Maya's New Car

I was browsing an email someone forwarded to me (lots of times I don't --but this time I was glad I did) and this came up. I sat and laughed for a while in front of the computer, just envisioning Miss Maya, the most serious Hello Kitty fan I know, driving this pimpmobile at age 16. Gotta love this one!

Life Really is Good

I've already talked about how much I like the stuff from Life is Good but today I was checking in at their website, and they have new fall stuff up. I really like their t-shirts -- they are well made, don't shrink and last a long time. But I also love their messages -- that life is good, that we should stop and have fun, that we all need growth, and that we need to remember where we came from. (which reminds me of something I heard recently, in the latest Harry Potter movie: "Don't let your past dictate who you are but let it be part of who you become.") Good thought as we blend our pasts into our futures.

These designs came from the women's line but the men's is good too. Check it out.

How am I Doing?

Former Miss America Sharlene Wells Hawkes tells of asking a Sunday School class of 16 and 17 year olds what they thought the Lord would say if He were to make a short statement about them. She passed out pencils and papers and had them write anonymously, hoping they would respond candidly.

"Awesome", "One of his most favorite kids -- a real good guy with a small ego", "Struggling to define her beliefs and values but walking in the right direction" were some of the responses.

Her favorite? "He is a little confused, but he will straighten out." (Hawkes, Living In but not Of the World, pg. 87-88)

That, of course, led me to wonder what He would say about me. Would He say that I was thoughtful, kind and loving? Dependable, caring and helpful? That He loves the way I love children? Or would He have to bring up my stubbornness, my tendency to be judgmental, my critical nature?

This really made me think. I want to be like Him, so much so that He has no hesitation -- all He can do is list my virtues. I'm hoping He thinks I too will straighten out!

Thought for Today

"Lord, you may not always come when I call you, but I know you'll always be on time!" (Mahalia Jackson)

Isn't that the truth? My timeline is never quite the same as His, but deep down, despite all my yearnings and insecurities, I know He is there, that He knows me and my needs, and that He will come when the time is right for me.

In His Care

Some years ago, I read an article in a National Geographic magazine that really touched me. After a forest fire in Yellowstone National Park, forest rangers began climbing a mountain to assess the damage of the fire. One ranger found a bird literally petrified in ashes, perched on the ground at the base of a tree. He was disturbed by the sight and took a stick, knocking over the body. When he did, three tiny chicks scurried out from under their dead mother's wings. This mother, aware of the impending disaster, had carried her offspring to the base of that tree and gathered them under her wings, somehow knowing that the toxic smoke would rise. She could have flown to safety but had refused to abandon her little ones. When the blaze arrived, and she was singed by the heat of the flames, she remained where she was -- with her babies. Because she had been willing to die, those under her wings had lived.

This resonated with me on several levels: parental love and selflessness (am I that kind of parent?), and the obvious one, of course -- the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for each of us and the knowledge we have that if we come unto Him, He will take us under His wings, just as this mother bird did with her babies.

Yesterday in church as I played the organ, I found myself considering the words of "I Stand All Amazed" (pg. 193, Hymn book). The line that says "Oh, it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me" stuck with me all day. Not many people care for me that much -- enough to die for me. But He does and He did and I'm full of gratitude for that willing sacrifice.

Psalms 91:4 says this: "He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust. . ." Indeed He has covered my sins with His sacrifice, and under His wings, I do trust.

Check it out -- the yard is done!

It's been ages since I even mentioned our big yard transformation -- it's taken a long time because it's pretty much been a one-man job. Mark has had a little help off and on but I'd bet he did 90% of the work on this project himself. And then with all the rain we've had, it got hard to finish it. Well, now it's almost done and it's beautiful. My only regret is that I didn't have him take any 'before' pictures -- but you can picture this yard with nothing there but yukky grass and two small trees. Everything else you see in the pictures was involved as part of this project. The last little job that needs doing is to plant flowers (or whatever) in the box that you can see in several of the pictures. I'm pushing for several rose bushes as they seem to do well here (we have one in the front yard that literally has roses blooming through December and January. Amazing -- and such a sweet surprise in those dark months!). It's been a huge amount of work and it's lovely. Yay for Mark -- he designed the whole thing, planned it out and then executed it too. I think it looks wonderful!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

I'm a day behind here because my Dad's BD is actually yesterday, August 3 but I have been gone and didn't have computer access. I did get to talk with him on the phone and wish him a happy 84th (yup, big 8-4!) birthday but I wanted to pay tribute to a wonderful dad on his day.

Mom says that Dad swore he would get married before he turned 25, and he did -- the day before his 25th birthday. So their anniversay is Aug. 2 and his birthday is August 3. I'm so thankful for my dad -- he has always been a wonderful friend and example to me. Even when I was a rotten teen-ager (not his words but my uncle's) he would let me come and sit on his lap and (in his words) 'cry on his shirt'. And I would -- sit and cry out my frustrations, my disappointments, my anger and my heartaches along with my mascara, all on his nice white shirt. When he really wants to tell me that he misses me, he'll say something like "I'd even be glad to have you come and cry on my shirt!" -- and I know that means he loves me.

I love you, Dad!

Happy Anniversary!

Today is my parents' 59th wedding anniversary. They have been such an example to me of love, patience, and kindness and are really wonderful parents. I'm so lucky to be part of their family and to have had such great examples to follow.

So I'm sending along lots of love and congratulations to Mom and Dad -- hope your day is wonderful! Thanks for all you have done and continue to do for all of us -- we love you!

Prayer (and faith without works is dead)

There was a little girl who told her mom that her brother was setting traps for birds. She didn' t like that at all. "He won't catch any birds in his traps, will he, Mom?" she asked.

The mother replied, "Maybe he will -- I"m not sure that he won't."

"I have prayed about it and asked Heavenly Father to protect the birds," the girl said. Then becoming more positive, she said, "I know he won't catch any because I prayed about it!"

The mother asked, "How can you be so positive?"

Then came this reply: "He won't catch any birds because after I said my prayers, I sent out and kicked those old traps all to pieces!" (Boyd K. Packer, Teach Ye Diligently, p. 215)

What a lesson. I loved reading what Pres. Monson had to say about prayer too -- that what we need to do is to pray, and then go to work. (Ensign, May 1989, p. 44)

Donuts -- Yum!

Today I had another appt. with my dentist (you remember him, right? He's the best.). His office location is convenient but has one downfall -- it's also pretty much right across the street from a new Shipley's Donut store. Normally that wouldn't even catch my eye, but since our (former) next door neighbors are the ones that opened the store, I'm very much aware of Shipley's. And having sampled their donuts on many occasions, I know they taste good. Really good.

So as I exited the dentist's office after my appointment, I glanced across the street, saw the Shipley's store, and before I knew it, I was in my car, out on the street, into the left turn lane, and then sliding my little Honda Civic into a parking place in front of the donut store. Happened so fast it made my head spin. Then I was inside, faced with the decision about which donuts to buy, how many donuts to buy, and (to be honest) wanting them all. I settled for just a few but ordered a large Diet Coke to go along with it. That lowers the calorie intake, right? (yeah, right!)

The fact is, Shipley's makes a nice donut! I personally like the vanilla frosted ones with sprinkles, but they do a mean filled bavarian cream too. I'm sure they are ALL good -- and I"m equally sure that someday, I will know that from experience.

I have already done my time on the elliptical machine today (that may have been a part of why I headed straight for the donut store -- "hey, I've already exercised! I can indulge!") -- but I probably took in more calories in donuts than I exercised off. Sigh. I think it's a good thing I don't have another dentist appt. till October.