Monday, December 24, 2007

Loves and kisses

Merry Christmas to all!! And to all, a goodnight!!!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Laughing anyone???

Wow, it is feast or famine with this blogger!! So right now you better feast on this because who knows when the famine is coming in MY writing!( As if anybody really cares, hello!) That last blog was quite serious, and granted there are many parts to life that is very serious and it needs to be. But I think I would rather laugh! I probably laugh at very inappropriate times and at inappropriate things, for that I am sorry! There is just so many things that strike me funny especially within the classroom setting with my students.

Like this week, one of my students asked me if the gluteus maximus was located in the trunk or the legs, of course I answered her with dignity and sincerity but in my mind, it was going wild with visuals and comments that only I probably thought was funny!!
("Just remember that the gluts are part of the legs because you still have two of them nicely separated by a crack and then the trunk begins.) So I start to get a smile on my face trying very hard not to LAUGH!!

Or this Christmas letter that my son-in-law writes every year, and believe me he is totally a crack-up with great wit!! Well, he talks freely about diarrhea and then my mind immediately goes to the time my mother called and Joel answered the phone the conversation started like this: (Hi Joel, Joel responds well Hi Doris, how are you doing? Oh I have diarrhea and I don't know why etc etc.!) Well, let's face it our entire family is very comfortable in talking to Joel about their ailments! But don't let him fool you, he is too!! So consequently I start to LAUGH!!

Some in my family might think I'm such a crude person, but quite frankly I need an out and laughing is the way to go, if you ask me! Maybe I just need better timing with it, I don't know.

Even when I was on high dosages of Prednizone (1000 mg a day through my IV) my mood went to a lot of laughter and an occasional meanstreak!! (anybody who has been on it can verify what that stuff does to you)

So there you have it, my true colors, crass and crude and I think it's just plain funny!!

A serious look!

I received this letter from family in Cali and found it very moving! I believe it is a true document and that this one man's view is one we all need to take a look at. I come from military and have felt these affects from the Vietnam war. I hope we all take a look at how "we are not supporting our men in uniform" and how we are causing more trouble by the politicking of the war. My goodness!

M; Hervey, James D DCCM CNL LS Coronado, Training; Johnston, Doug W CDR
CNL LS CORONADO CA, OIC; Kelley, John M CIV CNL LS Corry; Ln DiegN628; Prenger, Kurt J ATC CNL,
N
Charles W GSCM CNL LS Corry Station; Smith, Alvin B AFCM; Song, Jonathan received from a friend that I thought you might want
to share with your teams to put things in perspective.

/wr
Jack


SGT. Edmund John Jeffer's last few words were some of the most touching,
inspiring and most truthful words spoken since the tragedy of 9/11 - and
since our nation went to war. SGT. Jeffers was a strong soldier and
talented writer. He died in Iraq on September 19, 2007. He was a loving
husband, brother and son. His service was more than this country could
ever grasp - a man who sacrificed his life for you ... listen to what
he had to say.

Hope Rides Alone

By Eddie Jeffers


I stare out into the darkness from my post, and I watch the city burn to
the ground. I smell the familiar smells, I walk through the familiar
rubble, and I look at the frightened faces that watch me pass down the
streets of their neighborhoods. My nerves hardly rest; my hands are
steady on a device that has been given to me from my government for the
purpose of taking the lives of others. I sweat, and I am tired. My back
aches from the loads I carry. Young American boys look to me to direct
them in a manner that will someday allow them to see their families
again...and yet, I too, am just a boy....my age not but a few years more
than that of the ones I lead. I am stressed, I am scared, and I am
paranoid...because death is everywhere. It waits for me, it calls to me
from around street corners and windows, and it is always there. There
are the demons that follow me, and tempt me into thoughts and actions
that are not my own...but that are necessary for survival. I've made
compromises with my humanity. And I am not alone in this. Miles from me
are my brethren in this world, who walk in the same streets, who feel
the same things, whether they admit to it or not. And to think, I
volunteered for this...and I am ignorant to the rest of the world...or
so I thought.

But even thousands of miles away, in Ramadi, Iraq, the cries and screams
and complaints of the ungrateful reach me. In a year, I will be thrust
back into society from a life and mentality that doesn't fit your
average man. And then, I will be alone. And then, I will walk down the
streets of America, and see the yellow ribbon stickers on the cars of
the same people who compare our President to Hitler. I will watch the
television and watch the Cindy Sheehans, and the Al Frankens, and the
rest of the ignorant sheep of America spout off their mouths about a
subject they know nothing about. It is their right, however, and it is
a right that is defended by hundreds of thousands of boys and girls
scattered across the world, far from home. I use the word boys and
girls, because that's what they are. In the Army, the average age of the
infantryman is nineteen years old. The average rank of soldiers killed
in action is Private First Class. People like Cindy Sheehan are
ignorant. Not just to this war, but to the results of their idiotic
ramblings, or at least I hope they are. They don't realize its effects
on this war. In this war, there are no Geneva Conventions, no cease
fires. Medics and Chaplains are not spared from the enemy's brutality
because it's against the rules. I can only imagine the horrors a
military Chaplain would experience at the hands of the enemy.

The enemy slinks in the shadows and fights a coward's war against us. It
is effective though, as many men and women have died since the start of
this war. And the memory of their service to America is tainted by the
inconsiderate remarks on our nation's news outlets. And every day, the
enemy changes...only now, the enemy is becoming something new. The enemy
is transitioning from the Muslim extremists to Americans. The enemy is
becoming the very people whom we defend with our lives. And they do not
realize it. But in denouncing our actions, denouncing our leaders,
denouncing the war we live and fight, they are isolating the military
from society...and they are becoming our enemy. Democrats and peace
activists like to toss the word "quagmire" around and compare this war
to Vietnam. In a way they are right, this war is becoming like Vietnam.
Not the actual war, but in the isolation of country and military.
America is not a nation at war; they are a nation with its military at
war. Like it or not, we are here, some of us for our second, or third
times; some even for their fourth and so on. Americans are so concerned
now with politics, that it is interfering with our war. Terrorists cut
the heads off of American citizens on the Internet...and there is no
outrage. But an American soldier kills an Iraqi in the midst of battle,
and there are investigations, and sometimes soldiers are even
jailed...for doing their job. It is absolutely sickening to me to
think our country has come to this. Why are we so obsessed with the bad
news? Why will people stop at nothing to be against this war, no matter
how much evidence of the good we've done is thrown in their face? When
is the last time CNN or MSNBC or CBS reported the opening of schools and
hospitals in Iraq? Or the leaders of terror cells being detained or
killed? It's all happening, but people will not let up their hatred of
President Bush. They will ignore the good news, because it just might
show people that the President was right.

America has lost its will to fight. It has lost its will to defend what
is right and just in the world. The crazy thing of it all is that the
American people have not even been asked to sacrifice a single thing.
It's not like World War Two, where people rationed food, and turned in
cars to be made into metal for tanks. The American people have not been
asked to sacrifice anything. Unless you are in the military or the
family member of a service member, it's life as usual...the war doesn't
affect you. But it affects us. And when it is over, and the troops
come home, and they try to piece together what's left of them after
their service...where will the detractors be then? Where will the Cindy
Sheehans be to comfort and talk to soldiers and help them sort out the
last couple years of their lives, most of which have been spent dodging
death and wading through the deaths of their friends? They will be
where they always are, somewhere far away, where the horrors of the
world can't touch them. Somewhere where they can complain about things
they will never experience in their lifetime; things that the young men
and women of America have willingly taken upon their shoulders.

We are the hope of the Iraqi people. They want what everyone else wants
in life: safety, security, somewhere to call home. They want a country
that is safe to raise their children in. Not a place where their
children will be abducted, raped, and murdered if they do not comply
with the terrorists demands. They want to live on, rebuild, and
prosper. And America has given them the opportunity, but only if we stay
true to the cause, and see it to its end. But the country must unite in
this endeavor...we cannot place the burden on our military alone. We
must all stand up and fight, whether in uniform or not. And supporting
us is more than sticking yellow ribbon stickers on your cars. It's
supporting our President, our troops, and our cause. Right now, the
burden is all on the American soldiers. Right now, hope rides alone.
But it can change, it must change. Because there is only failure and
darkness ahead for us as a country, as a people, if it doesn't. Stop
all the political nonsense, let's stop all the bickering, let's stop all
the bad news, and let's stand and fight!


Eddie's father, David Jeffers, writes:

I'm not sure how many letters or articles you've ever read from the
genre of "News from the Front," but this is one of the best I've ever
read, including all of America's wars. As I was reading this, I forgot
that it was my son who had written it. My emotions range from great
pride to great sorrow, knowing that my little boy (22 years old) has
become this man.

He is my hero

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Cookies, wonderful cookies!

Okay, I did it!! I ate four of the most heavenly sugar cookies that my two favorite grandsons made for my husband and I!! I have gone 6 months without that stuff, and I told Nate I was going to and he said go for it mom, so will I!! We loved every bite, every taste of smooth, creamy frosting on top with plain m & m's!! Thank you Brayden, Daxton and Shana for the DELICIOUS cookies, delivered thoughtfully by Jon and Rachel. I couldn't have broken my fast of sweets better than on cookies such as those!!

But, okay, I'm back on the wagon!! So no more, okay????

Staph, yikes!!

Yikes!! So this week on Wednesday night a shuttering pain started on my right, outside foot! It was a crack that developed because of dry winter weather, super dry skin, and I teach my classes (pilates and Yoga) bare foot, walking on those harsh floors day in and day out! Needless to say we used super glue, we used bag balm, I soaked it in epsom salts, nice warm epsom salts, and took motrin for the pain. Nothing helped. Finally, I asked for a blessing. I finally fell asleep with my foot elevated I got a little relief for the night. The next morning, it was a little better, but I couldn't walk on it. I continued to teach my classes, all three of them. It was the last one, BYU's yoga one that I finally said to myself, go to the ER, this is a Staph Infection!! The red streak about 2 inches in diameter was up to the top of my ankle and my ankle was swelling. I started to chill a little and not feel so hot. I went on home and soaked my foot one more time and headed over to Orem Community. Sure enough it was a staph infection, that could be, I said, could be an infection called Mersa that is a resistant strain of staph to antibiotics. Dr. Broadbent told me it was early and was glad I came in and gave me a miracle antibiotic called Keflex. If it was mersa it would only get worse, but it didn't it responded well and I'm on my well to healing. The streak is going away, but the site of the infection is taking on a boil like look. It is so weird!! My body must have been ripe again for this, (meaning my immune system low) and everything in line for this bug to get in.

But the one thing I must say here is, I am grateful for antibiotics. They are wonderful when used properly and appropriately. Because healing for me happened pretty quickly. There are many bacterial strains that harm the body so fast and furiously that we alone cannot fight it.
Yes, I believe in alternatives as well, but I believe in medicine. They are to coexist together, appropriately. Thank you for inspiring research, God!! You know what we need!!

The Cellphone Scamp!!

So it seems I keep getting one certain "little" granddaughter in trouble for her photography skills on mom and dad's cell phone and her ability to send them on to me to get my approval, (heehee)!! I have to admit, I'm sure glad it's me, because of some of the risque pictures I've gotten of her mother, my daughter!! Only to be able to say, " A picture is worth a thousand words!" (No, there really wasn't as much shown as you might think!) But the funniest thing about this whole camera
thing is how her parents try everything in the book to keep the cell phone from her, only to discover Mamah is receiving them, laughing out loud at what she is taking pictures of, and then letting her mother know so they don't have an exorbitant cell phone bills, (yikes, how quick it adds up!)
Here are a few pictures she has sent only to mention a few:
1. Lara stepping out of the shower with a towel on her head, looking down, slightly smiling at Sophia! (I could read her lips, "what are you doing, Sophia?")
2. Pictures of her beautiful and coveted blanket, that she loves so much she coos when she sees it.
3. Pictures of her cute shoes with a leg and a foot in them, which is that of her own!!!
4. Many pictures that were BLACK, (what was that about Sophia?!)
5. Pictures of Daddy sleeping, a lovely nice head shot!
6. Pictures of her sister, Chloe, sticking her tongue out at Sophia, (just like a sister!!)

The list goes on and on.
One day I received 17 pictures, 2 text messages, and a couple of phone calls. Uncle Nate received 2 text messages and don't know if Grampa got any, but I think he did!! All from Miss Sophia!

Now when my cell phone rings from Lara's phone, I always ask first, is this Sophia?? When I hear nothing, it is and when I hear Lara, she says, no mom, it's me!!! This kid is something else, I've never seen anything like this before! I know my grandchildren are child prodigy's in other ways, but in technology, this young????????

Oh, Lara, wonder what her chosen field will be!! I guess I should start asking her what she is going to be when she grows up, like my mom asked you kids all your growing up years!!

Friday, December 7, 2007

What is an ENFJ??????

Amazing how things get around this blog world. So my friend Amy from UVSC sent this to me, so I thought I would let you all get a kick out of it and try it yourselves. I think I posted the link. Check it out and see if this really is how you see yourself. What is really funny is how we do these things sometimes to entertain ourselves.
LOL!!! And then what does ENFJ really stand for????





You Are An ENFJ





The Giver

You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed.
Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections.
Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down.
You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine.

In love, you are very protective and supporting.
However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous.

At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential.
You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud




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http://www.blogthings.com/whatsyourpersonalitytypequiz/


Wednesday, December 5, 2007

"Old Love!"

Oh my goodness, it is December 5th and I haven't had a minute to write anything! You see, that is why a journal is hard for me. Oh well!!! I'm dead in the middle of finals and grades and teaching, teaching, teaching, and Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat! (Hope I'm not!) But, I can say I'm really doing well shopping for gifts. Well,maybe pretty good. Forget my house being decorated! I need Lara!! But at least I have the tree up. Slowly getting things on it, of course. Did get Daisy groomed for Christmas! The calendar is filling up, up,up!

But I have to say, I am so glad that I have been able to make time for one thing and that is studying or reading the Holy Word of God! If I don't then I suffer immensely! Right now I'm in 3rd Nephi Reading about his ministry over here in the Americas and loving every minute of it. Also, I was called upon to give the YW lesson to all the YW last week on developing talents! It was wonderful as usual for the teacher to learn or remember what you already knew! His gifts are innumerable to us as we have to ask for them. Then the VTing message is becoming an instrument in His hands through charity! That is one of the most difficult gifts to acquire and to keep! I sincerely have to ask for that regularly! I love that Howard W Hunter says we can't force people to be better, but we can inspire them to be better! I have a few people in my life who do just that for me!

Then on a secular point I was reading Smartmarriages that I get regularly and loved the article on "Old Love' vs "New or Young love" and found it profound. I totally relate to the insights there. Here is a sample:

This is research that has encouraging news!
It's also that brain researchers say older people may simply be better able to deal with the emotional vicissitudes of love. As it ages, the brain becomes more programmed to be happy in relationships...
Young love is about wanting to be happy, old love is about wanting someone else to be happy.

She was very aware that contradictory things live together. You can't look at it and say he did it purely for love, it's a complicated issue, because there's a lot of life that has been lived. It's not going to be simple"

"As you get older you begin to recognize that this isn't going to last forever, for better or for worse," "You understand that the bad times pass and you understand that the good times pass, as you experience them, they're more precious, they're richer."

"As people get older, they seem to naturally look at the world through positivity and be willing to accept things that when we're young we would find disturbing and vexing."
It's not rationalization, the reaction is instantaneous. "Instead of what would be most disturbing for somebody, feeling betrayed or discomfort, the other thoughts-about how from his perspective it's not betrayal-can be accommodated much more easily," "It paves the way for you to be sympathetic to the situation from his perspective, to be less disturbed from her perspective." "Young brains tend to go to extremes-the swooning or sobbing so characteristic of young love. Old love puts things in soft focus.

Researchers trying to understand aging and emotion performed brain scans on people across a range of ages, gauging their reactions to positive and negative scenes. Young people tended to respond to the negative scenes. Those in middle age took in a better balance of the positive. And older people responded only to the positive scenes.

Of course not everyone showed a generous response. But it goes to show you as you become "old dogs" together you really do just like to be together, warts and all, looking out after one another, disagreeing without getting defensive and accepting and remembering the positive things. '

So glad I'm getting there!