Learn from the past, prepare for the future,
and live in the present.
A journey of 1000 miles begins with one step, so watch your step.
-Thomas S. Monson
Does everyone quote their Mama like my sisters and I do? Especially when we lived near my parents. My dad would make fun of us because it seemed like every other sentence started with: "Mama says..."
One of the things that Mama says is "I can do hard things." I was reminded of this when my sister called the other day and told me she was flying from Missouri to Alaska by herself and had a long layover in Seattle. She was nervous because doing this was taking her out of her comfort zone, but she said,"I can do hard things!"
I have told myself this so many times that I finally made a reminder...
Natalia loves Taylor Swift, and I love Coldplay. Jon Schmidt figured out how to put them both together, and I think it's awesome. Love Story that morphs into Viva La Vida.
I don't like it when my kids say "What the..." since it sounds like it will be followed by an expletive, but that's what I thought when I saw the FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) shown here.
What the...
I know I've been posting a lot of videos lately, but, wow, this scares me. Thanks, Dad, for sending it on to me!
I love all of the references to Al Gore. At least that makes me laugh.
The other night you climbed onto my lap, and you reminded me of the little 2-year old you who would do the same thing. Only now you are 12 years older, tower at least five inches over me, and your feet touch the floor. I can’t believe that it was fourteen years ago today when you made your entrance into the world. It’s no wonder that you still want to sit on my lap; I don’t think you were put down in the first few months of your life. If Dad or I weren’t holding you, then there was always someone else around, you know, “just coming to see how the baby is” and holding you, too.
Then I think about when you were “Bubba”, and hung out with Ro all the time, and woke up at 6:00 in the morning, and then we’d be out in the backyard playing baseball at 6:30. Alicia from next door said that she didn’t need an alarm clock because she knew it was time to get up when she heard us out there. You had that morning schedule, and I know you don’t like to deviate from the plan.
Now, you’re almost grown up. And you have to shave. And your smile still gets you out of trouble nine times out of ten. I’ve been so impressed with how you’ve kept your grades up, even though you don’t like to read OR do homework. You are at school for ten and a half hours a day, with 2 hour practices, and you don’t complain. More and more I am seeing glimpses of the man you will become. I know you think I am way too hard on you, and maybe I am. But I want you to succeed! I want you to be strong, yet compassionate; steady and true. I want you to strive for excellence, but still learn from your mistakes. I want you to continue to grow in the gospel and to be a good example and a leader to those around you, including your brothers and sister.
You are five today. My baby is five years old. Wasn’t it just yesterday, or maybe last year, when you were two weeks overdue and taxing my patience even then? You've been asking me every day for three weeks if it is your birthday today. Then we have to go over the days of the week and count until we get to the 28th. Oy.
This past year has been full of so much growing and learning. You surprise me every day with your ability to read my moods—“Mom, why are you so grumpy?” and to express yourself. When you use the words “excited” and “believe” and “disappointed” and use them in the right context--like the other day when Joe said that something worked “automatical” and you told him, “You mean automatically”--I can’t help but be proud of the big boy you are becoming. You can even ride a two-wheeled bike (no training wheels!) and do a cartwheel!
Now don’t get me wrong, we’ve had our tough times, too. Like the days that you didn’t want to go to preschool, or the days that you didn’t have school but you incessantly begged me to take you. And we can’t forget the day you broke your leg. It was terrible having to carry you and hold onto you on the way to the hospital, knowing that every little jostle and move caused you so much pain, but I’m so grateful that I was there with you. And when the x-ray confirmed your broken leg, I couldn’t stop the tears from pouring down my face. It was so hard to see you in pain, and I wanted it to be me instead. But you handled the whole thing like a champ!
And now you’re five. And you can tie your own shoes, and get your own water, and when you are really feeling independent you even wipe your own bottom. I know the night will come that you don’t crawl in bed between dad and I, and if I’ve learned anything these past four years it’s that the time will come much too soon.
Last year's resolutions post was a bit tongue in cheek, since there was no way I was going to accomplish all of them. Not without retaining my sanity, that is. So, here we go again.
1. Lose 40 pounds
2. Never, ever, ever yell at Andy or the kids again.
3. Keep the house clean at all times
4. Read church lessons before they are taught.
5. Keep up with the laundry
6. Exercise every day.
7. Go back to school.
Why is it just when I want to get on with life, life gets in the way? There is always something to be done, but it's never what I want to be doing. Ok, that's my complaining for the day.
On to resolutions. As I was reading the local newspaper a week or so ago, an editorial piece caught my eye. I only had a minute to skim, but the author was basically saying that as a society we are not comfortable publicizing our new year's resolutions anymore. We are afraid to tell the world (and those closest to us) what our goals are for fear that we will not fulfil them, therefore looking like a failure, not to mention foolish!
Wow, that hits the nail on the head with me. I rarely tell others my dreams, goals, and wishes. Then I feel the pressure to be accountable for working towards or achieving those things. Who wants to be accountable? Not I! At least not after the first few days/weeks/months (depending on what the goal is).
My new goal is to work on improving all of those aspects of my life, and then some, and not feel bad when I fall short -- just keep looking forward and plodding along.
I can't believe that you are turning 7 today. It seems like yesterday, those tense days after 9/11 when we were waiting for you to emerge into this uncertain world.
Grammie was at the Kansas City airport on 9/11, and was getting ready to board her flight to San Francisco to be there for your birth. When the first plane hit the Twin Towers, Dad and I were just waking up at the house in Santa Rosa. Aunt Emily called us, and we turned the TV on to see the terrible "accident". Of course, moments later we knew it wasn't an accident, and for the next few days before you were born, we spent a lot of time watching and wondering at the horror of what happened that day.
Grammie was able to get a flight on your birthday, and showed up at the hospital just 5 minutes after you were born.
You were such a sweet baby! Always cuddly, wanting to be held and snuggled. You've kept your loving sweetness, too! You are polite and kind to others, and love to learn new things. You say things every day that crack me up! I love everything about you, even your possible missing digestive enzyme that makes you smell like pickles or garlic for days after you eat them. Just something more about you to love.
I, for one, would like a day of independence from feeding everyone around here. (I would also like independence from the horrific gas prices, but that will have to be another post.) With the kids home all day, every day, I can’t keep up with the feeding frenzy! When the kids are working outside or swimming, they seem to work up a mondo appetite, and can’t last the 4-or-so hours between meals.
My sister was accusing me of having cookies in the house all the time {and I wonder why I can’t lose any weight!} so I thought I would change it up a bit and try some healthier recipes. My kids will eat just about anything as long as it isn’t nailed down. Actually, now that I think about it, they might try prying it off to eat it, or just gnawing it off around the nail!
Peanut butter muffins 1/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/3 cup peanut butter 1 egg ¼ cup shredded carrots ¾ cup flour ¼ cup rolled oats 1 tsp. Baking soda 1/8 tsp. Salt ½ cup skim milk
Beat brown sugar and peanut butter; add eggs and beat well. Stir in carrots. Add remaining ingredients and mix just until blended. Pour into paper lined muffin cups and bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes or until golden. Makes 8-10 muffins.
King Kong Chips 2 bananas sliced ½ cup orange juice ½ cup wheat germ
Dip banana slices into orange juice, then into wheat germ to coat. Arrange on cake pan or plates in single layer. Cover with plastic and freeze. Makes 4 servings.
Apple Nutties 1 cup apple butter ½ cup peanut butter 1 tsp. Vanilla ¾ cup instant nonfat dry milk ¾ cup flour ¼ tsp. Cinnamon ½ cup raisins
Beat apple butter, peanut butter, and vanilla together. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Flatten with fork. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Makes 30 cookies.
And, since we don’t want to go cold turkey off of the junk, we’ll be making some ice cream today!
Combine sugar, cornstarch (or 2 tablespoons flour), salt and milk in medium saucepan. Blend well. Cook over medium heat until hot but not bubbling. Mix lightly beaten egg yolks and 1 cup of the hot milk mixture together, stirring constantly. Pour this back into the pan with remaining milk mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, over low heat until slightly thick; about 2-3 minutes.
Add evaporated milk, whipping cream and vanilla. Cool to lukewarm. Gently stir in the strawberries or peaches. Freeze in ice-cream freezer according to manufacturer's directions. Refreeze any leftover ice cream.
Add sugar to beaten eggs in a bowl. Scald quart of milk in a pan. Pour egg mixture into milk. Add vanilla and refrigerate. Pour mixture into ice cream freezer. Add cream, sweetened milk, and top with additional milk if necessary.
I just acquired this print of a painting titled Sunday Morning from my sister Emily. (Don't you like how I used the word "acquire"? Makes me sound like some sort of art aficionado or something!) It's about 2ftx3ft, nicely framed, and painted by well-known American landscape painter Asher Brown Durand.
The more I look at this painting, the more I love it! It shows people making their way toward the church in the background on the right hand side.
Let me tell you, this peaceful scene looks nothing like our Sunday mornings around here! A typical Sunday morning finds me up at 6:30 to take a shower and dress, then I start to wake everyone else up by either yelling a "wake-up" at the top of my lungs, then doing it over and over again until my bleary-eyed children are out of bed. Andy usually ignores me and sleeps right through it all.
I rush around barking orders, getting clothes together, arguing with Joe (who never wants to go to church) and ironing above mentioned clothes. When we finally get to church, we squeak in right before the opening hymn, if we're lucky.
Once in a while I get it together enough to have all of the clothes out the night before, and tonight is going to be one of those nights. I hope. That's my new goal: Peaceful Sunday Morning. Maybe not quite like the painting, since I really don't want to walk to church, but peaceful nonetheless.
Forrest Gump’s mama always said, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.”
I’ve decided that life is like a yo-yo. It’s up and down, up and down. And sometimes it stays there at the bottom, and you have to shake it, roll it, and then finally wind it back up yourself.
So, when life is like a yo-yo, you have my permission to make some of these cookies. My mama made these when my brothers and sisters and I were growing up, and we love them still.
Yo-Yo’s
½ cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup margarine or butter
2 eggs
1/3 cup honey
1 tsp. Vanilla
3 ¼ cup flour
2 tsp. Baking soda
Your favorite jam for the middle
Mix shortening, butter, sugar and eggs. Stir in honey and vanilla. Add flour and soda. Chill dough for 1 hour. Roll small pieces of dough into balls and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Put two together with a dab of strawberry or raspberry jam so they look like a Yo-Yo.
We all plopped around our bed tonight for family prayer. After the other kids had gone up to bed, Mario stayed in our bed and said, “I don’t know where Heavenly Father lives.”
“Where do you think he lives?” I asked him.
“I think he lives at the ocean.”
“Heavenly father lives in Heaven, but we can’t see Him there,” I said.
“I think he lives at the beach in a boat that transforms, kind of like Bumblebee.”
“What’s Bumblebee?” Andy asked.
“You know, Bumblebee, the Chevrolet.”
“That would be really cool.” I told him.
The beach is the most wonderful place in the world to Mario. He wants to go there - and asks to go there – all the time. He’s four, and in his frame of reference Heaven equals the beach.
That phrase was uttered by Andy this morning, right after he took a look at me in my power-washing get-up: glasses (since my eyes were too sensitive for contacts after yesterday’s power-washing experience), jeans tucked into knee-high rubber boots, an old T-shirt belonging to Andy, purple bandanna covering my pony tailed head (purple, to match my purple plastic apron) and a lovely mask, similar to this one, to block all of the debris from flying into my eyes again. I was pretty…ugly.
Then, to add insult to injury, Mom and Mellisa were cracking up when I walked up to the shop. Good thing they didn't have a camera with them, since they threatened to take a picture!
Why do men look ruggedly handsome when they're farming - dirt, manure, and whatever else might be mucking them up?
Patience is a virtue. How many times have I heard that? But patience is a virtue that, unfortunately, I lack. I come by it honestly: My sisters and dad are some of the most impatient people I know. {My mom is also impatient, but she blames it on A.D.D. Ha.} Now, to most people, I think I come off as having an even temperament, but they don't see the thunderstorm of impatience behind my eyes. The storm usually shows itself in little burst of thunder and lightening aimed towards myself, my kids, Andy, the dog, or anyone else who happens to be putting a wrench in my routine.
My patriarchal blessing actually specifically mentions patience. And how I will be blessed with an added measure of it. Kind of like extra chocolate chips in the cookie dough. I could use that added measure right about now. But I digress.
I started this post on January 5th, since I had chosen my word at the first of the year. As you can see, I have also been blessed with an added measure of procrastination, since that was almost exactly two months ago.
I decided to add 4 more words to my one little word, because another family saying is "If a little is good, then a lot is better."
This is kind of a reminder board of those other 4 words: Faith, Love, Pray, Hope. It is made out of a 24" square piece of oak plywood, with some of my favorite colors and things. Sorry, it's not very legible, but includes quotes {cuz I love them} for each word.
Now, I'm challenging you to write down something that you want to keep uppermost in your thoughts. It can be on a post-it note on your fridge, painted, embroidered, collaged, anything. Do this as a family! Vote on what will be your word for a month, a year, whatever. I promise, you won't regret that few minutes of time spent.
President Gordon B. Hinckley, leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, prophet, seer and revelator, died Sunday evening at the age of 97. President Hinckley was the prophet for most of my adult life, and it has been a blessing to be able to hear and follow his counsel. President Kimball was the prophet I from my childhood, but I remember so much more that President Hinckley said and did. The six B's, which went to the 9 B's, all of the temples that were built and dedicated, his sense of humor that went hand-in-hand with his amazing spirituality.
Andy and I were privileged to hear him and Sister Hinckley speak at the Sacramento Area Conference 11 or 12 years ago. It was held at the Arco Arena, which was filled with people in their Sunday best eager to hear the words of a living prophet. He was an amazing example of leadership tempered with humilty.
This is how I will always remember him: "I am no longer a young man filled with energy and vitality. I am an old man. I'm given to meditation and prayer. I would enjoy sitting in a rocker, swallowing prescriptions, listening to soft music, and contemplating the things of the universe. But such activity offers no challenge and makes no contribution. I wish to be up and doing. I wish to face each day with resolution and purpose. I wish to use every waking hour to give encouragement, to bless those whose burdens are heavy, to build faith and strength of testimony."
He has left such a legacy.
One more quote from the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley: "We honor best those who have gone before when we serve well in the cause of truth."
I'm on a binge. No, not my usual chocolate binge, and not chips and salsa or ice cream either. I'm on a reading binge. This isn't unusual for me, but it has happened less and less since I've been a "grown-up". One reason it doesn't happen as often is because when I start reading a book, I don't want to put it down until I've finished every last morsel. Er, I meant page.
This time, it all started with these three books: Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse. Young adult Vampire novels. Not my usual reading material, but Tara had been bugging me for months to read these. They were always checked out at Boonslick, and I didn't want to buy any books that I wasn't sure I would really like. So, Tara brought them home with her from BYU. Our last night in Nauvoo I started reading Twilight, the first in the series, and I couldn't put it down. Much to Andy's irritation, I read it on the car ride home, and when we stopped for a potty break I tried to get New Moon from Tara. Weeelllll, she left it at Mom and Dad's house! I had to sit the rest of the ride home contemplating what was coming next. Argh! My sweet sister ran the book {New Moon} over to me that night, and I read the whole thing without stopping. I fell asleep late, woke up early, and climbed back into the recliner to start on Eclipse. Monkey woke up early and wandered out, saw me sitting where he left me the night before, and exclaimed, "Mom, did you stay up all week?"
Needless to say, I couldn't stop devouring these books. I had to make it to the end, had to find out what happened. Would Bella get her wish and become a vampire? Would she choose Edward or Jacob? I had to know! I read all three books, around 1500 pages, in just over 24 hours. A binge.
Then I wanted to read some more. I read Beauty, an old favorite from my junior high days, and some of the books from Natalia's Mark Twain award list.
Natalia has been trying to read all of the books {20} on this list to be eligible to attend the Literature Festival and meet some of these authors. Two of her favorites have been The Naked Mole-rat Letters and Gentle's Holler.
Brian, who does not really like to read much, is reading The Lightning Thief, which is another good book and is on the Mark Twain award list, too. Bob and Lorraine gave him the book when we visited with them in California this past August. I found him book two, The Sea of Monsters, and three, The Titan's Curse, as gifts for his up-coming birthday.
Joseph has been reading whatever he can sound out. Kindergarten is such a fun time! It has all started to click. Now, watch the Speaking Whale clip in the post above. That is exactly what Joe sounds like when he is sounding out a word. I can't help but crack up!
Monkey was reading his favorite book to his pre-school friends today: Are You My Mother? So sweet! He knows it by heart, almost word-for-word, since I had to read it to him every day for weeks.
So what are you reading? Need some more ideas? Michelle has some great recommendations from her favorite authors here. I've read a few, but I've added a lot of these to my list.
And this is from a wonderful Christmas devotional given by President Howard W. Hunter:
"We are all aware of the significance that a name or title can have in describing an important office. In foretelling the birth of Christ more than 700 years before it occurred, the prophet Isaiah used titles expressing great admiration: “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father” (Isa. 9:6). Isaiah also used the titles Savior and Redeemer, expressing great faith in Christ and His mission (see Isa. 45:15; Isa. 47:4; Isa. 49:26; Isa. 60:16; Isa. 63:16).
One of these titles that is of particular interest in our present world is “Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,” Isaiah declared (Isa. 9:7). What a thrilling hope for a war-weary, sin-laden world!
A Prophecy Fulfilled
The Lamanite prophet Samuel foretold the birth of the Savior five years before it happened. The people would not let Samuel into Zarahemla to preach, so he stood on a city wall and proclaimed:
“Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name. “And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day. … “And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you” (Hel. 14:2–3, 5). Luke recorded the fulfillment of this prophecy: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. … “And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) “To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:1–14).
Such is the beautiful account of our Savior’s advent. In the words of Cecil Frances Alexander: He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable And his cradle was a stall. (Hymns, no. 205)
In this humble way His life of selfless service began.
Giving As He Gave
The Savior dedicated His life to blessing other people. As expressed by His chief Apostle, Peter, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
Never did the Savior give in expectation of receiving. He gave freely and lovingly, and His gifts were of inestimable value. He gave eyes to the blind, ears to the deaf, and legs to the lame; cleanliness to the unclean, wholeness to the infirm, and breath to the lifeless. His gifts were opportunity to the downtrodden, freedom to the oppressed, forgiveness to the repentant, hope to the despairing, and light in the darkness. He gave us His love, His service, and His life. And most important, He gave us and all mortals resurrection, salvation, and eternal life.
We should strive to give as He gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift. We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given.
Christmas is a time for giving. Someone once said he couldn’t think of what to give for Christmas. The next day in the mail he received an anonymous list which read:
Give to your enemy forgiveness, To your opponent tolerance, To your friend your heart, To all men charity, for the hands that help are holier than lips that pray, To every child a good example, and to yourself—respect.
All of us need to follow the example of the Savior in giving these kinds of gifts. From Christina Rossetti we read:
What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would give Him a lamb, If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part,— But what I can I give Him, Give my heart.
This Christmas, mend a quarrel. Seek out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a letter. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed. Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Apologize. Try to understand. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be kind. Be gentle. Laugh a little more. Express your gratitude. Welcome a stranger. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love and then speak it again.
Christmas is a celebration, and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of its true meaning—with the sudden stirring of the heart that has extended itself unselfishly in the things that matter most."
Alison Maki and I have know each other since 5th grade, when I moved into the Owen-Withee school district, and were friends until she moved out of the school district in 6th grade. I really missed her. We were the only two girls in our 4-person reading group in Mr. Waite's class, so that left me with the 2 Mikes. I was not a happy camper.
Well, Ali and I have stayed in touch through the years, and at one point even lived a mere 2 hours away from each other in California.
Now I can really keep tabs on her since she has a monthly column in the Chico Enterprise Record. Yeah, Alison! And another cheer for her hubby, Chris, who has been at the fires in Southern CA making maps.
The LDS church has had a new ad campaign, and our area has been one of the testing grounds. We've seen billboards and tv commercials, and new pass-along cards. The ads are wonderful, and are unscripted; just each person's testimony. Check them out here.
The lesson in Relief Society yesterday was based on Sister Parkin's talk from last general conference titled "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness". She says in the talk, "Gratitude requires awareness and effort, not only to feel it but to express it." How many times do I feel gratitude toward someone but fail to express my thanks or appreciation for something they have said or done? More times than I would dare to guess!
Sister Parkin goes on to say, "We murmur, complain, resist, criticize; so often we are not grateful." I am the queen of complaining. Last night at our family dinner at mom and dad's house the adults were having a discussion on how we would react if something accidentally, but through our own fault, happened to our car or house because we weren't paying attention. Think dents, water damage, etc. Out of Andy and I, I would be the one to blow up or blame. I know it, because I do it all the time. I also murmur, resist and criticize. As a result, I am so often not grateful. My usual optimism has become pessimism, and I need to turn that around.
Sister Parkin continues with these thoughts: "Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love...Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence."
Don't I want to be happier? Don't I want to be closer to my Savior and my Heavenly Father?
Several years ago I started a gratitude journal, but like so many things, writing in it has fallen by the wayside. Some days it was easier than others to come up with something different than the usual. Well, I am older now, and I think I have a little bit more of life under my belt, so I will begin again today.
1. I am grateful that I have a great Relief Society President who keeps me informed with what's going on and what lessons we are studying. I know that takes a lot of effort, and it is appreciated.
2. I am grateful for my family, my sisters and brothers who are struggling along through life as well, and that we are grown up enough to support each other, even if we don't understand each other!
3. I am grateful for my wonderful Mother-in-law. She is a dream, and so easy to get along with! When I hear In-Law horror stories from other people, I am so thankful that is one thing I don't have to worry about.
4. I am grateful for a husband who loves me despite my complaining and ungratefulness.
5. I am grateful that my children have started school again!
I just acquired this print of a painting titled Sunday Morning from my sister Emily. (Don't you like how I used the word "acquire"? Makes me sound like some sort of art aficionado or something!) It's about 2ftx3ft, nicely framed, and painted by well-known American landscape painter Asher Brown Durand.
Patience is a virtue. How many times have I heard that? But patience is a virtue that, unfortunately, I lack. I come by it honestly: My sisters and dad are some of the most impatient people I know. {My mom is also impatient, but she blames it on A.D.D. Ha.} Now, to most people, I think I come off as having an even temperament, but they don't see the thunderstorm of impatience behind my eyes. The storm usually shows itself in little burst of thunder and lightening aimed towards myself, my kids, Andy, the dog, or anyone else who happens to be putting a wrench in my routine. 
