Tuesday, November 4th

Well, its election day. After the High School run I stopped by the library to vote. Its been a really long two years of campaigning. At first it was all good. "This is what I will do." Then it turned to "This is what he/she did" I finally decided to stop listening to what they claimed and looked up their personal voting records. Hmmmmm.......There truly is much at stake across our nation. Decisions that will be made by individuals like you and me.

I believe that America is still the promised land, but America is the sum total of all of her inhabitants. My father was extremely patriotic. He served in the Marines in WWII and I think that changed him forever. He never missed voting in an election. He said even if the choices are "bad and worse" we still have a responsibility to exercise our privledge and responsibility to vote.

Sometimes I think, What difference will my vote really make? But its just like everything else; its all in the attitude. What we think effects how we feel and ultimately what we do. If you haven't voted yet, please go vote. If you don't care for either of the choices, vote for the candidate that most represents your core beliefs. Google the candidate's voting records; it takes five minutes. Your children's tomorrow will be greately influenced by your today.

Happy Birthday Heber!

Its hard to believe that twelve years have gone by so rapidly; my baby is about to receive the Priesthood. Today Heber and I spent the day together--we went 'window shopping' (he asked me if I knew what that meant!), got a smoothie, had his picture taken and found a great deal on some heeleys that he just had to have. I suppose this might be the last birthday that he wants to hang out with Mom at the mall....

What a blessing Hebs had been in our lives. He is a miracle who joined our family at a very difficult time. He provided a wonderful diversion and kept us all busy with something other than the norm. How grateful we will always be for him and the miracle of his arrival.

Heber you are brighter than all of us put together; you have an amazing sense of humor, a love of creating things, you are sensitive and loving. You are a friend to everyone. You have made some of the most incredible lego things imaginable. You are a great addition to your soccer team and a phenominal uncle. We are blessed to have you as an integral part of our family. Happy Birthday Heber--Mommie wuves her witto baby.

Happy Birthday Josh!!

Happy Birthday to my firstborn son....Though you never look at blogs; this is for you anyway. You came into this world after three sisters. They dressed you, corrected you, mothered you and taught you by experience about the female gender. At some point in your life I am sure you will be grateful.

I learned about mothering boys on you. Let me just say, "I'm so sorry." I didn't know that it was normal for boys to dump out lotions, powders, perfumes, etc. I didn't know it was normal for boys to sit down with a dozen eggs and break them to see exactly how much force it took. I didn't know it was normal for boys to smash electronics to see what made them work inside. And finally, I didn't know that nine or ten year old boys are allergic to bathwater, clean clothes and shoes. Thank you for teaching me though I apologize for my strong resistance in many cases.

I love your balance between individuality and the need for family. I love your testimony and love for the Savior. I love to watch you with your neices and nephews. I love to hear you ask your brother to attend a BYU game with you and know you mean it. I love that your littlest brother wants to be just like you right down to the AE polos with the popped collar. I love to watch you seek out friends who need someone to care about them. I love to listen to you argue points that you know are absolutely a farse but you love the sparing. I love to watch you study.

Most of all--I love to watch you become just like your Dad; to stand like him, to sit like him to speak like him to pray like him. I love to watch you, because I know the world will always be a better place because of you. I love you son; I will always love you--Happy Birthday and once again, thanks for letting me learn on you. You have taught me over and over again.

Just Go With The Current

This morning I went a different route on my walk. I went off the main roads and walked the Parkway. I need the music of my ipod to keep my walking. Ususally I listen to the tune and I speed up or slow down depending on what the beat of the particular song is. Today, I listened to the words and there were some messages that I needed to hear. (Thanks Kara--my personal electronic consultant)

I always enjoy the sunshine, the fresh air and the massive mountains as I am walking, but today I was impressed to stop on the bridge over the river. I stood and watched the water flow past--around the rocks and deadwood in the river's path. Then I turned and looked the other direction. Floating in the river were a pair of ducks. I first, of course, noticed the beautiful color of the male mallard as he swam gracefully, in one direction, downstream by the edge of the river. Then I noticed the female. She was a rather blah color of brown but she definitely had her own beauty. In contrast to the male, she was right in the middle of the river where the current was the fastest and the roughest. As I watched I thought, "there is something wrong with that duck." She was bobbing up and down with the deep ripples of the river and she was doing 360's in the water! But the longer I watched I saw her spinning and moving with the water. It was quite a ride she was having. Both she and the male reached the bend in the river and disappeared around the wide curve as I stood and watched.

It was then that it hit me. She wasn't fighting against the bumps and dips in the water and she didn't go headfirst to the bend. For onlookers it might have even appeared that she had no direction--at first I even thought there was something wrong with her. She let the flow of the river carry her along.

Then as I walked up the steep hill, I stopped again (not something I hardly ever do when I walk) and I looked out over the valley. The beautiful changing leaves were really breathtaking. There were all colors ranging from vibrant green to deep red. As I looked more closely I notice that none of the trees were changing colors at the same time. There were identical trees standing right next to each other but their leaves were different colors. They shared the same soil, the same sunshine, the same mountain air, but their timing for changing was different.

Eventually, most will lose their leaves as the wind becomes colder and the snow begins to fall. Some will even hang on to their lifeless leaves throughout the winter and they will drop in the spring, but one thing is for sure. Every single tree will sprout fresh leaf buds in the spring regarless of when they lost their leaves and the process will begin again with each individual tree, standing next to the others, blooming, thriving and changing at their own pace.

Oh the beautiful lessons in nature. I have been so frustrated for the past couple of weeks because it seems that my "leaves are not changing fast enough" and because I have felt that "I am caught in the deep dips of a current that I just can't seem to get out of. I have been impatient with my body and have continued to seek comparisons to figure out when I would get better. Today I realized that I need to just go with the current, 360's and all and enjoy this and every season of my life. The leaves will change and spring will inevitably come again. Its my blessing to chose joy in the journey.

Usless Answers X Three!

3 Favorite Last Purchases
Pink purse-- Jeans-- New perfume

3 Favorite Movies
Somewhere in Time-- The Christmas Story-- Anything with Richard Gere!

3 Things I haven't done yet
Died (thank goodness)-- Gone on a cruise-- Prepared for a trip without being a grouch or throwing at least one fit

3 Things I cannot live without
Showers-- Toilet Paper-- Family-- Scriptures (yes, I can count, I just need all these)

3 Favorite Foods
Chicken Picatta-- Olive Garden Salad-- Chocolate Opitfast (yup, I really do love it)

3 Favorite Television Shows
Ace of Cakes-- Oprah-- House

3 Last Places I've Traveled
California-- The Mountains --Heaven; when I'm in Jim's arms

3 Favorite Desserts
Anything Chocolate-- Anything Chocolate-- Anything Chocolate

3 Things I would buy if money weren't an issue
Cancer treatment for the uninsured and poor-- A slurpee machine for the 3rd floor at PCMC-- A Jag

3 People I tag
Kris-- Carol-- Shalene

Happy Birthday Alaina!

Goodness, wasn't it just last week that we brought you home from the hospital with all your black hair and red Indian-like skin? Didn't I just cut your curls for the first time and walk you around the corner to preschool yesterday? Wasn't last night your first dance recital with you adorably dressed in a traslucent white skirt and shiny black tap shoes? Didn't we just put you on a plane to visit Oma and Opa? Wasn't it yesterday when we sat in the sand and built sandcastles in Mexico and just yesterday that you sat next to me in a PCMC waiting room as the moments ticked on endlessly like a timebomb? Wasn't it just a minute ago that you drove off in a little white car with your sister to start High School and a minute later that we found the perfect wedding dress and ordered the Root Beer bubbles for your wedding cake? Wasn't it a second ago that you became a wife and a mother and an eternal family?

Time. Where does it go to? It flows out of the baby pictures and the school pictures and drifts up when you open the dance recital programs and the wedding announcements and the grandbabies pictures. Time is encapsulated in the feelings of the heart and the memories of the mind. Where did yesterday go? Its in my heart where you will always be. Happy Birthday Alaina--you are a wonderful woman, eternal companion, mother, sister, daughter and friend. I love you forever and always.

Newspapers..what a way to start the day!

This morning I thought I would pick up the newspaper and take a look at what was going on the world; or should I say what the reporters say is going on the world. I don't watch the news on TV much as I am convinced the news, both local and national are the most violent programs available on TV. So, I picked up the newspaper. Here are a few of the headlines:

• Dog owner is arrested after scuffle over doo


• Trial date set in 2005 bank-fraud case


• Man finally charged in May shooting at home


• Teen slices his hand during attack on man


• Man jailed in stabbing of relative with pen


• Hotel staffers, maid with mop tackle man


• New details emerge of deadly traffic stop


• Man's kin sue hit-run driver who killed him


• Engine failure blamed in jet crash


• Both parties try to woo women voters


• Motorist on sidewalk kills 1 man injures 2

Iwas just about to sink into the depths of depression when I saw it--it was in an inconspicuous bottom corner on the last page of the sections I was reading. You may laugh at me but I think this is great. Why don't they put more good in with the bad? Have the editors found that we don't read or watch the news if it isn't degrading, violent, morbid or sensational? I like to know what is going on in the world, but I don't believe for a second that it is all bad. I know there are terrible things that go on but I also know that there are good people with good motives that do good things. I see it everyday around me; why don't those stories get reported? Would the world read and watch; I know I would.

Me and my girls!

A Mother's Deepest Dream

Motherhood is an interesting thing. It seems that you grow with your children. Genuine happiness has always been what I have hoped for each of my children. Second on my list of desires for them--ongoing, fullfilling relationships with one another. Last weekend I was totally taken off-guard by a HUGE surprise party that the girls had planned and carried out together. I cannot do it justice by just writing about it in my next blog I will "show off" what they accomplished; but for this one I wish to express to my sweet daughters how deeply I was touched by your desire to work together to do this for me. I was so overcome with emotion that I didn't dare get started for fear of never stopping. I still have not been able to verbally thank my girls for the gratitude runs deep, fills my heart and comes brimming to the surface when I even think about saying something.

So here goes--girls, there is nothing, no nothing you could have done to make me happier. I certainly do not deserve to have such wonderful daughters; but I am eternally grateful. You are my dearest friends and confidants. When I watch each one of you and your individual talents and gifts, I continue to be amazed that I am so blessed to be your mother. Thank you for working together for me.

There are so many ways that you are similar to one or more of each other, yet you are each so very unique--please always celebrate your differences, though they sometimes make you crazy. You each have gifts that can help one another in the difficult times of your lives; remember what I have told you since you were just old enough to seek out other companionships-- "friends will come and friends will go, but your sister will always be your sister." When the time comes that I am no longer around, it is one of my greatest hopes that you will always have one another to love and cherish and to comfort you.

So here's to you Breeana, Alaina, Jenna and Kara! Just when I think my life could be no more blessed; you have given me yet one more thing to be so grateful for. Thank you just doesn't seem to work for this, does it? Oh, how I love each of you.

Is It Christmas?

This morning I awoke to such an exciting sight--when I turned over I saw it!!! Breeana and Kara were able to get wristbands to the Barnes and Noble Book Release Party. I am not sure how much of a party it really was in a store with hundreds of people and not enough air conditioning. They were in group number 5 out of ten. Kara could only get one book and she gave it to me! Thanks a ton girls. (Alaina and Jenna--come visit Mommie; I have a 700 plus page surprize for both of you!)

Using the Internet for Good

I have had a lot of time to read in the past couple of weeks. While reading this month's Ensign I really studied Elder Ballard's article entitled Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet. I read it once and thought, "hey, did I just read what I thought I read?" So I read it again. He said, "Ours is the world of cyberspace, cell phones that capture video, video and music downloads, social networks, text messaging and blogs, handhelds and podcasts. This is the world of the future...How will you use these marvelous inventions? More to the point, how will you use them to further the work of the Lord?" He went on to say, "Make sure that the choices you make in the use of new media are choices that expand your mind increase your opportunities, and feed your soul." But what struck me so significantly that I thought my name was printed in front of it was, "Now, may I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration."

What a wonderful opportunity and responsibility I have to bear testimony in my words and actions. Isn't it amazing that someone across the world can pull up a blogsite and read how we feel and see what is going on in our everyday lives. I hope always that the things I post will be uplifting and a good representation of where my heart really is--the truths I believe, the people I love and my desire to be a better person.

47 Questions

Sorry--I just now noticed that I was tagged a very long time ago.

1. Were you named after anyone? Yes, my maternal grandmother, Anna Mae Lee and they called her Anna Lee.

2. When was the last time you cried? Two days ago when I found out the Margaret was in the hospital.

3. Do you like your handwriting? Most of the time.

4. What is your favorite lunchmeat? Smoked turkey

5. Do you have kids? You better believe it! Ten.

6. If you were another person would you be friends with yourself? Most of the time but I would probably have a few things to say to myself about myself if you know what I mean.

7. Do you use sarcasm alot? I am ashamed to say yes, yes I do.

8. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes, two of the only removable things I have that haven't been removed.

9.Would you bungee jump? Maybe off the couch.

10. What is your favorite cereal? Fiber One

11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? Yes, I have to. My feet won't come out if I don't.

12. Do you think you are strong? When I am in the right frame of mind I can deal with almost anything. As for physically--I used to be.

13. What is your favorite ice cream? Moose tracks. That sounds disgusting when I write it. Perhaps next time I want to eat it I should consider what moose tracks really are!

14. What is the first thing you notice about people? Their spirit and if they are happy.

15. Red or pink? Is this as in favorite color or what my eyes look like after a long night?

16. What is your least favorite thing about yourself? My tendancy to slide into the "glass half empty syndrome."

17. Who do you miss the most? My dad and my mom.

18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you? For the life of me I don't know what this means. Send what back?

19. What color shoes are you wearing? None, its the Indian in me, I hate wearing shoes if I don't have to.

20. What was the last thing you ate? How embarassing. I ate two Oreo Cakesters. I know I know, now I will hear about this from some vigilant person. Do you read blogs Kathleen?

21. What are you listening to right now? Silence. The hum of the computer, the grandfather clock chiming, the air conditioner clicking on. Thank heavens for air conditioning. I am such a wimp.

22. If you were a crayon what color would you be? Definitely blue so I could make a perfect blue sky for everyone no matter where they are or what their circumstances might be.

23. Favorite smells. Jim's pillow. The air on an early morning walk. Baby's hair washed in baby bath. My kids. They each have their own smell and I love it.

24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Jim, saying good night from Las Vegas.

25. Do you like the person who sent this to you. Yes, and I love her too.

26. Favorite sports to watch. BYU football and Heber's soccer games.

27. Hair color? Hmmmm. Brown highlighted with blonde and menaced with some gray.

28. Eye color. Blue

29. Do you wear contacts? I should. People on the road would be a lot safer.

30. Favorite food. Lettuce wraps from Pei Wei.

31. Scary movies or Happy endings? Definitely not scary. I am a WIMP. Can't sleep after one. Not necessarily happy endings, they are nice but I like drama.

32. Last movie you watched? You mean in its entirety without sleeping? College Road Trip with the boys tonight.

33. What color shirt are you wearing? Orange and wow is this a first.

34. Summer or winter? Until this year winter. I have loved working in the yard this year. Go figure.

35. Hugs or kisses? Definitely hugs. I don't like slobber.

36. Favorite dessert? Well, lets see. Anything chocolate or frosted or glazed or anything.

37. Most likely to respond? Alaina, she has an unfair advantage. She works all night so she generally sees all the posts first. Its also unfair because she doesn't get to sleep! Probably in time all the girls.

38. Least likely to respond. My dog Leska. Her sight is weakening and with her arthritis she just can't seem to hit the darn computer keys.

39. What book are you reading right now? The Holy Secret and Stolen Innocence. Yikes.

40. What is on your mouse pad? Emma and Parker.

41. What did you watch on TV last night? Well considering I was up until 3--Monk, Ace of Cakes, Oprah, Mythbusters.......

42. Favorite sound? Wind through the aspen trees in the mountains, laughter, Jim's voice.

43. Rolling stones or Beatles? Hmmmm. Rocks down a hill or bugs? How about neither. I'm not that old!

44. What is the farthest you have been from home? New Zealand

45. Do you have a special talent? I love to write.

46. Where were you born? Fullerton, California

47. If you could go anywhere where would it be? Israel again but this time with all my children. It was the most incredible experience and I would love to experience it with them.

I tag Carol, Danielle, Breeana and Kristi R. (please disregard if you have been tagged already)

Check out my Slide Show!

Fulfilled

Yesterday I was out working in the yard and I had this amazing feeling wash over me. Its probably a good thing that I was facing away from the street pulling weeds because tears were streaming down my face. I have such gratitude. I realized that if this were my last day on earth I could say, in all honesty, that every dream I have ever had has come true.

I have a wonderful companion and best friend. He loves me for exactly who I am and tells me on a regular basis that I am just what he needs. I have the most incredible children who are my dearest friends. All I really ever wanted to be was a mother--thank you children for making this dream come true. I have traveled to many places and seen many beautiful things but nothing matches the beauty of my home overflowing with my children and grandchildren.

Yes, I am a woman fulfilled.

Can I just say that my kids are A-okay? (yes... I know; all of you are not in this picture but you are ALL ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!)

My Long-Distance Friend

Not very often does a Mom get to participate in her son's mission. While Josh was gone a very sweet lady wrote me a note telling me how her life had been forever changed when a tall, blonde young man knocked on her door. We began to write to each other and she eventually came to Salt Lake City to be sealed to her husband. She stayed with us for a "fortnight" and it was wonderful. We had the opportunity to watch as Josh was proxy for her husband and she was sealed to the love of her life for time and all eternity.

This year at Christmas we were blessed to have her return and spend an 'American Holiday' with us. She taught us how to make authentic shortbread and enjoyed every single thing we did. I have never had a more gracious guest (and I have had a lot.) I can still picture her sitting at the small table in the apartment kitchen doing crosswords.

Margaret came into my life at a time when I was missing having thought provoking conversations with my own mother. She has provided a loving 'Nana' for all my children, not just Josh, who brought to us this special, eternal friend. Our friendship was 'reborn' of missionary effort and a desire for the same things. C.S. Lewis said "Are not all lifelong friendships born at the moment when at last you meet another human being who has some inkling of that something which you were born desiringk and which, beneath the flux of other desires and in all the momentary silences between the louder passions, night and day, year by year, from childhood to old age, you are looking for, watching for, listening for?"

This is my forever friend Margaret, a beacon of positive light in my life. Thank you Margaret, thank you. I love you forever and always.

Memorial Day

Years ago Memorial Day was known as Decoration Day. This year it became apparent to me how different the two things really are. We generally take the kids to Salina on Memorial Day and visit many relative's graves. This year because Jim wasn't feeling well we opted to stay home. We woke to gray skies and rain and my overall general gloomy mood. I was really feeling bad that I couldn't visit my Dad's grave and take some flowers. The feeling was only made worse when we visited the Riverton cemetary and found a couple of our friend's graves with seeminly no acknowledgement of their memory. I wonderded how people could live so close and not remember their loved ones by decorating their graves. Perhaps these people are just quicker than I am. As we drove back into the driveway, out of the corner of my eye I saw the young oak tree that my neighbors planted in honor of my father while I was away at his funeral. It was almost as if I heard an audible voice say to me, "Analee, you don't have to lay flowers by my headstone to celebrate Memorial Day, you can remember me always." This I suppose I already knew, but then the thoughts really began to fly. I can in effect be a living memorial to the memory of my father. My life, my actions, my feelings and accomplishments can honor him daily. My treatment of others--the grumpy sales clerk, the annoying friend of a child, the hurting stranger; I can show my father that I listened to his words and watched his actions. I can perpetuate his goodness. I could not make it to the Veteran's Cemetary in Phoenix on Monday, but today, tomorrow and forever can be Memorial Day for me. Who's life will your actions be a memorial to today?

Miracles

Just about anyone who know us knows about the challenges Joseph has had. To condense years of problems into one sentence, let us just say that he has had a malignant brain tumor, a non-malignant brain tumor, two brain surgeries, cranio-spinal radiation and a closed-head injury.

Years ago "professionals" tried to tell me that my child would never read, would never learn and would even have great difficulty communicating. On more than one occasion they tried to support their claims by showing me his amened IQ after all the physical insults to his brain. I would always hold my hand up to them and tell them "no thanks, no test can measure what my child can accomplish." At one particular appointment I think it was decided that only seeing the numbers would pull me out of this dream world I was in concering Joseph's future. Before I knew what was happening, there in front of me were the numbers. I stood with tears streaming down my face, ripped the paper in half and threw it down on the table. "Don't you understand," I said, "he can do anything I believe that he can."

Joseph's life has been hard, but from that he has become incredibly strong. Yesterday Joseph was awarded the Eagle of the Quarter award in a school assembly. This is given to only 24 students out of about eighteen hundred. It is nominated by one teacher and voted on by the entire faculty.

Always remember that your children will rise to the level of your expectations. Miracles occur. Never stop believing.

Way to go Joseph--our lives would not be the same without you.

My Mom

Long before I could ever respond my mother caressed my face and
whispered how much she loved me in my ear.
She held me close and calmed my fears.
She loved me deeply and dried my tears.
I was completely dependant.

I jump out of sleepfulness as the airplane touches down on the Phoenix runway--
I have arrived to spend Mother's Day with my mom.
When I come into the house she is eating her lunch.
I kiss her on the head and wipe away her tear as she finishes up.
We go out on the back porch and listen to the birds and the wind in the trees.
She is ready for a nap so I will come back later.
At bedtime I rub her feet and legs with lotion;
I rub her fingers and hands and arms and neck.
I lean over and tell her that I love her,
She says, "I know sweetheart; I love you too."
I am elated. My heart is full and my trip is complete.
These would be the only words my mother would speak directly to me.

Her brilliance is gone.
Her love of reading is gone.
Her extensive vocabulary is gone.
Her painting and designing and crafting is gone.
Her memory is gone.
Her recognition is gone.
Her ability to walk is gone.

I caress her face and whisper how much I love her in her ear.
I hold her close and try to calm her fears.
I love her deeply; I will always dry her tears.
She is completely dependant and I love her.

Happy Mother's Day Mom...and thank you.

Happy Mother's Day Mom

Rose-Colored Glasses

Everyone always said Anna Mae wore "rose-colored" glasses. I grew up hearing the phrase over and over. One day when I was quite young I asked her what it meant. She chuckled and told me that it was a way of saying that you say everything in a beautiful light. She went to the trouble of finding some pinkish tinted glass for me to look through. "See how soft and beautiful it makes everything look?" she asked. I really could see a difference. It was brighter and warmer.

The older I became the more I realized what the phrase meant and why everyone referred to her when they used it. She was genuine, loving and always found the best in everyone and in every situation. She was one of the most well-read people I have ever known. She said you couldn't understand people unless you understood where they were coming from. She taught me when I was very young to play Pollyanna. That's a game where you take any situation, especially less desirable ones, and you find and name everything you can that is good about it. She told me that there would be times in my life that this would be the best game I could play.

I think we are all born with a pair of "rose-colored" glasses. If you don't agree, take a moment sometime and watch how an infant gazes at his mother or how he watches with wonder as a curtain flutters in the breeze. I believe that at some point in childhood most of us misplace them. Maybe we put them away when we recieve too much criticism or we experience a traumatic event. Some of us even hold onto them until we are little older, but ultimately others convince us that we must live in what the world terms as reality. Perhaps we still carry them around in our pocket, but most of the time we tuck them neatly away in an out-of-the-way drawer.

Maybe we should get them out more often. Complete strangers look more beautiful. Our loved-one's decisions make more sense. Even snow in May becomes a beautiful fantasy. Stars in a night sky become more precious than diamonds. Messy bathrooms are a reminder than people we love live with us. Broken cars remind us that most of the time they aren't broken. Threatening illnesses become opportunities to spend more time together and a wonderful chance to grow in strength.

Yes, she wore "rose-colored" glasses. Her name was Anna Mae Lee and they called her Anna Lee. She was my grandmother. I was named after her and when I grow up I want to be just like her.

Okay, okay. Some of us are busy and we don't work all night. So as for being tagged....

What's his name? Jim
How long did you date? Hmmm, depends on what you call dating. Officially about six months I suppose.
How long have you been married? 28 years in June.
Who is taller? Jim. Isn't everybody?
Who eats more? Do you mean when people are looking or all the time? Jim does.
Who is a better singer? I am. He has some great talents, but desire is the only thing he has in the singing area.
Who does the laundry? I do, but when I let it go too long, he does and this is not a good thing. He washes everything together. Sweaters look really fabulous with towel lint on them.
Who pays the bills? Definitely Jim.
Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do. Does that mean that he gets up on the wrong side of the bed every day?
Who mows the lawn? Joseph the grounds keeper.
Who cooks dinner? Me. Kara does too alot lately. Jim does if he needs to.
Who drives? I assume this means when we are together. Usually Jim unless he wants a nap.
Who is more stubborn? Its a draw, but he is more subtle about it. I am the goat variety.
Who kissed who first? He kissed me; in my car in the Sundance parking lot.
Who asked who out? He asked me out. We went ice-blocking. Didn't know what it was when I went or I probably would have declined. It was really fun even though I had tons of bruises!
Who proposed? Jim did. He was so nervous that I thought he was about to dump me.
Who is more sensitive? It used to be me hands down, but the older we get its a draw.
Who has more siblings? Jim. I have three, he has five.
Who wears the pants? Jim. I would hate to see him in a dress. No really. We share decisions, but he is definitely the head of the house.

So, now that I have accomplished this responsibility, I will now tag Breeana and Alaina, "Tag, you're it!" I have great confidence that you will respond much more rapidly than I.

Some people are blessed enough to have the perfect friend. This is mine. This summer we will celebrate twenty-eight years together. I have contemplated the concept of "becoming one." I believe that when two people come together they each bring their gifts and qualities. When those attributes are perfected and refined and they unite them; they can become one perfect entity. e.e.cummings, one of my favorite poets said,

"one's not half two. It's two are halves of one:" Oh, how true! With desirous hearts two can come together and work toward becomming one. I remember my daughter once asking me, "You do know you have the perfect husband, right Mom?" Is he a perfect person? No. Is he perfect for me? Absolutely.

My nieces and nephew have been trying to get me to blog for--oh, three years anyway. I always thought it was rather self-preoccupied to think that anyone would want to read what I had to say. But then several time I tried to post on one of their blogs and it wouldn't let me because I wasn't a "blogger." So I finally decided to set one up just so I could post. After calling my niece, who by the way deserves kudos for helping her computer-ignorant aunt (ha, I just wrote anut instead of aunt; Freudian slip I suppose) set up a blog, I decided to do it. It wasn't until after she helped me that she confessed that you really can post without being a blogger!

I love writing but I am a terrible journal keeper--go figure. I guess I always worry that what I write will be recorded forever and what if its the wrong thing? Maybe this will help me. Maybe it will be another way to keep in touch with my married children and my family across the US. If it accomplishes only this one thing it will be worth it.

I have been reading C.S. Lewis the past couple of days. What a brilliant mind. He made a statement that has really caused me to think.

"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which , if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship..."

What if we really did have the desire and ability to see all those around us as they one day would be? What if we were able to gaze into someone's heart instead of merely seeing their actions? Would we not treat every person, including the disheveled transient as though they were royalty?

Interesting thought which is easily accepted and most difficulty accomplished.