Wise Men Seek Him

This new background of the Three Kings seeking out our Savior to give Him their gifts just made me think that "wise men seek Him". I'm asking myself, now, am I wise? As I'm already getting stressed about finding and buying all the gifts for this Christmas, I believe I'm failing at the "finding Him" part of my gift-giving. There are so many things I would love to give and so many things I would love to have but I'm missing something. While shopping with Eric last night I was talking to him about something like how fun and exciting it would be to be able to randomly hand out hundred dollar bills to people or pay for the person's groceries that are in front of or behind us. You know, random acts of unexpected kindness, the kind that is truly a gift because it's NOT expected...I love the idea of that. I also wonder if ever I had that kind of money would I really have the heart to DO such things for people. I would like to think that I do. In this thought process I think that I would finally enjoy helping at a soup kitchen. Giving my hands and heart (something that I AM blessed with) to help others. I've never been to a soup kitchen before, never put myself "out there" before. I'm sure it's time for me to stop wondering if I have the heart and just HAVE the heart and DO it! I wonder how to volunteer for that sort of thing anyway. I want to be more than Santa Claus this year, I want to give a real gift. Any ideas?

Funny Little Girl...Absent-minded Mommy

Emily's so funny. I was giving her a bath and I told her to pull the plug (you know, to drain the water) and she told me "Just a minute, I'm making hand-princes". I thought "What...". So I looked to see what she what she was doing and she had both of her little hands on the water like she was making hand-prints. (Oh my memory is HORRIBLE. This was just a few hours ago! You'd think I could remember!) Anyway. She said something about "hand-princes" and "hand-princesses" and I thought it was REALLY cute. If only I could remember better...oh well, she can't remember either.

Who Knew Adults Play Tag?!?!

I am...

I was tagged by Juliann for this. I think it's fun and she's amazing.

I am: A woman, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, an aunt, a niece, a sister, a sister-in-law, indecisive, a bargain hunter, a computer-addict, impatient, not very ambitious...

I know: That I want to be with my family for ETERNITY, AND that it IS possible!

I want: To be smarter. (Is that even a word?). To be patient. To be peaceful.

I have: Much to be grateful for.

I dislike: Losing my temper. (It happens too often).

I miss: The cute things my children said when they were little(r). Quieter days. Less stress (different stress).

I feel: Unsorted.

I hear: Nocturne Op.9 No. 2 in E, all of my girls, now Emily begging to do art, now different music than that aforementioned, and the keyboard.

I smell: Almond Poppy Seed Muffins that Tayler and Haley made (from a box that grandma brought us).

I crave: More time being and communicating with my hubby. Mofongo at Mojito's in Old San Juan (SO YUMMY!). More vacations like our cruise!!! Peace at Home!

I cry: When I'm sad. Sometimes when I bare my testimony or pray. Whenever I feel like it. Not so often anymore, but I used to blubber a LOT!

I search: for reassurance, acceptance, a thinner body, new recipes, the meaning of scriptures, curriculum, things I'm willing to throw away, ways to organize this house!

I wonder: If I will ever be happy with myself. If I'll ever discipline myself enough to get smart(er). If I'll ever be patient.

I regret: Not being more patient with my mom and children, not having more friends, not being smarter (I hope that's a word), not having more self-confidence.

I love: Family, friends, the gospel, getting more fit, understanding scriptures, my hubby and kids (I know they're "family" but they are more than family), music, food, warmth, sunshine, that everybody's different but we're all loved the same by God.

I worry: About my kids, my hubby, my marriage, the future (esp. of this nation), my health, my sanity, my family, what's for dinner (every night except Saturdays), about enduring to the end, what other's think about me...a lot.

I remember: Lots of things I've done wrong. Some things I've done right. To read my scriptures every day, to pray every night, to eat, many things I'd like to forget, not enough of what I'd like to remember.

I dance: At dances, with my kids in the privacy of my own living room, horribly.

I don't: Watch rated R movies. Do enough.

I argue: About money, about food storage, about what Christmas should be like.

I write: Poems. In my journal. To let out my frustrations (it IS therapeutic).

I win: Or at least I LOVE it when I do. Not often enough. The love and devotion of my hubby. When I have a good attitude.

I lose: My mind every day. (I WOULD forget it if it wasn't stuck to my body or would it be my body I would forget to bring along? Whichever.) I'm forgetful. My temper (like I said before).

I wish: For complete food storage, CLEAN HOUSE, time to myself with no regrets (ie. not feeling guilty that the kids need or want something from me or that I should be doing something for them/with them), I were smarter (there's that word again, if it's not a word it is now!), I weren't so lazy!

I listen: To my hubby, to my iPod, to my children (when I don't tune them out), to the crazy thoughts in my head, to the Holy Ghost (at least I try to).

I can usually be found: In this chair on this OLD laptop "searching" for "stuff" (or doing this and reading yours!)

I am scared: Of sharks, being alone, not making it to the Celestial Kingdom, tumbling down a cliff...it goes on.

I need: To get out of this chair, get off this computer, clean my house, make a menu for Thanksgiving, spend more QUALITY time with my children (they're around me all day, every day, but the quality is key), to exercise, take a shower, get dressed, have my prayer read my scriptures, ORGANIZE, to be calm, to be nice, to be patient, to go Visiting Teaching, to clean out my fridge and freezer and use some of that food, to correct kids' work, hug and kiss them more, gripe at them less...etc.

I forget: Things I want to remember, to be patient, where I put things, well...I forgot the rest but I KNOW there's more! Oh, I know! I forget to send Birthday wishes on time (I'm always late). There's still more...somewhere.

I tag you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you, and you and... oh yeah, YOU!

(Just so I don't forget anyone!)

Tagged

Me! Quirky??? Riiight....
1. Link the Person who Tagged you.

2. Mention rules on your blog.

3. Tell about 6 quirks of yours.

4. Tag 6 fellow bloggers to do the same.

5. Comment on their blog to let them know or leave a list of names at the bottom of the post

1. I cannot cook in a dirty kitchen. (It makes me mad.)
   
2. I LOVE my feet rubbed!!! (I even let my dog lick them. It feels so good.)
3. I color-code my clothes on hangers in my closet.
4. I count when I'm jogging. (Not steps or breaths, just counting. I think it's a rhythm thing).
5. I don't make my bed often but I make my kids make theirs before school (hypocritical, I know).
6. Peanut butter is put on the right piece of bread, jam/jelly on the left and the piece with the jam/jelly goes on top of the peanut butter. It just HAS to be that way. I know, because I make Eric at least 4 PB&J's/week! That's just the way it HAS to be.
   

I'm supposed to TAG 6 people but I hate obligating people to things (that's why I'm never "President") so if you want to, tell me your QUIRKS!!!

Food Storage

Food Storage is always on my mind and the church has some great deals. Some things you can find cheaper elsewhere but almost everything the church sells is the best deal (especially when it's stored properly and can last for SO many years!).

So...while the price of wheat went up, the price of powdered milk went down drastically! This tells me I need to make a trip to Columbus to the cannery to get more food (especially milk as the price may not last)! I'm talking, it used to be $7?.?? for 25lbs and now it's $4?.??. That's a BIG difference. Just look at the price list here .

Fortunately, for me, Eric bought his new gun and I, therefore, get the same amount of money to use for food storage! Now...how do I want do divvy out the money?

I do know one thing, I want to can it there and not at home (which does increase the price a little, not to mention it's time-consuming). I've heard iffy stories about the success of storing the food in 5 gallon buckets (I LOVE buckets), but I NEED the food to last as long as it can and I'm not sure about those buckets that I used dry ice with. I pray over my food storage. Do you?

With the way the economy is, and SO many people losing their jobs, I KNOW that this is truly important and am SO grateful for prophets who have made us aware of its importance for SO many years. Who doesn't feel better when they are prepared!?! Besides, natural disasters can happen anywhere at any time and is no respecter of persons. Who doesn't need to be prepared? Just this summer we lost power from a hurricane! Mind you, we live near Cincinnati, Ohio (nowhere NEAR the gulf) and the wind was so strong it knocked out the power. For some people up here, the power was out for a week. We were fortunate to only be out for about 6-8 hours (in our newer neighborhood). Someone in our ward that lives less than a mile away (by road, not by areal distance) had power out for 4 days!

I read on the church website that they wanted people to show pictures and share experience with food storage so here's my "mite". (The pictures will add the much needed thousand words to describe).

Want to learn more about the church I refer to? Go here.

Yes, I will have pictures but they may come a little later. (I know you hate it. Sorry).

WARNING!!! Ranting...without the Rave

FYI
Rant: "In blogs, a rant is a written personal complaint."
Rave: "praise enthusiastically"

I reserve the right to edit my blog and have decided to do so by deleting my ranting post. I have experienced the relief of letting my thoughts and feelings escape me and now feel it best to follow Juliann's example by saying nothing. So a "rave" to Juliann's good example even though I'm sure I would LOVE to read what is actually stirring in her mind and heart. Thanks, Juliann.