A Wild Hair

Last night as I was getting ready to leave for a RS presidency meeting, Dave was rounding up the kids to take them "shopping." He said something about going to Best Buy. Sometimes he does that...takes the kids to Best Buy to play the video games. When I arrived home, I discovered that we are now the proud owners of a PlayStation 3 and Madden 11 football. I'm chalking this impulse buy up to his "almost 40" status--he'll be 40 in 3 weeks. Glad it was only a PlayStation, but I'm sure the new TV will be coming shortly.

A Change in Perspective

What do you see when you look at a dandelion? Do you see it as most adults...a weed that is the very bane of our existence? Do you spend all spring and summer grumbling as you try tirelessly to extinguish the dandelion's life?

Or do you see the dandelion from a child's perspective...one of the most beautiful flowers around? A flower that you can't wait to gather handfuls of to proudly bring home to your mother to show how much you love her. Do you see it as a magic puffball full of wishes just waiting to be released by one full-cheeked blow?

Up until last week, I viewed the dandelion as most adults do. That is until I was watching a video called Celebrate What's Right with the World. The video is narrated by a photographer from National Geographic. One of the clips he talks about was his photographing a field of dandelions. He talked about how during his photo shoot, he was thinking that he shouldn't even be wasting his time. That the pictures of dandelions wouldn't be that fascinating. And then he got the shot. It was spectacular. It caught the puffball and the sunlight just right. In that instant, as he was describing his photo, I realized that even dandelions have worth. I just have to change my perspective.

I wish that I had had this metaphor in my head as I offered up my challenge to my 6th grade advisory students. The imagery might have helped them live up to the challenge. My challenge to them was to put the word of the month, RESPECT, in to action by showing respect to someone that they don't particularly like or get along with. To do so will require them to change their perspective and realize that everyone is of worth. I'm looking forward to meeting with them tomorrow to see how the week went and if they gave my challenge a try.

It Started Bad, But Then It Got Better

I felt a little like Eeyore this morning. I was still in the funk from getting annoyed at church yesterday. I know I shouldn't get annoyed at church, but I did. I really wanted to type up the whole scenario of why I was annoyed, but every time I have started to type, the sentences don't come out right. I'm taking that as a sign that I shouldn't give any more details.

So, I was gloomy and grumpy this morning. And I felt a little spiritually empty--probably because I got annoyed at church. During my 20 minutes of quiet, I read my scriptures and then I prayed. I prayed that somehow today I would feel that connection to my Heavenly Father. That there would be some way He would communicate with me that I'm doing okay and He knows my needs. Probably one of the more selfish prayers I have uttered in awhile with the exception of the part when I repented of feeling annoyed at church and asked to be forgiven for my negative feelings.

Then it was time to go to work. Going to my first school of the day was difficult because I really didn't want to be there. To me, the atmosphere of that building was just as gloomy as I felt. But the time there was quickly spent and it was on to another building.

As I was putting things into my car, it happened. Heavenly Father let me know that I was someone and that He hears my prayers. The event was small and insignificant and some would even question if it really was an answer. But I know it was an answer to a prayer uttered a week or so ago. A prayer that I really hadn't been thinking much about. It was a prayer about a missing running glove. A glove that I had turned the house and car upside down looking for. There, in the space between the passenger seat and door, kind-of tucked under the seat, was my glove. That glove was just what I needed to feel that connection to my Heavenly Father again.

After that, the day just got brighter and I felt the gloomy funk lift. What a blessing to have a Heavenly Father who loves us.

20 Minutes

I found it. I wasn't even looking for it. Matter of fact, it took me a couple of days to notice it. But last Friday I discovered that I have 20 minutes of absolute peace and quiet between the time the kids are out the door to school and I need to be out the door to work. It is absolute stillness. I love it. I gives me time to read my scriptures, say an uninterrupted prayer, and plan for the day. Pure joy.

Props to WalMart

A few years ago, our family made the decision to pay cash for almost everything. About the only thing we put on a credit card is gas for the cars. We have a little envelope system that keeps each catagories cash. We have an envelope for clothes, haircuts, groceries, and miscellaneous expenses. Once the envelope for the month is empty, no more buying. And no robbing one envelope to pay the other. When we made the switch, I really started paying attention to how much we were paying for groceries. I also started cutting coupons (but I never really got into the couponing craze). I also did a lot of comparison shopping and found that WalMart just couldn't be beat. I know that there are many people out there who refuse to go to WalMart and some even have criticized me for shopping there. But it works for us. Shopping there allows me to feed our family and the dog--the grocery budget is used for people food, hot lunches @ school, and dog food. So I was sad when, a year ago (or has it been 2?), I finally made the decision to go "wheat free". I was sad for the obvious reason of having to give up all that is yummy and delicious, but also because WalMart didn't carry any gluten-free products. That meant I had to shop other stores and spend more money to accommodate my new dietary restrictions. Well I almost did a little happy dance right in the middle of the WalMart aisle on Saturday BECAUSE they have started carrying gluten-free products! And they are cheaper then at the other stores. Granted, it is still a limited selection, but it's progress. So thanks WalMart for rolling with the times and improving your gluten-free offerings. Now, would you please bring back Cinnamon Life? My boy is really missing it and it's way more expensive at the other stores.

Whew, We Made It

(And yes, the brother is taller than the sister even though she is slouching)

We made it through the first week of school!

Katelyn was so happy. She was glad to be back in the groove of hanging out with friends. And she couldn't stop saying "I'm finally an upperclassman." She also really likes being able to drive to school each day.

Carson, while he will never admit it, was a little nervous the first day of school. The only reason I believe this to be true is because he could not eat breakfast that first morning. Let me tell you, right now, the boy is eating us out of house and home so for him to not want to eat breakfast was a good indicator that he might be a little nervous. And really,who wouldn't be going in as a freshman in a school with almost 2000 students? He was glad to see his friends in most of his classes. And he managed to figure out how to catch the bus after missing it the first time.

I wish that I had survived as well as these two. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I was a zombie by 9:00 p.m. David was not too happy about that and told me on more than one occassion, "You get up too early." Well, excuse me buddy, but it's going to take me a couple of days to work back into working full-time and still having wife/mom stuff to do when I come home--like cooking dinner, grocery shopping, getting last-minute school supplies, laundry, etc. Fortunately, by Friday, I could feel my body re-adjusting and next week should be better.