Creative Avoidance

I should be packing... really I should.
But B got invited to her very first birthday party (Saturday).
And it has a fairy princess theme.
And she gets to dress up.
So, instead of packing, I made this today.
Did I ever mention I love having a little girl???

Midnight Musings

I have a couple stories on my mind tonight…

First story is from the Bible. Moses. Who doesn’t love this story? Moses rescued by Pharaoh’s own daughter, raised by her, in Pharaoh’s own house. Later, he had to confront Pharaoh – whom he must have personally known– commanding him to set all his slaves (and probably his livelihood) free. Talk about family issues… I can’t even imagine how difficult this would have been. And yet, even though Pharaoh said no, and no way, and not a chance… Moses didn’t give up. You know the rest of the story, Moses kept at it. Sure of himself that he was doing the Lord’s errand. He was doing the right thing. And eventually, the Israelites were freed. But still not without opposition, in the form of an ocean!! I don’t remember anywhere in the story where Moses doubted his duty or what he needed to do. He just did it. And when he hit a road block, he used his faith to call down the Powers of Heaven. It was as simple as that.

Second story is from the Book of Mormon. For those who aren’t familiar, this is a religious record of the people in the America’s… from long ago. One of the prophets in the Book of Mormon is named Nephi. It is his story I am thinking about tonight as well. Nephi and his family escape Jerusalem, his father being a prophet who was being sought by King Laban. Before they traveled over to the “Promised Land" (the Americas) God asks Nephi's father, Lehi, to send his sons back to get the sacred record kept by the king. Nephi readily agrees, because it is the right thing to do. His brothers? Not so much. In fact, they give Nephi quite a hard time about it. At one point nearly killing him. But Nephi never doubted what he was supposed to do. After one failed attempt, he thought of another plan. Then after that failed attempt, he thought of another. Until, on the third try, he did as the Lord had asked, and retrieved the sacred record.

So here is my question… my thought. How do these men NOT doubt what they are supposed to do? Granted, they were prophets and had a pretty clear connection to God, but still...

Bringing these scripture stories into my life, and applying them to my current circumstances, how do I get that kind of faith? The kind where I know, 110% what I need to be doing and nothing, no road block, will keep me from that.

Sure, there are some things that it is automatic for… defending my God, my family, my religion. Adhering to covenants I have made, etc.

But what about a choice between two good things. What about when you have made a heart wrenching decision to leave those you love and move with your family to a new home? When a road block comes, how do I not doubt myself? With any decision, for that matter, how do I not doubt myself?

I know a few things. And one, for sure, is that God is in charge of our lives. And another, is that He knows who I am and what I need. I just really wish I could see the big picture right now.

So, tonight, our new home sits in limbo. And I am trying to figure out in my mind, what on earth is going on. But there is a quiet feeling, deep in my heart, that gives me peace. The peace of knowing the Lord is in charge.

My all time favorite quote is from one of the Prophets of our church President Harold B. Lee: “By faith in God you can be attuned to the Infinite and by power and wisdom obtained from your Heavenly Father harness the powers of the universe to serve you in your hour of need in the solution of problems too great for your human strength or intelligence” (Church News, 15 Aug. 1970, p. 2).

Because I can't make this stuff up...

I have to send you to hubby's site for a chuckle...

This is great! I only wish I had heard it so I could have blogged it myself...

Click here

Fourth of July done right!

We had a wonderful July 4th today. Thanks to the efforts of some terrific neighbors. A couple of ladies in our subdivision organized the First Annual July 4th Parade & Celebration. It was a wonderful morning!

After the bike parade, there was a bubble gum blowing contest, tug-o-war, pie eating contest, watermelon seed spitting contest and of course, a three legged race. It was two hours of good ole' home town fun, right in the middle of suburbia. I loved it.

However, I don't care if I am native to this desert, I will never get used to the heat!! In spite of the heat, everyone seemed to have loads of fun!

At any rate, we made some great memories! (Definitely will have to sneak back for next years celebration)

Enjoy the slide show...



Oh yeah, I also discovered (AGAIN) there is so much more to being a photographer than having a good camera! Evidently if you are going to put the camera on MANUAL you have to actually know what your doing -- ugh! It made me sick. I had this perfect opportunity for amazing photos and instead I delivered grainy photos with exposure spots -- still learning. Sorry guys!

At the Movies!

I took the kids to see Ice Age today. I had some free passes so we grabbed a couple extra kids and started out for an adventure. I had it all planned out. Who was going to be whose buddy. How to keep everyone happy.

And it worked. Surprisingly.

The experience made me acutely aware of a few things.

Movie snack pricing. Ridiculous! I have purchased snacks from the awkward teenagers behind the concession counter before. And, I guess, when you are just buying one or two things, it isn’t so bad. But when you have a van full of kids, there is only one way to go. And that would be Wal-Mart. I got a truck load of movie candy and drinks for the gang for about the same cost of a popcorn, a soda and some Junior Mints at the movie theater. By dividing them into little sandwich baggies, everyone got a yummy variety of snacks, all their own.

OK, but that brings us to the next issue. Getting the snacks INSIDE the theater. Now, I have never seen any written rule about taking snacks into a theater. It’s not on the tickets, the windows, or the doors – at least not that I have noticed. (maybe I just don’t want to notice, and please don’t burst my bubble.) And still, I always feel like I need to hide any snacks I might take into a movie. The kids ask, “Are we going to sneak the food in.” Since I have never gotten a clear cut answer on this, I tell them, “Of course not. I am just going to put some food in my purse. And my purse goes with me.” Makes sense. So why do I feel like I need to watch out for the Movie Police while I buy my tickets? Why do I breathe a sigh of relief when the lights go down and people can’t tell I have Wal-Mart candy? Oh, and by the way, I want to thank my little sis for getting me hooked on BIG purses. So what if I can never find my keys, do you have any idea what kinds of things you can carry in those things? Today, I had to take out the screwdriver and flashlight so I could fit in 9 small Gatorade bottles and home-made snack packs… it did look a little full. But – who knows – maybe I am just a high maintenance sort of gal.

Lastly, no matter how well you plan. No matter how you coach the kids to behave. No matter how many snacks you have or bathroom trips you avoid, nothing can keep That Person from sitting behind you. (Oh, and I really hope you are not That Person) You know who I am talking about.

She gasps, exclaims, roars with laughter… and then the movie starts.

She reads EVERY word that comes across the screen from the previews to the credits. She comments on EVERY twist and turn in the movie (c’mon lady, this was ICE AGE)

She analyzes EVERY climax, sympathizes with EVERY character. She tells the theater crowd what is funny. What is sad. What is surprising.

At several points throughout the film, I really wanted to take my Wal-Mart candy and smack it over this lady’s head. I wanted to spill her Theater Popcorn and knock her over in her seat. I wanted to run and tell the manager – who I knew and who would listen to me – about That Person. But I didn’t and you know why? Because the infernal woman was having SO. MUCH. FUN.

At Ice Age.

And who am I to mess up someone’s fun? I mean really, would wrecking her day make Ice Age any better for me? I didn’t think so. In fact, her consistent commentary became quite amusing. Especially when the toddlers in our group began mimicking everything she said.

Can you tell me how I could go to the movie with EIGHT children and still be quieter than the one woman seated directly behind me?

Who knows?!

At any rate, good overcame evil. The kids had fun. And we even threw away every spot of our Wal-Mart Candy Trash.