Ghosts & Bad Attitudes

I was inspired to make some Halloween decorations after getting my Country Living magazine last month. There were so many cute and easy projects to do and I thought it would be a fun way to craft with the kiddo's and some of their friends.

Indeed we had a great time making these ghosts to put around the house (and send home with friends) and bring on the Halloween spirit. However, Beeb needed an attitude adjustment when it came time for pictures and she didn't get the spot she wanted on the bench - thus her sour face.



We are going to leave her out there until after Halloween to scare all the trick-or-treaters.

Verminophobia = AH

AH loves the toilet bowl tabs that drop into the tank and then slowly release a massive chemical mixture into the water that is powerful enough to keep your toilet bowl clean while at the same time destroys the plastic in the tank causing leaks and that oh so fun "running" toilet sound.

Tired of having to replace parts in the tank AH came home with a new product to try:



The application of it was simple and it really does stick to the bowl (nice that it is not in the tank) HOWEVER the chemical odor the gel admits is nauseating and strong. I mentioned to AH how our bathroom now smells like a doctors office and he shrugged me off though the battle is far from over.

The next morning Beeb walked into her bathroom after waking up, turned to me and said, "How come the bathrooms smells like doctor _______'s office?" - My point exactly.

The Question

I love you too Beeb!

No Yolk!

I have a friend, neighbor and official new YW President for our ward (I have been released and she was called to serve). My friend approached me one day and said that her chickens are now laying eggs and producing more than what she can use and so she would like to give her excess to me. Giddy up! I use a lot of eggs, it is one of my favorite proteins, and so any way to cut my egg bill makes me happy.

What is even more cool about this gift is that she delivers! Let me tell you, I've gone to egg heaven. Once or twice a week she drops off the cutest little basket filled with eggs. I love it - so Laura Engles Wilder.

The Nap

This morning Beeb came up to me and said, "Momma, will you put me down for a nap?" A very unusual request from her and I immediately wondered if she were sick though there were no signs indicating that might be the case. "Sure." I said, "After lunch."

So after lunch Beeb and I made our way to my bed (because it is the biggest) and she brought a soft blanket and 7 books she wanted me to read to her. We snuggled in and proceeded to make our way through book upon book of Halloween stories. About half way through Mr. B came in search of us and always up for a good story he climbed in for a snuggle and story too.

When all the stories had been read Mr. B requested a bath and I told him to wait until Beeb was asleep and so he snuggled up to me even more. I knew this would be problematic as it was so warm and so cozy in that bed and it made it very hard to fight off the drowsiness that follows such comfort. Sure enough a few minutes later Beeb slipped out of bed and I followed shortly after leaving Mr. B to enjoy a wonderful autumn afternoon nap. That boy is so predictable - so easy to get to sleep so long as he is warm and cozy!

I Am Not Gone. . . I Promise

I'll be back soon. . . I hope. If you really know me then you know I am in the throws of senior picture season and family holiday portraits too. I am so swamped I don't even have time to read other people's blogs let alone post on my own.

Two things I'll share about today (since I am here I might as well be productive). First, Beeb dressed herself this morning in a blue and white flower print summer dress. Since it wasn't especially warm out she partnered her dress with a long sleeve shirt underneath (it was brown) and blue tights. She looked a bit silly but hey, let the creativity flow. So later in the morning she came to talk to me and felt that her outfit needed an explanation. She told me, "There are blue flowers on my dress but I couldn't find a blue long sleeve shirt so I chose brown because flowers grow in dirt." She is so cute!

AH is out of town this weekend and so today it was just the kids and I. For the most part the day was very mellow while I tried to spend as much time as I could listening to General Conference and the inspiring messages. I'll be honest, it was a supremely lazy day for all of us and It must have been needed because I had the kiddo's in bed by 7:23pm and they were BOTH asleep by 7:50pm! Beeb rarely does this, she is my night owl!

So while I had the evening to myself I thought I would put on a movie and fold my mountain of laundry (because I've been swamped with pictures I'm a bit behind in my chores and mainly because I am out of clean underwear). I think I washed nearly every piece of clothing in our house because it took me over 2 HOURS to fold all that laundry! I watched an entire movie and then moved on to another one before I finished. I've left half of it on the family room floor (the kid's items) to put away tomorrow but it took some serious arm strength to carry my basked of clean close up to my room. I might actually be sore tomorrow!

One last thing, AH (I love him so much - 100X more than when we were first married) left me a little message this week and a gift. I woke up to find a t-shirt draped over my monitor and a message that said, "I know you CATAN finish editing. Love, Turk" and it goes along with the t-shirt that says "Yes We Catan"! He is so sweet! I felt a weight lifted knowing that he understood my work pressure right now. It is so nice to have that verbal/written support and that he can make fun of my Settlers of Catan addiction in such a fun way.

I'll be back soon. . . I promise!

The Laziest Runner

I am probably the laziest runner ever. In the past three months I have ran three times. Each time was for a race to which I did no running prior to condition for it. Luckily I've been playing some ultimate Frisbee with AH and friends a few times a month and it has saved my behind as I start and finish each 5K with a reasonably okay time (for someone who doesn't train).

I did it again this past weekend - I ran another 5K race. It hurt (especially that last mile) but I did it and with a better time than the race before. This not convincing my body that I actually need to train in order to do these 5K races. I am in trouble.





Luckily the kids head back to school in a week and then I can have that argument with my body when I am out running.

Beeb Logic: Gutters

Ah yes, another dose of Beeb logic (we're long overdue).

On the drive to church today Beeb said to me, "Mom, you know how your teeth are attached to your gutters. . ."

"You're gutters?" I inquired on the verge of laughter as I look over at AH.

"Yes your gutters." she responded.

"You means your gums?" I reply back to her.

"Oh yeah, your gums. Well you know how your teeth are attached to your gums? My gums are really soft and slimy."

Good to know Beeb. (she says the funniest things, that girl!)

Out Of The Mouth Of Babes

Mr. B's friend was over during lunch today. Before he started eating I reminded Mr. B of what he was supposed to do and he quickly prayed over his meal.

Afterward his friend said to Mr. B, "We don't pray before we eat. I know you do but we don't."

Mr. B responded, "Maybe you could remind your family to do it. They will be blessed if they do."

My heart is very content right now. :-)

The Pressure Washer Shower

Tonight AH returned home after a full day of motorcycling the back country trails with his buddy. As I passed by a window I heard the kids laughing and I looked out to see them all wet (still fully clothed) while AH was pressure washing his bike. The kiddo's are yelling at him and then I see him turn the hose on the kids (I promise, it wasn't too close or powerful enough to do harm). I guess the kids needed a quick spray down too - that's one way of getting them clean.

Why Pornography is Wrong (It's Not Really About Sex)

Often times I read things and have many thoughts about them that I want to share or express but for some such reason or another I am not fully able. Tonight I came across a post on this very sensitive subject that really speaks to my understanding of it in a way that I doubt I could ever put so well. Thanks SilverRain for sharing your insite (and the rest of your blog - I really love reading it!).


The Rains Came Down: Why Pornography is Wrong (It's Not Really About Sex)

I have recently gone through a drastic paradigm shift that has led me to understand several gospel principles in a new way. One of these is pornography.

There is a great deal of discussion about pornography in the LDS blog world. At the risk of oversimplification, essentially the discussions involve three basic views. First, that pornography is evil because it exploits women and plays upon natural man drives. Second, that pornography in moderation is not that bad if it helps husbands and wives have a more fulfilling sex life. Third, that there is really nothing wrong with pornography because the women who are depicted choose their careers, and would do it whether or not any particular person used it.

But there is another, more insidious aspect to pornography that I believe may greatly damage the lives of anyone it touches in ways that ripple out to destroy wives, children and friends.

While I have not ever been involved in pornography, there is a certain level of it which cannot be entirely avoided in today's society, so I am minimally familiar with the concept. Generally speaking, pornography involves showing people in various states of undress, or depicting a sexual encounter through stories, but nakedness and sex are not what defines pornography. In fact, pornography can consist of people entirely modestly dressed, and often does. Sometimes an actual sexual encounter does not even need to be depicted or described. Pornography is not nakedness, it is the depiction of forbidden or unattainable sexual desires in a way that allows the viewer or reader to direct the fulfillment of those desires.

When a person views a pornographic picture or reads a pornographic story, they are in some ways putting themselves into the scene. They are able to fantasize about doing something that they cannot do in real life. Essentially all forms of pornography involve having someone else do what you want them to do.

In short, pornography is a way of finding sexual gratification that circumvents the agency of another person. It is about control, not about sex.

In normal, healthy, husband-and-wife sex, two people have to work together to find mutual pleasure and joy in physical expression. That's why it is such hard work, and why so many people struggle with it. It is not that there is anything wrong with the individuals, it is that divinely-sanctioned sex is not meant to be easy. It is not meant to be about fulfilling one's own needs, it is meant to be about seeking ways to meet a spouse's needs. When two people attempt this, there are bound to be missteps along the way. However, when this is done, husband and wife form strong bonds of love as they seek their spouse's needs before their own (very powerful) ones. Sex should be a form of charity held sacred to be performed only between husband and wife, so there can be a bond between them that no others share.

When a person seeks physical fulfillment in ways that ignore the agency of another person, they objectify and thus can manipulate a person (even if it is only in their own fantasy, and even if it is on a strictly limited basis). That person mocks one of the most important laws of God: the law of agency. They then damage their ability to find pleasure in giving, grinding grooves of habit that make it impossible for them to associate sex with selflessness.

Once a person ties their sexual pleasure to control and manipulation, other aspects of the marital relationship assume the taint of a need to control. Then that person can easily begin to see all relationships as relationships of control. When a relationship is about control, it is no longer of God.

If you look at scripture, about Satanic interaction with mankind as compared to divine interaction, you will see that relationships with God never, never violate the principle of agency: of choice and accountability. Satan almost always tempts in one of three ways: by convincing us there is no choice, by convincing us there is no consequence, or by telling us that we do not have to be accountable for what we choose, that it somehow isn't our fault.

Is pornography wrong because it exploits women? Undoubtedly. But it also exploits the viewer or reader, teaching them that joy comes only from control. In the end, that is far more damaging.

Finding Spiritual Inspiration

A goal I have this year is to grow more spiritually, whether by reading the Scriptures, reading or listening to talks given by church leaders, listening to hymns and reading of there history, through gospel discussions with others, etc. There are so many ways for me to work toward my goal.

This week I decided that I wanted to listen to Music and the Spoken Word as it has been announced that the program will be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame later this year. When I went to the website for it I had missed that day's broadcast by a few hours and couldn't find any way to hear past episodes.

I was disappointed but not discouraged. I perused my way around the Church radio website and came across a wonderful gem. The Church has a radio program called "Conversations" that interviews people of insterest to those of our faith (and by that I mean Christian, not necessarily just LDS).

Deciding to give it a try I listened to an interview of Elder David A. Bednar and Sister Susan Bednar by Sherry Dew. The beginning started out okay as I listened while editing pictures but then about a third of the way through the interview the conversation topic really caught hold of me and from there on I was so enraptured that I actually had to repeat several sections of it so I could take notes. It was, in essence, like having Time Out for Women, EFY, Women's Conference, Youth Conference, etc. right in my own home. When the hour was up I was sad for it to have ended; my heart and soul begged for more.

Tonight I repeated this experience and listed to an interview of Elder Richard G. Scott and his daughter Linda Scott Mickle. Once again I found myself pausing to hear incredibly profound thoughts, laugh at some of their life experiences and felt nourished to my very core, as I am sure was meant to happen. I wanted to pause and call friends who are going through incredibly hard trials and say, "I just heard Elder Scott speak of your trial, a trial he went through as well, and he shared his views on it and I was moved. Please go and listen to it, I think it will uplift you and give you strength." Then I decided I want all my friends and family to have this opportunity because I think we can all be edified by it, thus the blog posting.

The program is called Conversations and can be found HERE. Take an hour to listen, to know more of those who guide us in a way that is as if they are sitting in your own living room talking, relaxed and giving you a side of themselves that is so much more personal.

Conversations features interviews with people of interest to the LDS community—General Authorities, Auxiliary leaders, and faithful Latter-day Saints. Some are joined by their spouses, who contribute an additional dimension. Each has an interesting story and a unique perspective. These discussions are done in a style which allows the listener to become acquainted with those being interviewed in an informal way. This is particularly interesting with the featured general authorities, who are known to most only in formal settings. Conversations offers advice, wisdom and interesting stories that will lift your spirit and inspire your thoughts.