Saturday, April 30, 2011

How we see the world

I love this story...so true!

A Yiddish Folk Tale
An old man sat outside the walls of a great city. When travelers approached, they would ask the old man, "What kind of people live in this city?" The old man would answer, "What kind of people live in the place where you came from?" If the travelers answered, "Only bad people live in the place where we came from," the old man would reply, "Continue on; you will find only bad people here."
But if the travelers answered, "Good people live in the place where we came from," then the old man would say, "Enter, for here too, you will find only good people."

"We see the world, not as it is, but as we are──or, as we are conditioned to see it."  ~ Stephen R. Covey


"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections." ~ Unknown

I Like this quote I dislike this quoteBeing happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Unusual Answer

I am always amazed at how some answers seem so hard to find, and then others ( ones that are unusual or unexpected ) just seem to find you. We have been worrying, studying, asking, testing and praying for answers to our son's stomach attacks. He first has about 5 minutes of warning where he feels nauseated, and then he crumples over on the floor and had incredible pain and cramping. This has been off and on, for over a year and a half now. He has had ultra sounds, CT scans, MRI and blood and urine tests, and all with the same results or answers...every thing looks normal, no explanation for his problem.

As I have mentioned it is terribly hard to see your kid in pain, but worse not to know why? We have had a lot of sleepless and worrisome nights, but still no answers. Then the other day our chiropractor email us and  wrote this...

"There was something I was hoping you might consider, and something you can do a little home research on.  When Lee was in the other day I was asking him about his psoas muscle.  It’s a muscle that runs from the lower back, down through the inside of the hip to the front top of the leg.  The muscle is the main flexor of the hip. There is a group of nerves that run down the front of that psoas muscle and innervate that area.  When this muscle is spasming or contracted, it can cause fairly severe pain in the abdomen and groin.  It can also cause deep and dull lower back pain.  If you do some searching under psoas contracture you’ll find reports where it can replicate appendicitis as well.
I was asking Lee a bit about that muscle the other day, and when I pointed out where it was located he said that was right where his pain starts.  I asked him where else he felt it, but he said he hurt so much that he doesn’t think a whole lot about it when it’s going on.  If it is the psoas, and he did think about it, I’m guessing he probably gets groin pain when he has his attacks.  When that particular muscle contracts, it generally causes the hip to flex and the knee to move toward the chest.  If it is only happening on one side the trunk usually rotates to the involved sign.  Basically, it can kind of double you up."

So we aren't completely out of the woods yet, but Lee is having smaller attacks and hopefully after a few psoas muscle release appointments, it will heal it's self. Now the only reason I put this information out there, is because I can't believe how far off we were on the ANSWER and even the QUESTIONS. I knew what a psoas muscle was, but only because mine is short and tight and my PT works on doing the muscle releasing on mine, to help my lower back. I have never heard that it can spasm like that, and all this time we thought it was one of Lee's organs, wow! So I share this just in case this ever happens to anyone else you know. I guess it is fairly common among athletes and especially those athletes who have groin injuries.


I feel bad that we put him through all those tests, but yet we sorta had to go through the process of elimination. Thank goodness for a chiropractor who cared and was paying attention, we hadn't even really talked to him about it, but when Lee came in last week, he talked to him about it and about his low back pain. That is when our chiropractor first thought, maybe we were looking down the wrong road. Amazing, simply amazing!
So now we will remember to look for the not so obvious answers and be ready to look into more the unusual answers! Plus, we are very grateful that answers are at least coming now!

Good night!

"Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers."  ~ Robert Half

" Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." ~ Dr. Seuss

"Prayer is not merely an occasional impulse to which we respond when we are in trouble:  prayer is a life attitude."  ~Walter A. Mueller

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Life is just hard sometimes!

I got some bad news today...from myself!  Remember, how I said that I had almost been completely healthy for one year? Well, that wasn't true. ( I didn't mean I lied on purpose ) I happened to be going through some of my posts on my blog from last year, and realized that I got pneumonia (once again) in August and it wasn't until Sept 20th that I was back to health. So that means, I was only healthy for 7 months straight! Far cry from a year, I know...I was so disappointed.

But still, I need to remind myself that it has been ages since I have been healthy for even 3 months at a time, so...I guess I am not doing too bad ( I think this is another half empty/half full test here? ). And I was doing too much, pushed my body too far, let my schedule get to full and I was worried about my son ....plus, I didn't honor THE WALL. Shoot when you say it like that, it almost seems like I deserved to be sick or that I was asking to get sick.
Some how all those things don't make me feel better but, I have repented and have committed to try once again to be a bit smarter and simplify my life a bit more. But can I at least be honest with you and say...that it felt great to be out and about, busy, serving, teaching, giving, active, helping and participating in life! When you have had so many down days,months and years as I have, it is hard not to want to be out and about in the world. It is a lonely place to be at home by yourself and only taking care of yourself. Service, makes life sooooooooooooo much more enjoyable!

So with that confession, I am going to bed. I was about 5 % better today, and I can think of a hundred things I am behind on (from being sick for 6 days now) but...I am just going to turn off the lights and go to bed. I hope someone out there is learning something from this blog?  Because I am trying to be very honest, not matter how bad it makes me look. :)

Good night dear friends!

 

“What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes, and when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning - and some of them many times over - what do you find? That you can swim? Well - life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!”  ~ Alfred Adler

"A man's errors are his portals of discovery."  ~ James Joyce

“The only normal people are the one's you don't know very well.”  ~ Alfred Adler

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

The Power of Words

Well in just the last hour, my body aches have subsided...what a relief!  On top of a fever, trouble breathing, non-stop coughing, the body aches... have been the worst! I actually didn't do anything for over 4 days now. Not watch a movie, listen to music, read or walk around even very much. I can tell Jeff gets really worried about me when he sees me doing nothing. I am not a "do nothing" type of girl. I draw, sew or crochet while watching a movie. My hands are always busy. But I have been hurting so bad...I literally have just laid around and moaned. Sad ...I know!
But I am for this moment, feeling a bit better so I thought I had better write my blog right now. This story  probably stuck out to me because it was about how powerful words are. I really agree, I myself have to be careful on how I let other people's words hurt or help me. I am a bit tenderhearted, I guess you could say.
It is a great story for anyone! Hope you enjoy it!
Night dear friends!

The Wise Sage 

  There once was a wise sage who wandered the countryside. One day, as he passed near a village, he was approached by a woman who told him of a sick child nearby. She beseeched him to help this child.
So the sage came to the village, and a crowd gathered around him, for such a man was a rare sight. One woman brought the sick child to him, and he said a prayer over her.
"Do you really think your prayer will help her, when medicine has failed?" yelled a man from the crowd.
"You know nothing of such things! You are a stupid fool!" said the sage to the man.
The man became very angry with these words and his face grew hot and red. He was about to say something, or perhaps strike out, when the sage walked over to him and said: "If one word has such power as to make you so angry and hot, may not another have the power to heal?"
And thus, the sage healed two people that day.  ~ Unknown


"Language does have the power to change reality. Therefore, treat your words as the mighty instruments they are - to heal, to bring into being, to nurture, to cherish, to bless, to forgive." - Daphne Rose Kingma

Monday, April 25, 2011

Spring is here...sorta!

There are a few tell tell signs that Spring is here, such as ...the calendar, the bright and beautiful colors at the store, little girls all dressed  up in their Easter dresses ( of course, these little girls just happen to be my granddaughters), candy everywhere, and even some flowers starting to bloom ...but not by the weather today!  It has been one of our coldest and wettest Springs in a  long time. I have noticed that many people are really struggling with that. I feel blessed in that way, the weather has never bothered me here in Seattle. I love the sunshine just like anyone else, but I don't mind the rain and cool weather either. We did have a beautiful couple of days this weekend and so I am grateful.

Still feeling pretty sick and very weak,so I will just leave you with this cute story about a little girl and her Dad...and I will call it a night!

DSC00718[1]

Golf Lessons with Daughter

Like every golfer, I can't wait for the start of the golf season. But I have a special reason: my new playing partner, my 8-year-old daughter, known affectionately as "the Terrorist."

When she was only 2, her mother and I bought the little rascal a child-sized seven iron. It was way too big for her, but she dragged it around the house. About the time she was 5, she started accompanying her daddy to the driving range and putting green.

She and I chipped around in the back yard until she started to hit the ball with some authority. One day, she put a Titleist through the bathroom window, which resulted in a torrent of tears After that, we confine golfing to the driving range.

Then last spring, I said to the Terrorist, "What do you say we play 'real’ golf on a ‘real' golf course?

"Yeah! Daddy!" came the enthusiastic response.

So the following Saturday morning, we drove to a nine-hole, par three course. It is a family-friendly course with slow greens, a driving range and a putting green on which to warm up. One rarely has to wait at the first tee.

After a torrential rain, water collects along the left side of the first fairway. And a ditch lies along the second fairway. Otherwise, it is hard to get into trouble on a course with virtually no rough. Just the place for an 8-year-old, and her daddy.

And so Daddy and the Terrorist played their first round of golf together. Golf is, a wonderful game to teach life's little messages to little girls.

"First of all, you have to count all the strokes, even if you accidentally bump the ball, and it rolls an inch," I instructed.

The Terrorist caught on fast and insisted on keeping score. "So you got a 5 on that hole?" I asked. "No, Daddy, I accidentally hit the ball on the hill, and it moved, so I got a 6." And she dutifully recorded the 6. I could be wrong but I think we have the making of an honest child here.

"Daddy, the ball is behind a bush, can I move it?"

"No, sweetheart, you have to play the ball where it lies, no fair moving it." Another of life's little messages.

On each tee, I dutifully filled my divot sand, then filled at least one more. "Always leave the golf course in better shape than you found it." I advised.

Since then, she has methodically attempted to rebuild every tee by filling every divot.

There is something about sand and kids. When the Terrorist knocked her ball into a sand trap, she would have spent the next hour making sure it was absolutely smooth. "No," I admonished, "there are people waiting on the tee, and we can't hold them up." That led to a simple lesson on slow play and about others around you and how your actions have an impact on them.

Once, when we were two holes ahead of the some behind us, we stopped to fix some extra marks on a green and to practice chipping. For 10 minutes, she chipped the ball at the hole, and I putted it back to her, another of life's little lessons: Practice makes perfect.

For now, golf simply is fun. Hit the ball hard, go find it, and who cares what the score is. We spend little time on the driving range with very elementary instruction, but nothing serious. In another two years, if she still enjoys the game, we will see about some lessons. But for now, it is just a game.

On a short, 60-yard hole, the Terrorist drove the green and landed her ball considerably inside her dad's shot. That was a momentous accomplishment, which later was recounted in great detail to her mother.

Two hours after we teed off, the Terrorist and I returned to the clubhouse to drink lemonade, eat candy bars and (at her insistence) add up the score.

She leaned back in her chair, pushed back her golf visor, looked at me with her child's eyes and, and said, "Daddy, that was a lot of fun! Let's do this again!"

And we did, all summer long.

By Donald Hoke

 

" daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart." ~Author Unknown

"The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month."   ~Henry Van Dyke

"It is almost impossible to remember how tragic a place this world is when one is playing golf. 
~ Robert Lynd

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Sunday

Well, I missed going to church with Jeff and the kids today. I have pneumonia and I am hurting too bad to go anywhere. I love Easter and what it means. Because of Jesus Christ and all that He did for us, we too will live again. What hope that brings to my heart.
I watched this video about Easter, and thought I would share it with you tonight!

I would write more but I am way to weak tonight. I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter!

 

http://lds.org/pages/his-sacred-name-an-easter-declaration?lang=eng

 

 

"The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances."  ~Robert Flatt

"Let the resurrection joy lift us from loneliness and weakness and despair to strength and beauty and happiness."  ~Floyd W. Tomkins

Saturday, April 23, 2011

The Easter Bunny and Lee!

[easter+bunny.jpg]

I am a BIG BELIEVER in tradition! However, since I became a MOM...I realized that I also need to be a BIG BELIEVER in Plan B. Things don't always go as planned, and so whether you like it or not, there better be a Plan B in your hip pocket. This week was one of those, Plan B type of weeks.
For instance, the Easter Bunny has always stopped by our house on Friday Nights ( by our request ). We thought it would be easier to teach the kids between Spring/ Easter Bunny and the real meaning of Easter, if we separated them by a day. It has worked quite well for all these years, however...when you have a tradition like that, you have to stay on top of it or...before you know it, it is Friday night already. I don't believe that the Easter Bunny has ever been late coming to our home in some 27 years, but he didn't make it last night!
We were surprised, but soon realized that this has been an unusually cold and wet Spring and so...he probably was sick. I can sure understand how hard that would be to deliver all those baskets, when you don't feel too well! Lucky for us, by today...we had word that he has finally visited all of our kids and so we are grateful, that even though it was a day or so late...we were able to keep our tradition!

Today is also Lee's 18th birthday. We got to celebrate it with all the kids together (when we were in Idaho). Then today we had Amy, John and the girls and then some friends and neighbors over to celebrate with Lee. He has turned out to be an incredible young man, and how blessed we feel to have him in our family. He will graduate in a month or so and before we know it, he will be off to college...wow, I am just not ready for that yet! I think one of the greatest joys of a Mom, is to see the love that the kids have for one another. Now when they were little, there were days that I thought they would kill each other but... that was just on hard days. It has been enjoyable to see how they connect now that they are all young adults. They are each other's friend, and that is what I prayed for...for years.

So Happy Birthday Lee, and thanks Easter Bunny for keeping our tradition... of coming before Easter Sunday!

 

"It is our choices ... that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities."
- J. K. Rowling

"No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow."  ~Proverb

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."  ~Anne Bradstreet

Friday, April 22, 2011

Just missed my goal!

Can you believe it, I just missed my goal of being healthy for one year straight...by only 13 days!!! I can't say that I am surprised, since I have been so stressed out this week, worrying about Lee. I knew I should go to bed early, but couldn't get my head to stop thinking and wondering. I knew that I should have honored THE WALL, but I just felt if I kept going, I could get a few things I was behind on. I guess no one ever plans for all the doctor appointments and all the things that come up, when someone is sick or hurting. So it is my own fault that I didn't take better care of my body better. I have been trying sooooooooooooo hard to make that goal. :(

I guess the I need to look at it, more on the positive side. I have been well ...COMPLETELY WELL for 352 days! That is great news! Especially considering that I had pneumonia four times, year before last!

I knew very early this morning that I was coming down with something, so the first thing I did when I got up...was put on a big pot of homemade Chicken Noodle Soup. For those of us that don't have Mothers here anymore with us...that is what we have to do, make it ourselves!

So even though I am freezing, aching all over, and I am cooking a fever, plus I have a sore throat and an already DEEP cough...life is good and I am thankful for all my blessings!

Good night dear friends!

"If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."  ~ Frank A. Clark

" I can't change the directions of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination."  ~ Jimmy Dean

"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."  ~ C.S. Lewis

 

Worrier

Well, the Doctor called today, and the results were in from Lee's tests. Every thing was normal, just like all the other tests we have done. It is weird, I was praying that nothing was wrong ...and yet at the very same time, I was praying to know what is wrong. I am trying not to be a worrier but some days, I worry more than I should. Yesterday, was one of those days. Today, I decided to turn it over to my Heavenly Father, what a more peaceful way to live. Trying to act as if EVERYTHING depends on you is hard. I know my Heavenly Father loves Lee and is well aware of his struggles. I just need to remember, all the times He has taken care of our family. This time won't be any different. Perspective is a wonderful thing!
Night dear friends!

Can You See God? 


A small boy once approached his slightly older sister with a question about God. "Susie, can anybody ever really see God?" he asked.
Busy with other things, Susie curtly replied: "No, of course
not silly. God is so far up in heaven that nobody can see him."
Time passed, but his question still lingered so he approached his mom: "Mom, can anybody ever really see God?" "No, not really," she gently said. "God is a spirit and he dwells in our hearts, but we can never really see Him."
Somewhat satisfied but still wondering, the youngster went on his way. Not long afterwards, his saintly old grandfather took the little boy on a fishing trip.
They were having a great time together. The sun was beginning to set with unusual splendor and the grandfather stared silently at the exquisite beauty unfolding before them.
On seeing the face of his grandfather reflecting such deep
peace and contentment, the little boy thought for a moment and finally spoke hesitatingly:
"Granddad, I--I-- wasn't going to ask anybody else, but I wonder if you can tell me the answer to something I've been wondering about a long time. Can anybody - can anybody ever really see God?".
The old man did not even turn his head. A long moment slipped by before he finally answered. "Son," he quietly said. "It's getting so I can't see anything else."       ~Author Unknown

 

"Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you."  ~ Saint Augustine

Every evening I turn my worries over to God.  He's going to be up all night anyway.  ~Mary C. Crowley

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Singing your song

Last night I taught a class at church, on the importance of having Family Night. I loved preparing for it, because once again it reminded me that we can not take our family's for granted. We need to provide a home that is safe and that has a sure foundation. Taking one day a week to devote to being together as a family is important. We have always had Family Night with our kids, and they actually looked forward to it. It is a special time and a time to reinforce our love for each other, and also our values and beliefs. Yes, I believe it made all the difference in the world.
Now don't get me wrong, there were times when our Family Nights didn't turn out too successful. Attitudes were bad or someone didn't want to participate. But all in all, I am grateful we did it, week after week. I found this story and I loved it. What a powerful message it was about helping each of us remember who we are, and that we are loved. Read it and see what you think?

They're Singing Your Song 

When a woman in a certain African tribe knows
she is pregnant, she goes out into the wilderness
with a few friends and together they pray and
meditate until they hear the song of the child.
They recognize that every soul has its own vibration
that expresses its unique flavor and purpose. When
the women attune to the song, they sing it out loud. 
Then they return to the tribe and teach it to everyone
else.

When the child is born, the community gathers and sings the child's song to him or her. Later, when the child enters education, the village gathers and chants the child's song. When the child passes through the initiation to adulthood, the people again come
together and sing. At the time of marriage, the person hears his or her song.
Finally, when the soul is about to pass from this world, the family and friends gather at the person's bed, just as they did at their birth, and they sing the person to the next life.
To the African tribe there is one other occasion upon which the villagers sing to the child. If at any time during his or her life, the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, the individual is called to the center of the village and the people in the community
form a circle around them. Then they sing their song to them.
The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment; it is love and the remembrance of identity. When you recognize your own song, you have no desire or need to do anything that would hurt another.
A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it. Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.
You may not have grown up in an African tribe that sings your song to you at crucial life transitions, but life is always reminding you when you are in tune with yourself and when you are not. When you feel good, what you are doing matches your song, and when you feel awful, it doesn't. In the end, we shall all recognize our song and sing it well.
You may feel a little unsteady at the moment, but so have all the great singers. Just keep singing and you'll find your way home.


http://www.inspirationpeak.com/shortstories/singingyoursong.html

"It's surprising how many persons go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you're not comfortable within yourself, you can't be comfortable with others."  ~ Sidney J. Harris

"The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else."
~E. E. Cummings

"You don't choose your family.  They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."  ~Desmond Tutu

Hitting the WALL!

Have you ever heard the statement made by many marathon runners, when they say "Around the 22nd mile, I hit the wall"?

Energy Dynamics 101

( Here's the scientific explanation )

“Hitting The Wall is basically about running out of energy,” says Dave Martin, Ph.D., Emeritus Regent’s Professor of Health Sciences at Georgia State University in Atlanta—chemical energy, that is, stored in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and obtained from the breakdown, or metabolism, of energy-containing fuel. The runner’s primary fuel sources are carbohydrates (in the form of blood glucose and glycogen, a polymer of glucose stored in the muscles and liver) and fats (free fatty acids in the bloodstream and muscle triglycerides, molecules containing three fatty acids).

I actually heard about it when I was on the track team, and our coach was explaining it and what to do to keep going AFTER you hit the wall. That mentality stayed with me for years, even though I wasn't running on the track, I was running or working or not sleeping so much ...that I continually hit the Wall, but remembered well, how to keep pushing and keep going. I actually thought that was a good thing?

Then I began to get so sick, and I was always trying to learn new ways to be healthy. One of the first things that I learned was how important it is not to push so hard, or so fast that you hit the Wall, that means your energy is gone and it seems like your shoes are filled with concrete. In healing your Mind and Body, you are taught to honor that Wall, recognize you are too tired, too sleepy, too worn out and to stop everything and let your body rejuvenate. What an odd concept that was to me, what a hard time I had learning that. But now I have to admit that more often than not, I do stop and rest.

Today however and actually for the past 3 days, I have Hit the Wall at some point and despite what I know, I kept pushing and totally ignored the wall. I realized tonight that I need to go back to honoring my body. Listen to what it is trying to tell me. The hard part for me is when it happens and I am doing things that I LOVE TO DO! I got to teach my Quilt Class today, which I love! Then I drove my son to an appointment, stopped and did some errands and then got ready and went and taught a class at church tonight. What a HIGH I am on, but oh...my body is paying for it. So I am telling you that ...I do know better, and I can't keep doing that or my body will get sick. So I am going to try to pace myself more. Why is it, even at my age...I am still learning so many lessons, and some of them OVER and OVER again?  Actually, you don't have to answer that... I know the answer! I will try to do better tomorrow.
Good night dear friends!

 

"Respect your efforts, respect yourself.  Self-respect leads to self-discipline.  When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power."  ~Clint Eastwood

"Take care of your body.  It's the only place you have to live."  ~Jim Rohn

"The body never lies."  ~Martha Graham

"Sometimes your body is smarter than you are."  ~Author Unknown

 

 

"

Monday, April 18, 2011

Heartache

    Once again I am trying to find the energy to write. It was a long day, I was up late with Lee, and today he isn't doing that much better. He went to a half day of school and then to the Doctor's office for more tests. Not sure how long those results will take? Then on Weds. they will have him do an MRI, so he will miss school that day.
    The hard part for me is the heartache, watching your child suffer and hurt, and not knowing what is wrong or not being able to help the pain stop. I may not be making a lot of sense, I am over tired, sleepy and worried. I am trying to remember to turn this all over to my Heavenly Father and ask for peace, as well as to be guided to the right Doctor, the right test and the right diagnosis. I hope we find out those things soon?  Please keep us in your prayers, we could sure use them! Thank you!

Here is a great story to remind us... that it is up to us, to be the change we want to see in the world! Enjoy! 

Last Respects 

One day not too long ago the employees of a large company in St. Louis, Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: "Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym."
At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be.
The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered: "Who is this person who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he's no longer here!"


One by one the employees got closer to the coffin and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.
There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said: "There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU.
You are the only person who can revolutionize your life. You are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success. You are the only person who can help yourself.
Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes. Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that you are the only one responsible for your life.
"The most important relationship you can have, is the one you have with yourself."  ~Unknown

"In all things it is better to hope than to despair"   ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Hope never abandons you; you abandon it"   ~ George Weinberg

"Hope is faith holding out its hand in the dark"  ~ George Iles

What's on the other side?

   Today is Sunday, I love Sundays. It is the only day of the week that we completely just do things as a family and  relax, go to church and to just do things that normally you wouldn't or don't take the time to do... like write cards to loved ones, call family and friends and so on. I was hoping tonight to share with you a few things I learned today but instead, my son is sick and I only have a few minutes to write.
    I found this little story and thought it was worth passing on. I have always said that Knowledge is Power, just like this story puts it. When you have a knowledge that your Heavenly Father lives and that He is in control of our lives, then you put fear away and trust that He knows what to do and will tell you what to do. For that knowledge, I am extremely grateful.

   Good night dear friends!

 

That Is Enough 

  A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room with his tail wagging and an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside... He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough."  ~Unknown

http://www.inspirationpeak.com/cgi-bin/stories.cgi?record=110

"God understands our prayers even when we can't find the words to say them."  ~Author Unknown

"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."  ~ Norman Cousins

 

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Let what you love be what you do

   I remember as a little girl a few really special things, one of those things were... the quilts that my Grandmother and Aunt made together. I would ask them about all the different fabrics that were in quilt and they would tell me stories about each one, such as..."Oh that is the material from our matching dresses", "that is from an old apron of mine" and on and on. It was neat to see that the quilt had quite the history, before it was even made. I only have a couple of the quilts that my Grandmother and Aunt made, but they are proudly displayed in my home. I have sewn since I was about 11 years old but never really thought I could do any other kind of quilts than tied quilts. But thanks to a few talented neighbors and a lot of patience, I can quilt now and love it!

   Yesterday was my Demo class, and of course it was great! I love the sweet spirits of each lady, they are becoming dear friends, and that has meant the world to me! They make me feel so special. They brag on my demos, even though they are small and simple things to make. Still they make me feel like a million bucks.  It is a HIGH to teach twice a month, I wouldn't mind doing it more often, it is a real treat.

   So like the quote below says...I love what I am doing, and I feel blessed, not everyone has that opportunity I realize. But I do hope you are able to do something  you love...OFTEN in your life?  It makes all the difference in the world.

Good night my friends!

 

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”  ~ Jalal ad-Din Rumi

"Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does."  ~William James

"We can do no great things, only small things with great love."  ~Mother Teresa

Friday, April 15, 2011

Sweet and Simple

I loved this, hope you do too!  Good night dear friends!

The Seven Wonders of the World

Junior high school students in Chicago were
studying the Seven Wonders of the World. At
the end of the lesson, the students were asked
to list what they considered to be the Seven
Wonders of the World. Though there was some
disagreement, the following received the
most votes:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. The Taj Mahal in India
3. The Grand Canyon in Arizona
4. The Panama Canal
5. The Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall
While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list. The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many." The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."
The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:
1. to touch...
2. to taste...
3. to see...
4. to hear... (She hesitated a little, and then added...)
5. to feel...
6. to laugh...
7. and to love.
The room was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.
May this story serve as a gentle reminder to all of us that the things we overlook as simple and ordinary are often the most wonderful - and we don't have to travel anywhere special to experience them.
Enjoy your gifts!    Author Unknown

http://www.inspirationpeak.com/shortstories/sevenwonders.html

“It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”         ~ Laura Ingalls Wilder

Finding Jesus

Oh my goodness what a great story, it reminded me how much Faith a child can have.

Some times life doesn't turn out like we think it should, but usually in the long run... it
turns out better!

It is important that we are patient in our suffering, and it is also important to ...Find Jesus!
Enjoy!

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. "Tomorrow morning," the surgeon began, "I'll open up your heart..."

"You'll find Jesus there," the boy interrupted.

The surgeon looked up, annoyed. "I'll cut your heart open," he continued, "to see how much damage has been done..."

"But when you open up my heart, you'll find Jesus in there." The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly.

"When I see how much damage has been done, I'll sew your heart and chest back up and I'll plan what to do next."

"But you'll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible says He lives there. The hymns all say He lives there. You'll find Him in my heart."

The surgeon had had enough. "I'll tell you what I'll find in your heart. I'll find damaged muscle, low blood supply, and weakened vessels. And I'll find out if I can make you well."

"You'll find Jesus there too. He lives there."

The surgeon left. After the surgery, the surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes: "...damaged aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy: painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis:" here he paused, "death within one year."

He stopped the recorder, but there was more to be said. "Why?" he asked aloud.

"Why did You do this? You've put him here; You've put him in this pain; and You've cursed him to an early death. Why?"

The Lord answered, "The boy, My lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, for he is a part of My flock, and will forever be. Here, in My flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine. His parents will one day join him here, and they will know peace, and My flock will continue to grow."

The surgeon's tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. "You created that boy, and You created that heart. He'll be dead in months.

Why?"

The Lord answered, "The boy, my lamb, shall return to my flock, for he has done his duty: I did not put My lamb with your flock to lose him, but to retrieve another lost lamb."

The surgeon wept.

The surgeon sat beside the boy's bed; the boy's parents sat across from him. The boy awoke and whispered, "Did you cut open my heart?"

"Yes," said the surgeon.

"What did you find?" asked the boy.

"I found Jesus there," said the surgeon.

Author unknown

"The truth is that our finest moments are most likely to occur when we are feeling deeply uncomfortable, unhappy, or unfulfilled.  For it is only in such moments, propelled by our discomfort, that we are likely to step out of our ruts and start searching for different ways or truer answers."    ~ Unknown

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear."    ~Ambrose Redmoon

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Sunrise, Sunset

I remember as a little girl, that my one of my Mom's favorite songs from Fiddler on the Roof was Sunrise, Sunset.
She said it always made her cry, because that is how she felt as her children grew up. It seemed so fast to her.
I didn't exactly know what she meant at that time, but now I do.
I look at this photo of Brad and Krystal, and wonder how the time flew by so fast? Yes, this is my little Bradley, the boy that made us laugh and smile a lot. Now he is all grown up, married to a beautiful and smart girl and they are ready to take on the world. Wow, that time did seem to fly and just like my Mother said...I feel like crying! Needlesstosay that Mother's are always right!  :)

Good night dear friends!

Sunrise, Sunset

(Tevye)
is This The Little Girl I Carried?
is This The Little Boy At Play?
(Golde)
i Don't Remember Growing Older
when Did They?
(Tevye)
when Did She Get To Be A Beauty?
when Did He Get To Be So Tall?
(Golde)
wasn't It Yesterday
when They Were Small? (Men)
sunrise, Sunset
sunrise, Sunset
swiftly Flow The Days
seedlings Turn Overnight To Sunflowers
blossoming Even As We Gaze
(Women)
sunrise, Sunset
sunrise, Sunset
swiftly Fly The Years
one Season Following Another
laden With Happiness And Tears
(Tevye)
what Words Of Wisdom Can I Give Them?
how Can I Help To Ease Their Way?
(Tevye)
now They Must Learn From One Another
day By Day
(Perchik)
they Look So Natural Together
(Hodel)
just Like Two Newlyweds Should Be
(Perchik & Hodel)
is There A Canopy In Store For Me?
(All)
sunrise, Sunset
sunrise, Sunset
swiftly Flow The Days
seedlings Turn Overnight To Sunflowers
blossoming Even As We Gaze
sunrise, Sunset
sunrise, Sunset
swiftly Fly The Years
one Season Following Another
laden With Happiness And Tears

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  ~Elizabeth Stone

"When you have brought up kids, there are memories you store directly in your tear ducts."  ~Robert Brault,

"It kills you to see them grow up.  But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn't."  ~Barbara Kingsolver

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Don't quit, keep playing!

A month or so ago, I reconnected with an old friend from the past. I may have mentioned it before. She wrote me again today and this time told me a little more about things she remembered, when we lived right across the road from each other. As she wrote she mentioned things like... "you seemed like a very happy family, you were a religious family, I thought you had it all and were talented and pretty ", then she read my blog and found out about my abuse, she was shocked. Today's letter told me about the experiences her family had with my abusive grandfather. Thankfully he never physically touch any one of them, but they did  have situations with him that made their Dad suspicious and they were warned to stay away from him.
Reading her words about some of the disturbing things my grandfather did, brought back a FLASH FROM THE PAST. The next couple of hours, I felt a bit sick inside. I well remember all the sick things he did. That was my life, that was what I had to deal with on a daily basis. My life then, was frightening to say the least. But I had to remind myself that even though my life was tough (because of the things that happened and that I experienced)...I am a better person today, stronger, happier and much wiser. I knew from a very young age that this is NOT what life is suppose to be in a family. It made more determined to have a different life for me and my future family. How grateful I am for a Heavenly Father who was always there for me, someone to talk to, when I was too afraid to talk to anyone else. Grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ, for the ability to forgive and to truly be there to help me survive it all.
Although what my neighbor thought of me then was not true, I am happy to report...that all those things are true now and for that I am very grateful!  Yes, life is hard but we should never give up. I loved this story because it reminded me of my life.  Good night dear friends!

A Little Boy At A Big Piano

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE." When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on
the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw
her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."
Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.
That's the way it is in life. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't exactly graceful flowing music. But when we trust in the hands of a Greater Power, our life's work truly can be beautiful.
Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."   ~Author Unknown

When the world says, "Give up,"
Hope whispers, "Try it one more time."  ~Author Unknown

 

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are.  I don't believe in circumstances.  The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them."  ~G.B. Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession, 1893

Monday, April 11, 2011

Needing each other!

I found this story today and loved it! I hope that you will read it, and remember that we really do...all need each other!
Good night dear friends!

Two Horses 
Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse.
But if you get a closer look you will notice something quite interesting...
One of the horses is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in.
This alone is pretty amazing.
But if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. It is coming from a smaller horse in the field.
Attached to the horse's halter is a small, copper-colored bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.
As you stand and watch these two friends you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray.
When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, he will stop occasionally to look back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect. Or because we have problems or challenges.
He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.
And at other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.  ~Author Unknown

 

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."  ~Anne Frank

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better.  It's not."  ~Dr. Seuss

"If you can't feed a hundred people, then feed just one."  ~Mother Teresa

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Families and Friends

Well ,today started out a bit tough because we had to say good bye to Lauren as we headed back to Utah. Brad and Krystal decided to come with us for a day, and so we had everyone ( other than Angie and John back home ) leaving with us except Lauren. Of course I cried, even though I realize we will see each other in 4 months, but still I really miss her. She is doing well and is very happy there and we couldn't have been prouder but still...I miss her.

family grad[1]

Then I ended my day with a visit from a new best friend of mine.  She and I met a year and half ago. She was working at a craft show and I was there shopping. I really felt impressed that I needed to talk to her, and after a 1/2 hour conversation, we were best friends and we have been in touch ever since. I am always amazed at how many incredible people there are in the world. My nephew asked me tonight " How many best friends do you have Aunt Lynn" I could proudly say..." Too many to count". Yes, I am a very rich women and tonight I am extremely thankful for Families and Friends

"When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses."  ~Joyce Brothers

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family."  ~Anthony Brandt

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."   ~Anais Nin

Books!

One of my favorite authors is Jason Wright. He wrote the Christmas Jar, that is the first book of his that I read. I have talked about his books before, but one of the reason I like his books is ...because they make me think and examine my life more. I always feel uplifted after reading his works, that is saying a lot ...because not all books make you feel that way. One of his new books that I haven't read is The Cross Gardener. Here is his own summary of that book. I need to read it!

The Cross Gardener is the story of John, a man tested with a series of enormous heartbreaks. But the most dramatic and traumatic moment of John's life may be the one he finally cannot bear. Facing sudden loss, John is swallowed up in sorrow and self-pity.

Following in the tradition of many in the South, John erects two white wooden crosses at the accident site that forever changed his world. John chooses to grieve by visiting the crosses frequently, talking to his loved ones and reminiscing about a future that — like a misplaced roll of old black-and-white film — will never develop.

One day while visiting this roadside memorial, John meets a stranger who introduces himself as the Cross Gardener, a nickname given him by others because of his curiosity for these makeshift memorials and because his hobby is tending them.

The stranger explains that when crosses need painting, he is there. When weeds need pulling, he is there. When mourners need comfort, he is there with a willing ear and a lesson or two about life and death. But he is not who you think he is.

http://www.jasonfwright.com/column/do-you-believe-there-are-angels-among-us.html

He also has a weekly article that he writes and this is where I got this summary. He is quiet a talented writer, I could only hope to inspire people like that some day. If you get a chance, check out one of his books and see if you feel the same!

Good Night dear friends!

"To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die."  ~Thomas Campbell

"For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity." ~William Penn

"While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet him behind the veil."   ~John Taylor

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Together at last!

Today has been a very long day. My sister-in-law and I drove to the air port and picked up Jeff and the kids. We headed to Idaho right away. The weather was terrible, and we had snow and slush for the first couple hours of the trip. How fun it was though by 7:30 p.m. to finally see all my kids together at one time. I have missed seeing them interact with each other. They are so fun.
As a Mom, it is a real treat to get your adult kids together, that is hard to do... when they are married and going off to college. So I am  a happy Mom tonight!

"The family. We were a strange little band of characters trudging through life sharing diseases and toothpaste, coveting one another's desserts, hiding shampoo, borrowing money, locking each other out of our rooms, inflicting pain and kissing to heal it in the same instant, loving, laughing, defending, and trying to figure out the common thread that bound us all together."   ~ Erma Bombeck

"Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and growing."  ~ Jim Rohn

Family 2_edited-1

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven."   ~John Bowring

"Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one."  ~Jane Howard

Being a Pleaser!

Most of my life I have been a pleaser and that has never worked out to my benefit, why you might ask? Well, that is because you really can't please everyone! So when I found this cute story about this subject, I knew I wanted to share it with you. Hope you enjoy it! Good night dear friends!

 

You Can’t Please Everyone

 

An old fable that has been passed down for generations tells about an elderly man who was traveling with a boy and a donkey. As they walked through a village, the man was leading the donkey and the boy was walking behind. The townspeople said the old man was a fool for not riding, so to please them he climbed up on the animal’s back. When they came to the next village, the people said the old man was cruel to let the child walk while he enjoyed the ride. So, to please them, he got off and set the boy on the animal’s back and continued on his way. In the third village, people accused the child of being lazy for making the old man walk, and the suggestion was made that they both ride. So the man climbed on and they set off again. In the fourth village, the townspeople were indignant at the cruelty to the donkey because he was made to carry two people. The frustrated man was last seen carrying the donkey down the road.

We smile, but this story makes a good point: We can’t please everybody, and if we try we end up carrying a heavy burden.

"If you're trying to please everyone, then you're not going to make anything that is honestly yours, I don't think, in the long run."  ~ Viggo Mortensen

 

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Talents

Today my family and got to go to BYU Museum of Art, and see the Carl Bloch Exhibit.

It was an amazing exhibit, I guess as an artist myself, I really appreciate the detail and the talent that this man had. As I looked at some of these painting, I almost felt like I was there...now that is a real talent for someone to make you feel like that. Here are some other comments that have been made of his paintings, plus facts about his life. If you have a moment, go to the web-site and check out his life's work. It is really worth it!

Carl Heinrich Bloch

Born in 1834 in Copenhagan, Denmark.
At 15, admitted to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.
At 25, received a travel scholarship to Rome, where he painted his first masterpiece --THE LIBERATION OF PROMETHEUS.
At 31, commissioned to create 23 paintings for the King's Oratory chapel at Frederiksborg Castle, which took him 14 years to complete.
At 34, married Alma Trepka while in Rome. The happy and prosperous couple had eight children.
Commissioned to paint eight large-scale altarpieces.
Died in 1890 leaving behind more than 250 paintings and 75 etchings.

The Sermon on the Mount - Carl Heinrich Bloch - www.carlbloch.org

"Bloch's works illuminate the life and mission of the Savior with extraordinary power and insight. "  "His paintings affirm Christ's mission of salvation."  ~ Campbell Gray

"When I see a Carl Bloch painting, I feel...the spirit of Jesus and His ministry comes alive. I want to follow ( His example), and , as a result, the depiction becomes a vibrant lesson of life."   ~ Thomas S. Monson

Monday, April 4, 2011

Childlike

I think there are many of us, who have felt one time or another... that we would be better off if we could have kept our life simple, like when we were a child. We had more fun, enjoyed the little things and didn't worry half as much.

Yesterday I got to spend the day with one of my great- nieces and it always reminds me of the simple joys of life. My sister-in-law took this picture of us, while my little great niece was just looking at a book.  We laughed when we realized what book it was  50 WAYS TO A BETTER YOU for Dummies. :)

I think we all could be a little bit better, if we would just remember to be a little more childlike.
Simple but true!

Good night dear friends!

Avi & Aunt Lynn 006[1] 

My Resignation
I am hereby officially tendering my resignation as an adult. I have decided I would like to accept the responsibilities of an eight-year-old again.

I want to go to McDonald's and think that it's a four-star restaurant.

I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make a sidewalk with rocks.

I want to think M&Ms are better than money because you can eat them.

I want to run a lemonade stand with my friends on a hot summer's day.

I want to return to a time when life was simple, when all you knew were colors, multiplication tables and nursery rhymes, but that didn't bother you because you didn't know what you didn't know and you didn't care.All you knew was to be happy, because you were blissfully unaware of all the things that should make you worried or upset.

I want to think the world is fair. That everyone is honest and good.

I want to believe that anything is possible. I want to be oblivious to the complexities of life and be overly excited by the little things again.

I want to live simply again. I don't want my day to consist of computer crashes, mountains of paperwork, depressing news, how to survive when there are more days in the month than there is money in the bank, doctor bills, gossip, illness and loss of loved ones.

I want to believe in the power of smiles, hugs, a kind word, truth, justice, peace, dreams, mankind and making angels in the snow.

I want to play with my pets and my days of imagination to last forever.

So here are my checkbook and my car keys, my credit card bills and my 401(k) statements. I am officially resigning from adulthood.

And if you want to discuss this further, you'll have to catch me first because,"Tag! You're it!"
by Author Unknown

"Children make you want to start life over."   ~ Muhammad Ali

"Children are our most valuable natural resource."  ~ Herbert Hoover

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."  ~ Angela Schwindt

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Abundance

I told you a few days ago that I was going on a trip. I have been here for 3 1/2 days now ,and oh what an ABUNDANCE  of love and friendship I have already felt. I stayed two days with my dear friends in their cabin. I mentioned going there last year, and it was such an amazing place. Well they took me back there and we had a wonderful time together. They really seem like parents to me, maybe because mine parents have already passed away. But these dear friends are very special to me and we just sat back, enjoyed the beautiful cabin and surrounding scenery and talked. It was an ABUNDANCE of love and friendship that I will ever be grateful for.

Then I was able to come to see some of my extended family. I am close to my nieces and now they are Mothers and have daughters of their own, so I was able to spend time with my great nieces. I keep thinking that I couldn't possibly have any more room in my heart to love more children but...I do! What a treat to see these amazing kids grow up and now start families of their own.

Then today and yesterday I was able to watch and listen to Conference from church   http://lds.org/?lang=eng 
What an abundance of hope, inspiration and faith it gave me to listen to all the speakers. Then tonight one of my brothers and his family came to see me. Yes, I guess some days I think there are a lot of things lacking in my life but certainly the abundance of hope, faith, love, family and friendship isn't one of them. For these things... I have in great ABUNDANCE!  I am truly blessed!

“Life in abundance comes only through great love”  ~Elbert Hubbard

"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing"   ~ Unknown

“Not what we have, but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance.”    ~Epicurus

Saturday, April 2, 2011

The Girl I used to be.

I read this poem and thought it is true in some ways for me but then in other ways...I think my life is even better than I dreamed. Having come from an abusive childhood, I didn't really dream a lot. Reality seemed to always get in my way. But I did tell myself "if you ever make it out of this situation and if you ever get married and have a family, you have got to make sure this type of thing NEVER happens to your kids." With that determination I slowly looked toward the future hoping it would be different and praying with all my heart that it would and that I could have the faith and courage to make it so! I am grateful and blessed to say that life did turn out better than my childhood and that I have been able to stop the abuse that for generations which plagued our family.

So when I see that girl I used to be, I smile and tell her to have courage, don't give up hope. Her life is going to be great, she is going to meet the most incredible man and they will fall in love. Then they will have 4 beautiful and incredible children and yes...they all will be safe and happy! Yes, she will have lot's of wonderful things to look forward to.

 

The Girl I Used to Be
by: Author Unknown,

She came tonight as I sat alone,
the girl I used to be,
And she gazed at me with her earnest eyes,
and questioned reproachfully,
Have you forgotten the many plans,
and hopes I had for you?
The great career,
the splendid fame,
all the wonderful things to do?
Where is the mansion of stately height,
with all of its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you,
and the shining jewels in your hair?
And as she spoke,
I was very sad,
for I wanted her pleased with me,
This slender girl from the shadowy past,
the girl I used to be.

So gently rising,
I took her hand and guided her up the stairs,
Where peacefully sleeping,
my babies lay, innocent, sweet and fair,
And I told her that these are my only gems,
and precious they are to me,
That silken robe is my motherhood,
of costly simplicity,
And my mansion of stately height is love,
and the only career I know,
Is serving each day in these sheltered walls,
for the dear ones who come and go,
And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,
she smiled through her tears at me,
And I saw the woman that I am now,
pleased the girl that I used to be!

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."  ~ Deepak Chopra

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."  ~Stacia Tauscher

A Short Guide to a Happy Life....

Hi Everyone, it's me again!

I'm filling in for my Mom again tonight and I wanted to share a little blurb from a book I read that I received when I graduated, it's called "A Short Guide to a Happy Life" by Anna Quindlen. She shares her thoughts and a few life experiences that changed the way she looks at life and overall some great advice which you can never have enough of in my opinion!

I wanted to share this tonight because it made me stop and really think about things....like what I've done with my life and how I treat others and what I do with my time and what kind of attitude I have towards life when it comes to the little things. Is the glass half empty or half full? Anyway, I could go on and on but here's what she's shares...

"Life is made up of moments, small pieces of glittering mica in a long stretch of gray cement. It would be wonderful if they came to us unsummoned, but particularly in lives as busy as the ones most of us lead now, that won't happen. We have to teach ourselves how to make room for them, to love them, and to live, really live. I learned to live many years ago. Something really bad happened to me, something that changed my life in ways that, if I had a choice, it would never have been changed at all. And what I learned from it is what, today, sometimes seems to be the hardest lesson of all. I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that this is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get. I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back, because I believed in it completely and utterly and I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned, even though so many people may have thought I sounded like a Pollyanna. By telling them this; consider the Lilies of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear. Read in the backyard with the sun on your face. Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness, because, if you do, you will live it with joy and passion, as it ought to be lived.

Anyone can learn all those things, out there in the world. You just need to get a life, a real life, a full life, a professional life, yes, but another life, too. School never ends. The classroom is everywhere. The exam comes at the very end. No man ever said on his death bed I wish I had spent more time at the office. I found one of my best teachers on the boardwalk at Coney Island many years ago. It was December, and I was doing a story about how the homeless suffer in the winter months. He and I sat on the edge of the wooden supports, dangling our feet over the side, and he told me about his schedule, pan-handling the boulevard when the summer crowds were gone, sleeping in a church when the temperature went below freezing, hiding from the police amid the Tilt-A-Whirl and the Cyclone and some of the other seasonal rides. But he told me that most of the time he stayed on the boardwalk, facing the water, just the way we were sitting now, even when it got cold and he had to wear his newspapers after he read them. And I asked him why. Why didn't he go to one of the shelters? Why didn't he check himself into the hospital for detox? And he stared out at the ocean and said, "Look at the view, young lady look at the view." And every day, in some little way, I try to do what he said. I try to look at the view. That's all. Words of wisdom from a man not with a dime in his pocket, no place to go, nowhere to be. Look at the view. When I do what he said, I am never disappointed."

After reading this short book that was jam-packed with lots of good "food for thought" I felt very grateful for the wonderful life I have. For all the little things that are the big things after all. For the many blessings I've been given and all the wonderful experiences I've had and for all the lessons I've learned as well. Lessons that have been tough at the time, but have shaped who I am and have made me a better person today. I hope that I can remember that man's advice as well to "Look at the view".

So thanks for reading my thoughts on life. I'm going to get to bed so I can hear more inspiring words tomorrow as I listen to General Conference with my family and look forward to being uplifted. As my Mom would say, "Good night dear friends!"

Sincerely,
Amy (Woodard) Jaeger

Friday, April 1, 2011

Amy's favorite quotes....

Hi Everyone,

My Mom is out of town for a few days and left me in charge of keeping up with her blog posts for the next couple of days until she can get back to a computer. (She's staying with some friends of hers in a cabin with no cell coverage or computer available.) Due to some technical difficulties I wasn't able to find her saved post for tonight, so I thought I would just leave you with a few of my favorite quotes that hopefully inspire you as much as my Mom's insights and stories. Although I'm far from experienced, I do know that I've learned a few things from my 27 years of being on this earth and that is to learn from those around you who have already been there. I guess that's why I enjoy quotes so much, because they are lessons learned and we could all benefit from stopping and thinking about these wise words.....

"Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed." -Corita Kent

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." -Leo F. Buscaglia

"Laugh as much as you breathe and love as long as you live."

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." -Howard Thurman

"It is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all." -Laura Ingalls Wilder



I hope you enjoy these and that you each had a wonderful day. I also hope that tomorrow is even better! Good night!

Sincerely,
Amy