SPT-(non)extreme make-over

Lelly had me laughing with this weeks challenge when she said:

"a cut and/or color can be an easy way to feel hip and trendy (am i the only one who struggles with NOT feeling hip and trendy?!?) there are a million little ways to get a mini-makeover, even when a visit to the salon is not on the calendar.

what's YOUR secret to feeling and looking fabulous?"

So my secret to feeling fabulous?

Get out in the sun.

I just feel better after being in the sun. Even today when the wind was whipping down the plains. It's one of those things that is on my mental checklist of things I need.
Plus, who doesn't look a little bit better after being sun-kissed?

Sunday Thoughts

One of our kids was on a school trip and heard some others talking about what they had been studying in history, "the Mormons." As they started to discuss what they thought we believe, this child of ours spoke up and said "I'm Mormon." Surprised, a few of the kids said things like, "Oh thats cool." &" We have never met one of you before."

A few days later one of the friends said to our child, "I thought that was odd the way you were talked about. I mean, what you believe is your choice, I am Christian, and I wish you were Christian, but that's your choice. To which our child surprised said, "But I am Christian. I believe in Christ."

I have played this out over and over in my mind. It has made me think. Do others know I believe in Christ? Do I live my life so that others know I believe in Christ? Is my reverence and lack of talking about things close to my heart leaving others doubting what I believe?

I was visiting with some Sisters from church and they asked me what was stirring me right now about the gospel. I immediately said my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ.
I know He lives. I know that He is the source of peace. I know that when I am left soul searching for peace He is the source, when there seems nothing left.

My personal relationship and understanding changes as I study and search and experience life. More and more I realize my need to seek relief through Christ. As I struggle, and hurt or worry, I try and do things on my own.

Today as I sat in church, I thought of the promises I made at baptism. I thought about what I am doing well at, and some things that I need to work on. It is my belief in Christ that helps me overcome those things that I am struggling with. The things I need to improve on.

He is who I need to rely on. He is who I need to turn to instead of trying to do things on my own.

The words to a favorite hymn come to mind:

Where Can I Turn For Peace?

Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace
When other sources cease to make me whole?
When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,
I draw myself apart, searching my soul?

Where. when my aching grows, Where, when I languish,
Where, in my need to know, where can I run?
Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?
Who? who can understand? He, only One.

He answers privately, Reaches my reaching
In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.
Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
Constant he is and kind, Love without end.

SPT-give me break

Self-portrait-Tuesday

Lelly's challenge?

"come on, we all need one... that hour we use to splurge on a massage or a pedicure, that workout at the gym, those fifteen minutes when we hide in the bathroom while our families lie in wait just outside the door..."

"what do YOU do when you need a breather? please share. "


When I need a break?

Chocolate (I am stockpiling those Cadbury eggs- Yes, I have calculated the calories in each delicious egg.)

Water (preferably swimming, but a hot bath will do)

Music

Not necessarily in that order.

Playlist of my life-15 years ago-I remember

Edited to add link at bottom.


I pulled up Kristie's blog and looked at my clock.
9:02-
Remembering 15 years ago.

Playlist of my life:

15 years ago I heard the sound of Oklahoma's news stations interrupting the normal broadcast in Colorado Springs. How strange to hear them on TV in Colorado. Their little intro jingles and cutting away sounds being played in the wrong state.


I was in Colorado. I was living there. I was actually at Jay's parents house that morning. I had been snowed out of getting home the night before. I was the only one there, and I remember Jay's Mom opening the garage door.

I think about where I was when I heard. I remember the look on Jay's mom's face as she came in from her car in the garage saying I had to turn on the TV. I think about how far away I felt watching from the TV in Jay's parents family room. Watching the newscasters that were from home, on TV in Colorado. I think about how I had just been home visiting the weekend before, and I had just been downtown. I remember the busy signal on the phone, over and over again as I tried to call home. I remember going about my day in a daze and looking at everyone else going on with their lives. I remember pouring water for someone at a table that night at work thinking they had no idea what was going on just a few states away. I remember a few co-workers talking about it, and hearing them saying to go easy on Alisa tonight. I remember feeling sad, and strange, and confused. I didn't know anyone that was hurt, but I felt like I did. It was my home.

I remember the stories. I remember hearing others connections with those that were downtown that day. I remember the stories of those that didn't make it downtown that day. I remember the stories of those that knew someone in the building.

Just like I remember hearing about the Challenger explosion, the Columbine shootings, the events of 9-11, I remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard about the Oklahoma City bombing.

What do you remember?
Where were you?

Edited to add this link:
Oklahoma City Bombing- By NewsOK

Sweet dreams

I keep writing and re-writing. I finally decided its just time for bed.
Goodnight!

Tucker asleep 3-29-10 -dreaming of trains-at the kitchen table after a rough and tumble day of playing trucks in the dirt.

odd

I went about my morning. Tidied up the house. Put a load of wash in. Ran up to the school. Visited with several people. Chatted with Savanna. Went to Sam's. It wasn't until I was leaving Sam's in the pouring rain, that I realized, hey! My feet are not getting equally wet! Wait a minute! One feels like its higher than the other!

I am thankful for how wonderful a bed feels at the end of a day.

SPT-Weather or not

self-portrait-tuesday

Lelly's challenge?
"weather or not"

Thankfully today was great weather. Perfect for Tucker and I to go with Luke for a 1st grade field trip to the zoo.

As I walked around with a stroller full of stuff, (without a child in it most of the time!) in my sandals, I thought of how much the weather will change by next month this time. I love how it feels right now. (minus the allergies, but seriously, is there a time of year that we don't have that?!)

Right now I can't imagine snow, or rain, or dreary days, or days of muggy, sticky, humidity or 100+ temps. It feels just right.

Excuse me while I go knock on wood.

A rare event

Sometimes an event occurs that is so rare, it's with recording.

For about 6 hours today starting around 2:00 PM, all the laundry hampers stayed empty, and the wash & ironing was caught up.

Just had to document that occurence. I wondered if anyone else experienced that phenomenon. It will surely be a while before I experience that again.

SPT-What's New?

self-portrait-tuesday

Lelly is back with a challenge ... and I have missed her weekly spt postings!

"what better way to ease back into the spt routine than to kick off with an easy "challenge?" it's been long enough that i feel like having a little homecoming party. would you like to come?!?

you don't need to bring anything and please don't stress out about what to wear. it'll just be a gathering of friends, doing what friends do... sharing stories about what is new in life.

go ahead: snap that photo!! tell us what you're doing today - a few words, a few sentences, a few paragraphs... it doesn't matter. but make sure that beautiful self-portrait is front and center!!"


What is new in my life?
Counting, and adding and dividing calories of all my recipes and tracking my physical activity and entering them into my "Lose it!" app.

This is taking some mental gymnastics to add an entire recipes ingredients when they are weird amounts. I am constantly doing story problems in my head, and sometimes saying them out loud.

As I track I am amazed at how many countless calories I could be consuming.
Some are totally not worth it.
Others totally are.
I am learning much- it reminds me a lot of getting out of debt. I can use those same ideas towards better health.

So what is new with you?
Did you do a SP?

What we ate and drank on vacation 2