a year of happy

playing grandma

.
.

I got to play grandma
the other day
while "J" was working.

I love it.


 


I love that
this little guy
recognizes me and
is excited to see me.

I love it when
he falls asleep in my arms.

I love the smell
of his baby soft skin.

And I love
taking pictures of him.






No matter
that I consistently
lop off the top of his head.

That's because
every time I get out my camera,
he races over to
chew on the strap!






I'm just not quick enough
on the draw.


Too bad.
I'll just have to keep practicing!

ten things i've learned about change

Earlier this month,
I wrote about a few experiences
that I call life changing.

That has been
an interesting experience.
It's made me think deeply
about my life,
about difficult times,
and ways I'm different
because of what I've been through.

It has also caused me to
reflect on the
whole concept of change...

...and the things
I've learned from change
and because of change.

If you'd like to read
my Life Changing Moments series,
here are the links:

Life Changing 

An Open Heart Experiment

I Heard it on the Radio

New Normal

My Brother's Keeper

I thought it might be good
to put my thoughts about change into words.
So here are my conclusions:

10 Things I've Learned About Change

1. Learn to look forward, not back. Be open to new experiences and new opportunities.
   .
2. Take charge. Instead of fighting change, create a new normal...one you choose to create.
   .
3. Some change comes because we decide we want to be different. Other changes are thrust upon us because of life's experiences. Be ready for both.
   .
4. If you are trying to make specific changes, decide what the changes are and how to measure your progress. Then acknowledge that progress with a big high five!
   .
5. Learn to be content and happy wherever you are.
   .
6. Make changes because they are right, not because someone thinks you should. But at the same time, learn to listen. Great advice can come from unexpected places.
   .
7. Prepare yourself for change. If you see a new time of life ahead, find ways to welcome and embrace it.
   .
8. Find the story in it. Write it down. Figure out what you are learning and how you are growing from the whole experience.
   .
9. Be willing to share your experiences and what you've learned with others.
   .
10. No experience is ever wasted. Life's experiences create us and mold us into who we will become. And we are always becoming.
    
    .

What have your
life's experiences
taught you about change?

if i had one wish

.

If I had one wish today,

I'd wish I was here.
.




Hiking on these lava rocks.....






To get to this bay....






To snorkel in these
crystal clear waters.






Oh,
and I'd wish
I had under-water photos,
so you could see
the hundreds of tropical fish
dancing among the coral reefs,

with me....






Yup.
If I had one wish,
that's where I'd be!





Hangin' Loose at La Perouse!




.
If you had
one wish
today,
what would it be?

the busy biddy

If it's somebody's birthday,
if my sister is in town,
if the girls want to go shopping.....

we always go see Janet
at The Busy Biddy!

Janet has turned
this little house in Orem
into the cutest shop
of gifts and home decor!

.

.
Why do we like
The Busy Biddy so much?
.

.
It might be
because of all the
cute holiday decor
Janet always has in store.
.

.
Maybe it's because
she always has
clothes that are
to die for.
.





(Look at these cute aprons!)

.
Maybe it's the jewelry
and darling accessories...
like this purse!
.




.
And these pins!
.

.
And these bracelets!

(Just click on the photos
to see all the cuteness up close...)
.





.
But I think the main reason
we like The Busy Biddy
so much is because of
Janet herself!
.




Janet is always smiling.
She's always positive.
And she always
makes you happy.

Really....
she makes
The Busy Biddy
the place to be!





.
This is what
I'm giving my mom
for her birthday.

It's Busy Biddy bling....
and I can hardly wait!
.
.

facebook: a teenager's virtual playground

I sat down with
my seventeen-year-old son
the other night
to make this week's
Wednesday list.

He has been telling me
about all the groups
on Facebook
that teenagers love.

These groups have
hundreds and thousands of fans.
And the biggest reason is
that they are so hilarious!

"A" helped me
make a list of these groups
so that I could share them with you.


List 2: Facebook Groups that Crack Me Up

1. I redo high fives if they weren't good enough the first time.
   2,597,383 fans
   .
2. Walking the wrong way on escalators.
   939,925 fans
   .
3. Flipping the pillow over to get the cold side.
   3,415,345 fans
   .
4. I hate that Sunday night "school the next day" feeling.
   1,474,034 fans
   .
5. My room is not messy, it's just an obstacle course designed to keep me fit.
   41,951 fans
   .
6. I wish music played during epic moments of my life and not just in movies.
   2,195,231 fans
   .
7. Don't complain about grading 150 essays over the weekend, you assigned it.
   16,535 fans
   .
8. Trying not to answer your parents with sarcasm when they ask dumb questions.
   5,190 fans
   .
9. It's funny how sitting boy girl boy girl used to be a punishment.
   697 fans
   .
10. I eat too many chips at Mexican restaurants and get full before my food comes.
    13,292 fans
    
    
    
    Are you making a list today?
    
    Leave a link
    in the comments
    so we can check it out!
    
    
    
    
    

have you read this one?

the orphanage

two wrongs never made one right

angels have debit cards

how to be happy in february ...even after valentine's day

.
Looking for good in February
is a little bit easier than January.
At least it is for me.

The pressure of
new resolutions is off.
Spring is just around the corner.
And Valentine's Day
gives you something
to look forward to.

But what about
after Valentine's Day?

Do you find
that after day fourteen 
it's a bit of a let-down?

Here are some things
I've tried this February
to help me get happy...
and they seem to be working!


Look for something green.
.




.
Learn something new.
.





.
Eat something summery.
.




.
Think of something positive.
.

.
.

What are you doing
this February
to get happy?

Let's make a list!

click here and smile

Isn't it great
how the internet works?

You find something good,
and tell a few friends.
They like it too,
and tell a few more.

And pretty soon,
everybody's clicking
on that one good link
that made you smile.

That's how I found
the t.ruffle girls.

I heard about them from Beth,
and she found them
through Relyn.

And now I'm telling you.

You need to check out
the t.ruffle girls.

Each morning,
the one who loves ruffles
posts a dazzling, delicious photo.

And later in the day,
the one who loves turquoise
stops by to leave a note
with the juiciest words
to complete the day's post.

It's so much fun,
and really creative.
You just can't imagine
what will come next.

Check it out.
Just click here....and here.....
and here.....
and smile!


Photo from the t.ruffle girls.

a snowy mountain road

There was a road, 
a mountain road
in a winter canyon
leading to a cabin
where a little fire was burning.

And on that road
there were some cars,
some happy cars
filled with laughing girls
heading to that cabin
where a little fire was burning.

And on that mountain
it started to snow.
A heavy snow,
a blinding snow
on slushy roads
which now were really slippery.

And in those cars,
there were some leaders,
some worried leaders
and some quiet girls
who all were now not laughing.

And in those cars,
those worried leaders
saw other cars
slide off that road
where they now too were slipping.

So on that mountain,
those anxious leaders,
turned their sliding cars
with their frightened girls
away from that cabin
where the little fire was burning.

And down the mountain
those sliding cars
with their frightened girls
inched toward their homes
where worried parents were waiting.

But two of those cars,
those sliding cars
got stuck on the ice,
that black black ice,
where no one now was moving.

And near that road,
that slippery road,
there was a river,
in a rocky ravine
toward which those cars were veering.

Then in those cars,
a frightened girl,
a faithful girl
said to her crying friends,
"Now we must start praying."

So on that mountain,
good praying girls
asked their God in heaven,
to keep them safe
on this road where it was snowing.

When to the car 
there came a man,
a kind-hearted man,
who called to the leaders,
"Is there a way I can be helping?"

And so that man,
he took those girls,
those frightened girls
into his van
and down the mountain went driving.

And more kind men,
in their big big trucks,
drove more crying girls
to meet their friends
who now were safely waiting.

So now at home
those grateful girls
with their thankful leaders
are once more safe,
and everyone now is laughing!

Thank you men,
you kind, kind men,
who stopped to help
some frightened girls
on a mountain road
where it was really snowing!
.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/psd/ / CC BY 2.0

(Mountain photo courtesy of MC.)

some of the best yet

I was talking
with a lady today
who was upset.

She feels like
the youth of today
have lost their manners.

She was quite opinionated
about how they have become
rude, and self-centered,
and disrespectful.

I have to disagree.
.



 


As a youth leader
for the teenage girls
ages 12-13 in my Church group,
I have to say that they are
some of the best yet.

They are good and kind
and aware of the
needs of the girls around them.

One of our girls
just lost her mother to cancer.
It's been a hard thing
for a long time.
But the other girls in our group
have rallied around her
and made her feel loved.

And then there's one of
the older girls, who 
was in a gas station
with her mom one day.
Her mom gave her
some money to go inside
and buy some candy.

As she was waiting in line,
she noticed that a
handicapped young man
ahead of her was very upset
because he didn't have
enough money
to pay for his items.

This girl put her candy back,
and stepped up 
to give her money to him.
She just said it made her
feel really good inside.

______________

I know this world
has its challenges.

And there are lots
of troubled teens who
show their angst
in desperate behavior.

I've seen that too.

But I choose to believe
that there are many more
good kids than bad,
and these wonderful young people 
are going to grow up
to really make a difference!

_______________________

I hope you'll take a minute
to watch this video.
I don't know the girls in it,
but I'm so impressed.

Take a look, and you'll see what I mean!