Sister Katar Neandertalson

I would like to state for the record that the fur adds 40 pounds.

Thanks Gatlin Stewart

Nice post from my punk son below to Jacob Knight--as if he ever reads my blog!!

I have nothing funny, clever or cute to write. Been busy; exhausted from dealing with a teenager. Husband in NY all week and it's been a bum deal from the start.

Halloween was fun, but the trick or treaters were about nil. Hardly any porch lights on either. Next year we'll have to make a grand house.

Whole house to clean. My car is clean. The weather has been so awesome--just so awesome! That's been one of the great things about this last week.

Church was awesome today.

Still waiting for my Star Wars shirt to come.

Have to sing in a week and a half, and still don;t have my voice back CARISSA!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to start decorating for Christmas.

Here are some pics from the last week or so.

Lorien took the one with the sun in the woods.

OK, it been a long long tine

jacob can you come over today at 6 o, clock ask your mom if you can ok ok and Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Oprah loves us!!!!

You have to listen to this!! Oprah gets it!! ANother consultant sent her a book about her dog who passed away, and this is what she said," Oprah's Message"

Are you ready to make your books yet??

www.tellthatstory.com

goodbye to Chester Copperpot

Last night after Family Home Evening, Galtin opened the door only to see Chester hanging from one of the trees in the front yard. I tried cpr, but am fairly certain that his neck had broken instantly. So it was a loooong night, soothing tears and sobs, explaining about the spirit world, and why we can't get another cat to replace him. Also, an opportunity to direct the kids (and myself) to Heavenly Father, to share our pains and grief with Him.

I am currently struggling. A deep internal struggle theat seems to be taking place between my chest and my throat. My breath even feels hot. I am struggling with a heavy desire for blame, and hatred towards my donkers (I cannot call them neighbors, as their communications are nothing like the happy neigh of a horse, but more like the bray of a donkey, and brayers doesn't sound derogetory enough). These are new, and intense emotions. So maybe more on this later, maybe not. I don't know if I want to expose my weakness here, but it is good to be honest about it. I can't bring myself to say it outloud; my breath feels heavy, and dark.

There are gifts everywhere

Today was filled with little peeps into a greater understanding of the world of the gospel. Singing showed me synergy, a new and greater force of unity. Waiting has helped me understand what we're waiting for. And a squid put words to my deep love of a symbol of freedom. Fall is a gift for having to deal with summer. We think we are living with our whole self until a friend and mentor fights for his life, and you suddenly feel things from your core, and see things through his eyes, and realize you haven't been living like you thought you were. A conversation with a valiant teen sheds light into your own and makes sense of your history.

Ever feel like you're in love with life? To paraquote Mr. Darby,"I love, I love, I love life."

A must read for everyone

The Movement has Begun, by Doug Cloward

Hello, Universe? Are you there?

Ok Universe, you know how much I love you. I am fairly comfortable with our relationship as it stands; I'm working out my kinks. However, I have been sending you messages loud and clear for many many years about my friend Ginger from school. Universe, I am looking for Ginger Phillips, who's now Ginger Fenstermaker! Now I have been doing this for like 12 years, and haven't even heard one whisper of her. That is so strange--usually when you have a thought, there's a bump in the fabric, and the ripple gets to that person. I have been jumping on it like a trampolene and still nothing.

Ginger, if you're still out there, I'm right next door in NC. I'm probably 2 hours from your house. Ginger!! Find me!!

Juno

This is a great movie, but it is absolutely not for kids. Teenagers should not even watch this movie. This reminded me so much of high school, and aside from the pregnant part, could have been me and Jennifer Van Laar.

I will give more of a review tomorrow, and leave with my realization that as unique as we all are, there seem to be well traveled paths that everyone walks, regardless of the era they were born to.

ok guys, no more excuses

use canvas bags

I'm no activist, but this makes an excellent point about oil usage

more on the cicada

awwww, I have such a soft spot for them this year

cicada fossil

Au revoir Les Teddy Bears

I am so behind with this, but sadly we lost Mmslle T. Bear a few weeks back. She fought so hard to have a life, but ultimately, it was not meant to be. We think it was a seizure that took her, and our condolence was that she seemed like a very happy dog. I don't know who abandoned her, but she was certainly loved while she was allowed to walk the earth.

OK, that was highly dramatic. She was a real sweety. Ode to the Teddy B.:

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear, where are you?
Do you walk with the heavens, is that what you do?
When born you did struggle.
When found we did cuddle.
We fought fate together, (you must have proved your mettle)
and thought we won.

Love you TeddyB!

why I am a science geek

me likey Picture is Worth... Intricacies of a Small World

The Collins Family

I am helping this family by donating 100% of the profits from cards sales this month to help them pay for enourmous hospital bills from open heart surgery on their son. He lived 13 days with a barely formed heart. If he hadn't been born early, they would have missed the opportunity to hold and bond with him. Please help them too--if you send out Chrsitmas cards, holiday greetings, or newsletters, please buy them from me so we can help them together! I can help you build stunning custom cards with your pictures, artwork, whatever you want, and you we can all feel good knowing that we helped a little.

I will be posting card samples on my digital blog, so please keep checking, call me, and order some cards yo!!

This is Gabriel Collins 5/13/08-5/28/08

Day two of the rest of my life

Well, today beat out all the days past. Maile Jane finally got to take the bus to school! Here is a picture from yesterday, her first official day as a school kid.


Now as for me? I am going to Wake Tech to inquire about attendance, as well as teaching a computer class, then stopping at the gym to check it out. But first, I may go back to bed for just a little bit.

Onward and upward!

Year of the cicada

Seems like they came late this year. Not so much a mystery anymore. That's Dillon from up the street, and his little brother Zach petting it's eye.

princess divine!

Carlie--need I say more?

You have to see this

Even if you have already watched this, it's worth it to see again

Lighthouse Everything skit

Sorry, no photo

I was outside picking up dog poop and thinking that it was remarkably comfortable in North Carolina for July. And my memory of yesterday is what prompted me to post--it was a spectacular day. In fact, the "spectacle" began the night before, while we were on our way to see Wall-E. I couldn't take my eyes off the line of clouds to the north west--it looked like a mountain chain, and reminded me of the valleys at home. Then yesterday, shining and bright, was simply stunning. I felt like Mary Tyler-Moore in te city-bursting with excitement. I think I snuck in a spin or a twirl when I went out to buy cereal, but sadly had no hat to toss!

Farewell to Phoebe!

What a day =0).

Had been praying pretty earnestly to find a good home for Phoebe, and I think our prayers were answered. Today she left with a family that lives on 10 acres in Dunn, who will make her not only a house pet, but it's likely she will get the couch, and a queen-sized bed too! She is so smart, I think she really knew that she was "moving". Happy day, and a thousand thanks to that loving family.

trying to...

get video out of my computer and onto dvds. I fancy myself as a "filmmaker". Trying to figure out how to post clips here without having to go to Youtube. I do not want my children there.

Back is ok. Hurts worse than before, but only from the shot path. That should go away in a few days.

Really hope I can get good homes for the hairy ones.

Thinking of selling my van for a VW Bug. Talk about cramped! The kids would be squished, but we never go anywhere anyway.

Pro's: gas would be cheaper, less room for trash in my car, wouldn't have to give anyone else a ride, easier to wash because it's only as big as a sponge. Then that can be Loriens car when she's 16. I can work on it if it breaks down.

Con's: Can't think of any. Kids are supposed to have lives that build Character. And I'm supposed to have Moneyinthebank, so , I think it's win-win.

Well, c'est finis!

Yay--finally got it done this morning! It was fast, painful but bearable, and I love the crew at Brown Ortho in Fuquay. I am looking forward to the next couple rounds. Miss Crystal is very interested in Teddy Bear!

These are not the very best pics, but since I am suddenly in a rush, they'll have to do. Don't mind my neighbors junk cars in the back yard. And yes, that is a rainbow slinky of David's that he left here last Christmas, that Maile just found, and that Addie wrapped around Phoebe's cable.

studs are drawn to me

So this is Diesel. He was hanging around me for the entire game yesterday. I know I have been looking good lately, but this guy was literally drooling all over me!

Critter 911!!

Cat people, please scroll to bottom ~<:0).

I am posting this in the hopes that there may be someone who is either that someone, or knows someone in North Carolina, who is looking for the companionship of a great dog.

In my attempts to bring joy/happiness to my family, and make a contribution towards the huge problem of unwanted dogs, I have bitten off way more than I can chew. I am unable to sustain their care and welfare, and am looking to match them with someone who not only can provide better living conditions (they live on a cable outside), but who themselves have a need that either Miss Phoebe, or Miss Teddy Bear can fulfill.

They are both young, friendly dogs with huge potential, all their vaccinations, and Miss Phoebe is spayed. We don't know the status of Miss Teddy Bear, as she came to us only about a month ago, and the vet would have had to go in surgically to find out!

Teddy Bear is a brown Lab, and we believe Miss Phoebe to be an English Mastiff/mix. She is not nearly as large, or heavy boned as a full blood Mastiff, and is extremely intelligent.
As typical of Inovermyhead Syndrome, they need attention that they are not getting here.



Thanks, and love to all.

KathyG.



ATTENTION AWESOME CAT PEOPLE!!!

If you read any of the above, I also have three male cats who are the sweetest, friendliest, most amazing cats that I need to relocate ASAP. Litter box trained, and have current vaccinations. They are outside cats, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind moving inside.

Facebook--DON'T OPEN ANY HUMAN GIFTS!

Where is my severely blushing smiley when I need it?

I don't know how or why, but someone named William J Long III (that should have told me not to open it RIGHT THERE!!) sent me a human gift on Facebook. Let me say before tonight I have never responded to these emails. It just so happened that I just opened one from Genee'n Christensen, and it was a box. Just a box. !It was only a box! SO, out of now realized sheer stupidity, I opened the one from the above stated half naked guy. Oh yah, did I tell you that it was a picture of him, his torso only, no shirt, no head, . . . why doesn't that sound as riske` as it seemed when that pic popped up? I don't care--I have a feeling it was one of the more "modest" gifts out there, and in spite of his, uh, admirable 6 pack, me no likey. Sorry dude. I find it degrading just as much to a man as a woman when they voyeurize (I don't care if that's not a real word) themsleves like that. I feel just as bad for him as I would feel bad for a woman who has such a low sense of self that they feel like they have to get attention for their precious body, rather than for their chops.

Don't open the human gifts!!!!!

That says Three Dog Night in Hindi, or Schools Out For Summer!

The misery. The hatred. The barking.

3 dogs. I do not want three dogs or hogs. I do not want them in the dark. I do not like them when they bark.

One barks, then they all bark, and the neighbor dogs bark, and then my perscription drug addicted hillbilly neighbor, I can just hear her in her house, barking. Therein is the misery, and the neighbors, well there's the hatred! At least the crazies next door, and West-Virginie Justice and his wife across the street.

And I just got done barking at my kids because they are fighting already, and it's only the last day of school. Ode to Joy. Ode to Joy!! Suddenly my 9 year old is sassy, my 7 year old has gone back to her drama roots and is on the rampage against Maile. For example,"Maile just thinks she's so popular." Maile is 4. My 13 year old, she just pretends to be alseep when it's time to feed the cats, or do anything that's not t.v. watching or a movie. So innocent. The cable goes very soon.

A friend put on her blog something like, " . . .it looks like it's going to be a great summer." !!! Oh boy, it looks like it's going to great summer in the Grove. I think I'll go clean house.

थ्री दोग निघत

Ode to the joy of barking
dogs barking in the yard
barking my nerves to peices
aren't they appreciative that I rescued them?
can't they show gratitude with silence?
Why is it always my idea to do these things?
Who needs a dog?

Midnight Painter

Last night Addie helped me paint some suprises in my room ~ a welcome home suprise for Art in washable glow-in-the-dark-paint. Here she is putting a heart on the wall.

Say it anyway.

It's 8:25 pm Sunday night. Waiting for Art to get home from Ohio. Just about to wash dishes when the first rumble of thunder hit, so a respite! Truthfully, I have been hanging out here for a while, listening to General Conference, looking at properties in North Dakota, North Carolina, Kentucky. Doing some dreaming.

While reading Doug and Judys tale of not just how they met, but the precursor to that event, I had a life altering realization. I had not been living the gospel in faith. I have found faith to be a beautiful, very real power, and I have not been using it. I guess I've been on this "faith" journey for a while now. I keep thinking I'm doing it, then I learn something like that, and find another place where I'm not using it. Essentially, every time I think "I get it now. I know what to do", I seem to be, not wrong, but falling so short of the Lords mark.

SO, say it anyway--what's with that? My dear friend and visiting teacher once told me, that her mother told her," I know you don't want to hear this, but I have to tell you, because you need to know this." Since hearing that, I have been more bold about the delicate issues we discuss with our children, conversations with loved ones, and even can apply that to the service I provide with my business. Essentially, do what you will with it--it's just my job to tell you. So when it comes to my kids, mostly my 13 year old, I am striving to live this principle in faith and not fear. I want to empower her with the words I am prompted to speak. On the least end of the scale, my conscience wants my kids to never be able to say "No one ever told me that!"
So I'm committing to saying it anyway.

This one's for you Red Star!

That was my favorite lipstick at the time.

This entry is dedicated to Red Star, who is in the thick of things right now :0).

I have been so busy lately tending to the still living Teddy Bear! She came home fromt he hospital a day early, to my great dismay, because I had to sanitize not only the whole carport, bedding/doghouse, etc. But the DIRT as well! Addie was home sick, and assured me she would stay with Maile while I worked outside all the day long. Maile must have been watching me from the window, because every time I came in to check on her, she was in the living room watching a movie, playing in her room, or in the front yard. What she was actually doing was using more than half the bottle of my new Hilary Duff perfume that I got for Mother's Day (I know, Hilary Duff? But it's awesome!), stealing her brothers money from his Sunday journal, pillaging her sisters Brat dolls, taking my GLASSES, tore pages from my antique francais/englais dictionary, biting another antique book that belongs to a friend--yes, biting. Chucked the Boggle game, let flies into the mayonaise jar, played with my husbands meg shark teeth collection--I'm really too embarrassed to go on, but there is much, much more. No one was left unscathed. Poor Addie, she was just not on her game, and is really sick. And poor Maile, because she really was left alone for too long while I worked outside.

I should have been so furious, but the spirit constrained me--I had left her for too long. I wanted to keep her away from the bleach solution and fire, but I could have thought of a job for her to do outside with me. The truth is that I was enjoying my time alone, and should have done yesterday . . . not like I did!

But all is not lost--as much as she can be The Destroyer, she is also The Singer, The Hugger, The Kisser, and The Comedian. She plays on the stage provided, and usually does her best with what she has. Apparently, for yesterday's playbill, she was "The CatBurgler".

Wow. What I lost and gained today.

Lets see . . .temper, and temper, cool and cool, mind and, well, I'm still looking for that. Poor Jacob U. I was going crazy waiting for Lorien to get done with young women's, and I about talked his head off in the hallway. Sorry Jacob!

Lost my cool when kids gave me the excuse again that they couldn't find the broom, and so couldn't make a contribution to the tornado cleanup in the kitchen, left over from the day before, that Lorien and Gatlin were in charge of. He had washed all the dishes, she did counters, and they were both going to pick up and clean the floor (their idea, not mine.) Whenever they problem solve, I let them and don't get involved. As long as they get the job done, who cares who does what? They argue alot less when they have to handle it.Anyway, neither one of them cleaned up ANYTHING, because they couldn't find the broom! SO there went the cool.

Lost my temper when Maile went outside sans shoes. The story was she stepped on a nail that went all the way through her foot. I am getting dressed for Scouts, and holler to bring her into the bathroom. I am clothed, and ask again for Lorien to bring her into the bathroom. Maile is screaming, but still not in the bathroom. Now a third request, more screaming, and I think she is in the kitchen alone. When I inquire as to why my directions have not been followed so I can assess the medical situation, my 13 year old replies,"Yah, hold on(apply Napoleon Dynamite voice here)".
It appears to me that Lorien is taking it upon herself to take charge, in spite of my directive. There went the temper. When this Mama has a wounded child, ooh honey chile . . . don't you be goin' agins dis Mama and ignorin's ME. Three times and she still makin her own plans.

If I can just be honest, I have no recollection of how, when, or where the mind went.


Even on the way in, after a looong struggle to put one of the seats back in the van, my stress level was at boiling point driving to church. nerves shot, ready to snap. I wondered how I would survive this night (again, sorry Jacob), I was just feeling so aggravated. But at some point, between reading to little Charlie, (who was trying so hard to hold it together while he waited for Mommy and Daddy, who were working so hard cleaning the church), and kissing my sweet Addie goodnight, some peace was restored. I was then rewarded with a long, meaningful conversation with Lorien about understanding and interpreting the Holy Ghost, softball, confidence, last nights game. The subconscious mind, how much her coach cares about and believes in her, and making plans. Somehow, the planets aligned; she didn't mouth off, I didn't over-react. She looked me in the eye and listened, and I listened. I read her coach's email to her, and that provided the opportunity. So, I am grateful for that game that she sat out from, and Art had to call him about, because it gave me tonight :) :) :)

The good news is, it's not distemper! The bad news is, it's parvo.

The little bit of hope is that we got her there in the 48 hour window that you want to get through. Will let you know how things are tomorrow, but so far, she is alive! Yay!

I had a lovely offer from a friend to come and release her from her pain, but since she is actually fighting and gaining ground, I just couldn't take him up on that. As nice as the offer for the Snyper Method was (free of charge even!), I thought I'd stick with my original plan :) We have to embrace who we are!

Parvo sucks!

Dog ditching people

I am debating spending the night outside tonight with Teddy Bear, the puppy we weren't supposed to name because we are attempting to find the owners, who I suspected all along of dumping her because of her eyesight. She has drastically declined in the last two days, and if she makes it through the night, I'll leave it up to my vet to see if she is worth treating. I think it's distemper, and survival rates are very low, as well it is a miserable death.

I know what my friends would say. I know what they would say, and on paper, they are absolutely right. I even tried to do nothing. I tried to ignore her and let fate make the decision. Well, it's still up to fate, but I had to do everything I could for her. If I had the supplies I would have run an i.v. for fluids because she is so dehydrated--I even looked up how to do it in an emergency McGyver style. Couldn't find anything. So I cleaned her up and rubbed her all over, sat with her, held her water bucket so she could find it. I think she's blind now, or close to it. When I moved her away from the wet spot from washing her, she finally drank. She drank a quarter of the bucket. She may throw it right back up, but water is hope. I was looking for signs of seizures, but didn't see any. If she starts seizing, that's the end. I just hope there's hope.

I haven't taken any pictures of her yet, even thoguh we've had her here since the 18th. That is so unlike me. But I'm glad--I wouldn;t want pictures of the puppy who was givena death sentence by an owner who didn't give her a 10.00 shot. I will post a photo if she lives. She has a 50% chance of survival. Then if she survives, she has a 50% chance of it going to her brain, and that killing her roughly 2 months after she survives the first. So does that mean she only has a 25% chance of survival?

For once, I am at a loss for words

Early this morning I was privelaged enough, to witness the birth of the Littlest Ulvestad.

Her mother is more a sister than a friend, and as I sit here trying to think of something clever to write, all I get is the vision of a gentle, noble woman, and her (all these words come to mind, but don't quite cut it) sweet, precious, tender, pure, angelic, perfect, glowing, picture of health--I can't go on, because I just can't describe her.

I also met two fantastic women, who put me immediately at ease. The midwife and her doula, Cher. I can't remember the midwife's name, but she and Cher can be found here : midwife/homebirth. They allowed me to get right with Carissa at the pool, and assist Cher, in assisting Carissa! They were everything you would hope for, and even more. Hats off to you both. Too many wonderful moments in this home birth to mention.

Maybe I can articulate better after some rest--this was the best 3am wake up call I ever got!

Here is baby Carlie, and her crew!

This is a test . . .this is only a test

Want to see if I can do this right -Props to Jen for giving me this cool template ;)

All I have to do is Dream

Ever think of something that makes you feel amazing and alive? While talking about reclaiming some of the old elementary which used to be the old high school, I remembered that I would love to go back to North Dakota, and reclaim the oak floorboards in one of the old family barns.

As a child, I could listen for hours to my Grandma talk about the farm she grew up on. Riding her horse Pearl to school, blizzards, brothers and sisters. Her family was the first in the county to have "electric lights", and they held barn dances in the big barn. They would clear out the hay, and dance on the oak floor. How I would love to walk on that floor!

The real truth is that I want to go up there and get that floor. Is that coveting? Someone in the family owns that old barn, but I don't think they use it. I want to go get that oak and put it in my home, so we can walk on it every day, and add our song to the story those boards can tell. I'm getting all verchlempht! I want to do it. I really want to do it. My dream house won't be complete without it.

Three baseball games tonight, and had a chance to share the message of heritage. Some foster parents who are interested in doing some LifeBooks. I love the chance to talk heritage with someone who gets it, and needs it.

Step one: find out who has that barn. I already asked Grandma for some addresses of our peeps, so I can start getting some contacts.


ADDED 5-23-08

So I talked to my mom last night about it, and heard that my cousin Kimmie went to ND last month, and might have a picture of the barn. Mom says it's actually in good shape, and thinks a cousin owns it.

clarity, and vision, blessed vision!

How fortunate I feel to have the blessing of personal revelation in my life.

I recently had to make a decision, and it was a tough one. It was a heart wrestler. I felt I knew what was right, but it went against public opinion, even my own. During a conversation, in the midst of asking a question, I was given clarity, and saw , not the answer, but a scenario of what would come with one of my choices.

What made it so hard, was that door #1 was filled with such good. Honor, duty, obedience, service. And door # 2 was saying no to door #1.

A while back a friend asked if I was making decisions out of fear, or out of faith. Right then I endeavored to live in faith, and do so, whenever I think of it :) .

SO, this was a good first try on a biggy, and all I can say, is that I am so grateful that Heavenly Father cares enough to share some of His light and understanding with me. For after showing me what would happen with door #1, He showed me more meaning behind door #2, and the fulfilling of honor, duty, obedience, service, covenants, and much more that awaited. I am so grateful to have a Heavenly Father who loves me. There is no doubt in my mind that He is there.

Some of faith is blind ~ but that's alright. Better to go down a road unknown with the Lord, than to go down a road I know well enough already.

Eat, or be Eaten

The lovely victem is a cricket--all it's missing is a top hat.


Scenes from the farm: Poor guy came into the carport, and as you can see, Maile scared it. She kept throwing things at it. My little greenpeacer!

Country roads, take me home!

Yay, my friend went home yesterday. Home to his dream home in the mountains of Utah. A purpose built home he and his wife built, to provide sanctuary for his family, and an amazing learning environment for those who are seeking to better themselves (along Covey/gospel-type lines).

Thinking about that amazing place, I try and recapture the feeling of purpose I gained, and strive to tap into the resources I learned I have always owned. He, and then Jen, is why I am a Heritage Maker.

Three cheers to Doug and Judy Cloward--welcome home!

Went to our little Raleigh temple this morning with Carissa, who is about to have her 4th baby any time--I can't wait, because we don't know what it is yet! She's doing a home birth, so I am going if she still feels like calling me when it happens!

the curly mullet

Lorien had straightened Mailes hair, but it got wet (don't ask me how), and out came the curls!

Still here!

First things first--Jen, I warned you. Your time is running out. Get me a picture of you, or the sombrero is going up.

Second, I am looking for a good "recipe", what the heck, design? for a woooden box with a hinge lid for food storage in the house. I guess I can probably ask Bill to help ne design it. Found this cool link for a root celler. Here's how retarded I am. I get hysterical over my own typo's. My favorite is lonk when it should be link. I sound like Frank (Fronk) on Father of the Bride.

I was so stinkin busy yesterday, but squeezed time in to dream a little. Spent some time over on Gardner road, at my dream place. It's a tiny bit run down, and exceedingly overpriced, but hey, a girl needs to dream! It's 34 acres with 2 ponds, and no house. $779,000. Criminutin!! But it is so picturesque. Owned by some Dr's in Durham and a guy in Chicago. Up for rent at 2,200 a month. What a bargain. Perfect location though, an ideal for organic farming, goats, horses, chickens, dream house, shooing range, dirt track, ball field, paint ball (which I have never done, but am dying to try), among other things.

Cool that my son is now mowing the lawn. Need a new mower though because this on is getting dangerous with things falling off. He's a pretty fun kid to work with.

OK, anyone reading this is likely asleep now!

Bitter taste in my nouth

Really need smileys here.

Well, I am having a bitter, pissy morning. An event that I had on my calendar for today, a very important event, something that I had been loooking so forward to, for months, was YESTERDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! %#@*$^%#*(@)#*&$%@&$($^#$@&$(%^#$#^%$*#^$%$^$*#%@$%@$#@#%#%@#%#^$#%#$&%$%@&^%#^^$%$#&*%&&#%$%&$*&$^^%&&*$#(&$&@(#%^&$)@&(#)$^*#)$*&&$

Or as Bill Cosby would say, "filth foul filth, foul foul filth foul filth flith foul filth!" I was to teach 3 classes, and it was yesterday. Can you say bitter pill?? See the middle of this paragraph for how I really feel about it. I don't know why some of it is showing up as a link??

I get an email from my Dream Buddy saying that a dear friend is in serious trouble with his lymphoma. After reading about it, the prognosis is not good, but the story isn't neccessarily bad. This is an amazing family with such strong binding . . . if he leaves, the story will become even more beautiful than it already is. I personally hope this doesn't happen, but having read what his life could be like if he makes it through; I just hope it's quick if it has to be his end.

His name is Doug Cloward, and he happens to be the president of my company. How many people can say that the president of their company is also their friend? He is a mentor, a guide, an instructor. My heart is on the verge.

Let Love Rule

General Conference was the begining of the end! Like a mini ice age, I had a small scale break down, and banished my children's evil villian alter egos to their rooms; Lorien the Giant Tyrant, Gatlin the Whiner/Eeyore, Addie the Screaming Diva, and Maile the Destroyer.

My back has been out all week, and even major pain killers don't help. I think it's time to try this nerve medicine, but I've never taken it, and don't know what to expect. Now Thursday (gulp), and I have to start my presentation for women's conference Saturday. This must sound terrible, like I am waiting till the last minute. I guess technically I am, but have been preparing mentally for weeks, so I hope it all comes out ok.

Just want to say that I notice such a difference when I take the time to pray before I got to sleep at night. I notice more flow, peace, and less arguing. I'm nicer.

2012

I guess I'm a little obsessed with my boneys right now.

It never fails--watching tv with my son gives me opportunity to tell him that he can't believe it just because they say it, and that the Holy Ghost is what he needs to believe. We also got to talk about change; how important it is, and how exciting. Gatlin is one of those easy kids sometimes, and I love these moments with him. He's fascinated with the sciences, and pretty much believe's whatever I tell him. Glaciers melting, sea's warming, man is an evil to the earth, yada yada yada. Nat Geo TV is so sweet. They gave me the perfect opportunity to teach my son that as long as we are obedient, we don't have to fear change.

We came in late for conference today, and then I clicked on the wrong thing and watched some nice dude giving charts and stats--interesting but dry, and not conference! How awesome the feeling when conference popped up-a powerful spirit filled the room. And how we needed it! We did puzzles, and Lorien painted puzzle pieces for a project they are doing to raise money for an autism foundation.

Last night when I fled to my room in search of peace and clarity, what did I open right up to? Alma 37: 32-47

sliders

I love a rainy night

Insanity, chaos, contention, tears, yelling--the happy hallmarks of a home with no family scripture study and inconsistent family home evenings. General Conference, we need you!!!

Going to be honest

So I've rarely been honest even in a private journal. Too much of a fear that it would somehow "incriminate" me (realized fear). But since the only people who will read this know me and love me, and likely know me better than I do anyway, I figure what the heck, why not?

Today I discovered that my daughter has a MySpace again. And contrary to some of my family's dumpster values, it is NOT ok just because it's all the rage. Here's the best part--she has been going on IN SCHOOL. In freakin school!!!!! I am trying to calm my inner rage. I am trying to calm my inner rage. What was it President Catlett told me about? Oh yah--peace be still. Be still inner rage, because I will need a steady hand to strangle that idiot yearbook teacher tomorrow. Just to touch on the MySpace issue for any of you who think you get it but don't, it's not the background pages, communicating with friends, posting pictures and music that is objectionable. Think of it like this: Do you want your kids walking through a bar to get to a fun craft room in the back? Peace be still I say. I need to be graceful and powerful when I ask why in the haides MySpace isn't blocked from their entire systems.

Art wants to get a tattoo of a hula girl with my face, to pay tribute to me. I of course, gave him a list of better ideas, and am totally against him getting another tattoo. So when he called me from the tatto shop tonight asking for pictures, I sent him these:

I will NOT help him do this.