The Intruder!

I have a little dog that only barks when someone, that she doesn't know, comes to our house. Other than that she is pretty quiet. But a couple of days ago she barked, and barked and barked ALL day. She was driving me crazy. After a couple days of this I finally found out why she was acting so upset. I'm sure that she was trying to tell me that we had an unwanted and uninvited intruder.

I was putting some clothes away in my husband's drawer when I saw the evidence that we had been violated! After I jumped up and down, screamed and ran around the house yelling, "Ew. . .yuck. . .gross. . .@#*%," I went back into the bedroom to look again to see if I really had seen what I thought I saw. Yes it was there, proof of an intruder, staring me in the face, as if to say to me, "Ha ha. . .Catch me if you can!!" Stratigically sitting on my husband's WHITE t-shirt and WHITE socks were several. . .yeah you got it. . . MOUSE droppings! How disgusting! How could this happen. . .well I guess it does happen when you live in a place surrounded by grain and potato fields. Where's the neighborhood cat when you need one? My dog may be a barker but she's not a hunter! Anyway all of a sudden the detective, CSI investigator and "cleanliness" patrol in me kicked in gear. "I'll show you" I thought. Nothing invades my home with out a fight!

(Okay he wasn't this cute)
Anyway. . . after I got my composer I jumped in my car and ran to get an arsenal of weaponry. I was gonna take that baby out!! So after setting up several traps with yummy cheese and peanut butter and putting out lots and lots of DeCon, I sat and waited. And waited and waited.
24 hours went by. . . and nothin. . .that little devil was playing games with me. And then it happened. . . last night when all was calm . . . I was reading a good book and I heard it. . . SNAP! What a joyous sound. But I couldn't look so I sent Joe in to check. VICTORY! (Ok all of you animal lovers don't write me hate mail) Don't get me wrong. . . I love some mice. . .Mickey and Minnie, Jerry, Fieval, Stuart Little and even the 3 blind mice. But when they break in and go into places that they shouldn't be. . .they've crossed the line.
Anyway. . .the mystery is solved, the dog has calmed down, the clothes have been washed and we are back to normal. But the weapons are still in place, protecting our home, just in case he has a relative who comes looking for him.

Don't ever give up on your dreams!

This is an amazing video of a guy named Paul Potts. He is a singer who became the winner of the first series of ITV's Britain's Got Talent, singing operatic arias and impressing the judges in all of his performances. At the time of his victory on Britain's Got Talent, he had been working in The Carphone Warehouse, but following his win he has been signed by the show's judge Simon Cowell to record an album. Potts has previously worked in unpaid opera productions from 1999 to 2003, however, a series of illnesses combined with a bicycle accident in 2003 brought an end to his amateur opera career.

Watch this amazing clip of his first performance. You can go to youtube.com and type in Paul Potts Final to see his winning performance. Sit back and enjoy!

Hitting the books!

Well my 5 1/2 month break is over and I'm back in school. I went back to college 3 yrs ago. I am in my junior year and I am majoring in Sociology with a minor in Marriage and Family Studies. This semester I am taking 12 credits. My classes are: Social Psychology; Religions Effects on Society; Anthropology and Covenant Marriage. It is great - I love it! But it is very time consuming. So I may not be posting as often, but keep checking back because I love having this blog and I will try to post something as often as I can.

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers.
This includes age, weight and height.
Let the doctors worry about them.
That is why you pay "them!"

2. Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning.
Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.
Never let the brain idle.
"An idle mind is the devil's workshop."
And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things..

5. Laugh often ... long and loud.
Laugh until you gasp for breath.
(Go see the movie "hairspray with your friends.)

6. The tears happen.
Endure, grieve, and move on.
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves.
Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love ..
whether it's ... family, pets, keepsakes,
music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health.
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips.
Take a trip to the mall ... even to the next county .
to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them~
at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.

We all need to live life to its fullest each day.

Mooove on over Bessie!

I hate traffic. I hate delays in traffic even more. Traffic problems are one thing that I don't have to worry about living in a small community. Well . . . not usually anyway. The other day my friend and I decided to go golfing. We decided to get an early start in the morning to avoid the crowds and the heat of the afternoon. We headed out, were making good time, even took a cut across, short cut road to get to the golf coarse quicker, when all of a sudden we came over a hill and we couldn't believe what we saw ahead of us. A big traffic jam!! It wasn't at a total standstill but close to it. The traffic was barely moving. As we came up on it we just couldn't believe our bad luck. How much was this going to delay us? How long would it take to get through?

As we inched along my friend, being the dare-devil that she is, decided to try to go out around and pass the traffic and try to get ahead of it. I couldn't believe the attitudes of some of these individuals as we were trying to pass. Some were just sitting, not even trying to move, just eating their breakfast, enjoying the beauty of the morning. Some were quite rude and just cut right in front of us and others were downright stubborn and wouldn't let us pass them for anything. In fact they were acting like real PIGS. . . well . . .more like . . .COWS!



A whole herd to be exact! They weren't in any big hurry and they really didn't care that we were. They were just enjoying their morning commute from one field to the next.



Well we eventually made it through with only a few cow pies on the tires and some dust on the windshield to show for our travel delay. It didn't slow us down much . . . in fact we were still the first ones on the golf coarse. Animal traffic . . .one of the joys of country living.

Great Women. . .

Who do you look up to or admire? Over the years I've known many wonderful women who have touched my life and help make me a better person. Of coarse the first women in my life were my mom and my aunts. They were instrumental in shaping me at a young age and showed me what good women are like. They helped me develop virtuous qualities and values as well as skills that I hope I'm passing on to my daughters.

Then at a young age "girl-friends" entered the picture. And over the years I've had many friends who have made such a difference in my life. We cry together, laugh together, share, support, encourage, counsel, listen, watch scarey movies, golf, shop, do lunch. . . the list goes on. What would we do with out friends?

I thank all of my friends for accepting me for who I am and loving me inspite of myself. And I thank the Lord for letting my path cross with such great women who have inspired me and lifted me and helped me be a better me.

It's "BEAUTIFUL WOMEN" MONTH

Did you know that it's Beautiful Women Month? Well, someone told me it is, and even if it isn't there is never a bad time to celebrate "beautiful women" and that means you!!! And me too! We are all beautiful in our own way and so it's good to celebrate the beauty in each other.

Below is a wonderful poem Audrey Hepburn wrote when asked to share her "beauty tips." It was read at her funeral years later.

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes,
seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the
hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his/her fingers through it
once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands; one for helping yourself, and the other for helping others."


If you share this with another woman, something good will happen.
You will boost another woman's self esteem, and she will know that you
care about her.

Have a "beautiful" day!

Cameroon Saints Travel to Aba Nigeria Temple

This is an amazing story. And it makes me feel quite bad at the excuses I use that keep me from attending the temple regularly. . .

. . . But, then again. . . that 30 miles to the Idaho Falls Temple can be trying on a hot summer day. What about all of the stop lights and freeway traffic...and trying to find a parking place. . . It can be real trying.

Just kidding! I can only hope to be as faithful as these saints.

Read this amazing story Here

Installing a new phone. . .how hard could it be?

If I haven't answered the phone or returned your calls recently it's because our main phone/answering machine finally bit the dust. After many unsuccessful attempts to revive it we finally accepted the fact that it was gone. After a few tears were shed we said our goodbyes and buried it deep with in the garbage. We moved on by heading to Radio Shack to find a new phone. After what seemed like hours of listening to the salesman tell us about every phone in the store and all of their unbelievable features. . .blah. . .blah. . .we walked out of the store with the perfect cordless phone/answering machine with several nice features, a reasonable price, but MOST importantly - the words "Easy installation and Set-Up" written on the box. Now thats my kind of phone.

We got home all excited to set up our new phone and the first thing the manual tells us is that we have to charge the battery pack for 15-20 hrs. Easy enough-we plugged it in and went to bed. Twenty-four hours later is when the headache began. First off-the box said that a "Quick Start Guide" was included. Their definition of "Quick" and mine are very different. The book had 20 pages of "The Basics" and 30 pages of "Beyond the Basics". I said to myself, "This phone aint gonna be workin today. I've got to read this novel of instructions first!"


In my reading I did find one helpful bit of information. It said not to connect the phone to a coin-operated system. Boy was I ever so greatful-the last thing I need is a pay phone in my house.

Well somewhere amid all of the mumbo-jumbo I finally found out how to just plug in the phone so it works. But I'll probably have to wait for one of my kids to come home for a visit to help me set up and understand all of the "remarkable features" included with this new phone. Until then I can at least get your calls. Somewhere in the "Quick Start Guide" I'm sure it tells how to record my own beautiful voice on the answering machine-but until I find that you'll be greeted from some robot guy that lives in the phone. Go ahead and leave your message - I'm sure I'll get it once I figure out how to "Listen" to them. Oh and BTW can anyone tell me how to set the clock on my DVD player?

My babies. . .

Ok so all of my kids are grown and gone and I don't have any grandkids yet so I've got the next best thing to take pictures of and spoil. DOGS! Not just any old dogs but "my babies". Yes it's true. . .my kids say that my husband and I treat the dogs better than we treat them (meaning the kids). And this may be true at times. We have been guilty of talking to the dogs first when we come home before talking to our kids. But I just say, "If you would run to greet me at the door when I come home and jump into my arms and smother me with kisses like the dogs do, I might treat you better."



Dogs show this type of devotion readily. I think that we can learn alot from dogs. They show affection for no reason other than to be friendly. They are so content to lie at your feet while you watch television or work in your office.


They enjoy the simple things in life like having their tummies rubbed, having hugs and playing with toys.


They provide entertainment by doing things that humans can’t. Heres a few other reasons why I love my dogs:

Top 10 Reasons I Love my Dogs

1. They never stay mad


2. They never talk back
3. They are never to busy to listen
4. They keep your legs warm at night
5. They always want to go outside, even if it's raining
6. They never fail to make me laugh
7. If I am unmotivated to go for a walk, they always find
a way to get me to go (and I always feel better after...)
8. They love me even when I forget to feed them (they don't let me forgot for too long)
9. I don't have to pick up any food I drop on the floor
10. They are ALWAYS happy to see me


Research has even shown that owning a pet can have measurable health benefits. A dog can be a wonderful companion and bring endless joy and happiness into your life.

Someday soon I hope to have grandkids that I can take pictures of, spoil, and love unconditionally. I look forward to that day.
Call me crazy, but for me, my dogs are my perfect buddies - and for now
. . . that’s all that matters!

Clouds

Ever since I was a kid I have loved looking at clouds. Do you remember laying on your back in the grass on a warm, lazy summer day looking up at clouds trying to decipher shapes, faces, animals etc? Those were the days! Clouds are amazing things. They can cool down a hot summer day and bring a gentle warm rain. But anyone who has done much cloud watching knows that they can change quite rapidly. Within minutes a cloud can change from a white puffy looking marshmellow to large, dark, boiling, monsterous thunderstorm bringing with it wind, rain and lightning.

I took these pictures of the clouds yesterday from my yard. What started out as a nice, cool, cloudy day ended up with a night of heavy rain, flashes of lightning and rumbling thunder. Even though the dogs ended up under the bed, shaking with fear, we turned off the lights, pulled up the blinds and enjoyed the light show.






they float, drift
sail on the wind
don’t need anchors
know tempest and calm
hide moon and stars
rain on our parade
enhance sunrise and sunset
depress us
inspire us
make us want to see beyond.

LAugHteR! :)

I love to laugh. And in this day and age with all of the sadness out there in the world and with the trials that we face each day - we need to laugh. I also love to make other people laugh. It makes me happy to see others happy.

So I've added a "Laughter"page. I will try to put something there everyday so check it out if your world needs a smile. And then share that smile because happiness is contagious!

Empty nesters

All summer I have watched a couple of birds in the tree in my back yard. In the spring I noticed them working hard to build a nest and taking turns watching guard over their new home. Soon I heard tiny peeps and realized that there were baby birds in the nest. I watched those parents take good care of those babies as they searched and brought worms for them to eat. I'm not sure how it happened but one day I went out to find the baby birds on the ground with the mom and pop surrounding them. Their protective squaks told the babies to run for cover in the weeds. Their efforts to teach them to fly must've paid off because now the birds are gone and the empty nest sits quietly in the tree, waiting for them to someday return. I don't know where they went but I'm sure that they have spread their wings and are off exploring the world.


Our babies have all grown and have spread their wings and are off exploring their own little corners of the world. It's not easy to let them go but it is what we spent years training them to do. It's good even though our nest is very quiet. Now it's time for us to move into the next season of our lives. But we will take care of the nest and hope that our babies will fly in for a visit once in awhile and tell us about their adventures. . . because this will always be home.

Make a difference

Once in awhile we meet people who make a difference in our lives. They make an impression on us and leave us better people than we were before we met them. The influence and impact they have on our lives usually has a lasting affect on us and they become someone that you never forget.

I remember a few people who have touched my life over the years. Their influence made a major impact on me. They made a difference in my life. I will be forever grateful to them for their example, friendship, love, strength and testimony. I will be eternally grateful to the Lord for letting my path cross with these remarkable people and for allowing them to be a part of my life.

I think it is important for each of us to realize that we can make a difference in the lives of others. We never know whose life we may touch. If we are in tune to the Lord's promptings and are willing to be an instrument in His hands he will lead us to those who need our help. True happiness comes when we look beyond the "mirrors" in our life and reach out to help others. When we lose ourselves in the service of others we are serving God. What better way can we repay Him for His love than to reach out and help His children here on earth. He needs us to help and love others and we need Him to help us. We can be the hands of heaven on earth. Sometimes the Lord will answer the prayers of other people through us. When we feel a prompting to call someone or send a card or just smile and say hello we may be an answer to someone's prayer. If we are willing to reach out to those in need the Lord will make sure to send us people that will make a difference in our lives when we need them. On that we can depend. . .

Time . . . it's a funny thing!

This year I reached a big milestone. I turned "a half-century"! Yeah, thats right. . .I'm 50! The big 5 0 !! I wasn't sure what to expect as my birthday approached. I wasn't sure if I should feel like I accomplished something great in my life or if it was the beginning of the end. Well to set the record straight I am loving where I am right now in my life. Aside from a few aches and pains and being a little slower than I was at 20, I feel fabulous at fifty! And I'm looking forward to the next 50 yrs.

However I've realized that time is a funny thing. Sometimes it seems like it is going so slow. Like when you are waiting for something great to happen-like Christmas when you were a kid. Remember how it took FOREVER for Christmas to roll around each year. Christmas Eve was the LONGEST night of the year. I also remember when my kids were little and life was full of diapers, bottles, crying babies, constant "owies," never-ending sibling squabbles, mountains of laundry, beds to be made, stacks of dirty dishes, etc, etc. There were times when I wondered if these little kids would ever grow up so that I could actually have a life of my own again.

On the other hand doesn't it seem as though time has sped up. Have you ever been involved in something that you never wanted to end, like a fun day with your friends, but before you knew it-the fun was over, sooner than you wanted it to be. Well my youngest child graduated from high school this year and is beginning her life as an adult. All of a sudden I realized that I am not raising my kids any more. Those days are done. Where did the time go? The last 30 years of being a "full-time mom" have been the hardest years of my life, yet the most fulfilling and rewarding. Am so glad that I choice to be a mom. But it went by way too fast. I'm still a mom to 5 wonderful, grown, independent great people. They are my friends and they teach me new things every day. But they don't "need" me like they did years ago. My role has changed. And it's ok . . .it's all good!

I don't know what my future holds for me but I do know one thing - I'm going to enjoy every moment of the next 50 yrs! And I hope it doesn't go by too fast!