My Pen Story

I recently attended a TOFW and it is very important that I have a pen to keep notes. For all of the great inspirational talks and things spoken, I want to be able to remember as much as I can at these events.

My "pen story" unfolded during a break on Saturday. We hurried from our seats to rush to the ladies room and I stuck my pink pen in the pocket of my jacket. After we returned to our seats, I checked my pocket and...no pen. I jumped from my seat and started looking around on the floor, visited the ladies room and asked the attendant there, looked around and found nothing. I finally thought there was no possible way of tracking down my pen. With added faith from recent talks at the event, I thought, "The Lord will provide." I went to the closest vendor counter and waited my turn in hopes that they would have an extra pen I could borrow. "Sure!" The nice young lady said. "Someone had left this pen here and so it is extra." My hope was fulfilled! An extra pen! Ha, what are the chances of that?! I looked down at the black pen and noticed that the clip was broken.

Returning to my seat, a little down-hearted about my prized pink pen that had not been recovered, I continued to take my notes during the next two speakers. I couldn't get it out of my mind about how I loved my pink pen. It was pink and I loved the way it wrote... it was then that the quiet prompting came to me. All of a sudden, I felt horribly ungrateful. Here I had a nice pen that worked just fine and all I could think about was that it just didn't measure up to my valued pink pen. Being tenderly reprimanded, I started to cry. I had been so ungrateful and yet the Lord HAD PROVIDED. My ungrateful heart turned quietly to the Lord in forgiveness. I all of a sudden had a love for this insignificant pen. I also learned a valuable lesson about gratitude. A few seconds later, my phone alarm buzzed and I reached for my purse. I opened up the black flap and, to my surprise, there it was! My pink pen neatly posed in the side pocket. I gasped! I had goosebumps all over and as quietly as possible, exclaimed, "My PINK PEN!" I immediately returned the borrowed black pen to the counter outside the auditorium; unfortunately, the vendor had momentarily left her seat, nonetheless, I hoped she would noticed that I had returned it.

Although this story may be about an insignificant pen, it was important that I was able to take notes during the event. More importantly, I was taught a lesson of my own by a loving Heavenly Father reprimanded by a still small voice.

I still have no recollection of placing my pink pen in the side pocket. ;)

Julie & Julia

Oh my heavens! I have my newest favorite movie... just finished watching Julie & Julia and I LOVED it. I even had to blog just now. Too bad I'm so horrible at keeping a journal. If you haven't seen it, I recommend.

So lately, here are some new fun things...

Our sweet youngling pup thinks she's a lap-dog. What she is is an over-grown high-energy Tasmanian devil with a chewing fetish. She's chewed through two collars. I am still amazed that she could get a hold of it while it's on her. But she is a fur ball of joy and tender-hearted. We love to have her. She has been going through a little itch fest and at one point, we tried "flea and tick itch" stuff. It made her back oily all the way down her spine and my son asked Daddy, "Daddy, did you give Ana a blessing?" - Good stuff there.

Today was raining. I love when it rains for the Parade of Homes. That way people don't fall in love with the area and go back to where they came from. Is that horrible? I just don't care much for crowds. So, to entertain ourselves, I cleaned out some clothes I don't wear and some toys and thought we'd go into town and drop them off at D.I. When my son asked what we were going to do, I said we were going in to drop some stuff off. He classically replied, "YOU'RE GOING TO THE DROP-OFF? BY YOURSELF?" - Seen Finding Nemo?

I've also tried to use my computer screen as a touch-screen at times. Let me just assume, aren't we all in transition with a touch world?

I won't go on forever just because I lack the ability to keep a daily post. Or even a weekly post. Take care everyone!

My Son's Playlist - I try and encourage versatility

Anywhere Is - Enya
Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way? - Waylon Jennings
Atlas - Fanfario
Baby Monkey (Going Backwards On A Pig) - Parry Gripp
Beyond The Sea - Michael Bublé
Brush Your Teeth - 100 Songs For Kids
Chocolaté (Choco-Choco) - Zumba Soul Control
Close To Me - The Cure
Fall Is Here - Jack Johnson
Fuzzy Fuzzy Cute Cute - Parry Gripp
Hairdresser On Fire - The Smiths
I Caught Myself - Paramore
I Love You Honey - Patsy Cline
I Miss You - Blink 182
In The Country - McCoslyn and Paye
Jungle Drum - Emiliana Torrini
Peaches & Diesel - Eric Clapton
Real Gone - Sheryl Crow
St. Judy's Comet - Paul Simon
Take A Picture - Filter
This Heart - Nancy Griffith
Travelin' Soldier - Dixie Chicks
Want To - Sugarland
Xibom Bombom - Axé Bahia
You're Amazing - Bruno Mars

October 2010 Pics

The view I love the most.

100th Centennial Cub Scouts!

Our back porch fire pit.

Backyard view. Relaxing.

Working. ?

Talking to young children about drug & alcohol concerns

Preschoolers

Although 3- and 4-year-olds aren't ready to learn the facts about alcohol or other drugs, they start to develop the decision-making and problem-solving skills they will need later on. You can help them develop those skills in some simple ways.

For instance, let toddlers choose their own clothing and don't worry if the choices don't match. This lets them know you think they're capable of making good decisions. Assign simple tasks and let kids know what a big help they are.

And set a good example of the behavior that you want your kids to demonstrate. This is especially true in the preschool years when kids tend to imitate adults' actions as a way of learning. So, by being active, eating healthy, and drinking responsibly, parents teach their kids important lessons early on.

Ages 4 to 7

Kids this age still think and learn mostly by experience and don't have a good understanding of things that will happen in the future. So keep discussions about alcohol in the present tense and relate them to things that kids know and understand. For example, watching TV with your child can provide a chance to talk about advertising messages. Ask about the ads you see and encourage kids to ask questions too.

Kids are interested in how their bodies work, so this is a good time to talk about maintaining good health and avoiding substances that might harm the body. Talk about how alcohol hurts a person's ability to see, hear, and walk without tripping; it alters the way people feel; and it makes it hard to judge things like whether the water is too deep or if there's a car coming too close. And it gives people bad breath and a headache!

I believe in Miracles!

Look at this sweet girl. She's a new addition to our family. At times I think the Lord may have made a special request of mine. So we named her Anelie (Anna for short) it means "Grace" in German. Sometimes we have to scramble through the not-so-good-days and then on other days the blessings go on forever...

Bear Lake's So Nice This Time Of Year!

Our beautiful baby boy (and my best playmate!)

Playing well with each other as always.

I'm still a rock-star and my heart is beating like a jungle drum!

The "cabin". Nice job on the logs babe!