The Frog decided it

This is a great back-story to a great book!


Story behind the Story: Mo Willems' City Dog, Country Frog, by Ilene Cooper | Booklist Online

Speaking of awesome, here's my seasonal list, some borrowed from Neil Pasricha, some my own:

1. Seeing the first cartons of eggnog on the store shelf.
2. Flipping channels and finding a cool movie you've wanted to see (Shrek the Third). It's almost over, and you hit "record" and it records it from the beginning!
3. Chewy Molasses Ginger cookies, warm from the oven, all gooey and soft. Almost as good as eating the dough raw!
4. Getting 99% of your holiday shopping done in one 4 hour marathon at the PX. 
5. Having my husband help with the gift wrapping.
6. Finding the perfect gifts for everyone on your list.
7. Having a grandchild sleep over and help with the holiday decorating.
8. When the Christmas tree lights are the only lights on in the room.
9. Learning Christmas songs on the piano. 
10. Family gatherings.

AWESOME!

There's nothing like new warm-weather running gear to provide motivation to get out and run in the chilly, damp Northwest. I knew my outfit was cool, so I put forth the extra umph to my run so I'd look cool to match. I ran 5 miles and could have kept going...Now I just need a marathon to train for!  Awesome!

Too much synchronicity

Only worked 1/2 day today so I could get to the Lodge to see Hahn Bin perform. I had put my gym stuff in the car in the morning, thinking I'd already be at the lodge at 4 and it would be easy to get in the pool for some laps, but the day was beautiful--crisp clear and not too cold--perfect for a run, and I would be home in time for a good hour's workout before dark. What to do? Too many good choices!! I enjoyed the hour with Hahn Bin (extraordinary!) then headed home--for a lovely run through the fall colors. Life is good!

Come together

Donald, 1947

My dad's birthday sychronistically fell on Family Home Evening night while my mother was visiting. She and I were at Siemers, so I planned an activity to help my grandchildren get to know their great-grandfather a bit, whom they never got to meet. I had a photo (left) of him and mom and then on top of it I overlaid smaller pictures of things that would evoke a story of his life: a picture of some Dunkin Donut's coffee/treats, a man helping someone fix a flat tire, a go-cart, a stock car racer, a puppy dog, a picture of my dad as a young man (right). Each of the kids got to take off a small picture and then I or mom told a story about it. It was fun. Happy Birthday, Dad!

relatives

I went to Paige's first grade class to read stories outside on the lawn in conjunction with her teacher reading them the book, "The relatives came." When it was time to leave, I went to give Chase a hug but he shrugged away, not interested. I thought to myself, "I don't want to be the gramma who smothers her grandchildren with unwanted kisses." I gave a kiss to Paige, then went towards the parking lot. I looked back at Chase who had run down the other side of the hill and saw he was looking back at me. I waved to him and then he opened his arms wide, puckered his lips and ran towards me. I crouched down and received his big hug and a pucker kiss on the lips, grateful that he does want his gramma's hugs and kisses after all! 

different pink blankie

Took in the Jubilee semi-annual garage sale during my 4 mile run this morning. Found a few treasures, one of which was this pitcher which is almost identical to the one I inherited from my Gramma Grant which got broken recently. So now when I use it, I can still think of her, but with a new, different pitcher (actually, the owner said she got it from her great-aunt, so it IS an heirloom of probably about the same vintage....)

going "wrong"

Rich and I went to Whistler, BC for a few days. It was glorious, relaxing, gorgeous! Our mapquest direction to get there took us through the heart of downtown Vancouver, but going back, we must have missed the turning, as things started to look not familiar. By the time we realized we'd gone "wrong," we discovered that we were on a bypass to the city and were able to go through a more unused border crossing that was must speedier than the one we came through on the way up. This article reminded me of that. A reminder to go with the flow, don't sweat the small things, as they could be blessings in disguise.

1:38 at 56

The day after I turned 56 I competed in my first triathlon. The swim was the hardest--I had a hard time regulating my breathing, even though I trained the most on the swim. At the last minute, I switched to Rich's bike, which has street tires, instead of mine that I trained on, which has mountain bike tires, so I really flew, as it seemed so much easier to peddle! I did all three sections in my Vibrams and felt great. Already planning for next year! Thanks, Joella, for inviting me to do this with you!

I am a child of God

Renee got baptized this morning. Rachel asked me to only do 2 things (well, not including bringing ice, my crockpot, stopping for toothpicks and rice, and coming early enough to take pictures...those are little things): play the closing song (see title) and have a private talk with Renee sometime during the day about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Now when she committed me to playing the piano as accompanist, she told me about it by saying, "I think I did something that is not going to make you happy..." She knows I am a novice player, but that she even thought of me to do it made me happy. So I practiced and practiced all week and never managed to play it once all the way through without mistakes. I have never played in front of an audience or accompanied singers, so I was very nervous, but wanted to do this for Renee. The 2nd request had me skimming through my journals for a good example of feeling the Holy Ghost to share with Renee, but hadn't really come up with anything by the time we were all arrived in the chapel. I sat down in the congregation and immediately was asked to conduct the music for the opening song, (played by a much more proficient musician). Something else I have not had much practice with...but again, anything for Renee...
The conducting part went well enough, and the baptisms (there were 3 children being baptized) and confirmations part was beautiful and moving. Then time for the closing song. I went up and said a quick prayer that I could be calm and get through it without messing up too badly, when the thought came to me that this prayer, and its sure-to-come-answer would be the perfect story to tell Renee about the Holy Ghost.
Well, I said, "amen" to my mental prayer, and started in. I was calm. I didn't mess up too badly to be noticed, and I definitely felt the presence of the Holy Ghost with me helping me. Back at the house, I had a quiet moment with Renee in the backyard, where I told her of my fears and nervousness, and how the Holy Ghost was with me to help me do my best. I gave her a white bead bracelet I made for her and testified of the blessings of having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. A sweet memory of a lovely morning.

Magical and Miraculous repost from Care2.com

posted by Deepak Chopra Aug 4, 2011 5:01 am

Though we may not understand it, the essential truth of the universe is that it’s synchronistic and coincidental. Everything is connected with everything else, and if we are in synch with the universe, then we experience synchronicity. The more connected we are, the more we experience coincident or simultaneous events.

Therefore, never ignore coincidences. When a coincidence happens, ask yourself, What does this mean? What is the significance of this coincidence? Coincidences are messages from your soul; they are clues to the nonlocal Self. The local self is the person that you think you are. The nonlocal Self is the unbounded spirit. You experience both, so when coincidence happens, in that moment you have glimpsed your soul, the non-local Self.

When you have a conscious awareness of your soul, you experience everything as a miracle. You feel happy, your life begins to transform. You see the connection between your inner world and your outer world; you see that every event in your life is being orchestrated by the entire universe.
As you elevate your attention from the world of humdrum and trivial to the world of the magical and miraculous, your life becomes magical and miraculous. Your attention is spontaneously alert to the fact that life itself is a miracle.

Adapted from Power, Freedom, and Grace by Deepak Chopra (Amber-Allen Publishing Inc., 2006).







Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/magical-and-miraculous.html#ixzz1UAqFsJyK

catalyst

Found a box of these crackers in the break room today--a treat someone brought in to share. Been thinking of my dad every since!

I'm on Mormon.org!

2 in one day

This morning while eating my breakfast I was reading my scriptures --2 Corinthians 3--and had gotten to verse 11 when I looked up in frustration and said to Rich, "why can't these gospel writers speak in plain English? Why is their writings so convoluted?" A rhetorical, question, I thought, but then I looked down and continued my reading with verse 12: Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
ah, the irony!
Then I arrived at work and spoke to a co-worker about her weekend. She told about her experience ushering at the theatre and having a conversation with a flirty young man who told her she needed to smile more. I left her to check out my daily emails and read this post called 10 tips for dating. Number seven suggested volunteering as an usher at a theatre event, but "be sure to smile, as it makes you much more attractive."

What's growing in YOUR tea cup?

We all know the 5 second rule, right? So when my teabag fell out of my cup and I quickly put it back to continue to steep, no problem...then I opened my daily message email from Care2.com and found this article....the Universe is watching....ah well, we all will eat a pound of dirt before we die..

E Tu?

I was facilitating the Chamber Networking Breakfast this morning and had to make the announcement that the Forum lunch would be held next Tuesday, March 15th....So I said, "Be at the Forum on the Ides of March..." How cool is that?? Well, I thought it was a rare opportunity...

(This is a photo I took of the EXACT place Caesar was assassinated in Rome..)                                                                                         

Timely Tip

Went to the Dr. this morning and got some hydrocortisone drops for ear irritation. He suggested I buy "Swimmer's Ear" drops OTC for use after swimming to keep the ear canal dry. "Or," he said, "You can probably just make up your own solution--it's just vinegar and rubbing alcohol." After I left I realized I'd forgotten to ask him the solution percentages for the two ingredients...

Hours later, at work, I'd forgotten about it, but picked up an old (July 2010) Good Housekeeping magazine that just got donated to the book sale this afternoon. Thumbing through, I found there on page 35 "Swimmer's Solution" --an article that gave the mix for the DIY solution: "half white vinegar and half rubbing alcohol." What are the odds? Thank you, GH!

Time Traveler's Apprentice goes live

History Book Lesson
Only one degree of separate on this claim to fame! Kelly is my sister. I did the cover art for her book, and taught her the "secret" recipe for Thieves...

Cup o' Love

Rich made me a cup of herbal tea as I worked on family history last night. When I was ready to call it a night at 11:30 I picked up the empty cup to take it to the sink and noticed this special message in the bottom--created from the tea residue!

Soul Food

Quick, urgent knock at the door. I open it, but no one is there! Just these lovely, fragrant hyacinth. A secret friend!

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft
and of the slender store
Two loaves alone to thee are left--
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinth to feed thy soul.

Thank you, sweet Rachel! (She just can't keep a secret for long!)

The world in my hand

I found this rock waaaay back in, oh, probably 1972, when I went to the beach (I think it was Crane Beach in Massachusetts) with my cousin, Shelley. It looked magical then, and I guess it still does possess a bit of magic, as just looking at it brings back memories of that time when Shelley and I were best friends. I've kept it in my box of special things all these years, but it got misplaced soon after we moved out here to Washington. I tried several times to find it, to no avail, then the other day I came home to see it sitting on the counter. Rich had been doing one of his cleaning days, and came across it. By the time I asked him where he'd found it, he couldn't recall...but no matter! Do you have a special something that serves as a memory keeper?

Two roads diverged

You can't read the sign very well at the fork in the road, but one side (left) is black (as in "Black Diamond") and the right side is blue (intermediate). Nary a beginner green circle to be seen. We THOUGHT we were skiing on a green run, happily oblivious to our impending doom. Obviously we Chose the Right (aka intermediate) and made the best of it. We made it to the bottom in one piece and tried a couple more times to find where we went wrong, only to have to renegotiate this more difficult path once again. Finally, the last run of the day, we found the elusive Holiday Trail. And it was only then, on the beginner run, that I had my first fall of the day, going too fast to negotiate a turn and stopping myself in powder before I could hit some trees. This was White Pass, 2 and 1/2 hours from home, and we had a great day enjoying the sun, scenery and short lift lines (felt like we were playing hooky from school on a Friday!) I can't say as we made a lot of progress technically speaking, as we were still mostly snow-plowing our way down runs, but our experience and confidence grew (all that time on Intermediates!) On the way home, Rich summed it up nicely when he said, "If I never ski again, it won't be the end of the world, but at least I know I can do it."

Grateful for Gluten

Got this book out of the library at Thanksgiving but never read it. My son-in-law, Golden, did though, and when he told me it changed his life, I had to give it another go. I've never been a very good bread maker, in spite of having the desire. Now, voila! Artisan bread with minimal effort! So glad I am not allergic to gluten! I concur, Golden: Life changing!

Crystal Mountain Adventure

(Rich and I coming down the bunny hill...) Haha. We did 2 runs on the bunny hill, then felt we were ready to take on the higher slope. It was still labeled "Beginner" --was even called the Tinkerbell Run, so how hard could it be? There were dozens of little kids (couldn't have been more than 5-7 yr olds) zipping down it, no poles, so we set out. After wiping out several times each on that first attempt, we felt we couldn't quit in defeat, so went up Tinkerbell 3 more times. We were feeling a bit more confident by the end of the 4th run, but our bodies were bruised and battered and we retreated back to the bunny slope, where we were AMAZING! We did that sucker 6 times before decided we'd proved our mettle and could proudly call it quits for the day.

Future Synchronicities

1. Haven't been aware of many (any) synchronous experiences lately so decided to "look ahead" and envision good things to come:

*Brandolyn is able to sell her house via auction next week, using the method/book I used to sell our house in San Antonio back in 1998.

*We've had to switch insurances (read: Cheaper) and by switching to Group Health, Rich finally finds someone who can help him with his various issues.

*Because Vanessa & Ben aren't old enough to get a rental car in Ireland, where they wanted to go for their honeymoon, they switch gears and end up having a magical experience in Kauai next month.

Golden wasn't offered the job with BASF in Texas and as a result, he is available to accept an even better job, close to us in Washington.

*The first house the Siemers made an offer on fell through, which opened the way for them to find a better, more suitable house (in which they will live happily for many years to come!)

Here's to good things right around the corner!