Brother, can you spare a dead fish??

Bishopric counselor: "Are you familiar with the scripture, 'Reprove betimes with sharpness'?"

Me: "Yes."

Counselor: "Do you know what it means?"

Me: "I think so."

Counselor: "What does 'reprove' mean?"

Me: "To reprimand? or reproach?"

Counselor: "No. "Prove means to teach; so reprove means to re-teach."

Me: "Oh."

Counselor: "Do you know what 'betimes' means?"

Me: "I think so, 'at times'?"

Counselor: "No. It is an old english word that we don't really use any more. It means 'before it is too late.'"

Me: "Oh, that changes the meaning."

Counselor: "Do you know what 'with sharpness' means?"

Me: "I don't think I want to venture a guess."

Counselor: laughs, "It means 'with clarity'. We are to re-teach with clarity before it is too late."

******

Armed with this great insight, and coupled with a great pep-talk, I was to speak with someone in my church stewardship who was taking things in an unapproved direction. Indeed, it was necessary to re-teach with clarity before it was too late.

Now, if you know me very well, you know that I avoid confrontation at almost any cost. You also know that I am phone-o-phobic, meaning I have a fear of speaking with people on the phone (mainly if I am the one who has to place the call.)

I also have this tendency to freeze up in the face of percieved peril. For example, when I hit the tree with my car, I saw the tree straight ahead, but seemed powerless to change the outcome.

So, let's just say that my weaknesses overpowered the great pep-talk and insight. I was flabbergasted by this person's utter confidence in her misinformation and by her claims that were in direct opposition to the various other reports I had received. Indeed, she made it clear that she dismissed anything that my counselor said to her, and was excited that I had arranged training with the Stake, so that my counselor and I could "finally calm down."

Did I take this opportunity to re-teach with clarity? To set her misinformation aright? To validate my counselor's position in providing her with counsel? Oh, no! It was like heading for the tree all over again, with my foot firmly planted on the gas pedal.

I think the task would have had more chance of success if the bishopric counselor had sent a dead fish in my place.

Oh, How They Love Each Other!

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here's five thousand word's worth of evidence of my children's total adoration of each other!

Now, are you convinced??

The Love of My Life

Yesterday, James turned thirty-three years old! Wow! Do you know how old thirty-three was when I was a teenager? Whoa! Well, times change, and thirty-three is the new twenty-three, or something like that. What does that sort of comparison mean anyway?? It's like saying "green is the new pink" for baby accessories. Whatever.

Anyway, back to my sweet husband. I have been so blessed to be his wife. He is such a great guy! I often think of what Sister Hinckley said of President Hinckley, something to the effect of "He always gave me wings and let me fly." I'm sure that's not exactly how she said it, but that is how James has always treated me. He loves me and treats me so well. He always supports me in any of my desires or ambitions. He balances my craziness and over-reactions. He is wise and kind-hearted. I have learned so much from him, and am glad that I have an eternity to continue learning from him.

Oh, and on the subject of getting older, ... the first time I actually noticed some white hairs peppering James' temples, I was struck with the strongest, deepest emotion and thought that I am so happy and so lucky that he is the man with whom I get to age and experience life!

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart!

Me, Lehi, and the kid from Kentucky

There was a news "byte" a few years ago about a young man in Kentucky who had been "run off the road" and had "survived in the wilderness for 4 days, until he crawled up to a road and stopped a car to get help." I was intrigued with this 'byte' and wanted to hear this survival story. However, when they showed the interview with the victim, I was no longer quite so impressed, and actually had a good laugh. Let me preface this with the fact that I obviously don't know the whole story, but what I do know has given me something to ponder about.

This guy was probably about eighteen or nineteen. When he was run off the road, his car went down into a gully and stopped near a stream. His hip became dislocated, which I'm sure is painful. This guy said he laid there for three days, surviving on stream water, and calling out to the cars that he heard passing on the street above him. He said he was sure that someone would have heard him if their windows had been down. Finally, on the fourth day, he decided to crawl up to the street, which he did and was quickly helped by some motorists.

I'm sure that he believed he was seriously injured. It did, however, seem ludicrous to me to think that he spent three full days laying there in pain, hoping that by chance some passing car would have it's windows down and hear his calling, before he took the initiative to get himself up to the road (which couldn't have been that far away if he could hear the cars, and figured that they could hear him.)

What made me laugh was the image of this kid, with a relatively minor injury, laying within sight of the road and hollering, "Help!" for three days, rather than crawling up to the road and getting help on the first day. Maybe you don't find that funny. I hope you don't, because that would mean that you are a much better person than I am.

However, I have actually applied this story to my life, and unfortunately, found that I do the same sort of thing. I experience unexpected inconveniences, or offenses, which I'll term as my minor injuries. Yet, rather than "suck it up" and do what needs to be done, I figuratively lay there, nursing what I believe to be terrible injuries, hoping-- on the off chance-- that someone might respond to my cry for help. When all the while, true help and healing and rescue are within my grasp.

I "went off the road" a few years ago, down into a gully of self-pity and, really, of self-deceit; imagining that I had received a serious injury. I nursed my fictitious injury for a long time before my wonderful husband happened to hear my cry for help, and put my dislocated thinking back into place. It's strange how a fictitious injury can create a need for true healing. I've come a long way since then, but I sure wish I had crawled up to the road in the beginning rather than wasting time and causing true injury.

I am reminded of a verse in the Book of Mormon, toward the beginning of Lehi's Tree of Life vision: And after I had traveled for the space of many hours in darkness, I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies. (1 Nephi 8:8) I suppose it's possible that Lehi, and this kid from Kentucky, and myself are not the only ones who tend to "travel for the space of many hours in darkness" before we remember to ask for help.

ZZZZzzzzzzz. . . .

We thought we heard someone on the stairs during our movie last night.

FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY!!

My good friend Corrie has designated this, the 19th day of July, in the year 2007, as the first National Friendship Day. What a great way to celebrate those relationships that are so meaningful and which carry us through the hard times and which celebrate with us in the good. To commemorate this momentous occasion, I have written a National Friendship Day theme song, which I dedicate to each of you, and to all of my dear friends (including family) who don't read my blog, as well.

(Sing to "Happy Birthday to You")

Happy National Friendship Day to you!
Sometimes life can be a zoo!
We all need each other,
So, today I honor YOU!

Wow! I know you are astounded at my song writing talents! I give permission for this to be used by each of you for absolutely no charge! : )

Seriously, thank you, each for the positive impact you have had on my life, and the lives of my family. You are each wonderful, and I value your friendship dearly!

Some Fun Photos

I was looking back through recent posts, and realized that there are NO pictures of my beautiful, wonderful children. So, here are some silly and fun pictures I took just to have some to post!

Happy.

Crazy.

Mysterious.

"Hey! What are you doing??!"

"I'm not doing anything!"

SOoo Big!

Ready for prayers.

Product Reviews

I offer you, today, my uninhibited critiques on random products, services, etc. ....

Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Light
I rate this product a "BLECHT" at best. I bought it last week and tried it on my green salad on Saturday. I spat out my first bite and rinsed my mouth out, the taste was so disgusting. I thought, perhaps that my lettuce or something was bad. The next day, I made my Super Pasta Salad, using this dressing again. How upset and disappointed I was to discover the same AWFUL taste ruining my pasta salad. The only common ingredient: Hidden Valley The Original Ranch Light. On the bottle, it says, "Betcha can't tell it's light!" I just want to know what I win from that bet.

Essie, greeter at Sam's Club
I rate Essie as a "FANTASTIC" employee. She went through TONS of carts to find one that had spaces for two kids to sit up front. I kept insisting that she didn't need to keep looking, and she kept insisting that we should have what we wanted. She was so nice and went above and beyond to deliver what most would consider an unimportant service! Thank you, Essie!

Huggies Little Swimmers swim diapers
I rate these as "DECEPTIVE". My thought about a swim diaper is that it should hold in what the child lets out, while keeping out all of the pool/lake water. On several occasions at the waterpark recently, I have received a warm, very wet sensation as I have held my little one while walking from one area to another. What an unpleasant thought to think about all of the little ones in the pool, wearing these swim diapers. Um, what's the point if they just let the pee run right out??

The Bridge to Terabithia, the movie
I rate this movie as "WE WILL OWN THIS", which is my highest rating for movies. Without giving any of the story away, I will let you know that this is a movie that my entire family enjoyed. There were many great lessons in it, to spark discussion later. The acting was great and the story was wonderful!

The Employee, whose name escapes me, from our local UDF
I rate this unnamed employee as "WONDERFUL". She was so sweet to my children. In the two minutes that we were at the counter to check out, she called them by name, having heard me use their names. She was very grandmotherly, and then she helped me out to my car with my two gallons of milk (since I was also carrying Brianna.) What great service!!

Land O' Lakes Light Butter
I rate this as "NOT FOR BAKING". The taste was just fine, but the items that I baked with this instead of regular butter did NOT turn out. They were heavy and didn't seem to 'set up' correctly or to get crispy as they were supposed to. Use this just for buttering toast, and you'll save on fat grams.

So, what products, services, etc, would you like to review??

Vingettes

When I was seriously considering getting rid of Dolly:
Me: "Ben, how much do you love Dolly?"
Ben: "Oh, ... about a thousand times around Pluto and back."

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

At a concert in the park, waaay past Brianna's bedtime:
Brianna: Whine, whine, flop, flop.
Me: "Brianna, are you ready to go home?"
Brianna: Signs "please".
Me: "Oh, are you ready to go 'night-night'?"
Brianna: Blows kisses.

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

Thinking of how Dolly needs to feel loved and reassured:
Me: "Ben, you need to go outside and play with your dog."
Ben: "Why don't you want to spend time with me?"
Me: Heart breaks in two.

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

After giving a massage, I had my money in my hand:
Ben: "Wow. You have a lot of money!"
Me: "Yep. I get paid to give massages."
Ben: "Why don't I ever get paid for my work?'
Me: "What work do you do?"
Ben: "I'm the best massage therapist in the house. So, why don't I get money?"
Me: "Hmmm. We'll have to look into that."

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

During a typical diaper change, in which Brianna is constantly trying to escape:
Brianna: Pushes herself off of the changing pad.
Me: Putting her back. "No, Brianna. Hold still."
Brianna: Pushes herself off of the changing pad.
Me: Putting her back. "Brianna, hold still."
Brianna: Pushes herself off of the changing pad.
Me: Putting her back. Three VERY light swats to her leg. "No."
Brianna: Three very light swats to her other leg, and a HUGE grin at me.

Um . . . Goodbye Dolly??

Free to Good Home, or at least a home that doesn't mind middle of the night howling and barking, and who has no need for in-tact screen doors!

This is the ad which will be placed SHORTLY if things don't improve dramatically very soon!