Party in the USA

We hear this song....a lot...at our house. I chaperoned at a Stake Dance last weekend and I almost laughed out loud when I heard the shrieks coming from the gym as this popular track came on. Thank you Miley.

But I think it's because of the upcoming Party in the USA (the original) that this song keeps playing in my head over and over. I love Thanksgiving. Is it just me or are Thanksgiving and Christmas one holiday?

I have even found myself turning the radio to Star 102, the local Christmas music station. When I first moved here they started playing non-stop Christmas music...the day after Thanksgiving. Now they start....the 1st of November.

The guy that hangs our Christmas lights wanted to put them on the house on Oct. 18th. I was able to "put him off" until Nov. 10th. But I don't want them the week before Christmas...it's all about getting your money's worth.

I am starting to have anxiety about when to put up the Christmas tree. We don't get back from our Thanksgiving trip until the first of December. And I don't see any way that the tree could be up within the first week, knowing how our schedules will be. What? No tree for the entire month of December? Heaven forbid. When did we change from the old days, when the tree was put up Christmas Eve and decorated by Santa? I think it happened when Christmas started taking a week to put up and take down. If I'm going to go through all that work, I might as well enjoy it for awhile.

But, I digress. I'm excited for the Party in the USA! It's all about the tryptophan coma! I'm not even going to be home for Thanksgiving but when turkey hits 40 cents a pound then bring on the "tis the season"!

I'm thankful that I can go to Price Chopper for my turkey. The wild ones that roam my neighborhood are too much like pets now, I don't think I could eat one of those. I'll take my Butterball with the thermometer in it, thank you very much. I don't want to know what chemicals are in it. I don't want to know what conditions the bird grew up in. I want lots of gravy to put on my mashed potatoes. Even though, I don't think turkey was on the menu for the first Thanksgiving, it still means Party in the USA to me.

I'm looking forward to the Party in Montana next week. If I survive the New Moon weekend, I will definately need that turkey and a nap. I hope everyone enjoys their American Party next week. Happy Thanksgiving.

Inspired by Losers

I wanna be a biggest loser! Are those guys inspiring or what?

I wish there was a boot camp I could go to.

Maybe I could just be a "little" loser.

Down and Out

It happens once a decade or so. I get sick. And really, it's not that bad....I know it's not the swine flu.

So, sorry if I haven't commented on the blogs lately. If I had my own lap top and could blog from bed that would be groovy. But then, I'd probably never get out of bed again.

Someone asked me today what the weather was supposed to be like tomorrow...huh? I don't even know how the weather was today?

This down and out stuff is for the birds....and swine.

I got to thinking

After a weekend full of church related activities and fine weather...my heart and head are full of so many thoughts.

Caffeine is wonderful for medicinal purposes. Excedrin makes a headache medicine with aspirin and caffeine and the combination of the two is the only thing that completely eradicates the pain in my head. I'm grateful to know there is a time and place for caffeine and that it exists for that purpose.

It's amazing how a change in priorities and circumstances can change habits and attitudes. I will never ever look at money the same way I used to...ever again. I seriously day dream about giving money away. I hope that the opportunity to do so will arise again one day. We take nothing with us but the love and relationships we have. Nothing else matters. Nothing.

I love food. Love it. I can no longer deny myself or my love for food just to shave off 10 pounds. My body loves the weight I am, even if my brain doesn't. I can stay the weight I am and still love food and have a great relationship with myself or I can deny myself the things I enjoy and be lighter and fit better in my clothes and feel much better about appearance. But, I don't like the side effects of eating food either. Some foods make me feel sluggish and tired...others give me guilt. It's such a dilemma. There's no doubt that I need to be healthy, but I really enjoyed my cashew icecream sundae this weekend, even if it didn't love me. I deny myself so much only to lose half a pound every couple of weeks and I am miserable. But then I eat the sundae and I'm miserable. Why is it so hard? Why can't I hate food? I shouldn't hate food. Food truly is a blessing and I should be grateful for it. Mondays always get me thinking about food. Mondays are always the day to start over. So I guess I'll start over like I do every other Monday.

I am really feeling this coming Veterans Day. I have really felt my Grandpa this past couple of weeks. I have been baking his bread and reading his account of serving in the military in WWII and I am saddened that he is not here anymore. I wish I could see him again and tell him I love him. I know I will someday.

The threat of having to speak in church yesterday was very real. I was warned that I should be prepared to be called upon to speak and I was paralyzed. This eminent fear almost destroyed my whole day of worship. Why is it that millions of thoughts are spinning through my head all day and the moment I am called to share those thoughts publicly, they turn to vapor? For the life of me, I could not even think straight. I searched every crevice of my experiences only to find my brain completely empty and void of thought. I was completely seized with utter heart racing panic. It was enough for me that I soaked my clothing with sweat throughout all my meetings. When I got home I was completely drenched from head to toe. You cannot imagine the great relief I felt when my name was not called. If I could ask for any talent or gift it would be the gift of speaking. I would love to be fearless and full of wise things to share.

I learned from a guy named Scott, in sacrament yesterday, that his mom says that when she feels the Spirit it leaks out of her eyes. The Spirit must do that to me too! Maybe that's what I've been feeling so much of lately...so much that my eyes leak a lot. So, my leaking eyes are a good thing.

There was a disturbance in the "force" this last weekend. And I by forces, I meant evil forces. My sister defied statistics and Satan's tactics by conquering the odds of attending the temple with her sweet husband and step daughter as they were sealed for time and eternity. I can hear the choirs of angels now. Oh, I how wish I could have been there. Oh, how the heavens are in triumph in the victory of their fellow family members. What a glorious blessing and oh, I am so proud. This battle was won but I know the war will rage on. They are worth it. I pray for their lives to be blessed.

It's been a big week.

We don't make predictions (an inside joke) about football in our family but I know tonight's playoff game against Kearney will make for a great Family Home Evening. Rise and SOAR Falcons!!

I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving. If I could only get 5 more lbs off before then I could enjoy more food...see, I'm sick. I really am.

Enough of sharing the thoughts I've been thinking. It's time to work...although...work always makes me think too......

A Last Request

I was just telling my Mom last week that I would like this song sung at my funeral.
Would someone please arrange for this guy to come and sing it??

20 questions

Bridger interviewed Grandma and Melanie while they were here..

Grandma
1. Do you color in the lines? yes
2. How many pillows do you sleep with? 1
3. Team or individual sports? Team
4. Can you read music? yes
5. What's worth waking up really early for? Seminary
6. Believe in haunted houses? no
7. How about psychics? yes
8. Swim in a pool, a lake, the ocean? a pool
9. If you could have one hobby, what would it be? yoga
10. Libraries are so cool, too quiet or ok, I guess? So cool.
11. If we had to be named after planets, which would you choose? Venus
12. How about a city? Paris
13. What about a color? yellow
14. Chew on ice? no way, that's bad for you.
15. Bird ever dropped something on you? yes, gross
16. Eakspa igpa atinla...what? or esya, Ia oda? What?!
17. Ultimate fried food? onion rings
18. Favorite color to write with? black
19. Do you send really wordy or super short text messages? super short
20. Ever drunk wheat grass? yes. How was it? okay

Aunt Melanie
1. Something you'd love to wear but don't have the nerve? tattoo
2. Scared to travel over tall bridges? no way, it's safe.
3. Ever had food poisoning? yes. What did you eat? Deviled eggs
4. Had an ant farm? no
5. Grown Sea Monkeys? what are those?
6. Who do you text the most? Brianna
7. Rescued a wild animal? yes. What kind? A bird and a cat.
8. Are you ticklish? yes!
9. From scratch, from a box, no mac and cheese? from scratch
10. I wish my family had a......? yacht
11. Which is worst, gnats, flies or mosquitoes? mosquitoes
12. What tv while you eat dinner? sometimes
13. What magazine cover would you like to appear on? Time Magazine
14. Do you fall asleep in a dentist chair or are you scared to death? Fall asleep
15. Do you take the road less travelled or follow what everyone else follows? less travelled
16. Any nervous habits? yes. What? Grind my teeth.
17. Can you do a backbend? no, ow!
18. Ultimate sundae ingredient? Hot fudge
19. Can you tie a knot in a cherry stem with your tongue? huh?
20. What could you write a book about? decorating or crafting

What a great way to get to know your relatives!

Message from the Witch

Happy Halloween!

Bridger's Muse

I think Bridger wore this fella right out...making him pose for pictures throughout the house...and watch out...they do bite, although not hard. :)
The Caterpillar

Author: Christina Rosetti - 1830-1894
Caterpillar in a hurry

Brown and furry

Take your walk

To the shady leaf or stalk.

May no toad spy you,

May the little birds pass by you,

Spin and die,

To live again a butterfly.

Caterpillar please beware,

escape from Bridger with utmost care.
Her love for you is good as gold,
just hope and pray you live to be old.

A muse you are for her to be...
Alas, the caterpillar was by and by free.



*No caterpillars were harmed in the process of this adventure and post, although I cannot vouch for the authors of poetry who are now turning over in their graves.

WNO

Witches Night Out

Hunter and Jordie....two good witches flew to Panera on their broom sticks...aka...the Honda, for a break from their horny toad stew.

Don't you wish you still wanted to dress up just to go out for turkey on ciabatta sandwiches?

Except for the year I dressed up like Sally from Nightmare Before Christmas and left the business of witchery to my third born, I've always dressed up as a witch for Halloween, since my children were born.

This was the conversation I had with our Home Teacher on Monday.

HT: "So, Cheryl, are you going to dress up as a witch this year? You really are a great witch."

Husband: "Yeah, she really is."

Me: "Huh?"

Now, I know I should be flattered. After all, when I put on the costume, I really get into character. But, am I really a great witch? Are you saying I'm a witch all the time? Maybe it would be better if I was a "good" witch, and not a "great" witch, then I wouldn't feel so bad. Sigh. I'm pretty sure I know exactly which witch Boyd thinks I am...;) (wink, wink).

Well....I am what I am....anyone up for a WNO?

Out of the coals...into the Fire

I've been awfully quiet...at least on my blog. Not that I've haven't been busy, just not busy on my blog.
Part of my problem, is that there's just so much to say...that I don't know what to say. Where to start.

Mom and Mel are leaving today. I'm not really sure if I'm ready to say good-bye though.
We took a Time Out together and attended the Deseret Book women's conference on Friday and Saturday. I learned a few things.

"Children are slow ripening fruit. What we see on the outside is not necessarily a reflection of what is on the inside. Appearances at any given time are not a way to judge where a child is at."- Emily Watts
Thank you Emily for giving me perspective and hope about my own children. My children will ripen.

"Heavenly Father needs stubbornness for survival in this dispensation" (Speaking about stubborn children) - Emily Watts
I love my middle child very much today.

"Difficult children force us to turn more to the Father. It's the hard ones that force us to focus on trust." - Emily Watts
So true. If my children force me on my knees in prayer more, then that's a good thing. That means I'm closer to the Lord.

"What's it like being married to me?" - John Bytheway
The question we should ask ourselves EVERYDAY.

"If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing badly" - Wendy Ulrich
All things that stretch us and make us better are worth doing...even when difficult and not pretty in the process.

"When we empty our soul to Jesus Christ, it prepares a place for Him." - Kris Belcher
Let Him in.

I also learned that after an entire month of eating out and celebrating birthdays and company coming, nothing tastes better then a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on homemade bread.

Mom and Mel have come at a time when my head hasn't been in the game. It's somewhere else. I got a new calling at church. It's the equivalent of putting on a back pack, twice my own body weight, and hiking around with a bacteria infested fork stuck in my eye. That's pretty uncomfortable. And after attending a youth fireside last night I wonder if I'll ever survive the Beehives. That's Mormon jargon for 12-13 year old girls. My own girls are disappointed, needless to say, that I will be spending MORE time with them. Heaven forbid. We just can't seem to catch a break from each other. I'm officially out of the coals and into the fire of life right now. That's okay, I guess hot flashes keeping me up all night wasn't enough!!

Speaking of hot...I pressured cooked beans this week for the first time. Lots of symbolism there.

My little camera is still missing. I wish the camera ghost would just bring it back. Although, I'm not up for pictures of myself, it would have been nice to have a shot of the chocolate bags at McCormicks and Schmicks where we celebrated 100 years between my Mom and I. 100 years. That's a long time.

Wendy posted a list of pros...and cons...kind of a good vs. bad
I like lists....here's mine.

Pros..................................................Cons

Boyd quit his job.............................................Boyd quit his job.

Mel and Mom visited.........................................They have to go home.

Callings make us stretch and grow.........................I'm not limber.

I love Diet Coke.............................I don't drink it anymore.

We don't have the swine flue at our house...............but I have bacteria infested fork in my eye.

Fires can't be neglected or they turn into raging infernos that swallow entire forests. Off to tend more fires. Oh, how I'll miss the coals.