there is an effectual struggle going on in our home that i now consider an out and out war.
sadly i am outnumbered 20 million to 1. my enemy–dust! arghh!

since returning home from utah, i seriously feel as if my life is covered in dust. i have been trying to convince jeff throughout the past year that a dust fairy secretly comes out at night and blasts our house with enough dust to create our own moon sand. just recently this week, i think he finally believes me. he even changed the air filters just to see if she might be hiding up in the vent.

we’ve lived in a few different homes but for some reason this one seems “haunted,” if you will. we don’t have construction going on. no fields around. no particular reason why we should have more dust that accumulates in one day than should happen in a month. i’m telling you, the dust fairy is busy!!

so tonight i have been on a manhunt to fight her. i just spend the last three hours armed with my handy dandy vaccuum trying to rid my world of dust for just one night. now, lest you think i am a clean freak, i surely am not. it’s all or nothing for me. i clean like a maniac for a day or two and then i tuck that genie nicely away in her bottle for another month or four. just until the dust fairy has rubbed me long enough to release my fury.

however, i am sorry to admit that this war will never end and i will not be getting more troops anytime soon. just me. alone on the battlefront.

jeff and i have agreed on one thing though. as long as he is still mowing the lawn, i will still be scrubbing the toilets. and that, i guess, is the state of our union. 😉

can’t believe this year has come to a close. it has been a good one. eventful. and uneventful.
sometimes when certain things are happening, i feel as if i’m running to stand still. and other times, when not much is going on, i feel as if life is moving at the speed of a turtle. i am grateful for all of those times that put it all into perspective. it’s a wonderful life. but that all depends on how you look at it.
i am learning more and more that optimism and faith is everything. i can choose how to look at each day. how to react to every situation. and how to greet each challenge.
good or bad.
i choose.
and today and the end of this year, i am recommitting to move forward with happiness, optimism, and excitement. i am thrilled for the upcoming year and the choices i can make to bring happiness to my own life and my family. i think the cliche stands true…if mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. so why not make life great for everyone around me?
wonderful things are around the corner and i am ready for the lessons to be learned and the joy coming our way.

2007 bring it on!!!!!!

it’s off to utah we go!

we’ll be seeing some of you soon.

random quotes for today:

A book which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story.  The good ones last.  A book which is not worth reading at age 50 is not worth reading at age 10. 
~ C.S. Lewis

“The best is all you can do.”
Somedays my best is better than others.
Somedays my best is far from best.
Somedays my best is better than the bestest.
~ A.N.

Mom, thanks for cutting my hair. The long hair made me mean.
~ Dallin

so this morning as i’m frantically trying to figure out how to accomplish all that is on my list and feeling like i’m running to stand still, i read this article that was sent to me. talk about PERFECT timing! just what i needed to hear today to put this craziness into perspective. maybe some of you might feel the same as me. hope this helps!

Are We Being Wise?
by Dean Hughes
November 29, 2006

Sit down for a sec. Take a breath.

Have you forgotten already?

Remember that conference talk? The one by Elder M. Russell Ballard? He told us to be wise. He told us to cut out the “needless frills.” Remember what you thought at the time? “He’s right. I’ve got to stop overdoing.”

We all made the same vow, didn’t we? And now it’s the season of peace and love, and what are we doing? Overdoing.

Here’s what he said:

“I would like to let you in on a little secret. Some of you have already learned it. If you haven’t, it’s time you knew. No matter what your family needs are or your responsibilities in the Church, there is not such a thing as “done.” There will always be more we can do. There is always another family matter that needs attention, another lesson to prepare, another interview to conduct, another meeting to attend. We just need to be wise in protecting our health and in following the counsel that President Hinckley has given often to just do the best we can.” (Ensign, November 2006, p. 19)

Wow! He actually said that. An apostle. And we believed him.

But now Christmas is coming and you’re getting yourself stressed, aren’t you?

One of my pet peeves is hearing everyone ask, “So, are you ready for Christmas yet?” The question makes Christmas sound like this enormous project—something to get “done.” Is that wise? Couldn’t we fuss a little less this year and enjoy Christmas more? Couldn’t we stop long enough, at least a time or two, to think what the season means?

When I was a little boy, my mom used to say, “They put up the Christmas decorations earlier every year.” I’ve heard people say pretty much the same thing my whole life. Let’s see, I’m over sixty now, so if “they” had actually moved up the Christmas hype every year, the decorations in the stores would all be up in July.

When we claim that “they” are “commercializing” Christmas, aren’t we really discovering something in ourselves, and then looking for someone else to blame?

I love Christmas shopping. I like decorations. I like dinners and parties and family gatherings—and all the rest. And I like the food—way too much. But we all must like that stuff or we wouldn’t make it happen again every year.

Still, somewhere in the middle of it all, let’s take a breath. Let’s hold the ones we love in our arms, maybe sit by the fire a few minutes. If we bake a little less, decorate a little less, skip a party or two, wouldn’t it be worth it?

Elder Ballard also said that some people: “. . . start believing that the programs they administer are more important than the people they serve. They complicate their service with needless frills and embellishments that occupy too much time, cost too much money, and sap too much energy.” (Ensign, November 2006, p. 18)

He was talking about the way we do our Church work, but could the same words describe the way we do Christmas?

Sit down for a minute. Relax. Play some Christmas music.

Ask yourself whether there aren’t some “embellishments” that could be dropped. Do we blame the stores and the advertising because we don’t want to admit what’s actually missing from Christmas?

And don’t we all know what that is?

I’m going to find some quiet time to listen to the “The Messiah” this year.

And I promise myself; I’m going to think more of Christ. Kathy and I visited the Holy Land this last year. I can still see those Galilean Hills in my mind. I’m going to think about that—the way I felt when I walked where he once walked. We all know what’s missing. It’s Christ we want to invite to our celebration.

And we can’t do it when we spend our whole time running.

So sit down for a sec.

Take a breath.

It’s the nicest time of the year.

Somehow I ended up writing the Relief Society message for our ward newsletter this month. Hmmm…the pressure was totally on not only because it’s the Christmas message but also because things are supposed sound better in December, right? So after many hours staring at the computer, I finally came up with this. I thought I’d post it because it has an experience very special to us that I have never journalled before. I am so glad I did have this opportunity so I could put that story into words. Enjoy!

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year! I’m sure it’s not just coincidence that two meaningful holidays are so close together. Have you ever thought about the significance of Thanksgiving occurring just before Christmas? A season of Thanksgiving provides us a great opportunity to stop and ponder all of the blessings we receive and give thanks for the happiness in our lives. Then immediately following, we enter into a season of giving where we can share that gratitude by serving and blessing the lives of others.

As our thoughts turn increasingly toward Christ at this time of year, I am reminded of the Savior’s reply to his parents, Joseph and Mary, when they found him teaching in the temple at the young age of twelve. His mother was concerned that he had been gone for three days. She questioned him, saying, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” Jesus answered: “How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:48-49).

Can we receive any greater joy and happiness than knowing that we are truly about our Father’s business?

Most of us can recall the most memorable Christmas in our lives. For many of us, that Christmas was not one of lavish gifts or vacations to distant places. It was a time that someone gave us something of themselves or a time when we gave something of ourselves. The Christmas I continue to hold most dear was years ago when a struggling single mother moved into our neighborhood with her son and two daughters. She had left Argentina with hopes of finding a better life for her young family. With what money they had, they were able to find a small apartment, but that was all. I remember seeing her son sleeping on the floor using his coat for a blanket. My heart ached for their situation. But how could we help this little family on our own? It wasn’t possible. With Christmas quickly approaching, we decided to call family, neighbors, and friends and ask for their support. I was amazed as I watched selfless acts of service occur, even children deciding they would give up a holiday trip to Disneyland to buy furnishings for this family.

On Christmas morning, I recall standing on their doorstep with a pancake breakfast and bags of dishes, clothing, and toys. As the day continued on, kind-hearted people continued to drive up unloading couches, beds, tables, and food until the small apartment was near overflowing. I will never forget the tears of joy and gratitude that were shed by all who were about their Father’s business on this day.

During this special time, may we be reminded of him whose birth we celebrate, Jesus Christ. For without Christ there would be no Christmas, and without Christ there can be no fulness of joy. The peace of the gospel does not come from material wealth but from a testimony of his mission and divinity. And to be about our Father’s business is the greatest gift we can share this Christmas season.