Courage, Faith, and ALS.

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but simply moving on with dignity despite that fear."

Pat Riley

We have found out that one of my BIL's, one we are extremely close to, has Lou Gehrig's disease. News like this hits you hard in the gut. I thought after my sister's baby son's death that I wouldn't be able to cry for years and years, and then one Saturday you are innocently snuggling with your husband and you get a phone call that makes you cry all day long on and off and into the next few days. Then again when you see him. Then again when you see his wife. And on and on and on.

When I found out, my first thought was, "Well how do we beat it." Like it was cancer or something one might be able to win or overcome (might being the important word there). Unfortunately Lou Gehrig's disease or medically known as, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, is still a phantom disease. They STILL don't know much about it. What causes it, how to prevent or stop the process. You slowly lose control of your muscular function until you no longer have movement at all. Your mind and heart remain 100% healthy through the process. Eventually or most choke to death. They do have medication that may or may not slow down the process but for everyone it is different. In most cases, after diagnosis, the person inflicted with the disease has 2-5 years to live. Some have lived longer, some shorter, again, everyone is different. BUT, one never knows maybe he will be the one that lives a very long time. Maybe he won't? The frustrating thing is... you just don't know, know one can tell you... or predict... or anything.

So he lives, day to day. Because right now he is fine besides the few ticks that won't stop. He has his Bucket List. He has his family. He savors his time with them. And life and work continue... until they can't any longer.

From what I have gathered and from what he has said, my BIL does not worry about death, what he worries about is his family, after he passes on, financially and spiritually. He knows and BELIEVES that he will be okay, and that his time away from his family will be short. He KNOWS that his family down here will be the ones where time goes by slower and they will miss him for much longer than he will miss them.

I was sitting in church that Sunday, the weekend we found out, and all of a sudden I thought, "Testing your faith is having to face a loved ones mortality." I don't know why I thought of this, but it seemed accurate to me. His family and him are strong in their faith. They believe in families being forever. They believe the gospel, they have faith that this is Heavenly Father's Plan for them. They are incredible.

If one doesn't really and truly believe and have faith, from what I know in THIS GOSPEL, then facing death is fear inducing and faith breaking.

Although having faith and being strong can still include crying about it, and being scared about it, and not always being okay with it... because we are human, and we feel, and as much as we believe we don't always have all the answers down here, so we soak up what we have and we gather our COURAGE and our DIGNITY to put one foot in front of the other until we find out the rest.

Hope you all have a good Sunday!

Love,

Serious Sunday

What a great day it is today!

I get to remember what is important in life.  I get to listen to great men and woman whom I believe are inspired to remind me of life's greatest purpose and treasures!

I LOVE conference!

I do.  Not just because I don't have to get dressed up and high tail my way to church.

But because I truly love to listen to the messages.

It's crazy how a little neglect of my spirit gets my priorities out of whack so fast.

Anyway...don't want to spill my guts and depress everyone :)...It's just nice to be reminded that there is SOOOO much more beyond this life.  That because I know there is a Father in Heaven who loves ME so much that he prepared a way for me to live again with Him and my Family someday.  

I LOVE the Book of Mormon and the Bible...I learn best from other peoples experiences, successes and failures...so THANK goodness there are books written to help us in our day.

I completely believe that there is a prophet today that talks with Heavenly Father so that he may lead us...I love President Thomas S. Monson (I was bawling during his talk--way to reach in and grab my spirit!) and all the other prophets before him, especially Joseph Smith, who had the courage to restore the Gospel.

Because of these things...and the gospel in my life...I TRULY have been So blessed.  I have an incredible husband, the sweetest two kids...surrounded by extended family that makes me laugh and helps me when I cry...and incredible FRIENDS in REAL LIFE and in the BLOGGY world.

Love you guys,

Happy Sunday

Love,

Shelle

Standing in Holy Places

Serious Sunday Thoughts by Shelle...or as serious as I get :)

At a dark time in my life, well not really DARK persay, a little gray, I can't honestly say I've really had a DARK time...but I guess it was a time for me to question. I questioned what I had been taught my whole life, I questioned how worthy I wanted to be, how much a part of what I had been taught my WHOLE life was really how I wanted to live it, what I wanted to study, who I wanted to become.

Gosh I think that a lot of the time I am flopping around life like a fish on the shore flops for water, for its breath. Trying as hard as I can to be a person I truly want to be.

A good person, and person that other people feel comfortable around, can smile with, and can open up to who they really are.

So it was a GRAY time. A time that confusion was always a partner for me. I was sad...a lot.

So I began to study the things I was taught. Not study them in a negative light, but a light of respect that it should be given. I studied it from points of view that gave it more understanding. That helped me answer my questions...but not from someone who was ignorant in what they were saying, or who had some vendetta to accomplish, but from sources and people I trusted.

And I learned...a lot. And although I still have questions, because in our human nature, WHO DOESN'T...I am firm now in what I know, understand, and believe...and I can say I HONESTLY am truly happy.

So I'm shocked when I read around the blogosphere about how some people feel about the religion I LOVE. I guess from the outside looking in we are perceived some of the time as being CRAZY or BLIND FOLLOWERS...somewhat like a cult. *shudder* I am crazy, I've already admitted to that...but...

From the inside looking out...I don't feel that way, like a cult. From some of the dictionary references, cult is probably a correct term...but CULT in the English language is preceived as a bad thing. I am still an independent thinker, and like I said, always question...and can you believe that not all answers I get are even BLACK and WHITE...some are left unanswered...but it doesn't matter. From everything I've learned, and from the witness I've gained...I just rely on Faith, and Hope, and thank goodness, MERCY.

So even though the WORLD's values change and adapt it doesn't mean I have to. I have to choose to follow the rest of the World or choose to follow what I believe to be true. If what I believe is being attacked it doesn't make me change my mind about it, if anything, it makes me stand taller and stronger in it. So if that makes me a CULT member to my religion, then I guess I am, but does that mean that everyone else is a CULT to the World? :)

Who knows.

I just know, that I love this song...and it says in music what I am TRYING to say in this post...

I leave you with the words of the Chorus:

I Stand In Holy Places,
And I will not MOVE,
Until the Captain comes
And says Well Done,
It is the HOPE I hold onto...



Hope you had a good Sunday! I did!

Love,

Shelle

Just a tad bit serious...

As I sit here and prepare a lesson that I will give for the sisters in my ward...my heart goes from heavy to light.

It's like I'm being tossed around in a sea of emotions. My mind is tired...but my heart will not rest.

By now you probably have figured out my pattern. This blog is light hearted and happy...but on Sunday's I love to write about things that bring me peace. For me it is religion and family and knowledge that comes with both. So even though it is still happy...it is more happiness from HOPE and FAITH, instead of comedy by Shelle! :)

Like my good blog friend Crash wrote a few days ago Make Someone Happy (In which she totally makes you laugh while making a point--she's incredibly talented at doing that--plus she gives me some linky love), that is my goal almost daily with this blog, hopefully to make people happy. It use to be to journal for myself...but when I began to get an audience I reverted back to what makes me comfortable...and that is making people laugh. I love it...I love to be happy, I love to laugh, and I love to be in the company of others that also laugh. (It's all a journal of my feelings if you think about it!)

It's how I roll...

But the GOSPEL in my life also makes me happy in a totally different way. And I also LOVE to be in the company of others that are happy in that way also, or both.

So what I'm saying is...if you only want to laugh WITH me or ABOUT me...you may want to skip this post.

Where was I?

Oh yes, preparing my lesson. So I'm just going to unload all my feelings here...just pour them out for you to read...so get ready!

The lesson is Chapter 21 in the Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith and as I read...and weep...and smile...and read...and prepare, I have to say, without a doubt in my mind, that I believe WHOLLY that he is coming...AGAIN.

After a 150 years...the MOBS are back. But it is a sign of the times...it is meant to come to pass.

And I can't WAIT!

Do I tremble when I read what has to come about before we see HIM again? Yes!

Am I prepared to meet HIM again? Not fully...I strive most days to prepare...but I am human and weak and every step forward I feel when I fall, I fall two steps back...yet, I still am on a straight path. Forward or back is okay...falling off is not.

The heavy heart? The rollercoaster emotions you ask?

It has a lot to do with things I have found out this week...things that, to me, show we are ever nearing the time when HE will be here again...things that must happen, yet, I have to rear and raise children in all of it...and MOMMA BEAR comes out quite a bit.

My greatest fear comes of what HE will think of me...what HE will say...everything else is just something that must be endured...MUST BE.

But then...then...I read, and I feel, and I know that, in the end, it will all be OKAY. :)

And like I said last week...it gives me HOPE and happiness that I might see HIM come again...and that if I hang on to that ROD I have been given...that it will be one of the most GLORIOUS things.

This incredible photographer put in pictures what I cannot do eloquently in words:


So I can't wait...I can't WAIT to meet HIM and I can't WAIT to see HIM...and I hope I am worthy of both. :)

So forgive me for bearing my soul...for being a tad bit serious.

Love,

Shelle

P.S. Tomorrow will be the Last entry for Don't You Hate It When for November(I know, I know...it's not the last week, but that is how I'm doing it...so deal with it!). So if you would like to win the Grand Prize...get your posts ready. Be sure and read the FULL post tomorrow because some things will have changed for the following Month! :)

HOPE...such an incredible word!

I have been reading blogs...(duh) and it has been so cool to read some blogs where they are finding something to be thankful for EVERYDAY or everytime they post. I'm not sure for how long...if it's just for November or just until Thanksgiving or what? But I love it nonetheless...don't you just love words like that...nonetheless...all written together? I do.

Well I'm not one to stick with something, but I can add my two cents and contribute to telling you what I'm thankful for. I pride myself in being a well-rounded person (no pun intended)--I love to laugh, I'm known to cry, and I'm only crazy 3/4 of the time...the other times...

Here is the OTHER times...

I'm thankful for my religion. For the gospel I'm lucky to have in my life...and the thing I am most thankful for about the gospel, I so love...is the hope that comes with it.

I couldn't begin to say in words how I feel, but when I re-read this talk given in the last General Conference we had (Oct. 2008)--well he explains it SO much better!

So as not to massacre what I would like to relay, here is an excerpt from that talk "The Infinite Power of Hope" by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Second Counselor in the First Presidency:

The scriptures say that there must be “an opposition in all things.”¹⁵ So it is with faith, hope, and charity. Doubt, despair, and failure to care for our fellowmen lead us into temptation, which can cause us to forfeit choice and precious blessings.

The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.

Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear.

And if that isn't cool enough...if that doesn't make you picture exactly what HOPE should be or mean in your life...this should clinch it for you:

Hope is not knowledge,¹⁷ but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future.¹⁸ It is believing and expecting that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance.

In the language of the gospel, this hope is sure, unwavering, and active. The prophets of old speak of a “firm hope”¹⁹ and a “lively hope.”²⁰ It is a hope glorifying God through good works. With hope comes joy and happiness.²¹ With hope, we can “have patience, and bear . . . [our] afflictions.”²²

HOPE...I am SO thankful for HOPE. With the trials and tribulations that chip at me and mold me into who I am...there is NO WAY the sharp edges and angles could be buffed away by anything other than HOPE. Someday I HOPE to reach the potential of the master piece I can become.

Love,

Shelle

P.S. Get your POST ready for Don't You Hate It When tomorrow...because look what you could WIN for the month of November!

This beautiful Quilt (just started, yet to be completed) that Kritta22 is making over at Protect and Provide ...And a $25.00 gift card from -------------

Nobody gets out alive anyway...

***Get your POSTS ready for DON'T YOU HATE IT WHEN...contest tomorrow! Here are some examples. Who will be the next winner? You want that IPOD SHUFFLE right? lol! Thanks to all those that have participated thus far!!!***

I am on the road traveling. I don't have a lot of time to post...but I wanted to let you guys know that when I get home I am jumping on my Google Reader to catch up and comment on your incredible lives...that I enjoy being a part of! :)

Here is something I like to think about when I get all stressed and wound up...it keeps me laughing!

"Never take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway. "

I found myself getting really wound up this week because of some things I have read on the internet. Personal blogs and other sites attacking the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, something I love and believe in. They try to convince others that the "Mormon" religion is deceitful and blasphemous...that they need to breakdown things and attack what I believe in. This is what I want to say to those people...just because I need to get it off of my chest...if you want to try and convince me that what I believe is truly wrong and deceitful...then don't ATTACK what I love, because that just makes me want to defend it...tell me of YOUR religion, what you believe and why YOU love it...stop using all your energy and resources and time looking up things to tear down, and spend more time maybe sharing your love of your religion.

I don't really know...it just seems like it would be a better tactic.

Let me put it this way. When I was younger people sometimes would make fun or talk rude about one of my family members...I would defend them with every breath because of my deeper love for them...even if that SAME day I had gotten in a fight with that family member and told them how much I didn't like them and wanted to never TALK to them again! lol!

I also wanted to let people know out there whether you are a member of my religion or not...that I do have a testimony of it. That I LOVE my Savior, Jesus Christ, that I am INDEED thankful for his sacrifice and atoning blood so that I may live with him and my Heavenly Father again someday. I believe there are prophets that live today who lead and guide us and I am so thankful for that. That I know without the gospel in my life that my life wouldn't be the same, that I wouldn't find the deep contentment and happiness that I have. I truly love it and I truly believe it.

So anyway, it makes me sad that people are like that...I have many friends that are not of my faith and I love their inner beauty and their commitment to their faiths. I believe the product of something, is what I can decide for myself, whether or not that thing is good or bad. I am hoping that there are more people like that then the latter.

So I laughed and decided to just let it go...and as the quote says, "Never take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway"...

And now I can breathe again!

Hope you guys have a good Sunday...and can't wait to catch up! You'll be hearing from me! :)

Shelle

P.S.S. Day 10 no comment from REE.

Do you feel that YOU as a Mormon woman get treated well?

"Do you feel that YOU as a Mormon woman get treated well?" I turned around with a quizzical look to my co-worker, what the heck was he talking about now. He randomly comes over to my cubbie and asks or talks about the most RANDOM things. His questions are mostly entertaining and he is usually a nice break from the hum drum of my job.

"What do you mean 'do I get treated well? Like by my husband?'"

He said, "Yea, by your husband and male leaders of your church?"

Still confused, "Like do I get treated well how? Like not getting the calling I want?...or like are they rude, arrogant, and controlling? Yea that's my husband...but no one else." I said laughing and jokingly. He wasn't smiling.

He continued, "I have asked other women who have said that they feel controlled by the men in the Mormon religion. That men are looked at as higher up...given more."

"Wow" I said truly shocked, "I don't know who you have been talking to but that is totally NOT how I feel. I have never been more treasured as a women. We are nurtured, loved, and revered as women in our religion...especially by the leaders of our church and if you have a good man in your life and are lucky like me to marry them...then you are nurtured, loved, and revered by them."

He smiled and said something to this effect, "I had a feeling you wouldn't feel the same way. You are to outgoing and self confident to be controlled by anybody."

For those of you who don't quite understand the LDS church (Mormons), I want to give you my perspective on this myth, which it is, in my eyes anyway, because I can only speak for myself...

I thought it a silly question and one that I have never been approached about personally. You get the normal funny questions when people find out you are LDS...like, "Do you really have horns? Where do you hide your hooves? Do you give ALL your money to your prophet? Do you really believe a young boy saw Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father?" My answers are always, no, I don't have any, (although sometimes I feel they would come in handy), no, and yes.

I guess a lot of people think that "Mormon" women (women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) are controlled, restricted, and robots when it comes to being a women member of our church. Let me just say, on this side of things and in my perspective, it couldn't be farther from the truth.

One of the things I love most about our religion is that it is guaranteed when we have our General Conferences that one if not MANY of our men leaders of our church say something to the effect of what this man, M. Russell Ballard said, "While women live in homes under many different circumstances—married, single, widowed, or divorced, some with children and some without—all are beloved of God, and He has a plan for His righteous daughters to receive the highest blessings of eternity...I surely know that there is no role in life more essential and more eternal than that of motherhood."

As in the quote from above they highly respect our ability to bear children and live in the role we seem to have been made for...motherhood...but they also respect our individual choice and right to become and do what we feel is best for us and what we discuss with our Father in Heaven...

Just to prove my point with one last quote from one of our beloved Apostles showing that we are loved and revered in our church...(What it Means to be Daughter of God--President James E. Faust,Second Counselor in the First Presidency)

We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Eve. In the Garden of Eden, she and Adam were instructed not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, they were also reminded, “Thou mayest choose for thyself.” 9 The choice was really between a continuation of their comfortable existence in Eden, where they would never progress, or a momentous exit into mortality with its opposites: pain, trials, and physical death in contrast to joy, growth, and the potential for eternal life. In contemplating this choice, we are told, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, … and a tree to be desired to make her wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and also gave unto her husband with her, and he did eat.” 10 And thus began their earthly probation and parenthood.

After the choice was made, Adam voiced this grateful expression: “Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.” 11

Eve made an even greater statement of visionary wisdom after leaving the Garden of Eden: “Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.” 12 If it hadn’t been for Eve, none of us would be here...As daughters of God, you cannot imagine the divine potential within each of you. Surely the secret citadel of women’s inner strength is spirituality. In this you equal and even surpass men, as you do in faith, morality, and commitment when truly converted to the gospel. You have “more trust in the Lord [and] more hope in his word.” 15 This inner spiritual sense seems to give you a certain resilience to cope with sorrow, trouble, and uncertainty.

You cannot imagine the gifts and talents each of you has. All women have appealing features. I do not refer to model-type appeal, but rather that which comes from your personality, your attitude, and your expressions. I urge you to enhance the natural, God-given, feminine gifts with which you have been so richly blessed. None of you should be so content that you cease to care about how you look or act. In his day, President Brigham Young encouraged women to get an education. This is still good counsel, but I hasten to add: in all your getting, do not lose your sweet femininity.

You sisters do not know the full extent of your influence. You sisters enrich all of humanity. All human life begins with you. Each woman brings her own separate, unique strengths to the family and the Church. Being a daughter of God means that if you seek it, you can find your true identity. You will know who you are. This will make you free—not free from restraints, but free from doubts, anxieties, or peer pressure. You will not need to worry, “Do I look all right?” “Do I sound OK?” “What do people think of me?” A conviction that you are a daughter of God gives you a feeling of comfort in your self-worth. It means that you can find strength in the balm of Christ. It will help you meet the heartaches and challenges with faith and serenity.

I wonder if you sisters can fully appreciate the innate gifts, blessings, and endowments you have simply because you are daughters of God. It is a mistake for women to think that life begins only with marriage. A woman can and must have an identity and feel useful, valued, and needed whether she is single or married. She must feel that she can do something for someone else that no one else ever born can do.

So my answer is NO I do not fell any less a woman because of my religion...if anything I feel empowered and strengthened from it.

I couldn't be more blessed as a human being...The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is not a religion I follow blindly...I have searched and questioned as any human being together with its soul will do...I know, love, and respect the truth of what I have found in this Church and am thankful for the life I have lead because of its influence and power in my life.

I hope all of you feel love and respected no matter what you choose to believe. That you have hope and feel happy with the life you live and lead.

In my rare moments of seriousness...I am glad that I can tell you of something I love and am very passionate about...

All funny and light-heartedness will continue tomorrow...carry on! :)

Love Shelle

Woe is Me...1 hour in Heaven=1000 years on Earth

Since it's Sunday I thought I would tell you a little of what I have been struggling with lately.

OKay here it goes...I found out I complain about the stupidest things...trivial and stupid! Not NEW knowledge for those of you that know me well, but those of you that don't...this is a part of me and who I am...

I hate that I do this and catch myself one stupid, whiny, complaint too many! It's annoying, and unfortunate for those around me who have to deal with it on a somewhat consistent basis...I mean, why am I consistent in this? Why couldn't I be consistent in something more productive that could help us out as a family like writing children's books about uplifting or humorous topics or become an influential teacher to help the younger generation? Not in my genetic make-up I guess.

Anyway, I found myself complaining about dumb things like when is our life going to get started...this college hold period is really getting old.

Why I haven't made anything of myself...I know I was put on this earth to become better than I am, yet I tend to stick to being lazy and am one stick short of becoming great :)

All of it because of me and my dumb self doubt...who came up with allowing us to have self doubt...yes it makes one discover more of who they are, I understand that, yet I still hate that I do it...I still hate that I fall to it...I still hate that I am human. I know I want to be better, I know that I want to succeed in being all that I should be...yet, I find myself still being the ultimate procratstinator, still never being on time for things, still letting people down by not fulfilling promises like, "Let's do lunch or dinner" or "let's hang out"...okay so everyone says those things, but I really mean them, I really want to hang out or go to lunch...then I start my work week and I never call! So you wonderful, beautiful, friends...sorry, and hey we REALLY should get together! :)

Then I get on my Google Reader and I read some of my favorite blogs and I end up blog surfing and I hit on posts like this from We are THAT family and realize that I am one of those bloggers that use this blog as a venting session because it is my FREE therapy! I mostly like to laugh and share that with you guys, but every once in a while I realize that I vent...and it feels oh so good, then I feel bad that I DON'T feel bad for letting it all out there in BLOG world. Then I hope that I am NOT making a bad impact!

I also read this post and felt like a failure as a blogger...okay I don't...I may not get 30, 60, or even 100+ comments (I've topped out at like 11 whoo-hoo) but I have the best of friends and blog stalkers who read my blog and they comment, or I see them around and we laugh at my ridiculous overly dedicated obsession to blogging! hahaha!

Okay I'm getting off track...what I wanted to say is that I was feeling sorry for myself...and having a pity party, by myself, people tend not to want to join me...go figure...anyhow, I was having a Woe is Me moment and then I find this...on the recent earth quake in China:





and I instantly slap, 1-2 punch, and drop kick myself. What an ungrateful person I am...I am so ignorant...which to those of you who know me, know that I am okay with this. I don't like to dwell on sorrow and pain. let alone hear about it, so I don't DVR the news if you catch my drift...

I KNOW that there is life after this earth...that we are here to complete a test...that we will return to our Father in Heaven...I am grateful for this knowledge...

There is nothing like being reminded of what we have. Of being grateful for our family...my husband reminded me that these parents and families in China who lost a child would be grieving their ONLY child because they are restricted on the amount of children they can have!

WOW...This is why I remain ignorant, it hurts my heart and feels me with remorse when I hear about things like this...for one who likes to remain light and upbeat, this is always an unwelcomed feeling...but on the other hand, on some days it's good to remember...like the other day at my pity party...these images and this news, were a buzz kill for my party, thank goodness it ended early!

It also reminded me to remain on a path in life that, when I am taken from this earth, I am ready to meet my Father in Heaven! I have recently had one of those ah-ha moments...where something you have heard many times finally clicks.

I have heard so many times...An hour up in heaven is equal to a thousand years on Earth. I started thinking, which is really dangerous, We live on average, what? 75 years. So we are gone from HIM (Our Father in Heaven) for...ummm...what? 5 minutes...maybe 10? I don't want to not be prepared if an earth quake comes along and takes me to meet HIM and HE says, "What? You couldn't be good for 5 minutes Shelle?" and then get the LOOK...the one I give my kids when I say the same thing to them! I want to be ready...I want to be better...I want to be like those of you who I look to as examples of what I want to become!

That's it...something different than I usually post...but like I said I use this blog not only for journaling and humor but also for Therapy! I yinged and I yanged about posting my feelings, which is why it is so last week news...but Wow...I feel better, thanks for listening!

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I'm getting a dry spell of emails coming in about funny kids...I know you have them in your own home or know someone who does...or saw some at the local grocery store...

Have a funny kid story or an ahhhh cute moment? Write it as a comment or email me at blokthoughts@gmail.com and I will post them. You can remain anonymous or I can link you in!

Guess where I've been?

May 1-2

I have been at the BYU Women's Conference held in Provo, UT. It was so awesome! It is a conference filled with uplifting talks about how to become a better person, pretty much. They have 4 Main Speakers (this year the speakers where Sheri Dew, Julie Beck, Mr. and Mrs. Bateman, and President Thomas S. Monson) that everyone attends at the same time and then you break off for 3 different hour classes during the day...and you have to CHOOSE among the many choices of classes offered for that one hour...and you have to do that for each seperate hour session...I HATE making up my mind between good/no fail choices...I never know which one is right for me to do because it's not black and white...woe is me!!! lol!

A couple of months ago my sister-in-law called me up and asked me if I wanted to go to Women's Conference...I usually say NO to these kinds of extra curricular activities because I usually try to spend the least amount of time I can with my in-laws...okay I'm totally kidding...(read back through my blog history and you will note that I hang out with my in-laws quite a bit because I love them!)...well I did say Yes to her, and then forgot about it, which I tend to do...luckily my sis-in-law is incredibly on top of things and reminded me to register before time was up! I registered in the nick of time!

I had my flight all ready to go for the first flight out in the morning...because the first speaker of the day was Sheri Dew...and I so love to hear Sheri Dew speak, the plan was this:

I was suppose to take the early flight Thursday morning and
arrive at the airport where my mother-in-law (Viv) would pick me up. We
would then go and pick up my sister in law KT and drive down to Provo to make it
just in time for the conference to begin! Easy enough plan right?
Wrong!

I wake up 15 minutes after my flight had already left. The next flight didn't leave for another hour...so it was inevitable that I was going to miss Sheri Dew.

I didn't want to make my in-laws wait for me...and they did offer, which is a step above me, because I wouldn't have...I just told them to go ahead...I would pay for the consequences of turning my alarm off like a zombie (I swear, I NEVER remember turning it off, but MountainSport Man always assures me that I did)...it's sorta creepy...

Long story short and $80 something dollars later, I have a car rented and I am on my way down to the Conference, after flying in on the next flight out!

If I was a smarter person I would have thought that a sign not to go to the conference...but I tend to ignore those types of things...hahaha...no REALLY I'm glad I went...it was so good for me!

Anyway, it was incredible! I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints "Mormon"...and the thing I brought back most from everything I attended and heard from the conference is that our challenges here on earth, our trial and tribulations, are just "refining" us, or preparing us to meet our Savior, Jesus Christ! The "hard times" make us better people...hmmm, that is where faith comes in, right? Correct me if I'm wrong please, because I don't see the instant outcome of that... :)--Knowing this still doesn't make our trials and challenges easier, but it is necessary to find joy in our journey, find happiness in the moments! Now THAT I can do!

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Of course, I had to take SOME pictures!

This is a picture of the Mountains in Provo...this is what I took for granted when I was going to college at BYU and also when I was first married and saw these beautiful mountains everyday on my way to work or school...this was my home...they are incredible right? I forgot the majesty of these mountains until I stopped and really looked at them this weekend...then I had to take a picture and share their beauty with you!

I had to share this photo...I got Viv right before she is about to lecture me...I'm not sure about what...I was laughing to hard at the picture after I shot it to pay particular attention to what she was saying...sorry Viv...I really do have the utmost respect for you...but this shot is perfect...this is your...I'm about to say something you are not going to like, but I'm going to say it anyway face!

This is KT and Kal deciding which class to go after Friday Morning's beginning session. Deep in thought... :) or ummm...not!

Kal was ready for the shot...but everyone else was moving...so I thought it looked cool...kinda...plus her cheese ball grin is a crack up!
This is Viv and I...Friday morning...just chillin'

Here's the rest of the crew...in a diagonal...Furthest one down is Mind's Mom, then Mind, then Kal, then KT, then VIV...cute crew...we had fun together!

This is a shot of the Left side of the Marriott Center Friday morning before it all started.

This is the right side shot of the Marriott Center!

Kal and I chose our class and we were off! It was a swarm of women trying to get to the different classes...so it kinda felt like Disneyland in a way, because you were waiting in lines wherever you went...lines for the bathroom, lines for the food, lines to get into the classes, and finally lines to cross the street...that is where we were, waiting to cross the straight, so we took a pic of ourselves...natural beauty if I do say so myself! ha (rolling my eyes)!

This is Friday afternoon, us waiting for the last session where our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson spoke.

This is a shot of President Monson walking in to get seated before the podium...the thousands and thousands of people stood up...complete silence...and then we broke out into "We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet"...some dust must have hit my eyes...okay I bawled like a baby getting its diaper changed...it was such an incredible moment!

Here is a shot of the Right side of the Marriott Center when President Monson was going to speak...compare the difference from above!

This is the Left side of the Marriott Center all to hear President Monson Speak! Compare above!

I really, really thought that it would be one of those times that the President of the Church was getting up to talk and he would say those words we all want to hear...at that meeting that we all should be attending...and they say, "I feel prompted to say that all of you attending this afternoon at this meeting will be twinkled up at the last day" :) Didn't happen...but his message was incredibly inspiring and motivating...even though he didn't give me my "golden ticket"! lol!

Here we are...the girls...what a good weekend!!!

Word-Filled Wednesday (LDS does not = FLDS)

Since it is Word-Filled Wednesday...we have to fill this post up with words!!! That shouldn't be too hard for me...ya think? Anyhow, this article: "A Mormon View" written by Cassandra Handley...which I have also put on my right side bar so you can view it at anytime...was written for Vanity Fair Online and the author is witty and it's just a plain good read. If you have time you should also pop over to this blog A Ton of Authors and a Wannabe and read the post called, "Mormon Boys" Get Noticed Down Under...and not just because I am interested in all things Australian, but because it mentions more about the polygamist issue and the difference between the LDS and FLDS; then it gives a shout out for her book! Well it is a blog about Authors and one Wannabe...I wish that were me...I'm my own wannabe I guess.

I am always shocked about what questions that come up when I am traveling and people find out that I am "mormon". The first question is always, "So what wife are you?" (Okay, not always a question personally asked to me, but it has been asked) I just chuckle...I don't understand and am ignorant to other religions...so it is only fair that other people are ignorant to mine. My husband says, "there is no way I could handle more than one wife..." basically saying that I make the job of a husband a one woman job...yea honey, you remember that! I love how the author answers these frequently asked questions...another one, "Where are your horns?" If you have time you should read it, especially if you are not LDS, it might answer some questions you have had...do keep in mind the article is meant to be light hearted and not offensive.

Okay so I love this picture of Brandyn and Tal...thanks to PW Actions and some fine tuning this turned out so awesome...okay I'm proud!

ANAGRAM TIME sorry no extra $$$ this time...but still play...practice makes perfect and what else are you doing right now?:

Since Brilliant Jessica already received our prize for the month... I still wanted to post and do another Anagram just for practice for next month! It's 4 Words this time...so another phrase...and has to do with the article mentioned above...what's your guess???

Savored Hmm Honors No

I think I'll change the rules a little for next month. All of those who guess the Anagrams on a weekly basis will be put in the drawing at the end of the month for some cool prize (Anybody want the newest season of "THE OFFICE" out on DVD...just thinking not sure what I'm going to give, so you might want to get good at your anagrams!!!) ...whatever it may be! Since I found out I have extremely smart relatives...this should be fun...come on people...who will guess it first? If you actually guess the anagram...I will reply to you and let you know, don't give it away to other people...this is an "On Your Honor" kind of system!


Lots of Love, Shelle

The Post about the Post

Last night I was posting and my computer was REALLY slow...so the post just under this one: Girls Weekend...oh no what did you do? is not quite finished,(OKAY ITS FINISHED NOW) because I shamefully fell asleep while blogging...so forgive and bare with me!

Along with that post I did want to say that this last weekend was SO good for me. I had been feeling sorry for myself, not an unusual thing-sad but true, I'm human but I don't admit that often :)...anyhow, this weekend filled me. Weird, I know, but let me explain.

I had my own personal self help counseling this weekend because I was able to listen to uplifting and inspirational talks by my church leaders. I don't care what religion you are or what you believe, but it CAN'T be bad when your spirit feels like it has been fed. I didn't know that I was starving for hope and positive pats on the back for enduring what comes at us in life. When I listened this weekend to my church leaders I literally felt like someone was filling my soul up with knowledge that left me full and satisfied. I mean there is no other feeling like it...I felt lightened, happy, and all put together...I didn't realize that I was broken up in pieces (trodden down) and talk by talk I felt like my spirit was being put back together.

Don't be scared...I am a passionate person about things especially when I find something that makes me feel good and happy, I tend to cling to it! Really, think about it, anybody would do the same. I am a totally normal, average, and sometimes geeky human being...I just had to share how wonderful I felt and how much I needed this weekend: First of all I had family I loved around me especially my sisters who are my bestest friends, and I had knowledge of hope filling me up with the best sorts of feelings! Can't beat it!

I read quite a lot and I love searching out self help books that inspire you to be a better person. Well this weekends talks that I was able to listen to helped me feel just like that...to recommit to do better and be better at things in life that are most important. Can't be much bad about that right?

Okay, I'm done...I'll finish my post below and I also have to give a shout out to my sister! It's her Birthday and I need to post some embarrassing (or in her case, cute as can be) pictures of her! Love ya!

Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley...till we meet again!

We thank thee O' God for a Prophet! What an incredible example of how to live life! He is now home with our Father in Heaven and back in the arms of his wife! What a legacy he left. What an example of living to serve our Heavenly Father. I will miss is wit and inspirational talks. Luckily I can read the books he wrote and the talks he gave in previous conferences. I remember that he visited our 9th ward one time. He wasn't expected and I believe he was in the Quorum of the Twelve at the time. I do remember he shook hands and greeted people after the sacrament meeting with patience. I remember feeling that I instantly felt akin to him and since that time he has held a special place in my heart...even before he was the Prophet. While I was watching his biography on the news they showed a clip of a speech he gave at the Nauvoo, IL temple dedication where he said that, and I'm paraphrasing "we have a lot of work to do and we don't have forever to do it!"...attending the temple and doing the work is his message and legacy...I will stive to do my part!

DCar cuttin up the mountain!

January 19, 2008

So DCar has gotten so much better since his first time boarding. MountainSport Man and DCar have gone up pretty much every weekend since Brianhead opened! Now that DCar doesn't fall as much he is loving it! Enjoy the pics and video!