Stay here with us." Don't feel like you need to leave just because you are tired, frustrated, too much trouble, or you think we are tired and frustrated. We will take care of you because we love you. We want you here with us. What a different world it would be if more people understood the power of unconditional love. Thank you John, for giving me a fresh perspective.

The Tupperware Shape Ball Experience

2008-04-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Today in nursery, I brought a Tupperware shape ball toy for the class. As we sat on the blanket, I handed each child a different shaped piece. Then, one by one I put the ball in front of each child with the matching opening on top to help them put the piece inside. As I watched what happened next it made me think about my own life...
Some of the children followed my prompting and tried to put the piece into the space I was showing them but they were not sucessful because it was slightly twisted and it didn't match the opening. Of these, some persisted to follow my instructions and eventually got the piece to go in the opening and others started looking for and trying to put the piece into another opening.
Some of the children didn't pay any attention to what I was showing them and immediately tried to get the piece to fit into a different space. It became frustrating for me because I was trying to help them and they weren't listening.
Some of the children were excited about taking a turn with the toy and others didn't really care at all if they got the piece in the correct place. It didn't take long before I was ready to put the toy away!
As I reflected on this experience this afternoon, I wondered how many times Heavenly Father has become frustrated with me. In the past few weeks, I have been struggling with some health issues and I have been extremely frustrated. I have prayed and asked for help. I have had Priesthood blessings. I have acted on the things I have been instructed to do and nothing changed. This past week, my patience was exhausted. It was 3am on Tuesday morning and I had had all I was going to take. I was on my knees issuing an ultimatum: Solve this problem or else! (and the "or else" was that I would work all week because I have to and I would rest all day Saturday and Sunday and I wouldn't be going to church). I did feel somewhat guilty about throwing a temper tantrum, but I was really tired. I have since repented of the tantrum.
In the hours and days that followed, I got the answers I was needing. How thankful I am that despite my temper tantrum, I was blessed by a Heavenly Father that loves me. In thinking about my experience today, I know I had the right pieces to the puzzle, they were just slightly askew. Instead of adjusting each of the pieces, I was looking for a different opening that fit the way I had them arranged. After humbling myself and making some alterations I was able to see some changes. As these changes came, I expressed my gratitude for the blessing.
I had planned to attend an all day stamping party yesterday, but instead spent the day in bed getting the rest my body needed. I know this was the place I needed to be even though I wanted to be with my friends. I knew it was important that I have the strength to be in the nursery class and that if I have to work all week and sleep all day Saturday so that I can be there on Sunday then that is what I will do.
Nursery today went pretty well. I am confident that there is much good being accomplished and that is why I am experiencing such opposition. Corrie's talk in Sacrament meeting today was very uplifting. With my current struggles and stress, I know I need to be in church each week. I also know that Heavenly Father will give me the strength to be there. I am hopeful that in time, I will get all the pieces into the ball and everything thing will be in the correct order. I just have to be patient and listen to His instructions.

The Adventure Continues

2008-04-13T14:49:00.001-07:00

As promised in a previous blog...this is a picture of me on a mule. It was taken in Sept. 2002 when my friend, Pam Clark, and I, took Eric's mother with us to the Parade Rest Dude Ranch in West Yellowstone, Montana. Here is the story...
We had so much fun during our whirlwind weekend in Texas that we wanted to travel again so almost immediately after getting home, we started planning another trip. We looked for airline tickets online because we decided that we didn't like flying stand-by. We found a great deal and reserved our tickets. The day before the deadline to actually pay for the tickets we talked again about taking the trip. Neither of us felt good about going so we canceled the reservation. A few months later we were humbled as we realized that had we gone on the trip we had planned, we would have been flying home (or should I say trying to fly home) on Sept. 11, 2001. How thankful I am that we followed that prompting.
Pam found this dude ranch online and we decided that we should go there. The rates were good because it was the end of the season. One of the highlights of the trip was called "The Sunset Ride". Now, I must confess that I was a little intimidated by the prospect of riding anything up the side of a mountain, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity and I was not disappointed. I would do it again in a heartbeat.
I'm sure the ranch hands were accustomed to dealing with people that didn't know anything about riding and I was thankful for this. The mule's name was "Shaw Lynn" and he was very gentle. They had steps that I walked up to help me get on his back. It was nothing like trying to get on the cow. After a brief lesson on how to ride, we were off! Pam was riding behind me and she coached me a few times until I got the hang of it.
We started up the mountain and rode for about 30 minutes until we came to a beautiful lake. It was just about sunset and the temperature was great. I remember being in awe of my beautiful surroundings. It was the beginning of Fall so the leaves were starting to change color. It was wonderful. By the time we got back to the ranch it was nearly dark. Pam snapped this picture so I could have photographic evidence of my ride. I don't know why I didn't take my camera with me? I definately will, the next time I do this.
During this same trip, we went to Yellowstone National Park. That was my first time to go there and I didn't get to see Old Faithful, so I have to go back someday for that. We also stopped in Grand Teton National Park. Now that was a beautiful place. We drove to Twin Falls, Idaho so I could visit my grandmother and we spent a few days in Salt Lake visiting my family. We knew we had done a lot in the ten days we were gone because we logged 2000 miles on the rental car! Wow! Oh, and I also got a speeding ticket in Taylorsville, Utah--but that is a story for another blog.
I am sad to say that since this trip we have not traveled much. Lives get busy and so for now we have nothing planned, but I am hopeful that in a couple of years after her children have graduated from high school, that we will again be able to take a trip together. How thankful I am for the beautiful earth that the Lord created. I am also thankful for the freedom to be able to travel about and see these wonderful creations.

My Daring Adventures

2008-04-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

As a follow up to my ABC's, I thought I would post some rare pictures of me doing things that are a little daring. This first picture is from New Year's weekend in 2000. I went to Texas with my dear friend, Pam Clark. The story is quite funny...you see, her mother worked for US Air and we got really cheap tickets flying stand by. We wanted to go to LA, but that was pure foolishness. We flew from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh where we checked all the available flights to the west and then started sitting at gates. We finally made it on a plane that took us to Dallas. We rented a car and got a hotel room for the weekend. This picture was taken at the Fort Worth Stock yards.
This man was walking up and down the street. He would let people get on the cow for pictures. Pam (who had lots of experience riding horses) was able to get right up there on the cow. Now, for me it was a little different. The man (standing there next to the cow) said, "If you can get your foot up in that stirrup, I can get you on that cow." Being the daredevil that I am, I said, "No problem!" I stepped up as high as I could and got my foot in the stirrup. Then jumped. He pushed. I pulled and you know, I got on that cow. Great picture, don't you think?
Pam and I had so much fun on this trip that we decided to do it again. In my next posting, I'll show the infamous "Sylvia on a mule" picture from when we went to the Dude Ranch in Montana. I am really thankful for my adventurous spirit. I am especially thankful that even though I have a lot of "body" I have enough muscle to do just about anything I want.

My A B C's

2008-03-23T13:31:00.001-07:00

A: Attached or single--definately attached!

B: Best Friend--Eric

C: Cake or Pie--definately Pie--key lime or cherry preferrably.

D: Day of Choice--Saturday (don't have to go to the office, can do what I want, when I want)

E: Essential item--anythng with some bling!

F: Favorite color--Pink, yellow, purple, I love them all!

G: Gummy bears or worms--Gummy bears, especially the cinnamon ones--I love those things!

H: Hometown--Fairfield, Ohio.

I: Indulgence--full body massage (have not had one for a long time, desperately need one now!)

J: January or July--too hard to choose, January has two holidays because I am a government worker, July only has one since we don't live in Utah, I guess I vote for January.

K: Kids--4 boys and a girl--Lad, Bullseye, Kit Kat, Snickers and Oreo. What can I say? They are my babies--Oh, and then there is Eric, but according to him, he is pretty low on the totem pole.

L: Life rule--Everything's better with glitter! If your paper's too plain, stamp on it!

M: Marriage--Feb. 20, 1987 Jordan River Temple--the first time in my life I really felt like a princess.

N: Number of Siblings--5 sisters and 3 brothers.

O: Oranges or Apples--Oranges! There is nothing better than getting all sticky and smelling really yummy.

P: Phobias--large crowds, like at the race track or Walmart on Saturday. Big ugly spiders!

Q: Quote--"That's messed up!" Boog the grizzly bear from "Open Season" also, "You look like my Barbie" Olivia from "The Holiday"

R: Reason to smile--I'm taking two vacations this year!

S: Season--definately Summer--I need the sunshine, now!

T: Tag Six--I am always the last one to get with the program so I am guessing that everyone has already been "tagged" or "it" so I am changing this category to Trip--my most memorable trip was to a dude ranch in Montana. It was my firt time to ride a mule--someday I'll post the picture.

U: Unknown Fact about Me--My second year of college I was on Academic Probation while also serving on the Academics Counsel--Yes, my major was campus wildlife--Who'd a thunk it?

V: Vegetarian or Carnivor--Vegetarian, most definately, which causes some issues with my Carnivorous husband!

W: Worst Habit--I don't have any of those...I only have good habits...ok, ok, Eric says it is backseat driving. Can I help it if I want to get there safely? Hmmm?

X: X-ray or Ultrasound--never had an ultrasound so I have to go with x-ray.

Y: Your favorite food--Pizza, hands down! I could eat it anytime, all day, every day. Can't ever have too much.

Z: Zodiac--Leo. Couldn't you tell?

Spring is Almost Here!

2008-03-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

I was thankful for the snow last week. It gave me a chance to scrub my kitchen floor (which was seriously dirty). It gave me an excuse to reorganize some of my kitchen cupboards and get rid of some things I have not been using. I also cooked more than I have in a long time.

The end of Feb. I got sick with a really bad ear infection and I had to slow down. I was making good progress on my goals, but since then, I have lost my momentum. Having to stay inside last weekend, gave me the time to get things back on track. I will confess that I usually hate snow. I like the way it looks and how peacefully it comes down from the heavens, but once it starts hanging around on the ground, it begins to create problems for my life. We have been blessed with a really good neighbor who will clear our driveway with his snowblower. He has saved us many times this winter. He was able to clear the driveway on Friday evening, but after the big snow on Saturday, his snowblower froze up before he could get to our driveway. I ended up shoveling it myself which was really good for me. I enjoyed the exercise--which I have to say, before starting my walking program, I wouldn't have enjoyed shoveling all that snow.

This afternoon, as I walked out to the car from church, I saw the sun shining, I heard the birds chirping, I breathed in the fresh, slightly crisp air, and I got excited about the arrival of spring. I am so thankful for this time of year when things are fresh and new. It gives me hope that I, too can begin anew. I can make the changes I need to make to become what I want to become. I am thankful for this Easter season. I am especially thankful that this year it comes early because I feel like I really need that reminder right now.

Last Sunday, Eric and I held our own Sacrament meeting and read several articles from this month's Ensign magazine. I was thankful to read the testimoy of President Hinckley. This morning as I was getting ready for church, I reflected on that and then thought about General Conference which is coming in a couple of weeks. I am looking forward to hearing from President Monson. I am thankful the Heavenly Father loves us enough to give us prophets and leaders who love us and desire to help us live the gospel so that we can be happy.

Serving in the nursery has given me some really choice experiences. As many of you know, it was hard for me to accept this calling. I have struggled with this like no other calling I have ever had. I can't even tell you exactly why. It has been a challenge for these young children to adjust to being in Primary. I have worked hard to make the atmosphere inviting and also establish a routine but despite this, we still have some that cry.

I want you to know how much I love these children. They are so sweet and it is wonderful to see their progress each week. I am amazed at what we have accomplished in such a short time. Today, they played together so well. They are singing more of the songs and the funniest part of class is when we do moving to music from the Primary 1 CD. The children are really great and I am thankful that Heavenly Father has given me a chance to get to know them. I am looking forward to taking them outside for walks when the weather gets warmer. Spring will be here soon and I am so thankful!

A FEW THINGS TO SHARE

2008-02-22T10:50:00.000-08:00

I have really been away from blogging for a while. It seems my schedule is pretty crazy these days. Here are a few updates...

After making my first goal to get my shoes, I set another goal to do 3 miles every day for two weeks. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. I had some family things that happened and I just didn't have the energy to do it all. Despite that, I moved forward. When I knew that I wasn't going to meet that goal, I just walked as many days those two weeks as I could. Last Tuesday (2/12/08), Maura came over and we were doing the 3 mile walk which consisted of playing my 2 mile walk one full time and then going to the one mile mark a second time. Well, we got busy talking and I missed the one mile mark. Maura finaly said, "I think we have finished the 3rd mile." I looked at the video and sure enough, we were past that mark. I joked about doing the whole thing twice and she agreed, but then I told her we had to get to work so I stopped.

The next day I was thinking about how easily I could have gone on, so when I started walking, I just kept going. I went through my 2 mile walk 2 complete times. It was amazing to me how easy that last mile was. So I did 4 miles, each day the rest of the week. On Sunday, I decided to pull out my 4 fast miles DVD and see how I could do. It was challenging, but I loved it. So I am now doing 4 fast miles every day. I can keep the pace pretty good, but still not able to do the high impact. I can really tell a difference in my core and abdominal muscles. So I am really excited about this. When Maura came over this past Tuesday we did it together and let me tell you, she is awesome.

I am thankful for all the support and the positive feedback. I have not stepped on a scale in a while because that is just too frustrating right now. Maura and I reviewed my progress since starting in December and found something really interesting. In December when I started, I walked a total of 10 miles. In January I walked a total of 42 miles. As of today, I have walked 57 miles in February and if I keep on track, I will have walked over 80 miles by the end of the month. That is exciting to me. The 4 fast miles is a faster pace and I can really feel the difference. There are good things ahead.

On Wed. this week 2/20/08...Eric and I celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary. In some ways it is hard to believe that we have been married that long. In other ways, it seems like just yesterday. He is my biggest supporter and I am thankful for his encouragement as I work toward acheiving my goals. I don't think I realized when I married him, what a treasure I was getting. However, as the years have passed, I have been blessed to have him in my life. He really brings out the best in me. Eric, honey, thanks for everything. I love you so much. Here's to the next 21 years!

Mama Got a New Pair O' Shoes!

2008-02-04T15:07:00.000-08:00

I have been really diligent about keeping my goals so far this year. I have charted my progress and am really proud to say that I have done better this year than any other year in my life. Still with keeping my goals I wasn't seeing the weight loss that I wanted. I was doing the diet and really giving it my all---to no avail! So I took a que from the pampered princess and decided I was going to increase my activity level...

Last week I walked 3 miles every day---21 miles total. I have to say it was hard some of the days, but I knew that I wanted to obtain my reward so I just ignored the pain and went on. At one point, I got up from my desk slowly because my muscles were stiff and my co-worker asked if I was ok. I explained my goal and she was very supportive because she had also lost 100 lbs a couple of years ago and understood the sacrifice it took to do this.

I am happy to report that today I went to the store and bought my reward--a new pair of running shoes. That isn't even the best part of the story...I was going to get them on Saturday, before I had finished my goal, but decided I wanted to really earn it so I waited...Today after work, Eric and I went to Shoe Carnival. I had planned to buy him a new pair of shoes also so I knew it was going to cost me, but I had earned my shoes and didn't care about the cost.

When we got to the store, we started looking at the shoes. Over the PA system they announced an in store special...buy one pair, get one half price--even on the clearance shoes. This was something we had done there before, but today it wasn't advertised. It was just that store, at that moment. I found a pair of Nike runners that was regularly $65, on clearance for $54. Eric got a pair of New Balance (the only kind that he can wear because his foot is so wide--4E) for $59. My shoes were half price---$27. As we left the store, I exclaimed "Thank you Heavenly Father for another tithing blessing!"

Not only did I reach my goal and get my reward, but I also was blessed to get a great deal. I am thankful to report that I put on the new shoes right after I got home and walked 3 miles in them. WOW--what a difference a new pair of shoes makes! My next goal is to walk 3 miles every day for the next 2 weeks. I haven't decided on a reward, but it will be a good one. I am going to force my metabolism to respond!

I do have to admit that even though the weight loss isn't there, I can see my muscles toning up. I also know that muscle weighs more than fat so I am willing to go with it. Thanks for all your support. This is going to be a great year as I finally accomplish my goals.

Sorry I Was Away So Long

2008-01-24T01:18:00.000-08:00

Hello friends,

After the holidays, my life got really hectic. I was focused on my goals and work has been absolutely crazy so the last thing I wanted to do after coming home was sit in front of a computer again. Sorry, I have been away so long. I have missed reading your blogs. This morning I woke up early and decided to write a few things.

The first is that I am proud to say I have been really good at sticking to my goals for this year. I have been keeping a calendar and writing things down. I have spent more time reading, not only the scriptures, but also some other good books that I have wanted to read. I have kept my exercise goals (though some days I just didn't want to do it) and have lost about 3 pounds. A decent start considering that I have a long way to go and I want to keep it off. I am most thankful to Maura for her support. She has been one of the biggest reasons I have stayed with the exercise. It is great to have a buddy.

Second, I was really thrown for a loop by the calling to serve in the Nursery. This was the first time in my life that I really struggled to accept a call. I literally cried for days. It wasn't that I dislike being there, it was more that I had been looking forward to studying the Book of Mormon with Gospel Doctrine and I was really looking forward to the Joseph Smith RS lessons. I have served in other callings for so many years that I can't remember the last time I started and ended the year in SS and RS. When I was set apart for the nursery calling, I was given a wonderful blessing and I will say that I have been comforted by this. This past Sunday was my first week and I think things went pretty well. I find it ironic that I had just cleaned out my office in November and moved all my Primary stuff to the basement. Now I have to bring it all back upstairs!

Third, and most of all...thank you to all my friends who have been there to offer love and support. This is a big year for me. I have much to accomplish and I know that as I continue to work on my goals, I will see the fruits of my labor. I am thankful especially to Eric. He has always been a great support for me. I love him so much and can hardly believe that next month we celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary. Time flies when you are with the one you love.

With all that said, I will try to be more regular with my posts. I love blogging and I definately will need your support and encouragement throughout the coming year.

New Years Is Over! --Now get to work!!!

2008-01-04T16:15:00.000-08:00

Many of you know that I started a walking program in December. I must confess that I did really well unitl the week before Christmas. I think the stress of the holidays just really made it hard for me to stay focused. Thankfully, I got back on the wagon New Year's Eve. I woke up that morning and informed Eric that he was going to walk 1 mile with me, whether he liked it or not. It was a good thing, too, because we went to two parties that night and pigged out! We also stayed out way too late and when we did come home we stayed up until 2am watching tv...don't ask why--we don't know. Probably because of all the sugar we consumed.

Anyway, I dragged myself out of bed around 9am on New Years Day and commenced to cleaning off the desk in my office, which needed to be done before I could make any kind of resolutions. A little later on, Maura came over and we walked 2 miles together. This was too much fun! Then we went to work in my office, cleaning and clearing things out. After she left, I was feeling really good about what we had accomplished and I was able to sit down and think about my goals for 2008.

I got out a 3 ring binder and put a picture of a new Dodge Avenger (which is the car we plan to purchase this year if our finances will allow it) in the front and proceeded to write out my goals for the year. Then, I got another piece of paper and wrote down the action steps that I will do each day to meet my goals--this was inspired by a great talk on goals that was given in Sacrament Meeting last week--Thank you Jamie! I printed out calendar pages for each month in 2008, added them to the binder, and have been logging my progress each day.

I am proud to report that so far, I am on track--I know it is only the 4th, but I have actually been tracking my progress in walking since December. I am feeling comfortable with a 2 mile walk and am working on increasing the distance by a mile each month. My goal is to be at 195 pounds before the end of the year. The last time I weighed that was when I was in college which was more than 20 years ago. I am ready to do this and knowing that I have a family reunion this summer and a special trip in October with my sisters has given me the incentive. So next time you see me, ask me how I am doing. I will love to share my success.

SOME THOUGHTS ON CHOCOLATE

2007-12-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

I came across this when I was cleaning out some drawers in my office and I thought it might be fun to share with my friends...I am really not a chocoholic, but I do enjoy eating it now and then.

1. If you have melted chocolate all over your hands you were eating it too slowly.

2. Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices, and strawberries count as fruit, so eat as many as you would like.

3. The problem: How to get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car...Solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

4. Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before every meal. It will take the edge off your appetite and you will eat less.

5. If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

6. If I eat equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate is that a balanced diet? I think they counteract each other.

7. Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Therefore, you need to eat more chocolate.

8. Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your "to do" list today. That way, you will get at least one thing done.

9. A nice box of chocolate can provide you with your total daily intake of calories in just one place. Now, isn't that handy?

10. If not for chocolate, there would be no need for control top pantyhose. An entire garment industry would be devastated. You can't let that happen, can you?

So as we enter the next phase of this holiday season, just keep in mind the benefits of chocolate and enjoy!

Visions of Sugarplums

2007-12-17T17:39:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have had time to write a new post. Now I find myself a week from Christmas Eve and the excitement is starting to build. Of course, the snow this weekend, coupled with the cold temperatures has gone a long way toward putting me in a holiday mood. I will confess that when the snow started falling Saturday morning, I was snuggled between flannel sheets and covered with a down comforter. Perfect sleeping in weather! It was quite pleasant to stop and rest. Oh, there was much I could have been doing, but taking the time to slow down really made me stop and think about all my blessings. We have a tradition in our family where we spend Christmas Eve with my sister, Margaret and her family in their home. They live in the country just outside of Greensburg, In. We have dinner, exchange presents and play some games with them. Her four children were little when we started this tradition but now range in age from 6-17 yrs old. Every year we look forward to sharing this special time with them.

Last year was quite eventful as Christmas Eve was on Sunday. We left after church and headed up I-74 toward Greensburg. Not far past Batesville we heard a horrible noise as the rear driver's side tire blew out. This was pretty upsetting to me since only two weeks prior we had replaced the front tires and had the front tires rotated to the back because they were still good. We called my sister and she had her husband drive over to help us. We got out and began trying to remove the cover from the spare tire. By the time my brother in law arrived, we were still struggling to get the zipper undone. It had been five years since it was off--so I am guessing you know what we encountered. We ended up breaking the zipper and pulling the cover off the spare tire.

As if that wasn't enough opposition(there was a cold wind--thankfully no rain) whoever had worked on the tires decided to torque the lug nuts really tight. After much struggling we managed to break all but one. It wouldn't budge.

While we were struggling with the lug nut another car passed us and pulled over. To our surprise it was Bishop Striebeck and his famiy. He and his son worked with us to try and break the bolt and the only thing that happened was we ended up with a bent tire iron. Finally, my brother in law was able to contact someone with the right tools to help us. When the Bishop was sure we had help on the way, he left us. Eventually we were able to get the tire replaced and were on our way.

This was our Christmas miracle. By the time we got to my sister's home, we were cold, hungry and tired. Margaret and the children were waiting there with warm hearts and a wonderful meal. I was truly thankful that we were protected during this experience. It could have been much worse than it was and I have been grateful that the Bishop took time to stop and make sure we were ok.

This year, for the first time in a long time, I am looking forward to having my Dad and Bobbye join us at Margaret's for our family Christmas celebration. This past Saturday morning, instead of being sad about having to stay in, I got out my scriptures and read the Christmas story. I read Luke 2 and Matthew 2 and then read in Helaman 14 and 3rd Nephi 1. I finished off by reading Isaiah 9:6 as tears flowed down my cheeks. It has been a challenge for me to get into the spirit of the holidays this year. I am thankful for the gift of a snowstorm that helped me slow down enough to have my heart touched by the scriptural account of Jesus' birth.

As we begin this final week before Christmas, may each of you take time to count your blessings, recognize the many miracles that occur daily in your lives, and find peace as you feel the love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas to you all.

The Little Things in Life

2007-12-06T15:22:00.000-08:00

It is no secret that I hate Winter. I don't mind Fall with its crisp mornings and sunny, warm afternoons. Spring is also great because of the crisp mornings and sunny afternoons. And what can I say about summer...it is the best. Winter is my least favorite season for a lot of reasons. Yesterday was one of them...SNOW. I hate snow. If I could stay inside and look at it, then it would be ok, but I haven't had that luxury for a long time. It is more of a nuisance than anything else and I am not looking forward to the forecast for tomorrow since I leave for work at 6:30am.

It is in times like these that I take comfort in the little things of life. I am thankful that my car runs well in the snow. I am thankful that I have heat in my house. I am thankful that I have the internet, cell phone and satellite tv. Last night, however, I was thankful for a not so little thing...Eric!

He has been battling this coughing crud for over a week and seemed to be doing really well. We kept the dog inside overnight because it was really cold (usually he likes to be outside at night). Eric started with the coughing again early in the evening. I went to bed about 9:30pm and he was still up watching tv. I remember waking up at 11pm and feeling like I hadn't slept at all. I took the dog out to do his business. When I came back, Eric was fast asleep. I guess the dog was bothering us so around 1am Eric decided he would go and sleep in the recliner in the living room. I awoke about 1:30 to the sound of Eric coughing and choking.

It took a few minutes for me to calm him down enough to catch his breath. I was able to get him to the kitchen and started the hot water running in the sink. The steam helped him to cough up a lot of junk and he started breathing better. Of course, by this time it was nearly 3. I figured it was time to get him some professional help. So I took the day off work and made him an appt. with the dr.

Interestingly enough, the dr. prescribed a powerful antibiotic and suggested the same over the counter cough medicine with decongestant that I had already been giving him. This made me feel a little better about waiting so long to take him to the dr....especially after paying the $50 copay for the antibiotic! When we were on our way home, he confessed to being really scared that he was going to die. He said that he felt like he was drowning and I rescued him. His thoughts--"Well, Sylvia won't have to worry about giving me my Christmas presents this year." My thoughts--"I really don't want to pay for a funeral right now! oh, I mean....I am glad I rescued you, too sweetheart!"

He has now had some of the medicine and a good long nap. He is feeling better. I think he will survive this one. The past couple of days at work have been really difficult. Last night I asked Heavenly Father if He could help me carry that burden better. Maybe He decided I needed a day off or at least a different burden.

Taking a moment to cheer: Hooray!!

2007-12-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

I finished my Christmas shopping today. I usually try to have it done early in the season, but this year was difficult and I don't know why. Anyway, I am pleased to say that I am finished and looking forward to enjoying the wonderful holiday celebrations ahead. Last year at this time, I was finishing up making cards and mailing them out. This year, I haven't made any cards. I just haven't had the time. I may get to it, but it is really low on the priority list right now.

The RS lesson on Sunday was terrific and just what I needed to hear. I had already made the decision to simplify my life but was feeling a little guilty about not doing all the things I usually do at this time of year. After hearing the inspired lesson, I gave up the guilt.

Eric and I did go to the Festival of Lights this year. My sister, Debra, and her family came to visit over Thanksgiving weekend and we went with them. It was so much fun. We would love to go back and hope that the weather will permit us to do that. The Polar Express in 4D was neat. Eric called it a glorified theater trailer, because it was about 15 minutes long, but I enjoyed the experience and would do it again for the thrill of racing down that hill in the train. I also liked the snow coming down in the theater. It was really "cool".

I am starting early on my new years resolution to lose weight. 2008 is going to be an important year for me. I have a family reunion to attend in July and then my sisters and I, along with Bobbye are going on a "sister's adventure" together. More details later...suffice it to say that I need to get in shape so that I can really enjoy these two events. I was explaining my plan to a co-worker today and she asked if I had a membership at the YMCA. I told her that I didn't. (I had one for over a year and never went--how sad is that?!)

I explained to my friend that I didn't need the Y membership because I have every piece of exercise equipment that a fat person could ever want...Tae Bo video, Zumba DVDs, Yogabootyballet DVDs, I have the xl glider, ab scissor, the urban rebounder complete with workout videos, a treadmill and my most recent purchase was (much to Eric's dismay--but I have until 1/31/08 to return it if I don't use it) the air stepper--which is really cool and likely to be a keeper. Eric and I even worked out every week with a personal trainer for 5 years. It was great, but I didn't make a full commitment to the process of changing. (I won't even give you the list of diet books I have purchased) I started today with a simple mile walk. My hope is to work my way up to using the treadmill. And when the weight starts coming off, I hope to be able to start using the other things that just are not easy to do at my present weight. I will keep you posted on my progress.

It's Only Wednesday!

2007-11-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

I returned to work on Monday this week after being off Thursday and Friday last week for the holiday. It is a common idea that government workers get so many holidays, but what you may not know is that we usually pay dearly for the time off. Most of the time we do double the work when we return. Monday was unbelievably crazy (I'll spare you the details), Tuesday was just crazy and today was back to unbelievably crazy.

At one point while I was running down the stairs between the ninth floor (where my office is) to the eighth floor (where our lobby is) to get my next client, the thought ocurred to me that I was deluding myself. I worked in retail stores part time for 12 years and I always dreaded the holiday season because the customers were so demanding and it was just a mad house at work. When I started working for the county, I thought "Finally, no more retail during the holidays!" And that was true until I took a promotion to caseworker six years ago.

It is funny that I hadn't really put the two together until today, but I am back doing "retail" during the holidays. The only difference is that our season is longer. It usually starts mid October and doesn't end until February. There is so much emphasis on material things during this time of year. Since I deal with many who are in poverty or close to it, I know they see what others have and want the same for themselves. Some are willing to go to extreme measures to get it (again I will spare you the details). I will admit that there are many who really just want the basics and are thankful for what we give them.

My speciality is working with individuals who claim to have disabilities. Many have nothing. Some have family and friends who will help them, but most are homeless or alone. Some have mental illness. Some have serious physical ailments brought on by substance abuse or just a rough life. Some are not familiar with how the system works and then there are others who could navigate it with their eyes closed.

Tuesday morning I awoke at 3am. As I laid there in the dark, pondering the coming events of the day and wondering how many "customers" I would have, I was particularly stressed. I got out of bed and went into the other room. I knelt down and poured my heart out to the Lord. As I prayed I was overcome with a feeling of peace and then the inspiration began to flow. I was comforted by such an immediate response to my petition. I enjoyed that feeling and wept tears of relief as again my testimony that the Lord knew me personally was strengthened. Even more than that I understood how much the Lord loves the people whom I am serving.

Yesterday and today have continued to be hectic, however the Spirit of the Lord has renewed my strength. My mind has been enlightened and I have been able to carry the burden easier. I am so thankful for this gospel that not only teaches me how to have peace admidst the chaos, but also how to receive inspiration to bless the lives of others. I don't know what the rest of this week will bring, but I do know that the Lord will be there to help me as I work to help those around me.

Me and Richard Paul Evans

2007-11-23T11:01:00.000-08:00

This past Monday night, I went to Joseph Beth books in Rookwood with my friend, Jean, to hear Richard Paul Evans speak. I have read almost all of his books and love them. I have heard him speak several times and each time I am touched with his genuine gratitude for his readers. There were about 100 people in attendance which is a pretty small group. He spoke for about half an hour and then he allowed us to ask him questions. He spoke about his work and also gave us insights into his personal life which were quite interesting. Then he signed a whole bunch of books. Not only did he sign our books, but he greeted each one of us, shook our hands and spent a few minutes visiting with us individually. This always has impressed me because no matter the crowd, he has done this at every book signing I have attended.

Since being married to Eric--NASCAR fan that he is--I have had several opportunities to wait in line to meet famous people. I am not one that likes crowds and waiting in line for hours is one of my least favorite activities. What struck me about this particular evening was that as many times as I have heard brother Evans speak, this was the first time that he really talked about his personal challenges. The main character in his most recent book suffers from Tourette's syndrome. I was surprised to find out that he does also. I had never noticed this during his previous book signings that I had attended. He candidly shared his challenges with this illness.

In a lot of ways, I understood how it must have hurt to be the "freak" at summer camp. I have struggled with my weight since I was a child. In addition to that the psoriasis on my skin didn't make things any easier. I have been brought to tears after hearing the cruel words spoken by classmates at school. My mother took me to the doctor and he yelled at me and told me not to eat so much--like that was the real problem--then he prescribed some diet pills for me which were horrible. Obviously they worked really well. After that, my mother didn't take me back to that doctor. I am thankful that she understood how important it was that I had good self esteem. She took every opportunity to build me up. When I was a junior in high school I weighed about 200 pounds. With some hard work I was able to lose 40 pounds and managed to keep it off for several years.

This was a difficult time for me, but it was also a happy time because I had the support of my family and friends who loved and accepted me. As I look at the world today, it is still hard for those who are different. I can see that in some ways society is more tolerant of those with weight issues, because so many of us have them. I also see that we have a long way to go to be completely accepting of everyone. The last line of his book says it all... "Don't cry so much. In the end, love wins."

I know this to be true. In the end, love is all that matters. The love that we share with each other has a powerful effect on us. It heals the wounds and scars of this world. It gives us the strength to make changes in our lives. It helps us feel safe and secure. And most of all it brings true joy to our souls regardless of whether we are giving it or receiving it.

As we enter this holiday season, I am thankful to be celebrating the ultimate gift of love. The gift of a Savior who loves me unconditionally. He, who willingly sacrificed himself to pay for my grief, pain and sins. He, who is there to celebrate my triumphs and is continually reaching out to lift me higher. Because of His blessings, today I shed joyful tears instead of the sorrowful tears of my past. To you, my friends, may this truly be a season of love and joy as we celebrate the gift of Jesus Christ.

Lincoln on Leadership

2007-11-15T15:09:00.000-08:00

I have been reading this great book about Abraham Lincoln and his leadership style (Lincoln on Leadership by Donald T. Phillips). He was the president during one of the most difficult times in this nation's history. It has been a learning experience to study his methods of leading. He had unbelievable faith...not only in himself, but in others. He understood that people were important, regardless of their station. He used persuasion rather than coercion to motivate others to action. He understood the importance of having strong alliances. As I was reading this evening, I came across a great quote that I would like to share because it fits so many situations...the topic of this chapter was on dealing with unjust criticism:

"In the later part of 1864, at a time close to an election in which he could be voted out of office, the president kept his faith in the people. Lincoln believed that, in the end, his course would be vindicated. 'I cannot run the political machine,' he once said, 'I have enough on my hands without that. It is the people's business---the election is in their hands. If they turn their backs to the fire, and get scorched in the rear, they'll find they have to sit on the blister.' "

My favorite part of that is: If they turn their backs to the fire, and get scorched in the rear, they'll find they have to sit on the blister! Now this gave me pause to stop and consider what things I have turned my back on and just how many blisters I am nursing! My next thought was, how wonderful a way to express that there are things going on around us that we cannot control and worrying over them won't change anything. I would not say that I am a big worrier, but there are things that I allow to overwhelm me. Usually they are things that are out of my control. For example, in my work, I have no control over who is going to walk through the door. I have no control over how many of my co-workers will be available to assist in meeting the needs of these individuals. I have no control over the fact that I only have 8 hours each day to devote to getting as much done as I can at a job that will never be completely done.

I also liked the end of the quote that puts the consequences squarely where they belong...on the rear of those who are turning their backs. While this may not be entirely accurate because I do believe that many innocent suffer as a result of bad judgement on the part of a few, it does give me solace to know that since I cannot change these things, someone other than myself should feel the pain. Therefore, I am resolved from this point, as we enter the season of the year when everyone wants their cash, food stamps and medicaid that I will not feel guilty if I can't get it all done. I will work as hard and as efficiently as possible without sacrificing accuracy and do what I can. I will seek for the Lord's blessings as I work. The amazing thing about what I do, is that I really do like it. Most of the time, it is a thankless job that I am thankful to have. I am thankful that I work with really great people who share the frustration. I am mostly thankful to wonderful friends who offer love and support. I know I could not do what I do without these blessings from the Lord.
So the next time you see me, if I look frazzled or stressed, just ask me how it feels to have my back to the fire...

Thankful...not Ranting

2007-11-13T16:43:00.000-08:00

So if you read Eric's blog, you know about our recent car crisis. I thought I would take this opportunity to give you the other side of the story. So the car was fixed today, thanks to my great Dad who helped us out. Now, here is my response to The Man of Steel Leg...

The top ten reasons why our Kia is better than your die casts:

10-It gets you to church without getting your clothes dirty or your feet tired from walking.

9- In the winter, there is a heater.

8-In the summer, it has air conditioning.

7-It has only been in the shop for a serious repair 3 times (including this one) in the six years we have owned it.

6-It has 4 wheel drive so I can drive it in the snow...and the rain for that matter.

5-It can carry all the groceries I buy from Costco.

4-It doesn't care about global warming or fuel economy because it is an SUV.

3-It doesn't require a pit crew to fill it up with gasoline and clean the windsheild--(This is implied since your die casts are all race cars).

2-I fit perfectly in the driver's seat.

1-It takes me to work and home every day so that I can earn the money to keep the roof over your head and food on the table, not to mention, buy your die casts!

In the Spirit of the Season

2007-11-11T15:20:00.000-08:00

Because the Christmas decorations have been out in the stores since September, I didn't think it was too early to do a Christmas post. We are almost to Thanksgiving and after that it is just a matter of weeks until the Holidays are over and we are left to cold, snowy January. I had considered buying a snow blower this year, but have yet to do it, so I am hoping that the drought will continue through the winter and we won't have too much snow.

Anyway, back to Christmas...a few years ago, I heard this quoted in a talk. I liked it so much that I printed it out and put it on the inside of my handmade Christmas cards that I passed out at work. To my delight, it was well received, so here goes:

THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS

"Christmas is a time for giving. Someone once said he couldn't think of what to give for Christmas. The next day in the mail he received an anonymous list which read:

Give to your enemy forgiveness,

To your opponent tolerance,

To your friend your heart,

To all men charity, for the hands that help are holier than lips that pray,

To every child a good example.

This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again. "

(President Howard W. Hunter, Christmas Devotional, Dec. 12, 1994)

This counsel from a prophet of God is applicable to every day, not just the holiday season. We all need each other so much and for myself, I know that I fall short in some of these areas. Today, my efforts are renewed to reach out to others in love and compassion. As we enter the hectic pace of the holidays, may each of you be blessed with an opportunity to slow down and reflect on the reasons we are thankful as well as the blessings that are ours because Heavenly Father sent His son to redeem us. May you enjoy your families and friends and all your wonderful celebrations.

Fall Fell Again

2007-11-09T15:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I am guessing that most of you got the idea from my last post that I was not really liking McDonald's...Untrue. I like McDonald's fine. It was just that this particular meal was bad and I thought it interesting given the fact that I had good memories of McDonalds and when I went there to reminisce, it was a bad trip....
On to something new:
Today I spent the day in a training class on Customer Service. I was not thrilled about spending a day out of the office, when I have so much that I could be doing there. However, when the employer says, "You will go" I go. It wasn't such a bad idea after all. I mean, it was a day out of the office. I did get to see some old friends that I don't usually see every day and it actually refreshed my perspective on this important aspect of human relationships.
During the workshop we talked about how in one way or another, each of us is a customer because we require a product or service from someone else. We talked about how there needs to be respect, integrity and courtesy in our verbal and non-verbal language and that this is vital to providing good customer service. At one point, the presenter even talked about how most of the time, these behaviors do not extend themselves into the home.
As I pondered that, I was thankful for the forgiving attitude of my husband. He often bears the brunt of my work frustrations. This he does with an understanding heart and when I am finished ranting and raving, he is always there to offer love and support... And a shoulder rub...Which now that I think about it, may be the reason I behave that way...Oh, we won't tell him that.
As I drove home from work, I decided that I needed to let him know how thankful I am for his patience with my weakness. I truly am blessed to have someone who loves me unconditionally. I resolved to take more opportunities to be thankful to all who render service to me because it does make my life better.
And by the way, when I got home, he had dinner ready, the house cleaned and was even talking about getting started on the weekend laundry...what a man!

Fall Fell

2007-11-07T15:09:00.000-08:00

So last night I was channel surfing and found this great show on the travel channel about unique McDonald's restaurants throughout the world. I knew about the beginnings of the fast food chain and how Ray Crock transformed the way we think about food. The show told of a man who has eaten at almost 12000 different McDonald's restaurants. He even plans trips based on which ones he has not visited---now that is a real Big Mac Attack!

I was amazed at how varied these restaurants were. I mean, naive as I am, I thought the point of a franchised restaurant chain was so that everything was the same, no matter where you were...Sylli me! The program highlighted a McDonalds in Sweden (which was on the Arctic Circle) that the drive thru window was specially designed for snowmobiles. The customers actually preferred eating on their vehicle in subzero temperatures---can't imagine that. Another McDonalds is shaped like a Happy Meal box--I think that one was in Orlando. There was one that is set up like a diner and you are seated at a booth or table, you place your order via a phone at the table and the waiter brings it out to you. They have the regular menu and also diner style dinners. There is a McDonalds out there shaped like a big barn and in the silo is a huge tube slide as part of the kids playland. The McDonald's on Broadway is four levels and is decorated like the backstage area of a playhouse. I could go on, but I won't...

So after watching this, I told Eric it made me want to go down the street to our not so fancy McDonalds and have dinner. You must understand that a couple of years ago we watched that movie--Supersize Me--and since then, we have not really eaten much in the way of fast food. So I was waxing nostalgic for the junk food of my youth.

Tonight we ate at McDonalds and I was quickly reminded why we don't eat there. I confess, I have been spoiled by my own (and Eric's) cooking. Which isn't really saying much about the quality of the food we ate. I ordered the Quarter Pounder with cheese meal and Eric had the Crispy Chicken Club meal. In the past we would have ordered one meal and another sandwich, split the fries, and I would have had water to drink, but I wanted the whole experience so we didn't skimp. I also bought one of the Happy Meal toys because I had to have a momento from the occaision besides the extra fat that would be going to my hips.

My quarter pounder was really done. Usually I like some juice in my beef, and this coupled with the crunchy bun made me glad Eric had brought over extra ketchup packets. After a couple bites of hamburger, I decided to open the Happy Meal toy. Now that was fun. It was from the new Bee Movie and was probably the best part of the dinner except for the company. Eric said his sandwich was also dry until he got to the mayo on the other end of the bun. As for the fries, whoever decided that they didn't need salt, decided to remove the flavor...again, thank goodness for ketchup.

I was just finishing my burger when I turned over the cardboard box in which it was served and found the lovely nutritional chart. My first thought was, "Who comes to McDonald's for a nutritious meal?" After reading that I had just ingested 510 calories which had 230 calories from fat, I picked up the fry holder and found the nutition chart for those as well. I won't even go into that one!!! Alas, poor Eric had a message on his that he would have to go to the McDonalds website to find out how nutritious his food was.

As we were leaving I placed my bee toy in my pocket and told Eric that I might want to get some more of them because they were cute. He said that we could just order the Happy Meal and give the food to the dog. I told him I didn't think I wanted the dog to have it. I am sure there are some of you out there that love McDonalds and I truly hope that I haven't offended you with my story...but the next time I wax nostalgic for junk food, I think I'll go to Wendy's.

And for those of you who know the Peanut Butter and Jelly song from Inside Out-Sharing Time Eric made up this new verse:

I am cholesterol and you are trans fat

And we go together on this crunchy little bun.

I remember the first time that I saw you

Lying in the grease before the cooking job was done....

Why I Love my Mom

2007-11-03T04:55:00.000-07:00

Monday is my mother's birthday. In September it was 8 years since she passed away. In many ways the time has passed so quickly and then there are days when it feels like it just happened. When I think of the blessings in my life, my mother is right there at the top of the list. Some of you knew her, but the majority of you reading this did not. I want to tell you about my mother because she was an incredible woman.
My mother grew up in a home where her family was LDS but they were not always active in the church. She was blessed with immense musical talent. She would tell the story that when she was 5 years old, her mother took her to the doctor because she was not feeling good. The doctor told her mother that she was bored. She said she didn't understand why the doctor called her a board. Soon after this, she started taking piano lessons.
By the time she was in high school, she was very active in school and church activities where she accompanied choirs and other performers. She went to Ricks College where she studied music. Because her own family struggled with activity in the church, she wanted to make sure that her children did not have that experience. She married my father in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1955. Together they raised 9 children.
Our home was filled with music. Mother played the piano every day. She knew which songs to play that would draw us into the living room to dance. She taught us how to play the piano--some of us learned that better than others--(I didn't learn it so great and regret that now) She taught us how to lead music. She taught us how to sing--not just the melody--but in harmony. When a family vacation was planned, she would have us practice several songs that we could sing for our friends and family that we would be visiting. During the holidays we would prepare treats and go caroling to the homes of our friends. (I miss doing this)
Her motto was: "Practice, Practice, Practice". We practiced EVERYTHING! When the family would be going out for dinner, we practiced at home how to behave in the restaurant. We practiced how to politely answer the phone. We practiced how to sit reverently in church. We practiced how to obey.
When my youngest sister, Julie, was born, we got to learn about sacrifice. Julie had a chromosome abnormality called Tri-somy 18. She had very special needs. My father came home from the hospital and said, "We have an opportunity to care for one of Heavenly Father's special spirits." I was ten years old and will never forget how that statement set the tone for the family.
While care for Julie was then top priority for my mother, she continued to teach and train us. She helped us learn to care for Julie and we soon understood that we had to work together as a family if we were going to meet her needs. I believe this blessing is why we still have close relationships today.
My mother loved children. She served as a leader in Primary as well as RS and YW. She had a way of seeing the positive in everyone and magnifying that. She had the gift of being able to get people to do what she wanted them to do, but in such a way that THEY wanted to do it. She always used this gift for good. I am thankful for that.
I love my mother because she loved me enough to use her talents to bless our family. There is no doubt in my mind that she could have been famous and had many worldy honors. (Those of you who knew her, I am sure would agree.) She understood Heavenly Father's plan of happiness and passed up the fame and fortune to raise a righteous family. I am forever thankful for her example and I miss her soooo much.
I think of my mother every time I sit down to play the piano. I am thankful for my present calling as RS pianist because it forces me to play regularly. I know my mother has visited me while I have been practicing. There have been times that I have been playing for RS and felt her helping me because I get so nervous. She told me once that she was thankful that her daughters were her very best friends. I am thankful for this, too.
Julie lived almost 20 years, much to the amazement of the doctors. I know it was because of the love and care she received in our family. My mother served and cared for her each of those days. In her last years, my mother suffered from Parkinson's disease. Though her hands and her legs shook with tremors, she still played the piano every day. She typed letters to send to family members and friends that needed encouragement. She would review the RS newsletter each month and send birthday cards to the sisters. I will be forever greatful for the example of service and sacrifice that she was. It is my sincerest hope that I always live up to this example. I want to make her proud of me...and even if I fall short, I know she still loves me.

Thoughts for November

2007-11-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

Last night I had the best time at RS enrichment meeting. The theme was "Christ Through the Holidays". It was so great to be together and laugh and share. As I was practicing the opening hymn this week (For The Beauty of Earth #92) I was really touched by the words in the third verse:

"For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

For all gentle thoughts and mild,

Lord of all, to the we raise

This our hymn of grateful praise."

I was particulary moved by the phrase: "Friends on earth and friends above."

I first thought "I am so thankful for you, my friends! You are all so wonderful!!!"

Then I thought about the second part of the phrase--"friends above". I wondered to myself how many friends do I have cheering me on from the other side of the veil? I wondered if the choices I make each day give them the hope that their efforts are helpful to me. I secretly hoped that I hadn't disappointed some of them with my actions. I thought about how we never know how many people are on the other side helping us to fight our battles.

November is a month where we focus on our blessings because of the Thanksgiving holiday. I want each of you to know that as I count my blessings this month, you are included. You inspire and strengthen me in ways that are hard to express. To all my friends on earth and my friends above thank you for your love, support and friendship.

Kit Kat

2007-10-31T16:43:00.000-07:00

In honor of Halloween, I thought I would spotlight another one of my cats. Let me tell you about Kit Kat. Not only is he named after a yummy candy bar, but he is also one of the sweetest cats I have ever met. Now, if you come to my house, you will never see him. He is also a scaredy cat! We got him from my sister when he was a young kitten. He did not want to be caught and put up a pretty good fight before my brother in law was able to get him into the carrier. Once we got him home, I think he realized that he was pretty lucky. He didn't know that he had won the cat Lottery---almost! He has a comfortable home, plenty of food and a family that loves him.

Kit Kat usually sleeps by my feet on the bed. He is the first one to greet me every morning and he loves to curl up next to me when I watch TV. I tell him that he is a good cat and a pretty cat...which makes Eric laugh. He has the loudest purr I have ever heard and I must say that he is easily Oreo's favorite brother and they hang out together a lot.

Ok, so I haven't quite figured out how to get the pictures to mix in with the text...if anyone can tell me how to do this, I would love to know...because I really wanted to have a picture of Oreo and Kit Kat here, but I obviously did something wrong...because the picture I selected is of Oreo and Snickers, not Oreo and Kit Kat and I can't figure out how to delete it w/o deleting the whole blog...Also, please tell me that you get your children mixed up, too! Please!!! I mean I know that Snickers and Kit Kat look alike, but if you look closely, you can see they are different. Eric says we can just airbrush a brown spot on Snicker's nose and no one will know...

Anyway, as I was saying about Kit Kat...I am really thankful that he is part of our family. It never hurts to have an extra fur blanket against your legs on a cold winter night! Happy Halloween to you!!!!

PS--after much searching, I did find a cute picture of Oreo and Kit Kat...Sorry if they are not in order.

Why I Love My Dad

2007-10-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

I was awake early this morning and as I laid there in the dark I was contemplating all my blessings. The past several months I have tried to focus more on gratitude and I must say that since I have done this, my perspective has really changed. This morning I was thinking about my Dad...

I was blessed to be sent to a loving home with two wonderful parents. The older I get, the more thankful I am for this opportunity. My mother was an exceptional woman with multiple gifts and talents which she freely shared. I will write about her in a future blog...My father was equally as gifted, talented and generous, however he was willing to allow the spotlight to shine on my mother. He quietly went about his business taking care of the family and didn't worry that my mother got all the attention. So here is why I love my Dad...

Dad has always taken care me. I am told---since I don't remember--that he and I have a special bond because he held me a lot the first six weeks of my life. He was finishing engineering school and my mother had to type all of his papers for him. So he held me and fed me and played with me, while she typed. As I grew up, I remember that his work (both employment and church duties) took him away from home a lot. Despite this, he was always there at times when I needed him.

At the beginning of the school year, he would give each of us a Father's blessing. Periodically he would interview us to make sure we were doing alright. I will never forget the day that I got my interim report cards and I was failing algebra. The teacher had written nothing in the comments...he said, "My daughter is failing algebra and he can't even tell my why?" He scheduled a meeting with my algebra teacher. I don't remember what he said about that meeting. What I do remember is that he took the responsibility for my education and began tutoring me in algebra. I am so thankful for this. He will never know what confidence this instilled in me AND from that point on I did very well in math classes.

I had another issue involving school during my senior year. I will spare you the details, but the situation was that I would have to meet with a member of the school board to resolve an issue. The plan was to have my mother be there as well. The night before the meeting, he sat down with both of us and explained in detail what would happen in the interview. He told us what the school representative would say and then how we should respond. The next day, I was called into the meeting earlier than planned--I don't believe this was an accident---so I had to go alone. Because my father had prepared me, I was able to speak clearly and confidently and I must tell you...my father was exactly right. The representative recommended that the school resolve the issue in my favor---much to the school's dismay.

Over the years, my father has continued to offer counsel and support--emotional and financial when necessary. He has been there for me through many trials and challenges. I am thankful to have been able to share with him the responsibility of caring for my mother. This was particularly challenging and at times frustrating for both of us. When she died, I watched as his world collapsed. Again, he was an example of strength and faith. He fasted a lot. He studied the scriptures and attended the temple often. He petitioned the Lord in prayer to know what he should do with the rest of his life. Since we lived under the same roof, I heard him pacing the floor many nights and prayed for him to be comforted.

Then he got his answer and for the second time, married a wonderful woman. I am so thankful that the Lord directed him to Bobbye. She has truly blessed our family. She brought back the happiness in his life. I LOVE my Dad. He can fix anything...He knows everything...He loves the Lord...He loves his family...He honors his Priesthood...He works hard...He has a great sense of humor...He was crazy enough to pack nine children in a station wagon and drive from Ohio to Idaho almost non-stop many times when we were kids...(that still boggles my mind)...He is one of the greatest men I know. Thank you Dad...You are my hero!

Confessions of a "Bling" Queen

2007-10-24T16:54:00.000-07:00

Ok. So I have been reading many of your blogs and enjoying getting to know each of you much better. I love this blogging thing! I recently read a wonderful entry from a dear friend about warts. I also read a moving tribute--or embarrassing expose'--from a loving spouse celebrating her sweetheart's birthday. So I have decided it is time to reveal a little more about myself...I hope that it isn't too shocking!

I confess...I LOVE TO SPARKLE!!! I love things that sparkle: water, pretty rocks of the colored and clear variety, elegant windows...anything that catches the light and sends it back even brighter...especially if it disperses the light into rainbows. From the time I was young, I loved wearing jewelry because it made me sparkle. Over the years I have collected many different styles and types of rings, bracelets, necklaces,and ear rings. I even own a toe ring (which I never thought I would like, but I do). This "collecting" has prompted my husband to give me such nick names as "Bling Queen" and "Nique Freak" (because a large part of my collection is Diamonique simulated stones from QVC--yes, they aren't real, but they sparkle really bright!) and most recently, I have started collecting loose gemstones in bulk parcels. I love to see them sparkle under the light. I could spend hours gazing into a stone and watching as the light plays from one angle to another. I am fascinated by how the sparkle in a stone is directly related to how it is cut or faceted.

When a gemstone is faceted, either real or synthetic, it first comes in what is known as a piece of rough. Someone who is familiar with cutting the gemstone evaluates the rough and determines the best way to cut it to maximize the beauty of the stone. Then it is placed at precise angles against a cutting blade. This process is repeated over and over again until the shape of the stone is achieved. If there is even the slightest error, the ability of the stone to reflect light can be compromised.

All gemstones have imperfections in them, which are called inclusions. Depending on the stone, these can be tolerated to a certain degree such as with emeralds and rubies. As a general rule, the cleaner or less included the stone, the more valuable and desireable it is. Gemstones are sorted and categorized based on their clarity as well as other factors.

So as not to bore you with other details related to gemstones, I will get to my point...There a many different shapes and patterns in which gemstones can be cut but the most familiar cut is the round brilliant shape which consists of 57 facets cut into a round shaped stone. Recently, some of the top jewelry designers have started using stones that are cut with 100 facets. These stones give off even more sparkle and shine. I recently purchased a pair of ear rings and a ring that had simulated stones which were cut into 100 facets. They are beautiful! They really do shine better than the others.

The process to facet a gemstone is not easy on the stone. Some stones of lesser quality break as they are cut and shaped. As I examine the challenges I have had in my life, I can see the hand of the Lord cutting facets so as to shape me into a stone which produces more light. Each time I study the scriptures, follow the prompting of the Holy Ghost, or internalize another gospel priciple, I am cutting a new facet. As I endure well the adversity that comes into my life, I am polishing those facets. Taking advantage of the Atonement and repenting of my sins reduces my inclusions. I am thankful that the Master Cutter knows exactly which angle to place me against the blade to yeild the most effect light reflecting surface. As I allow myself to be guided, I can become the sparkling and light reflecting body that I desire to be.

So when you see me wearing my pretty stones, two things are true...if they are clear they are simulated (because I can't afford the real thing--nor would I pay that much for it if I could), and...they are always cleaned so they sparkle and shine as brightly as they can. So now you know...I am a "Bling" Queen!

He's Baaaaaaack!!!

2007-10-21T08:38:00.000-07:00

Well as many of you know, my sweetheart has been away taking care of his mother. I will confess that Monday of this week, I was starting to get excited. By Tuesday, I could hardly wait to see him again. Wednesday at work went really fast and soon I was on the road to Indy to get him from the airport...and I must say, I really like going to that airport better than Cincinnati--so much easier to navigate and definately cheaper! I don't think I realized just how much I missed him until I saw him standing there on the curb with all his luggage!

Thursday morning he slept until almost 11am! I know he was really worn out from everything he did to help his mother. Monday was his birthday and he said that while the calendar only showed that he had aged a year, he felt like he had aged five years! Thursday was a big day at our house. For Eric's birthday, I ordered Zoomtown. He has been wanting this for a long time and I have resisted. My response was always, "I have high speed at work, we don't need it at home." His statement went like this..."but I am at home!" So then Thursday evening, we did some heavy duty work in the basement. I have hired a friend to come help me with this job for a couple hours each week and she is FABULOUS! It has been a tremendous help for me. So Eric's comment to this was, "Gee, I go away for five weeks and then come home and we have Zoomtown and a maid!"

Anyway, the time has gone fast and I will have to return to work on Monday...(big sigh). Suffice it to say that since he has returned, I have enjoyed the time together. I am thankful to have such a wonderful friend. He really makes life fun. We are planning for him to return to Utah in January, but until then, I am going to enjoy having him home.

So Many Friends...

2007-10-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your positive comments and words of encouragment. I appreciate your enthusiasum and support for my blog. As you know, I have been living life as a "single" parent for the past 4.5 weeks. When we first decided that Eric would go to Utah and help take care of his mother (who ended up having to have hip surgery again), I thought..."This is going to be great...I can get so much done...he won't be in the way...I won't have to worry about what to have for dinner (because cereal is great for me)...

I figured that after 20 years of marriage, we could use a break. There was only one ther time we were separated longer and that was in 1996 when I was in Utah for my mother's hip surgery...I was out there for six extremely long weeks. It was quite difficult. Anyway, so I thought after 6 weeks, 5 should be a breeze. Well, I don't know if it was the added years together or my extremely busy schedule, but I admit that I really do miss having Eric around! And after 20 years of marriage, that is a good thing...

I can say for certain that if it weren't for you, my wonderful friends, I could not have endured. In fact, I have been so busy doing things with all of you, that I haven't really done much of what I thought I would do while he was away...now he will be home on the 17th and I am excited to see him. I have renewed appreciation for military wives. I also have renewed appreciation for all my single friends. Cooking for one is really hard---and that is just the tip of the iceberg for singles.

Thank you for the phone calls, the dinner invitations and everything else. You have blessed my life tremendoulsy.

Oreo

2007-10-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, we have been blessed with a large family. From the time I was a little girl, all I wanted to be was a mother and have many children. Of course, my idea of a large family was not the same as the Lord's idea for my large family. Not that I am complaining...because, believe me, it took me YEARS to come to terms with the idea of not having a "traditional" family. Nonetheless, I feel that I have been richly blessed. I am thankful that the Lord was mindful of my need to be a mother and made it possible for me to have mothering experiences.

Our family presently consists of four cats and a dog...Bullseye, Kit Kat, Snickers, and Oreo are our cats. Our dog is named Lad. I will start with Oreo, our youngest and the only other female in the house. As you can see from her picture, she is cute. One might even think you could pet her and make her purr...I will tell you that it has taken months for us to be able to do this. She was rescued from the wild and is the only cat we have ever had that didn't meow while riding in the carrier on the way home from Indiana where we got her. She was just too mad to make any noise!

She is about a year old now and is still quite skittish, but we love her anyway. She definately owns our hearts. I must admit that I am thankful she came to live with us. She has taught me patience as I have worked with her to gain her trust. In my heart I know she appreciates the treats I sneak her from my dinner plate! She has taught me also to hope for the future--that someday she will love and trust us just as much as we do her.

To all my friends with children...Oh, how I admire you and appreciate the sacrifices you make as you raise them. It is my hope that you understand that my intent is not to diminish the traditional family. Only to give thanks to the Lord for being mindful of my needs as I fulfill the work He had planned for me, which at this point in time does not include children of my own.

BRAVE NEW WORLD...OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT!

2007-10-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

So a couple of weeks ago I didn't really know what a blog was...I confess that I have worked around computers for several years and condsider myself quite able to handle many computer related functions. Logging onto the internet and "surfing" the web also was something I wouldn't hesitate to do on a daily basis. So I have to ask myself, "Why did I not know about blogs or Blogging?" The only answer I can come up with is...I don't know! Thanks to a wonderful friend (Maura)who invited me to read her blog, a whole new world has opened up for me.

Now you must know that while I feel comfortable with computers...the fact that I sit in front of one all day at work generally makes me not want to do the same thing when I am home. However, I can see the appeal of logging in and catching up with friends. I am amazed at the things I have learned about you! So now as I join you in this blogging adventure, please forgive me if I commit any blogging faux pas, since I am a novice. With any luck, I'll learn this pretty quick. I will do my best to keep thing up and current. And appreciate your friendship as I journey into this brave new world.