Senior-ity

You know you are getting old when......

• You prefer to shave your facial hair instead of pluck each hair individually.
• You need a mirror 6 inches away from your face when attempting to get make-up on.
• When applying the above mentioned make-up, your eyelids move with your strokes and bunch up in the corners.
• You don't have to pay for highlights, they come naturally (grays).
• You can't function after 10:00pm.
• Your joints crack upon getting out of bed and maneuvering stairs.
• You remember when gas was under $1 a gallon and swore you'd NEVER buy gas at $3 a gallon.

So my question is, when will my AARP application come? I could sure use those Senior Citizen discounts.

Home

What is home? Is it apple pie baking in the oven? Is it the dog that lumbers to your side after a long day? Is it the laughter of children seeping in from the open windows as they play "cops and robbers"? Is it being surrounded my everyone you love and knowing they love you back?

They say, "Home is where the heart is". Do you think that's true?

About 7 years ago as I was visiting my parents in CA, my Dad asked me where home was. At the time we were living in PA with Chris just starting his second year of Dental School. We were traveling west A LOT to keep family relationships close as we were on our own in PA. I looked out the window of the speeding car and said, "Home is where my husband is". I have felt that way for a long time. But Saturday it took on a whole new meaning.

As I was waiting for the game to start, I took a moment to look around and was so caught up in the beauty of the day. I love Fall. As I was looking at the beauty of the mountains with their muted colors, I felt the sweet, crisp breeze against my cheeks. All while relishing the warmth of the sun on my arms. I panned the field watching the band march and run to their different formations. I reverently bowed my head for the prayer. I looked at Chris at my side and listened to the band play the fight song and I thought: I'm home.

It's not that I'm such an avid football fan that I feel at home cheering the Coug's to victory. It's not that I feel at home with the mountains to the east and the desert to the west. It's not even that I feel at home with my sweet husband at my side.....

I feel at home because I had a definite confirmation from Above that I was where I was suppose to be. There are many times in our lives that we question or rather evaluate our lives and wonder if we're "on track"......OK, it may just be me that does this, BUT I can honestly say that if the grass is greener on the other side, I'm just fine where I am. And this is where My Maker wants me to be and do and learn. Life may not be what I had intended many years ago, but I'm OK with it. I know that I'm "on track" and I'm very grateful for this confirmation. I feel I can put my nose to the grindstone and go to work now without the doubts that eat away at me. I now know that I love my life. My heart is here and not wishing life was different or easier or greener on the other side of the hill.

If home is where the heart is, then I am home.

Crazy 8s

8 Favorite TV Shows:

1. Grey's Anatomy
2. Biggest Loser
3. Lost (anxious for it's return)
4. Good Things Utah
5. Law & Order: SVU
6. Ace of Cakes
7. Dr. 90210
8. Designed to Sell

8 Favorite Restaurants:

1.Goodwood
2. Wingers
3. Subway
4. Salsa Leedos
5. Olive Garden
6. Rumbis
7. Harts drive-thru (does that count?)
8. Quiznos



8 Things That Happened Yesterday:


1. Slept in til 8:30
2. Went to Scarecrow Festival
3. Waited in line for 90+ minutes for Zac & Sam to jump on a tramp with bungee cords attached to their waists for 3 minutes.
4. Got sunburned with aforementioned wait
5. Bought cheap pumpkins
6. Worked-Out with my resistance bands
7. Ran/Walked with my Hubby and Sasha
8. Took a shower before bed


8 Things I'm Looking Forward To:


1. "Lost" to return to prime time
2. Getting my nails filled on Friday
3. Pounce
4. Being out of debt......someday
5. Kids going back to school
6. My new calling (stay tuned)
7. Bedtime
8. Clean bill of health


8 Things I Love About Fall:


1. BYU Football
2. Back to School time
3. Colors, colors everywhere
4. Crispness of the air
5. Hot Chocolate
6. Snuggling by the Fireplace
7. Season Premieres
8. Long pants (I don't have to shave as often)


8 Things on my Wishlist:


1. Zero Debt
2. New pots and pans
3. My sister to move to Utah (not going to happen)
4. My dad to be cancer free (not going to happen, either)
5. To go back to school and get my Masters
6. Go on Dental Humanitarian trips
7. Go on a cruise (don't care which one)
8.Move closer to Chris' work (not in the near future)

8 People I Tag:


Kat, Melissa, Lynsey, Sarah, Clarice, Heather S. and Heather E., Jill

Friendships and WWW

Thanks to Pounce, I have entered the world of blogging and facebook. I have had some luck with connecting with old friends and learning about them and their lives now. Some I haven't talked to since graduation, 15 years ago. It's fun to learn how they are doing and what they are up to.

I have had a terrible time staying connected with friends from the past. With the World Wide Web, I see hope. I've always wanted to have friends all over the world and I'm learning that I do. Here's to the technological world we are blessed to live in.

Lukewarm

I had a college professor that use to say, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for everything." So with this year's political and financial upheaval, I've had to ask myself, "What do YOU stand for?"

This is a difficult question to answer. I'm not one to talk politics or policies. I don't like knowing that my opinions are different from someone I admire, look up to, or trust. It is the elephant in the room and lately it's starting to stink.

I learned a valuable lesson on my mission, and that was to "Follow the Brethren". I know and trust that the leadership of our Church, both worldwide and local, are called of God and will NOT lead me astray. I'm sure the children of Israel and even the Pioneers had a difficult time leaving all they held dear to follow the prophet of their dispensation. I often ask myself if I have the faith to uproot my family and what few worldly possessions we have acquired to join an exodus of the Saints.

Now although, the First Presidency WILL NOT tell us which way to vote, I know that I want to live in a world that upholds my values as closely as possible. I do have a voice and this year, more than any other, it is imperative that ALL of us have our voices heard. If we don't stand up for our morals, values and beliefs, then we will put ourselves in jeopardy of losing what we hold most dear.

Now is the time to chose a side. Now is the time to decide who and what you will support. I feel that this decision should be one of study and prayer. Please take the time to ponder your choices and then take them to the polls. Now is the time, for me especially, to not be lukewarm and to stand for something; whatever that something may be.

Flashback

So the past few weekends, Chris and I have spent it canning. We weren't planning on it either weekend, we just ended up doing it so the massive amounts of fruit given us would not go to waste. I never thought I would be grateful for those fall months of my youth making jam, applesauce and grape juice would serve me so well in adulthood. I can't believe I'm "saying" this, but I'm glad my parents taught me the value of hard work and heading the Brethren's council to be frugal, prepared and industrious.

Lost but not Forgotten

I bet you all thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth....Well, I've fallen a couple of times but not off the face of the earth. Last week, I started getting dizzy and it is just starting to lighten up. My eyes have a hard time focusing on one thing and if I turn my head too quickly, I have a hard time focusing at all. My world has been spinning for a week and I'm ready to get off this ride! It's all connected to my surgery, so I just have to wait it out.

Overall, things are good. I'm looking forward to a weekend of not having to be anywhere. It's a rare occurrence during football season.