Gratitude for Inspiration

I've been a grumpy pants lately. I don't know why I'm in a funk; I just am. Knowing that, you can imagine that I was feeling like Eeyore when I heard the washing machine error signal going off. "No Drain" it claimed. This happened a week ago and I flooded the back porch where the washer is located getting the dog hair pulled out because I was washing their blankets. Not knowing what it could be, I had the epiphany to get an old metal pizza pan and slide it under the drain area to catch the water and pull it out from under the machine. Perfect! But, there was no hair and no obvious reason for the machine not to be draining. I got down low and peered into the drain and could see a shiny thing that resembled a quarter. GREAT! I thought. I didn't empty pockets before doing laundry...again! (Usually I'm washing some sort of un-washable thing when this happens...like a memory card or jump drive...also not good days.) I tried reaching the quarter but was unable, plus, if I needed to bend my knuckles to pull it out, that wasn't going to happen in those tight confines. I know what you are thinking, because that was my next thought, too. A pair of pliers! Yeah, I immediately knew that was not the correct choice and had this peaceful thought come into my mind. "Go get your crochet hook." Simple. Sweet. And I knew it was going to work without a doubt. I went to get one and came back out, hooked the quarter and pulled. POP! First try. I am grateful for inspiration. I am grateful to know that those thoughts are not my thoughts. There IS a higher power watching over me and guiding me. I am grateful to know that power is God and that he hears me and answers my prayers...even quick, frustrated, grumpy pants ones. Listen to this and this.

Time for a Laugh at My Expense

You know how moms seem to be really good at multi-tasking and can basically be classified as superheroes? Well, not this mom. In fact, this mom learned something very profound tonight. Grilled cheese does not make for a good open-faced sandwich. I carefully placed two slices of bread on the sandwich maker grill facings. I then applied the sliced cheese with added chunks in what would then become the center of those halves. Next, I closed the lid on the machine and walked away to set the table. When I returned, I noticed two slices of bread sitting patiently next to the sandwich maker. Horrified, I opened the machine and saw the rest of the sandwiches glued nicely to the top grill plates. Yep. Lesson learned: grilled cheese sandwiches do not make good open faced sandwiches.

Heroes, a Dying Quality

Can you think back to the heroes of your childhood? Who were they? Why were they heroes? Did they accomplish something amazing? Did they have high moral codes? As I ponder this, I am sad to say that I don't see many people in this world who are classified as heroes in my book. Gone are the days of good deeds and helping your neighbor. Instead, we have a world rife with pain and sorrow and few real, living heroes to look to. I'm grateful to know there is a prophet of God living on the earth and guiding us. Thomas S. Monson is a true hero in my eyes. He follows the path of the Savior. He stays true to his morals and does good in this world. His life has been a pattern of doing good. I know there are other good people out there doing good, but this man and the others who serve and follow Christ with him are some of my heroes. Let's all try to be the heroes this world, and especially our children, need. Do a little more to help others. Do a little more to show love, not just to say it. Let's lift our country and our world by doing a good deed daily. My thoughts and prayers are also with those suffering from the terrible shooting yesterday in Newtown, Connecticut. May we all do more to lift those who suffer and mourn.

If you know me, and you must since you can read my blog, you know that I'm a Mormon. Perhaps we haven't had the opportunity to really talk about my beliefs. In that case, you can either ask me questions or you can visit my I'm a Mormon profile. I believe in Christ. I know Christ. I've felt His guidance throughout my life. I know we can all have peace and clarity in this crazy life if we but learn to trust in Him. I love you all and hope you may come closer to God in your own lives as well.

Hope

Sure, that was the candidacy term for his first election and now he has fashioned himself under the term "forward".  Frankly, I don't see too much we can keep going backwards on.
All politics and disappointments aside, I really want Washington DC to get it together.  Start functioning as a government.  Get the job done and stop restricting cooperation based on biases to parties.  We are NOT a people of party platforms.  We are people.  We are THE people of The United States of America.  We need the government to remember that.  We have put our trust in them and expect things to be done, in a cooperative environment where every one is expected to compromise for the better of the whole.  Surely those in government offices are all earning a nice paycheck for their "service"...please make the time worth it.
I don't care if you are Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or whatever.  We shouldn't care if people are white, black, yellow, olive or purple, so we shouldn't be so overly concerned with a political party, either.  We all bleed the same.  We are all human and are divine children of God.  Act like it.
I continue to hope for a brighter future; one where we actually accomplish things and take ownership for our mistakes.  It's by making mistakes that we become better people.  Accepting those failures doesn't make you weak unless you just don't do anything to change it.
So, Congress and Mr. President, do something significant this term:  ACT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE REPUBLIC, not yourselves.
Thank you.

Breakthrough!

I'm super excited. I finally figured out how to make sure that E understands the concepts she is learning....she has to teach G! This kills two birds with one stone because G sits and tries to be patient while we do E's homework every afternoon. Now she is more involved (she already has done spelling words and I'm surprised at how much she remembers!!) and loves it PLUS I now can see where E may have missed a step and catch it and correct it. By the way, it is THE cutest thing in the world to watch the older sister teaching the younger sister. "It's so fluffy!!" has nothing on this cuteness.

Full Family Fun Day

We were finally able to spend a full Saturday doing just anything our little hearts desired. And, we did. The first thing we did was take the girls to Raleigh to show them the CowParade...well, a portion of it. We had fun finding the cows and taking pictures with them. Eric got some good shots, so I'll have to figure out how to post them, but here are a few I took. The CowParade is a bunch of different cows that artists have painted and stylized. It's a fun little thing and puts are in a public (read "free") forum. We also did a bit of driving around and checking things out. To wrap up the evening, we went to another little town and did their Family Haunted Trail. It was a fun and random day of just doing what we pleased...and it was a welcomed day.