Week 12 "HEAR YE ! HEAR YE !"

Email from Justine today:

"Being on a mission I have realized the value of so many different things! 

Especially I have learned the value of waking up early, 

and studying the scriptures and about True to the faith!

I had no clue what that was until the MTC! 

And I keep thinking

"WHY DID MY PARENTS NEVER TELL ME THIS??" :P 

But you probably did and it never registered! 

But now I can see how much more awesome all this stuff is and how being on a mission has really taught me these things!"

I love you all! Skype you Sunday! :D I get 60 minutes of Skype time!!

Sister Nakata

*******

Oh Boy!
I'm so Glad she wrote:
But you probably did and it never registered!
This is a very important key phrase for my sanity!
Without it I would be pulling my hair out and/or asking myself what on earth have I done these past 20 years with my kids?

We've tried teaching those things - To a Nagging level!!!!
Especially the getting out of bed one!
And healthy eating, and drinking water, and exercising, and being productive,
and not waisting your time,
and reading your scriptures, and going to church every week, and
keeping the commandments, and so forth...

"All Good Habits to Have"

"It's good for you!"

I've told them & still do.

And Yes
 I know
 We didn't do it all perfectly - far from it.
 We've slacked, been lazy, indulged and missed and failed quite a bit to say the least!
But we have tried!

Isn't it lovely when our little birdies fly out of the nest 

and realize Mom and Dad did have a few good points!

Temple Service

Today was a special day!

Amelie was able to do a couple of baptism for her french ancestors at the Houston Temple.

I hope she learns to love entering this special place as much as I do.

There is so much peace felt there.

Eternity 

is put into perspective

&

Time 

Stands Still

One Fine Day

A fine day to go through the Temple with Justine!

What a wonderful experience it was.

*****

Hearts were Full

This one is in Color for Justine!

Justine's Mission Call

A couple of Months ago, Justine to our surprise, 

announced that she was open to the idea of serving a mission!

We got really exited for her.

I told her that if she decided to go, she would never regret it!

Both Mike and I had wonderful experiences serving in the England Coventry Mission.

We loved our time there and have very fond memories.

A lot of those memories are serving together in Birmingham - where we met! :)

She got everything done in Hawaii as far as meeting with her bishop and Stake President.

And getting her papers ready, they were sent from there.. 

We got her assignment letter a few days before she got here today.

She opened it right after Emric got his Patriarchal Blessing.

  Alexi and the Johnsons were also present.

Justine had just gotten off the plane!

So here she is, opening her mission call:

Baltimore Maryland Mission reporting the 11th of February 2015 to the Provo MTC

We are so HAPPY for her!!!!

Grateful For Conference

This is my little set up Sunday for watching to the 4hs of General Conference.
Every 6 months I look forward to it!

Today, the weather was perfect.
The talks inspiring.

The only thing missing was my hubby who had to work all week-end!
We did watch the Saturday morning session together in a hotel he got down town.
He had to be at a site for work during the night.
So I joined him at work, we had dinner together and breakfast.
It's the only way I got to see him a bit this past week!
This month is very busy for him.
I complain a bit but I am so grateful he still has this job!
Going on 5 years now when he got contracted for 2.

But I do miss him...

"Love is the catalyst that causes change. 

Love is the balm that brings healing to the soul." 

Thomas S. Monson

"We can have 
F A I T H 
In 
G O D
Because 
He is 
P E R F E C T L Y 
Trustworthy"

Elder Uchtdorf

Forever Happiness

H  A  P  P  I  N  E  S  S

I S

 Being with & loved by my 

Kind-Goofy-Generous-Devoted-Never-Boring-Loyal Companion

F O R E V E R

*****

T H A N K  Y O U

for 

L O V I N G

me

U N C O N D I T I O N A L L Y

*****

This is the Place Where Heaven Meets Earth

Grateful.

I love this place.

My Castle.

Yeah! A favorite Visitor is Here!

I can't tell you how good it was to have my friend Sarah walking with me this morning in the forest!

To have her in person and not on the phone... 

She arrived during the night at 2 am. 

Poor thing was stuck in Charlotte because of very bad weather, like tornado-warnings-bad-weather!

Anyhow she made it to our house and we are thrilled!

Of course our back yard was delighted too!
This is her first day and what does she do?
Get to work!
Have I mentioned how much I like my friends! :)

Under her care and Emric's help, it is starting to look very nice, 

We were neglecting it a bit these past few weeks...

(It's her in red weeding)

This is moi, putting my feet up.

 After making a delicious salad. 

Lots of yummy stuff  and love were put in it!

Homemade dressing, tomatoes, tuna, (Choruzo sausage for mike) pine nuts, cubed cheese, blue,

 broccoli, red cabbage, cucumber, 

small crispy pan fried potatoes cooked in coconut oil, 

We ate it with a side of toasted Cibratta bread and a 

Champagne infused olive oil with Balsamic Pear vinegar!!!! 

A nectar from strait from Heaven!

Blessings at the Lollipop Gymnastic Meet

 We had a great experience this past Saturday.

Besides listening to General Conference in the car on our way to Dallas.

A little background first:

As part of keeping the Sabbath day holly, as a family we do not do sports on Sundays.

Unfortunately, 2 of Amelie's Gymnastic meets have been scheduled on Sundays.

For the 1st one, we got permission from the meet director to have her compete 

on Saturday with a different level from her team.

This time, they told us she could do it on Saturday but with another team from Dallas!

Total strangers for Amelie!

Needless to say she was not comfortable with that!

As her mom, it was so hard to see her so distraught and wanting to be with her team. 

She decided not to go...

Until the last minute, after her coach and I talked to her, she decided to go.

And that took sooooo much courage!

So we packed up the car and drove the 3+ hour to Dallas.

On the way there, she told us how nervous she was.

Which is totally understandable!

And she dreads her beam routine, because she fell the last 2 competitions because of nerves.

I suggested she pray and ask her Heavenly Father to calm her nerves.

She was making a big sacrifice to keep his commandments.

He would help.

So she said a little pray of faith

Well, she did so well! 

So well, that she felt comfortable with the team she was placed with, 

the coaches & teammates were so welcoming and friendly! 

And she did not fall off the beam! 

She beat almost all her previous scores.
And with a score of 36.15, she surelly went up a level, maybe even 2!

Beam  8.500

Floor  8.600

Bars  9.300

Vault  9.750

She was so happy!

And so was I.

I watched her the whole night with a feeling of joy and may I say pride?

At the same time I felt humbled and grateful to a God that answers prayers, and cares deeply about us.

It was wonderful to see my little 10 year old girl be so confident, calm, 

elegant and beautiful in the executions of her routines.

She was like a little shinning star! 

Being the only one from her team, she really stood out in her pink outfit!

Her daddy and mommy only had eyes for her!

And I knew that her Heavenly Father had blessed her as she obeyed one of His commandment.
I hope she remembers and learns to trust her God through out her life.
He is good.

I only have 2 videos this time

Orchids & Hope & Life

"...I must have flowers, always, always." 

Claude Monet 

My Orchids have flowered once more. 

I thought they were dead from lack of watering for a month.

After caring for it a little better,

It bloomed even more beautifully than before!

What a little caring and love can do after hope seams gone...

Life is Beautiful and Amazing.

Beautiful Easter

Easter with Gratitude & Praise

He did this

The Perfect. The Whole. The Complete.

The Pure. The One without sin.

The Just. The Merciful.

The Humble. The  Obedient. The Willing. The Trusting.

The One who loved humanity more than himself.

He did this

He did this
For us.

The imperfect. The lacking. The broken.

The sinner. The self-centered. The disobedient.

The doubter. The ungrateful. The weak. The stubborn.

The one always struggling to love.

He did this
For me.

Praise be to Him who Loves 
and Lives and Saves
Perfectly

This Week

I enjoyed doing yoga outside for the first time this year!

I enjoyed a clean house for a few days

My visiting teachers were coming.

It's amazing how much I can get done when I have company coming,

or when I talk on the phone with a friend!

I enjoyed some yummy home made Greek yogurt. It's so easy to make!

Recipe here

I enjoyed, on my walk, this fancy tire swing. Well kinda, it wasn't very comfy!

I enjoyed taking pictures of mini wonders I encountered along my path.

I did not enjoy the $800 repair bill for Mike's car that broke down.
I had to pick him up and take him to work for 3 days...

I enjoyed, that today, on March 1st, Mike still had a job to go to!
They have extended him for another 2 months, and maybe more!?

Mike and I wrote every day in our little Valentine 'Like Book' during this lovers month!
We have decided to give it a rest and pick it up later.
It was fun.
I was always so exited to look inside, when I would notice the book on my side of the bed,
that ment my man had written something he liked about me! :)

I enjoyed helping Emric finally do his Eagle project!!!!
More on that soon...

I enjoyed clean sheets and a freshly, nice smelling, clean Chloe!
Again, she adorned herself of some very pungent something's-been-dead-for-a-while smell.

I enjoyed cooler weather, wearing scarves and jackets.

Over all this has been a lovely week, very busy, but a lovely week...

Oh, I almost forgot!
I did finish watching season 3 of Downton Abby and was very very very shocked,
in denial, angry, distraught, I just couldn't believe it!
It was not supposed to end that way!
It needs to be scratched and redone!
Seriously?

CiRCLES iN February

I love circles, spots, polka dots & swirls.

You could say I am a circle lover.

I like stripes too, but round things tend to dominate in my life.

To me circles have a sense of infinity, continuity, wholeness, happiness and eternity.

They go on and on.... And are everywhere...

C i R C L E S  i N  M Y  W O R L D

C i R C L E S  A L L  A R O U N D

Can you tell it's February, and there is not much going on in my life?
Other than the day to day stuff...
I'm liking this month more and more.
I didn't use to.
I've always found it rather depressing.
But now I've decided I like February.
It's going to be the month I don't do much.
The month I recuperate from all the really busy ones!
The month I give myself permission to relax and not be always so darn productive.
The month that when it is gray and rainy, I cuddle up in bed and do mindless and enjoyable stuff.
Let's see, it's the 11th, I've done a pretty good job so far!

The last five days...

It's not fun, not feeling good.

It just hit me last Wednesday night.

My head was suddenly congested.

No warning!

The only problelm, is I'm not sure if it's alergies or a cold?

So, I've been popping meds and vitamines.

And I've been taking it easy by necessity...

I must have watched 20 episodes of Parenthood!
Actually Mike and I watched 6 in a row for our date night Saturday night!
I've missed one day of Zumba! 

I made my Happiness Manifesto. 

And worked on some photos...

Saturday, I did feel better for a bit, and went with Mike and Amelie downtown the Woodlands.

It was such a beautiful day! Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the Texas Winters?

Amelie had something going on there. (More on that later. Maybe)

I took lots of pictures, I will post them in the next few days...

  

My Happiness Manifesto

I was inspired to make one of these from this blog I like a lot.

I will, for now, put it on my computer screen. 

Then print it out and place it where I will see it often.

Like the potty room or the kitchen.

 I made my own 21 keep joy and happiness inducers.

To use not all at once, but as needed... 

For when the 'D' words start to take over, like:

Doubt, discouragement, discord, downhearted, discontent, disillusioned, 

distrust, disgusted, depressed...

These are tried, lived and tested. They usually work for me.

They bring me joy and happiness.

(These are in no particular order.)

1. Rejoice and Live in the Now

Because that is all we have. The Now. Life is lived one moment at a time. Enjoy.

"Live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering" 

Fanny Crosby

2. I can do hard things

With Christ all things are possible.

Hard things increase growth, faith, strength & stretches our soul.

3. Create Beauty

Make your environment beautiful.
Creativity enlarges the soul and mind. Make Beauty all around you!

4. Delight and feast upon the word
Seek, dig, ponder upon the words of Christ. They lighten up the soul. Give direction. Comfort.
Give Peace and Understanding.

5. Exercise the heart 
For longevity and well being. Find what you love. And do it. Move & stretch that body!
We only have one to carry us through our life journey.

6. Peace and harmony in the heart
Keep anger out of your life. When It comes, do not let it fester and linger. Forgive.
"For every minute you are angry, you lose sixty seconds of  happiness"
Ralf Aldo Emerson

7. Keep the Vision, This too shall pass.
Our life is but a moment. A Passing.
Everything will eventually pass, and change, and get better in the end.
'If it's not okay, it's not the end'

8. Look Up

Every day, look up towards heaven. Look at the clouds, the stars, the vast expanse...

How small am I? Insignificant. Yet, I am noticed and loved beyond measure. 
Feel the love of God!

9. Serve Someone

Nothing is quite like making someone smile, lifting an other's heart, giving a helping hand.

One cannot serve & love without feeling joy and increase happiness.

Find one in need every day. No matter how small or big the act of love is.

10. Rest

Rest your heart in the stillness of God
"Our hearts are restless until they rest in You."
Augustine.

A well rested body, makes for a clearer thinking head. 

Less grumpiness and impatience with those we love the most.

Sleep. Relax.

11. I am in charge of how I feel. Today I choose Happiness.

I have the power to choose how I feel. Things don't go my way? 

Rain. Clouds. Evil hearts. Wars. Unrest. Disasters.

Others may taunt, tease, disappoint, hurt, ignore...

I control my feelings! They do not control me. 

12. Count Gifts. Notice Tender Mercies

In All things give Thanks.

Gratitude turns everything we have into enough.

13. Listen. Smell. See. The World.

I believe there is beauty in Mother Nature everywhere. Look for it with all senses. Everyday.
A bird's song. A lady bug. Warm rain drops. Spring scents. Taste of a fruit.
It's all a gift to make our life more beautiful and enjoyable.

14. Clean space = Clear mind
De clutter, it invites sanity & clarity of the mind. Think better.
When we clean out things that don't matter, we make room for what does.
"Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful" ~William Morris

15. Read
A good book. To expand the mind.

16. Stop and Kneel
When I forgot my morning prayer and it's 3pm.
When challenges arise and I need help from above.
When gifts & joys are noticed.
When prayers are answered.
Thank and Praise.

17. Keep a tender Heart
Soft. Loving. Forgiving. Full of the love of God.
Do not chase the spirit away...

18. Plan my work. Work my plan.
Monday Downton Abbey day. Wed Laundry day. Friday Date with my Man day.
Having a plan helps me not to get lost and get things done.
Whether it is work or pleasure.
Schedule it. It's more likely it will happen.

19. Joyful Music. Soundtrack your work.
Fill your home with good music. Especially on rainy dreary days.
It lifts and encourages to work on that chore you can't get around to do.
It helps me focus on the task at hand. And who can't use more focus?
If I'm on the net being distracted from what I really need to get done,
 I put on my-clean-the-house-playlist and oh, miracle of all miracles,
I get up and do it!

20. Breath Deep. Slow down.
Enjoy the moment, the season you are in.
When things get too fast, too overwhelming.
Breath Deep and Stay Calm.
Life is not a race, but a journey needing to be enjoyed.

21. I am Enough because He is enough. 
In Christ, I am Complete.
Remember that! No matter how much I lack, He is all and everything.
He will complete me and make me whole and enough.

Saturday Happenings Backwards

 Late evening
I threatened some neighbor kids at Emric's friend's birthday party
that were being very loud, so obnoxious and rude,
 We came to pick him up but waited until the movie they were watching on the patio under a giant parachute adorned with strings of colorful lights, was over.
(So fun, creative and cute!)
I threatened to call the police, after Mike tried to talk to them with no success...
My man is too nice.
I asked for a parent to come out and talk to me.
All she did was peak her head out her back door and told the kids to leave the teens alone...
Really?
They calmed down after I was done with them, though.

Dinner time
 Love sushi. Good for the belly.

Late afternoon
Grocery Shopping in my flip-flops. Love Texas winters! 
Love my reusable shopping bags. Hate it when I forget them!
Why doesn't everyone use them? I hate flimsy plastic bags!

Afternoon
Siblings not fighting. Playing together for 2 hours. Love it. Heaven at home!
I might even sing "Love at home" ? hummmm, never mind. I'm not quite there yet.

Noon
Cutting and freezing French Raclette cheese, bought  in Cincinnati, for when Justine comes home.
I love, adore, cook, crave, and miss french food. 

Morning
Walk in the forest with my man and dog.
Nature. Good for the soul.
Life is good.

A Place to Be at Peace

Yesterday was: 

A lovely morning

A lovely sunny morning

This is one place I love . 

Where I always feel good and at peace.

Where family ties past and future are remembered.

Where time has no bearing. 

A place where generations meet.

And loved ones are bonded.

A place to be at peace and contemplate never ending stories.
On this lovely sunny morning...

You Got Some Nice Moves Kid!

Yesterday, Emric had a 11 dive meet. 

He is finally gaining more control over his body and losing some of that teen boy awkwardness...

Yeah!

I love to see my kids involved in good stuff! 

As I was watching the coach's interaction with the kids, 

I felt immense gratitude for good, involved, caring, kid-inspirering, dedicated teachers. 

They truly are doing a wonderful service to our kids, and play a big role in who they become.

They truly make a difference for good  in our kids lives...

Thank you! Good coaches and teachers everywhere!

Two days of Darkness

These past 2 days have been dark so dark with rain and more rain.
Don't get me wrong, I love rain, but
I had to do something to keep the darkness outside from seeping into my soul.
So here are a few things I did to keep the darkness and gloom out.

* 'Downton Abbey' Season 3 Episode 1 & 2 (Awesome!)

* Yoga
* At least 3 episodes of 'Parenthood'
* Walking the dogs in the drizzling rain and foggy woods with a friend
* 'Doc Martin'

* Eat all the yummy gooey oatmeal cookies a friend made for me.
* Zumba (To burn off the cookies)

* Blogging & Picture editing
* Sprouting class at Church
*Power naps
* Spiritual soul-searching time alone in the Word (scripture that is)
* I didn't do the dishes for 2 days, but finally did them last night.
* I didn't sort and put away all my winter clothes I dumped in my bathtub,
before I left for Ohio. I might not need them this year again...

And Today the Sun is Shinning bright!
My awesome man, who I haven't seen during those dark days, (he is overly busy at work)
 cleaned the garage this morning before I was out of bed!

Windows are opened to let the fresh air and the sunlight shine in!