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I know, I know, I've posted already today - but I was thinking of this funny experience that I had one time when trying to re-new my drivers license...
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First you need to know that I've worn glasses that I don't take off, except for showering, swimming, and bed, for a good many years. Well I went into the motor vehicle department one day to get my drivers license re-newed and was told I had to go do the eye test.
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After waiting in line for my turn the woman behind the counter said for me to take my glasses off so I could take the eye test. I told her I couldn't see clearly without them. She said, "Well if you don't take them off, I will have to put it on your license that you have to wear glasses." I told her, "That's fine because I wear them all the time and when driving anyway." She insisted that I take them off to take the eye exam... I did and she said, "Tell me what line you can see clearly." I said, "None" The woman got all flustered and said in a sharp voice that she's going to have to put it on my license that I have to wear glasses!
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Now is it me or was she having an extremely air headed day I wonder? LOL... I'm wondering what's the big deal of having it on your license that you HAVE to wear glasses when you wear them anyway? I wonder if its a ding against the worker to have to put it there - does it cost her something - does it cost her more time and effort? I don't think so... too funny!
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Friday, April 17, 2009
Judging others...
Wow, if you haven't seen the clip of Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent... you've missed something awe inspiring. Here's a link: http://twurl. nl/v0twq8
This is a fantastic example of not judging someone by their looks. It's amazing how even Simon is shocked to speechlessness with this stunning performance. I love the smile on Pierce's face but the smile Simon has is quite a sight. Way to go Susan!!!
I dreamed a dream... certainly we all have dreams and this shows that dreams can come true if we put ourselves out there and reach for the golden ring - the sky's the limit - and all of those clichet's. Dream on and go for it...
When I grow up wouldn't it be awesome to go from complete obscurity like Susan to a name renowned around the world? One of my favorite sayings is: "When I grow up I want to be an OUTRAGEOUS old woman who never gets called old lady. I want to get leaner and meaner, sharp-edged and earth-colored till I fade away from pure joy!" Yes, that's who I am but it would be nice to be all of that and more! Yep...
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This is a fantastic example of not judging someone by their looks. It's amazing how even Simon is shocked to speechlessness with this stunning performance. I love the smile on Pierce's face but the smile Simon has is quite a sight. Way to go Susan!!!
I dreamed a dream... certainly we all have dreams and this shows that dreams can come true if we put ourselves out there and reach for the golden ring - the sky's the limit - and all of those clichet's. Dream on and go for it...
When I grow up wouldn't it be awesome to go from complete obscurity like Susan to a name renowned around the world? One of my favorite sayings is: "When I grow up I want to be an OUTRAGEOUS old woman who never gets called old lady. I want to get leaner and meaner, sharp-edged and earth-colored till I fade away from pure joy!" Yes, that's who I am but it would be nice to be all of that and more! Yep...
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Thursday, April 16, 2009
1st Signs of Spring...
1st signs of Spring
Oops I neglected to add these pictures before I posted - so here they are.
The Palo Verde tree with all the yellow blooms I like to call my "humming tree" because when you walk by it there's such a humming sound from all the bees that love it... fun! The pic on the right is our Olive tree that I spoke of.
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Springtime musings
Going outside even here in the desert-lands is quite a sight. I live on what we lovingly call "Tumbleweed Ranch" where we have tumbleweeds galore and not much more other than dirt. When we moved here we decided that we wanted a little green so we have planted some trees, flowers and grass (which isn't doing well due to the salt content of our well water). Here are a couple pictures that I've taken showing some of the first signs of Spring at our house. I hope you enjoy them.
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The one of my Olive tree is kind of symbolic - this picture was taken on Easter Sunday. Symbolizing in a very very small whit - our Gethsemane's. Life is full of trials and heartaches but if we endure them well we will be the better for it... NOTHING we go through in this life will compare in the least to what our Savior went through for us! How can we possibly repay Him? By living life the best that we can and remembering His sacrifices for us, that's how.
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The one of my Olive tree is kind of symbolic - this picture was taken on Easter Sunday. Symbolizing in a very very small whit - our Gethsemane's. Life is full of trials and heartaches but if we endure them well we will be the better for it... NOTHING we go through in this life will compare in the least to what our Savior went through for us! How can we possibly repay Him? By living life the best that we can and remembering His sacrifices for us, that's how.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Nothing ventured, nothing gained is a life-style I’ve often thought about. Joseph Smith exemplified it when he read in the Bible to ask of God for knowledge. He thought about it and then went to a quiet grove of trees to see for himself if prayers really worked. Nothing ventured, nothing gained indeed.
Added to my list of many I’ve thought about is Gideon when he was asked to fight the Midianites who were numbered as the sands of the sea. He took his small army of 300 to fight for the right. He knew he didn’t have enough bodies in his army to fight a fair fight but God had told him what to do and he ventured to the task. (Judges 6-8)
Mary and Martha were great women who lived this in their lives. David was another when he went to fight Goliath – now obviously David knew he didn’t have the physical strength to fight the mighty giant Goliath. He also knew he had God on his side. So off he went, a mere boy, with his rock and sling to slay the mightiest man in the kingdom.
Now I don’t pretend to stand anywhere near these men and women of the Scriptures – yet over the years I’ve realized the life-style of nothing ventured, nothing gained is one of great importance to me.
To illustrate this principle in my own life: There was a time when I was feeling misplaced. Oh I was happy enough, I had a wonderful husband and seven great children, still something seemed to be lacking. I needed more than these “four” walls. Although college came to mind I was anxious about that idea because of my shyness. However, I ventured forth and it was one of the single most important things I’ve ever done for myself. I would never have fully understood myself or my own worth had I not gone to college.
While seated in my kitchen one day, I had a scene pop into my mind that I thought could be the opening scene of a novel. I mulled it around for a week or so and when it kept coming to me I ventured forth and started the process of writing a novel. I’ve worked on it for years, nevertheless it’s been a growing process and venture I would never have thought possible of myself.
Another venture was when I took up oil painting. It started from a TV painting show and thinking I would like to try it. I borrowed the tools to do my first painting and I eventually took classes on painting.
One day my son, whom had gone to Mexico City on a mission for our church, asked me to do a painting of the Mexico pyramids. I wailed that I didn’t know how to paint pyramids! Then one day it came to me – “nothing ventured, nothing gained” I realized that IF I never tried to paint a pyramid, then certainly I couldn’t paint one. I decided that I would try it but not tell my son what I was doing – if it didn’t turn out, I could destroy it and he would never know. I prayed and studied pictures of the pyramids in Mexico again and again until I finally took a paint brush and slathered it with paint. Although it didn’t come easy or without frustrations – I persevered with everything I had. When finished I liked it reasonably well and gave it to my son for Christmas that year. He was surprised and overjoyed.
One more example was when I was asked to write a play for the commemoration of the Relief Society organization of our church. I said I had never written a play and didn’t know the first thing about writing one. However I agreed - then read books about the R.S. so I could write a plausible play. Again I prayed unceasingly. I not only wrote the play but directed it as my ward members put it on in honor of the Relief Society Centennial birthday.
I’m now a member of American Night Writers Association which helps me gain a better understanding of writing. I’ve started another novel and written several children’s stories, which I hope one day to have published. Yes, if you never venture forth to try new challenges in life, you may never gain the potential of your God given talents and purpose in this life. Okay lesson learned – now to just remember and apply it more frequently.
“When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” ~Helen Keller
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Added to my list of many I’ve thought about is Gideon when he was asked to fight the Midianites who were numbered as the sands of the sea. He took his small army of 300 to fight for the right. He knew he didn’t have enough bodies in his army to fight a fair fight but God had told him what to do and he ventured to the task. (Judges 6-8)
Mary and Martha were great women who lived this in their lives. David was another when he went to fight Goliath – now obviously David knew he didn’t have the physical strength to fight the mighty giant Goliath. He also knew he had God on his side. So off he went, a mere boy, with his rock and sling to slay the mightiest man in the kingdom.
Now I don’t pretend to stand anywhere near these men and women of the Scriptures – yet over the years I’ve realized the life-style of nothing ventured, nothing gained is one of great importance to me.
To illustrate this principle in my own life: There was a time when I was feeling misplaced. Oh I was happy enough, I had a wonderful husband and seven great children, still something seemed to be lacking. I needed more than these “four” walls. Although college came to mind I was anxious about that idea because of my shyness. However, I ventured forth and it was one of the single most important things I’ve ever done for myself. I would never have fully understood myself or my own worth had I not gone to college.
While seated in my kitchen one day, I had a scene pop into my mind that I thought could be the opening scene of a novel. I mulled it around for a week or so and when it kept coming to me I ventured forth and started the process of writing a novel. I’ve worked on it for years, nevertheless it’s been a growing process and venture I would never have thought possible of myself.
Another venture was when I took up oil painting. It started from a TV painting show and thinking I would like to try it. I borrowed the tools to do my first painting and I eventually took classes on painting.
One day my son, whom had gone to Mexico City on a mission for our church, asked me to do a painting of the Mexico pyramids. I wailed that I didn’t know how to paint pyramids! Then one day it came to me – “nothing ventured, nothing gained” I realized that IF I never tried to paint a pyramid, then certainly I couldn’t paint one. I decided that I would try it but not tell my son what I was doing – if it didn’t turn out, I could destroy it and he would never know. I prayed and studied pictures of the pyramids in Mexico again and again until I finally took a paint brush and slathered it with paint. Although it didn’t come easy or without frustrations – I persevered with everything I had. When finished I liked it reasonably well and gave it to my son for Christmas that year. He was surprised and overjoyed.
One more example was when I was asked to write a play for the commemoration of the Relief Society organization of our church. I said I had never written a play and didn’t know the first thing about writing one. However I agreed - then read books about the R.S. so I could write a plausible play. Again I prayed unceasingly. I not only wrote the play but directed it as my ward members put it on in honor of the Relief Society Centennial birthday.
I’m now a member of American Night Writers Association which helps me gain a better understanding of writing. I’ve started another novel and written several children’s stories, which I hope one day to have published. Yes, if you never venture forth to try new challenges in life, you may never gain the potential of your God given talents and purpose in this life. Okay lesson learned – now to just remember and apply it more frequently.
“When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” ~Helen Keller
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