So Far So Good...

Or is that so good so far?? ;) It's second week of Nano, and I'm not that far behind. I should be over 12,000 words, but I'm only over 10,000 -- but considering that most of my writing is in the morning before work and at night before I go to bed, it's working. sigh. And I did over 5,000 on Saturday...grin.

Hope you're having an excellent day! I'm off to write some more...

I Really am Loosing My Mind...

Okay...you know you have too much on your plate when you forget things...but forgetting a party that you're giving??? sigh.

You know I do mystery shops, well, I gave a Pampered Chef party on Wednesday and Tuesday I told someone that I'd do a shop on Wednesday. In Wyoming.

I really need a vacation. I am SOOOO glad I have today off. I'm hoping to de stress, but I've got all my kids home for the day, so you know how that works. sigh. And then my son takes off with the truck (our only gas efficient vehicle at home) and doesn't tell me where he's going or why...

And I was going to do what today???

Also, I have started with a personal trainer. I know...it's really crazy, but my husband insisted. You see, if you are brutally blunt about it, I am extremely obese. At least that's the medical terminology. My family doesn't agree with it, but ya know. Anyway, I've been struggling to try and get the weight off for years, and just haven't had any success.

My hubby made me promise, oh, wayyyy back in February that I'd hire a personal trainer and see if that made the difference. Well, easier said than done, actually. I didn't want to go to some gym and have their specialty person, I wanted a personal trainer that came to my home. We couldn't find one. I finally thought of KSL.com the other day, and what do you know? They had personal trainers in their classifieds. (that was after wading through sooo many massage adds I thought I was going to puke) -- wait, pretend I didn't say that, my daughter-in-law is graduating as a sports massage therapist...sigh. (Yes, I have a daughter-in-law now...but that's for a future post)

Well...so we found a place called Lifelong Fitness. They are not a huge gym with no name workers and skinny, spadex clad instructors, they are a simple workout facility with personal trainers that you meet with to discuss your individual needs. You have addess to the facility 24 hours a day, and you meet with the trainer every week to discuss your progress, your nutrition (you'll notice I did NOT say the 'D' word)and are available when you are discouraged, frustrated, etc. Granted I've only been formally going for less than a week, but so far, so good. I'm encouraged, and that's saying something.

You track your eating habits on an online calorie tracker, and then bring in printed copies for them to look at. You could lie your head off, but they'd see it in the non-results, so you'd only be hurting yourself. I didn't think we could afford it in the beginning, but when we took stock of all the health issues I'm facing and what they would cost in the future, we figured it was the cheaper option.

I think part of my no brain stress has come from trying to do so many things at one time. I guess we'll see. I have lots to try and accomplish this weekend, but I'm not going to stress out if it doesn't all get done. Life goes on, right?? And my sanity is most important. ;)

Nano is coming...

be afraid...be very afraid. If you're like my hubby, you run screaming into the night saying "No! No, not again!!"

Some people are sooo melodramatic...grin.

Just because it's the month of November and 30 days of insanity where my house usually looks like a wreak, the kids are always wondering what's for dinner and no one can find any clean socks...what's to be so afraid of?? ;)

The count down begins...

Finally...the leaves!

Well, we finally had a Sunday free of obligation (sort of). After 4:30 we were able to go drive into the mountains to see the last of the leaves. So many years they have already dropped by now. Usually by conference weekend when we have a chance to drive up, they are already gone. But this year they've hung on, and it's been a gorgeous fall!! Just looking at the mountains every morning is an awe inspiring thing.

What is amazing, is our own large maple tree in the front yard has barely begun to change color. I can't wait -- it's a glorious sight. This is how it looked two years ago.



We enjoyed every minute of it, even driving around the reservoir and getting lots of pictures. sigh. I think I've had a refill of the serenity cup.

Have a good week!

Life is Crazy

Okay...we have gone in one week from have 5 children at home to having 6 (the 6th one isn't ours) and by next week, will have 7 again. sigh. How does this happen?? grin. Well... My son is getting married. She's a cute girl and we like her, but he doesn't really know her, so it's going to be interesting. And they are both out of work and broke, so they're living with us. Isn't life fun???
Sigh. Problem is, I remember when he was just a little guy and having fun with life. When do they grow up???
Oh well.

Conference was wonderful, and the weather was fantastic and my bday was pretty good for most the day. So, I'm pretty blessed. If I get a couple of obstacles to deal with along the way, I can handle it, right? Like my white shirt coming OUT of the laundry dirtier or more stained than it went in??? ARGH. Ok...I'm ok.

;)

This is What it's All About...

I read this article today, and it touched my heart. I thought, YES! This is what America is all about. This is how people can be.. I hope all of us would respond in like fashion. A Jobless Querk.

Autumn is Coming!

I was able to talk my wonderful hubby into going to see if the leaves are changing yet in the Alpine loop. We haven't been able to go there in years, and I've been craving a decent look at fall leaves. Sadly, every year around my bday and conference, we go and the leaves are on the way to being dead...sigh.

They apparently were in the still starting phase...and it was a very quick trip. One year I'm gonna be able to see wonderful leafs...it might be when we're retired and go to the east coast, but ya know. ;)

Maybe we'll still get some good leaves over the UEA break...

I can always hope!

9/12 The Rally

Okay, this wasn't the best photo, but it was taken with my hubbies phone. We were right behind the guy's head, and it was a lot bigger behind us...grin.

It was really fun to see people come out. I kind of felt sorry for the young couple that had just gotten married across the street -- they had to compete with the parking and the loud speakers... But it was amazing. We had a much larger turn out than anyone had expected. If only we could have gone to DC...now THAT was a march... If we'd had the funds, we would have joined them in the march, but we couldn't, so we stuck with Salt Lake. It was interesting, we enjoyed the speaches and mingling with those who had pretty much the same take on our situation right now as we do.

Also, a friend posted this thought on her blog, and I felt it was very appropriate for the thought:
"I am part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow down, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tinted visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, positions, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk with patience, am lifted up in prayer, and labor with power. My face is set, my goal is heaven. My road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, divided or delayed, will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the adversary, negotiate at the table with the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, and paid up for the case of Christ. I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know, and work till He stops me and when He returns for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me”. - Author Unknown, quoted by Elder Henry B. Eyring

So, not only have we started on the road to try and reclaim our country -- I have resolved that I am one of the unashamed. I will always stand for Jesus Christ and for right and freedom.

I hope you will join me.

8 Years Ago Today...

I am not what most people would consider an extremist. I am what Glenn Beck talks about when he says most people are conservative, and not into protests or other activism. But there are things that touch my heart, and bring worry and concern into my life.

8 years ago, I was getting my children ready for school when my husband called me and said to turn on the news, a plane had flown into the world trade center. My world was rocked -- not because I actually knew anyone that worked there or lived in New York, but because such a thing could happen.

I turned on the news and was just in time to actually watch the other plane fly into the second tower.

I stayed glued to the television for the rest of the day. Our peace, our safety as a nation had been threatened, and it was the scariest thing I had ever experienced.

The rest of the week I remember how quiet the skies were, except for when the air force was flying over head. That was a wonderful sight. Never before have I been more grateful to be next to an air base.

What saddens me, is how quickly people forget. I have no reason to remember other than those people didn't deserve to die. Terrorism shouldn't be allowed to be active in the world. People all over the world should have the peace of mind of freedom and happiness. But instead, our nation is facing it's darkest hour, and there was no terrorist act perpetrated. Just government.

But I don't want to talk politics today -- I just want to remind everyone what happened that September morning eight years ago, and remember what you felt in your hearts. Say a prayer for our nation and the healing of those families who had loved ones die.

Remember who you are and what you stand for. Remember 9/11.

Happy Labor Day

Well...I know I haven't posted for a while -- Life has just been too crazy. I barely keep up with my other blog that I've committed to writing every Friday. This Friday I will be hopefully doing two blogs, because 9/11 is a very special day to me.

But today, today is the end of summer. So, I hope everyone is out there getting their last sunburn of the season, BBQ'ing their guts out and enjoying family. There's nothing like it.

We'll be cleaning out a workshop and perhaps starting on canning apples...I guess we'll see what we get done. Who knows...we might sneak in a water fight...grin.

Have a good one!!

Blog Tour!!

Illuminations of the Heart

Well...here's a new one from Joyce DiPastena. If you caught her first book, Loyalty's Web, then you were looking forward to this next installment of the characters she introduced. While this isn't a series dependent on each other for the reader, I'm sure it reads better, since you're already familiar with them, but for me, Illuminations of the Heart was a stand alone novel.

Joyce has a way of bringing the locations to life with her descriptions and deep research. Historical novels are difficult to write and time consuming, but she didn't take very long between Loyalty's Web and this one. I was really impressed with the plot outline she came up with and the research she did.

But beside all that, the characters draw you into the story and make you want to read to the end so that you can figure out how everyone gets out of this impossible situation. grin.

I don't want to give it all away...but you got to read it. Especially if historical romance is your cup of tea. Really!

She's also doing a contest and winners will be drawn from the comments on her blog tour blogs. The prize is a $10 gift certificate to Amazon, Deseret Book and Barnes and Noble.

Be sure and check out her publisher, Walnut Spring Press, for their other great books and blogs.