Tuesday Musings #14

Rewrite the following classic nursery rhyme as it applies to your life -

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.

For want of a shoe the horse was lost.

For want of a horse the rider was lost.

For want of a rider the battle was lost.

For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.

For want of the milk, the cereal was lost.

For want of the cereal, the breakfast was lost.

For want of the breakfast, the children were lost.

For want of the children, the mother was lost.

For want of the mother, the family was lost.

And all for the want of milk.

Tuesday Musings #13

List five things that drive you crazy and make you want to go live in a cabin on a mountainside and never see another human being. Then, list five things that make you smile even on the rainiest of days.

FIVE things that drive me crazy:

#1 People who cut you off in traffic, while talking on their cell phone, then get mad at you for almost slamming into the back of them as the result of their sudden movement into your lane...which was flowing quite nicely before their careless and inconsiderate move. "What do you mean, giving me the bird...I should be giving you the bird...I was here first!!! You didn't see me huh...? Maybe you should have put your silly phone down while driving! Oh good. So glad you managed to put it down in order to properly wave your middle finger my direction. Idiot! I really should just slam the back of your nice and shiny black Mercedes." (can you tell that this happened recently? I suppose I suffer a bit from road rage. It's a good thing I no longer commute to work!)

#2 Being woken up just as you arrive in that blissful deep sleep. This is really one of the few times in my life that I ever feel rage and anger (though I'm sure this is hard to believe after reading the above #1).

#3 Always feeling that I have to be the one to make meal time decisions. What is everyone going to eat? Todd thinks that when he says "I don't care" that he is actually helping me out. Someone, please care! Have an opinion! I want to be the one that "doesn't care" for a change!!

#4 When my husband tells me to "Buck up little camper" when I'm having a hard time. This really infuriates me! "Buck up." No, you buck up!!!

#5 My mother used to come dancing into my room singing in this high pitched voice to wake me up early in the morning. For some reason, hearing a sing-song voice interrupting my blissful morning sleep (there I go with the waking up thing again) makes me angrier than really anything else. It was all I could do to keep from punching her right in the nose when she came close. I do so much better with an alarm clock!

FIVE things that make me smile:

#1 My husband playing with my kids. This works for every mother, I think.

#2 A beautiful spring day with the sun shining and everything in full bloom. I'm really smiling when I'm a part of this picture, laying on the grass, reading a good book and eventually taking a nap.

#3 A good memorable tune on the radio. Music brings back memories like nothing else. I love it when I hear something that makes me smile.

#4 Whenever my husband quietly takes my hand and tells me he loves me.

#5 Kisses and hugs from my beautiful children. I suppose I need to "fill my canteen" for the days when they won't be so free with their affection.

Tuesday Musings #12

Is there is anything in your lifetime that you regret and would take back, and if so what?

I am sure if I really wanted to spill my guts right now, I could create a rather long laundry list of things I regret and would take back...but isn't that what life is all about? We live, learn, and make mistakes. It all adds up to the people we truly are. That said...there really are some occasions I would gladly take back. Funny thing is, I didn't always feel this way. Most of what I would want to take back were mistakes on my part. Times in my life when I was less than perfect (wait - that's pretty much my entire life!). I remember a time when these same occasions were not looked upon as something I would want to erase. I thought myself to be better equipped to help others now that I had been down a similar path. I thought I could understand and rise to the challenge to make a difference in someone elses life because we shared a common error. As I grew, matured, and ultimately repented and was fully forgiven of my misdeeds, I came to realize that making the same mistake is not a prerequisite for the ability to aid and comfort a fellow soul. In fact, most of the people who were there for me in my time of need, never ventured close the problems I had. They helped because they understood as the Savior does. They loved me, the sinner, not the sin. Why should they have to "know" what I went through in order to be my support?

So, if I could, I would take back many if not all of my past sins and misgivings. But...since this is not possible, I will gladly move forward with a repentant heart and make each day better than the last knowing I am doing the best that I possibly can and praying for the power to see others through the eyes of the Savior.

Tuesday Musings #11

Growing up what extra curricular activities did you get to try? Which activity was your favorite and which was your least favorite? If you didn't have an opportunity, which do you wish you could have tried? Pictures Please! :)

Sorry - I don't have pictures...at least not digitally. I am scanner deprived and really need to do something about it soon!

1. Piano lessons from 1st-4th grade. I did not love them...what kid does at this age, but I think I would've continued if we hadn't moved so far away from my teacher. My mom didn't push so neither did I though I achieved enough to assist me in learning to play the guitar...another set of lessons that really went no where...and I have the ability to read music.

2. Softball - 1st, 5th-10th grade. I liked to play softball. It was a part of who I was. I don't remember ever wishing I was doing something else...at least not until after my sophomore year - hence the reason I quit.

3. I dabbled in soccer and basketball but never on a very competitive level.

4. Volleyball - 7th-11th grade. My very favorite sport! By the time I was a senior, I was working so much there was no time for this or anything else for that matter.

5. ASB in 9th grade. This was a fun class/activity/whatever. I learned to come out of my shell a little and really enjoyed planning and implementing school wide activities. I wish I would've had the guts to run for office or something as I really enjoy planning, organizing and being in the middle of everything.

Wow! I guess I was all sports and really nothing too refined. Sad.

I suppose if I could do it all over, I would try just about everything I could. I would love to write...maybe for the school paper, maybe yearbook, theater for sure (I've always wanted to try out for a school production though I did take it as a class once). And maybe (as a much younger child) dance. It couldn't have hurt as my "moves" are truly lacking any style or skill. I always said, "Either you can play sports, or you can dance, but not both." Maybe that was just my way of protecting the fact that I really can't dance! I'd love to have tried it out and seen if this really is a true statement. Plus...who wouldn't kill for a dancer's body?!!

I Promise!

I promise to write soon. I have been gone and am pretty slow about getting back on task. I know about last week's topic...but what is this week's?? I guess I didn't get the email. Help!

Tuesday Musings #10

Do you collect anything? If so, what? If not then, why…or what would you collect if you had to start a collection? Pictures please!

Today is Wednesday so based on the title of this blog, I'm obviously late. I've been trying to think of something witty, creative, or interesting simply because I don't collect anything. Trust me, I feel like I collect all kinds of things...dirty fingerprints, missplaced toys, paper, paper, paper. But none of this is intentional. In fact, I hate collecting. Sometimes I wonder if I'm as sentimental as a rock. I keep nothing! Ticket stubs from important events - trash. Programs from memorable evenings - trash. Artwork my children work hard at creating for me - well, sometimes trash (I have a few weaknesses). I really think I have an aversion to collecting. I fear clutter of all kinds and let's face it...sometimes the things we collect can amount to nothing but clutter...at least until we find a way to manage or display it all. You would think with my utter disdain for clutter that it would be positively missing from my house. But you would be wrong. It's an ongoing battle and fortunately (or unfortunately) for me...I have been blessed with quite a few extra drawers in the kitchen I like to call my "junk" drawers. I suppose this could be considered a collection, right?

Tuesday Musings #9

“Imagine your life is now a book. In 100 words, write the blurb for it. (It’s what people will read on the back cover.)”

An average girl with average dreams. She never really expected to be anything fantastic. As she grew, she grew in confidence and found happiness within herself. At some point this happiness and confidence converged into the find of a lifetime, a wonderful man that saw so much more in her than she ever expected in herself. Their love grew and then flourished into a family. Now in the midst of the day to day struggles and joys of life, she finds herself fighting to keep her family close as the world around her closes in for the kill. The fight of her life waiting impatiently at her backdoor. Will she finally bloom and become truly fantastic when her family needs her most?