Passion for Reading

I love to read. I have always wanted to read anything I can get my hands on. I have spent a lot of time reading some great novels in the last few months along with my usual psychology books and have loved it. There is so much gained from reading a book from different places and time periods about people in all walks of life. I realize that often I spend way too much time reading stuff that doesn't create the magic that a good book can offer. So.... I took the facebook app off of my phone and will instead log on to my kindle app and all the wonderful books that I can read when I have that spare moment to read because that kind of reading is so delicious!

August Flew By

What a great month I had. It was so eventful that I didn't have time to post each day like I had planned to.

I finally did something I have always wanted to do. Since both of our husbands were out of town, Taylee and I packed our bags and headed to the airport and just asked the person at the desk where we could fly using our miles for just a couple of days. She suggested Newport Beach (which coincidentally we both wanted to go) and off we went on the next flight out. We had a grand time.

We came home late one night and I had to quickly unpack, do some washing, and repack for an early flight out to Seattle with Kev the next morning. I love to travel and so that little bit of late night "chore" was really my dream come true--unpacking and repacking all at once!

Kev and I had a glorious time in a quaint little cabin on the coast of Washington. We had the unique opportunity of learning from a doctor who is an adjunct professor at UofU medical school and oversees research on brain functioning and well-being. It was an enlightening and life-changing experience. Something I am going to learn more about and hopefully teach others.

We arrived home just a couple of hours before our 40th high school reunion (UGH, that is painful to write let alone publicly admit!) Unfortunately I didn't have time for some botox treatments and so I had to go looking as old as I am. Luckily I was able to leave my walker home and navigate without it for a couple of hours. Seriously, it was great seeing old classmates. Hard to believe it has been that long.

The next couple of weeks were filled with several one-day trips to Park City with friends and a weekend getaway with just Kev and I to Island Park. The month ended with a bang because on my birthday, we sailed away on a cruise to Alaska with my Mom and siblings and spouses. It was a spectacular journey filled with a lot of laughter and great walks down memory lane with my family.

I am now in love with August, and with any month for that matter because now I know everything is what I make it. If it is to be, it is up to me.  I now know that nothing can make me happy. I have to create it my own happiness. I just made August a happy month.  

Great Teachers Series-Marvin J. Ashton

I happened to run across a blog that listed the author's 12 talks that changed her life. It inspired me to compile a list of my own. I know that a talk is meant for me when it pricks my soul and creates the pain of guilt but then inspires me to be and do better. You know that reading inspiring work can be traumatic to the soul.  If not for the healing power of repentance and the Atonement, I would have to avoid reading inspiring talks because I am so full of imperfection that it would just be too brutalizing and I would just have to spend my day eating chocolate.

This talk pricked my soul many years ago. It was given by this sweet man, Marvin J. Ashton and was entitled, "The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword." This is a talk that I need to read often as a reminder of the kind of charity I want to possess and demonstrate. I am grateful this morning that I had this reminder. It is way too easy to forget.

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/05/the-tongue-can-be-a-sharp-sword?lang=eng&query=

Serve it up

A few days before I set my intention to have a fabulous August, I had announced to my kids not to expect me to cook for the entire month because I probably wouldn't feel like it due to my hate relationship with the month of August. I would be on strike and enjoying my depression.

How good it felt with my happy new mind set to set out this spread for a Saturday brunch prior to hitting the pool. I really believe that presentation is everything. Not only for those that get to enjoy the feast, but it became more rewarding for me to make it wonderfully beautiful and inviting. I'm hungry for it all over again just looking at the picture.

We also had such a blast swimming. I stayed in the pool almost the whole time swimming around and treading water and even diving off the board a few times. With my new determination to enjoy the heat of the summer, it is certainly a blessing to have a pool, and especially to have a new pool maintenance service owned by Gabe Garn and Matt Read. Before they started taking care of it and fixing some major problems this last week, it was green most of the time and only inviting to a couple of ducks who took it over. Thank you guys (Matt and Gabe, not the ducks)!

It is so fun to have my family gather. I know I am an engaging personality and all but I realize that if I had gone the whole month without providing some sort of nourishment, they wouldn't have been motivated to come. Of course, I would have then had more reason to continuing hating August. Life can be a vicious cycle in that way.

Great Teachers Series-Stephen R. Covey

I read The 7 Habits of High Effective People in 1991. I had just had my sixth and last baby. It changed my life. From then on I made a commitment to Sharpen the Saw every day by doing something that helps me feel my best physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. When I start the day exercising, reading scriptures, writing and especially reflecting on what I am learning and grateful for; then I have a better day. No more excuses; even when it isn't my favorite month. But really; especially so.

The First Day of a New Mind Set

I am a believer in just changing a mind set to change an experience.
What a fabulous day. So far, so good. Instead of running around sprinklers on my early morning run, I ran through them. I took a pilgrimage up to my birth place, Brigham City, and attended the temple taking the very last spot in the session; and then spent some time in the cemetery visiting my Dad's and my grandparents' graves. As I ran my hand over their names honoring them, I was overcome with emotional gratitude for all that they did for me.

I stopped at one of my favorite places to eat and had shrimp steak while reading a book authored by one of our girls from the young married ward we were privileged to serve in. Maddox was always the place our family would go when visiting relatives so it is a nostalgic place for me. I avoided the rolls and honey butter because I figure if I am going to have a fabulous month, I have to eat healthy. I keep wanting to believe that eating the sweet stuff is being good to myself, but it really doesn't have long term benefits. Dang it. I am looking forward to heaven because that has to be our reward, right?

Driving back home, it started to rain. Now talk about a tender mercy. I guess someone who plans the weather reads my blog. I won't bore you with more details of my day but suffice it to say, it was a good one from morning until night time.  If I set the intention; it will happen.

Least Favorite Month of the Year

August is my least favorite month of the year because it is hot, rarely rains (I do love the rain), and by then I am ready to be back in school, get organized, and have structure again. I crave structure. I am a organized nerd and proud of it.

I also think my dislike for the hot month of August started when I was in my Mother's womb. I was born two weeks late on August 31, and I imagine my Mom was desperately miserable through the entire month, and I was right there suffering along with her and been suffering through August ever since. Not to mention that somewhere in my life I lost a natural zest for spontaneity and fun and staring taking life way too seriously.

Now on the eve of the first day of August of 2013, I want to change my mind set. I am setting the intention of having the most wonderful month ever. It is going to be the most spontaneous and joyful August ever and I am committing to blogging everyday this entire month recording the new shift I am making. Don't expect anything really grand because I really don't have to do much to improve my experience. I just got through cleaning my washing machine, and something tells me that there is a lot more spontaneous fun to be had than that.