Paint

We are in the process of doing some major painting inside the house. Most of which is in the addition but since the paint was out and we had “painter helpers” (Jim, Shawneese, Justin & Ashley) we decided to paint the hall as well. This meant clearing out the hall of pictures, corner tables, etc. Since there is little place for these kinds of items to go (what with Teigen Man crawling about, ruining my prediction that he would be walking by now) it was determined the best empty space was our bedroom. This has made maneuvering around our room interesting at best; if not down right dangerous at times. The first morning in the dark was like bumper cars since we get up before the dawn. We couldn’t see our way just feel our way around things. You are probably thinking just turn on the light; but at that hour the light is equally as blinding. Anyway, this morning when I got up which was day five of the bedroom invasion I was able to weave my way though without a bump. It hit me as I was weaving through the maze that life is that way too. There are always obstacles. Do we learn from them, do we constantly bump into them resisting them thinking our way is better, or do we accept them as lessons and learn from them and move on. Today I learned that there can always be light even in the darkness. I learned that even with obstacles in my life I can work with them to overcome them for I know on Saturday these current obstacles will be put back in their proper space and all will be right with the world and the next time I get up before dawn’s early light I won’t have to fear an obstacle in my way.

Is it really 2009?

It seems like it has been forever since my last post. But after reading part of Elder Holland’s devotional he gave at BYU on Tuesday I’ve decided not to dwell on my deficiency .

Here is an excerpt from it:

“Counseling his audience to not dwell on days now gone or yearn vainly for yesterday, Elder Holland reminded "the past is to be learned from but not lived in," drawing upon experiences as one looks ahead. God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as he does about where you are, and with his help, where you are willing to go."

When the complete text becomes available I will for sure be looking it up I would love to read the whole talk. So many times I find myself looking back. He talked about Lot’s wife looking back and we know what kind of trouble that got her into. Don't want to go there.

So today I will look forward to all my tomorrows and all that they bring……no more looking back for me it is full steam ahead.

The Little Things......

I received this in an email on Monday. It is a perfect explanation of how I feel about life's little twists and turns. I'm reminded of it each morning when we are running a little behind or I have to run in the house for something or I can't find something or the hot water doesn't want to be hot or just about anything that happens I know it is for a reason.

This is the email and I couldn't say any better:

• As you might know, the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
• Another fellow was alive because it was His turn to bring donuts.
• One woman was late because her Alarm clock didn't go off in time.
• One was late because of being stuck on the NJ Turnpike Because of an auto accident.
• One of them Missed his bus.
• One spilled food on her clothes and had to takeTime to change.
• One's Car wouldn't start.
• One couldn't Get a taxi.
• The one that struck me was the man who put on a new pair of shoes that morning, took the various means to get to work, but before he got there, he developed a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid. That is why he is alive today.

Now when I am stuck in traffic, miss an elevator, turn back to answer a ringing telephone ... All the little things that annoy me. I think to myself, this is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment.

Next time your morning seems to be going wrong; the children are slow getting dressed, you can't seem to find the car keys, you hit every traffic light, don't get mad or frustrated; it may be just that God is at work watching over you. May God continue to bless you with all those annoying little things. And may you remember their possible purpose.

Something from the Past

So, I was looking for some pictures on my computer this afternoon and came across this email conversation I had with Kimberly. Unfortunately, this is only my response to a question or comment she surely must of had regarding food, sleep and children. It went like this:

To: 'Kimberly Easterling'
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 9:30 AM
Subject: RE: So........

it begins slowly a little hunger, a little tired then it gradually you are able to get by with very little sleep and very little food because there is no time to sleep and your children are eating all your food (except for your mushrooms of course). They are waking you at all times of the day and night but that doesn't matter anymore because your body has been deprived of sleep for so long you wouldn't know what a good nights rest means anyway until.........well I'm not sure when because by the time you can sleep through the night because your children are gone your body has leaped into the next phrase of life where it can't seem to make it through the night without getting up to use the bathroom..............so my dear the moral of the story is enjoy the food while you can get it and grab a nap anywhere you can take it...............la la

To this she responded:
that is a most excellent monologue, we should save this for future use....and I will absolutely take your advice........at least I saved you something (ie the mushrooms) and something as you know is better than nothing!
kae

No Cell Phone Use While Driving Please.......

July 1st it became a California law that you could not drive and use your cell phone unless it was hands free. Of course this is not a problem for me because for the past nine months I'm rarely the driver; in fact I don't even remember the last time I drove to work. Well, this has been hard for Val/Dad especially now that he has a Blackberry. He can't stand for it to go off and not look at it.......the email part. I'm always saying to him don't look at your email while you are driving; to me that is worse than talking on the phone. Plus he doesn't have a blue tooth for it just ear pieces so when he does get a call everything is usually all tangled up and it causes a situation. We are a pair that is for sure!! Anyway, on the way home tonight I tried to call Justin, no answer; I tried Ashley, no answer; I tried their home phone no answer. Then next thing I know Val/Dad is talking to Justin, I look over at him and I'm like what's up with that!! Well, their conversation is cut short (we must have driven through a bad spot) and next thing I know my phone is ringing, I say oh that must be Justin calling back. WRONG.......it's Val!! I'm like hello I'm sitting right next to you...........we have a funny little conversation as we head up the hill, our voices echoing back and forth.............I love that man!!