our family circa 1982.
yep, that’s me and my mushroom haircut. i loved it. at least i think i did.
“the mushroom” defines my childhood. it is what i remember most about me. that and strawberry shortcake.
when i look at that little girl, i smile. she was happy. quiet. helpful. friendly. obedient. loved to make others laugh.
all the qualities that a mushroom might possess. 🙂
oh, and in case you didn’t know. september is national mushroom month. so, go hug a mushroom!
just a few shots from dallin’s birthday.
he’s been asking for boxing gloves ever since he saw a little clip of Rocky in arizona. he’s been training hard with dad and, no kidding, the boy packs a punch!
every day he continues to ask me if he is still four.
yep, buddy, 4 is still your number!
so i’ve dubbed today as new music friday!
(and no, it’s not more of my terribly flat singing from yesterday)
sometimes i forget how much i love new music in my life.
i love how it refreshes me and puts a little spark back into my step. only one problem…i am the type that when i get a new song or cd, i will listen to it incessantly until everyone around me is completely sick of it. sorry jeff!
for the past year i have been on a jazz kick. michael buble and norah jones have been my crooning friends. sometimes i really believe i was born in the wrong era. give me some ella fitzgerald, harry connick jr., nat king cole and i’m in heaven. good stuff!
my latest song on replay is from john mayer’s new cd. never bought anything from him before. but this one i simply love…the heart of life.
puts me in a happy, kick-back, life is good mood.
listen up if you’d like. 🙂
happy friday!
eta: figured out that you could only hear the song if you have itunes. and if you don’t have itunes, it makes your computer all wonky. sorry!
WE LOVE YOU, DALLIN!!
today you are 4!
how thankful we are that you have brought us 4 years of
– smiles
– hugs
– kisses
– laughs
– tickles
– songs
– stories
– “get you” games
– snuggles
– pure LOVE!
it’s only fitting that your mom and dad sing you a little song (everyone else, you are more than welcome to plug your ears)…
for more than one reason!
i am celebrating this…
and this…
what an action packed weekend!
karin and wayne’s wedding…absolutely beautiful! such a wonderful feeling to be there and celebrate with them. we love them both so much! and it was a treat to see some sweet friends there too.
and the visiting teaching conference…whew! it turned out better than i could have hoped. i am grateful to know that if we do our very best, the Lord makes up the difference. i am sure of this!! it was a delightful evening despite the many panic attacks i had trying to get it all together. 🙂
the theme was “visiting teaching. it’s my bag!” we gave out little purse invitations that said you are “purse”onally invited to attend, etc.
the tables were all decorated with fun, funky handbags. and the skit had five different sisters with different bags representing their lives. grocery bag- mom with young kids. briefcase-working woman. suitcase-mature jet-setter. backpack-student in school, new to RS. duffel bag-soccer mom with too many activities on her plate.
each of them had a reason why visiting teaching was not their bag. too busy, nothing in common, too many schedules, etc. then a sister shows up with bags all over her representing the “bag lady.” she shared a poem and some thoughts with them that helped them to make VT their bag.
i was praying my guts out that it would be entertaining and funny and get the point across. it turned out awesome! huge *sigh* of relief!! then a few talks and a beautiful musical number to end the evening.
you could say that i came home floating and giddy. giddy to be done but also so thankful to be magnified when i felt inadequate.
You can have the utmost assurance that your power will be multiplied many times by the Lord. All He asks is that you give your very best effort and your whole heart. Do it cheerfully and with the prayer of faith. The Father and His Beloved Son will send the Holy Ghost as your companion to guide you. Your efforts will be magnified in the lives of the people you serve. And when you look back on what may now seem trying times of service and sacrifice, the sacrifice will have become a blessing, and you will know that you have seen the arm of God lifting those you served for Him, and lifting you. Elder Henry B. Eyring
this i know to be true.
yesterday was our first day of something exciting!!
it’s no secret that jeff has the most talented sisters – evah! and i’m just a lucky soul that dropped into their family.
Let’s Play Music is the brainchild of shelle. and i dare say, she is one amazing cookie! she has a degree in music education and has musical talent in every fiber of her being. 😉 she developed this program after many years of herculean effort. and i’m so glad she did!
the problem was, shelle lives in arizona and we live here. so i figured i would never be able to get my kids involved in Let’s Play Music. but i just wanted this for them so badly. i had to do something! so i decided to put my somewhat rusty musical abilities to work and become their teacher!
yesterday was our first class. and after much anticipation, i am thrilled. just thrilled! the kids really ate it up. their little faces were so excited to learn. and i am so happy that i can give the gift of music to them.
of all the things i can add to their life…music is one of the most meaningful to me. i think Victor Hugo said it well. Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.
so…let’s play music…music…music…let’s play music…here we go!
that’s me.
that’s what i feel like.
new calling.
new responsibilites.
one responsibility inparticular that is taking me to places i wasn’t sure i ever wanted to go. 😉
i have to call people. lots of people. all the time. ask them to do things. every day almost. aaack!!
for most women, no biggie. the phone is their friend. but this strange and unusual girl has a real problem with the telephone.
telephonophobia?? sort of but not really. i think i just struggle finding the words to communicate and end up sounding like a bumbling fool.
most people don’t know that about me. it’s right up there with swimming. not one of my prouder weaknesses.
in fact i just did a little layout about this whole thing a few weeks ago…
the last two weeks i think i’ve called more people on the phone than in the past 6 months. talk about working up a sweat!
but i’m doing it. and i’m sure the Lord knew it was about time. and i feel the stretch. the stretching that i avoid but is so good for me. because if i never leave the spot i’m standing on, i will never get anywhere. and i don’t want jeff to leave me here standing by myself. 🙂
so here’s to gumby. and to callings. and to progression. and to talking on the phone. ringy dingy… 🙂
(and just in case you were wondering……………..please don’t stop calling me!!!!!)
remember.
remember.
it’s a powerful word. and i’m glad we had a chance to do just that yesterday.
we went and saw the movie World Trade Center last night.
i can’t say that it was a feel good movie. my stomach was wrenched. i sobbed most of the time.
but i was grateful.
grateful that someone chose to tell that story.
i know there is some controversy over people making money from this event.
but i didn’t think much about that.
i thought about the people. the lives affected. how i felt that day. and how from tragedy arises greatness.
i was moved.
moved to remember the powerful love that exists between husband and wife. the bond of family. the heroes. the hand of God.
to me, it was movie making at it’s finest. even the rowdy teenagers left solemn and reverent.
i am thankful they shared their story so that i could remember.
for those that asked about my new toy….
here it is in all it’s glory. 🙂
and here is some info about it. wacom intuos tablet i have the 6×11 size. i bought it at the mac store, but i know you can find them on ebay or online.
just yesterday i was laughing about the “fully accessorized girl lurking within.”
that really is me. i want to wear cute shoes. i want to carry fun purses. i want to wear dangly earings. but…when it comes down to it.
i don’t.
it is out of my comfort zone.
i have two pair of shoes. my flip flops for everyday and nice church shoes. that’s it. two pair. count ’em. just two.
and when it’s raining or i need closed-toed shoes, i’m in trouble.
i’ve been wearing the same earings every day since Christmas.
and i’ve put on a cute little black bracelet three times this year.
i never change a purse to match my outfit. because there is only one purse. and if it doesn’t match…i will just live with committing the fashion faux pas.
but…when i see people all dolled up. i think to myself, “that does look fun. i really should try that.”
so, instead i buy a super slick wacom tablet so i can tell myself that even if i can’t seem to wear a necklace for more than 15 minutes, at least my computer is fully accessorized!!
(and the lurker within smiles) 🙂
