Ties that bind

 

Several of my friends have had a parent die in the last few months. I know each of those days will be forever marked in their memory.  A day that will forever be full of weight and memories. I have had several of my friends on my mind as I can relate to what they might be feeling. A couple of them I know feel like they are drowning in their life from the inside out. They feel it is hard to find their footing. I love and understand what their thoughts might be.

What are the ties that bind us together? It may not always be a common bond of love or friendship. Maybe there is a stronger bond formed when we deeply understand another person's trial. Maybe we understand another's experience so well because we have been there ourselves. Traveling the same road, just at different times. This binds us together. We are united because we understand one another and uniquely resonate with each other's pain.

What about the person who feels inadequate or the mom who feels she is screwing it all up? We are tied. What about the mom who fights for the triumphs of a learning disabled child? I am bound to her. Or, what of all the women who struggle to find balance in all that they do? We are each connected.

Aren't we somehow all tethered together? Each fighting our own personal battles. Each trying in our own way to carry the weight of our struggles. But maybe the ties that bind us are also the ones that will carry us, and lift us....together. Never alone--always together.

Pause.....

I've been looking for the Pause button. For at least a week now. Time and schedules and life have tumbled faster than I can keep pace. Days have drifted open and close, and every morning I still feel far behind. Life needs a Pause button, don't you think? Not a Stop or a Delete, but just a Pause.

I won't go into the details of why I feel like I am running too fast, because that would bore you and me.  But today I have felt like I was able to pause because I had to. I hurt my bad really bad at work on Monday trying to do too many things at once and now I am paying the price.  After being in so much pain today I kind of paused and refueled and it feels good. Hopefully, it won't take an injury for me to use the pause button again!

If you find yourself swimming through the busy and the crazy, look for your Pause. It may take time and careful attention, but today I learned that it's there. Right there, within reach. Look with your eyes and see with your heart. And then, take time to Pause.

I feel so grateful and thankful for.......

Every year for the month of November I try to make some kind of list or decoration where each family member will be able to write things they are thankful for.  It is a little sparse this year with only 4 members living at home.  It is really fun to look at the list on Thanksgiving day, to see all the vast things our family is grateful for!

 Here is a list of some of the things our family listed they were grateful for:

1. Christ.  He. made. it. possible. for. us. to. live. again.  We love our Savior, very much and we are grateful for His atoning  sacrifice for each of us.  We have been fortunate to feel his love for us and because of that we are able to love all of Heavenly Father's children because we know He loves each of His children.

2. My Husband.  I am grateful that I married such a good man, who treats me with kindness, love and respect.  We will be married for 25 years in a few months and I am grateful for my decision to marry him each and every day.
3.  My children.  They have given me a lot of joy and purpose for living.  I feel like my life is enriched because I have them.  I have learned to be better at being selfless from the experiences with them.
4. My parents, I am grateful for all they did for me now more than ever. I realize their sacrifices in my behalf and I feel a tremendous amount of love for them.
5. My sibling,  I have some of the best brothers a girl could ask for.  And then I was blessed with a sweet sister years later. 
6.  I am grateful for the gospel and how it has influenced my life for good.  It truly is "good news."
7.  My extended family-they make our lives complete. They have given us  support, a listening ear, and help in more ways than I can ever express.  
8.  My home! I am so grateful for a warm place to live!  We have all the comforts of life and have never wanted for anything.
9. My husband's job. We have had a couple experiences where we are unemployed and it is no fun.  I am grateful that my husband works hard for our family and never complains about having to do so.
10.  A car!!!  I am so glad that we don't have to walk everywhere.  Matt always keep my car maintained and very safe.  I am grateful he knows so much about cars.
11. Friends!!!!!!  Friends truly make life complete. I love my friends from high school, early married years, and friends in Sandy. I am grateful for the opportunity we had to move because I have met some amazing people that I love and adore!!!
12.  Lynn, my hairdresser!  I love Lynn and can talk to her about anything.  She is so good to me about my hair. She colors my hair ever few weeks at her home for a small amount and for that I am so grateful.  She can work magic when she does my hair.
13.  Food,  I love food!  I love how food can bring families together and help create better memories. I hope when I die that we will be able to still enjoy food!
13. Traveling!!!!  I love to explore new places and to see parts of the world that I haven't experienced before. I am blessed that my husband loves to travel too and because of that, we have went to some amazing places!
14.  My job!!!  I love where I work and I have the best boss anyone could ever ask for!  She is kind, caring and wants what is best for the students at our school.  I have become friends with some very incredible people that will be life  long friends. 
15. Books!!!!  I love to read. I have learned so much from my love of reading.   There is nothing better than having a good book to curl up with. 
16.  The YW's program!!!  I love how inspired it is and I love being able to work with the young woman.  It is my favorite place to work in, in the church. I am grateful I get to work there now while my daughter is in Young Women's.
17. Music!!!  Do I need to say more?
18. The telephone! I am grateful that I have ways to communicate with my son, Coby who lives far away from our family right now.  
19.  Cell phones, facebook, texting!!!!!  I  love being able to communicate with people that I haven't seen for a long time.  I love being able to get information very quickly! 
20.  Health.  I have had times where I had health problems and so I grateful that I am blessed with a healthy body and so are my children and husband.  I am grateful that I am able to keep up with the demands of life because of the body I have been given.
21.  Exercise!!!!  I have always loved to exercise. It make my body feel more energized so I can accomplish a lot in each day.
22.  Washing machine and dryer!!!!  Yay!!!!! So glad I don't have to wash my clothes the old fashion way, by hand.
23. Freedom,  I may not know what it's like to live without freedom, but I do know what it feels like to have choices taken away from you. I may not know what death during war looks like, but I do know what it's like to have someone you love taken without your permission. So, when I think of patriotic liberty within the frame of what I can relate to, freedom becomes more tangible. Easier to hold and appreciate.

 24.  The scriptures!!!!  I love having easy access to what Ardith Kapp called, "letters from home."  I feel the spirit when I read from them.
25.  Prayer!!!!!  I love being able to talk to God like I would a real close friend.
26.  The spirit!  I am grateful to have this positive influence in my life that will never lead me astray. I have been richly blessed by the promptings I receive. 

27.  Nature!  I love the beautiful world that I have the privilege of living in!   There is so much beauty and goodness to enjoy.
28. I am grateful for the little things.  A smile from a stranger,   someone stopping to let me in the lane when traffic is heavy,  kind words,  a warm bowl of soap on a cold day.
29.  Smiles!!!!  I love to smile and I love to be around people who smile. I love to smile at the cute kids that I work with.  It is so cute to see them go from  despondent to all of the sudden happy.
30. Service!!!!  I am grateful to be able to serve others  because it blesses my life abundantly!!!  I am grateful for the small and big acts of service I have been blessed to be a part of!!! 

Pirates of Penzance---Kara got a part in her school play!

This week Kara tried out for the play of Pirates of Penzance.  She and over a 100 of her closest friends. There were only 5 main girl parts and as  you can image most of the people who tried out were girls. She made it back for callbacks yesterday so we were kind of hopeful.  I told her we would have a pity party or a celebration party!   Well, it turned out to be a celebration party.  She got the part as Edith!!!  I am really excited for her and so glad that her practices are close to our home!  We just finished with Cinderalla less than a week ago and it took me forever to drive her to practices so this is a welcome relief. Also, it is great that she gets to do the play with some of her friends from school!!!! Yay!!!!!   Here is the list of parts!!!!!! 

• Major-General Stanley (comic baritone)
• The Pirate King (bass-baritone)^[22]
• Samuel, his Lieutenant (baritone)
• Frederic, the Pirate Apprentice (tenor)
• Sergeant of Police (bass)^[22]

General Stanley's daughters:

Mabel (soprano)

Edith (mezzo-soprano)  Kara's part!!!!! 

Kate (mezzo-soprano)

Isabel (speaking role)

• Ruth, a Piratical Maid of all work (contralto)

• Chorus of Pirates, Police and General Stanley's Daughters

Coby has been in Jordan for 4 months!

Here are some of the pictures Coby took while in Jordan.  I have learned a lot from having him in Jordan.  It is amazing how similar things are and also how different things are too.  Above,  is an awesome grove of Olive Trees.

The Sea of Galilee from afar.

The Martyr's Memorial in Amman, tribute to Jordan's creation and it's fallen soldiers in wars past.

Memorial to Turkish soldiers who died at the Battle of As-Salt in WWI.

Going through the slot canyons there, that look a lot like Southern Utah.

Climbing on Roman Ruins, they'd never let you do this in the U.S....awesome!

How the Dead Sea looks now.

Jordanian women

Lunch,  hashem, I wonder how it tastes.

There are shops with vendor all over Amman that sell things that are unique to Jordan.

King Hussein Mosque

People around Amman.

Appartently, this is the creepiest mouse you will ever meet.

Coby's favorite restaurant in Amman, Jabri.

Cinderella's Glass Slipper, November 4, 10 and 12th are Kara's performances!!!!

Cinderella’s Glass Slipper

 from Pioneer Drama

Musical by Bill Francoeur and Vera Morris

Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays

November 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12

West Jordan Middle School Auditorium

curtain at 7:00, open seating begins at 6:30

All tickets $6, children 2 years and under are free

West Jordan Youth Theatre is once again busy producing the lively musical “Cinderella’s Glass Slipper” by Bill Francoeur and Vera Morris. Over 70 youth plus parents and other adult volunteers are singing, dancing, memorizing, sewing and building their way to present this upbeat version of the classic story in November. Director Jessie Ibrahim takes on the challenge of this large double cast in order to involve more families from the community. She wants to give young people opportunities to develop self esteem, learn about theatre, and be involved in the arts.

The magical story takes Cinderella (Chantel Jorgensen and Jessica Pearce) from a poor peasant girl to falling in love with her handsome prince (Samuel Ahanonu). You’ll meet playful new characters like Domo that directs activities in the kingdom, a third silly step sister, and an apprentice Fairy God Mother that will determine if Cinderella is worthy of the special gifts she has in store. Don’t miss this fun tale and entertaining tunes performed by the community’s up and coming stars.