Ode to Valentines Day

Someone I have loved with all my heart and soul....

Of course is my wonderful husband and sweetheart George!

He is my strength and my joy! Most of all he is the brain of this operation! I think he is brilliant. I am grateful that we are married for eternity. Thank you George for nearly 12 years of great fun, joy, sorrow and love. Thank you for sticking with me through it all!

Moody Teenagers

Boy am frightened for the day when my cute little people turn into "TEENAGERS" Which then makes me wonder how moody of a teenager was I?

We are Currently in the tweeny bopper stage (10-12) with Henry and I'm already seeing glimpses of greatness and great moodiness! I believe that he will be an amazing man-that's if I don't make too big of a mess.

The princess Ann has always been emotional so we'll just keep riding that roller coaster! She is going to be one force of woman! WOW! Boys watch out.

The Douglas..verdict is still out. Some days, I think that it is just hard being four and ready to move on to the next big thing-aka Kindergarten.

Back to the moody teenagers... I am the 1st Counselor in the Young Women's Presidency of my Ward. I have this amazing group of girls. Most days, things are wonderful but every once in a while...
I can only imagine the trials these ladies have to face. I remember the difficulty of trying to find where you fit, wanting to be cool, wanting to be grown up but still a little girl and topping it off with all the lovely hormones!

So here is my plea for help. If any of you readers have any advice please send it my way. Here is my second and greatest plea please send prayers the direction of the younger generations of this world and their parents. We need all the heavenly blessings we can get!

Something I know that nobody else knows...

(another little help from my blog jar)

Well If I tell you that then everyone will know! Actually, here is my confession. I've really had a difficult time being a part of my great friends' fitness challenge. Check out our blog! http://www.butterflygirlsinparadise.blogspot.com/

I have found it to be very challenging in ways that I never thought I would have problems. First, it's amazing what depression does to a body... no energy and all I wanted to do was eat. Therefore the peer pressure of participating kept me from gaining too much weight. Thank you mmj.

Also, I was having difficulty trying to balance the changes I wanted to make spiritually. I remember feeling very overwhelmed the 1st week when nothing went right. So for the past 4 months I've been basically just giving lip service to the challenge.

The big change happened when my Stake Young Women's Presidency challenged each of us to get fit physically and spiritually. They designed a program that some how is helping me to consistently say my morning/night/family prayers, do personal/family scripture study, motivate me to exercise daily and a whole host of other things. Things that I've always tried to do but seemed to struggle to do it all of them all of the time.

One month into the program, I'm not perfect but EVERYTHING is going much better. I just pray, after 7 months when the program ends and we're off the high of attending Girl's Cam, all this work has become habit and it sticks!

Using my lovely blog helps jar

I was given a most wonderful jar! In it is heaps of paper strips that will help me improve my very sad blog.

So here goes.......

"If I could reinvent myself I would be...."

The super hero I pretend to be! I would have all my scrapbooks, journals, crafts and cleaning up to date.

I would have total recall and have the entire Book of Mormon memorized and any other book or item I chose.

I would also be that wise kind person that thinks before she speaks or acts and therefore would NEVER need to apologize..wouldn't that be nice!

My super powers..
Super Sonic Ears
I would be able to listen to my kids talk all at once and understand them -rather than feel overloaded.

Fly
I would be able to go see loved ones near and far whenever I wanted. Of course it would be instant because that would just be wonderful to save time!

Ooh save time! what a thought!

However, in the end I would just be me because I really love my life and all the wonderful people who fill it. If I reinvented myself I might loose someone.

So I'll just stay as crazy, old me trying to nurture spirit, body, mind, love, family and friends.

I'm finally getting around to the 6 random things about me!

A long while ago I was reading one of my favorite gal pal's blog and was tagged to share 6 random things about me. So I've now decided I could do it because I don't want to clean the house today or do anything else I need to do.



1. I'm obviously a procrastinator! Actually I go through varying degrees of laziness. I try to be on top of life but lately it seems that life is on top me. Oh well... I'll take care of it tomorrow!



2. I don't know how to say NO! This is completely genetic or a behavior that I learned from my mom. I find myself saying I can do this or help with that or be PTA President. But I really don't mind doing what I do! However, I do say no to the important things like drugs (thank you Nancy Regan) and when I know I can't do something!



3. I'm a closet chocolate lover. Whenever people ask me if I like chocolate I say NO, but I find myself craving chocolate every so often. Right now the M&M's in the trail mix are calling my name!



4. I love all things Japan. Ever since my sister hosted Mikako Nakagawa when I was twelve I have been in love with the country of the rising sun. I love it in Japan (I even eat fish when I'm there when I can't touch the stuff here!) and if I could live there I think I just might. I love my Nihon-jin family and miss them every day.

5. I've decided that I'm a little socially awkward! I feel like I never know what to say in most public settings. I actually feel more comfortable in not saying anything at all until I actually I say something and people laugh or it actually sounds profound. If I was on Seinfeld I would be George and I want to leave right after I say that cool thing so I don't put my foot in my mouth!!!!

6. I'm an artist! Since being a mom I have become very good at drawing the Wiggles, Batman, Spiderman, our family, animals, tractors, the General Lee and all sorts of things. I also get paid for my efforts with my children's smiles! I love my job!

Now that you've read my lovely random things...tag it's your turn. Good luck!

Economic Stimulus

We finally bought the second car that we've been debating about for years! It is so hard to want to have a car payment. However, it was time and boy am I having fun. Every once and a while Henry makes a few squeeks because he gets stuck in between booster seats. Maybe my kids will learn how to be nicer to each other. They don't fight as much as they did at first so hopefully having to sit right next to their siblings will create more brotherly love in our home...well at least I can pretend and hope and pray it will!

Why do I do the things I do?

The month of October seemed daunting before we left September behind. Way too many moments away from my family: Young Women calling, Enrichment Meetings, Stake Leadership, Young Women's Volleyball, PTA, helping a friend out in need, Young Women's Evening in Excellence, Tiger Cubs, Young Women's Presidency Meeting (class and leader), trying to find time to: go to the temple, date my husband, spend quality time with kids, read the scriptures, hang out with friends, exercise, eat right, clean my home, finish the do-it-yourself project aka finish the front room, canning, canning for a lady whose husband is in the hospital, volunteer at the kids' school, I think you get the picture. No wonder I've been sick for the past nine days!

So why do I do the things I do? Because I find them important. My family, friends, religion and neighbors are important to me. I want to fill my life, invest my time, on things that will last beyond today and have eternal rewards. Obviously something is going to have to be pared back but until I figure out how I found a book at the library "The Procrastinator's Handbook to mastering the Art of Doing It Now" that helped me reevaluate my life. (please note: I am not saying this is the begin and end all of books I just found it interesting and gave me food for thought and I just learned how to add links in my blog so I thought I would try it out! So that is why the link is here.)
http://www.ritaemmett.com/book_procrastinators_handbook.htm

There seem to be millions of self help books printed every year. I usually avoid them like the plague but for some reason I picked up this book from the shelf. As I read this book I decided that I didn't need to cut back but to spend my time wisely. Once time is gone it's gone! If we don't invest time wisely our returns will be like the current stock market-really low which equals a bad investment and no retirement! Which is what I want to avoid.

Therefore, my life may be crazy but I love what and who I invest my time. I'm working on learning how to be an "Anticrastinator" and spending/investing my time so that my return is eternal! So as I learn to balance my time portfolio a little better check out "My Stock Investments" and if you have any ideas how to use time wisely, especially when it comes to cleaning toilets, send them my way! I love my life and those who share it with me! Thanks for investing your time in me.