It's Christmas!

I am still struggling with the idea that it is even here, and now it's pretty much over. It has been a wonderful day-a wonderful season, in fact-but it has come and gone in such a flurry that I feel like I'm standing here all jaw dropped and wide eyed...

The thing that has stuck with me this season, above all else, is the TRUTH to he Christmas story. Mary and Joseph really did travel to Bethlehem as very young expectant parents to pay their tributes to Caesar. They really did exhaust all options for a place to stay and found themselves in the lowliest of conditions, but that humble crèche became a literal piece of Heaven as Mary gave birth to he King of Kings, the Savior of the world. I am forever grateful for the circumstances in my life that have allowed me to know this beautiful, true story. I know it more than I know myself.

Today I was blessed to hear my oldest daughter and her friend sing "I Know Tht My Redeemer Lives" in her singles' ward sacrament meeting. It was beautiful. Tears filled my eyes as the spirit bore witness to me once again ...HE LIVES!!!

Gingerbread Houses!

I have always wanted to make REAL gingerbread houses. The one time I tried (my kids were all really little) was a disaster. It was a skeewampus shape, and it never really did stand up...I'm sure you get the picture...so we resorted to graham crackers or packaged kits or just looking at them at the Jubilee of Trees.

My visions of gingerbread houses were reignited when I saw my friend, Jen's, blog. SHE MAKES AMAZING GINGERBREAD HOUSES with her family!!! Even better, she included the recipe and pattern that she uses. SO, of course this year was the perfect year to make REAL gingerbread houses.

Mekenze and Mady got off to a great start. I was thinking their house would win for the most creative. But then...

They started a little late and kind of lost out on the choice of candy. They had decorated one whole side before they realized that the candy was gone...

Not to be hindered, they ran to the fridge and found...well...see for yourselves!

My favorite is the bologna front door and the mustard snow...

It wasn't long before they deposited it in the trash...

Dave and Karter teamed up, and I must say they make quite a team!

Arielle and her boyfriend, Braxton, also teamed up and did a great creative job.

After sitting as a decoration on the kitchen counter for a week, we couldn't handle it anymore...they looked too yummy! (they were hard, but taste is what matters, right?)

Self Confidence

I am realizing that self confidence comes in two parts: spiritual and physical. Both of them are needed for complete confidence, I believe, but I am also starting to realize that of the two, spiritual confidence is more important, more of a foundation, than the other.

I have never had much confidence in my physical self, and there are times that it have mourned that fact and have gone looking for it, usually to my detriment. I have made it kind of my "mission" to help my kids have that confidence so that they aren't afraid to let their light shine to the world. I have been so happy for (and jealous of) their talents and the opportunities they have to develop them. They seem physically confident...

On the other hand, I have almost always felt quite confident in who I am as a spiritual being. I thought that I would naturally just pass that along to my kids. But I am realizing more and more that while part of me was born with spiritual confidence, I also had to learn to apply this spiritual sense of confidence to my physical life. I have two very strong memories of how this happened:

The first memory is of when I was in 4th or 5th grade. (FYI--This is going to sound worse than it really was. I am remembering it in tunnel vision, so in reality, the negative stuff wasn't as intense as it sounds.) I was ugly, overweight, had very few friends. I hated going out for recess. I didn't like to play, and when I tried to be active, I felt like everyone was watching me move around and laughing because I was awkward and fat. So I would usually sit and read or draw or talk to the teachers until they made me play, and then I would just walk around and look at my feet so that I didn't have to see people looking at me, feeling sorry for myself that I didn't have any friends.

One day, as I was thus wandering the playground, I heard a voice tell me to look up and smile and be friendly to people. Nobody would be my friend if I didn't let them be. It made sense to me, so I listened to the voice and immediately did what I was told and tried to be everybody's friend from then on out. And although I was never "popular" or the life of anyone's party, I have felt since then that I have lots of friends, at least from my point of view.

The second memory is actually a melangerie of events, all involving music, around the age of 16. I will mention one sunday in Young Women's--I must have been feeling extra down about my outer self or something--we sang "Learn of Me" by Janice Kapp Perry for the opening song.

"Learn of me, and listen to my words. Walk in the meekness of my light, and I will give you peace, my love will never cease, for I am Jesus Christ." I started to cry,--I mean, I was sobbing-- and could not stop! I had to leave the room because the tears just kept coming. They weren't tears of sadness, however. They were relief and happiness and unconditional love. I knew and still do know, without any doubt, that the Savior loves me.

I have never doubted that I am a "daughter of Heavenly Parents with divine qualities that I am striving to develop." (from the YW Personal Progress Value, Divine Nature.) All of my life's goals and purposes stem from this knowledge, and all my major life decisions are made quite simply from my understanding of eternal life as the big picture. I just know what I will and won't do... because I am a Daughter of God and someday I will be like Him.

I thought that the spiritual part of everyone was strongest. I know now that it is not. I am lucky to have it this way, but I also need to make sure that my kids know who they REALLY are, from the inside out. Remembering how my spirit grew could help me do that...don't you think?


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Today I have been reminising about the pioneer trek and all that has happened since then that I believe is related to the fact that I agreed to go. I found the photo gallery that someone created and spent an hour (at least) browsing through the 2600 photos taken of those 3 1/2 long days.

This is Curtis with his family. He was afraid to go because he thought he was going to be placed with "stupid people," but he fell in love with his family and they have had several parties since the trek. :)


This is the amazing Mac trek Fam. We seriously had a super great bunch of kids in our family. They were fun, hard workers, didn't complain, and personlaities all seemed to fit together perfectly! Our group had all of the best, most innovative ideas. Leaders...

There were some fun times. They gave us a whole afternoon to play pioneer games, rest, square dance, and just enjoy simplicity and nature. Here is Curtis playing checkers. They also had stilts, stick pulling, stickball, archery, and a trading post.

The Mac Fam men, hard at work.

Arielle only came for half of the trek, but she was "lucky enough" to experience the silent women's pull...It was soooo hard!

Here I am, trying to get that dang handcart up the steepest part of the whole trek during the women's pull. I must have pulled the best faces, because they put several lovely headshots of me looking like I was in pain on the photo gallery. I am choosing not to post them here... :)

The Mac Fam women, bringing up the rear. Our girls were really strong and had a great rhythm.

Curtis makes a preppy pioneer.

Arielle with her family...

Quite a group!

I just think this is a great shot of the Mac Boys!

This was the greatest site ever!!!

The trek is just one of the many things that I said I would never do that I have actually found myself doing in 2011. I believe that I am being prepared for something...I'm not sure what...but I am thankful that I have had to turn to my inner strength and to the power of God so that I can be ready for whatever is in store.

It is interesting to me that tonight, as I was pondering this blog post, I looked on facebook to see that my sister, Dani, had posted a true pioneer handcart story that she found http://lds.org/ensign/1972/10/an-evening-of-historical-vignettes?lang=eng&cid=facebook-shared that included one of my ancestors, Elizabeth Xavier Tait. She was part of the Willie Handcart company that endured so much:

I am Elizabeth Xavier Tait. I was born in Bombay, India, in the year 1833, raised in wealth and aristocracy. I was educated in the best schools in India, graduated from college at age 14. My family in India was displeased with my joining the Church. They begged me to forsake my husband, William, and my church and remain with them in India. But after my young son died suddenly of cholera, I knew I must not heed the pleading of my parents and friends. My husband left for Zion before I did; I was to follow after because my health was too frail to allow me to go with him at that time. At my departure, I was disinherited by my family. It was while traveling to England that I faced one of my hardest trials. My baby girl, the last of my children, took sick and died while I stood helpless. After I arrived in America, I found myself a member of the fourth, or Willie, handcart company.

Many of the carts were tastefully painted to suit the fancy of the owners, while here and there appeared inscriptions such as “Truth Will Prevail,” “Zion’s Express,” “Blessings Follow Sacrifice,” and “Merry Mormons.” Snatches of the marching song “Some Must Push and Some Must Pull” served to lighten the monotony of the daily routine.

Fall came early with a frosty night. Aspen groves turned yellow on the mountain slopes, and crimson patches of oak held forebodings of approaching winter. Far down the plains of Wyoming the Martin company moved hopefully up the Platte.

The daily rations were cut again with a prayer that help would come on the morrow. But the morrow, instead, brought death—first one, then another, and another. Life went out as smoothly as a lamp ceases to burn when the oil is gone.

(The men's) shoes were so worn that they finally fell from their feet, and they bound them up with pieces of gunnysacking and strips of canvas and cloth. In spite of this, their feet were cracking and sore and bleeding so badly that tracks of blood were left on the snowy trails.

Shouts of joy rent the air; strong men wept till tears ran freely down their furrowed and sunburnt cheeks, and little children fairly danced with gladness.

WILLIAM TAIT:
I knew Elizabeth was in the company, and as the time approached for the appointed arrival of my wife, I grew both rejoiceful and anxious at the thought of our reunion. My anxiety mounted to near panic as the winter of that year came unseasonably early and severe. I volunteered as a member of the rescue company to meet my beloved wife. I cannot tell you of the fear and helplessness I felt while en route. Would we get there in time? Would she be alive? By October 31, 250 teams had been sent to relieve the sufferers. On October 20, the first of our relief wagons came into sight of the Willie company.

This is an awesome story, and it seems much more real knowing that it was one of my direct ancestors AND because I sort of understand in a small way what the experience was like. I guess it is time to storybook Elizabeth Xavier and William Tait's story...

If Only...

If only there was a button that only Moms could push that would call in the reinforcement staff. One push in times of sheer exhaustion, desperation, confusion, or overwhelment would call a maid, a cook, a chauffeur, a counselor, a seamstress, a disciplinarian, a tutor, a shooter-from-the-hip...and simultaneously send the Mom into thin air, a place where she can sleep or read or run or do absolutley nothing OR EVERYTHING until her strength and desire to be Mom returns.

Of course the Mom wouldn't abuse the button, because no Mom in her right mind would allow another to take over her rein for too long. That is why she took the one way passage into motherhood in the first place. One can never return...and really, who would want to? But just for a day...can I please have that button?

My world will have one...

Never A Greater Feeling!

I am feeling so blessed right now! I wish I could go into details about why, but maybe if I talk around it enough...

It all starts with having kids. When they are small you think they are the world...well because they basically ARE to you..and you think they think YOU are the world...and maybe they do, for a little while. But then they grow up, and things change somehow. The kids' world starts to grow, and you become not much more than a small speck on that world, while at the same time, your world grows so much smaller until soon the kids are able to just step on it and crush it. The saddest part is that they often DO!

But you know, it's all good because at least you taught them correctly and they will always remain true to the truth...go forth with faith and never make a wrong choice...except for the times that they DO, because (Dang It!) they WILL!

The realization that your kids are people too is a wicked awesome realization, and I mean that VERY literally! Let's take all of the emotion of "awesome"--your kids are beautiful, talented, strong adventurous people who have every capability of taking the world by storm--and stir in a cup or two full of all the emotions that "wicked" can conjure--these people you call your kids have their agency and it is time for them to wean themselves off of your testimony and find their own in a world that shouts every exciting and glamorous untruth imaginable (cue the "great and spacious building.") It is an emotional rollercoaster, at one moment a heart-wrenching concoction that resembles the bitter cup and the next a glorious magical trip to Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. (Are you getting the imagery?)

There once was a time when you could affix curfews and create incentive charts that rewarded them when they were good and punished them with they made unwise choices. But now, suddenly, you are left to stand by and watch as the world attaches these consequences, both wonderful and not so much...instead of to parenting books, you now turn to your Heavenly Father. PLEASE help them remember! Please touch their hearts and help them make all the right choices! P.L.E.A.S.E...?!!?

Now that you are (hopefully) getting the picture...I just need to say that right now I see my kids-turned-adults DOING IT! They are finding their testimonies and aligning their lives to what they know to be true. It is glorious and beautiful!

Some Little Good News-es

Karter started Kombat Kids. It is a mini MMA class (right now it is actually a one on one private training because it is a new class and he is the only one--pretty cool) and it is a pretty good work out for him. He really likes it, especially since his big brother is taking similar classes.

Madyson was chosen to be Snow Queen in the Nutcracker portion of the Diamond Talent Christmas show. She is a beautiful dancer and I can't wait to see the show.

Curtis has been working out a lot and taking MMA fighter training. He really loves it and is getting quite good and thinking through and coming out on top.

Arielle does not have cancer! That is a happy thing!

The doctor thinks her pain and other symptoms have something to do with her digestive tract. She did colon cleanse today...we will see if it helps her.

Hopefully the pain will go away and we can end our worries and experimental visits to doctors...

(she'll kill me if she finds out I posted this picture, but it's a pretty good illustration of how she has been feeling...)

Mekenze turned 20! and she spent her big day in Florida at Disneyworld Resort being treated like a queen. I want to give more information as to WHY she was there, but I think it needs to be a secret for now. But she had the time of her life and said that the whole experience set a new precedence for the rest of her life. How cool is that?

A Little Good News...

I realize that the freeze frame of the video I posted in my last blog was a little...umm...questionable, so today I am posting something happy to move it from my opening page. :)

One of my all-time favorite songs, sung by one of my all-time favorite singers, is "A Little Good News" by Anne Murray. In 2009, she did a remake with the Indigo Girls:

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Whenever I start to feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, I sing this song and I try to list all of the "good news" I can think of. Here goes!

1. I took my algebra test and I think I did well!
2. I remembered to pick Karter up for MMA and to take Mady to dance all in the same run...
3. Karter went to MMA and had a really great workout!
4. Arielle felt good (for the most part...after this morning) today!
5. I am actually making dinner. :)
6. Mekenze is making some good life decisions and is feeling excited about life.
7. I talked to my sister, Dani, on the phone.
8. I got to visit with a friend I haven't seen in awhile.
9. The weather today was FANTABULOUS!
10. Tonight Curtis and I will watch House, MD. :)

Do you have any good news? I would love to hear it!!!

The World Is Too Much With Us...

I have so many things on my mind ALL THE TIME and when I sit down to blog about them, they disappear. I'm going to sit here and just type until I access that black hole of my mind.

I have two videos that I want to post, because I know many of my thoughts this week have been centered on those:


"Miss Representation"


This video shouldn't be shocking, but the way it is put together really got me thinking.

The second one is so cute, equally as powerful, and could possibly be an answer to prayers.

"Worth Waiting For"
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There was a time that my kids never wanted to bring their friends to our house to "hang out." I understood--I was the oldest child and I know how "annoying" little brothers and sisters can be--but I really wished they would bring their friends home so I could meet them. Now that my kids are older, this has changed dramatically. We have done a lot to our house to make it more appealing to the kids, and I really believe it has helped them want to be here. I have a houseful of teenagers at my house almost all of the time. Some of them call me (different versions of) mom, and I love it! Having them here has also tuned me more into the world that these kids live in. All of the messages that are constantly surrounding them: the movies, the music, the fashions... I can understand why living a virtuous life can seem "lame;" girls who dress modest are not necessarily seen as "hottest;" drugs and vulgar language are everywhere and it's "no big deal;" music is more fun when the beat is loud and fast and the lyrics don't matter...

I'm not saying that my kids (or my newly adopted kids) are bad kids. On the contrary, they are AMAZING and valiant and vulnerable and impressionable and ... sigh ...

I am not a worryer. It is not in my nature to be paranoid, but I feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. How do I help them to seek after things that are "virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy?" (besides moving to the hills and living in seclusion, that is...)

Needless to say, my prayers are becoming way more specific and fervent.

Familiar Road?

Do you ever feel like life is changing, like your routine is all of a sudden confused and you are not sure why but you can feel you are being prepared for something? I have felt this way for at least 5 months--starting with the Pioneer Trek--like I was being prepared for something hard...

Well, it might be that time. Last week, we took Arielle to the urologist, Dr Cope, for what we thought was a kidney stone. Because she has only one kidney, he scheduled her for emergency surgery the next morning, then sent her to the hospital to have a ct scann and a KUB xray, along with blood work, so he could know the exact location and size of the stone.

Well, there is no stone...but her spleen is enlarged and her white blood cell count is elevated. Dr Cope sent her to see Dr Frame, a doctor of internal medicine. After reviewing her symptoms, he asked her if she has looked any of them up online. When we told him that she had, he asked what she found. She told him "leukemia" and other "scary stuff" and he nodded his head. Then he stepped out to talk to his partner. It all seemed so familiar! UGH!!

He sent us to the hospital lab to get tested for leukemia. They also did a sed rate and ebv panel. And it is going to take a week to get the results...

So here we wait. She keeps having pain and fatigue and weakness. She has called in sick to work and has come home early from work. It is frustrating because she just bought a car and needs to work. What if she loses her job? And then I get frustrated because that is awful for me to be worrying about that...

But, if we get the results and find ourselves on the cancer road, we will be ready and willing to face it and take it, and she will beat it--again.

Get Away, Get Away, Get Away-way

2 weeks ago I told Dave that I had completed my application for graduation in December, and he decided it was a good reason to celebrate and GET AWAY for a weekend. He told me to go online and find a room at the Anniversary Inn in Salt Lake City and reserve it! I was so excited and have been looking SO forward to it!




I didn't stop to think about how much homework I had, how many tests and papers would be due on the following Monday, or of a few other things that might come up on my calendar, nor did I realize that Arielle would be struggling with a kidney stone this very weekend...I am glad I didn't, because I probably would have decided I couldn't go. Sometimes one just needs to DO IT, regardless...and heavens knows that WE DID need to JUST DO IT!


We have had a really good time doing nothing more than walking around temple square, listening to conference, walking around the Gateway Mall, watching movies, eating too much, and relaxing. I feel reconnected to my husband and to myself. Good feeling.



Here are a few random photos:

We drove to Salt Lake City in my new car! 2007 Nissan Altima. I love it! It is fun to drive, and the gas mileage was amazing compared to what I am used to with my van.

We ran into the Harding family in the Tabernacle on Temple Square. This was during the 2nd session of the semi-annual conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I loved this sight! So many people gathered on the temple grounds to hear the word of God through his prophets and apostles. This is not counting the thousands who are inside the conference center, tabernacle, and Seagull House. Reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah that talks about multitudes gathering in the mountain tops to hear the word of God.

Just another view of the multitudes!

This is our 2nd room at the Anniversary Inn--the Bridal Veil Falls room. We thought it would be fun to switch rooms so that we could experience more of the fun decor.

We are not used to eating breakfasts like this. Isn't it a gorgeous spread? (taste buds were happy; stomachs a little confused...ha ha)

Here is a view from our first room--the Carriage Suite.
So cute!

Famous Dave's. Enough said...

A Few Notes from the General Relief Society Broadcast

I have been so ornery today! (I think it is in partly because yesterday I totally indulged in way to many yummy yet deadly foods, all involving white sugar and/or white flour.) But I realize even more strongly that it is due to losing some of the balance that I have been so desperately seeking. Sure, I have been going through the motions, but sometimes (more often than not) I forget the WHYs of what I am doing. Especially when it comes to things of the Spirit (my favorite part of life!)

I just watched the General Relief Society annual broadcast. It was wonderful. Here are just a few of the incredible words that were spoken:

Julie B Beck, Relief Sociey General President

We need to a render more service, sincerely come to know each sister, do the things He would do if He were here, concentrate more on caring about our sisters more than our busy lists of things to do, help people grow spiritually (focusing on visiting teaching, but to me it also means throughout life!)

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Silvia H Allred, First Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency

The first presidency has requested that we study the new Relief Society book "Daughters in My Kingdom" about the history of the Relief Society organization.

We learn that Charity is not a single act or something we give a way, but a way of living. How do we receive charity? Have a sincere desire, pray to be filled with Christ's love, read the scriptures daily to acquaint ourselves with the Savior's charitable examples. Joseph Smith showed charity, and Thomas S Monsen is a perfect example of charity to us today. Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down, refusing to be offended easily, seeing people as they really are, looking past physical appearances. When we serve others with charity, we serve when it is not convenient, not expecting the act to be reciprocated.

Acts of charity soften hearts. Acts of charity are guided by the Savior's examples. Providing charity helps us to overcome our own difficulties and make them seem less challenging.

Joseph Smith said, "If you live up to these principles (of charity,) how great will be your joy in the Lord's Kindgom." (paraphrased...)

All acts of charity have a healing power.

All of us should pray for charity. The Lord will crown our efforts with success.

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Barbara Thompson, 2nd Counselor in the General Relief Society Presidency

If ye will cleave unto thy God, the destroyer will have no strength over thee. Retire with prayer and thy heart will be comforted.

The temple endowment brings us out of darkness and into marvelous light.

We covenant to give up all that we are, all that we possess for the Kingdom of God. Great are the blessings we receive when we cleave unto our covenants.

Joy comes from faithfulness in keeping in the commandments of God. Ammon said "How great reason we have to rejoice. My joy is full. Yay, my heart is filled with joy...." as he brought thousands unto Christ.

When members of the church keep their covenants, they feel tremendous joy amid the trials they face. "We know God will guide us and sustain us..."

Temples allow the Lord to pour out His blessings upon His people.

When people sift through our belongings after we have died, will they find evidence that we have kept our covenants?

Keeping our covenants is joy and peace, protection, and joy in times of trial.

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Forget Me Not: doesn't attract immediate attention, but has a hounding plea in its name.

5 petals, 5 symbols:

Forget not to be patient and compassionate with yourself. God is fully aware that you and I are not perfect. Neither are the people that you think are perfect. yet we spend so much time and energy comparing ourselves to others, usually comparing our weaknesses to their strengths. It is wonderful that we have strengths and part of God's plan in our mortal existence to have weaknesses. One day, God plans to turn all of our weaknesses into strengths, but we are not there yet. Be patient and compassionate with yourselves. Celebrate the tiny successes and may, like the forget me not, may seem to go unnoticed, but God notices everything.

Forget not the different between a good sacrifice for a foolish sacrifice. Losing a few hours of sleep sitting with a child having a nightmare--good sacrifice. Staying up all night to make an accessory for her sunday dress--foolish sacrifice. :)

Forget not to be happy now. We are often looking for that "golden ticket." One woman lookes so forward to being married. She would be the perfect mother and wife, with lots of children who preferred to spend all of their time with mom and dad. This was her golden ticket. but it never happened. She couldn't understand why God would not grant this righteous desire, and she became bitter. She worked with children at school, but was disliked by them and was often mean to them. This circumstance caused her to miss the opportunity to influence hundreds of children for good as a teacher. If we spend all our days looking for the beautiful bouquet of roses, we may miss the forget me nots. Never stop wishing for all the righteous desires, but don't close your heart to all of the beauty and sweetness of every day moments. Weave a tapestry of gratitude and wonder to be truly happy.

Forget not the WHY of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We sometimes see the gospel as a long list of tasks to add to our already long to-do list. We focus on what and how to do what the Lord wants us to do, but we sometimes forget WHY! The gospel is not an obligation. It is a pathway, marked by our loving Heavenly Father, leading to happiness and peace in this life and glory and inexpressable fulfillment in the life to come. The eternal fire and majesty of the gospel springs from the why. Let us not walk unaware of the beauty of the glorious earthly and spiritual landscapes that surround us. Seek out the exhilarating joy . It will inspire and uplift you! The what and how of obedience marks the way and keeps us on the right path, but the why of obedience sanctifies our actions, transforming the mundane into the majestic. it magnifies our small acts of obedience into holy acts of consecration.

Forget not that Heavenly Father knows, loves, and cherishes you.

We are not forgotten of the Savior! no matter how dark things me seem, how insignificant you may feel, you are known and remembered by the most majestic and powerful being of the Universe. He knows our name. We are the daughters of His Kingdom. We are closer to heaven than we suppose. We are destined for more than we can imagine. Treasure the gift of membership in this glorious and true church. Continue to seek out those who need your help.

Never forget that you are a precious daughter in the Lord's kingdom.

There is something inspiring and sublime about the little forget me not flower. Let it be a symbol of the little things that make your life joyful and sweet.

All Things Happen for a Reason...

A few months ago I made a commitment to teach a storybooking class at a Family Education Fair for the community ed department at Dixie State College. I enjoy teaching people how to preserve their life stories, so I was actually kind of excited. After having committed, of course, I was forced to turn down some other really great opportunities that just happened to be the same date and time. Among those was a hands-on cooking class taught by my talented friend, Christie Thomas; a first-time-ever weekend storybooking retreat in Provo, sponsored by my Heritage Makers leadership friends; a chance to work a booth at Swiss Days with my team member consultant friend, Jan McConkie; and a chance to go with Dave to hear him speak in Las Vegas...but I stayed true to my commitment and turned all of these down.

This whole week was nutso, so I put off the "getting ready" until the 11th hour (I have the verbage ingrained on my brain, so I wasn't worried) and went to bed late last night. Then, because Arielle and I are still in the car-sharing mode, I had to wake up at 6 am to take her to work so I could have the car. (I cherish Saturday morning sleep in time...just so you know.) So I come home, do a couple of quick morning chores, hop in the shower and get all dressed up (I also cherish Saturday slob moments...,) put on make-up, neglect making breakfast for my boys and their friend who slept over (Saturday is the only day I make breakfast,) and head out the door in time to set up early and breathe...

I hope your feeling the moment as I have set the scene for you...

I arrived at the North Instruction Building, where I was told my class would be held: room 107. Alas, the door is locked. Room 106 has a class in progress, so I figure they must have told me wrong (it has been known to happen,) and I am to use the same room when this class is over. I had a quick thought to run across the street to the registration office to make sure I was correct in my assumption, but I didn't want to leave my computer unattended, nor did I want to haul it across the street, so I sat on the floor in the hallway to wait. But 11:00am grew nearer and I could tell the other class was nowhere near wrapping it up...so I found a group of girls, asked them to guard my stuff, and headed across the street...

My class had been canceled...due to lack of interest...

Well, maybe if they had advertised it as I told them it should be instead of as "scrapbooking," which I was NOT teaching, there would have been interest! OR maybe they could have let me know BEFORE I showed up that I didn't need to go through all the trouble to come and spend a half hour in their hall!

(deep breath...)

All things happen for a reason...

SO! I am going to spend my day at my computer, completing my entire online CIS course. Maybe it was all in the plan...

My Photo Eval...

Regarding last night's "comparison" post:

I don't notice a whole lot of difference in size. Well, at least POST Isagenix. But I DO notice something: I looked so old! I look at least 10 years younger now than I did 7 years ago. That is so amazing to me, but I guess that is what good nutrition does for you!

Sidebar: I am really excited to see what happens in the aging department now that Isagenix has introduced their useful aging phenomenon, "Product B." You can learn about this incredible scientific breakthrough at www.productbinfo.net or find it on www.isamovie.com

My moral to this story is, focus on the fact that I FEEL better. Take baby steps in adapting my diet while learning yummy ways to eat more veggies. Remember that focusing just on balancing my body is taking the whole me way out of balance...

Whew! Feels better already! :)

What Have I Done?!?!

5 years ago, we (my husband, Dave, 6 kids and I) moved from a small 1400-square-foot, 3 bedroom home into a 4500-square-foot, 7 bedroom home. The first home had a really great laundry room! I was able to wash, dry, fold, hang, iron, etc in my laundry room, so while I really hate to do laundry, I was able to enjoy it there. The new house has a sorry excuse for a laundry room--Think about it, 7 bedrooms means lots of people, right? Well, at least in Utah where families have lots of kids. You would think a smart architect would design a proportionate laundry room... so anyways...-- There is room for a washer and dryer and a place to stand. That is it. My hate for laundry came flooding back as my kids started throwing their laundry in that room for me to wash.

My solution? Fire myself from laundry duty. Hire kids to do their own. Done! Sounds like the perfect situation, doesn't it? Well, it COULD be if the kids would follow my one laundry room rule: if it isn't in the washer or the dryer, it does NOT belong in the laundry room. But NO! For the past 4 years or so, I have had a tizzy laundry fit at least once a week (certain kids cause more fits than others) when the laundry tornado would hit.

So yesterday, I found a pile of clean wet towels underneath a huge pile of nasty dirty laundry... I immediately made a drastic decision. I am retaking the laundry responsibility and my kids are banned from that room...

I know, you're thinking "but what about your balance journey! Suddenly re-adding 3 teenagers and one 7 year old's laundry (2 have moved away since we moved in) back into my already nutso schedule has to throw you out of balance, right?

Well, yes and no. Right now I am realizing that it is about balance in how I feel. I need to balance the amount of time I feel like Cruella with the amount of time that I actually feel like a nice-ish mother. I decided that my hate for laundry room invasion is way stronger than my hate for actually doing the laundry...

So here are the new rules:

1. No kids allowed in the laundry room except to take your clean clothes that I have carefully hung down to your bedroom.



2. You have a special day each week that I will do your laundry. If I come to your room to gather the dirty clothes, and they are on the floor instead of the basket, you forfeit your week and will wear dirty clothes (or figure something else out) until your day comes back around.



3. You will put your clean clothes AWAY! No exceptions.

How do I enforce this, you ask? GOOD QUESTION!!! But I am determined and it's going to work. I am slowly retaking my house...(notice I said slowly).

Wish me luck!

Comparison

I have been thinking a lot today about my whole body balance journey and how I am letting it create-- unbalance? imbalance?--yes, imbalance in the rest of my life. I still feel frustrated, and it's not just because of weight (just to get myself out of the shallow category...ha ha) but because of confusion! I still credit my thyroid/hormones with a lot of the physical and emotional imbalance here, but that is not my point....

I decided today that I am going to find photos of myself over the past 7 years to see if I have changed or have indeed remained the same after all of my struggles... I am scared to post them for ya'all, but I'm gonna...let's compare, shall we?

This was pre-Isagenix. About 2005

I believe this was shortly after Isagenix...I think there is a slight difference...



Heritage Makers TAC Cruise, 2006. About 7 months after starting Isagenix.

*So much fun, I might add*



Also TAC 2006




Nashville, Summer 2006.


Family Photos, Fall 2006

HM TAC 2008

TAC, January 2009

NYC, Summer 2009


HM Reunion 2009

Summer 2010

HM Reunion, August 2011



Also HM Reunion 2011


TONIGHT! After 30 days of the strictest I've been with my eating...

I don't know...other than this seems silly. :)

But Dave just told me that he heard coconut oil helps people with thyroid weight issues...is it worth a shot? (I'm hopeless! ha ha)