HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEX

This is my second grandson, Alex Christenson and he is celebrating his 18th birthday today...........He was the cutest baby. So alert, friendly and the charisma just oozed from him. Today he is a tall, handsome boy and still very lovable. I am very proud of him. From day one as a little guy he loved cars and would spend hours in the dirt making roads for his cars. Today he spends hours in his parents big blue barn working on cars. If they need something serious he takes them to his welding class at school and they have a new project to work on. The girls like him, but right now he is shy and has decided he doesn't have the time or money for girls......one of these days a very smart girl will change his mind and steal his heart. He is a hard worker and still has time to play. Winter time is snowmobiling at the Cabin in Part City, Summer time the house boat in Lake Powell feeds that love of swimming, water skiing etc. Vernal has miles of trails for horses and dirt bikes and the lake in the back yard isn't bad either. Such a great boy, and he loves his grandmother too. He is at the cabin this weekend with friends to celebrate, it started snowing last night and is still snowing and I am sure he is loving it. Happy Birthday Al.

My nephew is getting married today in the Manti Temple. Mike and Andrea are each bringing with them 4 children, which is quite a challenge for anyone. Thursday Karrie helped me buy a new chandelier and I got it up yesterday, new things are fun. Two more days and it will be March, where does the time go?

ONE STICK - TWO STICK

Families are forever, and the best way to get through life is to be there for each other, through thick or thin. My parents loved us unconditionally, and even though you may not have always known it, we children would be there for each other. When mother died , we gathered around Dad, and he needed us more......and we needed him. The following story (supposedly passed from an old African King) is such a good example of the power of a family.

An old man is dying he calls his people to his side. He gives a short sturdy stick to each of his many off springs, wives and relatives. "Break the Stick", he instructs them. With some effort, they all snap their sticks in half. "This is how it is when a soul is alone without anyone. They can be easily broken."

The old man next gave each of his kin another stick, and says, "This is how I would like you to live after I pass away. Put your sticks together in bundles of two and threes, now break these bundles in half." No one could or can break the sticks when there are two or more in a bundle. The old man smiles. "We are strong when we stand with another soul. When we are truly with another we cannot be broken." This can be even more strong when families are bound together with a circle of love, the rubber band shows that circle clearly and as each family is encircled in the same band of love, the bundle becomes even more strong and supportive.

The Metaphor that goes with this is a young stick is sturdy and can survive alone with sunshine and water, but as the years go by and it is attacked by insects, drougth and weather it becomes old and begins to deteriorate and without the support of the young new generations of growth it soon becomes decayed and dies. This is true of families. This is true of businesses, both large and small, and of departments in business. Of support groups of states and of countries. Let us put our sticks together and love and support each other as an everyday pattern of life. This is how life is meant to be. Look at the turmoil the world is in today and see how this lesson could help millions of people.

BUSY WEEKEND

After four days baby sitting the three Cookie grandchildren and three dogs, plus mine I can well understand it when my cute daughter tells me she is tired. All three children were on antibiotics, so I played, doctor, baby sitter and dog tender and you know how that goes. Let them in....let them out......let them in.....etc.etc.etc. The dogs are BIG dogs and Marley and I battle over who is going to be the alfa dog in the house! I don't always win either. He is such a lover it is hard to really get mad at him but once in awhile I like to go through a door first, or down the stairs first or decide when I want company on my bed. Marley just doesn't seem to understand that. The children know I'm the ALFA of their group. My cute 9 year old rather demands my full attention. I played about 100 games of UNO with him and won once or twice. We took in the Nickel Cade and McDonalds and I learned how to use the famous "Red Box" that seem to be everywhere. Nothing to it, punch in the movie you want, swipe your credit card and pow out comes the movie. I was happy to learn something new. Then, they said when you take them back grandma just push a button and drop them in the slot.............sure..........I couldn't find a button and they wouldn't fit in the slot. I finally went into the 7-11 and admitted to the clerk the machine was smarter than I......not to mention the grand kids.....and could they please show me how to get those movies back into that red box. A very nice young girl gave me a look and showed me. But now I know, you lift the screen, tell it your back, it opens up and confirms you have returned the movie. You know that is really kinda interesting and not a bad thing to know.

I also took Saturday afternoon off and went to the Ballet, "Sleeping Beauty" with Pam and Tiffany, it was so beautifully done and the costumes were amazing. Of course, Gigi and I were glad to get back in our own little beds last night.

A THOUGHT

I love this thought from Anil's Ghost:

"Anil would slip out of her sandals and stand in the shallow water, her toes among the white petals, her arms folded as she undressed the day, removing layers of events and incidents so they would no longer be within her......she would stand there for a while, then walk wet-footed to bed."

I have found you to can practice this thought. Each night before you go to sleep "undress your mind." One by one remove each layer of events and incidents of your day, fold them nicely and tuck them away for the night so, they are no longer a part of you. Tomorrow take out what you need, the rest leave tucked nicely out of minds reach, so as not to complicate your day. This is better than any sleeping pill. This is a good wabi-sabi exercise,......... you know the Japanese Art of looking at every thing bad or ugly and finding something good or beautiful about it.......

As I look back my X had a way of burrowing under my intelligence until I became uncertain I had any left. I will not allow myself to step back to the trauma of the 16 months of my divorce, 30 years trashed and smeared with hate and tears and fears of the future. How do you start your life over at 54........can you? Well, trust in the Universe and God they step forward with determination and say of course you can. In fact you will find in the long run it will be even better now. AND IT IS.

A wonderful Valentine's Day weekend just flew by and I am looking forward to baby sitting next weekend with three grandchildren......oh, and three dogs! We had a couple of beautiful sunny warm 60 degree days and are now in for a weekend of 30 degree weather......Oh Spring, hurry up and get here.

VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy Valentines Day!.......I wish I could look back on a lot of Happy Valentines Day, but I can't. It is like they quite having Valentine's Day after I graduated from High School until, well the time my first daughter was in the first grade and brought home a valentine she had made me in school. My X of 30 years didn't seem to know about "that day" either. He never sent flowers, bought candy or took me to dinner. When the three girls got old enough to like Valentine's Day they have made my Valentine's Days very memorable. Even if your not madly in love with someone it is a nice way to say thank you for being there for me. Today my door bell rang and the postman left this box for me..........of course many thoughts rushed through my mind, a secret admirer, an old love, a surprise from a neighbor. The girls had all showed me their love and I have beautiful flowers everywhere to prove it. No, it was from the "Fairy Tales Brownie" Company and was sent by a sweet niece. What a fun surprise, and are they good! Life is full of surprises and it is so wonderful when it is a good surprise. I do look back on the wonderful years of childhood when you HAD to have the prettiest Valentine Box in your class. What boys sent you one, did it mention LOVE on it? Who got the most cards? My mother told how when she was young, a new girl moved into her class and didn't get any valentines, she felt so bad she erased her name off the back of all her valentines and gave them to this new girl whose name was Thyra Dyer and they remained best friends the rest of their lives. I have thought of that story every year and realized it showed me the kind of mother I had, she was always doing things like that to make someone else's life better. I guess that is what Valentine's Day is really about.

FEAR

I'm not sure what Fear would look like, but to me fear makes me feel, like this guy looks.

"Because of feelings of fear, many people never "step out", therefore they never "find out" what they are capable of."

We have all been a victim of fear. Fear can be connected to confidence. Some people have no confidence in themselves at all. What causes this? Perhaps their health, wealth, status, looks or a weight problem. Under-confidence is a condition---and can cause us to be afraid or have fear of things. Fear is an emotional virus, it begins as a thought then affects your behaviors and emotions.

If you are fearful it is hard to reach your potential in life. You are always to afraid to try something new or different. It can become a cruel ruler, fear brings with it the thought of punishment in some form......or something bad. I always wanted to be a public speaker and loved being on the Speakers Bureau for the Rape Crisis Center for quite a few years. I loved being able to inform and teach people. Then I had a chance to speak on Cruises under the umbrella of "Life Enrichment" but I was afraid and almost pasted up the chance. Finally I had to face the fear and do it anyway.......I did it and loved it. A growing experience in my life. There are still some things I fear that I may never conquer, like fear of snakes and spiders, sky diving, being a race car driver........but, each day brings new challenges and I will not be afraid to tackle them.

MIND BODY HEALING

Yesterday I went to a fun class at the Senior Center given by W. Higashi. One of the subjects was from "The Dynamic Laws of Healing."

The word "Occult" means that which is secret. The ancient Egyptians had a special secret name they called on for producing wonderful results. That occult name was "I AM".

"I AM" was the Hebrew's name for God, and they became known as "People of the I AM." There are strange powers lying dormant within the name. All that you dream of as desirable can be released through the redeeming words, "I AM", because these words stir up the divine nature within you. "I AM" is the name of GOD within you.

Every time you say "I AM" you have released a dynamic force that is going to produce results. Since this dynamic force has no choice but to produce whatever you join to it, be careful what you attach to the words "I AM." If you say, "I am lonely," "I am tired," "I am weak," "I am getting old," "I am unhappy," "I am a failure," "I am sick", you are exercising a power that will produce results.

Even though it doesn't seem true at the moment if you say , "I am healthy," "I am happy," "I am prosperous," "I am a success," it will begin to come true. Jesus knew the power and used the "I AM" statements upward: "I am the way, the truth, the life, a king, a good shepherd."

Your "I AM" power is especially effective in healing. When you speak the words "I AM", every cell and atom of your being springs to attention. Many people have experienced healing's of mind, body and affairs by using the following simple formula: "I am healthy, strong, well , eternally youthful."Through proper use of your "I AM" power, you will find yourself filled with the creative power of the universe, to which nothing is impossible. You can affect others in a positive direction by saying "I am joy." (Read Isiah) Yes, "I AM having a wonderful day!"