Changes!

Imagine yourself a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. at first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting all the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so your not surprised. But presently he starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? the explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making court yards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage, but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in Himself.

from - Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

I am serving in a Singles ward at the University Stake. I am a Relief Society advisor to the girls.

I have fallen in LOVE with them! When ever I tell someone that I am serving at the singles ward, they say "They must really need you." NO I really need them. I am in awe of their ability, their testimony, their, kindness, generosity, I could go on and on.

This is a two year calling and it took me a minute to figure out what I was doing. You see, it is the Bishopric, the High councilman and me. And we are busy, with lots of activities. It is also all day Sunday! Jay goes to church alone, and he then attends the activities with me. It is a part of the church, I did not know to much about, but have learned to love. Did I already say I LOVE the girls?

Well, I am changing wards. . . . Stunned by the turn of events! I thought I had another year with these girls. A new Relief Society Advisor has been called that is a wonderful single sister, and because the girls in my ward are older and single - they thought she would better serve with them. I am moving to a younger ward - 18, 19, 20 something!

I have no doubt I will love them too, I am just selfish and want to stay where I want to stay!

Isn't it true when you just get comfortable and content in our perfect little cottage, we have to hurt a little to become a palace!

This picture is in Vevay Switzerland - It is in front of a castle, not a palace but is beautiful! I kinda got a pained look on my face!

Spencer is TWO!

Happy Birthday Spencer!

Your sweet and your sensitive, you love swimming, and sauce!

You have great parents and a good big brother!

Grandma & Grandpa LOVE you!

I SURVIVED!

52 year old woman kidnapped by husband. Taken to the Uintahs - Bridger Lake. Subjected to torture- sleeping in a one man tent, almost froze to death, 2 hours of sleep, then taken on a 2 hour hike UP to Alligator Lake. Not allowed to shower and could only use the out house.

I LOVED IT!

Beautiful place, good company, good food!

KIDNAP ME AGAIN!

What Happy People Know!

Before I start my rant - I had to show you Spencer eating a popsicle, wearing an apron Jake made for me when he was in 7th grade! Derek, Erin, Cooper and Spencer have been living with us for two weeks! I woke up this morning to a quiet house, oh how I miss them. (They are only 15 minutes away) This picture makes me HAPPY!!!

The quarter -second was first discovered by neurosurgeon Benjamin Libet. Dr. Libet became interested in the lag time between when people get the urge to take action and when they actually take it. Therefore, he conducted a fascinating neurological experiment on patients undergoing certain brain surgeries, who were awake and alert. he asked them to move one of their fingers, while he electronically monitored their brain activity. That's when he found it- the life-changing quarter-second! There was a quarter second delay, he discovered, between the urge to move the finger, and its actual movement.

The significance of this is extraordinary.

One-quarter of a second may not sound like much time, but in the arena of thought, it's virtual eternity. It's more than enough time for you to choose to interpret perceptions differently.

This quarter-second is your ultimate power over perception. Most people don't use this power.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW IT EXISTS.

This means a quarter-second is enough time to realize a loud noise is not a bomb. that a stick in the grass isn't a snake, that a sarcastic remark wasn't intended to hurt you, or that slipping on a banana peel is funny instead of irritating.

In every moment of life, we have the option of being automatically reactive, or using the life-changing quarter-second to engage in choice!

HOLD ON THERE IS MORE - I am almost done!

A sterling example of this kind of Power came from the great Victor Frankl, the psychiatrist who survived a Nazi death camp. In the camp, Frankl found that he had absolutely no control-except for control over one aspect of his life that mattered most: his own perceptions. He became exquisitely capable of seeing past ANGER, DESPAIR, HATE, and FEAR, focusing instead on the life-affirming feelings that lie beneath the surface of EVERY situation.

When others saw only humiliation, Frankl saw the humility that made the humiliation bearable. When others saw only the horror of victims struggling to survive, Frankl saw the courage of victims struggling to survive.

Once, in the ugliness of the camp, Frankl found a flower growing in mud, and saw only the flower, and not the filth that nourished it.

Victor Frankle emerged from this living hell, as a better man, And a happier man.

I read the Hiding Place, and Corrie ten Boom was my Hero! I wanted to understand why she could be a survivor instead of a victim.

Then I read this book - What Happy People Know, written by Dan Baker Ph.D and Cameron Stauth, and I knew!

The quarter-second is our AGENCY to choose!

Grateful to know that I have this power!

HAVE A GOOD DAY!!!!! You can choose this!!

Goodbye Paige & Phil - sniff sniff!!

""You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you Know what you Know. You are the guy who"ll decide where to go." Dr. Seuss

Phil has known for a long time He wanted to go to Law School. He has worked hard in school, and made it happen. Paige & Phil left yesterday - August 12,, 2009 for the University of Idaho. They are in Moscow Idaho for 3 years!

Phil had to put up with a summer of goodbyes and lots of tears! We have had a lot of fun doing everything and sometimes doing nothing, but just being together. We really love them both and enjoy having them around, BUT are so excited for their new adventure!

GOOD LUCK! WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

Duck Duck Goose

THIRTEEN BABY DUCKS!

It has been a good week at our house. Derek, Erin, Cooper & Spencer are staying with us for a week. They are waiting to move into their new house! While they have been here, 13 baby ducks were born! They are so stinkin cute! We can't get close to them, the geese are protecting them. And we think we want to move - what are we thinking?

Happy Birthday Morgan!!!!!

August 6th is a great day! The day I had my first baby!

M - marvelous daughter, grand daugher, sister, aunt, friend!
O- organized!
R- rockin body!
A- anal about her hair, teeth, clothes! (brushes her teeth for twenty minutes, have you ever had a cavity?)
G-gospel - is a very spiritual person!
N - nerd - closet nerd of course! She never needed a curfew, she came home, because she liked her sleep! She would miss a party to stay home and do her homework! (high school and college) She was a straight A student and graduated Magna Cum Laude from College, while working full time!!!

I am so proud of Morgan for all that she is, and all that she has accomplished. She is a great example to me, and I Love her!!!

I have lots of stories I could tell about Morgan, but today I just want to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

INSPIRATIONAL - PASS IT ON!

My teddy bear of a brother Mike is a Vietnam War Vet. When he was 19 he lived in a small farming community of Grace Idaho. As he says it "When I was drafted all I knew was spuds & taters and a couple of weeks later someone was trying to kill me."

He doesn't have to much to say about the war, but his wife Kay says, "He doesn't care much for the 4th of July, because all the noise from the fireworks gives him flashbacks."

Shame on us America, for treating these young men so poorly who had served in a war that they had no choice. They didn't volunteer, they were drafted.

My brother Mike is not bitter, but instead He is going to Say Thanks one quilt at a time. Yes, I said, "ONE QUILT AT A TIME!"

He has quilted for years, and He is very good at it! Not like me, where I put two pieces of fabric together and tie it.

I had the opportunity this weekend to witness a touching moment!!!!!!!!!

Mike lives in Bear Lake for the summer and is the Marshal at the golf course, While working there he met another retired gentleman who lives on the Golf course and mows the fairways for the same reason Mike works there - free golf.
They became acquainted and Mike found he too was a Vietnam Vet.

Well Raspberry Days was going on this weekend and Mike knew this new friend was going to be there. He went to find him and my sister Chris and I tagged along, grateful I had my camera in tow.

When we found him, he was enjoying the shade, and watching his grand kids. Mike approached him, and he stood to say Hi and Mike said "Has anyone ever told you Thanks for serving in the Vietnam War." The response - "NO." Mike shook his hand, said Thanks and handed him a Flag quilt he had made. This man was speechless and the tears came, for Mike and me and Chris. I took a picture and we left.

The only words from Mike were number 59!!!!! I said WHAT? He has given 59 quilts away to Vietnam Vets!

Later in the day, this mans wife found Mike. Gave him a hug and said, That was the nicest thing anyone had ever done! She said her husband couldn't show anyone the quilt yet, and tell what had happened, because he was so emotional, he couldn't talk about it.

WOW!!! I am still so touched by this. Mike has quietly, one quilt at a time made a difference in someones life! He has not recorded any of this, because he doesn't think he needs to and this picture is the first taken of 59 given!!!

Let me tell you about Mike - He loves this precious land we live in! Are we not so lucky to be living in the land of the free, with lives given to make it so.

Mike and Kay pick up garbage off Bear lake beach, They clean the highways, they belong to the Rotary club. These are just a few of the many things they do. Are we taking care of AMERICA?

INSPIRATIONAL! I love my brother Mike. He is the best example to me, I want to be a better person because of Him.

So PASS IT ON!!! First of all, lets take care of our AMERICA!!!! Second, find a way to be a better person by doing for another. Our gifts are different than Mikes, but we have them, use them to make a difference - One person at a time!!!

PASS IT ON!

The last quilt is mine! I am grateful to have this quilt Mike made, to remind me everytime I look at it to be a better person, like him!