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Thursday, February 28, 2013

Bugs

Have I posted this photo yet? Me and my LittleBuddy.
He's had a bug, his big sister had another bug. So far, between three snow days, one teacher work day, President's Day and two sick days, he's only had to go to school three times in the last two weeks. . . working that system he is!

The laugh of the week was when his doctor told me he's going to be contagious for probably a month with his bug, but that the worst symptoms we'd treat and hopefully he wouldn't develop anything worse. I said, somewhat concerned, "You're okay with him going to school when he's still contagious?" He said with a small smile, "Sure, how else do I stay in business? Everyone gets this, its just that most of them have had it before they're 14, and he hasn't." RSV. Bad bugs.

Here's to hoping that March is healthier than February has been. I'm ready.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Basketball

Littlebuddy has been playing on two basketball teams lately. One for the YMCA (his teacher's quorum leader is the coach) and one at his school on an intermural team.

He far prefers his YMCA team. Here he is at one of the games. 
This is during warm-up. 

 This is during a game a couple of weeks ago. The female ref is good. The ref we had yesterday. . . one of those days you just have to say, some times the refs don't see things the way everyone else does.

The day these photos were taken our team won. Yesterday we lost by one and my guy hasn't been feeling well all week. He didn't play his first school game this week because it was his first day back and he'd missed practice. But, the season lasts until the end of March. 
Y ball gets us up early on Saturday mornings and best of all, games and practices are just down the street at the elementary school, which sure makes it convenient for us. Its been fun to watch him improve and have fun with his friends. He's pretty non-competitive by nature, so I'm just glad he's out there participating. Unlike his big brother who lived for basketball games, practices, etc. 
Go #23!






Saturday, February 23, 2013

Trusting

I don't expect anyone will read this to the end, and its okay. My English professor, Neal Anderson, once said in a college class I was in, that we write because we have some emotions that need to be expressed because they are our truths, but the words we say are inadequate. So we write them down in order to adequately explore, develop and remember what they are, because they matter to us.

Life has been more challenging than normal this past year. Physically, mentally, emotionally, its all there. There are challenges that are beyond my own knowledge or expertise, and so we go to professionals to tap their knowledge, and sometimes it helps and sometimes it doesn't. Still, we try.

Other people say things, some helpful, some not. Sometimes I know there is judgment tied into a comment and other times the love just fills me with gratitude. To be steady and true to the person I want to be, I have tried to ignore the negative and just appreciate the positive. But, truly the things others say hardly phases me anymore. Probably the most important thing I have learned in a greater degree is to trust the Lord.

I've learned that when you can't do anything else and you've tried your best, you just have to give the problem to the Lord. I thought I knew this before. I thought I was even pretty practiced in this skill, but alas, there have been more opportunities the Lord has given me to give it ALL to Him.

I am also grateful to say that there have been tender mercies shown in abundance. I have come to so many walls, and then, miraculously, a way opened up, but never until I declared in prayer, I have done everything I can, and can do no more. Please help me. And He does.

I have also made mistakes and have had to realign my path on a new way, trying out what looked to be the only path, but eventually realizing there was a better path. Still, even on the right path, there are some problems I just can't solve, or things even get worse. And so, I keep trusting. Hoping for the new light to dawn within me so that I can get on the path of progress or to have it manifest in some other way.

Then there is real life going on still, with or without me. It never stops. Sometimes I feel as if I can't even get on that merry-go-round, its spinning on a different plane than I'm on, and other times I realize I'm just moving too slowly, and yet I can't go any faster. I'm getting better at making peace with that too. We can only do so much and I know I am doing the most important things.

The guilt of others expectations, however, hasn't bothered me near as much as the self-imposed guilt I have to fight. Could I have done better? What if...? All questions without real answers, and so again, I have to trust that the Lord knew where I was then, and that I have always tried to do my best. I console myself with the fact that I have always felt the Spirit, but heaven knows, and so do I, that I am hardly perfect. So I stave off the adversary's voices by trying to do more good, but others times I just have to say, to compare is to despair, and despair is not an emotion that serves me well.

There is also the energy that comes from doing good things. I have made more efforts to exercise in the past month than I did in the previous six. I'm not doing it every day, but I am making progress again in this area.  I have found that serving still makes my heart feel good and so when I see an opportunity I know I can keep my commitment to, I do it. Much of it has been last minute, and I've embraced those chances to give when that fire strikes for I know tomorrow it might not be possible. Being flexible, being willing, and being grateful for the opportunities has blessed my soul and increased my trust in the Lord, as I know He is still willing to use me, even if its not as organized and well thought out as I have done in the past. I also know, those are escapes for me, from my own world. There is good and bad to see about escapism. The good is the renewal of positive energy it is for me and the blessings it brings to others. The bad is that I can't be neglectful of my most important responsibilities even in the act of doing good, and it doesn't change the painful realities that still exist.

So, I try to keep balanced but one thing I don't like is that I think I've been complaining too much to my closest family members. I don't do well with play by plays of each day. Sometimes there isn't anything great to report, but I got through that day, and I'm grateful for it. It doesn't mean that I don't see the good in the world. I see it, I'm just inundated with the hard stuff at times, and it doesn't come quick enough off of my lips. And some days are so bad I can't even believe it. I think no one else would believe this, even if I told them. But still, I wake up every morning ready to go. It is a blessing that I have a job to do in the first half hour of waking each day. I have duties that only I do and give me a reason to get up, be cheerful and start again. I'm grateful for my routines. They serve me as I do them.

I guess this is just a stream of consciousness of some sort. Nothing too profound about my writing and probably too much to put on a public profile. The one thing I did learn more than anything else when being a Relief Society President was that there is a lot of pain and sorrow out there that only the Lord can get us through. And with these current trials, I have learned when people do things that aren't good for them, we can only love them until they choose differently. We can't take away their sufferings as they struggle but we can do things to serve them. All our experiences we learn from and hard as they may be, I'm grateful for the tutorials the Lord gives us. Another truth my mother taught me long ago, "We love those most that we serve." How very true that is.

Among my favorite chapters in all of scripture are found in Isaiah 54.
Starting with verse 11:
O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
And I will make they windows of agates and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.  And all thy children be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. . . .
17. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgments thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord."

Another favorite is found in Pslams 125:
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.

I know the Lord is close. I know that the power of His atonement can turn all the sufferings into beautiful foundations for our eternal lives. I know that Charity is truly the only thing that Never Faileth. I know that the love of the Lord for each of us is enough to produce mighty miracles if we trust in Him. And I do.








Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Post-Valentines

I know its been over a week since I posted. . . just keeping busy with real life. 
Cowgirl let me borrow this book when I was visiting in January for my airplane ride home. It is a wonderful romance, along the lines of a Jane Austen novel, set in the Regency time period, but with more modern language, making it a quick and enjoyable read. Great characters and setting. . . similar to a Downton Abbey home. The love story is just sweet and innocent and lovely. Highly recommend for a good escape or plane ride home.

And, what can I say about Downton Abbey??? Waiting for Cowgirl to catch up on her episodes so we can chat about everything that has gone in the last few weeks. . . I warned her to have tissues ready.

 MyGirl and I had great fun last Wednesday. We went to the Carrie Underwood concert! She was fabulous, energetic, and that powerful voice, Wow! Hunter Hayes was the opening act and he was great too.  It was MyGirl's big Christmas present this year, 2 tickets to Carrie, and she chose me to go with her. . . lucky me!
Valentines from my Sweetheart! Love that color and love that man!!!
 LittleBuddy on his way to his first dance. . . multi-stake . . . too big, but he danced.
This was what he wore to school yesterday, a sweater, button-down shirt and jeans. We picked up the sweater at the mall, on a great sale, when we went with my folks on President's Day for a little shopping trip. He is like his older brother. Sometimes they just like to look sharp. What's not to like about that?  And today, he's got a fever again. UGH . . no more reading late at night in bed for him!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Love and Treats

 It was so fun having Cowgirl here to celebrate her brother's birthday weekend. She is such a great big sister.
 LittleBuddy had specific requests for food this year. Instead of cake he wanted LemonFillingCheeseCake with cherries on top. I didn't really know what that recipe was, so I improvised. It was all yummy! Because of my soy issues, I also made the crust but it would be wonderful on a graham cracker crust also.  Here is the recipe.

Lemon Filling Cheese Cake
      Crust:
           1 cup flour
           1 stick butter
           1/4 cup brown sugar
                  Mix all together and spread out on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 15 - 20 minutes, until golden brown. Break it up into pieces after a few minutes, to let it bake evenly. Let cool.
       Cheese Pie:
           1 8 oz. package light cream cheese, softened
           1 can sweetened condensed milk
           1 tsp. vanilla
           1/3 cup lemon juice
                      Mix all together in the order given in a mixer until it begins to thicken.
       Cherry Sauce:
            1 1/2 cups frozen cherries
             1/2 cup white sugar
             1/4 cup water
                       Let heat on stove top until it comes to a boil. Let it simmer for 10 minutes. Cool in refrigerator until ready to serve.    

To assemble, press cooled crust into a glass round pie plate. Spoon out a can of lemon pie filling over the crust, making sure it spreads to the sides. Pour cheese pie ingredients over the pie filling. Let sit in refrigerator at least a couple of hours. Overnight is best. Add whipped cream and cherries when ready to serve. Serves 6 large pieces or 8 smaller pieces. (We made 2 pies as we had seven of us there, and I knew Littlebuddy would want seconds.)


 These cute treat jars, filled with peanut butter M&M's, I bought  from a Close To My Heart special offered in January. Cowgirl and I both had the kits, so we stamped and created the morning before she left. They are going to friends and family. The kits made 12. Fun, easy, creative, cute. . . love it! I think my favorite part was the silver glitter paper adding a little sparkle. Any clear tube could be dressed up for a fun treat idea.
Last Thursday night, Mom and I were in charge of treats for our quilt guild. We chose a Valentines theme, and each brought different things. I made frosted heart-shaped sugar cookies, and brought chips and salsa and a veggie platter and this dip. I was asked for the recipe to go into our newsletter, so I guess it was a hit. I love it! At home I serve it with veggies or one of my favorites - Stacy's Pita Chips - simply naked, letting the dip be the highlight here.

Ina Garten's Sun-Dried Tomato Dip (adapted)
        1 8oz, brick light cream cheese
        1/3 cup olive oil mayo
        1/3 cup light sour cream
        1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
              (Mine were dehydrated, so I soaked them in boiling water for ten minutes and let cool.)
        1 tsp. salt
        3/4 tsp. black pepper
        10 drops Tabasco sauce
         2 green onions, finely diced

Mix all together in food processor. Serve at room temperature. Refrigerate any leftovers.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Big 14

My baby has grown up way too quickly. Today he is 14!!! He's 5'11" and wears a size 11.5 shoe. He registered for High School last night!!! Fortunately, he is a good boy with a good heart and a good mind. He likes to have fun with his friends but he also likes to stay out of trouble. Its a good combination! He also has a great wit and enough attitude to remind us that he's clearly a teenager, yet a hug and a kiss for me and his dad every day before he leaves for school and again at night. 

 He's got a busy evening planned today with basketball. So, we're keeping things low key, just taking his closest buddy with us for a day of fun tomorrow, ending with coming home for presents and cake and grandparents to share in the celebration. Cowgirl flew in yesterday too. We love having her here under any excuse.
 Incredibly Fun 14! That's what my boy has to look forward to this year, and we're looking forward to watching him go through it.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

A Little Valentines Love

A couple of weeks ago MyGirl decorated my bedroom door, but it wasn't for me. It was for:

 her dad. She stamped and cut out shapes and "heart attacked" him and he loved it.
 She then went around the house and gathered whatever she could find and decorated for Valentines.
 Who knew they make candy corn in Valentines colors?
 Its times like this when I'm glad I have a stash of stamps to be used for sending loving wishes. I'll be putting some to good use this week when I make my Valentines too.  I know Valentines is a hard day for many, but I've always loved it for the chance to let those we love see a verbal message that hopefully conveys what we show all year round. Whether its siblings or your parents or your children or your sweetheart or your best friend or your teacher, Valentines Day is a great way to create a stronger relationship with those who mean the most to us. I love it!!