"Instead of worrying about what people might think, why not spend time trying to accomplish something for which people will admire you." - Dale Carnegie

Wife Swap

I LOVE the show "Wife Swap"!!! Sorry, ya'll. You MIGHT be SHOCKED, but watching that show has shown me that I'm a REALLY balanced, "normal", Caring Mom!


I really am SMACK in the middle of EVERY extreme I have seen on that show.

I am structured. But I know how to, and teach my kids how to let loose.

I expect certain things from My Family. But they also get time to do things THEIR way.... as long as they are respectuful and have manners.

I teach values, respect, love, caring, responsibility, taking care of belongings including our bodies.

I teach moderation. And there are only TWO things I have taught my children you DO NOT EVER try: Tobacco, and Drugs. WE take medicine AS Prescribed. ANd I explain that to them.

We have Family discussions about sex. And My Girls know that I didn't take the advice I'm giving them, and regret it. But that it's their life. And if they CHOOSE to have sex before they are adults, and married, there could be consequences that they won't like. I teach them about SAFE sex. Not NO sex.

I am willing to hear that I am not the best Mom.

I am willing to look at myself through a magnifying glass, and view the truth. And then change it, if I need to!


Example: Today, I said to Elizabeth, who was being unkind to her sibling, "Why are you being mean?" She said "Because sometimes YOU are mean to us." I said "I am sorry for that. Do you see me doing better?" SHe said that she did. I explained that I will work harder. But that does not make it ok for her to do it to others.

I think that is something many parents fail at. Being real, honest, and allowing their Children to critique them and change when what they are doing isn't right.

I teach them to be healthy. To mange their time, money and desires. I teach them that if they want something, they have to earn it.

A Trip to The Temple = Buyers Remorse!

"And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.” -- Dr. Seuss

I went to a Slumber Party last night. And I spent WAY more than I planned to.

Then I went to The Temple today.

And now I have Buyers Remorse.

And it has NOTHING to do with the items I was buying. It's that I struggle to pay what I need to, when it stops me from buying what I want.

And if it's between tithing and fun... Well, being 100% honest, I can find a MILLION ways to justify the fun.

"I'll pay tithing with the next check."

But I have decided that I don't want to wait 2 more weeks for the blessings I have been taught come with paying tithing. I need them now.

SO, since I am DETERMINED to succeed at doing things "right", I am going to suck it up, and cut back my SP purchase by 2/3rds.

SOME of my justifications are really valid. Everything I am getting (after I cut back) is on "special". And a couple of the items will be Christmas presents.

But I REALLY don't need to spend an extra $100 on "That would be nice" items. ESPECIALLY when it comes out of my tithing.

*Just to make sure I am clear: My stand on the items Slumber Parties and other related businesses sell, is that they are not for EVERYONE... But if you like them, they can be very enhancing to your personal life, and your romantic life. Therefore, I like to budget to pamper myself, and the One I Love, with some of their products.*

So, I am ending this with a new resolve to succeed at making things right.

Temples

$50 Lesson

Noise...

I have certain "Talents". One of them is the ability to hear "things" rather than see or feel them. It's sometimes referred to as being Clair-audience. Clair-audience means ‘clear-hearing’. It is the ability to ‘hear’ Spirit. Actually, that USED to be a Talent of mine. It's one I struggle with lately. Mainly because noise is EVERYWHERE. I it makes it hard to "Hear."

These days I am more Clair-voyant than Clair-audience. You know how they say that when you loose one sense, a different sense usually becomes heightened. Well... Too much noise all around. I DO have the ability to see things as they really are a LOT of the time.

But if you ever happen to notice that excess noise drives me nuts, this is why.

It's All Coming Back to Me....

Almost 2 years ago, , and the few following it, started what I have referred to as The Blog War. It was explosive! It left me less a few "Friends". Thank GOD for trials! Thank GOD that things like that happen and if we use them right, make us better, stronger, and get us to places that are so much better than what we imagined then.

I look forward to the day I meet My Lord. I know that a sense of release will over take me. I know I will fall into His arms and sob! I know I will know infinite Joy at that moment. I just need to remember that daily when little temptations come my way.... in that moment, I want to be free of shame and regret. I make a commitment anew to repent and live a purer life!

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Anyway, the reason for this post is NOT that. Although I find it to be important as a Preface.


My reason for this post is that I have been fortunate to have a 2nd chance at one of those lost Friendships. And I am grateful.

And it made me reflect to this time almost 2 years ago.

And I realized that when Heidi posted her Blog post titled "I Would Do Anything For Love" (she has deleted that section of posts... Very mature of her but still they are gone, so I am NOT 100% SURE that was exactly the title of that post, but I'm sure it had to have been to have gotten me on this particular tirade.), It crossed a line with me. And after reading MY posts, I actually have already said that it got under my skin because it brings back the very first TRULY traumatic time I can recall in my life.

Her post brought back a time frame where I lost My Grandmother, My First Baby, My First Love. It's not that I was a "Hater" by any means. But that I felt that my trauma was someone else's playground.

I don't think she did it on purpose. I do think her following actions were AMAZINGLY insensitive and malicious... especially for someone who has felt that kind of pain. However, I am not posting this to open old wounds. Or to talk about what kind of person she is.

I am posting this because I am revisiting the time almost 2 years ago when my life changed. And looking into integrating people from that time frame back into my life means joining the past with the present.

And as I reflected, I realized that a line was crossed in my head and emotions when that particular song was mentioned. Not because I own it. But because she was in MY PLACE at HIS SIDE, using MY SONG!

It was the fact that I was watching a my life 11 years ago happen all over again. A time when I experienced more pain than up to that point, I had ever experienced in my LIFE. But I was the audience, while my Nemesis was ME! With OUT the pain. With OUT the trauma. What was a HORRIBLE time for me, was a WONDERFUL time for her!

I can write and write and write to try to explain. I just hope anyone reading this gets what I'm trying to say because more words will just make it a rambling mess.

This is all about coming to terms with WHY something SO innocent caused such insanity!

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Just a ♪ to end on, I DO think it was very mature of her to remove that section of posts. I however, will not be taking the gory parts out of my post list because it's a part of my history. And I want it to stay. It would be like removing my arm because it doesn't fit the mold of who I want to be like it used to. Clear as Mud?

Things I've changed, things you should try

Two days ago, we dropped cow's milk like a HOT POTATO. Cold Turkey. GONE!!!!

Instead, we buy Almond, Rice, and Coconut Milk.

Fluoride toothpaste is also on it's way OUT. Which kind of sucks because like shampoo, I have a stock of toothpaste (I like to be prepared ;)

We have started using OnGuard toothpaste(DoTerra). It contains the OnGuard Essential Oil Blend which has a fresh cinnamon smell (cause it contains cinnamon among other things,) is antimicrobial, ingest-able, and does amazing things for your immune system. I use it in laundry, on dishes, as a mouthwash, to mop the floor.... LOVE IT!

Also, I have started having a glass of 2 tblspoons Apple Cider Vinegar, 6 Oz of Almond Milk, and a tblspoon of Honey a couple of times a day. It is weirdly not bad. And Apple Cider Vinegar is supposed to be AMAZING for you!

I need to get some Red Raspberry capsules. It is ALSO good for your body in so many ways!

Become an Egg Donor | RSC Bay Area

I'm actually kind of sad.  I'm too old to do this, which I think is REDICULOUS.  I'm a Healthy 33 yr old who has a stock of them that I don't need and am HAPPY to give to a couple who needs them! Become an Egg Donor | RSC Bay Area

I keep yelling about My Position, now it's time to SHOW!

They say that it's "Better to keep your mouth shut, and be thought a Fool. Than it is to Open it and PROVE yourself a Fool."

OK.

I HAVE tried over the years to abide by this. But I hated everyone assuming I'm a Fool. So I've yelled and yelled My Position on EVERYTHING! And NO ONE seems to know my position. Or that I'm NOT an Uneducated Fool.

*However, I AM please to announce that it seems to be starting to be proven as time passes the Fruits of My Labors. How decisions I made years ago, and have stood by despite EVERYONE telling me I was wrong, are starting to be viewed as "Maybe she DID know what she was doing AFTER ALL!"*

SO.

Here is My Declaration. These are things I stand FIRMLY on and will stand by. Here is My Position.

1)I Home School. I don't know if there will EVER be a time when that will change. I doubt it. I KNOW that what I am choosing by choosing to keep My Children out of Public School is THE BEST ANSWER. I PRAY My Children won't resent me for it. I have them in Dance, Soccer, and Music with Me. We go ALL OVER THE PLACE and they learn a LOT! Holly said to me "I hope YOU don't resent you for it." And THAT was a Moment of Truth. Where I realized that I WOULD resent myself if I caved, and against my KNOWING that I shouldn't, put them in Public School anyway.


2)I believe in MODERATION. In ALL things. Not abstaining. Not over indulging. EXCEPT when it comes to illegal drugs and tobacco. In reference to THOSE, I believe in ABSOLUTE abstinence.

3)I believe that we have money for what is important to us. And can't find money for the things that aren't. And SOME people have their priorities on this topic SERIOUSLY F*'d up!!!!!!!!!!!

4)I am NOT perfect. I've made LOTS of mistakes. And yes, that is part of why people still wonder where I stand. Because I'm not 100% perfectly consistent. I'm still learning. And I'm ALWAYS working to find that balance of moderation. And I am AMAZINGLY better today than I was a week ago.

5)I believe in CONSTANTLY evolving (If I'm doing this correctly, you should be seeing how all of these are flowing together. One statement flows off of and is an extension 0f the last)

6)EMPATHY is something I cannot preach ENOUGH about. I believe THE WORST CRIME you can commit against another Human Being is cutting them down rather than taking the time to understand where they are coming from, where they are trying, and where they are struggling. As long as they are still making an EFFORT, I will give them the benefit of the doubt. HOWEVER, Once someone PROVES their motives are nothing but malice, I cut my empathy off and cauterize it! I do Forgive easily as part of having Empathy. I accept "I'm Sorry" pretty readily and will ALWAYS offer a 2nd chance.

7)I will NOT be abused. Nor will I allow My Family to be abused... by ANYONE. Including myself and each other.

8)I stand 100% by MY RIGHT and ability to be free from the meddling of others. To be in a Traditional Partnership with My Husband that has sole authority over Our Family with God's guidance. I have a conscience. I have common sense. I reserve the right to teach, discipline and protect My Family and assets according to our beliefs of what is or is NOT acceptable.

9) I believe in NOT being a Lemming. PERIOD. Thinking outside the box is EXPECTED!

I have an ENORMOUS capacity for understanding and love.

I am VERY intelligent.

And NOTHING is just chance.... I am a planner, a plotter, and a schemer. You can be assured that EVERY decision I make takes the 9 points above into EXTREME consideration.

It's HIS plan!

I just read a previous post of mine.

It's SO COOL to see that Bella came just 1 week after Summer 2011 officially ended! I'd call that pretty precise wishing and achieving!

Now, I don't know which job I was referring to, but I can guess. However, things worked out even better in that area than I'd hoped. David did INDEED get an AWESOME job by the end of 2010 (the post was May of 2010). And the job is proving to be EVERYTHING we need!

We didn't get the house. BUT we are now in a place where we are Blooming BEAUTIFULLY as a Family.

Thank GOD for being in charge, and taking my rudimentary plan and making it perfect.

Laurie

Jamie suggested that I use names so that people know for CERTAIN whether to be offended because I AM talking to them... or NOT.

So Laurie, if you still read these posts, this one IS about you.

One thing that you said SEVERAL times was that "Actions speak louder than words." Well, you didn't pay much attention to my actions. OR my words,for that matter.

If you did, you would have actually caught all of the things I DID for you.

I bought you a membership to the aquarium.

I got you into the zoo SEVERAL times.

I Offered to CONTINUE getting you into the zoo so you didn't HAVE to spend any of your "limited" (according to you) $ on a membership.

I saved you $ on Mickelli's Birthday Party by a) buying your membership to the aquarium, and b) splitting the cost with you by combining Elizabeth's party with hers.

I am the one who sought you out after being "dismissed" by you SEVERAL times for WHO KNOWS WHAT!

I came to help you with your primary lesson.

I invited you over week after week and cooked for you.

I helped you decorate.

I picked you up and drove you... AND your kids.... EVERYWHERE we went together.

And through it all, you always acted like my "things" weren't good enough for you and your Family.

If I offered your children... your VERY SPOILED Children at that...a bottle of juice, it was ALWAYS turned down. Snacks, the same.

And THEN, YOU have the NERVE to accuse ME of not being a "True Friend." ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!?

I invited you over, and over, and over, and over, AND OVER to things. And you LIED TO ME. Over, and over, and over! I even invited you to an ALL paid for movie with snacks. And offered to come pick you up. And you LIED TO ME about why you didn't want to.

And THEN you got offended over things you read of mine...INSISTING I was slandering you. And attacking ME, when the things you read had NOTHING to do with you.

BUT by getting offended and taking them personally, maybe they fit you, and I just didn't know it.

SO. If actions speak louder than words... Well, where YOU are concerned, BOTH your actions AND your words have been pretty disrespectful towards ME and MY FAMILY. And have shown how LOUSY of a Friend, and quite frankly, a pretty crappy person you are.

I however, think I have proven that I WAS a true Friend to you.

And the icing on the cake, that I will NEVER forget is the time you looked at me at the mall, and said " You owe me $! Do you want to buy that for me?" And All there was for me to do, was look at you and say "Um,no! I don't owe you $" Because I made sure to never be in arrears with you!

We're back online :-)

YAY! Thanks to My WONDERFUL Husband, I can type in paragraphs again!

So, here we go ;-)