Back To The Haze....

I had the best time in Florida! Oh my gosh...I forgot how much better I feel when it is sunny weather! I visited my Aunt and Uncle and cousin. My Aunt and Uncle are the best hosts and I always feel welcome and loved whenever I'm there. What a treat! I shopped, slept, read my book, went out on their boat, (and resembled a dog with it's head out of the window, I'm sure!) hung out with my cousin, watched movies and re-charged! FANTASTIC! I loved it! I also received more proof that God loves me and answers prayers. I had the dreaded "middle seat" coming home from Atlanta and it was a full flight, so I was pretty much screwed! So, I had made peace with it and was saying a little prayer that my carry on bag would have room, and I got to the counter and something told me to check with the counter guy, even though I had already checked on-line. I went up to him and asked if the flight was full and he said yes and asked why. I told him I had the dreaded middle seat and he asked me what it was. So, I sat down and thought nothing more of it. When I went to go get on the plane, my boarding pass was scanned and it made an odd beeping noise. I asked her what it meant and she said, "wait for it...." and a new boarding pass printed off and I had a new blessed aisle seat! I skipped onto the plane thanking the Lord all the way and there was room for my bag too! All of you who have little faith I'm here to tell ya! It is a beautiful thing!! Enjoy 50 degrees today! I know I will. Life is good.

Just When You Think Life...

What a week! I have been busier than a one-armed paper hanger! (That is one of my Mom's favorite sayings) She also likes "You're about as handy as a pocket in an undershirt!" or "You're as slow as molasses in January! or my favorite "You're as useless as boobs on a boar!" (She says it a little more crass, but I will edit for comment sake!) But, I digress. Anyhoo, as I said, what a week! Ups and downs! You name it, I felt it. But, I had to share the power of positive thinking and prayer story, because it helped me remember that I am never alone in my struggles. I just get busy feeling sorry for myself and forget. I had a major blow occur this week. I won't share the details, nothing irreversible, but it threw me, nonetheless. Let's just say, I was half way to McDonald's to fill my pain with a cheeseburger, when I stopped myself. (Yes I felt THAT bad.) Anyway, after a good long cry, I did what I should have done in the first place. I prayed. Now, I know this sounds cheesy coming from little old jaded me, but I have a firm belief when it comes to prayer, because I have seen what Heavenly Father can do, so bear with me here. The difference is, I truly opened my heart to him and asked him to help me know what to do and I asked him to help me stay strong in the process, so I didn't sabbotage myself. So, I went to bed and slept like a baby. Very strange for me because I tend to stew when troubled. I woke up the next day and went to work and there on my station was a piece of paper with a possible fix to my dilemma. Unsolicited. Coincidence? I don't know if that will totally fix it, but I feel so grateful that I chose to believe He listened to me and helped me. So, I prayed.....again. I said thank you. Now, the moral of this story that is probably too personal, but I don't care because I wanted to share my gratitude with the world. We are not alone in this life. I believe it and I am grateful. I hope all the people in my life that I love and care about know I am here to help also. Anytime. I just needed to share.

What A Gorgeous Day!

Oh my gosh! What a glorious day! The sun is out, the sky is blue and I am a happy camper! I never really understand how much I am affected by sun deprivation until it comes back. I have been downright giddy today and I love it! I am sooo ready for spring I can't stand it. But, the good news is I leave for sunny Florida next Sunday to visit my family for a week, so here I come sun!! I love traveling. I live for it really. That's what I do in between working. LOVE IT! So, watch out Florida because here I come....leaner and happy! WHEW HEW! Here's my wish for all of us suffering from vitamin D deficiency....go out and take a deep breath before the inversion sets in. I'll see you there!

A Really Good Day

I have to say, today was a really good day. I don't think anything out of the ordinary happened, but it just was. I woke up happy. I can't explain it any better than that. I worked out really hard at the gym and survived. That is always a good thing. I lost 7 pounds in January. Another good event. I had lunch with my sister Carrie. Very nice. I guess with everything going on in the world, I've found a new appreciation for satisfaction. I am extremely blessed and I am finally appreciating it. I can only hope that tomorrow will bring the same. Sometimes I forget and plunge into my "pit of despair" before I realize what I've done. So, to all of you who enrich my life just by being in it and love me inspite of all my HUGE flaws......Thanks. Thank you for never giving up on me and for making me smile. I love you too. I want to play tag with all of the willing...... Here we go. I want to know your happiest memory, to date. I have 2 that I can't pick so I am sharing both, because it is my blog and I can...

1. Seeing the very first picture of my nephew Brady and knowing at my core that he was meant to be in our family, and feeling an instant bond to a little boy I had never met. After watching helplessly for 6 years as my sister and her husband go through test after test, many procedures and disappointments, I could almost see Corey's heart heal. She finally understood why they went through everything they did. It was for this little creature that needed us as much as we needed him.
2. The second happened last April, when I stepped off the Norwegian Dream onto Irish Soil and feeling like I had come home. It was raining and I was having the trip of a lifetime and it was like my Irish DNA was doing the jig. It really was so magical and you couldn't have wiped the smile off my face if you tried. If I could live anywhere else in the world Kinsale, Ireland would be it. It is my "home" away from home and I will remember that day forever!
3. OK, so I know I said 2, but I can't resist telling you the last. It let's you know what a true nerd I am! And I just thought of it, so sue me. In 1984, I had a crush. It was strange, but love is a strange thing. I was in love with Scott Hamilton the ice skater. I know...sad, but true. Anyway, I watched every moment of the '84 Olympics and cheered Scott, (my man) to victory. After the Olympics, Campbell's Soup put on a national tour of Olympic champions on Ice and my Mom got us tickets after I promised to do anything to get them. So, off we went to see my love skate! Yippee!! I watched and cried and it was amazing and no sooner did he do his last spin, I ran down all 4 million flights of stairs to give my flowers to THE Scott Hamilton! I get to the bottom when a flower girl comes up to me and tries to take my flowers. I told her: "I'm Sorry, but I can only give these flowers to Scott Hamilton himself! Well, she assured me they would be given to him and I said: "No, I have to give these to him myself!" She started laughing and skated over to Scott and told him what I said, and he came over kind of chuckling and said, "I hear you have a delivery for me?" And, I froze. I was bursting & I couldn't think of anything to say! I finally blurted out: " I LOVE YOU!" He thanked me for the flowers and kissed me on the cheek! I could've passed out! I ran back up to my Mom and told her what I'd said and she laughed so hard I thought she might pee her pants! It was the greatest night of my teenage life! Truth be told, I still love Scott Hamilton and I am always glad when he is an announcer for the skating shows! I know....total nerd.

Now it is your turn. Share! Ready....go! You're it. Have a happy day!

President Hinckley....Remembered

My religious commitments haven't been consistent, to say the least. So, I am never one to pass judgments on others. But being a Mormon, you would have to be deaf, dumb and blind and left in a cardboard box, to not have seen the spirit of our prophet. Gordon B. Hinckley was truly a spiritual giant. It didn't matter if you were LDS, Jewish, Muslum, Catholic...etc. He loved you and respected you, and yet his belief and testimony never waivered. He was not a "giant" man in stature, but you were definitely awed by his words. I would be remiss if I didn't share my deep love for this man and a appreciation of the sacrifices he consistently made over the years to give us a noble face on a very misunderstood religion. We are not freaks. We are a people who in a world filled with different faiths, have chosen one that fits us best, to honor our God. I will miss President Hinckley, just as I miss my own grandfather, and I never even had the privilege of meeting him. To me, he was a source of strength and peace. His humor was refreshing in such a serious forum and it made his spiritual guidance more human and relatable. I hope Marjorie was there to meet him when he passed. So, this is a thank you from a girl who doesn't always know where she will go or what she will do from day to day. Thank you President Hinckley for showing all of us what it is like to be a true witness of glory. Thank you for being an honorable and loving prophet and a light in a world filled with darkness. You will be missed. God bless your way.