A week ago

Time just keeps moving on--
often it is only when you reflect back that you realize how quickly time moves--
Has it really only been a week that we were starting out on our vacation?

Last Saturday night found us all together here....

It is one of my favorite buildings--so beautiful in the distance--rising up from the trees--

and even more beautiful up close.

The DC temple has always been a favorite of mine--
I had the opportunity to go there when i was young and I had wanted to get married there...but while temples might vary in architecture the truths that are taught inside are all the same...

I loved walking around the grounds with my kids--
seeing the awe as they looked up at the spires pointing up to heaven.

The building appeared to be glowing in it's simplistic beauty--

simply stating its purpose as well...

the house of the lord--

holiness to the lord--

stated on each and every temple...

We have a Christus in our visitor center as well--
I love the fact he is standing there
with his arms open
to welcome all to come unto him

It was the first time i had all my teenagers together with us at the temple
It was a great experience--such a beautiful place,
with a peaceful spirit, and definitely a highlight to our trip

Wrestling with a cushion

I am sore today--
the all over achy kind of sore--
the kind of sore that leaves your hands hurting--
and wondering exactly how old you actually are?
all because of an upholstery project--
who knew that stuffing a pillow could be so difficult.

Last night found me wrestling with a cushion that was larger than myself.
I knew it was going to be and event--just because of the sheer size--

It was like trying to squeeze wide hips into a small waisted pair of jeans
while it is possible it does take some twisting and contorting...

the injuries were limited
and i did come out victorious

not that you can tell by the look on my face--that is a look of exhaustion

Last night found me finishing this up this project--

I had planned on having it done before i left for DC
but an over scheduled life and several hic-ups left me wondering if i was going to get it done--Plus she had asked me to update it by adding nail heads

it is one of those things that takes time--
and can be a bit frustrating--
with the spacing and keeping them straight and all...


i was feeling stressed--

I knew my time was limited last week
and the one day that i had a chunk of time to actually work on it ended up being chopped into pieces. A friend called needing a ride to an appointment--so i dropped what i was doing and went to get her. I kept thinking how was i going to get this finished? I kept telling myself that i would be blessed for helping out this friend, but i was left wondering how i was going to get it done. I knew that there were just not enough available hours in the up coming days for me to accomplish what i needed to do....

I had told the owner that i would have it done by Friday morning like i had promised
(some how, some way i would figure out a way to get it done)
She then she said that they were going out of town Thursday night...
at that point i knew it was not going to happen before i left and it took the stress off of me...
for a moment anyway...Nothing like coming back from vacation to finish a project.

But finished it is/was
--delivered and out of my house--
One less thing to worry about...

Overview of Washington DC

I am going to apologize now--
I am sorry...
but if you read my blog with any regularity you will be inundated with pictures and information regarding our trip to DC recently.

Kinda like watching someone elses vacation video's
only i didn't take any video's
just lots of pictures
and memories....

I had planned to blog about it as it was happening
but i didn't.
I was tired when the night rolled around
and slept better than i have slept in a long time...

was it the bed?

the pillow?

or the fact that i was moving the entire day?

Whatever the case, I was sad to have to come home and sleep in my own bed....


If you have never been to Washington DC,
I am here to tell you that it is a must see city.
If you have any affinity for history
or a love of this country
or just like seeing a TON of stuff
this is the place for you.
There is truly something for everyone.
We played the "What was your favorite part of the trip game" last night at dinner

FAVORITES:

• the boys (young and old) loved the air and space museum--both of them,although the one by the airport edged out the one on the mall


• Middle child loved going to the temple


• Oldest loved the Lincoln and Korean memorial and the Museum of Natural history (or as she said--"the one with all the animals")


• Myself-HMMM--I loved the white house--not the tour so much but for the fact of all the history that took place within the walls--and then i loved the architecture that was present throughout the city--and I really enjoyed the peace of Arlington and....I really could go on--not much that I didn't like---I LOVE history and bringing it to life--actually my mostest favoritest was probably Gettysburg--could have spent WAY more time there.

Least Favorite:

• the boys (again young and old) The White House--to quote the youngest "that was dumb" and my hubby felt like we were herded--and the oldest son got wand-ed coming in.....note for future trips to the white house--DO NOT wear big honking belt buckles that set of metal detectors.
• Hubby liked the Holocaust museum alright but felt like it was four floors of death--which was a valid description. We both walked away from it with the knowledge that our little man probably would have been put to death under their requirements--It made me sad to think about it. It was also really crowded at first,as in really...brought back images of what it must have been like riding in the trains to the camps--which about did me in but eventually the crowds did dissipate and you could breath and move about on your own free will.
• All the walking on the last day made the least favorite list--just because we walked from Washington's monument--to the Vietnam--then Lincolns--then the Korean and then we walked memorial bridge to Arlington and then around Arlington. OK, It was a TON of walking--the only thing that would have made it better would have been a Segway.
• Because of a real fear of heights--Washington's monument made my oldest daughters list, although she did like the view from the bottom
• watching the piranhas be fed
• Hershey Factory--although it did give us some yummy snacks to carry us through the trip

It is amazing how much we saw is such a short period of time--and yet so much we didn't see. We fit in a ton, but have left plenty for another trip another day--probably for my kids to do with their kids someday...

How my kids measure up

MONEY:

Portable pieces of stamped paper or metal

in use of a medium of exchange.


We took a trip to the treasury building--kinda hard to miss the purpose of this building since they have the picture of the new $5 bill on a large banner hanging on it

actually it is the bureau of engraving and printing...
someone had told me they were handing out samples--
they weren't.
Call me gullible...
but the government is always giving away money--
yours and mine...
so was it so wrong of me to believe that i could get some?
I know it was a stretch....

The bureau of engraving doesn't only print money--
no---they are used to print all the presidential invites and such...
One more benefit for being the president--
never having to worry about running out of ink....

They were really picky about taking pictures--
as in "don't even think about it"
There were signs everywhere about NOT taking pictures.
I wanted to take a picture of the signs...
but i withstood the temptation...
It's not like they would come and yank the film out of my camera...
that is the problem with digital--
it is just not as dramatic to delete pictures.

It was interesting to see the many "security" features that they are continuing to add to our money--they said that they continue to add changes to the bills every 7 years...
and i am fine with that--
as long as they don't remove the "In GOD we trust" they can do what they want
(i know they have been waiting for my approval)

I was not the only person seeing dollar signs...

but i could actually take a picture of this

I used to think that a hundred thousand dollars was a lot of money--and then i worked for a bank and realized that while financially it is alot of money--it is just not that impressive sitting there.....

they had this on the wall--i just want to know--is the size of the kid in direct relation to the amount of money you will spend on them?

I love the fact that we were able to document how tall they currently are
and the financial value attached to each one
All my kids are into the millions already--my how they've grown
although i think this kids value will increase by several hundred thousand before all is said and done.
We do have a friend who is in the 7 foot range--worth over 2 million
I will take my vertically challenged family--they are cheaper that way...

just one more hour

I am good at basic math.

add two hours to any time on my watch at that is the current given time where i am at--
(minus 15 minutes because my watch is fast)
Yes i know this adds a tad bit of confusion

but I can handle this addition--
and subtraction

it is not so hard to adjust to when you are traveling
two hours ahead isn't so bad--
Midnight east coast time is 10 pm my time which is a reasonable time to go to bed
that is unless you happen to be there when the time jumps ahead....


living in AZ we do not have to worry about changing our clocks
we don't recognize daylights saving time
coming or going--
and for that fact i am grateful.
Honestly we don't need one more hour of daylight in the summer...
Plus I never have to worry about if i remembered to change my watch, clocks, microwave etc...
although my phone has a mind of its own and will switch according to the area I am in.

Phones are like that--
always wanting to fit in

Not like my watch which only changes if i make it
which i don't--
my watch will always remain on my current time (plus 15 min faster)
and i will be content to do the math.

Only problem is
instead of the two hours that i had planned on working with
we got to jump ahead an additional hour--
I lost an hour of my vacation
because day light savings time happened to leap forward
while i was on the east coast
so now the basic math involved three hours.
Somehow three hours kinda throws me for a loop--
maybe the problem is when i have to get up at 6am east coast time
I know in my heart of hearts that it is really 3am
I don't do 3am--unless i have stayed up all night
and i am starting to figure out that i am getting to old to do that anymore
Even getting up at 7am east coast time is hard
it seems like a reasonable hour
until I realize it is really 4am my time
this is ridiculous
but if you want to squeeze everything in
concessions must be made
sleep must be lost
after all
that is what the flight home is for--
catching up on lost sleep

One more thing I want to fit in

I got a call last night...
It was from my friend who moved to China
and it was NOT a long distant call.!
She happened to be in town on a quick visit
Unexpected (funerals have a way of doing that)
and wanted to know if i wanted to go with her to the temple in the morning.
Well YES--
I wanted to--
I wanted to see her
and i knew i should make the time to go to the temple
but in the back of my mind I was thinking-
NO.
"you still haven't packed-
and what about cleaning the house?"
I felt overwhelmed with the things i still needed to do
BUT
I really wanted to see my friend....
I knew i should go to the temple...
(especially after hearing how far my friend now has to travel to attend the temple--and here i have one in my backyard and i take it for granted)
and in the back of my mind i kept telling myself that i would be blessed....
trying to justify this in my schedule
my busy over flowing too many things left to do schedule
I opened my mouth thinking i should say
"NO"
and out came a
"YES"
As i was saying it
I couldn't really believe the words I was saying
was i crazy?--
did i really have the time to do this?
could i possibly add one more thing to my insanely busy week before i left on vacation?
Again the idea that it would all work out
and i would be blessed came to my mind.

After a night of restless sleep,
thinking of the many things i needed to do.
I beat the alarm up and jumped in the shower
knowing that i had little time to waste today.
My girlfriend picked me up
and being in my rush i forgot my clothes for the temple
OPPS.
It was so much fun catching up with her
as if no time had passed.
We had an enjoyable time at the temple
and even managed to squeeze in some Mexican food afterward (something she has been craving since leaving the US--somehow she has yet to find good Mexican restaurant in China--go figure...)

It was a great morning--
and the best part is that everything worked out that day.
I was able to attend the temple
visit with a friend
and...
I managed to get packed
and was ready before i needed to be.
We all walked out the door...
on time
and the day went off without a hitch.

Now i know
i was blessed
My children took care of a lot
They packed themselves and even packed for little man.
My daughter picked up the house
and my husband had done laundry earlier in the week
so we would all have something to wear.
Blessings come in many shapes and sizes
I am just thankful that i have a houseful of blessings
that gave me the opportunity to spend some time at the temple with my friend.

UPDATE: After returning home i walked into an even cleaner house--those things that had been left undone were now done. The cleaning fairies in the form of mothers had joined forces and came and worked together. It was so nice to come home to.

Again, I AM BLESSED in so many ways

I SWEAR....

I try not to--but sometimes it just slips....
I am not perfect--
far from it....
and i know that comes as a shock to most of you....
(Wink Wink--nod nod)
Please don't judge me too harshly.....

Growing up my parents taught me that a person showed their intelligence by the language that they used. I was taught that a well educated person does not have to use coarse language, and have been disappointed when i have had teachers that have thought otherwise. Often I think the true message someone is trying to convey is lost in a flood of foul language. Last week i was involved in one of these conversations with a student at a college..
And while he had some good points to be made, all I heard was
*BEEP*** #$^*!!
and then
*(&%*))***BEEP**@#%^!&
You get the idea....
Again the fact that i was in a higher institution of learning and the language that i was surrounded by was that of the uneducated left me feeling disappointed in our society...

So while these words are not used in my everyday convo
there have been occasions where they have come out for a visit... usually much to my embarrassment!

Years ago when i was almost 13
(i guess that would still have made me 12)
I was on a hayride-- it was October
--the time for all things spooky.
I was with a group of kids from church and we were riding through the DARK forest enjoying the crisp fall air, talking and being goofy teenagers just before we went into a Halloween party at this mansion-
(wait did i mention that i was with a church group--
kids who also were taught not to swear?)
While i was on this hayride something popped out of the woods and scared the bajebbies out of me--(Remember these were the years of Jason and the Halloween movies and such-and i have a very vivid and active imagination...)
in response to having the living crap scared out of me
a foul word went flying.....
It was as if time stopped.....
At that given moment it was so silent at that i could have heard and found that proverbial needle that was dropped in the haystack--never mind the fact that i wanted to crawl into it and never be found myself....
I was mortified!!!
EMBARRASSED....
and if you could have seen my face (thank goodness it was dark) i am sure i would have been a bright shade of red from the embarrassment that i was feeling.!
Honestly, I think i could have passed gas at that moment and been less embarrassed....
My leader said something like--
"I understand your fear but maybe you want to choose a different word next time"
Next time? Are you kidding me? I am never speaking around these people again--I thought to myself. If i could have found a bathroom i would have ran and hid but alas i rode back in silence and then contrary to the start of the night the remainder of the evening turned out to be quite enjoyable. I don't remember much else about that night and i am sure those involved have forgotten my slip of the tongue, but 28 years later, i have not....

Then came high school....
Ahhhh high school---the time where it is cool to swear, at least that is what they think.
Again for the most part i tried not to--and for the most part it is easy when you surround yourself with those of similar beliefs. I will never forget my girlfriend defending my beliefs one day as someone was using some coarse language around us. She said "You can't talk like that around us...Leigh Ann doesn't like that language or use it." Imagine my surprise when my values were being defended by my friends! It does make it easier to defend your values when those around you know what they are....

then i moved.....

At my new high school came a set of new friends and new guys to be interested in...
I found as i was hanging out with this group that they liked to drop the F*bomb--I said something to them which fell upon deaf ears and eventually I just brushed it off. When it initially was being said it really bothered me, it made me cringe, and then i found the more i was around it the less offensive it became....I swore to myself that i would never say that word since it was on my list of highly offensive words--it was a word that had never slipped out of my mouth--until one day--after being surrounded by this language for weeks--IT DID. The minute it came out i remember being shocked that i had actually said it.!
My values had slipped
--I was slipping--
all because of the company that i was keeping....
From that day forward i distanced myself from that group a little at a time...It was not easy but it was the right thing to do for me.....I really did not want to use language like that.

Fast forward 20 years......
(not that i haven't swore in those 20 years--just sometimes it stands out more than others--primarily from my embarrassment for not controlling what i say--since it just slips)

Today found me in a driving simulator--
It is supposed to be a controlled environment allowing you to practice defense or evasive driving. I know it is just pretend--
but at the moment i was driving it became very real....down to the moment i hit the bike rider and was t-boned by a truck.
I didn't mean to....
I was caught up in the moment
and it slipped....
can you say
EMBARRASSED--
like the 12 year old of years gone by
i was with a group of peers and i should have not said it...
but i did
(note: me with me head down in shame)
In all reality if it had been a REAL accident that is probably what i would have said--
so was i simulating my language as well?
One can only hope that is all it was....

I SWEAR.....
or i should say i am trying not to.....

URINE town--my review

Don't you just love the title
the subtle play on words?
Get it--
URINE town....
Your in town--
BRAHHAA HHAAHH

OK, seriously though it did make me laugh.
This is a play that Marcos De Niza is putting on this week and i am here to say;
"if you have a spare moment and an extra $8.00
it is worth it!!!"
I don't often encourage people to attend high school plays
most of the time the only reason i go is in support of someone in it--
and initially that is what got me to this one--
but if i had the chance i would see it again....
it really was that good!
I kept sitting there thinking
"this is really a high school play?"
The set was great
The costumes amazing
and the music super...
they actually had leads that could sing
and the dancing was superb!
Seriously i have seen bad and i have seen good
but this was GREAT!
It is spoof on other musical
and very much tongue in cheek humor--
but the production value is amazing.

I loved the name of the company that ran all the public toilets
they liked to refer to themselves as the U.G.C.
otherwise known as
Urine Good Company
get it
URINE Good Company?
HAHAHAHAHAHA

OK, sorry we all know how i like potty humor....
but seriously take the time and invest in a few hours of laughter...
I guarantee you it will put a smile on your face

ability to be of service

How often do we casually throw out the statement
"If you need anything,

give me a call"
We know that more than likely we won't get called
and we hope if we do--

it will come at a convenient time.
Let's face it--
If we are going to give service

we want it to be convenient.
Service is so much easier given that way...
but that is not how it usually works.

I have been on the receiving end of service
and i did everything in my power
NOT to ask for help.

When i was on bed rest--(not supposed to be doing anything) i had little ones and a home to keep up. I would take the entire day to clean the bathroom. I would sit in the tub and clean it and then lay back down. Then i would do the sink and lay back down....everything was broken down into parts and i would do a part and then rest. I knew i wasn't supposed to be doing any of it--but i couldn't bring myself to ask for help--to impose on someones life.
When my doctor found out what i had done he was UPSET. He knew that there were woman in the church that would be willing to help me--and how dare i deny them that opportunity for blessings...

Asking is one of the hardest things to do--

so i decided that i would (try) to never make someone who was asking feel like an imposition. Today i had that chance...

I have a crazy week. So much to do...not enough time--(unless i give up sleeping.) I am feeling stress (something i don't normally deal with) about everything i need to accomplish. Today was the bulk of time I had to get things done--I had just gotten started on a project that i had a deadline for. I needed to get an upholstery project done before i left town. I was thinking about my girlfriend who needs rides on a weekly basis, but i had not seen the sign up the day before at church. I figured it was a good thing because I DID NOT need one more thing to do this week. I was just getting into a groove when i got a call. My friend (who is not able to drive because of medical reasons)was stranded. Her ride had not shown up to take her to a doctors appointment. I live just around the corner from her and i have told her if that ever happened to call me...and she did. While i was glad that she felt comfortable enough to call I knew what i needed to get done. It wasn't even a moment of thought before i said i would be there in a minute to pick her up. I kept affirming to myself that it would all work out--that i would be blessed. I didn't know how, but i knew I would. It ended up taking more time than i thought it would--my friend needed to talk--and I did not want to rush off. I still wondered how i was going to get everything done that i needed to do this week but i knew it would all work out...

I received a phone call later tonight taking me off the hook. All my stress to get my project done and I was given a reprieve. The woman that i was doing the work for was leaving town earlier than i had projected and there was no way it was going to be done by then. I would have to finish it when i got home from vacation--but it would work out. Even if i had said NO to my friend and had stayed and worked I don't think i would have had it done by the earlier date--so see...everything does work out...we are blessed and i love the fact that i was able to serve.

This scripture keeps coming to my mind

“Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”

---

Matthew 25:40

This was taken from a talk by J. Richard Clark --entitled Love Extends beyond Convenience
A noted columnist, Erma Bombeck, described an experience which reminds us that little things can mean a lot. She recounted a frustrating morning of numerous phone calls and interrupting conversations before leaving for the airport.
And then she said, “[At last] there were thirty whole beautiful minutes before my plane took off—time for me to be alone with my own thoughts, to open a book and let my mind wander. A voice next to me belonging to an elderly woman said, ‘I’ll bet it’s cold in Chicago.’
“Stone-faced, I answered, ‘It’s likely.’
“ ‘I haven’t been to Chicago in nearly three years,’ she persisted. ‘My son lives there.’
“ ‘That’s nice,’ I said, my eyes intent on the printed page of the book.
“ ‘My husband’s body is on this plane. We’ve been married for fifty-three years. I don’t drive, you know, and when he died a nun drove me from the hospital. We aren’t even Catholic. The funeral director let me come to the airport with him.’ ”
Erma said, “I don’t think I have ever detested myself more than I did at that moment. Another human being was screaming to be heard and in desperation had turned to a cold stranger who was more interested in a novel than in the real-life drama at her elbow.
“All she needed was a listener—no advice, wisdom, experience, money, assistance, expertise or even compassion—but just a minute or two to listen. …
“She talked numbly and steadily until we boarded the plane, [and] then found her seat in another section. As I hung up my coat, I heard her plaintive voice say to her seat companion, ‘I’ll bet it’s cold in Chicago.’
“I prayed, ‘Please, God, let her listen.’ ”

(Erma Bombeck, “Are You Listening?” If Life Is a Bowl of Cherries—What Am I Doing in the Pits?, New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1978, pp. 197–98.)
How many times have we observed a benevolent act performed by someone and asked ourselves, “Why didn’t I think of that?” Those who do the deeds we would have liked to do seem to have mastered the art of awareness. They have formed the habit of being sensitive to the needs of others before they think of themselves. How swiftly opportunity slips away, and we are left with another unfulfilled good intention. If only our acts of kindness could equal the righteous desires of our hearts.

Brothers and sisters, what I have tried to illustrate this morning is that if we are to walk in the steps of the Savior, we cannot do it without personal sacrifice and sincere involvement. It is rarely convenient; but love extends beyond convenience for those who have conditioned themselves to look for opportunities to serve. I believe that the Savior was equipped to accomplish His mission not only through His parentage, but because of His thirty years of preparation in developing an awareness of and a sensitivity to the needs of His fellowmen.

“When you want to get the job done,

get the busy man to do it,”

too many things to do
my list of ta do's
outweighs my ability to get things
TA-DONE
I am feeling overwhelmed.
I have deadlines looming...
and my ability to accomplish what i need to do is in direct relation to the time i have available-which is limited. If only i didn't have to work then maybe i could finish those things on my list that i need to accomplish before we leave on vacation....

The list contains those things i need to do
and those things i want to do
maybe if i gave up sleeping?.....