Empathy is so under rated

So few people these days truly seem to know what empathy is. to TRULY attempt to understand and relate to others vs judging them.

To really understand their motives, and what drives them.

Just because a person doesn't broadcast their history doesn't mean it's not there.

I had a woman comment that "Only someone who has never had a hard time getting pregnant would say something like that." How does she know? Does she know that I have had miscarriages, or that it is dangerous to my health as well as that of my Baby's EVERY time I give birth. No. Because I don't broadcast it.

Random way to POP out of my Funk!

At the beginning of August, the wards in our Stake were rearranged and things were moved around so that we now meet in the Stake Center @ 9 am and have about 100 "new" members in our ward. Our Family has not made it to church since then until today. I am in the nursery, so this change meant new children, and a new nursery room.

Well, I don't know what it was exactly, but something just POPPED me out of my funk. I think it was a combination of things. I went and bought some new clothes this past week. Clothes that fit a little better and are more flattering. I also took a little personal "grooming" time before Sacrament Meeting this morning to put on make up, and make sure my eyebrows weren't unkempt.

And then there's the handful of people in my life who have made me feel like a million $... and most of them are NEW additions in my life. That combined with how I have been feeling about my children, and how lucky I am to have them.

I also have seemed to find good balance between assertive and aggressive. And I like who I am.

It just did it. And it was like one of my Friends who has been observing this past year finally felt like it was safe to say "your life has SUCKED the past little while." Because it just DOESN'T any more.

If you can't handle my "Shit" once in a while, maybe we shouldn't be Friends

My "Best" Friend who is NOT MORMON and who I have been Friends with since I was TEN. Is ranting and raving because I "liked" something that had the word "Shit" and "Ass" in it, and it showed up on her "Home" feed, and offended her.

SORRY, but

Shit Happens! And it's normally accompanied by some Ass!

Goodbye Happy foods ;-)

I am saying goodbye to my favorite junk foods. *Sigh* Wish me luck. Top of the "to go" list is soda, especially caffeine.

Dare I say it

This job with a company called El Paso is looking very promising. They have reviewed David's application, and we are hoping to hear very soon! Odessa here we come?

Latest on jobs

David has recieved information about a job that ..... like all the others that we've gotten our hopes up about..... could be PERFECT for us.

It's in either Jal New Mexico, population 1,900, or El Paso Texas. We... well, I.... did some research last night, and Jal is just too small for us, while El Paso is too big. So, we're asking about living in Odessa Texas. And then we shall see what happens

I'm nothing if not efficient

Today was a crazy day. But in a good way.

First, I discovered this morning that I can lay the futon out downstairs, and when Jacob wakes up, get him a drink and diaper change, bring him downstairs, and put the Baby Gate up to block the stairs, and catch another good hour or so of sleep. At one point, I woke up to find him by my feet on the futon asleep :-)

Then, I realized, just after David had left for work that I was in immediate need of "supplies." I called him just before he got on the freeway. My wonderful husband not only brought me the "needed" items, but chocolate muffins too! What a GUY!

I actually got everyone ready (including bedding on sanitary cycle for when we got home) in time for David to pick us up to take him back to work so we could go to PG. Got him to work, jumped Amie's car, ran back to D's work to get swimming stuff, picked up Amie and Twins, and off to PG.

There were plenty of us there this week, including two new Mom's.

At the end when it was just Amie and me left, and I couldn't get Jacob to cooperate long enough to get the Girls dressed, I drove the van onto the lawn at the Splash Park, and had everyone loaded in no time.

Got oil in the van, ran by Wendy's for dinner, then to Smith's for an AWESOME deal on Powerade and SoBe.... got 24 bottles and some sugar cookies for $13.

Off to Tasha's to drop off some toys for the Little Girl she babysits. She was in the middle of a crisis.... her 6 week old kitten had gotten crushed by the neighbor boy.

Took MY Family home, bathed, changed bedding, and in bed so that I could go back and relieve Tasha so she could have a break. (She's in the middle of a yucky divorce)

Got there to find out she was fine, but worried about Amanda. Drove over and had a GREAT chat with Amanda and Hubby Jimmy.

Home to 4 sleeping Children, so D and I watched the latest True Blood episode.

Good night All!

Day one of my new plan

Ok, I have about 1 month to de clutter, organize, and not only lose 20 lbs, but get some muscles toned as well. The School Year/Dance Year is starting in about 2 weeks, and I'm going to need all the energy I can muster over the next 9 months :-)

I have to concede

Here's one for the masses: I think I might just have to keep my mouth shut a LOT more often. I speak too quickly, and often have to eat my words later. SO to all of you who are thinking:"THANK HEAVEN she's FINALLY figured it out!" I will graciously accept the "I told you so" ;-)

So excited

I have a Friend who expressed an interest in buying some of the products I sell through Passion Parties.

She is getting married in Nov so we decided she should have a party. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to afford to drive down to do the party. But we've now got enough people RSVP ing that they will or might be there that I think it'll work out just fine. :-)

So Friday Sept 3rd at lunch time, David will get off of work and we'll drive to Salt Lake. That evening, I will do her party in Tooele.

Saturday, we are fortunate enough to be able to attend a baptism for some of our most TRUE Friends' son.

Sunday, we have the Baby Blessing of My Cousin's Baby. And then off to Timpanogas to hike with our Dear Friends, and David's Brother and his family.

Home on Monday!

I am sooooo excited for that weekend!

Do unto....

I've been really trying to be kind. But it's really starting to piss me off when people... especially those I'm "close" to expect me to give where they won't.

SO, let me be very clear:

If you wouldn't do it for me (or my family), I (we) won't do it for you!

If I invite you up for an event, you don't get to pick a different date.... unless you'd do it for me, I won't be rearranging dates and plans for you.

If you wouldn't make an exception for me, I won't make an exception for you.

And if you won't support my business, I won't support yours.

Powerful Women

Either end up changing the world or breaking into a mere shadow of their former glorious self. I will not end up as the latter of the two. I swear that here and now.

I blame the Men in his life

I blame every man who has been a steward in any way over my Husband through the years for how he treats his family.

For the fact that when his wife calls him on the phone and is having a rough day, that he belittles and insults her to the point of a melt down. And when she calmly through tears asks him for his help, belittles her more. Tells her to go out and get a full time job and that he doesn't care that she is stranded and needs to get out of the house. She doesn't do her job well enough, so screw her.

For the fact that he is supposed to be an example and a rock of support to his family, and yet has ZERO concept of how to stand between them and the storms of the world.

For the fact that he is a select Priesthood Holder who is supposed to be setting an example to the world of how to be, and yet he would rather spend his life being a spoiled little boy.

I blame every man who has been a steward in any way over my Husband through the years for how he is willing to allow the poison from his attitude to affect the aura of his home.

Because not only have these men failed initially, but whenever these awful conditions are brought to their attention, they turn their heads and ignore it.

Well put, I think I'll steal your words

"You know what? Just so you know when you do the autopsy here, you better realize that you have no one to blame but yourself." - Stan (The Back Up Plan)

Letter to Ginger

I'm sad that we're not the kind of Friends we've been for the past 3 years.

You're one of the ones worth having.

I don't know who's fault it is. It might be mine, it might be yours. It might simply be a case of miscommunication.

But you're one of the Friends who was with me through the marriage I had BEFORE. Then the Divorce. Through getting remarried. Through being pregnant again. And it means something to me.

You KNOW all my faults. You KNOW all the stuff that makes me human. And that's what Friendship is all about... Accepting the good AND bad about someone. That's the kind of Friendship we had.

I miss you. I miss you're Southern Diva ways. You are so good and kind hearted, and I'm sad.

I tried to tell you this once before: you've become like Family.

Special occasions are not the same without you.

Tell me what I can do. Tell me how to be your Friend again.

Thank you for all you've done for us as a Family. Your house is the only one of any of my Friends' houses where we felt so comfortable.... even David.

I'm not shallow. I promise. I just don't know what to do with the way things have been, and I'm no good at keeping my foot out of my mouth.

But NOT ONE of your acts of kindness has ever gone unnoticed. And I am sorry if you felt taken for granted.

Forgive me. Please.

Something to think about

This is a Blog I follow, and think we could all use this Little Reminder

A Different World

We were born to mothers who smoked and drank
Our cribs were covered in lead based paint
No child proof lids no seat belts in cars
Rode bikes with no helmets and still here we are

We got daddy's belt when we misbehaved
Had three TV channels you got up to change
No video games and no satellite
All we had were friends and they were outside, playin' outside


It was a different life
When we were boys and girls
Not just a different time
It was a different world

School always started the same every day
The pledge of allegiance then someone would pray
Not every kid made the team when they tried
We got disappointed and that was all right, we turned out all right



No bottled water, we drank from a garden hose

And every Sunday, all the stores were closed

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

Our version of "poor" is certainly different than our Parents'. There are things our Children get to do that we NEVER did. What a different world it is!

UGH!

I have to say it: I HATE Cigarette Smoke!

The people who emit the rancid poisonous stuff don't realize that not only is the smell AWFUL and suffocating, but it could cause members of My Family to die a slow, painful, miserable death!

They can live without smoking, I however have yet to find a way to live without breathing.

Something to say for Smut

I am realizing how sheltered of a life I live.... and am grateful for it. I am also grateful that I've been out in the world and know a thing or two that living in Utah my whole life would not have taught me

Carried Away

I don't take my whiskey to extremes
Don't believe in chasin' crazy dreams
My feet are planted firmly on the ground
But darlin' when you come around

I get carried away by the look by the light in your eyes
Before I even realize the ride I'm on baby I'm long gone
I get carried away nothin' matters but bein' with you
Like a feather flyin' high up in the sky on a windy day, I get carried away.

It might seem like an ordinary night
Same ol' stars, the same ol' moon up high
But when I see you standin' at your door
Nothin's ordinary anymore.

I get carried away by the look by the light in your eyes
Before I even realize the ride I'm on baby I'm long gone
I get carried away nothin' matters but bein' with you
Like a feather flyin' high up in the sky on a windy day, I get carried away.

I get carried away by the look by the light in your eyes
Before I even realize the ride I'm on baby I'm long gone
I get carried away nothin' matters but bein' with you
Like a feather flyin' high up in the sky on a windy day, I get carried away.
Carried away

Ok Folks....

"Teach your children self-respect. Teach them that their bodies are the creation of the Almighty. What a miraculous, wonderful, and beautiful thing is the human body.

As has been said here tonight, Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, declared: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Cor. 3:16-17)... The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve have declared that we discourage tattoos and also "the piercing of the body for other than medical purposes." We do not, however, take any position "on the minimal piercing of the ears by women for one pair of earrings"--one pair."

This is What Pres Gordon B Hinckley, Former Pres. of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said.

Let's hit on the KEY topic here. Teaching our Children Self Respect and taking proper care of our bodies. I have been advised by some (people who are NOT Leaders of the Church) to get my tattoo removed. Talk about defiling and painfully disfiguring my body! That would be flat out desecration to have a procedure that would take something that is artistic and pleasing and turn it into a horrible scar. Talk about Graffiti! Taking a piece of artwork on my "Temple" and disfiguring it!

Not to mention the fact that my tattoo is less of a sign of not taking care of my body than the fact that I am overweight.

Obesity is prominent in our society. People who would NEVER get a tattoo are taking HORRIBLE care of their bodies. So maybe you need to understand the SPIRIT of what was said, and get over the tattoo issue.

Let's move on to how strong of an emphasis is being put on Tattoos. The Leaders of the Church DISCOURAGE Tattoos and Piercings. It is no more a commandment that not drinking caffeine or not watching R rated movies.

So, those of you who drink you Diet Coke every day, you have ZERO room to tell me that getting a Tattoo is wrong. It is no more against what the Prophets have said than what you do on a daily basis. Pres Hinckley has said "We do NOT drink caffeine."

Then there's the topic of R rated movies. Those of you who watch R rated movies again, have NO room to talk on how wrong my tattoo is.

My Tattoo does not make me unworthy to hold a Temple Recommend. It does not affect my standing in the Church. So, get off your High Horse, Follow the Words of Our Savior who said “Judge NOT, that you be not judged” and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' And LET IT GO!

I will be judged someday. But what will keep me from eternal Glory will NOT be that I got a tattoo. It will be whether I paid my tithing, Kept my Covenants, and how I treated people. If I continue to live my life in accordance with the Covenants I have made in the Temple, Obey the Commandments ( the ones that say "Thou Shalt..."/ affect my ability to enter the Temple), and Follow Jesus Christ, my tattoo will do nothing to keep me from being "Saved."

Wyoming Big Show aka Sweetwater County Fair

We could only afford to go once and so we had to choose wisely which was hard for David. And made me a bit sad too. David REALLY wanted to go on Tues. LeAnne Rimes was performing. And here, you get the concert for the price of admission to the Fair. So, for $10 he could have seen her in Concert. Then, there's the Kids Day where the Kids can ride all the rides they want until 5 pm for $15 per child. We had to miss that.

We chose to go today... well, since it's 2 am, technically yesterday.

We got there @ around 1:30 pm. Amie Geddie and 3 of her Children (Charitee 13, and Twins Isaiah, and Harmanee 5) went with us. We started with the booths inside. As we were leaving the main building, we saw Ginger Wallace and her 3 Girls. My Girls were so excited to see them.

Us 3 Families got ice cream, watched Pig Races, saw an ENORMOUS pig, watched the Chicago Sugar Bears perform, and watched a science based magic show. (during which we were very happy to be inside since it rained horribly)

About that time, Amanda Vaughn and her Husband and 2 daughters met up with us.

Then it was time for something to eat. After which Ginger and crew left, and Amanda took our 3 Girls to her house.

Life House was performing tonight. A Group/Band that became popular around 2001 and David and I LOVE. We went to a performance of theirs in 2002 when we were dating and they performed at the Olympics in SLC.

We kept Jacob with us. And The Geddies stayed.

Fun, fun, fun!!! David is a TOTAL Groupie ;-)

Jacob danced to the music a bit, and went to sleep not long after they started to perform. He slept for most of it. We were pretty close to the stage and had a GREAT view. Charitee had worked her way up to the front to be a Teenager.

About 2 songs away from the end, Jacob woke up and there was a decent wind/sand/rain storm.

One HUGE advantage to our location was that all of the people behind us blocked much of the storm. One man behind us offered us his shirt to cover Jacob. We declined, but that was sooo thoughtful.

The weather finally calmed, and Life House even did an Encore number.

Then it was off to get some drinks before everything closed up for the night. Amie had to leave with the Twins, and so we took Charitee home. Then to Amanda's to pick up 3 very crazy Girls, and HOME!

Friendship

I am sad for the Friendships that are lost to me. I believe that you can never have too many Friends.

I was just reading through the Blog updates of the Blogs I follow. And I wish I could be Friends with some of the people that USE to be in my life.

They don't realize that I am interested in what's going on in their lives. They don't know how much we have in common, and how we could prolly enrich eachother's lives.

*Sigh*

I have thought a lot about my personality. I am loud, and abrasive. And I am FIERCE. And I've looked it over, and tried to change it. Only to come to the belief that I am not meant to change it.

Yes, I can always be kinder. But really, I AM a pretty loving, kind person.

Needless hurt bothers me. Whether it's me or someone else. I don't like it. And I work very hard to not inflict it on others.

I am incapable of holding a grudge.

It's NEVER happened.

But the abrasive, harsh, FIERCE side of me is CRUCIAL to who I am and what I need to accomplish.

I LOVE My Family, and I KNOW for a FACT that they know it.

My Children know that I am a safe haven.

An idea that may not fit with how you view me, but if you could be a fly on the wall in our home, you'd see. This is way to self confident of me if I didn't have HARD proof.

So, to those who I cannot convince to give me a chance, I am sorry to not be able to be your Friend.

The Van Alen Legacy

The Van Alen Legacy by Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

EXCELLENT!!!!! Harder to get through than the last two, and there are moments when it seems to just drag on as it gets gloomier and gloomier. But in the end the light shines through!

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Revelations

Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The 2nd Great War between Good and Evil has begun. With Michael the Archangel (though broken and half the Man he once was) once again in command

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Other Peoples Children

Mon and Tues, I watched the 2 Children of a Friend. And last night, I watched the Children of another Friend.

Their Children were great. I have no complaints. But it truly made me appreciate mine more.

Both Families have 8 year olds and 4 year olds, so I was able to see the contrasts between them and MY 7 year old, and 5 year old. I truly do have well behaved Children, and I love them so much.

PLUS since other peoples Children were actually seeing more of me yesterday than my own, it made me anxious to spend a whole day loving on mine.

Masquerade

Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Captivating. More addicting than Twilight

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Hah!

"I'll do better tomorrow..there's always tomorrow.."

That is what I say almost EVERY day. But this is a direct quote from someone who I guess feels she should get that chance, 'though she denies others that same respect.

This is a person whom I have asked for forgiveness for WHATEVER the CRAP I've done that has cost me her Friendship. Someone to whom I have appealed over and over for the chance to prove that "I'll do better tomorrow..there's always tomorrow.." But what I'm learning is this: There ISN'T always tomorrow. People might not give you tomorrow. Their final judgement of you might be based on what you did TODAY!

Enoch

This is a topic that I have become enthralled by. And one I intend to begin studying. Unfortunately, it branches off, which means it's going to take time and focus (both of which I lack most days) to actually learn much.

I would appreciate any insight and knowledge any one may have on this topic.

Blue Bloods

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


captivating book. I like the Lore behind it. But the Editor could've done a better job proof reading. There are parts that make me question how smart the Author is. Don't get me wrong, as I said, the story line is captivating. But there are things like "Jack got knocked to the cement." Followed by "Jack staggered backwards." When did Jack get up?

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I don't do Limbo

I don't like luke warm ANYTHING. If it's supposed to be hot, it needs to be hot. If it's supposed to be cold, it needs to be cold.

If you're my Friend, you need to be a real Friend. Or not be my Friend.

I took about 5-10 people off of my Friends list this week. It needed to be done.