A WORLD OF WHITE

I woke to a blanket of white on this first Monday of 2011.  Reading facebook posts you'd think all of my St. George friends were in a fantasy world of white.  But for me that world of white leaves me feeling cold and shivery. 

I live in the dessert to enjoy the warmth that it is supposed to bring.  Growing up in Calgary, Alberta and living just an hour from the Canadian Rockies has given me all the snowy experiences I ever needed for my lifetime.  You'd think all those years in Canada I'd be a skier or skater or something.  But no, I spent my winters wishing for warmth and the summers were always way too short.

I'm certain I am destined for someplace tropical.  My goal for 2011 - find a way to move to a tropical island. 

BACKWARD VISION

The remaining days of two thousand ten will end as it began...busy planning for First Night.  Only this year the name changes to Twilight to Midnight.  A quick summary of my past and I discover that all of the moments of my life are dedicated to my children.  I live to experience joy in their self discovery.  Any parent knows that joy does not exist in every child raising moment.  But joy does exist in their positive accomplishments and the realization that "mom really does know what she's talking about."  

RAKAI - New Zealand wasn't really the place for him and rugby wasn't really his game.  He continues to search but has found St. George and the people he left behind to be an important piece of his existence. KARAMEA - One day I received a phone call from her and she said, "mom guess what I learned today?  I learned that I am intelligent, powerful, beautiful and that I can accomplish anything I put my mind to."  I'm pretty sure I've been trying to tell her that all of your life." ISAAC - He learns amazing lessons in his chosen path as a missionary, warrior and disciple of Jesus Christ.  His letters are the most inspirational part of my week.  I am jealous of his current journey and hope to one day create one of my own. AMMON - King of everything!  His passion for living can sometimes be exhausting.  I wonder if he will ever get tired. ASA - Embraces his leadership responsibilities.  Love exists deep down in his soul.  He finds strength in his testimony and willingly shares it with others. HAMILTON - His best friend is 41 year old Preston, a down syndrome man.  Hamilton spends his after school time helping Preston to read and speak.  Preston was the only friend Hamilton invited to his twelfth birthday celebration.  We went bowling.

A quick look back on two thousand ten and I discover that my life belongs to my children.  I live every moment for them.   

FUN WITH ASA

THANKSGIVING AND A WEDDING

This thanksgiving we stepped out of the norm and headed to Arizona for Brian's wedding.  The boys were not too thrilled about missing their soccer tournament but there's another one over New Years weekend so they'll survive.  More than 35 people for dinner on Thursday and then a wonderful wedding day on Friday.  What a crazy weekend!  I never stopped eating and we took tons of pictures.  Here are just a few...

FINDING PEACE WITHIN

Most people agree that a more peaceful world would be an ideal situation for all living creatures. However, we often seem stumped as to how to bring this ideal situation into being. If we are to have true peace in this world, each one of us must find it in ourselves first. If we don't like ourselves, for example, we probably won't like those around us. If we are in a constant state of inner conflict, then we will probably manifest conflict in the world. If we have fighting within our families, there can be no peace in the world. We must shine the light of inquiry on our internal struggles, because this is the only place we can really create change.

When we initiate the process of looking inside ourselves for the meaning of peace, we will begin to understand why it has always been so difficult to come by. This in itself will enable us to be compassionate toward the many people in the world who find themselves caught up in conflicts both personal and universal. We may have an experience of peace that we can call up in ourselves to remind us of what we want to create, but if we are human we will also feel the pull in the opposite direction—the desire to defend ourselves, to keep what we feel belongs to us, to protect our loved ones and our cherished ideals, and the anger we feel when threatened. This awareness is important because we cannot truly know peace until we understand the many tendencies and passions that threaten our ability to find it. Peace necessarily includes, even as it transcends, all of our primal energy, much of which has been expressed in ways that contradict peace.

Being at peace with ourselves is not about denying or rejecting any part of ourselves. On the contrary, in order to be at peace we must be willing and able to hold ourselves, in all our complexity, in a full embrace that excludes nothing. This is perhaps the most difficult part for many of us, because we want so much to disown the negative aspects of our humanity. Ironically, though, true peace begins with a willingness to take responsibility for our humanity so that we might ultimately transform it in the light of our love. 

dailyom.com

PERSIST AND ENDURE

Saturday morning I woke feeling the aches and pains of aging.  My first thought was, "It's Saturday.  I''m gonna drink some tea and go back to bed."  But I had a busy day planned.  So I popped some anti-inflammatory and proceeded with the day.

My morning was all about being a mom - fix breakfast, start the laundry, clean the house, get other people to help me clean the house, go to Hamilton's soccer game.  I persisted through all of this while the anti-inflammatory did it's job.

Half way through Hamilton's game I had to go to a HOBY conference.  A few weeks ago I was asked to be on a service panel and present opportunities for service to the youth at this conference.  There were five other people on the panel all representing service organizations.  My responsibility was to represent Rotary International and it's youth programs.  I arrived as the youth were just coming back in from lunch.  The room filled with happy energy as they entered the room.  An hour was spent on talking about local service opportunities and the global connection rotary has to offer.  When we were finished the youth were given an opportunity to sign up for service.  I think they signed up for everything.  They have 'service fever'.  

While I was sitting on the panel looking out into the faces of these young people it occurred to me that if I had given into the aches and pains of aging I would've missed this moment.  We are in charge of us, I am in charge of me.  As we conquer our tired and selfish nature we open the door to amazing things.

MIGRAINE MENU

I do not remember the last time I felt this kind of pain from a migraine.  I want to enjoy the light from this beautiful Sunday morning but closing my eyes feels so much better.  My Migraine Menu for this Sabbath morning...  

Lavender Ice Pack
Sandlewood Oil
Green Tea
Reflexology
All of that and a little bit of Lucid Dreaming and I should be good as new by tomorrow.    

RADIATION - DAVID O MCKAY

I found this quote while shuffling through boxes.  I LOVE IT!  David O McKay was the 9th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  He was liberal in his thinking and held respect for all opinions be they right or wrong.  

This dissertation on radiation speaks to my soul the true nature of the light that illuminates from our beings.  We are born with the light of Christ and it is how we live that will determine the brightness of that light and the size of the aura that surrounds each person.

Radiation

There is one responsibility which no man can evade, that responsibility is his personal influence.  Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of his personality--the affect his words and action have on others.  This radiation is tremendous!  Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world.

Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man.  He cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others.  Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying that it is an unconscious influence.

Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated.  He can cultivate sweetness, calmness, trust, generosity, truth, justice, loyalty, nobility, and these qualities he will constantly affect the world.

This radiation to which I refer comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be.  Every man, by his mere living, is radiating either sympathy, sorrow, morbidness, cynicism, or happiness and hope or any of the hundred other qualities.

Life is a state of radiation and absorption.  To exist is to be the recipient of radiation.  To exist is to radiate.    

LOVE FROM GOD

IS FALLING ALL AROUND

WHAT'S GOIN' ON

Since my blog is supposed to be a journal sort of thing I should probably do more than post the most entertaining pieces of my life. In between visiting mom for her birthday and attending docutah I work...professionally and domestically.  I am also a philanthropical freak, involved in way to many service projects and volunteer opportunities.

Work

Every day I spend as the Director of Public Relations for CMI is an adventure.  My three fold mission is to benefit the students in all that we do, to connect with the community and to generate partnerships that will in turn generate revenue for the CMI and the Communication Degree Program at DSC.  I enjoy this very much.  I grow with every challenge and I am continually enlightened by the energy of the students.  The down side is that I have to interact with people that must be tolerated instead of respected.  

In every working environment we must cross paths with people who lack self esteem and as a result behave in unethical ways.  The people I speak of are supposed to be experienced professionals who should have learned by now to act with respect.  Instead they see only their personal agendas and will do their best to undermine and bulldoze the goodness in others.  In these instances I must hold to my integrity and breath deep.  I must remind myself that God is watching and that karma will always prevail.  

Home

If I say that for the 6th time in the last 10 years I am immersed in a move will you understand?  Yes, once again we move our household from one location to another.  I am mentally, physically and emotionally spent.  I am now determined to stay in this new home or move abroad.  One more move to another St. George location will cause me to completely collapse.  I'm sure that daily meditation and prayer has pulled me through and kept me going.  My forward vision is for 2 weeks from now when I will detox for 2 days with Karamea in Salt Lake.   

Philanthropy - I'll just make a list

• Chair of the International Festival
• Chair of the Lions Roundup Rodeo Breakfast
• Event Coordinator for the Washington County School District Foundation
• VP of Club Services for Red Rock Rotary Club
• PR for Leadership Academy
• PR for DocUtah
• PR for Washington County Fair (thank God we are on hiatus)
• Member of the Dixie Sunshiners who are ambassadors for the St. George Chamber of Commerce

That is currently my life.  And I can still see that it is a beautiful Sunday morning and feel joy in my soul.