Maybe I think too much?

So do you ever wonder, if for example, if the green of a leaf looks different to you than to another person? Yes, I know there is the color blindness thing...but without looking it up on the internet, I like to imagine that when someone sees a green leaf that to me that I see it totally different than you...maybe as boring as that we see different shades of green for that leaf. Like to you a certain green is always a lime green but to me it is kelly green. Like even as drastic as me seeing pink and you seeing blue or something like that. Hehe. Just my wacky thought process.

Okay so it's snowing today! Erk! Not sticking on the roads, but hello! Ah well. Better than the strong wind yesterday and the dirt that just hung in the air all evening.

Anyway, happy last day of March! Remember to say "rabbit, rabbit" tomorrow morning...first thing.

Reaching Up

Once in a while I love to stretch my arms and hands above my head. It feels soooo good. Go ahead, you know you want to do it! Anyway, it does feel good.

I had a good afternoon yesterday. Went to the track- that felt great! Went over to my mom's and had a good evening hanging out with my mom and niece and nephew and sis in law. It was just a relaxed evening. I loved it. Two more days till the kids get baptized! Very exciting.

Happy Tuesday and happy stretching!

(P.S. I really don't have dark eyebrows...in fact you can hardly see them...but I made them dark in the drawing.)

It's Monday and I got in some extra sleep hours. Yay!

Happy Monday! A good weekend. Something every day this last weekend but great milestones in our family and in a couple of friend families. Happy Monday! I hope to accomplish a ton o' things this week.

Happy Sunday to all!

Just a good day. Off to a missionary farewell today. Spending time with family and friends again. Love that. Just grateful.

A side note...I keep feeling that I need to be accomplishing more in my life. That I have been given talents and blessings and that I am not doing as much as I could be with them. The days go by and I feel that I need to do more...or even something at times. I have to admit that losing my brother this last year was such a huge thing in our family...it threw me off in a lot of ways. His passing has sombered me for sure. But I know he is okay. That he is happy. That he wants me to accomplish what I was born to accomplish.

Hmmm...I really need to ponder on this. Though I have been for the last few years or more. But I really need to start setting goals. Maybe thinking outside the box...though that term gives me a bad taste in my mouth at times because of a misunderstood experience (on my part) about 5 years ago. But it is a good term. I feel that I don't live up to the potential I have inside me. That my heavenly father gave me. Especially lately. Yes, I am accomplishing things..a lot of things---where I have to because of a job and needing to pay my bills (and I am so grateful for a job and that push at work because I know it strengthens me more and more each day and I have learned so much about the industry. I learn more each day.)..but there is so much more, on top of that, I could be doing. So yes, I need to think outside the box when it comes to my goals...my dreams for myself. So here's to doing that. Somehow. One day at a time. That I might break the barriers I have put up for myself. I know that I have been given these talents for a reason. And I guess that is what is frustrating to me. I so easily get stuck and don't try. I take the easy road always it seems. Can you tell I have been thinking about it a lot? I am so proud of my friend Holly. I am amazed by her. I need the security of a fulltime job for sure...but I also know I could be doing more outside of work. So I need to stop dreaming and stop being afraid...and actually do something. I actually have quite a big freelance job to get done in the next while but I also need to get moving and push myself to the potential I know I have in me.

So here is to goals. Goals accomplished by talents that are inborn in each of us. May we work each day to do a little more. In all areas of our lives. Physically, spiritually, and mentally. I can work on all areas for sure! Here's to the rest of 2010. This year is just getting started. Lots of time for lots of potential. Here's to many years of accomplishing many things for all of us. I will do a lot more thinking from now on. And some doing for sure.

Happy Sunday!

A good day

Happy Saturday! A good day. I got to watch my sweet 8 year old niece Jenna get baptized. A good day to be with family and realize the importance of this day.

Happy Friday!

Just a little note to say that I am very thankful for all that I have in my life. I really am grateful.

And here is a non-calorie, non-sugar cupcake... that you can pretend to eat. ; )

Happy Friday.

And just to add...how thankful I am to serve at the temple.

p.s.s. and can I also add...can the weather be more odd today? Seriously, folks. Snow rain mix one minute...then to straight rain...then to blue sky...then about 5 minutes later, snow again. It's been doing this most of the morning. The sun is out at the moment with partly cloudy skies. It is cracking me up.

Ever wondered what germs look like?

So my cute nephew, Marcus, drew the germs he had inside him when he was sick a few days ago. I think this is exactly what germs would look like, don't you agree?

Happy Thursday!

Queen for a Day

Wouldn't you want to be queen for a day? (Besides being a superhero...maybe you could alternate the two positions every other day?) I guess most women who should be called queens really are superheroes with all that they accomplish each day.

Bow to me, my minions! Haha. Kidding. No way do I accomplish much as compared to those women who are mothers...trying to juggle a million things. But I do keep busy for sure!!! I can be queen over my home domain...or at least queen in my mind... ; )

Happy Wednesday!

Ever wanted to be a superhero?

So, I was thinking...have you ever wanted to be a superhero? Able to right the wrongs, the injustices, and maybe a few things you'd like to redo in life that maybe didn't work out the way you thought they would? I think it would be great. Yes, maybe there would be some responsibility issues. Maybe you wouldn't get much downtime...R & R... but think about all the good you could do! Especially with some things happening in our world in the past while, I truly would like to whip out my cape and take to the skies... (also, if only to save on airfare.)

I can't believe it is nearing the end of March. Wow! So much stuff going on this next weekend. Friday, a wedding reception of a friend. Saturday, Jenna, my niece, gets baptized. Sunday, a mission farewell for a good friend. And next week, Jason's kids-Kiley and Kolby- get baptized. I know he will be there. Also, soon comes the year anniversary of Jason's passing. Still so very unreal to us. Just a lot going on.

So get that superhero cape on and make a difference in your life. I know you already are making a difference...just maybe a little incognito.

Happy Monday!

Yes- Monday rears it's ugly head way too often...kidding...sort of...I appreciate Mondays but I appreciate Fridays more...like we all do. Had a hard time sleeping Saturday night. Tossing and turning. My mind was going all directions. I am glad to report that Sunday night was a normal sleeping night for me and I slept well.

Anyway, my thought for today...let someone know that you love them.

Happy Friday!

Just wanted to say that! No drawing. Lazy today. Glad the little snow particles stopped falling. Now it is sunny out.

Happy Friday!

I am so silly sometimes...

Who else would draw a little girl giving a ride to her bear on her rear end, I ask you? Hehe.

Nothing much to report today I guess. I did my 5 miles last night after work. Feels so good to be outside! Ah, the fresh air and the Spring sun on my back is priceless! I am not a fan of it staying darker longer in the morning...but I love the lighter-longer thing in the evening...for sure.

Anyway, maybe my thought today is to be there for a friend. You don't have to give them a ride on your rear end...but you can just be there for them.

Happy Thursday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day...and Wednesday!

So it feels like it is going to be a good day! It's Wednesday...the weather is amazing again today...and for all those with real Irish blood in them...or even all of the rest of us with pretend Irish blood in us (at least for today), I hope it is a fun St. Patty's Day! How funny that we take such stock in making sure to wear green on this day for fear of being pinched. Pretty hilarious if you ask me. But, yes, I did wear green. Call it peer pressure I suppose.

Hey, you can also eat green food and then your innards will be green too!

Have a happy Wednesday! (Oh, I finally changed the clock in my car so that I am not psyching myself out thinking I am coming into work earlier than I should be. Amazing how just changing your car clock makes you not feel so tired as you drive to work in the morning.)

Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday...is a good day

Tuesday is a good day. Lots of things to accomplish. Did my 5 miles at the track after work yesterday. The perfect weather. Sunny and a light breeze. Now that is Spring to me! Beautiful day! Got to sleep at a semi-decent hour last night...but still a struggle to get up this morning. Ah well. Got to sit in on another missionary discussion for Kiley last night at Mom's. How grateful I am for the simple truths of the gospel. So simple, yet so deep and meaningful to me.

Here's a little guy to brighten up a Tuesday morning! And here's to a successful and happy Tuesday. A good goal every day...to dwell on all that I have in my life. The many blessings.

Yay for Monday!

Spring, you know you can do it!

Though I must say I am not a fan of daylight savings! Took me forever to fall asleep last night and then rudely my alarm clock woke me up right on time this morning. Sigh. I moved slowly getting ready for work. Takes me about a week to get back to my normal schedule... I vote for no daylight savings! Arizona, I am jealous.

Happy Monday! May we all accomplish amazing things this week.

Thankful for Family

I am thankful for Sundays when I can go to church and be reminded of the knowledge I have from the gospel. I am thankful for all that I learn every day as I try to be a better person each day though I know I have a lot of backward steps to fix. The impatience thing is a tough one to work through sometimes. I get so impatient and upset about trivial things so easily. What happened to me just being carefree and letting things roll off my back? I guess some of it comes from stress in my life. Worrying about some things- like we all do- and missing a couple of family members deeply who have had to pass on and only be with us in spirit.

I have really been missing my brother a lot the last few days. I get so emotional about it. I miss Jase so much and wish that I could talk to him. He always made us laugh. And I know he is doing that on the other side...livening up heaven for sure! Our family just seems quieter with him gone from us. Can't believe that on April 4th, he will have been gone from us for a year. It seems so unbelievable. My sister and I were talking about it tonight at Mom's. Of course we both got teary-eyed. That happens so easily. A lot of times on the way to work in the mornings, I think about my brother. Wondering, as always, what he is doing. Does he think about us? Is he missing us? Is he excited we will do his temple work in less than a month? Will he be there? Yes, I know he will. Is he excited that his 11 year old daughter is getting baptized on the 1st of April? I know he is so proud of her for taking that step. I just wish we could see his face as these amazing events take place in the next while. Jase, hopefully we will be able to do your temple work soon after your year mark...like that weekend. I hope it works out to do it quickly. We love you. We miss you like crazy!

Happy birthday to Jenna today! Another niece...who just turned 8. She gets baptized soon too. Very exciting. Mom, me, Karen, Alan, Ben, Ander, Wy, and Kiley all sang to her over the phone tonight. Yep- sign us up for the Motab choir!

Just a quick thought

Sometimes I am amazed at how some people can be. Reminds me of how I don't want to be. And how I need to remember how it makes me feel and that I would never want to make someone feel that way. I think a lot of it comes from not thinking things through and maybe a little immaturity. And I have done that before. So I can relate. But again it reminds me of how not to be. Just surprising to me. And hurtful.

Now I will breathe deep and move on.

Just a nice memory...

So, my Dad was really handy with cutting and designing wood blocks into fun wooden toys. He had a bunch of saws and tools. This is one of the little cars he made. I have it in my bedroom to remind me of my Dad. Just a good and sweet memory. I miss him. I loved it that I could go to him and tell him my troubles and he would say that everything would be alright. I miss his hugs. I miss his silly jokes. He laughed more about his jokes than the people listening to them. I told him that a sign of a good comedian was to not laugh at your own jokes...he just couldn't do it. ; ) Love you, Dad. Tell Jase hello.

Happy Friday! I need to work hard today. Accomplish a lot. I hope you are able to also. It's always a nice feeling. Or maybe just enjoy the pretty day...hey, that sounds good. A nice dream but I must work. I will look out my work window, longingly, at the pretty day.

And I really need to add...how grateful I am for who I am. And what I have. Family.

Grateful and Humbled

Just thought I'd post this little sketch I did of a little boy enjoying summer and just being a child. Carefree days! Ah.... I am just grateful and humbled with all that I am blessed with in my life.

I got to sit in on a missionary discussion last night for my 11 year old niece. Her father is my brother who passed away last April. He had always wanted to baptize her once he was able to, but the timing wasn't right. It's a sweet experience to listen to how simple the gospel is but how amazing it is. It touched my heart last night and renewed my convictions that I know I have chosen the only path for me in my life. Thank you, cute Granny, for sending the missionaries to Dad and Mom when I was a small child.

Happy Wednesday and the hope of flowers...soon!

Can you tell I have Spring fever? Happy flower day to you! Happy Wednesday too!

Went to a great RS meeting last night. It was our Relief Society birthday party. A "get to know you better" kind of evening. We all started at certain tables and each table was a certain color theme....purple, orange, red, white, green, etc. and each table was given a question to answer.... like "What was your most memorable vacation?" We would all go around the table answering the question. Then we would pull out a popsicle stick, that was colored on the end, that was in a container to see what color of table we would go to next. Sometimes our original group would pretty much end up together but not always. It was a fun time hearing from each other about their life experiences. Another question at a table was, "What did you do as a kid?" They laughed when I told them that me and my brother pretended that our parents were giants and we would hide under the table from them. My brother doesn't remember that. I probably remember because I was the instigator of the idea. It was a fun evening.

And it didn't snow last night or this morning! Yes! So happy flower day to you! May many flowers start waking up and coming up out of the earth soon!

Yes, Spring IS Coming! I just know it!

Maybe Spring isn't coming today or maybe it is...as the forecast calls for snow and rain and that is typical of early Spring and the last few days of Winter. The Spring I love I KNOW is coming ...where it is still a teensy bit coolish but there is hope of long warm days. Little flowers poking their little buds out of the soil. The sun warming up the soil. New little baby animals are born. The grass starts to wake up and green up. The warm sun. Ah, Spring! I can't wait to breathe it in deeply. So here are some new Spring buds in a pitcher...it gives me that Spring hope.

Happy Tuesday! It's a good day!

P.S. I love this line style. Simple but a little rough.

Monday...how fast the weekends go!

This little jumping guy is trying to have a good attitude that it is Monday... and that there was no sleeping in. So I might as well be happy that it is Monday. The start of the week and the start of many possibilities! (And no, he did not explode from eating cheetos...or something orangey...or maybe he did.)

The Economy Hasn't Slowed the Tooth Fairy Down Any...

I had to post these two photos of my nephew Ander and my niece (and Ander's cousin) Jenna. Looks like the tooth fairy does not need to worry about the economy and losing his job anytime soon.

Such cute kids. (Ché, I grabbed the photo of Jenna from you. Hope that's okay.)

Other uses for blocks from my stamp sets

My nephew Marcus made a tower with some of the blocks from my stamp sets. So fun and what a cute boy!Happy Friday! My power at my house went out from about 7 am to 9:30 am this morning. It makes you grateful for heat and lights. Happy day too...my blinds that my sister's cute dog ate, have now been replaced. Pretty spiffy!

And I get the day off from work. YESSSSSSS! Off to run errands. I am glad the snow stopped falling. But gladder I didn't have to drive to work in it. Lucky it is wet snow for those that have to travel.

11 months today

Wow- 11 months since Jason had to leave us. Just so strange. It will always be so. Sometimes it seems like he is off on a trip of some sort. An adventure. Which he is. But that he will come back any day now. Which he can't. And then sometimes it seems like it has been forever since I have hugged or pinched him. Or laughed together at some silly comment or event that was happening.

Jase, I know you are cheering that BYU ran over Utah last night. 20 point win. I love you, Bumper. I miss you. Keep going in your goals and we will be at the temple together as a family in a month. Bring Dad along. I know he wouldn't miss it. I always pictured you at the temple with us someday. All in white contrasting against your beautiful, warm brown skin. Your dark curls coming a little over your white collar. I pray that when we do your work that I will feel your presence there with us and feel your joy. I think it will be an amazing day. Every time I picture you in white at the temple, I picture a soft white glow around you. That you are finally complete. Finally happy. Finally content. I hope that you allow me to feel that in my heart that day. You have a huge spirit. You always have. So I can't imagine not feeling that way that day.

You know I love you, your sister Lori (who misses you so much)

Watch out...I'm acting like I must be perfect or something...

...and I am SO not. So much to work on.... so here goes...

So I hear on the radio this morning that "they" (not sure who "they" are though I assume it is representation for the handicapped community) are trying to discourage everyone from using the word "retarded". "They" feel that it is disrespectful to those with handicaps. I totally respect that. And I will try harder not to use that word. But I mean no offense to those that are handicapped.

Okay, so then I think that some group of "they" should also discourage people from taking the Lord's name in vain. And maybe announce that on the radio also! People do that much more frequently and without a bit of regard to our Savior and our Heavenly Father and all that they have done for us and continue to do for us. The very breath we breathe at the very least. We should show every bit of respect every single minute of our lives. It just makes me sad. I know that at times I forget how blessed I am and I sometimes feel sorry for myself with some things that have or have not happened for me. But how sad of an individual I am if I forget all that I have to be thankful for and who has given it to me. So come on KSL, let everyone know! Let's show respect.

Anyway, that is my soapbox statement for the week. We will now go back to our regularly scheduled program...

Tuesday, Tuesday

So nice out weather-wise this week! Love it! Supposed to hit a high of 57 or so today. LOVE IT! Ah, Spring! My dear friend that I have missed.

So a funny thing the other day...well, maybe not so funny for the two little birds above that I saw as I was driving along on the street. There were only two of them sitting there together on the wire. And they wouldn't look at each other. I think they are married. And it made me wonder if maybe they were having a little disagreement. Probably about where to settle down and nest for the Spring. I picture them just barely flying in from somewhere in the south and that they were tired and a little bit cranky. Who doesn't get that way from traveling at times and the stress of where to settle down? And where to find the perfect neighborhood for their future bird children? They wouldn't look at each other. But I could tell they love each other. ; ) I hope Mr. and Mrs. Bird work it out. They looked like a lovely couple. I wish them the best.

Happy Tuesday!

Happy Monday!

So I remembered to say rabbit, rabbit this morning. Yay! The hope of good luck for a month's worth cannot hurt.

I think I actually slept in a normal sleep pattern last night. Wow! All during the Vancouver Olympics, and trying to catch as much of it as I could, I kept waking up at odd hours through the night. It was crazy! But it was a once in a lifetime event having the Olympics in Vancouver. So it was worth it.

13 (or is it 14?) golds for the Canadians! The most in a Winter Olympics. And 37 medals for the US! The most ever for a country in the Olympics. Pretty cool! Fun times. Now back to reality.

So, happy Monday!