Saturday, November 17, 2012

Taking a chance

Taking a chance is so easy to think about.
The application of this, is something quite different.
So many situations put us in a position were we should apply this ideal.
Many times, for me, hiding behind my fears and insecurities is so much easier.

Missionary work, for example.
In my faith, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,
we believe that every member is a missionary,
that we all have a responsibility to open our mouths and share what we believe.
Me, my worries of saying the wrong thing, stop me from sharing my thoughts and beliefs.
It is one of my greatest weaknesses, but this weakness has been made stronger
as I have taken a chance in other aspects of my life.

I wonder where I would be today
if I had not taken a chance and gone out with a young man
that seemed so much my opposite.
If I had not taken a chance and seen him again.
After all doesn’t everyone deserve a 2nd date?
Firsts seem to be so wrapped up in insecurities and first, and likely wrong, impressions
If I hadn’t taken a chance and married that man.
By taking that chance, 25 years later, I find that we are the best of friends and
we have so much more in common than I ever believed…we grew that way.
He has made me stronger and braver.
He secures me and anchors me.

I can’t even imagine how empty my life would be
if I had not taken a chance when we had our first child.
If I had not taken a chance and had another.
I have gained so much by taking those chances.
I have learned to love unconditionally, and most of all
I have learned that I am loved unconditionally by my Savior
as He has blessed me and sustained me as a mother.
My weaknesses have been  tested and strengthened,
my talents have been nourished.
My life became full.

I have learned, that when we take a chance
and do what our Heavenly Father has asked us to do,
(sometimes that is the most difficult and seemingly wrong thing
to do, simply because it may not be what WE want to do)
we are blessed beyond our greatest dreams.

We simply must have FAITH…. and take the chance.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

10 Wishes

I wish
I was 10 pounds lighter.

I wish
I was fitter.
(More committed time at the gym should solve both!)

I wish
I had the awesome writing skills of my daughter, Kylee

I wish
I had the undeniable faith of my daughter, Taylor.

I wish
I had the social skills of my husband.
(25 years of wedded bliss!)

I wish
I had a cleaner, less cluttered house.

I wish
I had a complete and accurate pedigree chart.

I wish
I excelled at one of my hobbies (photography or cooking)
so much so that I could make a career out of it.

I wish
The dirty dishes would clean themselves.

I wish
It would never snow after Christmas.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Two

Two days, two daughters

Day 1

Friday.
I left straight from work.
Three and a half hours later I was in Rexburg,
replacing a broken crockpot and putting new plates on a car.
I could have done this via mail, but hand delivery was so much better
then anything the post office could have done.

I spent the night with my youngest daughter.

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After a lazy morning, I hit the road and headed home.
I had another date.

528541_4959549190490_1105015021_n(Thanks Kylee for the photo!)

Kylee and I were the recipients of a pair of VIP tickets for the General Relief Society Broadcast.
Being in our seats by 5:.30, is the usual requirement, but being in our seats by 4:30 was richly rewarded.
As we were people watching – we caught a glimpse of some of our favorites.
Spying on President Uchtdorf as he interacted with the sisters,
especially his darling wife was the highlight of the night.

Other favorite TWOS…

TWO and a half decades of marriage to my best friend.
TWO quarter centuries old will soon be that man of mine.