The Lady of the House

God has blessed me with a new house. And while I know any woman on the planet would be thrilled with a new place to make a home, I will openly say (without any intent to boast) that my house is exceptional. I have now spent several nights in my new home and the enormity of it's space and it's new-house mortgage have fully hit me. Some would call this buyer's remorse, others, regret. Not I. I feel only inspiration from this wonderful house and it fuels the realization of what it represents. Each day I recall the scripture "To whom much is given, much is required." I know that when anyone sees my house they find it to be very pretty, inviting and open. In fact many have commented on the "openness" of my house. I truly believe Heavenly Father intends for me to be a reflection of this edifice. I know that I too am expected to be open and inviting, to have space inside for many people and good things. To reflect a kindly countenance and to welcome those who come my way. Indeed, I consider it an eternal blessing to be called the lady of the house.

I'm BAAAAACK!

Ah, but it's good to be connected. I've been without the Internet for a week now due to moving. My dear, sweet hubby got me up and going! Hallelujah!

There is so much to catch up on, first and foremost, the parade.

It's over! Yee haw! All things considered it went well. The parade was fine, I've had pretty good feedback thus far but I have some not so fond memories of the staging. Mostly, I was shocked at the behavior of our city entries. Talk about Diva's! Anyone who has seen my staging knows that it's a tight fit and I require folks to send me their entry descriptions and measurements. I had some entries (yes, two were from my town) that showed up TRIPLE their applied size. This may not sound like a big deal but when someone tells me they will bring a truck, I make room for one truck. When someone tells me they will bring a truck and they show up with a truck, trailer and two more trucks, I am not a happy camper. Needless to say, I will have a few things to talk about at our follow-up meeting next week.

Next on the list, my new house. We moved in last week (two days after parade)and it's been a trial to say the least. While I am loving this new house (will post pics later), I have to say I will be glad when July is over.

It's funny but it seems that everyone I've talked to has had a crazy summer so far. It must be one of those years when everyone has pent-up energy and extra long to-do lists.

Well, I will end by declaring with my whole heart that I am grateful to be connected and back online. I have missed the chance to communicate with those beyond my sidewalk. Here's to the world at large and to my friends, thanks for sticking around!

The Pit in My Stomach

Tomorrow is parade day and I will fully admit that I woke up this morning feeling like I needed to have a good cry and perhaps throw up. Even still, things are coming along well. I met with all my volunteers last night to make sure they understood what they needed to do and I feel like we will have a successful event. I'm appealing to all my friends and family out there today; pray for me! I need all the help I can get.

I'll let you know how it goes!

No Excuses

I have so much to marvel about these days. While my family has been deeply immersed in civic events, moving and volunteering, we have been abundantly blessed with small miracles. I sometimes am afraid at the debt I have incurred with Heavenly Father. I see so much bad in the world and it inspires me to do more, to be more. I have no excuses. There is no reason I cannot be what God intends. There is no reason I cannot lift others and bring happiness into the world. I am grateful for the blessings of heaven, they spur me on to greater things. I only hope that when all is said and done, Heavenly Father will be able to say "well done".

This or That

During scripture study tonight we talked about agency. I've read many books, both secular and scriptural that address this topic. It seems that most often, from a parenting point of view it is always presented as an important point to teach children choice and accountability. Obviously we want our children to know the difference between right and wrong and that each choice has a consequence. But how often do we teach our children that there is a difference between the right to choose, and choosing wisely. I forget sometimes that "unlimited choices" is not the point. Freedom does not come from lack of constraint but from the blessings of good choices.

So Very, Very Tired

It's been a while since I've delved into the political arena here. To be honest, the topic just seems to get stupider, (yes, I know but how else can I truly convey my feeling on the subject by using a real word.) I'm so sick of anti Obama this and anti McCain that. For cryin' out loud, neither has even been nominated yet.

I've never met either man, don't plan to. I am one of the huge majority who will have to make my decision this fall based on media fall out. As sad as this may sound, the more I read, the less I like either of them. To be honest, I'm tired. So very tired. What is sad is that by November, Americans will be raw with the pummeling they have taken over the last year and a half and won't be able work their new-fangled voting machines due to lack of intelligent debate. Seriously, can we as citizens boycott an election due to insufficient candidates? Could we somehow refuse to elect a new president until we find someone who the majority of us actually want to be president?

I sit here at my desk, shaking my weary head and ask myself; "why must I choose between 'not sure' and 'hell no'?" This is America, the best of the best ought to be clamoring at the door of the White House begging for an opportunity to do good. Not for themselves but for us all. I should be able to look at the group of men and women and say, "wow, it's so hard to choose just one."

An attitude of Gratitude

I have had many reasons to feel a deep sense of thankfulness to my Heavenly Father. I often wonder at the kindness He shows to my family. I am filled with regret though at all the times I have failed to see His hand in the marvelous events in my life and others around me. I have the sincerest desire to achieve a higher awareness of His blessings and interventions on my behalf. I can only say that I will renew my desire to give my life to Him, as it is His anyway. I know that the greatest offering I can make to pay my debt is to live my life in a way that offers thanks and praise to Him. Funny, it seems so simple and yet I fall so short.

I am grateful also for the beautiful examples of friends who are faithful and unwavering. Be they of my faith or another, I know that the love of Christ is alive and well on the earth because they are living testaments of it. I can see that although there is so much darkness in the world, God has planted vessels of light everywhere to share His love and lift others up on His behalf. Thank you, my friends, and those whom I have never met, for the light you bring to the world. Thank you for filling the darkness and offering hope and support in the tempest. I am a better person because of your example and the world is a better place because you are here.

Your John Hancock!

Here's a really fun activity for the Fourth of July! Your family can add their signatures to the Declaration of Independence. Just visit the National Archives website and follow the prompts. You can print your own copy of the Declaration with your family's signatures attached. Very fun!

Happy People Make Better Citizens and are Vital to a Strong, Healthy Nation! (Reader's Digest, July 08)

5 Happiness factors:




1) Faith

"In general, religious Americans (those who attend a place of worship almost every week or more) are happier than those who rarely or never attend.
The connection between faith and happiness hold regardless of one's religion. All nonpartisan surveys on the subject have found that Christians (Protestants, Catholics, Mormons, and others) and Jews,....are far more likely than secularists to say they're happy. It doesn't matter if we measure religious practice in ways other than attendance at worship services. In 2004, 36 percent of people who prayed every day said they were very happy, versus 21 percent of people who never prayed."


2) Work

Contrary to widely held opinion, most American like or even love their work. For most Americans, job satisfaction is nearly equivalent to life satisfaction. Among those people who say they are very happy in their lives, 95 percent are also satisfied with their jobs. Furthermore, job satisfaction would seem to be causing overall happiness, not the other way around."


3) Marriage and Family

"Matrimony has taken a lot of hits since the 1960s. It's been said to hold many people, especially women, back from their full potential to be happy. Don't believe it. In 2004, 42 percent of married Americans said they were very happy. Just 23 percent of never-married people said this.
Overall, married people were six times more likely to say that they were very happy than to report that they were not too happy. And generally speaking, married women say they're happy more often than married men.
What about having kids? While children, on their own, don't appear to raise the happiness level (they actually tend to slightly lower the happiness of a marriage), studies suggest that children are almost always part of an overall lifestyle of happiness. Consider this: While 50 percent of married people of faith who have children consider themselves to be very happy, only 17 percent of nonreligious,unmarried people without kids feel the same way."

4) Charity

"We've all heard that money doesn't buy happiness, and that's certainly true. But there is one way to get it: Give money away. People who give money to charity are 43 percent more likely than non-givers to say they're very happy. Volunteers are 42 percents more likely to be very happy than non volunteers. In essence, the more people give, the happier they get."


5) Freedom

"The founders listed liberty right up there with the pursuit of happiness as an objective that merited a struggle for our national independence. In fact, freedom and happiness are intimately related. Not all types of freedom are the same in terms of happiness, however. Researchers have shown that economic freedom brings happiness, as does political and religious freedom. On the other hand,moral freedom-a lack of constraints on behavior-does not. People who feel they have unlimited moral choices in their lives when it comes to matters of sex or drugs, for example, tend to be unhappier than those who do not feel they have so many choices in life. Americans appear to understand this quite well. When pollsters asked voters in the 2004 Presidential election what the most important issue facing America was, the issue voters chose above all others was 'moral values.' "



Lessons for America

"We must hold our leaders accountable for the facts on happiness and refuse to take it lightly when politicians abridge the values of faith, work, family, charity, and freedom. Our happiness is simply too important to us-and to America-to do anything less."

(Arthur C. Brooks, Reader's Digest, July 08)

Quotable Quotes

"Independence is happiness."- Susan B. Anthony


"All you need for happiness is a good gun, a good horse, and a good wife."-Daniel Boone


"That is happiness: to be dissolved into something complete and great."-Willa Cather



"There is joy in work. There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something."-Henry Ford


"Being passionate about something is the key to success. But using that passion to help others is the key to happiness."-Arnold Schwarzenegger


"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness you are able to give."-Eleanor Roosevelt

"Happiness and moral duty are inseparably connected."-George Washington


"Happiness is a by-product of a well-lived life, and it is achieved through the pursuit of endeavors that are meaningful and sometimes painful."-Mark O'Connell, in "The Marriage Benefit"