I am LDS

I am a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints also commonly known as Mormons. I love my religion. I love my Savior. I was over at CJanes (check sidebar) blog tonight and was amazed at some of the comments made about her post. I do not understand all the hate out there for Mormons. We are not all perfect, we are trying just like every body else, but if we aren't perfect we are attacked. Why is that? Are other religions the same? I wouldn't know, I have only ever been LDS. Why are we thought of as not being Christians? I guess most people don't even know Jesus Christ is in our title because of the confusing Mormon title most people use. I would hope we could all be a little kinder. This life has enough pitfalls without hate and intolerance. I love all people. Some of my closest friends are Jewish and Catholic. It is all about trying to be the best we can be and loving one another. Lets be more tolerant, less attacking and kinder. We all need love. Don't we?

Things I am Lovin'

Fly Lady Challenge

The girls rearranged room

Adams funny, quirky, penguin walk

Survivor

Skyler happened to get on the baseball team with his best friend without planning it

The weekend

My crafting time with Tasha, I miss u, Tasha come back

Warm bed

Paying off Credit Cards

Counting My Blessings

What are you Lovin'?

I Hope They Call Me On A Mission

Skyler is just a year and a couple of months from getting the Priesthood. I want him to focus and make good choices. We talked about him reading the whole Book of Mormon and the Preach My Gospel manual before that happened. After we talked a couple a weeks ago he made himself a chart to help remind him and motivate him. It was on paper and taped to his wall. Last night I was helping him clean his room and he told me, "I need a bigger board, this one fills up too fast." So today, I made him this, with his input. I am excited to see how it works. Now I need to make me one. Under prayer I put on knees. He said, "Mom, you just had to put that."

Stop Driving Like a Maniac Pact

My Sister and I were talking about driving while using cell phones. We talked about how people you see driving like a maniac are always on a cell phone. Then each of us shared an experience in the last week where we almost had a serious wreck because we were distracted by our phone. So I said lets make a pact. The first one to use the cell phone while driving loses, and that person has to watch the other persons kids for a whole day. I think no matter what happens we all will win and not die, hopefully, unless someone else on their cell phone kills us.

So I want to challenge everyone who reads this to do the same. Find someone close to you and make a deal. It can be with money, babysitting or maybe even pay for lunch. But I think we will all be a little safer. Let me know what deals you make!

100th Post

Kind of exciting that I have posted 100 random thoughts.

Basketball Diaries

When I was twelve I went out for the girls basketball team. By some chance I made the team. Out of 50 girls, I was one of the 20 that made the team.

I think the Lord was watching out for me. As difficult as things got, I always looked forward to Basketball season. I had somewhere to go. I could get away from the place I called home.

It was so sweet. It helped me find my place.

I played on that team every year from seventh grade until I graduated, except for one. That was the year my dad moved us to Utah. I came back halfway through the season. It broke my heart not to be on the team.

But Coach took me back the next year. She was good to me.

I still have dreams about missing that year. I will dream that I just show up at the school and they will say "where have you been? Get your jersey on."

It is a difficult dream. People counting on me and I am not there.

I needed basketball then. I made some great friends. And I learned a skill that I still use.

I play with the Stake Women's Basketball every Saturday in January-March. Approx.

Our last game was brutal. Double overtime. Double Bonus. One super skinned knee. I can't believe a grown woman with a skinned knee. And how bad it burns. Maybe I am a wimp. But it woke me up multiple times last night. I scored 6 points. I only shot 4 or 5 times so I felt great about that.

I also learned a valuable lesson from talking to Shay the other night. I used what I learned in the game. I usually allow myself to feel very intimidated. Some of the girls are young, not married or no kids. They like the ball and I usually let them have it. They have more energy and drive than a woman with five kids and very little time to exercise. But I used what I have...good bossing skills. I think I led the team and it helped. I am not willing to ask the ladies on the team. I would rather naively think I led them to a victory.

No matter if I did or didn't it was a great game.

Snow in Georgia? Yep!

To most people this might not be very much snow, but for those of us who live in HOTLANTA, it is. We had so much fun playing in the snow and I even pushed the kids down the street on our boogie board sleds, which work great. Skyler made a family of snowmen, but by the time he was finished he had used all the snow in our front yard. Seeing the snow fall in big flakes reminded me of living in Provo, Utah. It was a fun day.

Fly Lady Challenge and Valentines Day Sunday

I have been participating in a Fly Lady Challenge. It has been wonderful and hard. I have never been so grateful for a Sunday or appreciated the significance of a day of rest. And I even had to teach Relief Society. The lesson went well thanks to the Spirit. And we had a wonderful Valentines day party tonight with heart shaped bagel pizzas, strawberry smoothies, and chocolate pudding in edible chocolate bowls. My favorite parts were the conversation hearts that we actually used to stimulate a conversation. Jane saying "I hate these, they taste like shampoo." And the reenactment of Shay proposing to me over 11 1/2 years ago. (My conversation heart said Marry Me) The kids told me I was the best mom in the world and Adam devoured his pudding and bowl, smiling and laughing every few minutes. It really was a little magical. I hope we all continue to love and receive love. Happy Valentines Day!

Dare to Compare

I often find myself comparing and I am never as good as everyone else seems to be. I will read others blogs, see others at church, see another mom in the grocery store with her children, smiling and laughing, while I am moments from a breakdown and I will think to myself "why can't I be her? She has it together. Her life is almost a fairy tale." And then I start to feel bad about who I am. That I am not good enough at anything. And all of a sudden I am nothing but sad and lonely and depressed. I hate that.

Today as I pondered this I had a breakthrough. Why when someone else is good at something do I have to be good at it too? Why when someone else has something good happen to them, I have to have the exact good thing happen to me or I get sad? Why can't I just be happy that someone else has succeeded? And let that make me want to succeed right along with them. I hope I can stop the cycle and try another cycle, a motivating one. One that helps me be better rather than destroys who I am. We all have something to offer. Lets get up and be better together.

Do Something Already!

So I am feeling pretty good today. I feel a glimpse of inspiration. A little from you, a little from her, and her. I feel like I have a little power to make a difference. Maybe it is the bright sunshine I see today, the thought of spring. I want to make a fun list. Do little things to make a difference. I think I want to plant my garden, surprise my kids with some fun, hide candy in their snacks (they aren't supposed to have candy for snack). I almost feel like I can do these things and more. I need a big white board and list off all the things that will make everyday life magical for somebody. Got any ideas? I'll take them. I had an idea but just a little too late, maybe I will do it for the Lost Finale, but to do an island themed party. I love Lost, even though I am always left feeling sorta Lost. What a weird show. So off I go to spread some magic.