The Aftershock

It has been two days since the big bang and unfortunately the reality is setting in. I am sure that having only one car isn't going to be too big of a problem. I am sure there will be times when it becomes a hassle, but for the most part we have done this before and know how to get around with only one vehicle.

The car will go to a good cause. We will be donating it to the Kidney Foundation. Right now the car sits outside our house, parked the wrong way on the street and snow is threatening for this weekend. We will need to get the dead dinosaur off the streets for the snow plows to come through. And our homeowners association freaks out at any vehicle parked for more than 24 hours in one spot.

I told Harold that this situation is funny in every way, except financially. And right before Christmas too. But, it won't effect Christmas because actually we will be able to drop the car from our insurance and be $15 richer this month as a result, however the van is more of a gas hog so that $15 will probably go to the gas tank. So all in all, a wash.

I guess what I am trying to get to here is that I am not too worried about us, but I am a bit bummed out, and I know Harold is too.

Do you ever feel that when you pray for something that you have no right to pray for it? There are children suffering all over the world from hunger and disease and here I am, sitting pretty, never hungry-not really-and can afford to make my copay when someone gets sick. I haven't really talked to the Lord about our current problem because I feel like it is so trivial, so materialistic. I am embarassed really to bring it up. So I haven't. But I have thought about it.

Then last night during our missionary meeting when I was supposed to be paying attention my selective attention deficit disorder kicked in and I grabbed Harold's scriptures to take a look. The book opened to 3rd Ne 13:31-34.

"Therefore take no thought, saying "What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore take no thought for the morrow , for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself."

Here is what I got from this scripture: I have what I need, the Lord sees to that. So, if he feels we need another car, there will be a way. If not, then we make do with one. And that's okay.

Kabang!!!

Have you ever met anyone in your life who has had two cars blow up while they are inside the car?

Well, you have now. He is the one on the right. Yes, our Geo Prizm blew up today while Harold was on his way to work. This happened once before when we had the Honda CRX, so this is officially the second time this has happened to him.

Dang, that thing was paid for too! Our friend Steve looked at the car and there are two holes in the engine block. Well, at least we have another car (the van). We are now a one-car family, again.

I just want to dedicate this post to my loving husband. He called to tell me this happened and we just laughed and laughed. Thank you Harold for being such a wonderful man. I love you and I wish better things for your future (no more cars blowing and possibly finding out we have inherited a fortune from a long lost relative who has always admired you!) All my love and big hugs to the man who survived.

p.s. I chose this picture because this is what I imagine Harold looked like when he heard the first "bad noises" coming from the car.

Steppin' it up a notch

I have been thinking a lot lately about why my Weight Watcher motivation has taken a huge nose dive, this despite the fact that I have come to a complete standstill on weight loss, my left knee is in chronic pain and I just plain feel lousy due to overeating most of the time.

So, in an effort to ramp things up, before they get completely out of control for the holidays, I have a plan.

How many of you out there are either on a diet program, exercise program or want to be on one?

I am going to keep this blog as my daily ramblings site, but I would like to start a new blog just for those of us who need some extra motivation/support. This will not be a guilt site, but a sharing site. A place to go wherein you can share tips, recipes, food journals, motivational ideas, etc.

If you need help starting an exercise program, someone to be accountable to for what you eat each day, or you need some sweet low-points/low-cal recipes this new blog site will be for you.

If you are interested, leave a comment telling me about it. I will start a new blog, get everyone who is interested signed up as a user to that site, so that we can all log in and post what we need to.

I am looking forward to a new motivating adventure!

One Turkey Day Ago....

Last Thanksgiving Harold and I hosted the dinner in our town. Our house wasn't big enough (or cat-free dander enough) to have the whole clan.

I had just been given the news that I would need surgery to remove what was probable cancer. I was stressed out and completely on edge. The dinner was nice, we held it at our church's Relief Society room. Everyone from the Johnson side was there. After dinner was over and the dishes were done, it was starting to look like everyone might be heading out. I knew I wanted a blessing before everyone took off. I had been laboring over who to ask for the blessing. Harold had given me a blessing already the first or second night after we got the news, but I thought I should ask him to give it. But for some reason I really felt like it should be my father who was voice to this particular blessing. I was very worried about offending Harold. I didn't want to send a message that his blessing wasn't good enough, or that I trusted my father more. I just felt like my father should be the one. Looking back I can see that it was a good thing my father gave the blessing, for both Harold and I. We needed someone with more objectivity than either of us. Granted, he is my dad, so I am not sure just how objective you can get when your daughter asks for a blessing of comfort and hopefully healing.

I asked my father to be voice, Harold to participate, Paul, David and Matt (my brothers) and Jeff and Justin (my brothers-in-law)to join in the circle.

The blessing was very specific. During surgery the doctor would find the cancer, it would be in a specific place and it would be completely removed.

From that moment on I knew I would be cured, 100%. I felt really guilty all during the coming month before surgery when people would look at me with sadness in their eyes to ask how I was doing because I really felt great. I knew it would be over soon, that I was off the hook and for some reason I was given a second chance. I knew there were others, even within my own family and ward, who were suffering more than I would ever suffer from cancer.

The picture above is of the men in my life who were part of that amazing day. Thanksgiving has always been a great day for me, for the opportunity for to count my blessings, but for me it will now forever be the day that my Heavenly Father communed with me through His power, through my father, through my husband and through the hands of the worthy priesthood holders whom I love.

Gobble Contest 2007

This is Mackson doing his best turkey impersonation. He was voted by his class as their #1 turkey. Today he competed in front of the whole school against all the other turkeys. This video doesn't do his turkey sounds justice, he really did sound like a turkey based on what we heard online this morning when we were looking for turkey videos. He got a large candy bar just for participating, the grand prize was a turkey (cannabilism at its best, yum!) He is introduced under a pseudonym: Orville Koocher. Apparently this was for anonymity.


Here's our little turkey!

Surprise!

Yesterday Harold got home from his meeting and said the 2nd counselor wanted to see us at 11:15. What? Why? We both have callings already. So we traipse on down and I was called to be the primary pianist. I am extremely excited about this new adventure, as well as extremely nervous. I have never had a pianist calling before, don't know how to follow a chorister, and have to practice like a mad woman for hours before I can get through the songs without major mistakes. I had all of 15 minutes to prepare for yesterday but I said a prayer and made it through without too many mistakes. I have been wanting a piano calling so that I would be forced to practice and get better, now I need to prove to the Lord that I mean what I say.

We had a great time with the Smith Family last night and I took tons of pics, but I will have to post those later as I am on my way out the door for school this morning. I have my big biology presentation to do today. I am nervous and excited. I am hoping my mouth doesn't go completely dry like it did when I taught R.S.

The Answers

1. When Abraham Smoot died it was discovered that his personal fortune was gone. Why?
He spent it trying to keep BYU's doors open.

2. Kimberly Clark can be found where on campus?
In the bathroom, on the TP and paper towel dispensers.

3. Where does a picture of Emma Hale Smith reside?
South side of the library, all RS president pics are there.

4. The basement of the Joseph F. Smith Building has Wifi capability. T/F
True on the east side, false on the west. I have no idea why.

5. The Clark building just south of the library is a.) The Herald Clark Building, or b.) The Harold Clark Building.
The answer is A. I just noticed because when people mispell my Harold's name they do it that way.

6. The Twilight Zone sells spiral binders. T/F
Nope. Tried to buy one yesterday and had to tromp all the downstairs in the bookstore to get one.

7. During her Short Story class Jeanna was found to be in the library today. T/F
True. Although I wrote the quiz before I did this. I had to get some other stuff done and had to cut out of class.

8. The Eyring Science Center has a cafe. Which days are the cafe open?
Mon-Thurs only.

9. What team is playing against BYU this weekend?
Wyoming.

10. In 2006 BYU defeated UofU. T/F
True. I saw a clip of it in Biology today, in reference to pickle juice alleviating muscle cramps. (student presentation).

I have to say I am disappointed that no BYU students tried to answer the ??s. Maybe I didn't give enough time, but I can't come back later today to give answers because of the big Par-Tay. Wish all us fairy-loving humans good luck.