New Year

My sister Michelle once told me that she loved to make goals and try new things even if she did not stick with them or "succeed". My friend Ruth believed that even in the failing there was learning and improvement. I agree. Rita always said "what good are low hopes?" You miss 100% of the shots you never take.
I LOVE resolutions and New Years is the big daddy of all. It is my favorite time to journal and look back and see where I want to make adjustments. I was not always good at seeing the silver lining in failed attempts. I am an all or nothing girl and it is a constant struggle to remind myself to lighten up. I have little motto's I have memorized that I say over and over and have internalized. Such as "sometimes Done is better than perfect." "Everything from the middle looks like a failure." As I watch Scott excel in his new job and meet goal after goal even when he doesn't feel good I get so excited about possibilities.
This is the happiest New years of my entire life. It isn't because my heath is good I have a mri with contrast to schedule and the whole brain tumor/ blood pressure thing. Ignoring it did not make it go away as I had hoped it would during the holidays. It isn't because Aunt Sue is thriving... she is actually doing very poorly and I feel hopeless at times. It is not due to my hubby's amazing health- I fear whatever he picked up a few years back is shortening his life. The list goes on but the big difference is my having loosened the grip of what should be. What if what is, is just what is? Looking back on 2009 there were many heart aches but the overpowering presence of God woven in everyday of that year made me better than I was. I made mistakes and have regrets but I am seeing them and look forward to testing my wings with new perspective. Guess what? I will fail again but it is OK. When I look at the tiny details of a fingerprint or the sound of silence in a winters night I feel Gods love. I'm studying the Old Testament and it is full of wonderful examples of Gods plan, purpose, vision and my divinity as his child. Think of the confidence Moses had to know he was His son.
Time is going to pass anyways why not set some resolutions? New Years is my favorite.

8 things tag from Miranda:)

8 Things...

These list are extremely hard for me to do as I LOVE life and struggle to narrow things down but here is my college tryJ I love these tags because you learn lots about the people you love and it is great for journaling about ourselves. Thanks Miranda! I added two items... what do you order at your favorite restaurants and how do you know your loved.

8 FAVORITE T.V. SHOWS:
(When I can sneak-- if Scott is hunting)

1. Monk

2. Holiday specials

3. Disney Channel Shows

4. BYU-TV Devotionals & Scripture classes

5. Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger & Good Eats with Alton Brown

6. Mission Organization & Real Simple, Real Life

7. Certain Mysteries

8. Certain travel shows

8 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS and what I order…
1. Cheesecake Factory- Crusted Chicken Romano prepared as Chicken Piccata Love brown bread… and the white bread
2. Ruby’s Diner- LOVE the milkshakes and turkey burgers and chowder

3. The Dodo – Smoked Turkey and salad
4. Steak Pit- Teriyaki chicken love the salad and bread
5. Bucca De Beppo- Chicken Saltimbocca, tortellini and bread
6. Breakfast- Market Street Grill & Cracker Barrel
7. Love Chinese and Mexican but don’t have a favorite
8. Hires- Veggie H or grilled turkey vanilla root beer, the only place I drink soda at- ever. It is so sweet especially with the vanilla I can handle the bubbles.

THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY: (Saturday, November 5th)
1. I got to go with 21,000 teenagers to praise Jesus. It was awesome.
2. Cleaned my living room. Put away Halloween
3. Got named approved with state for OPC
4. Wrote a chapter in OPC book on digital images
5. Had fun visit with Sue on the way to conference center
6. Rehearsed lines for play
7. Arbonne holiday selling out so sadL its awesome
8. Worked on Christmas cards a little

8 THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO:
1. Thanksgiving
2. Seeing Leah’s kids soonJ and Kelsie in Nutcracker
3. Christmas season- holiday lights
4. Next girls trip with Marlene
5. Disneyworld with Anth and Salina
6. Our OPC book finally for sale
7. Scott and Missy going to Hawaii again
8. Having some scrapbooks complete

8 THING I LOVE ABOUT FALL:
1. Thanksgiving
2. My birthday
3. Cool crisp air, the sounds, the music, the sights
4. The start of the Holiday season.
5. The veggies are at their very best- yum harvest
6. Seeing friends and family in person or photos
7. Yummy treats with wonderful spices and delicious soups

8. It is hands down the best season ever… magical

8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST:
1. Anthony and Salina in Utah
2. Scott to be healthy again
3. A home near family
4. Our Nation to remember God
5. To have a 12 by 12 scanner and printer
6. To exercise regularly
7. To do more plays
8. To have the house organized with container I wantJ

8 WAYS I KNOW I'M LOVED:

1. Scott drove me all the way home from FL in 05

2. Scott never says Hey Fatty, he just loves me

3. I feel happy when I think of being a daughter of God- I feel his love

4. My mom still makes me feel better

5. Anthony always believes in me and Salina gives meaning gifts

6. Anut Sue's prayers

7. Hugs, smiles, and forgivness

8. Bella purring

8 PEOPLE I TAGGED:

1. Marlene (she won’t so anyone else reading this)

2. April

3. Rachel

4. Michele

5. Jamie

6. Connie

7. Jody

8. Megan

Hope- a step closer

Tonight as I watched people party at a local restaurant I felt very sad. They were shouting horrid things at me because I was white. I am one white pale girl. I was glad my husband packs heat. How sad to be targeted because of differences. So then I thought won't it be so cool when in my very own country a person is voted for not because of skin color or gender or religion but because of who they are.

In this election I did not feel I had a choice of a decent good honest person. That is sad. I do think it is awesome for the first African-American to be voted in. But when someone takes office just on merit alone I will shout praises. With the past I can see why there are still heated feelings. We as a country were also not good to the American Indians. But to say America is the evil root and bad guy makes me ponder... wasn't Abraham Lincoln the sixteenth President of the United States, who successfully led our country through its greatest internal crisis- fighting for equal rights? I know one day we really will have peace but it will not be until Jesus Christ returns. Not that I do not have hope for a better tomorrow, I do.

As for our new President- oh boy. He has admitted to committing a felony- drugs. He is friends with known terrorists. He seems more interested in the world than our country. He is for abortion and against guns. His wife a whole other issue. His Vice President. That he took children to hear a hate preacher for years and says it does not affect him or them. More Goverment... Higher taxes... Increased welfare... Something for Nothing... Socialized medicine... Weaker military...I am nervous. However I would still feel that way were it McCain in office. One thing I Hope is that Obama accepts responsibility and does not spend the next four years blaming Bush. I don't think he will be able to do all he said he would but do any of them ever do even a portion? I guess it would be hard to get people excited with honest answers and simple agendas. The problems we are facing now are not one mans or one party's fault nor can one man fix it.

I am one of the only people on earth that likes George Bush. Hindsight is 20-20. I worked for the airlines during 911 and I am so glad he had the guts to to the things he did. I love that he fights for freedom of religion all over the earth, even at the Olympics. It is easy to pass judgment when we don't have to walk in their shoes.

Tonight I go to bed with hope that maybe we as American are closer to voting for a person, not a color. That many dear friends and family members are rejoicing for their new President elect- congrats. If anything what a big victory for us that we had so many go and vote! Hooray- may we always be free to have different ideas and the privilege to vote.

Busy and space

I would love to find out some sort of way to evenly space out the events in my life. Look at the air this guy is getting. I want some air like that. It seems I always am crazy busy each and every fall. I feel like shouting stop the world I missed fall! It is my very most favorite season, yet we always travel a ton and have a million things needing attention. There are other months during the year that seem more spare. However I do agree with the saying if you want something to get done give it to a busy person. My church is having a Halloween party on Oct. 32 so atleast I get one more chance to feel fall. Really it will be Nov. 1 but I like the whole add a day to Oct. idea. I did just enjoy looking at my friends blogs and loved seeing fall that way. Jody as Cruella, Marlene's hanging pumpkins, Amy's amazing craved pumpkins, Barbs baby Halloween teeth Binky-- the list goes on and on. So if any one knows of a way to even or more evenly space your life that would be fab! I would love to sit at home ad watch fall movies and sip cider or I wish I could rewind the last month and have my camera with me. I enjoyed the most amazing fall leaves during a recent week up at the Cliff Club at Snowbird. The colors jumped off the bushes and the trees looked engulfed in flames of brilliant colors. I am so lucky to live within minutes of these beautiful mountains which I even went to the top of with Scott and my little brother and his wife. It is 11,000 high! Scott wanted us to hike down and I thought is he nuts they just told us they strongly advise against it and he wants to kill us. I had no socks on and my toes were frozen. Marlenen and I kind of barracaded ourselves in there after everyone else left to try and work on the infamous OPC book. Scott gave me until the 15 of Nov and then he is puttting it online for sale. I have not broke the news to Marlene yet. Scott says ready or not it is being published and if we keep chanign it it will never be done. He is smart.
Anth had me watch Thriller up the canyon, which spooked me just like it did when I was little. What happened to Jackson? He was amazing and then he really flipped his lid. The way he dances. One of the videos he wore this sparkle outfit, it was 1979 and I want that outfit- bad. I just love sparkly. Which reminds me of... spending what little time I have at rehearsals. Which I totally love. I just get this amazing energy from performing live. I like it better than voice work-- but it does take more time than voice work. I am currently begging the director into letting my angel outfit be sparkly. He said even women of the night did not wear sparkly in the 1929s to 1945s. I beg him to reconsider. Angels should totally be sparkly.
In the last few weeks I have been juggling 100's of cupcakes, teenagers, Idaho, a week at Snowbird, work, worrying about the election, dealing with hunting season, memorizing lines, Aunt Sues obsession with Obama, Scott's obsession with not Obama, Scott's calling, Scott's stressful job, Scott being very ill, planning trainings, speaking, singing, other ill family members, my Stake YW calling, photos, journals, Scott on the road working, writing and then re writing our OPC book, parties, Scott Dr. appointments, Aunt Sues appointments, Aunt Sues meds, Bella being naughty, friends in depression and a good look at all my blessings which are many. I love to be me, still. It is really great and stressful but I am working to find a straight path that is more clean and clear and with better space. Ha ha who am I kidding- I'm glad we are busy. I just miss the fall:)

The road of good intentions...

Scott has been out of town for a week and he leaves again in a few days on a business trip. (I'm am sure grateful he works so hard:)) I did fantastic the first few days he was gone to dejunk, clean and organize. It felt great until our super duper vacuums grabbed hold of the berber carpet and pulled it up. He had warned me about this. Then a part to the vacuum fell off. Then I broke a shelf on the bookcase and next my Sleeping Beauty snow globe from High School had been leaking ruining another shelf. I then felt very sad. Scott adores the vacuum and is particular about details and keeping things nice. I like that about him because he also takes amazing care of me. But I panicked and thought what f he is so disappointed in me? He laughed when I told him and felt sad I was so worried about how he would react. He was due home in the evening but did not make it home until 3amish. And at 4am he was fixing the vacuum. I also was busy getting ready for our leadership training. We do it two times a year for all the YW leaders. We also combine with Primary and Relief Society so it is about 100 women. For some reason nothing was going right. Sue and I were very stressed. I had a the best of intentions but things kind of fell apart. However I could feel the spirit of the Lord and felt humbled and blessed to serve with amazing women who love God and strive to live a Christ centered life. I thought of the youth I serve and how much they make me want to be a better person, how they inspire me, how strong they are with moral character. These are amazing youth. So even though not everything worked out just right I had a glimpse of how lucky I am to be alive right now on the earth and to be surrounded by examples of the Believers. It is our theme for 2009. I made the photo collage for each ward so the youth can work on memorizing it. Laurie laughed at Candice and I on the stand, since we are so different. I was thinking yeah-- but, we are both daughters of God. We are different, but there are others who are even more different than me. If I disagree with every single other thing as another person on this earth I still know that they are a fellow child of God. They might not even agree with me on that point but there is something about finding some common ground. Maybe it is the Christmas music I have been listening to but I really love the idea of peace. What if all the people even the politicians at some level had good intentions in the beginning at least to them? What if I could give the benefit of the doubt more often. Then I could make a little difference and maybe help someone else see there are options. Emily thought if things get really hard it will be a huge blessing. Think how amazing our grandparents were and they were that way in part due to the world they grew up in. They did not have everything as easy as we do and they learned good values like thrift, industry, honesty, family, honor, freedom, and trust in God. If times get tough we might be closer as families have stronger morals for the upcoming generation and remember God again:) These are all good things that might come from bad or less ideal circumstances.

BookMyBlog.com

Hip Hip Hooray. I think I finally found a solution to having a bound copy of my blog:) Each year I will have Amy at Book My Blog make my blog into a book with photos and posts and voila- there is my journal. I will let you all know as soon as I have mine. It will be a few weeks before I place the order since my travel schedule is crazy in the fall, but in the mean time check out the site! Amy does all the work and you choose exactly how you want it to look. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted and I am really excited:) I tried the Blurp route and after hours of pulling my hair out I am thrilled to have a way that will work:) Truley a HIDDEN GEM. AMy was very nice to talk to and she has a cute adopted little girl from China.

Blurb part 2 making a book of your blog

If you have wanted to make your blog a book to keep as a journal or sell or whatever try blurb.com. A few friends did have a hard time with the photo and comment download. Now I found a way you can print your comments too. You open a wordpress.com account. It is free. Then you can transfer your entire blog to your word press blog and then download your blogger blog to wordpress. Then download your wordpress blog to blurb. It did not take long and worked like a charm. Hope this is of help to some of you. I think I will stick to my blogger account I like it. But once a year I will transfer to blurb until they update blurb and iron out the kinks. It worked great for me you can see it here...

http://missglimpse.wordpress.com/

I was thinking I might included some of your blog posts in my printed journal, as I really enjoy them.