The Challenge

Are you up for it?
It's awesome. It changed my life. I'd been on a plateau and after doing this in the weeks before Christmas, I lost almost 10 pounds and am going strong (well, except for that devil sugar-and I am working on it).

My friend, Monica came up with this. I will forever be grateful. She is probably one of the healthiest and most positive people I've ever known. She's always wearing a smile.

I almost didn't join her challenge, because we had a vacation and the holidays coming up.
(And lazy, oh am I lazy.)

I am so glad for that little push inside me that said, "do it!"

Here are some of the things we are going to do to earn points everyday:
excercise 30 minutes a day
one dessert a week
no soda/sugary drinks
no eating after 7:30pm
reading on chapter of scriptures or a book that makes you want to be a better person
a weekly challenge
and a bonus item worth points each week
We are starting January 3rd, 2011.
If you are up for this- let me know! Email me with your email address. You can find my email on my profile or you can decipher this:    143themrs{youknowwhatsigngoeshere}gmail{dot}com

Look forward to hearing from you!

Oh, PS-you should probably know this-I am letting a lot of my friends know about this also, so you might be getting an email from me with a different address on it.
And-the winner of Monica's challenge came up with a chart to track our points and shared it with us. I'll be tweaking it a bit and getting it to everyone who does the challenge with us.

Challenge Details Not Coming Today

A great friend and her family came to town.
We are visiting
and so, no details today.

Sorry.

(They're all written up, I just need to tweak them a bit.)

See you soon!

Oh Squat.

Image from here. (This is not me.)

Oh Squat.

About 32 hours ago, I did a ton of these plus many lunges and some heavy weighted, one legged dumbell deadlifts. And a bunch of other stuff.

And my you know what is aching.

And a stiff.

But I love it.

It means I did something.

I did something good.

And the pain will go away in a while.

Hopefully.

Soon.

_____________________________________________________________________________

The last 11 weeks before Christmas, I participated in a fitness challenge that my friend started.

I didn't put money in the pot, because I knew I would lose. (Vacation and all - I'm not that down on myself!)

Guess what? Even with the vacation, I still came in 4th-woo hoo. I think I would have been a lot lower in the rankings, if people had not stopped sending in their points. I wonder if they just gave up or just got busy.

I surprised myself with the discipline I had.

And this week, I've surprised myself with the discipline I've lacked.

It's not like to old days, when I could knock out a bunch of goodies in no time flat, but I've eaten more sugar than in all the previous 11 weeks combined.

This morning I woke up with a headache.

I'm pretty sure it's from the sugar.

I need to get back on track.

So, I think I am going to start my own fitness challenge.

January 3rd until March 13th, 2011.

Ten weeks. Seventy days.

I need to make these healthy habits more than habits.

I need to make them who I am.

Want to join me?

_______________________________________________________________________________

By the way--BIG CONGRATS to my wonderful friend (who frequents this little blog). She was the big winner! She lost 9 pounds and won the pot. And is very excited to have her Saturday mornings back for sleeping.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Challenge details to come tomorrow. You know you want to do this. Do it, do it, do it!

My Worst Holiday Moment This Year

Picture found here.

If you've read here in the past few weeks, you'll probably know that my time and I have been stretched thin.

So, I've done a lot of delegating. But couldn't delegate everything & was up late Christmas Eve finishing that which I did not delegate.
Namely wrapping. I was a tired wrapper. I was not taking pride in my work. I just wanted to get it done.

Now, please imagine my eleven year old son picking up a present from under the tree and kindly carrying it to his father to be unwrapped.

And with my freshly rested eyes, I said, "Oh man, I did a really bad job wrapping that one. Yuck."

and

mr b said, "I wrapped it."

Guilt = much.

Christmas breakfast = humble pie.

Years of grief they will give me = many.

I am so sorry mr b.

Mele Kalikimaka

I hope you've had a wonderful Christmas!

I've been gone.

But now I'm back.

Guess where I was?

Woo hoo!

And I am still running on island time.

I will be back and writing.

I promise.

Mele Kalikimaka!

With Love,

the mrs

ps-Becky, blogger has a pubish post option and you can schedule your posts.  Pretty cool, huh?
Those last 6 or so posts were all done way ahead of time because I knew I didn't want to pay any attention to becomingversed (no offence intended) during our vacation and prep time.  From my lack of time and posting this past week(since we got home), I'm thinking I should have preposted quite a few more :).

Sunday School

New Season

It's a new season at our house, and I'm not talking winter.

Two of the kids are signed up for basketball.

We usually don't do winter sports.

We usually take a break.

But they started a new program

and I like my kids to run and play

so

we

are

now

back to practicing

and going to games

and all

that goes with

having kids in sports.

I'll let you know how it all works out.



Perspective

"Mom, Mom, you gotta see this. It's so weird and random. They printed the words on the chip bag upside down. Isn't that so funny?"

--little mr. j

Sunday School

Image from here.

Today for Sunday School, we're having a internet field trip.

We are going to visit another site to learn about George Frideric Handel, his life, and what we can learn from what he learned.

Please join me in visiting, listening, and reading.

Have a great Sunday!

Love,

the mrs

Please come along to Handel and the Gift of the Messiah .

Taking Moving Pictures

I am really good at taking pictures that are moving.
To the heart.
But I am not really good at taking moving pictures.
With a video camera.

This week, again, I messed up.
The lower grades Christmas program would be performed two times in one day.
That was good because I could attend the little program in the morning
and the highschooler's concert that evening.
And I would be able to video them both.

Or so I thought.
Because, after one half hour of painstakingly zooming and focusing and
doing my best to juggle my regular camera-because, oh yes,
I wanted those pictures, too.
I looked at the little video monitor
in my hand and guess what--
it was on stand by.

The whole time!
Grrrrr.
So I hurried and hit record and got the last 30 seconds of "Christmas on Candy Cane Lane."

And I sent that machine with miss h and her dad to the program that night and she did a great job videoing it, as far as I know.

And I was able to enjoy the high school concert and really watch and listen, because I was focused on the program-not on myself recording it.

It may have been one of the best high school choir concerts I've been to.

And for that, little green candy cane, mr j will take a bow.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

It's time to take care of them, don't you think?

There is a tradition at our little school.

Every Thanksgiving Break eve,

there is a feast for the children at the school

and the people special to them.

It used to be grandparents were the main invitees,

but I think they've changed things up to

involve more families.

We started in the PreK room. Where we got a little tour and the kids sang some songs for us while we waited to be called to the cafeteria.

My little turkey head.

Potato turkey.

We had a fabulous discussion about what

this turkey would taste like- especially if ,

"I took my fist and smashed it all up."

And this little turkey potato fell down.

Again and again.

(I think it was ready for Thanksgiving break.)

(It's probably more funny to me than to you-it would tip over, someone would right it, it would tip over, someone would right it, it would tip over, someone would right it. There was even some support adjustment. It was funny.)

Volunteers from the Community Baptist Church that's kitty corner from our school served the meal.

I believe the lunch ladies cooked it.

And some mom volunteers cut the pies.

I was not involved.

I only ate.

And took pictures.

Here's the most very special thing about this feast.

Do you see those older kids in the lower right hand corner of the picture?

They are 8th graders (our school is PreK - 8th).

And that is a big deal.

Their job is to serve.

They get drinks, help carry trays, get desserts, clean up messes, make messes cleaning up the messes,

and so much more.

It's incredible because:

the 8th graders are working for tips.

Tips that they will put together to provide

Christmas Gifts for needy children.

I had an 8th grader the first year we lived here.

She is still talking about the time

when her whole class got quite a lot of $

to spend on one child for Christmas

because the folks at the feast had been so generous.

I loved watching them.

It was so wonderful to see their excitement

and to watch some of them

serve their little hearts out.

It almost made me cry.

This is the centerpiece that was created by my little neighbor,

you know the one,

the one that lives

over there, behind us.

I want one.

This is a picture of two boys eating.

The older boy was very grateful have a PreK

sibling, because you eat at the time of your youngest sibling

at the school.

So he got to go first.

And he was hungry.

He's always hungry.

This is what we saw as we were leaving the feast.

Another picture of something we saw as we were leaving.

I'm glad it goes both ways.

After that, we walked home and enjoyed the rest of our Thanksgiving Eve.

Thanks for staying for leftovers-

here's your dessert:

While we were waiting our turn to go feast,

the PreK kids entertained us

with a bunch of Thanksgiving songs.

And when they ran out of Thanksgiving songs,

they sang some Halloween ones.

So, with my mad skills,

I taped it for you from a very ridiculous viewpoint.

(They didn't sing the jump around part which made me sad,

but at least you finally get to hear the little Oklahoma accent.)

Enjoy!

Yay!

Guess what?
I did it.
I was brave
and submitted
this little place
over to a big place
and we are now on the list.
Woo hoo!

Becoming Versed is now listed at:



Tu..daaaaa!!
And Yay.

You can find BV in catagory N-Z
under
Thoughtful Women.
It's right under
Baby Makin(g) Machine.
Which is something I
am not.
Anymore.
And if I was
I probably wouldn't have my brain to think,
and wouldn't be able to be listed
under
Thoughtful Women.

So, Yay!
Thank you, Mormon Mommy blogs!
___________________________________________________________________________

Submitting BV to the eyes and hearts of more readers is one of my goals - I'm pushing myself and it is a challenge. Thank you for being a part of it!

Sunday School (The Score- warning - this may possibly be quite sacrilegious)

Here's this Sunday's Score:

my mr 5

me (the mrs) 0

He has spoken in a Sacrament Meeting five times since moving here (not all the same congregation, but still-that's a lot of talks).

I have spoken zero.

That makes me the winner.

And I will let you in on a secret that he figured out.

And it's working for me.

If you have a testimony.

And you bear it somewhat often.

"They" will think you've given a talk

and you will not be asked to speak in other meetings.

Shhhh.

It's our secret, but it works.

There's a lady who had got to give a talk last summer who said,

"I've lived in this ward 4 years and this is the first time I've been asked to give a talk."

We're going to her house for dinner in ten minutes.

I am not going to bring up the score or the secret.

We've lived here 2 and a half years.

I say I'm not competitive,

but I'd really like to beat her record.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Here's some definitions to click to:

Sacrament Meeting & Speakers: For a wonderful description of this meeting, click here and scroll down to "What happens during sacrament meeting?"

Testimony:  A testimony is a statement of one's beliefs. You can find lots of Mormon's definitions of what a testimony is here. Testimony meeting is the first sacrament meeting of each month (except in April and October, when it's general conference and testimony sunday gets moved-usually to the week before the first week of those months-and if you have any questions on all this LDS going to church lingo, you can always email me or click on mormon.org - there you can look up your questions or have a live chat).

_______________________________________________________________________________

After reading this post, I've decided that I've been wearing my nylons for way too long today (13.25 hours). I think the restrictiveness has effected me. FYI - I wrote the above, then we went to dinner, had a lovely time & now we are about to have family scripture & prayer and get the ready for in bed. So I really should be going.

And that last sentence under 'Testimony' might be in the top ten of my run-ons & use of ands and the like. Woo hoo.

Good night and happy Sunday!

Commit Me

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go."

William Feather

Funny picture and quote from here.

Commit Me.
Please.
Because I have overcommitted.
And I can feel the anxiety level in my chest rising and lowering and moving around.
And I don't think that's healthy.
But I'll probably be ok.

When we moved to Oklahoma, I was well versed in the art of not being over committed.
I hid out.

But the time here has opened up and my heart did, too.
So, last spring, when the high school choir parent's organization needed someone to help organize volunteers for the basketball concession stand for the 2010-11 season, I said, "Oh yeah, I can do that-and it's a job I can do from home. Woo hoo!"

And, last spring, I opened my big mouth to a friendly woman at the elementary-telling her, "I can't get 'in.' It's impossible. When I try to sign up for things, the same people have taken all the jobs. There's no room for me." (Ok, yes, I know we are extremely blessed to have always lived in areas where there is such a volunteer spirit at our schools. I know-but did you know how many challenges come with that?)

And, last fall, at the elementary school open house, no one had signed up yet to be the afternoon PreK room mom, I danced a little jig-because in all my having-kids-in-school years (and that's a lot), I have never been able to get "in." I was Sunshine committee chair and the whole committee one year and had some classroom volunteer time which I hold dear to my heart. But, I've never held 'the' title.
Yeah, baby, I'm the afternoon PreK room mom. How awesome is that?

So, this fall, I received a telephone call from that friendly woman telling me that no one had signed up to be homeroom mom for my son's 5th grade class and would I like to do it. Well, well-I guess someone listened when I opened up my big mouth. I said, "Thanks, but did you know that I got 'in' as the afternoon PreK room mom. I don't know if that'd be right for me to do both." I was assured that it would be fine and selfishly (because who knows when I'll ever get the chance again) accepted.

Only I didn't know that all the classes have their parties at the same time.
And that I would be on vacation for one of the major ones.
And I didn't know that I would get the awesome calling at church to lead the beautiful young women for a while. (I'm hoping a long while!)
And I didn't know that my trust issues would try to infuse themselves in the choir concession stand business.
And that it takes hours & effort to create & fill that schedule.
Phew.

Here's what I've learned:
Delegation and letting go is the only way to survive.
Don't try to do a three month concession stand volunteer schedule, try for a month, be happy for a week.
Things will always work out.
Email is awesome.
It's great to get to be room mom once in a lifetime.
I will probably do the concession gig again-have to make the steep learning curve worth something.
Be thankful for the people associating with and relationships that are being built through all these activities.

(Except I'm worried about Monday, I was at a small meeting with that friendly woman and another and I opened my big mouth again and became completely obnoxious-you would have thought I was one of my children-or husband. I don't know what got into me-silly-silly-silly. I am so not like that. I don't know if I built any relationships there, or if they will run away fast when they see me again. I sure hope they don't.)

Now, if you will excuse me, I have to go look over my to do list again.
For the millionth time today.
I have a nagging feeling that I've missed something somewhere
and that is not good.

Oh, and would you please work concessions next Friday, 4:45pm to 9ish? Please let me know by tonight or sooner if possible.
Thanks.

Sunday School on Monday Night

So should we call it blogging home evening? Or would that just be wrong?
Probably.

Moving on.

Yesterday, at church (which seems like ages ago right now at 10pm on Monday night), I sat in on a class of Young Women having a lesson on developing your talents. It was beautifully taught by a woman who I wished I had recieved this lesson from when I was a girl. Except that when I was a girl she probably wasn't even a baby and maybe not even a gleam in her father's eye. So that would have been weird.

Anyway, she taught it beautifully. She had a great attention getter at the beginning where the students (me included) were to put checkmarks on a two-sided paper list of 'talents.' There were many unusual ones on there. That activity really brought the girls' minds into the lesson. So clever.

Then she went on to the meat of the lesson. You can find the entire lesson here. I don't think she followed this lesson plan exactly, but I think she knew what we students needed and she drew from it in a way that the girls really seemed to get.

And, I loved that she brought in the scriptures! We were in them through almost the whole lesson. And I needed this lesson, because "Wo unto me" if I don't get my little writing fingers and brain going. I'm going to be "Wo-ing" scripture style if I don't pay attention to what I learned yesterday.
("Wo" pronounced with a long o.)

She had a little gift box and inside were six scripture references for us to look up. We lucked out because there were six of us in the class, so everybody got one. Woo hoo. Here is what they said & the interpretation from the lesson-you will see why I'm a little worried about the "Wo." Hopefully I can get my act together and make up for my lost writing and other gift hiding time.

(The Doctrine and Covenants is a distinctly LDS scripture of modern - meaning beginning in the 1800s times. You can read it online here and if you have questions about it, you can ask here or shoot me a message :).)
1. Doctrine and Covenants 46:11–12  -  Everyone has a gift.
2. Doctrine and Covenants 60:2  - Some fear and hide their talents.
3. Doctrine and Covenants 67:3  - Some fear in their hearts.
4. Doctrine and Covenants 60:13 - Do not bury your talent.
5. 1 Timothy 4:14 - Do not neglect your gift.
6. Doctrine and Covenants 82:3  -Responsibility comes with gifts

Yep- yesterday I got versed.
Very, very versed.
And it's time to do something about it.

Wordle from here.

Happy Thanksgiving.

What fortunate people we are to live in a free country (USA).

And to have so many blessings.

At the beginning of November, a facebook friend started a 'thing' where we would list something we were thankful for that day, everyday, through Thanksgiving.

I've enjoyed it so & it's really made me think a lot about what I am most grateful for.

I didn't share everything on facebook, because some things I'm thankful for are just too personal or to hard to put in words.

While I've always loved my simple days, this experience has made me really think about what really is most important to me.

I am grateful I participated in my friend's challenge & as a gift for you, I'm going to give you a peek into what my 'grateful for' month looked like:

1. Make November a month of gratitude. Each day, post as your status, something you are thankful for. It may be something big - or something small, the point is to keep an attitude of gratitude for 30 days! Will you join me? Starts Monday 11/1 :-)

(Well, looks like I forgot about the fine print-I've got a few more gratitude days to go. It's not over until the end of November-I'll just share what I've shared so far.)

2. I'm thankful I have the priviledge to vote.


3. I am thankful for a dark laundry room and clothes with static.


4. I'm thankful for all the teachers at our high school who, after working all day, stayed late for parent teacher conferences.


5. I am thankful I stayed calm while driving with S. We even went on turnpikes & in mall traffic. I didn't holler once. I did cringe a few times, but over all, she did great. 50 hours-here we come!

6. I am thankful this busy, busy day is over. And for the wonderful people our family gets to associate with.
7. I am thankful for opportunities to serve in my church. (I'll miss my last one & I'm very excited for my new one-good bye RS, hello YW.)


8. Thankful for the stairmaster and the funny old man who told me I will never make it to the top. He was right.


9. Thankful that my Senior is happy about her great ACT score.


10. Thankful it's only 10something pm and not 11something like I thought. Thankful that I realized I was about to post today's gratitude on somebody else's wall before I hit share. What I am most thankful for today are our ward's lovely young women who have accepted this new old lady in such a sweet way.
And the awesome people- YW leaders, R & my kids who helped in so many ways to make tonight so nice.

11. Thankful for my father, cousin, in-law, friends & all others who have sacrificed so much. Thank you is not enough.


12. I am thankful that 18 years ago a sweet little girl arrived and turned me into a mom!


13. Thankful my son's happy with his league championship. Thankful we get out Tues, Thurs, & Sats back for a while. Thankful this season is over.

14. I am thankful for an awesome conversion story a man shared at church today and how it touched my heart.


15. Thankful for pay-it-forward coming backwards, good karma & small business owners who really know how to win repeat business and referalls.


16. Today I am thankful for the little acorn caps on the sidewalk that crunched when I stepped on them. Way better than bubble wrap!


17. I am thankful that J didn't throw up in our bed last night after we woke up to his brother saying, "Mom, Mom, J's throwing up" and his bedding was getting a middle of the night launder. I am thankful to R for being a full partner in the clean up and care in the many subsequent visits to the porcelin throne thoughout ...the night. I am thankful the little guy feels better today.
 
18. Grateful for opportunities to swallow my pride & open my heart.


19. Thankful for the late night movie date with R and my 11 year old boy last night. Today I'm thankful that there are no games to go to, no 'have to' items on the schedule, and a calm day in store. (Only problem-the day is going by too quickly.)

20. I am thankful for my 5 year old's night time prayers. He was thankful for the day and asked Him to "please bless grandma's and his friend's dad's backs to feel better, the missionaries, baby Delany, the people in Haiti, and to have a good day." What a sweet kid.

21. I am thankful for M. Adair's 10 week fitness challenge!


22. Greatful for the O. School community and the wonderful volunteers from the O. Baptist Chuch. They made today's feast wonderful!


23. Today I was thankful for our 80 degrees-while so many of my friends and family were telling us how cold it was in their areas of the country. Tonight I am thankful for warm pajamas and a heated home, because it's supposed to get to 22 degrees, high in the 40s tomorrow. I am thankful for crazy Oklahoma weather that keeps me on my toes.
 
24. I am thankful that for these past couple of weeks, I've really thought about all that I am grateful for. I haven't shared everything I am thankful for, but I've sure been thinking of a lot. What a blessed life I've been given-thank you for being a part of it!


I wrote that kind of 'I'm done writing my thankfuls' entry on facebook before I went back and read that it was a challenge for the whole month- I will come back and update this post when November 2010 is over. :)
 

What are you most thankful for?

Braggart

You have been warned.

I am going to brag.

But I want you to know that I am not bragging in an 'in your face' kind of way.

I am just so happy for this family of mine.

I am blessed to be the wife and the mom.

And we have had a good month.

It's nice to have those once in a while.

We will start with my mr.

He won an award.

Our family was invited to a dinner

and he was honored.

The presenter said that out of 500 coaches he was chosen because,

"he represents everything a YMCA coach should be."

miss h.

She got a score she's happy with.

That is huge.

miss s.

While this is a picture of her musical hands, her voice got her into All State Mixed Chorus.

(According to the high schoolers, the more advanced choir.)

And she even had a cold.

little mr b.

He was one of three fifth graders chosen to read their essays on Veteran's Day.

It was touching.

And

He helped his team get first place in their age division.

little mr j.

He won that run (that I ran with him and I didn't die).

He was the first place boy in the PreK division.

He was very pleased.

Especially to get a trophy.

And that his good friend got the 2nd place trophy.

me, the mrs

I kept everyone clean and fed and where they were supposed to be most of the time.

No trophy,

but I don't mind.

Quite a month for us.

Not a normal one,

that's for sure.

But it's sure been nice to celebrate

each other's little victories

and be reminded of what

wonderful people

we are surrounded

by daily.





Chore Update

Just to let you know,

this weekend

the windows were washed

and the flower beds weeded.

Thanks to help from my family.

Thanks, you guys!

SundaySchool

Picture from here. I didn't actually visit the website and don't know where he got the image-but it was too wonderful to pass up.

I actually went to Sunday School today. Yay.
I was looking forward to it because we would be discussing Ezekial 37-the one about dem dry bones.

The reason why I was excited: the day of the run that my son and I ran in and I didn't die, we were waiting for their class to get called out for their turn to warm up in the gym. It was before Halloween and the PreKers were studying the skeleton. They learned a song and they sang it for us while we were waiting - in their best little Okie drawls. It was wonderful.

The toe bone's connected to the foot bone.
The foot bone's connected to the leg bone.
The leg bone's connected to the hip bone.
The hip bone's connected to the back bone.
The back bone's connected to the neck bone.
Then neck bone's connected to the head bone.
Now he-ar the werd of the Loord.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Now he-ar the werd of the Loord.
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dryyii bones
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna jump around
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna jump around
Dem bones, dem bones, gonna jump around
Now he-ar the werd of the Loord.

They wouldn't have sung that song at my girls' elementary in Washington state.
And maybe even not in our Texas ones.
It was awesome.
Maybe someday when I have a new computer and awesome editing software, I can edit the video & you can hear this precious Okie version of the song that made me so excited to go to Sunday School today.

(FYI-I didn't type in the correct order of what bone is connected to what bone.  For that reason, I would like a very cool coffee table book on human anatomy for Christmas-even though I don't have a coffee table. I am just very intrigued by how everything is connected. R OK aka my mr.-there are some neat ones at the dreaded WM's big brother store who's name starts with an S. Please just be sure to go shopping with me so I can show you the correct one.)

Can you tell why I've never been called to teach Sunday School? I'd be one of those teachers who get way off on a crazy tangent and have a hard time getting back to the main point of the lesson.


Back to Ezekiel.

When I read this chapter, I could visualize the dry bones coming together and the sinews attaching themselves and the bodies reforming. It looked like a movie with very, very cool special effects in my head.
Our teacher today made a comment about what a strange vision this Ezekial had and that if people can accept that he had this vision, what makes it so hard for them to believe in the vision that Joseph Smith had.
That was interesting.

Actually-this awesome vision is about the house of Israel coming together, the scriptures coming together, and resurrection. Pretty awesome stuff.

I enjoyed Sunday School today.
I heard the werd of the Loord.

The Dog (part 8)

Why I am very unhappy with the dog, again.

Score since this spring:

Hoses 0

Dog 3.

Question for you, dear reader

I am getting ready to try to get on some "lists" of blogs.
(In honor of my goal - which I think might have been a little ambitious.)
I don't really know much about this arena, but do know that when I apply or whatever it's called in this blogging world, they ask for my best posts.

So, I know which ones I like the best-but I can't decide which to submit.
I would like to know which ones you've like the best.
Which ones do you think I should submit to catch these folks' eye?

Please don't be shy-let me know which ones you like or which ones you don't.
And my indecisive heart will be very grateful.
Thanks!

Tasks

There were 9 very specific things on my "to-do" list last week and I only completed part of one of them.
(And my goal of writing at least two meaningful blog posts wasn't even one of the 9-should have been-but wasn't.)

As my daughter would say, "meh."
(I'm not sure what that means, but it seems appropriate here.)

I did accomplish a lot.
So I wrote those things down after the fact and crossed them off, so it would look like I was getting a lot done.
Which I was.

So, this week I have 9 extra items to add to my two that are on the list right now for this week
and I wonder what I will get done that I don't know about yet.
And, would anyone like to come wash windows or weed the beds (flower,that is-the inside one's are not that bad) with me?

The Load He Chose - Sunday School

(This was the summer loaner, we have a later model at this time.)

When little mr. b came home and told me that all kids in his grade were required to take band, I said, "That's great."

When little mr. b told me he wanted to play the tuba, I said, "Really, are you sure?  You already take piano and have pretty good rythm, maybe you could do percussion." (Real meaning "Tubas are really loud and big-are you sure you want to lug that thing around?")

When little mr. b came home and told me that the band teacher had a private meeting with each child in his grade and chose the best instrument for the child, I reminded little mr. b of our previous conversation.

When little me. b came home the day of his meeting, he told me, "Mr. S thinks the tuba is a perfect fit for me."

And I rembered that some things should just be out of my control, because little mr. b wanted to play it and his teacher thought it would be a good fit and it's time for me to step aside and let things be.

But I did get excited when the orthodontist said that braces would be in the works next year. I don't know much about band, but I did think that braces would probably make blowing in a tuba painful.

Mr. S told little mr. b that it would be fine. He could keep playing. little mr. b had already checked.

I was worried about transporting that giant instrument everyday. Mr. S fixed that problem, too. We are blessed with a loaner. A loner that looks to be 100 years old and had a case bigger than my son. Whose  case take up one quarter of my little boys' room and latches cut my leg when left open and I walk by. But, he doesn't have to carry that load back and forth every single day.

And now little mr. b is practicing faithfully (when he remembers or is reminded).

We can recognize some tunes.

And he is happy.

He chose a heavy load

and I am grateful.

Sunday School

Today's Sunday School was very busy.
So busy, in fact, I didn't attend.

Instead, I sat in the foyer and talked with a woman who is replacing me in a position I've held for a year, helping serve the women in our ward (a ward is a geographical boundary that defines who belongs to which congregation - you can see what ward you are in -even if you don't belong to my church- by clicking here). 

We don't have paid clergy.
More about that here.

We participate and are giving "callings." That means we are given a specific job to do (if we accept-and we most always do), serving in different areas in the organization.

I was the Relief Society (women's organization) Secretary.
I have to say that calling has kept me on my toes. Tippy toes. Running.
And I've loved it.

Since I was the secretary, I took care of most of the clerical stuff & had the opportunity to watch the three women in the Presidency (President, 1st Counselor & 2nd Counselor) doing their work.  It was beautiful to watch the love these women had for the other women in our ward and the service they gave to them. It was also beautiful to get to hear a tiny bit about how people in our congregation blessed each other's lives and lives outside of our congregation.

So, now I'm out.
That crazy phone list didn't kill me.
I have passed it on.
Thank goodness.
And I know it is good hands.

That's the beauty of the way the Church is organized. We are a group of people who are willing to work for a higher purpose - to further His work, and do what we are asked. Of course we are human and it's not always perfect, but we do our best.

And I will do my best, with a lot of help, serving the lovely Young Women in our ward.
And I have a secretary.
Who has already asked if I have a current contact list.
I think I'm in love!

_________________________________________________________________________________

There were a lot of changes in our ward today. A lot. They rearranged the Primary (kids ages 3-12) & Young Women (girls ages 12-18) leadership. Because I was very focused on myself, I don't think I took the opportunity to say how very much I've appreciated all the people who have served and done so much for me & my family. We are better people because of you and I am grateful. I don't know if they will ever see this or not, but I want it out there--Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Stir

Stir frequently has a different meaning than stir constantly.

A Link to a Story that I didn't write.

Picture from here but I think they got it somewhere else.

But that fit
And I needed:

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Harshing on myself

I am having a really hard time with getting on here and writing anything lately.
I love to write.
I love to do this.
I know there are a few of you who come to read. Not a lot, but a few.
I love that but it scares me incredibly.
I'd love to have more readers, but the thought of more people paying attention makes my ideas freeze up.

I'm insecure about the things I put "out there."
I've been to quite a few events in the last few weeks.
The thoughts in my brain have been: "Sit back and be quiet, enjoy the people around you, put on your manners, ask about them"-anything to have any attention focused my way diverted.

Maybe I'm going through another "shy attact.'
Maybe I really am a perfectionist (I claim I'm not) who is afraid of putting something "out there" that isn't just what I think it should be. (And with all my grammer killing and typos, am I really a perfectionist?)
Maybe by putting this "out there," I can jump start out of the silly place my brain has been in over the past few weeks.

Maybe

I need to get over myself.

This is my happy place.

It's ok to be me.

If other people don't like it, they won't visit and if they do visit, they won't come back.

Readers or not, I am happy here. It's making me a better person.

So, here's what I'm going to do:

Set a goal-two quality posts a week.

Set a goal-find one way a week to put myself "out there."

Set a goal-find specific time to get on the blog, because the tug of my work in other areas of my life is very easy to give in to and hide in and if I don't do this, my time won't happen.

Thanks for putting up with my early morning self therapy.

I appreciate your patience.

Sunday School/Happy Halloween

Our area celebrated Halloween last night.

Woo Hoo for that!

little mr. j's PreK teacher,

(Here at our little school, if you call it Pre School, nobody will realize you are talking about that little class at the school-they think you are talking about somewhere else. I found that out on Friday)

realized that Halloween falls on a Monday next year.

She's not very excited about that.

I think she'd like to ask for it to be changed.

I love that our city passed an ordinance to celebrate it on Saturday this year.

It's 9pm on Sunday night and no one's come around.

Now, last night was a whole different story.

We were busy.

Lots of kids.

Lots of candy.

Lots of fun.

Here's little mr. j's favorite take of the night (and it's not candy), he's been wearing them all around.

Except for church and to eat and he finally let me wash them when I was doing the dishes.

We had friends come over for dinner before they all went out trick or treating.

We had two of little mr. b's friend's families

and

one of little mr. j's friend's family.

The families are our friends, too.

It was fun.

miss s declined to invite anyone-she had had a busy day.

miss h had a few friends coming and going.

One of our mom friends and I were talking

and she said she didn't know if Mormons celebrated Halloween or not

so when her boys (she has twins that are little mr. b is friends)

talked about going around the neighborhood with little mr. b,

she didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, the boys talked and they figured things out.

So, here's your Sunday School lesson for today:

Some Mormons celebrate Halloween.

It's a personal decision.

And in what I've seen, it's really most of us, not just some.

Favorite quote of the night:

little mr. j has a good friend named Luke.

He dressed up as Darth Vader.

little mr. J as "Luke Skywalker, Rebel Pilot."

little mr. j  and Luke faced each other,

and put their hands on each other's shoulders.

Here is what was said:

little mr. j, "Luke, I am your father."

Friend Luke, "No, I am your father."

little mr. j, "No, I am your father."

Friend Luke, "No, I am your father."

"I am your father."

"I am your father."

I missed it, but the family tells me it was very cute.

They used the Darth voice and everything.

I was hoping my mr. or Luke's dad would have stepped in and said,

"I am your father."

That would have been funny.

Now, more pictures:

Here are the older kids watching and waiting for their turn in the school's costume parade.

You can do a where's waldo here if you want,

but please use no names.

Thanks.

And God came to the parade.

When I pointed Him out to my mr.,

my mr. said,

"little mr. j said he would be here."

He led the parade ahead of my "Luke, Rebel Pilot."

I know it's a bad picture, but  really, it's the only one I had

and I had to have you see Him,

you know, because it's Sunday.



 

What I just learned. Again.

When one registers for the ACT, one should check with the schools they are planning on applying to ahead of time to see how they handle multiple test scores (taking the same test on different dates in hope of a better score).

One should also remember that adding additional schools to the list of places for scores to be sent to should be completed before noon central time the Thursday after the Saturday test date.

Because 10 minutes before 5pm central time is too late.

But, for an additional fee, it can be taken care of.

(This post is mainly future reference for me. Post it note on my space. I knew this last spring.)

 (Why or why do I not remember these things?)

Image from here.

Halloween Frights-kind of

I have something very scary to share with you-just in time for Halloween.

It's (dun, dun, dun) my calendar,

EEEEEKKKK!

But, since I don't want to scare you too much, I will shield you from the frights.

And let you know how beautiful life's been in our

little part of the world:

This is the sky. Really. I have no idea how I took this picture, but I did take the one before it and the one after, so I'm pretty sure I took this one. It was the day of the run. Now that I think of it, little mr. j's teacher held my camera, so maybe she took it-whatever, it's still a pretty awesome blue to go along with a pretty awesome day.

These are our feet after the run (little mr.'s j & b & mine in the middle).

little mr. b ran (well, maybe ran, might have walked some) two miles with a friend.

We were there at the end to greet him.

We (little mr. j and I) got to the end very quickly.

I learned that little mr. j really knows how to set goals and accomplish them.

And how to run a steady pace.

And a mile is a really long race for preschoolers (and their mothers), especially when there are two significant hills at the start.

The official results will be in soon, but unconfirmed reports are that he is a contender for a very high honor.

Not poor mr. b.

He just ran with his friend and had a good time.

I think that makes him a winner.

And his friend took the pictue above.

Thank you little mr. r.

(Please note the shoe laces on the older boys' feet.)

That's scary.

Good thing he didn't fall and get any asphault burns.

Honestly, I've had the greatest month.

It's been busy and is ramping up to be even more.

Fun at the pumpkin patch with the PreSchool kids.

Friend started an awesome "health challenge" that I joined in on.

Football, Soccer, Lessons, Brain Training

Got to go to Arizona with my mr.

Visited with some lovely folks.

Didn't have enough time to see all the lovely folks I wished I could have.

Shopped.

Relaxed.

Back to car in the shop, birthday party that missed getting put on the calendar,

understanding friends, class parties, appointments, and so much more.

It's scary, but it's good.