Thank you BYUTV and other notes

Today I am thankful for.... BYUTV. If it weren't for you, BYUTV, I would not be able to have such a nice Sunday when I am not able to make it to church.

But, because you do exist, I get to have a nice Sunday spirit in my home. I get to watch Women's Conference in my pajamas on my couch and (thanks to dvr) pause it if I need to go to the bathroom or make a snack. I get to record a nice little talk by John Bytheway for a great Family Home Evening with Jake.

I also am so happy that I have The Old Testament Made Easier that I borrowed from my mom. It makes the Old Testament infinitely more readable for me, and much less weird. 'Cause let's face it, there is some weird stuff in that book of scripture. Some very interesting stories, just some weird and confusing stuff too. So it is making a world of difference for me for this time around of reading it. I can't remember if I thought it was this strange before, but I did have college teachers, seminary teachers and Sunday school teachers guiding the way the last times I read it.

Other good reads: I am reading Catching Fire - the 2nd book in the Hunger Games trilogy. At first I thought the Hunger Games was too sickening of a premise for me, but I read it for a book club and was hooked. It really pulls you in and I loved it.

I wanted to say thank you for everyone sounding off on Jake's homework issues! You are all so great and it all helped. I actually almost erased that post, but I'm glad I didn't because it was good to hear your ideas, and good to hear we're not alone. He is hanging in there and I am trying not to add stress to his stress! He also had fun in Hawaii last week! I need to do some updates and I will try to be better at it. I hope you are all doing well!

Glad To Be Alive

It has been a whole year since this happened, so many of you may know all about this, but I was really touched by it today and wanted to devote a post to a remarkable woman.

Stephanie Nielson is an LDS blogger who has had a very strong following on her wonderful blog which celebrated the small moments of family life that make it all worthwhile. She is a dear person, and so is her husband. Last year, they were in a plane crash that killed their friend and severely burned and almost killed both of them. I guess the Lord saw fit to put these tremendous people through a true refiner's fire when He gave them this trial but Stephanie is healing and writing her blog again. She hiked the Y Mountain Saturday to mark a year since the accident. Her husband Christian had burns on over 30% of his body and Stephanie had burns on over 70% of her body and was in a coma for over 2 months.

I sometimes feel so awful physically, and grow so incredibly tired of it, that thoughts like - getting in a car accident and passing from this life might be a big relief- but then I take it back and apologize to the powers that be. In reality, I am so so very grateful for my life, and all the many blessings in it and I have no desire to leave Jake behind until we are both much, much older. I just wanted to say how grateful I am for my life today. I have so much. I love you - family and friends. I love the Lord. Stephanie is a beautiful beautiful person and she still appreciates the small and the big things that many of us often forget. I celebrate her and her life. The Lord has quite a plan for her.

Here's a quote from the New York Times about her and her blog: “People don’t understand that of course Stephanie had days where she was crazy and wanted to pull her hair out... Her relationship with her husband wasn’t perfect. But she chose to focus on the beauty.

“And the more she focused on it, the more she had.”

May we all do the same.

Gratitude Prayers Update

Hey guys!

I wanted to update how this went because it was such a cool thing. It was a surprise - gratitude prayers are actually a relief! It was a nice change from having to come up with the right things to ask for -or worry about - all the time. I realized that my subconscious mind really thinks I have to worry about things and try to figure everything out, or nothing will be OK!

I just got to look at the good things. What a nice break! It let me sit back and give the job of figuring it all out to Him. That can be easier said than done but, voila! a gratitude prayer accomplished it for me. It made faith take over and that was a beautiful thing. I can rely on Him to know what I need. Sometimes figuring things out and pondering does help a lot, but I need to remember to keep the balance. I did not expect to learn any of this, and I really loved this experiment!

So, on that note, here's a list of things I'm glad about today:

That Nablopomo is over! :D It was good and got me in the blogging mode but it will be a relief also to just post when I want to and feel like I actually have something to say (whether it is significant or not.)

That Jake's big present came while he was gone for the long weekend and he didn't see it!

That selling Jake's bedroom set on Craigslist enabled me to pay for Christmas and his birthday next month.

Happy Christmas time!

Happy Turkey Lurkey Day

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I'm thankful for:

1. This guy

2. My parents and ALL they do for me.

3. My siblings and all their unique qualities and all they have contributed to my life, including my in-laws.

4. Good friends.

And SO MUCH MORE!!! I hope you're all having a great day!

Ever Thought About

Saying a prayer of only gratitude? It is a really good idea for me right now since there has been a lot of asking going on. I am going to hold off on the supplication and petitioning for at least a prayer a day until Thanksgiving. It isn't much, but I think it will help me focus more on what I DO have! And that is a lot!!!

Jake gave a talk about gratitude in church today! He told about Elder Bednar's Conference talk last month when he spoke about a prayer of only gratitude. My mom helped him write a beautiful talk and he delivered it like a pro! I was so impressed and proud of him. Not a single stumble over a word, he spoke at just the right rate, and didn't even seem nervous! Good job Jake! My mom, dad and I got to sit by his little twin brothers and they kept us entertained for the rest of the meeting.

When you're so tired...

This is my take on my theme song for my life (Kara's idea) and also kinda sorta blatantly copying Tiff's post today. :D It isn't really my theme song for my whole life but it does describe the last 14 years of being sick.

Some of the lyrics in this song are just perfect. I've been singing "When you feel so tired but you can't sleep" line for the last 2 weeks. If you want, you can click on my playlist over there <- and play the songs while you read the lyrics (unless you already know them by heart like me.) Once you click on it, you can scroll around to pick a song.

Fix You

by Coldplay

When you try your best, but you don't succeed

When you get what you want, but not what you need

When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep

Stuck in reverse

And the tears come streaming down your face

When you lose something you can't replace

When you love someone but it goes to waste

Could it be worse?

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

When high up above or down below

When you're too in love to let it go

But if you never try you'll never know

Just what you're worth

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

Tears stream down your face

When you lose something you cannot replace

Tears stream down your face

And I...

Tears stream down your face

I promise you I will learn from my mistakes

Tears stream down your face

And I...

Lights will guide you home

And ignite your bones

And I will try to fix you

And on a more positive note, I feel so very blessed in many ways in my life. I love this song by Sarah McLachlan. I like how it helps me remember that there are so many little miracles going on around me every day. Life is beautiful and a gift. I can wish and hope and pray for better health to enjoy it, but the truth is, I am very blessed in many ways, and I am so grateful.

Ordinary Miracle

It’s not that unusual

When everything is beautiful

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

The sky knows when it’s time to snow,

Don’t need to teach a seed to grow,

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

Life is like a gift they say

Wrapped up for you every day

Open up and find a way

To give some of your own love.

Isn’t it remarkable?

Like every time a raindrop falls

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

Birds are meant to have their flame

They always make it home on spring

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

When you wake up everyday

Please don’t throw your dreams away

Hold them close to your heart

‘Cause we are all a part of the ordinary miracle

Ordinary miracle,

Do you want to see a miracle?

It seems so exceptional

That things just work out after all

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

The sun comes up and shines so bright

And disappears again at night

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

It’s just another ordinary miracle today.

Happiness Is...

Parents who are awesome enough, and who love my son enough, that they would take him to St. George for 4 days with them.


4 sweet days of peace and quiet!


Resting whenever I need to without guilt.


Cleaning, and having things stay clean.


Using my energy for things I want (not just need) to do!


Talking to Jake on the phone and hearing about the fun time he's having and the friends he's hanging out with.


Hugging my sweet kid when he comes home safe and sound from a fun trip!













Thanks for taking him Mom and Dad - I feel refreshed and ready to handle life again.

A Few Good Men

These men are the real thing. They are beautiful men and I love them. I am so excited for conference. I just love when it comes around. Not just the being able to watch church in my jammies thing, but the spiritual refilling. It just feels good in my heart. I am so very grateful that they are on Earth and for their guidance and examples of strength.

(I couldn't find one with Elder Christofferson in it.)

I am SO grateful for a living prophet. What a blessed people we are that we have guidance for living in this often difficult world we live in.

Come, listen to a prophet's voice, and hear the word of God!