Might as well try...

About a week ago I saw a sweet elderly woman taking a walk out in nature. It impressed me. Especially because she hobbled up the path in a painfully slow shuffle. Again, very impressive. But I wondered if we have to resign to walking in a painfully slow shuffle as we age. Can there be anything done to prevent this? I guess only time will tell. But just in case something can be done. Just in case I can work to save the strength of my body now while I've still got a little, I'm pushing myself to work out again (yeah, I know I told you that yesterday). I'm fighting while the fighting's good. Yes I am.

Funny thing is, in my attempt to save myself from walking in a painfully slow shuffle--today, day two of my great workout comeback, I'M WALKING IN A VERY PAINFULLY SLOW SHUFFLE.

Oh well, at least it's temporary.

Here's to health and vitality.

Man I'm gonna be mad if this doesn't work.

Here I go again...

This is the third time I have used this picture on my blog. The first time was for a "Self Portrait Tuesday or SPT (remember when I used to do those) where I talked about sending "good mail" to friends. The second was a "Writer's Workshop" where I talked about being my own "vault friend" and sending letters to myself. And today I post it to talk about my desire to work out again.

You see when my sister saw this picture the second time I posted it she said, "Oh my gosh that P90x is really working for you." To which I replied, "Actually I only did P90x for like a week and a half so I didn't get much out of it."

She said, "I thought that picture on your blog with the letters was from doing P90x."

I said, "No that picture is from a long time ago. Didn't you notice my dark hair?"

And then we both wondered as to why I look like I've been working out in this picture. Until I remembered, oh yeah. I look like I've been working out in this picture because I HAD BEEN WORKING OUT duh. This was taken when I was working to become fabulous by forty. Remember those days? Ah, good times. At that time I was doing workout tapes called "The Firm" can we all just pause for a moment and say "Ouch". Those tapes kick butt (literally).

As a matter of fact they just kicked my butt again this morning and now my legs feel like jello and I want to throw up. Nice. But I'm going to keep it up by golly. Because although I don't mind getting old, I do mind getting old and broken down. There's still far too much to do in this big ol' world. I've got to fight for this body o' mine. Fight I tell you. And it is a fight because working out pretty much stinks.

That Jackie lady trainer person on TV (do you know the one) says that we can tell our minds that working out is pleasurable, but I guess I must be weak minded because my mind says, "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE MAKING ME DO THIS!!! THIS STINKS!!! I HATE YOU!!!"

So if you have any tricks for making working out seem pleasurable do tell because I need all the help I can get.

...but keep it G rated.
This is a family blog. :}

A few (too many) words about me...

WRITER'S WORKSHOP PROMPT:
About me. Do you have an about me page? Because people want to know. Write a page that describes who you are and what you’re about or spruce up your current about me page!




I don't currently have an about me page because I haven't ever really wanted one. I guess I figure this whole blog is a big ol' all about me extravaganza so who needs more. Who? I ask you. Now if the answer is you. If you indeed want to read more pointless facts about me then I will be happy to grace you with a re-posting of my 100 things about me, written in 2008.

Some of the facts have changed like my roots don't need to be done right now and I've already tried the brunette thing and am over it and instead of working with the young women at church I now work with the Relief Society (or various degrees of slightly older women) and yeah, you know, stuff like that.

And now for your skimming pleasure, I give you 100 things about me...

1. I am an Arizona native
2. My ancestors were among the first settlers of Mesa and other Az cities.
3. I am the third of seven children
4. I was a “surprise” (I say accident but my mom doesn’t like that)
5. My older sister and I are only a year apart.
6. I was born with dark hair. Then it changed to blond. Now it’s back to dark, but I make it blond.
7. I desperately need my roots done.
8. I’m considering going dark brown and being done with the whole root business.
9. I won student body vice president in 6th grade because I gave a killer speech, even though I was normally very shy and quiet (see #s 98 and 99 for explanation). I quickly discovered that politics was not for me (meetings and work—yuck!)
10. In eighth grade I discovered that I was good at long distance running, but turned down a chance to run with the varsity team my freshman year (extra training and hard work—yuck!)
11. I regret that I never strove for greatness.
12. I would love to start running again and train for a half marathon.
13. We never moved while I was growing up. I lived in the same house from age 1 to 20 (except for some time away at college and a summer apartment with friends).
14. I drove a VW Karmann Ghia in high school and college.
15. I was a daddy’s girl and could talk to him for hours on end.
16. I have had the privilege of speaking with my deceased relatives.
17. I’m not a medium or psychic, I believe anyone can talk to the deceased.
18. I met my husband at Mesa Community College in Spanish class.
19. I don’t speak Spanish.
20. My parents sent me away to Rick’s college to meet a good man (in hopes of steering me away from my high school boyfriend).
21. I had already met a good man (Rick, my now hubby) at home, so while I was away I wouldn’t date the same guy more than twice and I didn’t kiss anyone.
22. The first time I kissed Rick it was electric and we made out (kissing only) for over three hours. Crazy.
23. During a bout of insanity I returned for a second semester at Ricks College.
24. I went home for Thanksgiving and got engaged.
25. Three months later I was married.
26. I was the recipient of a miracle that I would love to talk about but can’t.
27. I have an absolute testimony of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
28. I have always dreamed of being a mother.
29. I had my first baby 13 months after I got married.
30. I have been pregnant 8 times, which would have resulted in 9 babies.
31. I’ve had two miscarriages.
32. I am the mother of 6 (two boys, four girls)
33. I’ve always loved baby boys (I always made my dolls be boys)
34. I wanted to be the mother of 9 boys.
35. I love being the mother of girls.
36. Little boys still melt my heart.
37. I have been blessed with a great deal of patience and rarely get my feathers ruffled. Except for….
38. When I’m involved in a project or want something changed or moved—I want it RIGHT NOW! And can’t wait for help.
39. I’ve moved heavy furniture and the piano by myself many times and have broken the leg off of a dining room table and dinged many a finish because I was too impatient to wait for help.
40. I am a S.H.E. (sidetracked home executive)
41. I lack time management skills. Therefore….
42. I am almost always running late.
43. I like driving with my kids.
44. I hate driving on high, winding roads or bridges.
45. My or my children’s lives will have to be at stake before I will drive the Salt River Canyon again.
46. I am a member of the American Night Writers Association.
47. I love to write.
48. I have written a novel, but am stuck in revisions (I’m in a funk)
49. Writing poetry is my favorite especially children’s books written in verse.
50. I enjoy writing talks.
51. I showed up late the night Rick proposed because I was engrossed in helping my sister write an essay for school (at least he knew what he was getting).
52. I love Sunday afternoon naps.
53. I’ve been taking Synthroid every morning for about 12 years for hypothyroidism, but….
54. I have been blessed with incredible health and am rarely sick.
55. I am a night owl, but….
56. I hate sleeping in, so….
57. I don’t get enough sleep.
58. Waking up at the crack of dawn for yard sales is one of my favorite things to do.
59. I love to treasure hunt in thrift stores too.
60. I love taking old, ugly things and making them pretty and useful.
61. I love to decorate, but…
62. I have been uninspired in the decorating of my new home.
63. I desperately miss my yard sale and thrift store hunting trips.
64. I miss the city but…
65. I am starting to feel much better about my new life.
66. I enjoy working with the Young Women at church. They keep me young.
67. I want to eat better and exercise so I can keep feeling young.
68. I love healthy food that tastes like the goodness of the earth, but…
69. I love junk food too and it’s easier.
70. I love how I feel when I get regular exercise, but…
71. I hate to exercise regularly.
72. I like exercising with friends, but…
73. I like sitting around and eating with friends more.
74. I have imaginary friends a.k.a. other bloggers, strangers that I read about regularly.
75. I think it would be fun to meet my imaginary friends someday.
76. I am terrible about calling friends but once I do…
77. I can talk on the phone for hours.
78. I love my laptop and call it my precious (like Gollum and the Ring).
79. I love many kinds of music. From spiritual, classical, big band, and Josh Groban types… to rock, pop, alternative, and almost anything 80s, but I’m not too fond of Country. Although…
80. I like watching country music videos because I think cowboys are hot. But…
81. I wouldn’t want Rick to be a cowboy because….
82. I love how much Rick and I have in common including our taste in music (except for Josh Groban, Rick hates him) besides…
83. Rick’s broad shoulders, bald head and goatee remind me of a biker dude and…
84. I think biker dudes are hot. Although….
85. I’m most attracted to Rick when I’m sitting next to him in church while he is dressed in his crisp white shirt and tie.
86. My heart leaps to know that I am married to a man who loves the Lord as much as I do.
87. I love bald heads especially my hubby’s. If his hair could be restored tomorrow I’d beg him not to do it.
88. I love snuggling up and watching TV with Rick especially the food network’s Diners, Drive-ins and Dives—yummy!
89. I love going out to eat.
90. I pretty much love any kind of food.
91. I don’t like sugary candy but I love chocolate and….
92. I can’t say no to a pastry, but….
93. I like salty, savory more than sweet.
94. I am a good cook but I don’t enjoy it.
95. I am the queen of throwing a meal together without prior thought or preparation.
96. I love shoes, but not those that require socks. I hate socks.
97. I love being with my kids and enjoy summer break more than the school year.
98. I can be shy one on one but…
99. I don’t mind speaking to large groups.
100. I am generally an optimistic girl who loves God, family, and country. I am grateful for my gifts, talents, and blessings as well as my tests and trials for they have all, the good and the bad, brought me greater understanding and love for my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ. I love to testify of them. Of their goodness and glory, their merciful love and their wonderful plan of happiness. They live and because I know this—my life is bliss.

If you read through all of that you deserve a prize.
Sadly, I don't have a prize for you, but you sure do deserve one. Yes you do.

A mantle of happiness...

I would tell you how disappointed I am in this picture of my mantle--1) because I had to take it with my phone, 2) because the lighting is so bad and 3) because the ginormous pipe shooting up through the middle of it is simply not pleasing to the eye--I would tell you all of this and more if this post was meant to be about my mantle...
...but it's not.

This post is about a super awesome friend who read my blog this morning and upon reading that I needed pumpkins for my mantle SHOWED UP AT MY DOOR WITH AN ARMFUL OF THEM IN TOW. For me. And then proceeded to allow me to talk her ear off about the fate of my world as I know it. Not the world in general. Just my world.

In short, she made my day. So now when I feel like I should do something for someone else, but doubt myself and ask, "Hmm, I don't know, should I really do this?" I will answer myself a big old YES! Because I learned that the fate of the world (as I or others may know it) just doesn't seem to matter as much when you have plump happy pumpkins on your mantle.

Especially when they're grown and hand delivered by a thoughtful friend.

Have I ever told you how much I hate titles...

This picture could mean only one of two things...

A) I'm going through a mid-life crisis

or

B) I went to an 80's birthday party this weekend

Hmm...

which one do you suppose it is?

P.S. my mantle is crying for some pumpkins. Crying for them. Hope this week will slow down enough
for me to get to the store, or the pumpkin patch or whatever. I need pumpkins people.

Peace, be still...

Patience is...clearly not fatalistic, shoulder-shrugging resignation. It is the acceptance of a divine rhythm to life; it is obedience prolonged. Patience stoutly resists pulling up the daisies to see how the roots are doing. ~ Neal A. Maxwell

I'm needing to be patient right now. I am not wanting to be patient right now. But even in all of this I know that no matter what feelings get stirred up in my heart and mind concerning the things that I have no control over, if I am humble, there is a source for peace. There is always a source for peace if we are willing to accept it.

The Savior Jesus Christ is that source. This is an absolute truth. And I can tell you that today the confusion, impatience and concern that I have been feeling have been washed away because today I sought peace, patience and understanding (several times mind you) and that is what I have received.

And as I was scrubbing out my sink (because one answer I received was to continue to serve and honor my home. Which is quite a lovely thought in and of its self, don't ya think. Serve and honor... and here I thought I was only doing drudge work all of these years) I was overcome by the Spirit and I marveled at what it really means to be a child of the living God.

I am a child of God, sent here by Him, and I can find comfort in His perfect plan for me.
And today I will run through the daisies that He has so generously blessed me with and leave the structure of the roots to Him.

After all, He's a far better gardener than I could ever hope to be.