Accentuate the Positive - Elminate the Negative

"Don't be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile onyour face. 'Accentuate the positive.' Look a little deeper for the good. GO forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Lovelife."  --Gordon B. Hinckley

Birthday Boys

I neglected to recognize three of my sons and their birthdays! Love them so much!

Happy Birthday to Cameron, Andrew and David!

Planes, Trains and Automobilies

What is the deal with my car? I had 3 removals last night (luckily 2 were at the same time) and on the short drive from my home to the mortuary my car decided it may or may not work. Thankfully, I made it safely home during the night. This morning, however, was a different story. I got 2 blocks from home and it died.

The wonderful thing, if there is one in this story, is that I called a funeral director who lives nearby and he picked me up and took me to our 9th East office. Then I called one of our part-time staffers who works as a mechanic during the week and he gave me the name of their towing service and I told him I thought it was the alternator. He will take good care of me.

Even though life brings it's share of surprises, I'm grateful for friends and acquaintances who are at the ready. The Lord is truly merciful.

Happy 19th Birthday Taylor

This isn't my FAVORITE pic of Taylor but it seems appropriate today. (He got this taken at the post office for his passport.) Not long from now, Taylor will be leaving, really leaving the nest for his mission. I know this because of my experience and being part of David and Adam's mission experience. When we got home, we had been away long enough to know our minds and know that we could take care of ourselves. This will be the same for Taylor. He will leave a young man and return a man. It is the way it should be.

I can't say that this doesn't tug at my heartstrings just a bit because I know that tearing those apron strings is a literal feeling. That said, I also know from experience that the choices Taylor has made so far in his life have been good, solid ones; choices that will carry him through his whole life if he stays on this path and he will be truly happy. So I am happy for him. I know I will continue to a part of his life the rest of my life as I am with my other children.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY son! This is truly a day to celebrate!  Love, Mom

Happy Birthday Adam!

Today my son, Adam is 28 years old on February 28th. I'm so proud of this dear son. He works so hard at his job, college and being a great husband and father! Keep it up, son!



Retalhuleu, Guatemala

Taylor will be in the MTC in Guatemala on June 12, 2013! He received his call last night. He'd already left with Adam to go to his apartment to watch the kids while Adam & Jessica went out for Valentine's Day. So I got back into my car and drove over there. It was so exciting to see him open the envelope and read that he's going to Retalhuleu, Guatemala! We had Cheri on face time and David on speaker phone! I was So surprised! After some hugs from the babies I went home and scoped out the Internet looking for help on how to pronounce Retalhuleu, finding photos, etc. Here are some pics I found.

There's a lot to do. We have 4 months to accomplish it. First stop is the Post Office on Tuesday for the passport!  So proud of Taylor!

Taking Stock....Again

It seems I'm always revisiting how my life is going feeling that if I don't do this exercise I'm just going to wander where the wind blows. This is how I've been feeling since early Thursday morning when the stomach cramps and the horrible headache commenced. Yes, the dreaded flu visited me and still lingers if only by a thread. I had too much down time, too much time to think...not  always a good thing.

I'd been thinking about purchasing life insurance for some time. When I was married we had some term insurance on my then husband but never on me. (I did learn today that term insurance can skyrocket when you get older so don't get it. Get whole life. Premiums stay the same forever.) So today I finally purchased some from a friend of mine who I trust and have known for several years. That's a  start, I think. I've also got some ideas of how to supplement my income without ruining my health and I'm going to begin working on that as a mission plan for my future.

I feel blessed in my family. I have difficulty reading or hearing about "perfect" marriages. I don't think standing on my head or joining his religion would have saved mine and I would have betrayed my own heart in doing so--but it does make me sad to think that I wasn't enough. I know I'm not perfect but I'm willing to compromise on most things but not on the fundamentals. In the end people remind me that I have 7 amazing children, their spouses and my dear, sweet grandchildren. They are right in reminding me but there will always be that hole in my heart where I once loved with my whole being someone who I thought loved me. (I think the wambulance is coming!) I have to laugh at myself.

I don't feel right about persuing a man...on-line dating is frightening to say the least. Since I watched a woman in my ward chase after a man much younger than herself and in a relationship, I've seen how horrible that looks. I know in the "new world" it's supposed to be acceptable for women to hit on men but for me that's so desperate! So unless a great man shows some interest, I'm where I am moving forward on my own in my life.

Don't think I don't have plans because I do. They will sound like I'm hanging on the lives of my children but they are part of me.

• Getting Taylor on his mission
• Staying healthy!! So sick of being sick this winter!
• Exercise, exercise, exercise!
• Visiting Cheri and Daniel in Cali for Thanksgiving
• Hanging out with my little peeps--the grandkids as often as I can
• painting my house
• Going to the temple more
• etc etc etc

So much to do!