I'm still behind on many a post. I do have Easter and Spring break captured on photos - and that will have to be enough for now.
For Spring break click below
http://www.photoshow.com/watch/jE4Ac7bm
For Easter click below
http://www.photoshow.com/watch/aJ3DE4Se
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Unexpected Blessings
I've had a few unexpected blessings as of late. I love that I am being watched over and helped as I walk awkwardly forward in my life.
My first experience of being blessed came as a twosome. Our dish DVR broke and I was really sick during conference weekend. Yes, it felt like we were back in the dark ages with not being able to record, pause or rewind live TV. And no, I don't really enjoy being sick. But these two disadvantages turned into a real advantage.
Usually during conference time I have the greatest of intentions of listening, feeling the spirit, and setting goals as I listen to the inspired speakers. And I always do get something out of conference - how can you not?! But I also can't stand to sit still so long and I usually try to get something done while I am listening. (Or spend my time trying to keep the kids to a minimal volume and level of activity.) If I do miss something I know that I can always watch it again (thanks to DVR) or read it as soon as it is printed in the next month's Ensign. So plainly speaking, this gives me an unconscious excuse to not really listen, or pay attention, or to even fall asleep during the duration of General Conference.
With being sick I had absolutely no desire to leave the couch. I had my warm blanket an incredible supply of tissues and a handy garbage bag.
So with no excuse to do anything else and paying more attention than usual I really, really, really enjoyed conference this year. It seemed like every talk was just for me and my mind was continually flooded with personal inspiration and ways that I needed to improve my life or validation of things that I was already doing. I know I would not have gotten so much out of conference if the DVR and not been broke and I had not been sick!!!!!
I am also incredibly grateful for the priesthood and for members all over the world who are willing to serve.
After getting out of the shower on Thursday morning I realized there was a message waiting on the answering machine. As I listened it was pure shock as my mom told me my dad was in the ER. He had been having bad chest pains all night and had finally taken himself to the hospital. They were doing tests but hadn't heard anything else.
My mom lives in Utah (our home base) while my dad works in Las Vegas and lives in a Condo down there during the week and flies home to Utah on the weekends.
It was kind of scary for us for a while. My dad was all alone in Las Vegas. He had briefly called my mom to let her know what was happening - but was in too much pain to really talk and the battery on his cell phone was low so he didn't have much time left to talk either.
For hours we waited to hear what was happening. I didn't know whether I needed to pull my kids out of school and drive down to Utah and then drive my mom down to Vegas or what we needed to do. My mom didn't know the name of the hospital he was at and he wasn't answering his cell phone.
Once my mom did get some more information it turned out that he had a blocked artery into his heart and they would need to operate to put a stint in. I never felt to helpless to be so far away and not able to do anything. But there were some things we could do. My mom called up my dad's Vegas bishop and called the Provo temple to put his name on the prayer role.
Luckily my brother drove my mom down to Vegas (I keep forgetting that he is now off his mission and going to BYU). So at least someone was on the way. Before they arrived two different sets of "hometeachers" stopped by to give my dad a blessing. Several other people from the ward stopped by too. What is so fantastic is that these people don't even know my dad. As he usually always returns to Utah for the weekends he has hardly ever attended his Las Vegas ward. But here were all these people ready to serve a fellow member of the gospel.
Even though I couldn't be there in person to put my arms around him and give him a big old hug I knew he was being looked after.
My mom and brother made it to Vegas by midnight and were allowed to see my dad. They then crashed at his condo for a couple of hours before they were back at the hospital at 5:00am for the start of my dad' surgery. Everything went well!!!!
My dad is now feeling great and is even going back into work tomorrow (can you believe that?). And my mom and brother are safely back in Utah.
I am also thankful for my little bookgroup that kept me buoyed up while I was troubled inside. And more than anything I am thankful for the reassuring hugs of my husband - he always melts all my troubles away.
My first experience of being blessed came as a twosome. Our dish DVR broke and I was really sick during conference weekend. Yes, it felt like we were back in the dark ages with not being able to record, pause or rewind live TV. And no, I don't really enjoy being sick. But these two disadvantages turned into a real advantage.
Usually during conference time I have the greatest of intentions of listening, feeling the spirit, and setting goals as I listen to the inspired speakers. And I always do get something out of conference - how can you not?! But I also can't stand to sit still so long and I usually try to get something done while I am listening. (Or spend my time trying to keep the kids to a minimal volume and level of activity.) If I do miss something I know that I can always watch it again (thanks to DVR) or read it as soon as it is printed in the next month's Ensign. So plainly speaking, this gives me an unconscious excuse to not really listen, or pay attention, or to even fall asleep during the duration of General Conference.
With being sick I had absolutely no desire to leave the couch. I had my warm blanket an incredible supply of tissues and a handy garbage bag.
So with no excuse to do anything else and paying more attention than usual I really, really, really enjoyed conference this year. It seemed like every talk was just for me and my mind was continually flooded with personal inspiration and ways that I needed to improve my life or validation of things that I was already doing. I know I would not have gotten so much out of conference if the DVR and not been broke and I had not been sick!!!!!
I am also incredibly grateful for the priesthood and for members all over the world who are willing to serve.
After getting out of the shower on Thursday morning I realized there was a message waiting on the answering machine. As I listened it was pure shock as my mom told me my dad was in the ER. He had been having bad chest pains all night and had finally taken himself to the hospital. They were doing tests but hadn't heard anything else.
My mom lives in Utah (our home base) while my dad works in Las Vegas and lives in a Condo down there during the week and flies home to Utah on the weekends.
It was kind of scary for us for a while. My dad was all alone in Las Vegas. He had briefly called my mom to let her know what was happening - but was in too much pain to really talk and the battery on his cell phone was low so he didn't have much time left to talk either.
For hours we waited to hear what was happening. I didn't know whether I needed to pull my kids out of school and drive down to Utah and then drive my mom down to Vegas or what we needed to do. My mom didn't know the name of the hospital he was at and he wasn't answering his cell phone.
Once my mom did get some more information it turned out that he had a blocked artery into his heart and they would need to operate to put a stint in. I never felt to helpless to be so far away and not able to do anything. But there were some things we could do. My mom called up my dad's Vegas bishop and called the Provo temple to put his name on the prayer role.
Luckily my brother drove my mom down to Vegas (I keep forgetting that he is now off his mission and going to BYU). So at least someone was on the way. Before they arrived two different sets of "hometeachers" stopped by to give my dad a blessing. Several other people from the ward stopped by too. What is so fantastic is that these people don't even know my dad. As he usually always returns to Utah for the weekends he has hardly ever attended his Las Vegas ward. But here were all these people ready to serve a fellow member of the gospel.
Even though I couldn't be there in person to put my arms around him and give him a big old hug I knew he was being looked after.
My mom and brother made it to Vegas by midnight and were allowed to see my dad. They then crashed at his condo for a couple of hours before they were back at the hospital at 5:00am for the start of my dad' surgery. Everything went well!!!!
My dad is now feeling great and is even going back into work tomorrow (can you believe that?). And my mom and brother are safely back in Utah.
I am also thankful for my little bookgroup that kept me buoyed up while I was troubled inside. And more than anything I am thankful for the reassuring hugs of my husband - he always melts all my troubles away.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
I'm Ready to Join a Nudist Colony!
Seriously, I am ready to force myself and my family into a nudist colony.
I'm sure you are all saying, "Lara? Nudist colony? Has she totally lost it this time?!!!"
Is it because I want to show off my fabulous body from all my stringent exercise and dieting? (I did try dieting several times this year and I exercised at least three different times since January!). Ha, ha, ha, --- NO!!!!!! Unfortunately my body would be the only down side to my new idea for those that had to look at it.
Then why this new obsessive idea? Because our church leaders have totally encouraged it!!!! Doesn't it seem that lately a lot of talks and suggestions by respected leaders in the church have told us to keep our priorities straight, to make family our number one commitment, and to cut out the foo-foo. That there are lots of good things to do - but we shouldn't get so over whelmed.
Well, I am totally overwhelmed and so tired of devoting so many of my living hours to LAUNDRY!!!!!!!!
I spent at least an hour folding Monday, yesterday and today. I finally finished all the folding. But does that mean I'm done? Haa - not in the least. It means I still have to put it all away. And once I've accomplished that I'm sure I will be hearing a call from the laundry room of, "wash me, wash me!" from all the newly acquired dirty clothes sitting in the wash-me pile. And it all starts again!!!!!
Just think of it - if we didn't wear clothes any more - no more Laundry!!!!!! WAHOOOO. No more ironing (like that gets done anyways), no more folding, no more putting away. You would never hear the words, "Mom I don't know what to wear," or "Mom, I don't have anything to wear," or "Mom, where are all of my clothes," because there wouldn't be any!!!!!
Not only would you save time - but think of the huge savings in your monthly and yearly budget. No more back to school shopping!!! No more having to hit the right sales. No clothes that lasted less than a year because the kids out grew them or wore them out.
Of course I wouldn't be able to live in Spokane anymore. Way to cold to be without clothes. So I guess I will put up all our now unneeded clothes for sale. And from all the money we make we will move somewhere warm and sunny. (I think we could splurge on sunblock!)
Who wants to join?
I'm sure you are all saying, "Lara? Nudist colony? Has she totally lost it this time?!!!"
Is it because I want to show off my fabulous body from all my stringent exercise and dieting? (I did try dieting several times this year and I exercised at least three different times since January!). Ha, ha, ha, --- NO!!!!!! Unfortunately my body would be the only down side to my new idea for those that had to look at it.
Then why this new obsessive idea? Because our church leaders have totally encouraged it!!!! Doesn't it seem that lately a lot of talks and suggestions by respected leaders in the church have told us to keep our priorities straight, to make family our number one commitment, and to cut out the foo-foo. That there are lots of good things to do - but we shouldn't get so over whelmed.
Well, I am totally overwhelmed and so tired of devoting so many of my living hours to LAUNDRY!!!!!!!!
I spent at least an hour folding Monday, yesterday and today. I finally finished all the folding. But does that mean I'm done? Haa - not in the least. It means I still have to put it all away. And once I've accomplished that I'm sure I will be hearing a call from the laundry room of, "wash me, wash me!" from all the newly acquired dirty clothes sitting in the wash-me pile. And it all starts again!!!!!
Just think of it - if we didn't wear clothes any more - no more Laundry!!!!!! WAHOOOO. No more ironing (like that gets done anyways), no more folding, no more putting away. You would never hear the words, "Mom I don't know what to wear," or "Mom, I don't have anything to wear," or "Mom, where are all of my clothes," because there wouldn't be any!!!!!
Not only would you save time - but think of the huge savings in your monthly and yearly budget. No more back to school shopping!!! No more having to hit the right sales. No clothes that lasted less than a year because the kids out grew them or wore them out.
Of course I wouldn't be able to live in Spokane anymore. Way to cold to be without clothes. So I guess I will put up all our now unneeded clothes for sale. And from all the money we make we will move somewhere warm and sunny. (I think we could splurge on sunblock!)
Who wants to join?
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