Where HAS the time gone?

Amazing, isn't it? One can be busy doing the minutia of daily living and forget to check in with the blog (almost) no one reads but me. But this can be a wonderful tool to document events, big and small. So here I am again. With no promises to be more consistent.

Today is Sunday. This is General Conference weekend. This morning was excellent. (Is there ever a time it isn't excellent?) Elder Oaks and Elder Scott and of course President Monson. And the other speakers, whose names slip my mind right now--sorry--were excellent as well. Elder Holland's talk yesterday was a highlight. Brought me to tears. As someone who has struggled with clinical depression and ADD for many years--and has struggled with the medication issue as well--this talk was a little personal note from Heavenly Father that reminds me how much He loves me. And to remind me that when I get to the "other side" I won't have this condition anymore. My body and brain will be perfected. Amazing!

A big change: On June 28th I moved back to the Tri-cities. Marissa and her family moved to the Chicago area a few days earlier. I am working at Somerset Counseling for Gary and Cathy Somdahl. It is an unusual arrangement, but so far it's working. Joe is back in the Tri-cities as well. He is terminally ill with end stage liver disease. I felt that I should be here to support Jenna and my step-daughters as they support and care for their dad. At the moment, he is in a care facility and seems to be holding his own, all things considered. So, in essence my two ex-husbands have contributed to my decision to return to the Tri-cities. Oh, and the fact that I absolutely wanted to leave THS. This time I don't miss it. At all. No thoughts of ever going back. It isn't the organization I originally joined and it never will be that again. There was some grieving that went on, but no regrets.

I belong to an awesome ward! I have been called to be a RS teacher again. This time not as the teaching for our times teacher but as the teacher for the Lorenzo Snow Teachings. I enjoy teaching. Day before yesterday I took the Sister missionaries to dinner at Olive Garden. The day of the dinner I was going to prepare for them, I learned that a substitute missionary that was here for one day has an allergy to gluten. I had nothing--absolutely nothing--to prepare to serve for dinner. So I invited them to Olive Garden. A little more expensive than planned but certainly a nice change of pace for them and definitely better than my own cooking! For the first time since I joined the church 5 years ago, I have visiting teachers who actually come and visit me. And home teachers--a very kind and committed couple who visit and pick me to go to the temple.

I really like my apartment. I pay less for a 2 bedroom apartment than I paid for a 1 bedroom in Burien/Seattle. Central heat and air conditioning (a necessity!) I get a sewing room. I have a balcony. I bought a new tv, and Jenna and I painted my dark Ikea bookcases with white chalk paint and I'm creating a beach cottage look. Life is good.

I miss my friends and the weather and of course my old ward and the Seattle temple. The Columbia River temple is much smaller and simpler--but it serves the purpose equally as well.

Sadly, beachcombing opportunities are few. Maybe next spring and summer :-) Right now I'm texting with one of my visiting teachers and adding to my blog post in between texts. On my phone and on my laptop simultaneously. I am a tech wizard. Tee hee!

Time to get settled into my (new) sand colored sofa w/ attached chaise. With my turquoise colored soft and cuddly throw which was a gift from my TC grandchildren for Grandparents Day. Life is good! The next session starts in about 15 minutes.

Ohhh, this is where the title thing goes....

It's another day in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Sunday morning of the Memorial Day weekend. It is challenging to stay busy on Sunday mornings before 1:00 church, without getting lost in some activity and thereby being late for church.

Yesterday, I went to Folk Life with my friend Tony. We had fun. I was tempted to go back to Folk Life today, but I won't do that. It is important for me to be in church. I might miss something important. **smile** I will probably go back to Folk Life tomorrow after attending a barbecue with friends. (Wow that sounds a little like a social life!).

I am still trying to figure out this new layout thing. I don't think I like it very much.

I found out that potassium is a very important element to have in our bodies, and when we don't have enough, it can be a very serious thing. Mainly because it's bad for our kidneys and it can cause pain in varioius and sundry parts of the body. It seems that if this condition goes on long enough it could be life threatening. (Who knew?) Then if we have a very good doctor, that doctor will prescribe amazingly large supplement tablets, to be taken four at a time, with food (not much room for the food after 4 large tablets).

I found out that potatoes can be a good source of potassium, so I whipped up a small serving of fried potatoes and onions, with potatoes and onion from the Farmer's Market. I don't eat fried potatoes very often because the health gurus have ruined the pleasure for me. No, actually, I am trying to make healthier food choices these days, so that means rare occasions of eating things like fried potatoes & onions. But I said all that to justify fixing some mighty fine potatoes and onions for myself this morning. I also sliced a nice navel orange, which also is a good source of potassium. And of course, I had a banana. I wonder if one can have a potassium overdose. Better check with the doctor.

A whole year?? Are you sure?

Well, well, well, exactly how long has it been since I last wrote? I know it's been an awfully long time, maybe a year. I will have to check. I was clearing out emails from my old aol account, and I came across a message that said something to the effect that this was my last chance to retrieve my blog. Now I know I haven't been consistent--heck, I will even admit I've been neglectful--but is that any reason to hijack my blog(s). Yes that's blogs. I have a short one I kept when I visited the Skeen family in New Zealand.

It appears that there are some new features so I had better go check them out. I'm sure I'll be back, hopefully sooner than this last time!

Where does the time go?

Has it really been two months since I last wrote? I guess so. The ol' blog doesn't lie. I have been incredibly busy but it's all been "normal" stuff (whatever that means)

Christmas is 2 weeks away. Less. I love the Lord. I give thanks for His birth. And His life. And his great sacrifice, the Atonement.

I am learning to not follow through on gut reactions when things happen, or when people say things to me that I'm not sure I want to hear or know. Life is what it is. You just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and say your prayers, try to wait for the answer, and move on.

I have some concerns about the near future, but again there is not much I can do but pray and love the ones I love so much.

Almost a private diary

Well, this is ok. Facebook has taken over and left blogs in their dust. I am not so good with Facebook. So I can use this blog as a sort of journal. I don't think anyone reads my blog anymore.

My Jenna is soldiering through chemo and radiation to provide more protection after having surgery to remove cancer. The doctors are pretty sure they got all the cancer, But to give Jenna the best possible shot at beating this cancer, they have recommended an aggressive combination of chemo and radiation at the same time. I got to sit with her yesterday while she was getting a 4 hour dose of chemo. I am trying really hard to not be a "helicopter mom" and give Jen the space she needs to do this treatment in her own way. I want to tell the doctors what to do. I want to do something--anything--to make her all right. She is so brave and determined. I am so proud of this strong woman who is my daughter. She is my hero.

I hate being so far away. And really I am not far. It is a 4 hour drive (younger faster drivers make it in less time) and I just made it and stayed the weekend with Jenna & her family. The naughty pugs love me and little Lola.

I have to read my scriptures and get to bed. I am really tired these days. I might be thinking too much. **smile**

in shock

WHAT???? lds.org is down for maintainence? How can that be? Whatever will I do until it's back up?

Nobody told me.....

life was fair.......

don't you hate it when

You realize you are really pretty much powerless, and the only thing you can control is yourself and your attitude and maybe the remote to the tv?

I was just wondering if I'm the only one. Probably.

My little naughty dog Henry

Ok, I just have to share this: Henry has started his food storage program! I was cleaning the crate this afternoon, and discovered 3 partial "chewies" stashed outside the crate close to his cushion. I know it's Henry because he does not like to share his chewies with Lola and he stashes them everywhere in the living room. Sometimes he stashes them in my backpack and I find them when I am at work. Sometimes he stashes them in the basket of clothes I am preparing to fold.

But whatever you might say about Henry, he is a good little Mormon dog and has his very own food storage going on. I didn't know he knew about these things. Never underestimate little naughty dogs.

A lesson learned

As I watched and waited to hear that my child would be ok, I realized what an incomprehensible act it was that Heavenly Father performed when He sent His son to earth. I have been struggling with being powerless regarding my daughter's health, and I cannot describe the sheer fear I felt and continue to feel from time to time.

How did Heavenly Father find the love and the strength to send the Savior to earth, especially when He knew how everything would turn out? How did He refrain from rescuing His son when Jesus was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane or how could He allow Jesus to endure the the unthinkable torture and death and not strike back?

Truly, I realize that Heavenly Father loves us--REALLY LOVES US--to follow through with His plan. These last few days have given me a minuscule taste of what the Father must have gone through. I really need to be mindful of the amazing gift the Atonement is. I often think of how Jesus suffered but this past week I have a new appreciation for the suffering of my Heavenly Father.

I am also learning what it means to cry unto the Lord. There is nothing else I can do. It is so hard to say "Your will not mine" but I am getting close to meaning that. I am not there yet.

Looking back at my adventures in Utah

I had grand plans to regale everyone (all 5 of you who read my blog lol) with tales from my vacation. That did not happen as we see. When I got back home I got some news that sort of spun my head around. That news is still too fresh to write about it, and I am praying that all will be well in that department. I refuse to consider any alternatives.

So, about my vacation. I had a great time! My wonderful friends and I wandered all over Temple Square for 8-10 hours and I saw so many cool things. Our first stop was at the Salt Lake Temple and it is beautiful. We attended a session, and that was a tremendous start to the week. I am amazed at how the pioneers were able to design and build such a magnificent structure. And all the hand crafted elements. I could go on and on about the Temple, but I will spare us all. I have this thing about being in or on the grounds of a temple that just makes me not want to leave ever. Like how you feel when you come home.

Isn't this a pretty good picture taken with my little Sony something or other? What a pretty blue sky! It was a bit warm for my liking, but mercifully, most of the buildings were air conditioned. My friends, who just happened to the lovely and talented and long suffering missionaries that worked with me in Long Beach, showed me so many things, and I loved the day. I saw and learned so much I am still processing the experience.

I am so irritated. It has been so long since I uploaded pictures to my blog, I have forgotten how to do it so my photos show up in the proper order. So please bear with me.

The top photo is of "my" missionaries, the Andreasons. I just love them. What else is there to say? Except they deserve most of the credit for bringing me to the church. They are wonderful people!

The second photo is of the temple. I took over a hundred pictures that day. You will be greatly relieved, I'm sure, to learn that I have no plans to post them all in this post. I will spread them throughout the next two...NOT....

So, Tuesday we went to Provo to attend our first day of Education Week. Wow!! The campus is beautiful. And big. Very very big. I am so thankful for the vans they provided to transport older& handicapped people between locations. They sure saved my bacon! I was still stabilizing on my plethora of medications to manage the asthma I never knew I had until the week before my vacation (another very boring story so we won't go there)

I think I will review my notes from the many classes I attended before I share about those experiences. I taught the Relief Society lesson the day after I got back from my vacation, and I managed to slip a few stories from Education Week into my lesson. They were appropriate to the content, honest! And I think it made the discussion just a bit better.

I could write much more, and I probably will another time, but I am getting typists cramps in my fingers. OK, that really isn't true. I will close with a parting observation:

You can find the very best ice cream and cheese bites at the BYU Creamery. I'm just sayin'....

vet visit for the little naughty dogs

The little naughty dogs sense something is up.....they don't know it yet, but we are going to see Dr. Jackson for a review of vaccinations and what is needed before I take them to the Hillrose Pet Resort. Or is it the Rose Hill Pet Resort? I can never remember for sure. While mom is away the naughty dogs will be vacationing at the resort. I hope they forgive me.

Where does the time go?

I am on vacation--a well deserved vacation I might add. Today was my last day at that place that must not be named. When I return to work after my vacation, I will get to stay at my "home" branch, in my own cozy little office which I am going to paint blue when I get back. No more splitting my time between two branches. I will be settling back in to the job that I love, and resume working with my clients and when winter quarter comes around, I am hoping to be taking a class or two to ease back in to the college thing.....but I get ahead of myself.

I am going to Salt Lake City and then on to Provo for BYU Education Week. I get to spend time with the senior missionary couple who lured me into the church **smile** I am meeting them there and we will go sightseeing--I can't wait to see the Salt Lake City temple in person. Whee! A week with no thoughts about addiction, recovery or treatment. OK, I might have passing thoughts, but I will have so many other amazing things to think about.

I think it is very cool that I get to see the talks I always watch on BYUB.com (OK, not the exact same talks, but close) I hope I act like a grown up and not some star-struck adolescent groupie. Would it be bad form to request my favorite past talk from Mary Ellen Edmunds? Or S. Michael Wilcox? Or Brad Wilcox? Or Sheri Dew? Or Camille Fronk Olsen? There's more but I am running out of gas here.

Oh yeah, I have created another facebook page which I am using to stay in touch with my daughters & their families, and a limited number of others. Last time I tried facebook, I wasn't discriminating enough and some of the people that I agreed to be friends with were not behaving in a "G" rated way, so I canceled that page. Let's see how this will work this time. To be honest I am usually pretty overwhelmed and can't figure out all of the things that are going on at one time......It is much easier to maintain control of my blog....it doesn't move nearly as fast as facebook does.

By the way

I have been experimenting with a new blog design. I'm not quite satisfied yet, but it's fun playing around with the new features!

BYU here I come

No, I am not moving to Provo or Hawaii or Idaho.....I am taking a well-deserved vacation and going to Education Week. Oh my goodness! I just realized it's only two weeks away.

This vacation is my reward for being such a trooper these past 7 months. My special assignment is finished! I am returning to my "normal job" effective Monday 8.02.2010. Wheeeeeeeee!

Well, better get started packing.......

Something I want to share.....

This is from C.S. Lewis and I liked it a lot. It's fun to have a blog so I can write whatever I want. I really like getting to do what I want...but enough of that...on to the quote:

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominally and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of--throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage, but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself.

Isn't this cool?

I almost forgot

The reason I originally logged in here at the blog spot was to share an amazing experience I had this past week.

I was driving home from work--still no dart gun, still some bugs to work out--and I was on my least favorite part of the drive because there are so many members of the "Stupid Drivers Association of America" on that street. I was minding my own business, staying in my own lane (now there's an unusual concept in Seattle driving circles) when out of the corner of my eye, I saw a threatening movement. Upon closer inspection, I realized that a car in the next lane was headed straight for my driver's side door. Further, I realized that there was no way I was going to be able to maneuver and avoid a collision. I yelled something impressive like "Ack!!" and steeled myself for the crash. It never came. It was like an angel got between my car and the driver without a brain, and there was no crash! I know some people are thinking "There she goes again with her exaggerations." But I know what I saw, and I know somehow the inevitable did not happen, and I know there was some divine intervention going on. What an amazing experience!

I learned something interesting about myself that day.....well, two things at least. One, I can pray pretty fast. Two, I will never be one of those embarrassingly stupid women in the scary movies who have that blood curdling high pitched scream. All I could muster was a loud "Ack!" No scream. Not even close. Can you just picture this....scary movie....monster/psychopath/dentist approaching the heroine and she stands in one spot, jumping in place screaming like a banshee.... now imagine me as the heroine....here comes the bad guy/thing/whatever...and the best I can do is yell "ACK!!"

It's just not the same.......

Wow! I've been away a long time!

How did that happen? I haven't been doing anything outlandish (darn!) but I seem to have stayed pretty busy. Last weekend Lilly came and spent the night. We had a Harry Potter fest, and we were up until 2:30 in the morning. Please don't tell her mom. Before the HP fest, we had a splendid dinner @ Azteca. When did almost 7 year olds become sophisticated enough to request Azteca? Marissa said "Oh, she will be thrilled to go to MacDonald's." Um, wrong. But that's all right. We got a little carried away with ordering food--if we had just stayed with the appetizers we would have been fine. Nevertheless, it turned out ok because we took leftovers to Lilly's parents when we took her home.

Don't you like the word nevertheless? I do.

Oops, I think my ADD meds are wearing off....can you tell??????? More later, when I am a little more focused.

BTW, I am still putting the finishing touches on my dart gun for tires. I will be sure to let my dearest friends know when the launch is scheduled for this fabulous new product that will sweep America.

confession

I am ashamed to say it is almost midnight and I just finished writing out my lesson for RS tomorrow. This means that I am not following the teachings of at least two Prophets, and ignoring the messages from my body that it is way past my bedtime.

Tsunami Warning

Wow! The previous post sounds a little perturbed.....easy to happen driving in Seattle in 5:00 traffic. At least I only want to shoot darts at peoples' tires.......

Back to the tsunami warning. Earlier today I got a call from my beautiful and talented and intelligent daughter Jenna. She wanted to know if I knew if Tanisha was all right. "Why shouldn't she be?" was my clever response. To which Jenna replied, "You haven't heard? There was an earthquake in Chile!" (For those of who don't know, Tanisha is another of my beautiful and talented and intelligent daughters)

Now I have not been in a geography class for a long time, and perhaps continents and islands have moved around when I wasn't looking, but according to what I remember, Chile is South America and that is a pretty fair distance from New Zealand. Then came the cause for concern....the 8.8 earthquake in Chile set off a tsunami "through the Pacific." OK now, this is starting to get personal. So I told Jenna I had to hang up because my cell phone is my modem to the internet, and I don't know if I can do both at the same time, but I don't think so.

I get online, and check Skype--nope Tanisha isn't online. So I shut down the internet and call Jenna back and report that Tanisha is not online because I checked her status on Skype. I have turned my TV on by this time, but I don't have cable (too much money) and none of the channels had any news.I then remembered the NZ Herald's website. They would have more timely information. So, Jenna and I say good-by again, and I hook the cell phone to the computer, then I bring up the Blackberry Manager thing, then I go to the Sprint icon and wait for it to be ready, then I click once more and voila! I am connected once again. I go to the New Zealand Herald website, and sure enough, there is a marine tsunami warning for New Zealand. It said they would probably get a 1 metre wave. I don't know how big that is, so then I go to a measurement converter. I find out a meter is about 3 feet. I relax a little.

This time I use my Skype minutes to call Jenna back again because I don't want to disconnect and reconnect. It gets old. I share what I found out, then told Jenna I was going to buy a pre-pay card for my Trac phone, because it lets me call New Zealand for the same price a call to the States. I only have 3 minutes left. Again we hang up. I make a quick call to my most exellent friend Sharon to tell about the tsunami and when I tell her I'm on my way to buy a pre-pay phone card for my Trac phone, she offers me the use of her Trac phone because she bought 1000 minutes last year, and she'll never use all those minutes.

I hop into the car and drive the short distance to Sharon's house. I greet her husband and her dogs, then I see her cell phone and we realize that it actually a T-Mobile phone. Oh well. I sat down for a bit and watched the cable channel hoping for news about New Zealand's tsunami risk. No such luck. I say good by and promise to call and let Sharon know that Tanisha is safe.

Another quick hop into the car. I drive to US Bank because I don't have to pay a service fee for making a withdrawal from my account. I got a twenty dollar bill. Back in the car, and when I try to start it, it won't start. I am not alarmed because usually if I wait a few minutes, it will start. I played Bejeweled on my Blackberry to pass the time. When a few minutes had passed, I tried again and we were in business! I drove away from the bank, and saw a Rite-Aid close by, so that's where I went.

Once inside Right Aid, I discover that the lowest amount of time I could buy would cost me $30. But I only have the $20. So I make the decision to buy a calling card for $9.99 and try that. I make my purchase, and head home. I make the call. TANISHA ANSWERS THE PHONE!!!

Tanisha asks do you want to use Skype instead? I say sure. So we hang up, and I reconnect to the internet, and a few minutes later we are chatting on Skype. I ask her how she is doing, and she tells me she's fine. I ask if the tsunami is supposed to come near her and the family. She says "What tsunami?" So then I launched in to the story of the earthquake in Chile, and the resulting tsunami that is "rolling across the Pacific Ocean" (I borrowed that phrase from one of the news repports I either read or heard or saw.) At that point, Tanisha said, "It must not be anything to be afraid of, because there haven't been any warnings." Then Adia starts to cry and seems serious, so we hang up.

I called Jenna back and said "Your sister is fine and didn't even know about the tsunami. Thank goodness you were on the job!!"

A while later, Tanisha calls back and she is using a computer with a web cam and I got to see her and Richard. He is very handsome, of course. I noticed the changes in her decor and we chatted a while longer, then we said our good bys.

I have to go now. I have to prepare for a lesson tomorrow. But first I have to call Sharon and my other beautiful and talented and intelligent daughter, Marissa and bring them up to date. And then I need to get this furniture I brought back last weekend arranged neatly. Ta ta!