birthday bullets

*I woke up on my birthday with Megan asking me what I wanted for breakfast because she wanted to make it for me. I thought that was the cutest offer and let her make my cereal. Had to come up with something she could do on her own.


*I had a stack of gifts, some of which I had been looking at all week long, waiting for me when I got up with a delightful handmade card from Adam. I actually resisted and didn't open them up right away...the kids had no idea how I was able to do it.


*My mom invited to take me out to lunch, but what I didn't know is what she had planned when I got there. I walked in the restaurant and found a chocolate cake, candles, and balloons. She knew I would be mortified, and I was, but it was so sweet of her I didn't even mind...as long as there was no singing.


*My other surprised happened when my dad, brother Chris, and Adam all walked in the restaurant to eat with us. I should have noticed there was 5 places settings, but I was so distracted by the other things it didn't even register.

*It was a snowy day...I kind of liked it.

*Adam and I went to dinner and to see Valentine's Day. It was what I expected so I handled it much better than he did. We actually ended up with another kidless night Friday so we hung out in Park City then came home and finished off my chocolate cake. So good.


*All our birthdays fall within a week of each other so we usually have a big party for the three of us. FYI I really wasn't going to blow the candles out it was just for show. So glad I didn't take Jared's route, I could have look decent in the photo. We were showered with gift and think we all got what we wanted...I know I did.


*Meg has a thing for Randy. Poor Randy. He had to sit and listen to her go on and on about who knows what. It's nice to get some Megan on someone else for a change.


You know who else I celebrate my birthday with? My mom. She was over tonight, I made her dinner. Poor mom she doesn't get a birthday this year (leap year). In the photo we're laughing about the sparkler candles, they never did sparkle. They worked more like trick candles. Happy Birthday Mom!

What more can I say, it was a great birthday and fun to have it extend into the weekend.

one year older and wiser too

Ok, so I wouldn't say I'm any wiser than I was a year ago, but I can definitely feel the aches from this past year teaching & changing me. I got a card from Jill in the mail this afternoon that said (hope you don't mind me sharing Jill), "I hope you will come into your own and feel more confident and comfortable with yourself as time goes on. I think that's what happens during a woman's 30's and it's a beautiful thing!" I know this to be so true. Each year I understand a little better who I am and am a little closer to where I want to be...too bad the road ahead seems to stretch further and further ahead of me. But then again, I'm beginning to realize we're not meant to catch up it's all about the experience.

Here's to another year of exploration, perhaps not as many bumps (aka scars) this time.

Looking for zhu zhu pets was no waste of time.

[last Thursday]


[today]

In fact, I've never seen something catch her attention the way these have. While it's given me countless hours to get stuff done around the house, it's not all hands off for me. When friends are unavailable it's me on the floor making the house/fort/terrain for the pets to navigate through. It's something I can get behind though, because they do make her laugh and she has such a great laugh.

Definitely a must have.

Life has been crazy lately. All week I did my best to dig out of the hole I got in since my surgery. I told myself last Monday life would be back to normal minus the more physically intense activities like exercise. I've been OK for the most part, but by the time the afternoon rolls around I'm completely wasted. I end of spending a good hour or more on the couch recuperating. Despite the afternoon set back, it's nice each day to feel a little more myself.

I've tried almost everyday to sit down on the computer and blog, but for whatever reason I've just had absolutely nothing to say. Really just nothing was coming out of me so everyday I would leave the computer without having written a word. Even now I'm not quite sure I have it in me, but I've missed it so I push on with a list, an update from my past week.


-Megan told me the other day after watching the Olympic Alpine race that she wants to learn to ski. I was so thrilled by her comment that I'm trying to find a way to get her up there. I grew up skiing and Adam snowboards so we've wanted for a while now to be one of those families who spends a Saturday up on the slopes, but because Bella (being our first) has absolutely no interested (she's terrified) we've never done it. I'm thinking Megan may change all that. Of course, it will be interesting to see who learns to ski and who learns to snowboard.
-How does a room get messy when you don't even go in it? My studio needs some serious love.
-Bella's got me watching American Idol this go around, most likely my last, and I've got myself a little crush on Casey James.
-Speaking of singing, Megan told me I had a good voice (isn't she sweet?) so I decided to record myself and give it a listen. One word...hideous. She must really love me.
-Over the weekend Adam pulled out two wrapped gifts for me days before my birthday. He said he did it on purpose to play with me, but I know he did it to get me thinking about my birthday because it's been the last thing on my mind. Isn't anticipation better than the real thing?
-I was able to meet with the other two ladies I'm sharing Woman's Conference with yesterday and finally have a clear understanding of what my piece of our 50 minutes will be. I'm on my way.
-Found out Sunday I also get to speak in church March 21st with the Primary presidency. You'd think with Adam's connections I would've been able to persuade the date to fall after April 30th, but I was not given such a privilege so I get to work on that as well. Good times.
-I don't really understand it because I've been quite happy, but ever since my surgery I cry more easily at inspiring stories, heartfelt experiences, and witnessing kindnesses. I feel like I have to walk around with tissues these days.
-I miss going to those organization classes I started attending with Jill on Wednesday nights.
-I've been in quite a reading funk. I've started about four books and just can't seem to get into anything. Hate that.
-I have a girls night planned for tomorrow. Can't wait.
-I am loving the songs Farewell by Rosie Thomas and Beautiful Son by Without Gravity.

weekend

this is what our president's day looks like.
How bout yours?

valentine

"In the end, I think that I will like that we were sitting on the bed,
talking & wondering where the time had gone." - story people

12of12 | February

[click here to enlarge]

01. Bella and Tess showing off their Valentine boxes. They were so excited to get to school for the party.
02. Playing around with an old Kodak camera. Photo of my studio.
03. Megan was making a scrapbook and I ended up having yellow hair. She told me it was because the brown was running out.
04. Flowers Adam gave me that I looked at everyday while I laid in bed.
05. The day started out cloudy and snowy, but in the end there was blue skies and around 47 degrees.
06. Bella is rushing to finishing Lightening Thief so she can see the movie that came out the 12th.
07. Love conversation hearts.
08. Quote of the day: Megan runs by me yelling, "Mom, we're playing dogs and I'm a black weiner dog. Have you seen my black shoes?"
09. When Adam got home from work I decided I just couldn't be home anymore, I'm going on 11 days, so we hopped in the car and headed to Jill and Randy's.
10. My friend stopped by Thursday for a short visit and gave me these roses.
11. It's me getting out. Everyday gets better and better. Of course Tylenol is helping.
12. The light show while heading home from our night out.

I hope it was another enjoyable experience capturing your day. I was a little afraid of facing the day not leaving the house, but you make do right, and well, I found a way to get out. Make sure to link your post, I want to see what the 12th looked like for you.

"the bestest of days"

Saturday, January 30 two days before my scheduled surgery my sil Jill and Robyn (thanks) both teamed up and watched my girls so Adam and I could spend the day together. Since then we have dubbed it as "the bestest of days".

I can't claim it was different than many other kidless days we've share together, but it was perfect in it's own simple way...we even have a killer itunes mix to prove it. Here's just a few shots that I took along the way.
















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REMINDER

January 2010

Get your cameras ready tomorrow is the 12th. To learn more about the 12of12 project go here. Don't worry if you haven't started, but you still want to play along, no one said the year had to start in January. Saturday I will post mr. linky (hopefully it will work, had some problems last month) so make sure to link your post so we can all see what you came up with. Have fun!

I am clean.

Despite the fact that I can't move my left eyebrow * my ear is still numb and the surrounding tissues * my left half of my face feels bruised to the touch like I hit it against the wall * there is still some pain and swelling * my left ear is 33% bigger than the right and I look crazy lopsided * I can't close my left eye completely * I still get dizzy * I'm not sleeping well * it hurts when I eat and I can't open my month completely *

Despite all that my spirits are lifted.
I am clean.
I can still smile.
I am benign.
I am loved.
And am grateful this experience has only robbed me of a little over a week of my life.

For me...photos from the past week. Here's to learning from this experience and never having to go through it again....If only it worked that way.


I took this on the way to the hospital. Adam had me laughing the whole way to the hospital...he really is the best at distractions.


Adam took this right when we got home from the hospital.


my mom had my girls for the first 3 days so on Tuesday they came to visit me bringing with them flowers and chocolate.


He knew I didn't want to be alone, I can't explain why, so he found ways to be with me. I woke up in one of my stupors and snapped this without looking.


Adam documenting the pharmacy & the half eaten chocolate wrappers.


1 week: stitches and greasy greasy hair


Monday i finally brought out my laptop and this is what my sanctuary looked like after school.


Adam documenting the kindnesses that came my way. Thank you. It meant so much to me. It's so healing to remember when you have nothing else, you have people who love you.


P.S i promise that is the last time you will see my surgery label. Have a good one!

a day at a time

Since you all know about my plant pit-stop (aren't we all grateful for Adam's updates and beautiful pictures), I don't have to explain that I was fed up with feeling nauseous and dizzy. When I got home from the hospital that day I said goodbye to my pharmacy and thought I would venture better on my own. I'm not sure if it was because I didn't have anything/anyone to distract me, but late at night while the house slept was the worst for me. I more than once cried myself to sleep because of the pain and mental exhaustion...it was hard waking up feeling the same day after day seeing no end in sight. Sadly, the dizzy feeling has stayed with me long after the narcotics have left my body and I'm trying to stay positive that this is only a temporary side effect.

Due to the dizziness I've been feeling, the plan of lounging in bed reading the day away has been far from my reality (when I read it feels like I'm moving and it makes me sick, it's weird, like motion sickness). Instead the many books I've reserved for such a time as this have sat on my bed side table collecting dust while I've spend my time watching TV. I quickly gobbled up all the good recorded stuff, which sadly wasn't a lot, and wished the Olympics had started 2 weeks earlier. There has been a lot of food network on, but for the most part I've felt too crappy to really care and ended up laying in bed just staring at the television and not really watching it anyway.

what i thought about while I haven't watched:
-Loving the bit of color in my room thanks to the beautiful flowers I've been given.
-Aside from the weekend, the sun has been out everyday.
-I want to try fennel.
-I want to have a garden.
-I wish I was spending the money for the surgery on a vacation with Adam.
-Will my left eyebrow ever move again?
-I feel this incredible nagging feeling about woman's conference, like I'm putting off doing something.
-Will I ever feel like myself again?
-Grateful to know, really know, I am loved.
-Adam has been incredibly sweet and understanding and helpful.
-I miss taking pictures. I actually have continued to take a photo a day, but a good portion has been reminding Adam to take them for me.
-I hate TV.
-If I see this Baskin-Robbins commericial one more time I'm going to scream.
-Chocolate & bananas are so good together.
-I'm completely going to miss Valentines at this rate and hope I will be around for my birthday.
-I'm loving the dove milk chocolate hearts.
-Romanticizing what it would be like to live like Pioneer woman in the wide open space.
-Wanting to simplify life.
....and on and on

Today while there really hasn't been much progress in the dizziness problem I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can't understand why except my doctors appointment is tomorrow to get my stitches out and I can finally take a shower. OH YEAH!!! Yes, I've had a couple refreshing sponge baths from Adam that have gotten me through the week, but I've been unable to wash my hair, and without trying to sick you out, it's a disgusting mess of grease.

Tomorrow I'm going to be a new woman, I just know it.

And on the seventh day she rested.... by Adam

So the recovery process hasn't gone as smoothly as one would hope. The pills they prescribed have wiped her out. After coming home on Monday Amy slept like Nick Nolte after a hard weekend.

There must be a hormonal reaction to the antibiotics or the Joaquin Phoenix-strength narcotics they gave her, because each night around 9pm Amy starts to loose it. By 9:30 she could teach the ladies on "The View" a thing or two about crazy. Tuesday night she started talking about how something was horribly wrong and that her swelling, which was nothing, was freakishly abnormal. She insisted that her eyebrows wouldn't move and she kept staring at me and doing a Groucho Marx style eyebrow raise to prove her point. Later she insisted that her ear was lopsided as if it had been taken off and sewn back on, and I had to remind her they hadn't removed the ear Mr. PotatoeHead-style, but only made an incision. It has been heart-breaking to see her so nauseous and so weak, but I have to remind myself that it was full blown surgery. I bet she hasn't been able to stay awake for more than 3 hours since returning home.

Thursday we went to the hospital for the follow up and the poor girl could hardly walk. As soon as the doctor saw her he told her she looked like she was two weeks post-operative and the wound was healing wonderfully. He confirmed the pathology results were benign, barely acknowledged my terrified report of the 5 day "dry spell" and was gone as soon as he arrived. I got some great footage of the nurse pulling out the stint, but I will spare the home viewers.


They scheduled us to come back Tuesday to remove the stitches. We walked out of the doctors office and Amy started to dry heave as soon as we reached the elevators. The poor girl just dropped to the floor and ralphed into a plant. One has to admire her instincts, she found the only receptacle available and managed to use the native foliage as a screen at the same time (she can even make hallway puking look good!) Unfortunately the garbage can you see in the picture arrived ex post facto and played only a supporting role. As she was dumpin' her breakfast into the palm tree, I ran down the hall and scared the hell out of some admin gal as I threw the door open and grabbed her garbage can without a word of explanation.

We took her back to the car in a wheelchair because she was so groggy and in such pain. Luckily she reversed tact on the drive home and instead of rolling down the windows she went with sweltering heat.

One thing that kind of surprised me was the K-flex Fiber Powder the doctor prescribed to help with "the situation". I think we are all accustomed to the disturbing list of possible side effects that accompany modern pharmaceutical advertising. But nothing could have prepared me for the Tolstoy-like directions that were bolted to the back of the K-flex Fiber bottle. Check this out.

All I wanted to do was find out the size of an adult dose. Instead I had to read 5 pages of terrifying possible results that made me feel dirtier than if I had just read the original V. C. Andrews manuscript. Lets be honest, if there is anything that is self explanatory or "point and shoot" it should be a laxative. You take it, and then IT happens. I think we all remember the wonderful scene in Ghost Town when Ricky Gervais takes the turbo laxative. But this was just scary.

The one thing that has really cheered her is all of the cards, flowers and gifts that had been arriving. On behalf of Amy I want to thank everyone for their thoughtfulness. It brightened her day to see all of her friends thinking of her.
I don't know what Amy is going to do when she reads this, but its just too good not to share.

Personal Growth....but its coming out the side of her neck -by Adam

I have more than a little guilt about how this whole surgery thing has come about. For the fourteen years I have been with Amy she has been hyper-sensitive to the potential presence of tumors, growths and illness of all kinds. So when she mentioned a small growth in her neck a few months back, my first thought was that she might be crying wolf. After she visited the doctor and had the scan done, I felt the sting of guilt...and then the more disquieting feeling of dread. As she prepared for Monday's surgery, I was impressed at how much strength she exhibited, and how all of the thoughts and prayers her friends and family buoyed her.

When we arrived at the hospital, we were greeted by the panic stricken voice of the mall cop turned hospital security guard warning us to stand back and make way for the bomb sniffing dogs. Serious. The waiting room full of people with real problems was treated to a brief imaginary one for a change as Chuckie led his German Shepard "Bo" to a large box that had been left in the hallway. As it turned out, it was just a box of "fluids", and Chuckie and Bo left as suddenly as they arrived. I couldn't help but think some of the people in the room were a bit let down, but Amy and I, being optimists, were happy with the explosionlessness of our check-in.

We had a good time hanging out in the waiting room for an hour or so. I rubbed Amy's legs while we both talked about how it was all going to be OK. I have felt calm all along, but afterwards I had to wonder if other people have come in feeling confident, and left feeling lost.
Once she went back, I was taken to an awfully posh private waiting room that would have put most of the hotels in Canada to shame. A generous room with a couch, a desk, DVD, TV, a recliner and a fridge. As it turned out the fridge was full of Pepsi. Friggin Obamacare, we knew it wouldn't work.

I spent most of the 2 hours by drawing this card for Amy. I didn't have time to ink it, or to write the text, but when I am done it will be like all my cards, trashy and thoughtful at the same time. When the doctor came in he told me the operation was very smooth, and that the growth looked like the kind of tumor that is always benign. Huge relief. As I said, I had been pretty peaceful, but I can only imagine how it would have felt if it had gone the other way. The doctor said he was confident enough to complete the operation with a fat graft. If the growth was cancerous, they would leave the cavity unfilled so they could check it later. To fill the void he had to go find some fat to harvest, which is why the surgery took as long as it did. Finding chub on that girl is like finding a Jean Claude Van Damme flick where he doesn't do the splits. They made an incision deep in the territory my mom taught me was the"bad touch" area.

They cut in front and behind her ear, and inserted a lovely blood/puss drain and stitched that to her neck. Between the three incisions and a load of Demoral, she was really out of it when she was brought into the recovery area.

By the time we got to the car, it was late afternoon. Somehow the 2 hour operation had taken all day. On the drive home we had a delightful role swap as Amy asked me to roll down all the windows. I was freezing my toots off while my drugged up wife seemed oblivious to the 30 degree air. This must be what its like to date Linday Lohan. I carried her from the car to the bed, but she felt more than her real weight because she was as limp as a noodle.

She has slept all but a few hours since getting home. We've had tons of friends bring over food and flowers and chocolate. It has been touching to see how many people have given of themselves. The outpouring has encouraged me to suggest that Amy get a few more procedures a la Heidi Montag just so we can keep this lovely feeling.

not in the plan

I'm going in for surgery this morning. Yeah, you read that right. Remember last fall when I talked about finding a lump on my neck? Well, after multiple doctors visits and a test I was told it was a "tumor", I like to think of it as a friendly growth, but regardless of the name I'm told it needs to come out.

You'd think with words like malignant being thrown around that my mind would be thinking about the results of the biopsy (admit initially as the doctor was laying the ground work that's precisely what I was thinking about), however, the last 7 days instead my focus has been on the actual surgery. You know when you see drug commercials on TV and the entire time as you watch the actors run around with smiles on their faces and in the background someone is reading down a list of crazy side effects? That exactly what it was like as the doctor, I know out of pure obligation to give me all the facts, told me all the possibilities as I sat in a daze, shocked. This was not the way I thought my doctor visit would go.

I guess where it's located right near or around my facial nerve there's a possibility of paralysis (worse case senario), but most likely it will just be temporary while I heal and I'll be back to normal in a matter a weeks. I was told the scar will look like I had a face lift and if they have to take more tissue than initially thought they may need to take fat from my abdomen to fill in the cavity so it looks normal. deep breath.

Despite all this you would not believe that I'm actually feeling quite peaceful about everything. Yes, I know quite a feat for the cancer-phobe that I am. Don't get me wrong, the minute I turned the corner of the doctors office it hit me, and I broke down. It's a good thing I was at the hospital or people would have been staring at my full-body sobbing. I still feel a bit scared, but ever since I got in my car and thought, It is what it is. Let's take care of this and move on, I've felt peaceful. This is the Amy I've always wanted to be. I need to attribute the calm and peace to the Spirit, and the prayers and support of my friends and family...thank you for helping keep me sane. It's encouraging to remember real and lasting growth is left over after our individual trials.

I'm leaving to the hospital feeling blessed to have so many looking out for me. It's very comforting walking into the unknown knowing I am not alone. Thank you. I leave peaceful.

I'll keep you posted.

presenter's meeting

Thursday night I had my Woman's Conference meeting for the presenters. I've been dreading it for a couple reasons 1)it means it really is real and going to happen and 2)now I've got to really start thinking about writing my message.

I thought the meeting was very inspirational. Julie B. Beck who spoke last night said, "the most important thing that happens is what we become while preparing." And "welcome the task that makes you go beyond yourself and you will grow." I left feeling confident that I could do this and that it will be a life changing experience for me.

Then President Samuelson (president of BYU) spoke and let's just say the pressure is on. He said,
-We were carefully selected from a pool of names to be presenters at this years woman's conference. It was not a decision that they took lightly.
-A lot of sisters come seeking answers to specific questions and have chosen your class for a reason...you will be there answers.
-If you create an environment so the Holy Ghost can teach, then you'll be successful.
-We are authorized to be a great blessing in the lives of those who attend.

Next Sandra Rogers talked about the Woman's Conference theme which is "Choose ye this day to serve the Lord". I should have known, but didn't know what this years theme was and couldn't believe that it was basically my word for the year. More than anything else I saw it as a tender mercy from God and knew I was inspired more than I had originally thought to pick "choose" as my word to focus on. She said,
-Our agency is so important that God was willing to loose 1/3 of his children for it.
-We need to actively seek after the Savior.
-Our choices are infinite.
-Christ exercised His agency to do the Father's will and by doing so He chose us.
-"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself." -2Nephi 2:27
-Being proven is the Lord's grand test
-Help those attending feel a desire to come unto Christ by the choices they make.
-Each of us brings something to the Gospel that no one else can bring...we each have something to contribute.

When it was over I met the two other woman I'm presenting with. It was clear after reading their bios that the WC committee wanted to have a different perspective from women who were at different seasons of life. We talked about a few ideas, but agreed to take a few weeks to ponder about the topic and how we should split it up and meet again to discuss.

So I went from feeling inspired to a bit overwhelmed to inspired again. Like I said it was one of those events that helps you feel confident and full. I left feeling like there was a purpose for me and a reason for my being there. I'm so glad I attended (I'm surprised it wasn't mandatory).

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I found out my class is Friday, April 30th from 2-3pm. When I told my friends I rode up with this info they said it was a hard time. I'm thinking, ya because I have to wait through both days before I present, but then I realized they meant because no one will be there. After confirming my suspicion she said, just don't take it personally. Duly noted. So if you want to be one of the few lucky woman in the room (you know you want to) and don't want to (or can't) go to any other sessions, I can get you a ticket for $8. Let me know by April 2nd and I can order if for you.

a good laugh

1. "What are the rules? I said & she said, Do exactly what I want whenever I want, make no demands of me whatsoever & love me forever, no questions asked & I said, how do you win? & she said, you don't understand. I'm the only one who wins & then she laughed & clapped her hands. Isn't it a great game? she said." - storypeople

I read this today and it made me laugh out loud. I'm in quite a good mood. It reminded me of Adam and I, the way we joke and knew he would get a kick out of it. So I guess it's for him and anyone else who wants to share it with their significant other and wonder if there's a little bit of truth to it. :)


2. I've decided Modern family is my new favorite show. I think the middle aged father, Phil, is my favorite character. I've been trying to find my favorite clip online, but to no avail so here is one that's pretty funny.


3. This was all followed up by playing pictionary at game night last night and laughing til it hurt at each other interpretations of the word. My proudest moments of the night was when I guessed "hallucinations", however, Adam and I lost big.

Enjoy your weekend!

whole lot of megan

I kid you not if I don't get my exercise in at 6am before she wakes up, this is what I'm dealing with.



It's amazing what you'll find out though.

15 minute thoughts

-Going to bed at 8:30pm is awesome, too bad I didn't sleep well. I wonder if going to bed so early was the reason?
-Bella is paying someone else's mom $15 to make her a hat. What's up with that? Should I be offended?
-I woke up to falling snow today and it made me smile, don't ask me why. If I don't have to be out in it I love it...too bad I'm going to be out in it all day.
-So I've decided we (everyone living with me) are not "landers" and I'm determined to change that this year...starting with them :)
-Last night we had a spontaneous Queen family sing off in the car. I should have recorded us singing/yelling our hearts out. Go figure, I think Adam won.
-I think I broke my little toe today hitting it against the wall and all Megan had for me was, "ya, that hurts".
-The thing about facebook is it leads you to believe you have way more emails than you actually do. I wish they would only send you your updates.
-Strangely I have the Wizard of Oz songs in my head.
-Damages season 3 started last night and I'm so looking forward to watching it, though, I'm so use to watching the DVDs I think it will be hard to follow along with it live.
-While I like to eat and I don't even mind cooking, I hate to think of what to eat. I wish someone else would prepare the menu for me. Any takers?
-That reminds me the Pioneer Woman cookbook should be at my door any day now. Maybe that will help.
-BTW how is she (pioneer woman) not 200lbs? I've seen her recipes.
-Buzzers ringing, it's time to get off. Yes, I have a buzzer. It's too easy to get lost online so I set a timer and it's totally changed my efficiency while on the internet. I hope there aren't any huge spelling errors because I've ran out of time...who am I kidding, I have to edit.

have a great Tuesday.
ciao!

time managment

A week ago at game night Jill mentioned this class she attended with her friend Collete that was all about organizing. She told me that Wednesday the subject for the class was on time management and suddenly my interest in the class turned into a need. I've had time management help on my list of things to conquer (ok let's be honest) get better at this year so I knew I had to be there.

It's amazing how quickly 2 hours can go when your so engrossed in the topic. I didn't want her to stop sharing and could have stayed there for several more hours. As she went through her 10 principles (below) there were some things that I thought, i'm pretty good at that and quite a bit of others where I realized, I have a long way to go to get where I want to be. HA, the story of my life.

P.S I saw Jill and Michelle's post on the class over the weekend and thought their notes were vastly superior to mine, you may want to take a look at their blogs, but for what it's worth this is what stood out to me.


[notes from the class]

10 principles I learned:
1. obey the law of the firsts
-do the most important things first and you will always find time for the rest.
-if time management is to be effective you must be full first. Then you can take care of your spouse, then the kids, and then you can save the world.
-don't try to do everything.

2. Important vs. Urgent
-take the urgent things in your life and move them back allowing time for the most important things. You do this by being prepared.
-One way to do this is by preparing dinner before noon. (I've been doing this for a while now and know that if I don't know what we're having in the morning I'm usually scrambling to come up with something at dinner time.)
-we do things by mood but we are never in the mood. (I find this to be so true with me. I make a list and do the things I want to first. I need to be better about prioritize what's important.)
-give up what doesn't matter so you can do what does.

3. Primetime
-everyone has a primetime where they are at their peak and get the most accomplished. Take advantage of the time you are at your best.
-a child who is well loved becomes a might source for good.

4. Launch & Land
-launching is the beginning and landing is the finish. Follow through.
-be on time
-put things all the way away (ie laundry)

5. Waiting
-have a plan when you have waiting time. (ie have a book)
-if waiting with kids teach them something.
-have a list of things you can do in 20 minutes
-don't wait uselessly.

6. Yes & No
-every time you say yes you are also saying no and vice versa.
-when we are prepared we'll have more opportunities to say Yes.

7. Turn Activity into Accomplishments
- never cook just once. make one thing and use it several times (ie roast)
-doing things less often better, makes you more efficient.
-make everything you do last longer (ie pick up extra items at the store so you don't have to go back)

8. play
-the woman who doesn't play is not fun to be around

9. stop before your exhausted
-alternate what you're doing with rest activities (ie activities that are done sitting down like bills)
-alternate staying at home with going out.
-look to this principle to go longer and not to be as tired at the end of the day.
-once your tired it's really hard to revive and start again.

10. time alone
-eliminate interruption to rejuvenate spirit.
-true alone time is when no one is asking you questions and there's no media to see or hear.
-giving yourself alone time even if it's only for a few minutes allows you to have more focus and peace.

last but not least don't let inspiration go unwritten.

*************************************************************************************************

I admit since the class I've had other things on my mind and haven't really given the class/my notes much thought. This morning though I visited Marie Ricks website (the woman who did the class) and am ready to give it a go. I found out she has a blog and I think it's fabulous that each today she has a prompt to help you stay organized. I think I'm going to try and incorporate it into my day.

have a good one.

sunday thought

It's interesting, once I changed my attitude last year about going to church by preparing myself before hand, taking notes, and looking for the reason I was there I got so much out of it. Today was no exception.


[taken nov 2009]

It was our Ward Conference and while that doesn't really mean anything to me except that our stake leaders will be there, it was different because our focus was on the conference theme Mosiah 24:14 and it's exactly what I needed. The scripture reads:

And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

It's a funny thing, I read through this last week knowing it was our theme and it means something so different to me today as I heard it again. I specifically love the part where it says, God will ease our burdens so that we may stand as a witness of Him. We go though trials and struggles not only to gain experiences that help shape us, but also so that we will know of God's existence and great love for us. It is bringing comfort to me this afternoon knowing that God is mindful of each one of us and that all things that we pass through in this life are for our own good and have a purpose.

other comments that caught my attention
-God's help is available to us if we ask.
-Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
-Faith in Jesus Christ is not insurance against pain it's a resource when trials come.

monocromatic

I went looking for color. I'm thinking maybe the key in the bleakness of January is to have a fresh bouquet of flowers livening up my house. I've struggled more this January with the grayness and I've realized it's color I've been missing.

Strange though, when I went to edit my photos, it was the richness of the textures and not the colors that spoke to me.

i'm choosing

For the last 24 hours I'm realizing the power behind my word for 2010. If there was ever a time to choose peace, love and trust it is today. Deciding to focus on the positive and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel is making all the difference in the world to my sanity.



"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit

I'm choosing.

no regret | story people

I sometimes wake in the early morning & listen to the soft breathing of my children & I think to myself, this is one thing I will never regret & I carry that quiet with me all day long. - Story People

monday thoughts

* just watched my first episode of hoarders with Adam. He fell asleep in the middle of it and I couldn't wait to get up and start throwing stuff away. Feels so good to declutter.

*Speaking of TV did anyone watch the golden globes last night? I stopped watching award shows years ago, but this one I wanted to see because Ricky Gervais was hosting. Around 7pm when I remembered to turn on the TV, in some crazy form of fate I made it just in time to see Gerard Butler walk on the screen....and then he opened his mouth. I admit I rewound it a few times, ok maybe a lot of times and then shut the tv off. So much for Ricky Gervais. Was he good?

*I spent far too long today looking for a tool I need and can't figure out where I placed it. It's driving me crazy and giving me that nagging feeling in my gut like I'm forgetting something. Hate that.

*I'm ready for winter to be over. Ready. I need color.

*I don't know where it's coming from, but each of my girls wants to rearrange her room. I don't know why I'd be so surprised, when I was young I frequently rearranged my room and loved what a difference it made. I guess we all crave change every once in a while.


*this photo makes me happy

*I'm getting my hair done tomorrow and have been thinking of doing something different. I'm dreaming of cutting it short again, but I won't...not yet. Not quite ready I guess. Does that make me a wimp?

*it's 10:00p, why am I hungry?

*Speaking of hungry, I really want the Pioneer Woman cookbook. Can't believe I haven't bought it yet. In fact I think I will head over to amazon right after I post this since I have a gift certificate waiting to be used. It's only $13.

*woke up this morning feeling so so, kinda blah (lots on my mind from the night before). Thankfully I'm ending the day feeling myself again.

sunday thought

This story was told today in Sacrament meeting and it really hit home.


"And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver..."
Malachi 3:3

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: 'He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.' She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, 'How do you know when the silver is fully refined?' He smiled at her and answered, 'Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it.'

everyday trauma

Bella came home Monday night talking about health and fitness. Apparently in school they had a class about the food pyramid, how to eat right and keep your body healthy through exercise. After telling us all she learned she asked if she could use the treadmill sometimes to exercise. I chuckled at the thought, but told her she could whenever she wanted to.



Surprisingly the next night after dinner she wanted to exercise. It was funny the way the girls made a game of it. They all dressed up in tank tops, shorts, and tennis shoes and wrote out on the dry erase board activities like push-ups, sit-ups, etc. that they had to do. I spied on them and it cracked me up to see them "exercising". They were actually doing it and trying hard too. Bella was running on the treadmill while watching everyday Italian on TV and the other two were on the ground attempting push-ups.

I figured that would be it, but last night they were all excited to do it again. This time I went down with my camera thinking surely this will be my last opportunity and again got a good laugh that they were actually exercising. After I left, right around bed time, I heard the girls screaming as they walked up the stairs. Megan was crying about "not doing it" in a voice that started to alarm me. Turns out Bella was on the treadmill, tried to reach for something that was in her way and fell so that the belt on the treadmill basically rub the skin off her thigh (aka a really bad rug burn). Turns out Megan was crying because of what it looked like and despite the fact that she kept saying "I didn't do it", she was the one who actually turned off the treadmill and freed Bella. She keeps going around saying, "I saved Bella's life".



Lucky for Bella there was no school today so she had a lazy day on the couch. She can get around just fine, but at one point she did say, "Mom, will I need crutches?" I expected to hear nothing less from my sweet Bella...she's pretty dramatic. It wasn't until about 1/2 through the day that I realized her injury could have been much worse and it probably wasn't so smart of me to let her use the treadmill without some safety tips like putting the safety cord around her wrist so if she fell it would shut of automatically. I guess I still need to get use to have a almost 10 year old.

I got to wondered when everything's healed up will the excitement about exercising go away? I don't know, but I do know one thing for sure that Megan said and hope she'll soon forget, "exercise hurts".