HAVE NO REGRETS.......

WHEN YOU WERE BORN, YOU CRIED AND THE WORLD REJOICED....LIVE YOUR LIFE IN SUCH A MANNER THAT WHEN YOU DIE THE WORLD CRIES AND YOU REJOICE.......We worry so much about things that never happen.....thank goodness......what do you worry about and how do you handle what seems to loom in front of you?  We can always reframe those problems, chop them in small pieces and handle the small pieces a bit easier.  A painting in an ancient temple depicts a king forging a chain from his crown and nearby, another scene shows a slave converting his chain into a crown.  Underneath the painting is the inscription......"Life is what one makes it, no matter of what it is made."

You may have been given certain "ingredients", just as a baker may find the staples of flour, sugar, and oil in his kitchen, but what you create from the talents and genetic propensities given you is......up to you!  Live your life this way....Not---How did you die?  But how did you live? Not what did you gain....but what did you give?  Not what did the sketch in the news paper say-----but how many were sorry when you passed away!  I just have faith that everything will work out for the best the years I have left.  Had a quiet Sunday......a little trip to Costco and got some Christmas shopping done, now for a quiet evening......ALONE!

THE GRANDMOTHER THEORY.........

Everyone knows grandmothers pass along the most valuable family possessions..........receipts for turkey stuffing, chocolate chip cookies and jam.  But now it seems reasonable they may be passing along a lot more than originally thought......It seems the genes of the long-lived grandmothers get passed down to succeeding generations.  After all grandma's also get blamed for your cancers, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and arthritis and big hips........

When you write a story....you embroidery it with bright colors for interest and excitement......Just look at a picture and a whole story of your own develops......even though someone else's may develop a  whole different story about the picture.....I picture an old folks home......We all pray we won't eventually end up  in "Formaldehyde  Alley".......You know where a dozen wheel chairs filled with various forms dotted the room like drooping house plants......waiting for a little attention.   The smell in Formaldehyde Alley absolutely has no words to describe it.....even the farm I was raised on smelled better.   There always seems so few helpers to take care of so many poor souls.....and they don't seem to ask for much......just some one to care.  When I left the one my Uncle Lester was in I was so depressed.......I guess home is where everyone's story begins.....but some are not as lucky as I am to have a home to write a story about!

I just hope I can leave good things for my grandchildren as I love them all so much......but I also hope I have left them with the strength to handle whatever fate hands them.

TELL ME A STORY.....

The blank pages invite me to share, invent, play, create, reveal big or little parts of me......I love to Journal....

My many journals are truly joys to me......they are my map of me.......

It doesn't matter what I write in my journal, it is mine.  There is no right or wrong,.....good or bad....it just is.

I am free to talk about EVERYTHING and NOTHING!

A journal helps us search for our real self.  What do we really think, what do we really feel, what do we really see?  Tell all to those empty pages.

My journal is my witness, a teacher, a therapist, a trusted friend, a silent listener.........

"Our stories are seeds of our deepest longings and wishes.....they are metaphors of our life left printed for others to enjoy........or not!"

Looks like a long quiet weekend......LABOR DAY

CHAPTER #35.....around the world cont.

CABO SAN LUCAS, MEXICO.......been there a couple of times with the children and Don, but my last trip there with Ann, Bonnie and Pauline was the most fun.   We stayed at the Las Glorias.......the big red hotel on the beach where we could see the boats and fisher men and the beautiful water.  We hit all the markets and stores and the fun bars .......enjoying margaritas and the mariachis.......  We took a glass bottom boat ride

, went whale watching and enjoyed the beach.  The people are friendly and the food good.  One day we took a bus ride across to LA  PAZ, MEXICO a famous big fish......fishing village on the bajo.  We got on this rickety bus with many Mexicans and their chickens, bags of food and many weird smelling things and had an interesting trip over.   It is a pretty place with a great walk along the beach and the sunset was unreal. Maybe some day I will go back there and enjoy more beautiful sunsets......but any place in Mexico is a dream to me.....no matter how poor, how rural, how slow or backward......I just love Mexico.

CHAPTER #35.....around the world cont.

PUERTO PENASCO, MEXICO..... is a quaint little Mexican village......kinda fishing but mostly tourist.......many Americans who go down for the winter months for some fun sun.  Ann and I drove down for a week......my first driving trip in Mexico and I have to admit I was petrified most the time, but it was Ann's car and she was driving and wasn't fazed by it all.......We stayed part of the time at the Holiday INN which had a good breakfast and a fun happy hour......then to save money on Ann's budget we moved to a place that is hard to describe......well in fact I won't even go into it......but take my word it was bad.   I had a friend who went down every winter and so I looked Cleon and Dave up and we spent a couple of fun days with them.   One day they took us shelling........gathering pretty shells and one night they invited us over for a big bonfire on the beach with some of their neighbors.....We enjoyed the shopping and the cute places on the beach to eat.  I bought my wonderful Mexican fountain and Ann bought several pots so we came home loaded......the nice part of driving.  We stopped to view the LONDON BRIDGE in Lake Havasue on the way down and took in the largest yard sale.....where we could have spent many days, but they did not have a hotel or any rooms there.  Yes Rocky Point was a fun trip and I am glad Ann talked me into it.

MAY WE HELP YOU?

 IT IS WHAT IT IS......And denial ain't just a river in Egypt.........The most intimate connection in your life is the one you have with yourself.  Dishonesty in this relationship is at best counterproductive, at worst catastrophic.  If you want your life to work, tell yourself the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.  We all engage in denial whether occasionally or habitually, often without realizing we are lying to ourselves at all.......and then there are times you know you are in denial......like when everyone in town knows your husband is messing around and your gut tells you he is, but you don't want to believe it......denial?  I am sure we all have been in denial about something in life at one time or another.  I am not getting fat.......my closet just shrinks my clothes.....oh yes.

Shirley and I took in a movie and ate afterwards today, Patty is coming over for coffee in the morning and Karrie and I are driving down to Provo Thursday to have lunch with Annie and let me see her dorm room.......and another week slips by!  Had two neat letters yesterday from our missionaries.........and Sherrie on cloud nine because the T J MAXX opened in Vernal!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKE AND ANDREA

Mike Happy Birthday ......I love you no matter how you look!  The latest  "Fiddler On the Roof!"  Also Happy Birthday to your cute wife Andrea......how convenient to both have a birthday on the same day and get it over with.  I have so many fun memories of our good times in the past.

Happy Birthday you two......so many fun times ahead of you......Hang in there. 

AND SO IT GOES......

All good things come to an end.......Saturday they bundled Andrea up and drove her off to college........I understand she wasn't sad when they drove off.......of course UVU is only 45 minutes from home. I love the picture of her at Lake Powell as she gets one last vacation in before she heads down to school and the books and a job.  Now Scottie is an only child with Richie on a mission.

Sherrie's boys came up Friday night with the two dogs and I had Pam's dog for the night ......so the dogs out numbered the people here.  Alex brought his new girl friend Lindsey (who is at UVU) by to meet me.....a really cute girl. Ken and I went to see Ninja Turtles and hit McDonalds.......Never a dull minute!

TRUST YOURSELF.......

Today I got a letter from my newest missionary......Brayden........I can see he is serious about his missionary work.....He told me how he was feeling the spirit and how much he was loving it AND then he went on to say on P-DAY they went to the Provo temple and he saw a lady that reminded him of me and how he started crying about the thought that I would not be with him in the Celestral Kingdom........He loved me very much and I had always been there for him and had always made him happy....."sooooo grandma for me, would you please ask Heavenly Father, with a sincere heart, if this is something you should do, for me?"  Wow, I have had many requests from my 9 grandchildren in the past years, but never anything that shook me up like this.......because I love him so much I will check in on this request.  He is off to a good start to becoming a great missionary!!!!
Tonight I have the two Christenson boys and their two dogs and Pam's dog......The parents are all in Park City for different reasons.  The twins are with a group celebrating Riche's 50 birthday and the Panniers are getting up early to take a hot-air balloon ride for Pam's birthday.
LIFE IS GOOD!

SETTLING FOR LESS.....

So interesting to watch my grandchildren find their way into adulthood.  This is Annie with her latest who just left Wednesday on a mission.......I would like to be around two years from now to see if they even remember each other.......there will be a lot of learning lessons in the next two years as she goes off to college this weekend.

Now we jump down to my darling Alex.....a few months home from his mission and already learning how fickle girls can be......This is cute Lindsey......his latest flame who is off to college this weekend (close by thank goodness).....will they develop  into something serious or is this just going to be one of many for each?  Oh to be young and in love.....I am not so old that I remember those days.
    It took my two older granddaughters a few years to find their one and onlys and both are married.  My oldest grandson is still hanging in with the same girl for 6 years....and we are waiting to see where that leads.....Each one so different!
       They all deserve the best and hopefully will not settle for less.......Why not give ourselves only good things?  When we believe we cannot have what we desire-----when we lack faith in ourselves and in the goodness of life----we settle for less.  Sometimes we decide that whatever is in front of us is better than nothing ......remember better than nothing isn't good enough. 
Yesterday was busy with bridge and then another Birthday dinner for Richard with Sherrie and Darren and finally home at 7:00 pretty tired.  Today is starting out as a pretty lazy day.....but oh well.

50 BIG ONES FOR RICH......

These two smiles were at dinner Sunday night.....Annie's Birthday 15th and her father Richard today........really need more than one candle though!  This is Richard's big 50th and he is still smiling.  Karrie was kind enough to put up a picture when he was very young with lots of curly hair and his two boys look a lot like him.  So many changes in the family this year......School starts for Scott tomorrow and this weekend they will move Annie off to college......and 10 more days left in summer....Annie's new boy friend goes into the MTC tomorrow......Rained most the day and I was off to Home Depot and Lowes checking out new bathroom fixtures today.....got the urge to remodel!  Now the big birthday push is over I can get serious about Christmas.  Bridge tomorrow.

BECAME A MOTHER.......47 YEARS AGO

Love this family picture of Pam and  her family on a cruise to Alaska two years ago....since Pam was a little girl she has fought having her picture taken since she was a little girls.....so I  am lucky to find her now and then.   47 years ago today I became a Mother.....the greatest title any woman can attain.....no matter how many years of college.....how many degrees you have..... or how famous you become........the only title that matters is "MOTHER" to someone.  I think you see this in the many movie stars now having babies and flonting it!  I have loved my 47 years as Pam's mother and I am very proud of her and the three wonderful grandchildren she has given me.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAM!

CELEBRATING......

Wow......some days are really busy.  Tomorrow is Pam's 57th birthday and Robbie is off deer hunting, sooooooo Pam and I decided to play today.  Went to the Farmers Market at 9:30, at the Wheeler Farm which is really beautiful.  Then off to the Village Inn for brunch and then off to see "Two Foot Journey".

In the movie I got a text from the Cooks.....Spaghetti Factory dinner at 4:00 for Annie's and Rich's birthday celebration.  Now I am ready to put on my PJ'S and stretch out.......Had fun with Pam and the Cooks and talked to Sherrie early, they flew home from Lake Powell for church and Kennedy's Patriarchal Blessing.....yes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM......102 YRS.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM.......It's been 44 long years since you were here and I have missed you so many times.   I wish you could have lived to see Pam and the twins grow up and see my nine wonderful grandchildren......and know you had a great-grandson...Brayden.....Born on your birthday.  I have had a very good life......with my share of ups-and downs .......but looking back it has been a wonderful life......thanks to you and Dad, my brother and sisters and my small town growing up days.....I had lots of friends, boy friends, loved to dance and be a cheer-leader those many years.....college...... and being a stewardess. getting married and having 3 beautiful daughters who gave me 9 wonderful grandchildren......Concierge, volunteer work and travel around the world and adjusting to living in the world of machines.......and waiting for my first great-grandchild.  Yes, I did all this because you taught me I could.......love you.

BRAYDEN TURNS 19.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELDER CHIRISTENSON.......You have been gone 6 whole days and I really do miss you!  I think back over the last 18 years and all the fun we have had together.  You were always so good to me......it was such fun watching you and Annie grow up together and be my other set of twins.....I look forward to our emails the next two years and hearing about your new life.  Today is also your great-grandmother Yeomans  birthday.....she would be 102 today and I know she is keeping an eye on you for me.  Thanks for all you did for Kennie to help him grow up and be like you.   I love you, I miss you, Stay safe.

ANNIE TURNS 19.........

WHEEEE.........ANNIE COOK is 19.......What a fun 18 years we have had with you.  You always kept us guessing.  You have been so fun the past few years, new boys friends, fun new dresses, parties, cheering and ball games and your fun trip to INDIA!  Now you are packing to go off to college and move on to another chapter in your life.   I am so proud of you and good luck.....I am anxious to see what the next few years bring to you........also Happy Birthday (yesterday).

EVERY LIFE HAS A STORY.......

  Every life has its story.......you don't always tell everyone....or anyone.....I can remember driving up the canyon and thinking how easy it would be to not turn my wheel and just keep going over the edge......then I remembered I had a precious little girl at home and decided not to let any man ruin my life. Yes, that was many years ago but I remember the feeling......sooooooooooo  look around and see if you can help someone that may be at that point but can't seem to talk about it.  But my life also has many wonderful memories starting when I was young and would visit my grandparents.  I remember sitting in the sun in the backyard and making hollyhock dolls and pretending all kinds of wonderful things......I was safe in that back yard........... I can see it today the board walk to the outhouse, the garden that was half flowers that grandma let me pick peas off the vines and pull up a carrot to eat. Out past the outhouse was some sheds.....one was the chicken coops and we would check for eggs and she knew all her chickens by name.......there was a screened-in back porch where grandma made sauerkraut, pickles and homemade root-beer.  Twice a day grandpa walked down to Riffey's pasture to milk Pansey......I would sit on the style and watch or now and then try my hand at it.......later there would be milk and cookies......I wish everyone could have warm memories of their grandparents......my life does have many good stories from childhood till now.  I think the real secret to creating an amazing future isn't planning, luck or connections.  It is asking yourself a simple question-----what will make me happy-----and listening to the answer......my heart knows what I want and need.

WHY DWELL ON "WHAT IF'S"

Why dwell on "what if's" and worst-case scenarios when so many problems actually solve themselves?  Why focus on what might go wrong when so much can go right?  Worrying never did anybody any good. 

 I already know everything I need to know but some of it is stored in my subconscious.......and the subconscious mind is always working.......It is active night and day whether I act upon it or not.   My subconscious is the builder of my body, but I cannot consciously perceive or hear that inner silent process.  If I keep my conscious mind busy with the expectations of the best , and make sure the thoughts I habitually think are based on things that are true, just and harmonious then I am moving in the right direction......so take care of your conscious mind and  know in your heart and soul that your subconscious mind is always expressing, reproducing  and manifesting according to your habitual thinking.

Remember, just as water takes the shape of the pipe it flows through  the life principle in you flows through you according to the nature of your thoughts.......

YOUR SUBCONSCIOUS MIND NEVER GROWS OLD, IT IS TIMELESS, AGELESS AND ENDLESS.  It is a part of the universal mind of GOD.......which was never born and will never die........

HAPPY DAYS OF SUMMER......

 OH......those happy days of summer......everyday a fun picture pops up of my family off having fun somewhere......Annie was a life guard at Willow Creek Country Club all summer and I guess all work and no play ......makes this a fun job.

Off to Baer Lake and a little bicycle ride......I am sure this wasn't Karrie's idea but she is a good mother and a good sport.......

Awh.......a dinner cruise  in Minnesota.....Pam with Bill.....and looks like a beautiful night.

One last fling before leaving on a mission......the Christenson family at Universal Studio......Kennedy loved it.

Annie with her little swim class......so cute. School starts next week and the days are getting shorter and cooler.......Some days you just have to stop and think.....I am so much luckier than I realize........I have dreams to dream, talents to tap, surprises to delight in......special people to meet and paths to follow that will take me to amazing places and bring me more blessings than I can count.....and much of this has to do with the wonderful family I have.

HE IS MOVING ON.......

Today Bray boarded a plane and flew off to Spokane to start his two year mission......he was so ready to go. He will be a rose in God's flower bed here on earth.  His smile is warm and instant and people will love him even if they don't join the church.......but they might.  I will miss you so much......

Took flowers and a cheese cake to my dear friend Patty whose mother died Friday.  She was thrilled with the flowers as no one in the family had even bothered to bring her flowers......the last three weeks have been long and painful for the family.  Elva is in a better place......would have been 100 in January.

Four birthdays this weekend so busy getting ready to celebrate all of them......Nice letter from our Mexico Missionary Richie......6 months more to go.  Sudden news......Robin Williams found dead in his home..... he was 63.........they think suicide!  So many fun movies with him......he will be missed.

                             NOTHING EVER GOES AWAY UNTIL IT TEACHES US WHAT WE NEED TO KNOW!

SAD DAY.......

My really good friend called last night and told me her mother had just died.......she was only 99 1/2????  ELVA was a darling person and deaf as a door nail in her latter years.....Patty was the best daughter ever.......seldom missed a day to visit her and  Elva ate bags of "tooties rolls".....She lived alone ......which was remarkable.....loved the jazz and read a book a day.   Three weeks ago she fell and broke her hip and she went down from there.  If this was all of Patty's problems it would be understandable she was  relieved......but Elva was just one of them.....which I won't go into.  After I talked to her she had to call Sandra ....her sister and Dale....her brother and tell them.....It has not hit her.......her mother is gone!

Well rambling.......When you look at our government you begin to feel we have gotten to the point where everybody has a right but nobody has a responsibility.......especially Obama!

Love the late calls "Hey, are you asleep?"   "No I'm skydiving" 

Did some garage sales today....watered Pam's plants, feed the fish in the pond and added water.....tonight I ran over to Karrie's and feed her two dogs and let them run an hour...... Just one more day of this routine and then I am .gonna need a vacation Monday!  Life is good!

 

UNTIL???????

AMEN!!!!!!  I need at least 1/2 hour to get up each morning.......wake up......stretch.......check the clock......maybe 15 more minutes......stretch some more and say your morning prayers......the warm weather is easier than the cold, rainy weather on my arthritis......to get moving every morning.  Avoid the floor if possible.   Most morning I don't have a schedule to meet, but this week I have Bree and I know she can't cross her legs too long.  Also watering Pam's flower pots and feeding their gold fish in the pond.  Tomorrow I get to add two more dogs to the list......run over and feed and let Karrie's dogs out to piddle.....Thank goodness we all live close. The Panniers are in Minnesota with Nicci and the Cooks are going to their condo in Baer Lake.

Once your up......do you have a plan?  I usually do and have been organized all my life  They say winners choose a path, then are not easily detoured.  And how long do they keep going?  They persevere UNTIL:  For them, there is no stopping UNTIL they have achieved their goal. As Thomas Edison said......"I have not failed.....I have just found 10,000 ways that won't work."   To many of us say SOMEDAY......but hello......SOMEDAY is not a day of the week. You say to yourself, "Someday I am going to lose weight".....well you might as well cross that off your "to do"list.  UNTIL you set something as a focused goal......it will just turn into a SOMEDAY!

CHAPTER 35...around the world cont.

ISLA MUJERS

CANCUN, MEXICIO.......My first trip to Cancun was right after the hurricane had devastated the island......The big hotels which line the beach looking like the modern city of Hawaii......had no beaches left and many pools were filled with debris.......many roads were washed out.   WESTERN TRAVEL paid for my friend Ann and I to go see if there was anything left of the city to send tourist too.....everything was competed once we got there.  We did not stay in a fancy hotel but a smaller one in the middle of town.......which was great as we like to shop in the market. Cancun is a closer Hawaii ........man made city......to the U.S. and a very popular and reasonable place for Americans to vacation with great beaches and good food and music. Ann and I took two side trips one to ISLA MUUJERS (the island of women where pirates keep their women stashed) and we spent a couple of nights in the resort of ACUMAL......a very popular area to scuba dive in.  I loved our quiet visit there where we were about the only guests, it is popular also because it is close to the big ruins of CHICHEN NITZA.  We took a boat trip to Isla Mujers.......we enjoyed the beach and shopping up and down the dusty roads of the little village......nice restaurnts

What's your next move?

I feel so sorry for people without grandchildren....Today my two youngest....Ken and Scottie and I went to McDonald's for lunch and to see "Guardians of the Universe"........They dutiful each get one arm and shuttle me across the road.....wonder if they ever think how I make it when they are not with me?   I love the attention........ they both tower over me.  Soon this will end and they will be off on a mission or to college or somewhere where they have no time for Gram.

From the moment we're born, we're programmed to believe that life should progress in a linear fashion:  We start out weak, ignorant, and unsure then steadily become stronger, smarter, and more confident.  We accomplish this feat by deftly navigating the obstacles we encounter, knowing exactly when and how to adjust our trajectory or make a courageous leap.

Scary how our culture doesn't  teach us the things we need to know to progress on with out life out of high-school.....We are turned lose to embark upon this wild ride called life with neither an instruction book nor any sense of when.....or how......to change and be grown up.  Some people slid right into the role.....some people take a long time to learn the lessons needed to grow up.

This is my oldest grand-son, William and his significant other Liz,.......he told me he did not want to grow up!  He is 23 .......and still trying to figure out what he wants out of life.  I love him to death and will always be here for him.

THE AMAZING HEALING POWER OF WORDS......

"Take the day off from stress!  Life may never be completely stress-free, but it doesn't have to be so stress-full.  So today try trading doubts for dreams and worries for wonderings-----and do one less thing than you planned.....It can wait.....your well being can't."

My mother loved to write and I also do.......As I look back I see it was a healing power for her as she wrote about her cancer ordeal......and she wrote a few lines every day when her only son (and baby) was in the Korean War.....when she was sad or lonesome.....her book of poems are a testament to her different moods and I am sure were a comfort to her.  I also find my writing to do many things for me......

Free writing can lower your blood pressure......if you write about anything that comes into your head ......something that made you laugh today, a visit with a friend or neighbor or a taste of something  good.....Just begin to write paying no attention to grammar or spelling.....you will create a stream of consciousness---called flow---that's proven to reduce tension.  It changes your breathing it slows down and naturally lowers your blood pressure.  How do you start?  "Once upon a time........

So your frustrated?   Writing in which you reflect on your experiences makes you sharper  and healthier.  If you use expressive phrases, such as "Now I realize' or "This happened because " tend to solve problems more easily and even show stronger immune system function.  When you use the word 'because' it makes you think about what caused something to happen or how it affected you. It forces strong emotions to be looked at by the left "logical" side of the brain.  This can have the same de-stressing benefits as talking it out with friends!

If you are hurting from aches and pains write about nature......simply writing about serene nature scenes, from rhythmic ocean waves to picturesque fall foliage, is proven to help relieve chronic pain.......that's because channeling soothing natural imagery lowers the stress hormones that ignite inflammation.

Depressed or blue?  Write as fast as you can a list of happy words.......fulfilled, surprised, optimistic........ things you have recently experienced......A list of happy words boosts your happiness more than writing complete sentences in a journal......The rapid-fire succession of positive thoughts triggers the release of  "feel good" hormones in the brain experts explain......LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!   

Also a journal is a wonderful foot-print of your life for you family to enjoy many years after you are gone.....I have done a lot of journaling........I journaled my many trips around the world to read back and reflect on.....now my big love is my blog which now has pictures of the family, cartoons and cute sayings but also a paper trail of my life as I ease into "old age"...... I would love to be a speaker or teacher teaching "NEW DIRECTIONS IN JOURNALING"......on my bucket list. 

Rained and cooled down today......went shopping to Costco and started my Christmas shopping????                  

 

LOOKS GOOD - SMELLS GOOD

Enjoying the IHop special with Karrie and Brayden.......or our last breakfast......for two years.  He will be in the MTC this week and leave for Washington Monday.........I guess the answer is to keep busy till I see him again.  It's been a cold and rainy day so just puttered around the house and washed my hair.......
       On to something more interesting.....so many changes in the world since I was born and things are constantly moving on.......Just read a story about a new suit for men-----a scented suit, as a matter of fact.  They make them in South Korea, about $400 bucks!  The secret are these  microscopic capsules implanted in the fabric.......they pop open when rubbed or shook to release the scent of pine trees, peppermint or maybe lavender?????  Girls would probably like the lavender, if you smelled like a flower bush, you might have problems with the bees and if you smelled like pine trees if you were walking in the woods you might have a bear attack you!  Children's clothing could be bubble gum, jelly beans and ice cream.   In the winter I'd wear my chili con carne sweatshirt with my saltine mittens......Hot days I'd wear fruity clothes that smelled like watermelon and kiwi. .....I would stay away from the fish, garlic and onion smells......but maybe some men would choose them....  I think food-scented clothing may be the greatest new invention.......I wish I had invented it!

GIVE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS......

I love this picture......This is Alex and his new razor.....he is 21 and just home from a mission ......and I guess he forgot how to drive the past two years?????  We tried to teach him when you see a big rock in the road.......you go around it and not over it!......These boys?  I hope he remembers to use his seat belt.

Some days we just seem to get stuck in our "STUFF"......a world against us day or a poor me day.  One woman's story made me think.....She was instructed......when she got to feel she had nothing......to find a homeless woman on the street.....buy her a meal and give her a couple of dollars.  She tried this and said ,"When I handed the food and wad of dollar bills to this woman, something profound happened to me."...She continued...."I was over whelmed with humility and felt very comforted and peaceful.   I also felt a rush of energy that refueled my spirit that, less then one hour ago , felt drained.....Giving that night felt like a gift to me.  When I am in service to another person, I am moving from place of self-centeredness to selflessness.  The act of giving inherently carries gratitude in it......For me, it is impossible to give without feeling gratitude."    When she went home she prayed with gratitude for her warm house, enough food to eat and clothes to wear and was warm and safe.......she could shower and not have to beg for money........ This person's good deed made me realize I have much more to do in my life......besides feel sorry for myself.  Here are the lessons she felt she learned from this one good deed......1.  When I give with an open heart, I receive the profound gift of humility.........2.  Gratitude keeps my heart open.......3.  Giving opens space for me to receive because giving and receiving are part of the same naturally reciprocal cycle..  4.  Selflessness does not mean giving of myself to the extent that I am left depleted.  5.  When I give, I am living the practice of being truly human.   6.  I rarely move back into a place of scarcity when I remember to give mindfully each day.

?????????????

Why would anyone want to live to be old?????  Old .......when you don't have a mate.......can be lonely and boring.  So many weekends I force myself to "just keep busy".......I was up early and off to garage sales.....then to a stupid movie about monkeys because I didn't want to go home.......and now I am  drowning my frustrations in chips and salsa.....just because!  I keep thinking about Rose Mary Cloony's song....."IS THAT ALL THERE IS?".....Am I to the point in my life when...... that  is all there is?  I look at my many single friends and I think they think this......but don't realize they are thinking it......Maybe we are put here on earth to have babies....raise them and then send them off on missions, college or get married and they never return to us again......in the same way.....I guess I just forget this also happened to my parents......and is happening to my girls. 

Laughable.....today at the garage sales I bought "Spiritual roots of human Relations" and 'The 7 habits of highly effective people" by Stephen R. Covey......Do you think I need his advice?????