I Think I'm Finally Over It.....Thanks Lisa

I love that my girls are going through what I went through as a young mom :) It's not a "I hope you have kids just like you someday" kind of thing. It's a "Oh, I'm not alone in the world" and "I wasn't such a weird, wimpy, complaining for nothing mom" kind of a feeling. Lisa's last post made me feel awesome! I know she is going through a hard, frustrating time, and I'm sorry for that. But at the same time, it's exactly the feeling I had for so many years. It validates my feelings. Sorry Lisa- but thank you for expressing my feelings so well and for having them in the first place! You're a chip off the old block! ( It makes me want to laugh hysterically - hahahahahahaha- I feel better now. Too many long years of built up emotions. ahhhhhhhh)

to read Lisa's blog for yourself-

http://thefabfam.blogspot.com/2010/06/what-i-hate-about-title-sahm.html?

Your Opinion is Needed- I Can Take The Truth

Being back in RS is killing me.

I am over the" no longer known as Enrichment Nights",

now known as RS Activities.

We have been counselled to have more

"meaty" offerings for the sisters to attend.

No more fluffy, froo froo projects to

distract from the important lessons

that are needed to be learned to prepare

us for that which to come.

Hence, the killing me part.

I am in full agreement that we need to be

well informed, to be preparing for that rainy

day which is coming (or already here?)

But I am getting a little bit depressed

with the constant state of gloom and

despair which I feel like is bombarding

me from all sides. Ever turn on the radio or TV?

So I tried to get our Bishop to okay a

crafty project for next months activity :)

I am pitched the idea of-

(in no particular order)

-sisters need to express creativity

- productive way to spend our time

- inexpensive Christmas gift

- help build self worth

- way to beautify our homes

etc. etc. etc.

We will also be learning about

Natural Remedies found in our kitchens

and have a Humanitarian Quilt on too.

Well, he bought it!

I am so excited. These WERE our ideas.

Hand embroidered wall hangings or shelf sitters

which you change out for each month.

Done on tea dyed muslin.

And Chalked for the color

(I know, it's brilliant!)

The next 2 pictures are from a pattern

a sister in the ward has.

Way cute, but a bit expensive.

Christmas

Halloween

The cost is about 4 dollars.

With the new directive to have activities

be either free or minimal cost.

I came up with a smaller version-

this fits a 5x7 frame. The cost

will be 1 dollar (no frame included)

So here is where I need your opinion-

would you be interested in doing this

if your ward was offering it?

This pattern can be done in one evening.

This one takes longer.

Oops, it's sideways :) just tilt your head a little.

Think of the possibilities you could do

if you learned how to make these.

Find a image online or in a coloring book,

or draw them, like I did.

You could custom make ones for friends who

like chickens or apples or whatever-

Do a family name.

Anyways-

I need input.

Tell me the truth,

I can handle it.

Even if it's a "yes, I'd do it."

Or a "heck no".

It doesn't need to be long and descriptive,

though I would love to know why.

thanks for your help!

xoxoxoxox

PS- The marching band is going up our

road, practicing! So exciting-

they've got a big band this year and

sound great! Yea for Strawberry Days!

-------------------It's a Miracle-----------------------

I know you won't believe this,

because I can hardly believe it myself-

ta da!

We have GRASS!!

Little baby grass in the front yard.

Ok, so right now, it looks more like the yard is

covered with moss

But, it won't be too long before we can mow it!

I am elated at the thoughts of mowing-

that's what 2 years of dirt will do for you.

It's so very exciting

and quite pretty :)

As you can see, the weeds are coming up with

the itty-bitty grass, but

Eddie tells me the "grass will

choke them out."

He should know, he's the pro.

We are finding out through this new grass phase

that our front yard must be the night highway

for all the local dogs and deer.

Every morning when we wake up

there are new footprints in the dirt.

Our dog Remy, must be awfully popular-

the trail leads right back to her dog run.

It's quite depressing to see the struggling

grass get violated like this.

The picture doesn't do justice to this trail-

there is a major thoroughfare in front of the little tree.

I did get fairies to try to scare the dogs away

or to just look darn cute in my flowers.

I think she does a great job on the cuteness part.

Fairy #2

See my feet behind her as I hung off the porch

trying to take this picture? :)

I'm sure that was quite a site in itself.

Now that we are getting grass,

maybe my grandkids can come and play.

It won't be as fun as all the dirt,

but it will be cleaner :)

Welcome the Newest Members of Our Family :)

We have lots of new babies in our family-

some of them I never thought I'd see

really come to be.

(that's a not intended rhyme:)

Sierra and Stevie are the lucky new guardians.

These are Stevie's babies-

Gelga and Princess Peach

He named them himself :)

Stevie has purchased a harness so he can

walk these guys around the neighborhood :)

He says they'll be better tasting when they are in shape.

Let's not think about that now.

See how cute they are.

This is Pepper, one of Stevie's family horses.

Not a baby at all-

but a cousin to Gelga and Princess P,

so worthy of posting.

Sierra loves this horse.

Another cuz.

Poor thing has no name,

so we will call her, "Palomino"

This the newest baby on our family tree.

A really not so lambish ewe

Sierra named Kevin.

I guess I need to watch the movie "UP"

to understand her name.

I kind of think she has creepy eyes.

Sierra loves her and walks her on a lead

everyday. Kevin lives at the HS in the AG lab

with 3 other sheep. They are all FFA

projects which will be sold at auction

at the state fair.

Here is Kevin again with her roommate "June".

I think they like getting their pictures taken,

she how the pose for the camera?

I hope when it comes time to do with

these babies what they were destined for,

their guardians can go through with it.

I heart Yoga

This is my hero.

She is Priscilla Patrick

She has a yoga class on KUEN Channel 9

She started doing yoga in 1970

She must be in her 60's

I love her

I want to be just like her when I grow up

Just wanted to let you know-

I love yoga.

Tree pose is one of my favorites

You should see Eddie do it.

He is really getting the hang of it.

We get up Tuesdays and Thursdays

and do yoga together.

so romantic

It makes me feel

younger

bendy-er

Bendy Wendy

awesome.

I love it.

Try it, you'll like it.

PS- I am running again.

I don't have a partner :(

Just me and my i-pod.

Today it was

C.S. Lewis'

The Magician's Nephew.

Still not as good as my old running partners.

Places of Interest in Good Ole PG!?

Sierra and I had a day to ourselves last week to explore our fair city. We headed to Main Street to check out a few of the new shops that have opened up in the older buildings of the downtown area. She had noticed a store with window displays of cute dresses, shoes and bags hanging down with fashionable lights hanging betwixt and between, and she wanted to investigate. I was fascinated too, I'm easily allured by bright lights and shiny things :) Into the building we ventured, into a small, crowded room (that once was a bank- so legend goes) and into the place of "if you have to ask what price it is, you can't afford it" land. Many of the "Orange County", "90210" dresses had prices on them, so I knew I couldn't afford those, but lots were clearly priceless. These were fancy affair dresses for Proms, I imagine. They were short, strapless, taffeta, hot lime green, pinks, deep purple crazy things. Sierra scanned them, touched one or two and was on her way. (yeah, you go Sierra- words were dancing in my head). We did see a Prom picture of 3 couples who I guess were wearing dresses bought at the store, at the bottom it said "Lone Peak Junior Prom". Oh. That explained a lot. Our visit was a short one.

We next crossed the street, went into the antique store. Looked at the walls lined with empty antique? bottles. Saw a few antique? books. Found an antique? necklace Sierra liked and purchased for 4 bucks. And left there quickly too. Moral of that store? I must be an antique because I owned some of the books that were there, and still use bottles like she sold to put my jam in :(

Off again. Two new store awaited us. One is another boutique, which was eerily similar to the first store. Oddly, it's clientele were also from the Lone Peak area- info gathered from a not so subtle conversation between shop owner and patron. A little bit pricey shop. We did get a kick out of fabric headbands being sold there. We just learned how to make the exact headbands at RS out of scraps of fabric. They were being sold there for 18 bucks. Sierra now really likes the ones we made. :)

The last store has a new sign in front which drew my attention, "Gypsy Wagon". It sounded quaint and fun. As we walked in the front door, weird vibes start attacking. There were amulets hanging, semi precious stones galore, belly dancing outfits (which I'm not sure what they have to do with anything:), and then it hits me. Wiccan. Books on the Wiccan, how to build an altar, stuff to supply your altar building experience, and basically your all around witchy needs store. I was flabbergasted! In my little tiny town that can't even get it's own WalMart, we have a Wiccan store. And it was a goose bumpy giving place. The Beatles were playing on a boom box in the corner (right under the "altar building advice" section) so that was nice. Sierra, who was brought up on Buffy was fascinated. "I thought the store on Buffy was full of made up stuff. I didn't know you could really get that stuff. Does it have real power?" So off we go on yes, it has real power, but who does the power come from? So thank you scary witch store for a teaching moment. :)

Too bad the Tattoo parlor is gone.

Did you know that PG has the newest, biggest liquor store in the state now? Interesting.

The What I Thoughts VS. The Harsh Realities

After reading Lisa's "ME" blog entry yesterday, it made my thoughts go into over-drive. You know those times when in the shower, you just keep getting thought after thought, like you were having a debate with some unseen foe. I'm not sure if I won the battle, but I had so many "ah, ha" moments, I even wrote them on a piece of scrap paper so I wouldn't forget all my amazing new insights on life. :) So here are my enlightening revelations on what I used to think WOULD happen VS the realities of my life. (warning: this could be long and rambly, so if you'd like, you could quietly back away now and I won't be offended.) These thoughts came in random order, so that's how they are going down.

1) Myth- Adults know everything and are have all the confidence in the world.

Reality- It is just about the total opposite. The older I get, the less I seem to know. Scary I know. There are WORLDS of things out there that I realize I don't even know they exist until somebody introduces me to them. For example- chakra's - didn't know a thing about them until a few years ago. (look it up, then know Sabrina set me straight:) The more I know nothing about, the more my confidence goes away.

2) Myth- (this was my 17 year old me speaking) When I get married (especially TEMPLE married) and get my OWN place, my life will be perfect and so much easier.

Reality- This makes me almost vomit a little bit in my mouth to think about that now. What was I thinking? Don't get me wrong, I love being married, but life easier? I'm afraid we teach this to the YW unknowingly. "Get married in the temple and you've reached the ultimate goal and life will be easier - no more tests" When in reality, that's when life's tests begin. We were sent here to earth to be tried and tested, why would the tests get easier the farther along in life we get? In school each year progressively gets harder, doesn't it make sense that it would be the same in life? Progressively harder tests? Thats PROGRESSING. Enduring to the end, not sliding down hill to a finish line. When we master one part of life, we get to learn another lesson. My learning needs and curve will be different than anybody elses. Not my favorite part of life- I manage to usually learn the hard way and after many failed attempts, but I understand, finally, it's the plan.

3) Myth-Things will get better when......I'm old enough to drive, I own my own house, have that one bill payed off, etc, etc, etc.

Reality- It's not better, it's different- a change- but better? no. Refer to myth #2. When one trial or part of your life is over a new one appears to take it's place. I am the eternal "the grass is always greener" girl. I think everything must be better later. I am finally realizing to seize the day. Now is the time to enjoy life, because it's the only time I have a guarantee on. I am getting to the age where I can see I let much of my life slip by wishing for something else and now it is too late to go and get those little moments back. My kids are almost all gone and out of my grasp. I hope I took advantage of those times in my life that meant the most or had the biggest impact on them. Too late now. All because I was looking to an easier time (see #2) . No such thing. But what to do..... Learn and make the most of what I have today.

This sounds so deep, dark and depressing. the 3 D's :) It's not meant to be. I am thrilled to finally be growing up and understanding myself :) and the realities of life. And really- they aren't so bad now that I understand them a little bit better :) I had a few other thoughts- such as *If these are the best years of my life- kill me now! and *Once I lose this weight it will be off forever. Both myths I am finding out in a harsh way :)