Christmas 2014

It's done! What a huge burden has been lifted, but a thing that has not been lifted was our timely snowfall!!!

I am so sick and tired. No, I mean it. Sick and tired. Mary is supposed to be sick, too but I have been chasing her around cleaning messes.

On an incidental note last night Joseph prayed for his pillow. I did not know how to break it to him that his pillow would not be getting any presents, but ends up Spencer his best friend gave him a super cool pillow case it was really really awesome!!! No doubt, made by his mother and excitedly Joe says, "Stuffing Pillow is gonna love this!".

Another funny thing was when Mary asked if her doll could play Wii fit because she likes to do Yoga.

Firetruck Santa

The Layton City firemen made Joseph's Christmas so incredible. First Santa came in and gave them candy canes and presents, so many presents. I think I am more anxios than the kids to see what they got! It is a lot like the way the world probably felt waiting. For the,Messiah to finally come. Only, we know exactly when Christmas will come. It is overwhelming how others help and the purpose of all is the stuff they write on Christmas cards. Every possible desire has been exceeded even. Maybe I will have to think of something else to want.

Before Santa came over our Home teacher did though and dropped off a Christmas treat which was so sweet and thoughtful as I am sure they have been incredibly busy and such at this time of year. He and his wife played Joseph and Mary in a live Nativity with their baby as Jesus. He and his beautiful wife are true disciples of Christ, it is so obvious. One notable time his wife simply put her arm around my shoulders, and one time just acted kind and the power of such actions spoke louder than any words could. Also, one time, I asked her to watch my children so that I could visit teach, and she did so without causing any fuss when she had her own children to care for. But, anyway...

Santa came and first thing is Joe asked him if he liked cookies. Then, told him that he really liked his fire truck. Ofcourse, he got a tour. It is going to be another great Christmas! Coolest thing is how loving and sharing the children already are. I just hope it continues.

Diet documentation

OK. Last Time, I set out to loose weight although I intended to document it well, so that I might remember what I did, I did not, thinking my attempt failed because I did not achieve my results ( which were technically impossible) I actually did loose a considerable ammount of weight.

I am gaining weight gradually, it has been about a year and I am just seeing the results of a different lifestyle now when my clothes do not fit. But, that did not happen instantly.

The way I was dealing with it was just as um perilous. I would toss my hands up and say, "heck, nothin is working, so I might as well just eat and accept it, so, I tossed out all of my culprit clothes.

But, today I realized that though I can accept this size, I will not continue to be so accepting. And so, my goal is not to necessarily loose weight, but halt it's progression.

I am not entirely confident that this attempt will work, but I am going to try it, and document what I do: I will run 30 minutes each morning and then take only one garcinia cambogia pill a half an hour before dinner, and stop smacking in bed while I watch tv. Ewww, it is even grusome to type that I did it, the very lifestyle I despise. I suppose a lot of prayer will help me stay focused on my goal, too.

Musical Legalities...

I almost caught our choir trying to break the law.

The piece clearly was labeled for a mixed choir, but we were solidly white. Someone call the singing cops. This was blatant disregard for a composer(in this case stranger)'s wishes.

Then, very talented Hatian boy entered and all were saved! Although our mixture was far from homogeneous it truly represented a mixture, so all was well in Zion.

Mornings

Well, I still need to run, the cold weather changed my routine. I run  first thing on Wii fit, but this morning, my foot hurts from trying to demonstrate stage fighting tips. I "fake" tripped on a shoelace. I was not wearing shoes and bruised my heel. It hurts to step down so I walk on my toes, but I wonder what aerobic I can do in place of running.

I also had to reglue a minimermaid for Mary. It is presently redrying. And I am crocheting an afghan for someone for Christmas and while I do that I was listening to Isaiah, because I have been so prayerful and it has been said that we speak to the Father through prayer and he speaks back through scripture.

Strangely and unexpectedly, every word reminded me of my brother. It seemed like it was said over and over that even admist all of the calamity, the Lord still out stretches his arms. This is how I felt about my brother years ago.

It was from thinking about how perfect his life is now that I got a communication.

Although neither of us realized it at the time, giving him a book of Mormon was a turning point. He was not headed down the same path, in fact, he was what one might call a black sheep, it was because he was so filled with worldly ideas, what I mean to say is that he listened to media and music and chose it as his source. He was good, mind you. Every thought I get from pop music is good and inspirational, too, but it is bad in that it distracts us from something better.

The answer to my sincere prayers is that I need to willfully turn more to the scriptures for my wisdom if I want to emulate the success of my brother, which I do.

I can now see how his wrong choices helped him be sure of the right one, by noting the distinction. He is now, so wise and so strong. I remember on his mission he wrote a letter to my parent about exact obedience, that was profound and visibly life changing.

It will be much harder to correct for me because I have made it my life to convince myself and others that I was right, so why change?

When my home teacher visited last week, I realized a truth that had escaped me, that I need to repent and change through the atonement just as much as anyone else that is what the church is for: Sinners. And I am not perfect or else I would have been translated, but I'm still in English :)

Bored as usual

I wanted to take the kids to the store cause I wanted some yeast, thet could return theircolorin sheets, but my filename is that Intended to finish organizing the kids rooms. We made huge progress the last two times, and I would like to keep our momentum, so, maybe I will instead fold clothes and sort through the closet to see what else we can fit hidden away.

Oh yeah, I ran out of mayonaise and had to use miracle whip on my sub sandwich, which was disgusting. I used to like it and not like mayo, but sometime my preferences changed.

I woke up with swollen sinuses again today. What is up with that? I name it on the season. Heaters turning on blowing up dust and allergens. My headhurts so bad, I am getting sick of it. But, how much more will I endure?

I just feel like it was a sort of sci-fi fantasy to be born here and it was an incredible gift like someone giving you a free expense paid trip to New Zealand. I should be enjoying myself. I should be remembering gratefully the opportunity, but somehow I am unhappy. I must have done something wrong. I am convinced that it is never too late. McGuyver would find a way, so I must.

Just got back

I just finished my run today and though it was a struggle, it was wonderful. I am actually sitting outside because it is so nice to be out. It felt like a soundtrack to chariots of fire should have been playing. The wind was blowing so that it whipped my hair around and felt like movie footage then, as I started thinking, I thought, "hmm, I wonder which sewing machines work well enough to take to church tonight. I wonder if the secret to running is not to think about it..."I stumbled and snapped back to the present, cue "I Won't Give Up" and struggle on to the end then I pushed myself with my morning scripture, life saver, Joseph gave me. "Endure to the end". There was no kick, but I finished and have almost stopped sweating now enough to go back to sleep before Mary makes her debut. I think today was so good because my first to do was not run, but study my scriptures. Believe it or not, that makes all of the difference.