BRIBERY!!!

There is a store in Richfield where I really haven't gone much to shop. Until lately. Bad, bad me! In the back of the Diamond Store, there is a little clothing and jewelry boutique. I went in a couple of weeks ago looking for a present for my friend. They have the cutest jewelry and TONS to choose from. Today I went in there looking for something to wear with a bright pink sweater. Didn't find my favorite in hot pink jewelry (but there was a lot to look at), but I did find this pretty. They had gotten new stock since I was in there and had just put it out this morning. I was there for so long trying on this and trying on that. Hard to choose! All of it is priced from $14.00 to $20.00. I kept thinking, I wish my girls were all here and I would buy everyone a necklace. (The matching earrings are included) Come one, come all! We will grab Ashley and have some fun! Bling! Bling!

In case you can't see it, the beads are all strung and covered with very fine netting. Can't wait to wear this during the holidays this year.

FEAR!!!!

Many years ago when Parker was small, we hiked Angel's Landing in Zion National Park with another family. Parker ran off ahead with other kids. We really didn't mind that he went ahead until we reached the top and could see him heading out to the very top of the hike where you have to hold on to chains so you won't slip off the steep edge of the cliff. There he was, jumping from rock to rock, unaware of the great danger and risk he was taking. I kept Kaitlin with me on Scout's Landing and sent Tristan on ahead to stop Parker. I was as sick to my stomach as I have ever felt. My fear for Parker was so intense that I nearly threw up. I sat down in the dirt and held on to Kaitlin so she could hardly wiggle until Tristan brought Parker back safely.

I had hiked Angel's Landing before, but never with my kids. To see Parker out there jumping from rock to rock brought about the worst kind of fear---a parent's fear for their kids.

This weekend, we went to Mike's race to see him race his motorcycle. He has been doing really well and we have wanted to watch him before, but he has been hesitant to have us come. (Now I know why.) It was exciting and thrilling for everyone. Mike is talented and skillful. He assures me that he is being careful. But on his first race when he came around a turn at the top of the hill, I could see him struggle to keep his bike in control. It scared me the Angel's Landing kind of fear. This time it didn't make me sick, but it made me cry. I tried really hard to keep my emotions to myself because I knew it would upset everyone. But I couldn't help it. Mike may be an adult. He may be the most skilled rider on the track. He may be the most safe rider on the track. He may be the most practiced rider in the race. He may have the strongest muscles to wrestle his bike into control. I don't care. For a minute there, he was still my little Mike that I have loved and protected for so many years. A mom just can't ever throw away her fear for her family. It's my job to be the scared one.

Nevertheless, the race was fun and exciting. He won the second race also, and mom won the ability to enjoy it.

A little bit.

Here's a link to one of his practice rounds. He does make it look easy. http://www.pinkbike.com/video/146980/

It Was There All Along....

I was cleaning the laundry room this afternoon and I had such a powerful thought hit me about happiness. I had to sit down and write it out so that I won't forget it. Here it is, a sermon to myself.

The key to a happy life....people search for it everywhere and spend all sorts of money in its' pursuit. The key is found in a silly tune that we have sung since we were almost babies. The key has been there all along, but I never realized what a powerful little song it really is.

IF YOU CHANCE TO MEET A FROWN -- implies that it is our nature to be happy, not unhappy. But there are times when we may stumble onto a frown.

DO NOT LET IT STAY -- Do NOT, do NOT, let that frown persist! Make a conscientious effort to send that frown packing! No Trespassing!!!

QUICKLY TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN -- You have the ABILITY to make yourself happy. Make lemonade out of your lemons!! Make mud pies out of your mud. Quickly banish that frown from your life. No one else can do it for you.

AND SMILE THAT FROWN AWAY -- Good things in life don't come automatically, they take an active persistence in our lives. A smile uses different muscles in our faces than does frowning, and requires some exercise in strengthening those muscles.

Force. That. Frown. From. Off. Your. Face. No matter how hard it may be!

NO ONE LIKES A FROWNING FACE -- Boy, is that ever the truth. Friends may sympathize for a while because they are nice, but no one, NO ONE likes an unhappy person. (Well, maybe a psychiatrist) If you want to lose friends and alienate family, keep complaining about how miserable you feel. Just watch everyone edge away from you!

CHANGE IT FOR A SMILE -- It is our choice to choose to be happy or to choose to be sad. Circumstances come and go, but happiness is our choice. We can change our frowns into smiles. Sometimes the only way to put a smile in the place of our frowns is in the kneeling position as we humbly hand over those frowns to the Lord for His care. Living a righteous life will create happiness. Wickedness never EVER was happiness.

MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE -- If you ever wonder what one person can do to make a difference in this world, it is this...Be Happy! Happiness promotes love. And we all know love makes the world go round!

BY SMILING ALL THE WHILE -- There certainly are times when it is really hard to smile, but work at being happy no matter what lot you have in life. And do it all the while. Not just once. No matter what comes your way. Make it your habit.

Proverbs 17:22 "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

Ta-Da!

Here's a look at the cupboards Carson made for the Rockville house. They were finished and installed over a month ago, but we had to order some additional handles and install them. Now they are complete. Love them! Thanks, Carson. You done good!

A Boo-ti-Full Day

This morning I was practicing some Primary songs before I left for church. I finished playing one of my favorites, "I Know That My Savior Loves Me," when my little two year old grandson, Grant, quietly came in and stood by the piano. When I played the last note, he said, "That was just boo-ti-full, granma." It was so sweet, unexpected, and sincere. It really made me smile all day today.