The To-Do List

Today, I had a ton of things on my To-Do List:

• Do the laundry
• Clean the bathrooms
• Buy a new vacuum
• Vacuum
• Wash the floors
• Have the girls try on their clothes to see what still fits and what doesn't

...and a million other tedious tasks. I planned on getting to them, I really did, but guess what???

I didn't do any of it!
This morning, when I went into the kitchen, I noticed this little plaque that sits on my counter:

I have this sitting on my kitchen counter as a reminder to enjoy life and to stop and smell the roses, at least once in a while. I love the things listed on The real To-Do List!

I especially love the following:

• Sing---although I'm not good at this, I LOVE to sing. In the shower, in the car, at the store (usually this is a soft singing where only I can hear). I use to have a phobia for singing because when I was in the 5th grade we had a Christmas concert, and the little girl beside me said, "just move your lips". True story. When I had Ariel I sang my heart out to her. Mike would kindly tell me that it wasn't that good. One day, I told him that someone once told me that when a mother sings to her babies, to them, it sounds like heaven. He then told me, "no, she just came from there, and she knows what it sounds like, and that's definitely not it". Ha, Ha. I digressed, but anyway, I don't care anymore. I LOVE to sing. Singing makes me happy. It really does.


• Smile at strangers---This gives me goose bumps. Have you ever just smiled at someone you don't know, for no reason at all? It's so awesome because the person usually can't resist smiling back! A smile can do so much for someone. When I was in high school, I took a Leadership class in which our teacher challenged us to find just one person, who looks sad, or like they have no friend , and just smile at them. Smiling can work miracles, I tell ya!


• Keep Learning---We can never get too much of this! I love learning new things.


• Notice Kindness---People don't do this much anymore, but wouldn't the world be such a better place it they did?! I challenge you to notice kindness at least once everyday this week, and then let the person know you noticed it. See what it does for them.
  

Man, I just noticed I'm talking about all of them! So, I'll just stop here, and save you from having to read what I think about each one.

Unless, do you really want me to continue??? Nah, I didn't think so.

Oh well, too bad, I'm going to list them all anyway because I LOVE them. Besides, this is my blog, right?? :)

• Eat ice-cream! Who doesn't get happy doing this! When I went to Orlando, we ate an ice-cream (or two, lol) everyday at McDonald's! It was so fun, and I've taken my girls twice to get one since I've been back!


• Hope...I think I talked about this enough in my last post, but let me just say...if you don't have it, FIND it!


• Count your blessings! They are there, and trust me, you can always find someone a lot worse off than you! I am so thankful for all the blessings in my life...and think I probably have a lot more than I deserve!


• Laugh---I really should do this more, seriously. When I laugh, I forget about everything else around me..the good, the bad and the ugly, and I just LAUGH. When I came back from Orlando, my silly family gave me the biggest thing to laugh at. I asked Mike if they missed me, and he said, "No, not really. It was if you were never gone." I was like, well, okay. Until.....I went into my bedroom to unpack! I found this:

Let me just say, that if this didn't make me laugh so hard, I mean hysterically hard, I would be totally embarrassed to show this picture, but I laughed so loud, and for so long, that it woke Cecily (I got home around 10pm that night). Yes, the goofs took a picture of me and blew it up, cut out my head, and then stuffed my clothes to make a "mini-Andrea". They have the remote control in my panty hose hand, and marshmallows beside me. lol...

I know you are laughing too.

It's okay, I give you permission. I'm laughing too...still laughing!

Isn't it fun to laugh??? I could be embarrassed, but I choose to laugh.

• Love
• Love some more. I think these two speak for themselves.
  

Anyway, to get back to the purpose of this post. My type A personality often takes over and I forget to do such things as mentioned on "The Real To-Do List". Well, today this plaque served it's purpose. The girls were out of school for a teacher work day, and I could have spent the day cleaning and catching up on mindless task, OR I could just spend the entire day hanging out with them.

And I chose THEM!!!

And I'm so glad I did!

We ended up going to Cottage Hill Park. We met up with the Parkes', the Jordan's, and the missionaries. We had sooo much fun. We played soccer, had a picnic lunch, and then the kids had the most fun rolling each other down the hill in this HUGE tractor tire (this thing was almost as tall as me when standing). The kids got inside of it, and took turns pushing each other. I have to say Cecily was by far the bravest. She went first and barely let out a sound, except, "THAT WAS AWESOME. I WANT TO DO THAT AGAIN!"

I did forget two important things though:

1. Sunscreen---we all have red cheeks, and Ariel's arms look tan.


2. MY CAMERA!!!! Why do I never have that thing to document all of our fun times! Lisanka did get a few pictures on her cell phone, and promised to share them.

After our fun day at the park, we came home and prepared for FHE. Ariel got her lesson together (which was FABULOUS), and I helped Cecily with her treat...which was a concoction she made with chocolate chips, peanut butter, marshmallows, and pecans (she wanted to add Fruity Pebbles, but I talked her out of that)....and we all actually liked it. :)

When Mike got home, we hung out in the backyard swinging on the tree swing, had dinner followed by FHE. What a FUN day! A lot more fun than cleaning (I'm not saying that cleaning isn't important, but it's not the MOST important, for sure).

Today, I realized that it's important to take time out for The "REAL" To-Do List....you know the things that REALLY matter.

For those are what memories are made of, and make life a whole lot more enjoyable!

"Here's my heart, O take and seal it..."

This is a line from one of my favorite hymns of all times, and I hope that this post will do it justice.

But I fear that it will not, for my mind is flowing with all kinds of thoughts...thoughts that I'm not sure I can organize as I type, but maybe you will understand what I'm trying to say or write. Maybe you have felt what I have felt.

This song is one of HOPE for me, and lifts my spirits when I hear it, and the spirit overcomes me!

I was surprised, and happy to hear it sung when I attended Time Out For Women in Orlando. Mercy River sang a beautiful rendition of it, but I have to say that I really love to hear it sung by The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The emotion that is put into by the choir parrallels that which is in my heart.

I know it sounds strange, but when I hear it, I really feel like this song is speaking to me, and about me. As though it is an autobiography of sorts.

Let me try to explain what I mean. Every time I hear the chorus, it tears at my heart. Perhaps because my imperfect self can relate to it so well. It states:

"Prone to wonder, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;"

This is me. I hate to say it, but it's true. Maybe not in the sense that most would think. When one hears the words "prone to leave the God I love", he might think that I desire to leave the church or turn my back on God. But that's not it. For me, it is the sins that keep me from Him.

You see, everyday, I try to be faithful, I do.
However, I often will find myself....

SLIPPING.
FALLING.
FAILING.

I allow for the natural man to take over. Why? Why am I "prone to wonder, prone to leave the God I love?"

I often feel that I fall short. But this song reminds me of more. It gives me hope..., if I can steal the TOFW 2010 theme, an "Infinite Hope". We all have that infinite hope through Jesus Christ and his infinite atonement.

This hymn so beautifully states that:
"Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood."

On the way home from TOFW, I was talking with the great ladies that I went with (well, actually, I did A LOT of the talking...just ask them if you don't believe me. lol), but I mentioned that I have often said to my husband, "I don't think I can ever make it to the Celestial Kingdom. I fail way too much, and far too often." Then I told these dear ladies that, "I have faith in the atonement, but I just don't think I'm good enough". Sis. Curtis reminded me that the atonement is there for us all, and when we truly have faith in it, we should all be able to see ourselves making it to the Celestial Kingdom.

Then, I had an A-HA moment...I realized that I really didn't have true faith in the atonement. Then I realized, that what I really feared, was that sometimes I don't truly repent. Does anyone know what I'm talking about? To truly repent means to not repeat the sin. Hmmm....I'm working hard on that one, and the above verse reminds me that I don't have to do that alone...nor should I.

The scriptures tell us that Lords hand is stretched out waiting for us to take it...to rescue us. His "streams of mercy, never ceasing". All we have to do is reach up and take it.

So that's what I will do.
Take it.

For I know I can not do it by myself. I need Him. As the song says: "Hither by Thy help I've come; And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,Safely to arrive at home". I am never alone in this journey. He is there, and His atonement will make me whole. If I will trust in it, and use it...I, the one who is "prone to wonder", can make it back home to be with Him. We all can! Isn't that beautiful?

When I think of that song, I think of LOVE! My heart is softened just thinking of it. Perhaps that's why I often find myself humming the tune, or even attempting to sing it. Usually, when doing so, it is at at time that I'm reaching my hand up trying to find His. I'm wanting to feel of His love, and to be more like Him.

One of the speakers at TOFW was Elder Nelson's wife, Wendy. She proposed the question of asking ourselves, in life's trying times, and even those not so trying times, "As a HOLY woman, what would I do?"

She said to try it for 3 days.
I'm on day 10.
I can see a change in myself, and so can my family.
My heart is full, and it's changing!

I love the Lord with all my heart, and because I am not perfect, I will slip. The hymn so beautifully conveys my thoughts: "O to grace how great a debtor, Daily I'm constrained to be!" But through the Atonement "Let thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to thee."

Ohhh how I love the words, "bind my wandering heart to thee". A permanent lock! Yes, my heart is full..."here's my heart, O take and seal it; Seal it for Thy courts above".

I want to testify of Him, and His love. To be able to "tune my heart to sing Thy grace". I know that He lives and loves us all. That through Him, and only Him we can be made whole. That He gives us "infinite hope" every day, every minute, every second. I hope for those who have read this you can get some understanding of what I'm trying to say. Maybe you won't because maybe it's just something for me to understand within myself.

so....
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Hither by Thy help I've come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it;
Seal it for Thy courts above.
by Robert Robinson
Arrangement by:Mack Wilberg

Never Say Never...

Because it will just come back to bite you! Sometimes those bites can hurt, but sometimes, just sometimes you realize that the bite really isn't quite as bad as you thought it would be.

Trust me! I know what I'm talking about here.

What in the world am I writing about now? Hmmm...let me share.

I have always thought that we would never own a pet for a couple of reasons:

• Mike likes cats. I don't really care for cats. I won't hurt them or anything, I just would prefer a dog. Cats are a little too independent for my taste. When you call them to come, they seldom do. They are free spirits, and my controlling self has a hard time with that. However, Mike does not like dogs (and that's putting it mildly...let's just say he had a few bad experiences with dogs on his mission while riding a bike. lol). So end of story, NO PETS. He would never hear of having a dog, and I would never hear of having a cat. And fish are just out of the question...too annoying...haven't you ever read The Cat in the Hat. You know that fish was annoying. And hamsters...they keep you awake spinning on those wheels all night. Yup, no pets!


• I always thought that owning an animal is a lot of work and responsibility, and if I were going to add any more of that to my life, I would just have another baby because, hey, at least when you go on vacation, you can take your kids with you fairly easily. Well, we all know that having another baby isn't going to happen! Oh, no....I just realized I should NeVeR say NEvER! I take that last part back...it could happen.
  

So how in the world did we become the proud owners of this????

How ????

Well, I'm still asking myself this question.

I finally figured out the answer to the above question and it looks like this:

with some help from Mr. Incredible, himself

How did they do it? How did they manage to get me to cave?
TrIcKeRy, LiEs and DEcEIT...no just kidding.
They have soft hearts, and are a little more caring than I.

When we moved into our house, this sweet little cat (yes, you are reading right. The not so cat lover is calling this cat sweet, because really, she is!) had just been "rescued" by our next door neighbors from a junk yard. (Umm...Remind me if I'm ever in need of REAL help to not call on those neighbors...I mean, they are REALLY nice neighbors, but clearly they stink at "rescuing").

Apparently the neighbor rescued "Myla" ,as they called her, for his girlfriend. Now, I'm not sure if they broke up, and she no longer wanted the reminder of him or what, but we started noticing this black cat, with super clear green eyes, hanging around A LOT.

She would sit at our door step, but if we came near, she would take off. And I was fine with that. Actually, more than fine. Ecstatic. For this cat ALWAYS seems to be expecting kittens.

One day, I noticed the girls were calling her "Stubby" because she has no tail, and they did not know she had a name until a bit later. Apparently, they also did not realize that she was not a "he" when giving the nickname!

Well, I told the girls to stay away from her, and stop calling her Stubby. She WAS not our cat. I did not want cats hanging around, and pooping in our yard. I was VERY firm about this. Well, the girls listened (or at least I thought they did), but the cat kept coming around.

About two months ago, I found that SOMEONE was feeding her this :on MY dishes!!! (Don't worry they have been washed and sterilized....trust me, again!!!
Hmm....I wonder who?

Yes, Ariel and Cecily with Mike's knowledge and HELP. You see, they took pity on her and had started feeding her turkey at Christmas. I guess they were feeling that Christmas spirit.

However, I was clueless. But hey, what's new???

They said she was starving and pregnant that the little girls down the street who now owned her where not taking care of her (apparently the neighbors asked the little girls if they wanted to have her, and the little girls said, "yes").

They just HAD to feed her. It would be CRUEL not to. So, I caved. I could not deny that.

Anyway, Mike and I talked about it and I told him that he needed to go talk to the owners and tell them they needed to take care of this skinny, pregnant cat. Really, he was also wanting to tell them to get her FIXED!

So he went to the little girls house one day after work. Guess what???!!! The cat did not belong to them. When the neighbors gave "Myla" to the little girls, they forgot to do ONE VERY important thing: ASK THE PARENTS FIRST!

So, Ariel and Cecily were right no one had been feeding this poor little cat, but them. A little secret between Mike, the girls and "Stubby". (Poor cat, I shutter every time I hear her called that, knowing she is a girl, but it will forever be with her now. To Cecily and Ariel she is Stubby, and they don't think that cats know about girl/boy names. Perhaps they are right. )

Well, Mike went back to the original owners our next door neighbors and told them they they were the owners of that cat and informed them that Myla/Stubby was pregnant once again and starving. What were they going to do about it. Mike said the neighbor did genuinely sound sad about it, but told Mike they would probably just have to take her to the pound because their dogs terrify the cat.

Well, Mike and the girls did not want her to go to the pound...we all know what happens to cats at the pound. Honestly, I did not want her going there either. My soft spot was touched and I looked at how helpless she seemed to be. She just "meowed", and it made me wonder if she was wondering why she couldn't be like other cats who had a family to love them. It made me teary eyed at the thought. Yes, it did. Stop laughing. I know, I'm a SUCKER!

And because I'm a sucker, we now have a cat. Not a baby, but a cat. At least we don't have to pay for college, or worry about it going wayward, right?

Anyways, I think I've learned my lesson about never saying NEVER, and truly, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. She is as cute as all get out, and very sweet, and yes, INDEPENDENT...well, except for us feeding her. And hey, at least when I go for a can of tuna now, there is some. Plus, I think the Lord is helping me to be more caring with "Stubby".

Oh, if anyone wants a kitten, just let me know. :)

The Third Times a Charm

I should have been exercising to the new exercise DVD I bought.

But, I'm not.

Instead, I've spent the last 2 hours reading back over my past blog entries. I cried a little, laughed a little and realized just how bad my memory really has become (I had forgotten about many of the things that I had written about).

This weekend I went to Time Out For Women in Orlando. It was such an amazing, testimony building experience for me. (As an aside, if any of you ever have an opportunity to attend one, I highly recommend it...Soooo good). But that is not the reason for this post, and perhaps I will post about that, but I really need to have time to get my thoughts in order.

However, during that trip, I made a comment that I wished my life could be full of more spiritually uplifting stories, like those of the presenters.

I said that I never have them.

But guess what?? I was wrong.

As I looked back at my blog entries, I realized that my life has been full of spiritual experiences, and that I have probably have had a lot more, but I have neglected writing them down, so they have been forgotten.

How sad.

Is it vain or prideful to say that I LOVED reading back at my post? Not only did I have fun remembering the events I read about, it reminded me of a few things:
1)the more I wrote, those many months ago, that it became easier to do so. I'm afraid not, it is going to be a difficult task to get back into like trudging through snow that is no longer powdery, but slushy and stiff.
2)not only did it become easier, but I could see how my writing became better as well. I am afraid that my grammar has fallen behind again, and ideas don't flow as easy either.

Then, I got sad. Why have I let the blog world go by the wayside? Laziness? To some degree. Facebooking....yes, that is it.

My family has been begging me to get back into blogging, as well as a few friends. That's really what led me back here, to my old friend. Yes, blogging is my friend. I use to come here to relieve stress. Really, I did.

So here I am. Reading and now typing...

and, I've realized, after reading back, that I have been holding myself back. That perhaps writing is a talent I may have, but how can I know, or develop it for that matter, if I never do it.
So, I am committing myself to try to write at least weekly.

I don't think anyone is reading anymore, and that doesn't matter. So it's truly just for me and my posterity. This is the third time I've committed to getting back into blogging...I'm really hoping the third time is a charm! I guess we (or I) will see.