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.

Charity Crop 2009

Save the date for the second annual Get Down With Scrapbooking Charity Crop. The date has been changed! The event will be held Saturday, January 17th, 2009. We will also be adding an additional evening crop on Friday night for any that want to get an early start. The purpose of this project is to raise funds to support the Utah Down Syndrome Foundation while enjoying the historical archiving hobby known as “scrapbooking.” Last year was so much fun and the seats are limited, so check out the site and make plans now to make a difference.

I was asked recently why Organize Plan Create choose UDSF. You can read all about Marlene's why on the site and as for me... my sister Michelle has a beautiful daughter, her only daughter named Heather. Heather was born with Down Syndrome. This did anything but making our family feel down. My sister has been an amazing mother and Heather has brought unbelievable joy and lessons to our family and any who know her. SO when Marlene said she wanted the USDF I was thrilled! This is s photo from 2005 taken in Norway at Epcot.

Busy days

I was talking to my sister who said my life is so busy it makes her tired. That made me laugh because she is like super mom and I am sure she was way busier at my age than I am now since she has 4 adorable kids, plus was super wife, neighbor and everything else. You can see how creative, cute and super momish she is by checking out her cute blog. The link is on the left under Sister Michelle. (the photo is of cute Heather my neice and sister at Disneywolrd a few years ago) I get to see her in a little bit, her and her hubby are in town for a ski trip. What a great season of skiing we have had here in Utah. The resorts are closing but still have tons of snow. It was gorgeous weather today. Today was a little crazy, I started at dance rehearsal at 8am until 10:45, then a baptism, then a young at heart lunch for 60 plusers from church then 2 birthday parties, where I got to be Sleeping Beauty! I loved seeing the kids expressions and how they would either want hugs and kisses or be very shy and curious. One little boy asked if Scott was my castle security as he was wearing a dark suit and sun glasses. I said he was my security and they we wanted to know if he had a gun. I told him princesses don't know about guns. Last night all my hubby talked about was guns at our friends house. They had us over to dinner and to see the new house. Their cute boy and cat were fun to hold. The funny thing was I had on my long Sleeping Beauty wig, and Scott looked at me after the second party and said "WOW Miss your hair is getting really long" He was totally serious. I felt like perhaps he had suffered a breakdown or something as he was with me when I chopped off my hair. I told him "No honey this is a wig, remember I have short hair." He didn't believe me until I took off the wig. Then he laughed "Oh yeah, I like it". I was telling the story to my friend who say me in it today and he said... "You were wearing a wig?" SO men are not really very observant of somethings like my hair. Would magic hair be cool? You could pull it out and then when you were done a quick tug and back into your head it would go. My other sister who has 4 darling kids is in St. George watching her oldest daughter play her last game of college softball. She is amazing my mom said the news was there but that is nothing new as Carli has been on the front page more times than my mom can count anymore. I have a talented family- I know you wonder what is your contribution to the talented family???? duh- my magic hair:) I am loving the play, loving performing again!

Treasure

This is the time of year when we reflect on the greatest treasure in the history of history. The Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. When I was young we used to spend some Easters in Arizona. They do this fabulous Easter pageant at the Mesa Temple grounds. It is scenes from the life of Jesus. I loved this time of year. I remember holding my nephews on my lap as they watched the pageant with wide eyes. They started to know when the good parts were coming and would shout..."Aunt Messy, Jesus is coming... watch". I loved holding Teddy because he had curly blond hair, which I could play with because he would be distracted watching. One year when we were riding home with Michelle's family the youngest son said... "Jesus is the best". We all smiled until several moments later he said... "Grandpa, your the best", which is when we started to laugh. Michelle said... "Yep dad, you and Jesus." I wish I had wrote down all the funny things they have said over the years.
It was wonderful to be with my family, in sunny AZ. Usually the orange blossoms were in full swing and sometimes it would rain and the little ground areas that were sunk down would fill with water making lots of little ponds. The ground was so dry that it could not take it in. It reminds me of me. Am I allowing myself to become so dry that the gospel has a hard time penetrating? It takes daily effort. It is not big things that can distract and pull me away. Little bad feelings unresolved, not being diligent in my media choices, watching the news, becoming overwhelmed and getting discouraged. All of this tears away at the protections of the spirit. We are commanded to be happy to have joy and be cheerful. To look on the bright side. If I can keep my heart soft then I can always take in "water" and never thirst. If I make mistakes which is bound to happen-- I can repent and start all over. Spring is a wonderful time of year. Fall is my first favorite season and then Spring. I love Utah and the 4 seasons. I just realized my 2 favorite seasons also are when General Conference is held each year... Spring and Fall. It is beautiful to watch the earth change and I'll bet equally beautiful to see people transform as they walk with Christ becoming brand new in the Lord.
I took these photos at the Temple when I went the other day. Easter is a time of rebirth and joy at the wonder of Christ overcoming death and the world. Sometimes I wish I could go back in time for a day and relive a day when my dad was alive. I heard a quote that really touched me. I can't find the exact words or who it was that said it but it went like this... Let me enjoy the bread before there is none, Love the people before they are gone and live my life before it is through. So instead of wishing I could time travel who can I appreciate today, before they are gone? It sounds morbid but it is really a joyful way to express thanksgiving for blessings. I am so glad to believe in Jesus as the Christ, to know that I can see my loved ones again and that each week I can renew my covenants and repent and start new.

Memory Lane

Tonight we had dinner with my sister Michelle (and fam) who has a second home in Draper. She lives in AZ. She is the oldest but the smallest. She is tiny or vertically challenged. She is a grandma. Michelle is amazing talented. I love this picture of us. The other sister holding me is Lisa. Lisa used to live in Vegas- that was fun. I think Michelle and Anthony have my dads eye shape, but my sister Lisa has his eye color. He loved that Lisa had brown eyes, his brown eyed girl. Michelle was his oldest and I think in lots of ways the favorite. It may have been because she reminded him of happy times, first married. Aunt Sue loved Michelle and my Grandma Scharrier used to tend Michelle while her mom worked. Aunt Sue tells us funny stories about long ago. I never got to meet my Grandma Scharrier. I love hearing about her from my cousin Susan and Michelle, Lisa and Scott. Michelle has cute kids that are not kids anymore. They crack me up. It was her that gave my dad the work and the glory to read and from there he developed a testimony of Joesph Smith and then read the Book of Mormon. I love her husband Craig. He is a dentist. I remember when I was tiny and he would sing to me, holding me over his shoulder. I was nervous because he is tall. We also used to watch a sci-fi show called V. Michelle used to cut my hair. She would sit up late talking to me. She is very good at remembering birthdays and keeping the family together. She is good to my mom. One of these days I hope we get to spend time together, visiting as adults. I'm impressed she blogs... http://www.michellehollis.typepad.com/ The photos of her grand daughter are darling. I loved this one of some of my nieces and nephews from my side of the family. Scott side are all still kids but growing fast. I remember these teens being little. So many funny memories...