Spring Weekend

This past weekend was an absolute favorite of mine.

On Friday night our branch had the opportunity to travel to a town an hour and a half away to spend the weekend away from city life as we listened to General Conference.

It was so relaxing to be completely away from the hustle and bustle of city life. No cell phone, no internet connection to worry about, just time to enjoy nature and the company of others in my branch.

This weekend we:

took hikes in hills found signs of Spring climbed trees like monkeys jumped from trees



listened to General Conference (which was so wonderful!)

smiled took pictures of Rosie dog and her nose and Molly dog observed the beauty of nature played croquet

slept in cabins got to know each other better

watched as children played with Molly played with Rosie and Molly ourselves played with glow sticks took pictures of (and held) a cute baby (I'm leaving this one un-cropped to show the background of the log cabin) I believe that Heavenly Father gives us Spring to remind us that new beginnings and fresh starts are possible. This weekend was a perfect example of that...

The people were great, General conference was wonderful (as always), nature was perfect. I loved being able to see the stars so clearly in the night sky and the big puffy clouds during the day.

A treasured weekend indeed.

How grateful I am for the blessings in my life!

Year of Yes

I wish I had said Yes!
beloved
When you asked me out to walk
among the leaves
the turning leaves
You were offering me
the sound of dreams,
And I turned you down
politely.

Not today, I smiled
Perhaps,
Maybe, tomorrow?

But I wish I had said Yes!
beloved
I wish we had shared this light.

Next time don't ask
Just take me!
Order me to dress!

I am going to need your help
beloved
To begin the Year of Yes.

by Shaista Tayabali

Move Over TCBY

...there's a new frozen yogurt place in town!

Last week after our presidency meeting, one of my counselors, S. (who is also a friend) and I went to Orange Leaf- a new pay-by-the-ounce yogurt place here.

She had been before but I hadn't, so I was more than willing to go (and I needed some girl talk). They have about 16 flavors to choose from and you can get swirls for each flavor combo or just mix and match flavors. They also have a bunch of toppings to choose and you can sample as many yogurt flavors as you want before you buy.

I couldn't narrow which ones I wanted so I tried a combo of every flavor (minus the coffee). I really like the chocolate/peanut butter, mint chocolate, and their red velvet cake. I put Little Debbie oatmeal creme pie pieces on top of mine. What's not to like about that? They also have a fun topping called popping boba candy in mango flavor. So yummy!

And one of the best parts...These little spovels (spoon+shovel - I don't know what their real name is, but that's what they look like) to eat your yogurt with. Aren't they adorable?

I have a feeling I'll be eating a lot more Orange Leaf in my future. Which makes me think to my self "Orange you glad it's fro-yo?" :)

Have you been to Orange Leaf? What is your favorite flavor?

A few finds...

This website that I recently found, called Perpetual Kid definitely appeals to my inner child.

Some of my favorites include:

Mustache jumbo magnet. Cause everything looks better with a magnetic 'stache, right?



Chillipede ice cubes:



Ninjabread men cookie cutters! How cool are these?



For the bagel lovers among us (raising my hand)- some bagel soap to go along with your morning:



Do you like or dislike these stamps?



What are you favorite items on their site? I've started a long list...

Hope for tomorrow

You try to untangle one part of your life only to find another knot somewhere else.

They say challenges make you stronger.

They say everything happens for a reason
and that God never gives you more than you can handle.

They say the best is yet to be.

Today, I can't help but hope with all of my heart that they are right.

Image

Spring

It seems like the way I have been going, I'm posting about once a week or so...which isn't too bad I guess, but it's less often than I used to post. C'est la vie.

*********************

Spring is on its way- I can see the daffodils peeking their green heads out of the ground and the red breasted robins listening for worms. Sure signs that spring is almost here!

I've been obsessed lately with gardening. I ordered seed catalogues in the mail and been pouring over the beautiful pictures, longing for a space to have a full-size garden of my own (and a gnome to go with it).

Growing up we had a garden and the anticipation of spring and rototilling the ground brought secret delight to my teenage heart. Though I was often less than enthusiastic about helping, I loved the results the garden produced: red juicy tomatoes, sweet beets, delicious corn, and potatoes freshly dug up with dirt still attached.

Often our dinners would consist simply of fresh corn on the cob, potatoes, beets, and tomatoes. Each wonderful in their own way, the flavors merging together in a harmony of delight on my taste buds.

Now despite the fact that my sister and I are both gone from home, my dad still grows a garden. I benefit from the fruits when I visit, but it's not the same- I don't have the chance to help anymore. I hope time has wizened me and I would be more willing to help than in years past.

I live in an apartment now and the only way for me to garden is through containers. But I think I'll be heading to the store this weekend for a look at the plants...I need something to grow.

Do you garden? What do you plan on planting this year?

Thoughts by Pooh and friends

"Don't underestimate the value of doing nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering." - Piglet

"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day." - Winnie The Pooh

"You can't stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." - Piglet

"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear." - Eeyore

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." - Winnie The Pooh

Doldrums

Thanks to everybody for your comments on the last post, I really appreciated them. And thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers.

I'm doing a little better, but I've decided that the end of February and March (at least so far) is the month of doldrums.

Every time I say* the word doldrums, I think of The Phantom Tollbooth. Have you read that book, by the way? If you like words it's lots of fun. Milo, the boy in the story, gets lost in the doldrums- a place where thinking and laughing aren't allowed. He doesn't know how to get out, sort of like how I feel right now. But then Tock, a 'watchdog' finds and rescues him. I don't think a watchdog is going to rescue me, but it would be nice.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand...

I just feel blah. Like blah, blah. All I want to do is stay in bed and sleep all day.
Daylight savings time is coming up this weekend which means I (we, all of us) will lose an hour of sleep.
It also means that since it will be dark in the mornings, I will need even more motivation to get out of bed.
Oy vey. I don't know where the motivation is going to come from....

Since I'm sad and in the land of doldrums I need something to cheer me up, so I've compiled a list of things which will (hopefully) make me happy(ier) during this time:

You know what they say? Fake it till you make it.

This is me faking it.

1. Strawberries are on sale 5 for $5 (for a 1lb container) this week at Meijer. Fresh fruit. Yay.

2. My parents are coming on March 22nd to go with me to the doctor's appointment at the specialist. I get to see my parents. Double yay.

3. A new Glee is on this week. I think I'll watch it on Hulu though.

4. I didn't throw up (which is a very good thing) from the new medicine, but I did have problems at the other end. TMI?

5. Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday, but I'm not planning on eating fatty foods.

6. I'm moving offices this week at work and I'm going to have a window seat.

7. Okay, that's all I can think of....

What is cheering you up right now? Maybe you can help me so I can gather my strength and start anew.

I'll be happy for you instead...

*This is the first time I have said the word 'doldrums' or really heard it for that matter other than when I talk about the book.

Pain and healing

As C.S. Lewis has said: "God can make good of all that happens. But the loss is real."

On Sunday, the tears welled up in my eyes, mirroring the heavy rain outside. Big fat drops pouring down. Thunder came into my chest.

It hurt to think about it and every time I did the tears started again.

But it consumed my thoughts.

A little over a week earlier I had been at the doctor's, my body pretty much working fine except for one little problem.

*********

Then on Friday, just two days earlier at 9:00 am I got a call from my doctor's office. I was shocked at the diagnosis I heard. I had been fine. Now this. I felt like my body was betraying me. Maybe it had been trying to tell me something was wrong for a while but I wasn't listening.

When I heard the diagnosis I took it like a champ- the news not really sinking in...

The more I thought about it though, the more it hurt. I had so many questions but no answers.

"What if?", "why now?" and "what about the future?" resounded in my head.

I didn't want to talk to anyone...not even Father, but I needed comfort and it was getting late.

I called my mom. I cried as she asked me how I was. Emotionally I was not so good. She mostly talked and I mostly listened, which was fine by me. The tears came and went. We made a plan of action. I would call a specialist and get the answers I needed.

My mom commented "I know Father has a plan in this, I just wish I knew what it was..." I know the Lord compensates the faithful for every loss but having this knowledge doesn't make it hurt any less. The pain is still there. I don't think faith and knowledge negate pain, do they?

I may not be healed in this life but God can make good of all that happens. He will consecrate this affliction for my gain. And, as my faith is rooted in hope, optimism, and tears, I know He will...but the loss is still real.

Come what may

I really needed to read this today. Maybe you did too...

"The Lord compensates the faithful for every loss. That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful will know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears of rejoicing and gratitude." Joseph B. Wirthlin

Breakfast- try to be cheerful

Breakfast table civility and deportment

1. Clean up before you come to the breakfast table: wash your face and comb your hair
2. You don't have to get dressed (I guess if it's in the family home, but at a B & B I would guess you should)
3. Clean fingernails, please
4. Reading the newspaper at the table is permissible, but a pleasant word or salutation must be spoken to all present
5. Sit up strait and TRY to be cheerful

6. Talk to one another politely; talk and listen in turn
7. Because everyone is defenseless at breakfast, there should be no contentiousness or crossness
8. Don't ever mention food dislikes or criticize the food
9. Don't lick your fingers or stuff your mouth with food
10. Don't play with your food

11. Don't talk with your mouth full
12. Butter your bread one part at a time; don't put your uneaten pieces back in the bread basket
13. And don't answer questions in a saucy manner
14. Remember, guests always receive the choicest portions.

I will forever be working on #5. I am so not a morning person.

From The Breakfast Book by the esteemed Ms. Marion Cunningham (p. 53)