Felt Prayers

I don't know that I have ever really 'felt' the effects of prayers being offered in my behalf. At least not until the past 24 hours.

A nasty rumor was started and spread, and originated with something that I said that was taken out of context. While I don't make it a habit of talking smack about people, especially smack that could ruin a reputation, this week sure hasn't proved that to be true if you don't know me.

It is true that gossip can feel like a double-edged sword that pierces your heart. I have felt that this week. I don't suppose I have ever felt such a darkness surround me. Even though I have met with all parties involved, there are still some that believe that I am a person of no worth. It's amazing.

I have actually 'felt' the prayers that have been offered by friends in my behalf. Peace is beginning to return to my existence. A couple of days ago, I didn't even know that this day would even come.

Well, that's dumb

Today Ryan came home from school with MANY questions about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

One question he asked was if we caught the terrorists. I explained to him that they were the pilots of the planes that hit the Twin Towers.

He promptly replied, "Well, that's dumb. Those terrorists are dumb."

Yes, they are my fine son. Yes, they are.

Forwards

Can I just tell you how bad I hate Forwards?

What are forwards you ask? - Let me tell you....

They are e-mails that get sent from heaven knows who that I really don't want to read. Many people don't know who the heck they are even sending them too, just their address book that they have acquired.

Most people don't clean up the e-mail before they hit the 'Forward' button, thus giving me a 10 page e-mail with the world's e-mail addresses in it. I hate them. If you are sending them to me...DON'T!

If the e-mail is funny enough, do the courtesy of copying it and pasting it into a new e-mail and send it directly to me.

I am now on an e-mail list that I'd rather not be on and I get multiples of the SAME E-MAIL from different people on that list.

I don't care about politics and I don't think the world is ending tomorrow either.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

The End

I KNOW WHO IT IS

Yesterday our bishop announced in sacrament meeting that we needed to come to church next week to sustain a new bishopric. Huh - they don't usually announce such things....oh well....

With the release of our bishop, I thought it appropriate that we have our bishop come into primary during the last hour to present him with some art work that some of the children had done. We were talking about things we are thankful for, building a "Thankful tree" with beautiful, colorful leaves. We invited our bishop to tell us things he was thankful for in Japanese. He served his mission there.

We had a very sweet spirit in the room. At the end of the hour, we invited the bishop back up and we sang a song to him. I offered to have him give the last words to the children. He told them of things that he learned while being a bishop.

Then it happened.

A little 8-year old boy on the front row raised his hand, and with a smile firmly stated "I know who the next bishop is!"

He turned back to look at his mom with that same smile on his face and....the smile was not returned....

Hmmm, I think I might know who it is :).

One Down...

Well, we did it! The Primary Program is finally over WOO HOO! While the stress of of the whole thing could have been done without, I don't suppose I have ever been to a primary program that I liked so much. The kids were amazing, they sang as they should have and nothing like the practices. All kids were in line for the parts, much better than anticipated. Nobody fell back on their chairs causing blood blisters, and my daughter sang like an angel.

One of the kids that had a solo part came down with strep throat and Sydney really wanted a part in the program, so we asked her if she would be willing to step in and sing for him. She willingly did so.

5 years old.

Solo part in front of a couple hundred people.

Priceless.

Of course this doesn't compare to my cousin who sang the Star Spangled Banner in front of thousands at a Diamond Backs game when she was the mere age of 3.

Not the point.

I surrounded myself with angels yesterday. They ranged from ages 3 to 11 going on 12. I generally don't do well with the noise. I like reverence. They are all reverent for me. Not so much for others, but for me they are.

In a season of giving thanks I am ever so thankful for these angels, even in the midst of their noise.

You're a BH for doing that

Today I helped Brett and his dad put some fertilizer in our garden spots. I didn't do too much work, but one of my tasks was to put a bag of steer manure on one of our garden spots. I opened up the bag and started pouring it in the correct spots. I got the 'crap' all over my hands. I HATE having my hands dirty. When I looked up and Brett's dad was smiling at me.

I could just read his mind....ha ha ha, Deni has crap on her hands....

Okay, so he probably wasn't thinking that, but it felt as if he was thinking it. This took my thoughts back to an experience I had when living in Springville.

We were remodeling our kitchen and our good friend Jake Woodland was helping us with the electrical work. Jake's hands cannot feel the electric current like most people feel it so he had me do an experiment. He had me touch the two 'live' wires together. Nothing happened, so I thought - Hey, I must be like Jake. Then he had me lick my fingers....go ahead...laugh now - and you guessed it...it shocked the crap out of me!

Jake, you're a BH for doing that!

If you need to know what BH stands for, ask Ryan...he knows.

In My Defense

Since Brett doesn't allow comments on his blog, I have to post a rebuttal to his latest post

I WAS IN THE BATHROOM!!!!

Answered prayers--or lack of

I'm not sure how this is supposed to make me feel, but my kids are always praying that I can clean the whole house, just like their friends' mom. It is a daily occurrence around here for at least one of the kids to say that in their prayers.

I digress, I am not the best housewife. I hate laundry, I hate cleaning the dinner dishes, after all, I slaved away making dinner - I'm tired when I finish eating. There always papers stacked from Hell to Breakfast, and heaven forbid if anyone put their stuff away.

I think I might start praying that the kids help a little better. That'll teach 'em.

Projects

It's not often that I get to do a project that I really like, but making rag quilts does something for my psyche. Even though nothing is cheap anymore, I wanted to do something special for my secretary, who just had twins. So, here are the final products.

FUN!

New Dress

The Children's Place recently had a sale on some clothing so I bought Sydney a new dress. She was in desperate need of one and this was like $5, not too bad--Can't even buy fabric for that anymore.

Here she is. Isn't she pretty.

Halloween Fun

This year for Halloween Ryan wanted to be a pirate. We got his hat/wig at his birthday party at Boondocks, so we just needed to get a costume to go with it. We ordered a costume and the package arrived safe and sound on Thursday afternoon. I let Sydney open it, and SURPRISE - there wasn't a costume. Just a package full of Baby Einstein puppets. So, I went to work sewing a costume.

I will probably tack the boot covers to the actual pants. They don't stay up on Ryan's stick legs. He was pleased with his costume, after a night of drama and sadness. He let everyone know it was 'hand made' too.

Thanks to my mom for making a billion costumes for us when we were young. That is where the black coat came from. Who knew that George Washington was once a pirate?

Sydney was Giselle from Enchanted (Thanks Uncle Ben for help with that). She also wore some Cinderella slippers that lit up when she walked. It was great for trick or treating because we could see her up ahead.

A Lesson in Fast Offering

This morning we were filling out our Fast Offering check and Ryan was in the room. He expressed the desire to pay Fast Offerings, so we told him he was welcome to do that. He said "Great!" Then he proceeded to grab MY checkbook and look for a pen. I said, "Uh, are you going to write a check out of my checking account?" He said, "OH, does this come out of your account?"

Umm...yes, it does.