Fakesgiving and a Very Candid Christmas

For this post I considered making some commentary along with the photos, but I found it really unnecessary. These pictures tell it all. Like the fact that I needed to take a whole lot more pictures. Oh, and if I'm willing to post this first photo then anything goes y'all.

To sum this post up I have come to these conclusions. Pink crocs rock. Iphone pictures do not. 

i did something good today

As you may gather from the post title, I feel that I did something good today. For someone else other than me.

I'm not big on talking about these types of things and they are things I usually keep to myself.

These are the steps leading up to this thing I'm talking about:

My V.T. partner calls me last week to see if and when I can go visiting teaching. She calls our sisters and sets up appointments. She then realizes that won't work for her and checks again with me before she calls the sisters again.

You may have noticed I haven't done anything besides fill her in on my lackluster days, as evidenced by the fact that I'm always around to answer her calls and am 95% of time available for VTing. Therefore, this is not the good thing I done. (yes, I know I just talked stupid-like there).

That was last week. She asked me if I'd teach the lesson and I HESITATED before answering yes. Can you believe me?

SOOOO

Yesterday a little bell went off in my head before I headed downstairs to work on my new obsession hobby (Another issue that needs examining sometime). The bell lit the lightbulb and I realized that I was v-ting today and ought to prepare some type of lesson.

K, this story could get way long, so I'll just jump to this morning.

(Information you need to know. The lesson I prepared was from General Conference, the RS session specifically. It's November, that's what you do).

If you digested the previous paragraph, you've likely deduced that the talk I chose was given by someone I shan't name because I don't want his name googled and someone ending up here. Not cuz I have anything negative to say, I feel exactly the opposite actually.

It was the orgetfay emay otnay lowerfay talk. Now you know whom I am speaking of. Or you ought to.

We visit two sisters who are quite the opposite from each other. I only mention that because isn't it funny how a conference message can be so personal to anyone?

In the talk 5 points are talked about, thoughts that as he says we would be wise to not forget.

Be patient with yourself, learn the difference between good sacrifices and bad ones, remember to be happy NOW,  remember the why of the gospel more than the what, and fifth, forget not that the Lord loves you. #5 is a concept that I honestly have the most difficult time understanding. Yet again another issue to be examined.

The second sister we visit has such a challenging, stressful life. It kind of makes me nervous just being there because I can sense the tension. That is not to say that she isn't a wonderful, kind person. She is. Just so you know there family is not super active. I hate saying it that way, but I don't want to drag this any longer than I already have.

Sister 2 has a son, 16, who about a year ago decided that he wanted to be involved in the church. He jumped in with both feet, and from the looks of it you'd think that he was all good. He is well loved by the ward, he is so kind and outgoing, and more. I want to be careful about TMI.

As it always is with moms, a lot of the conversation was our children and being a mom, stuff that only moms would want to talk about. Not that we're anything special because this is our tendency, it just is what it is.

I don't remember exactly what led to her talking about the son I mentioned, but she told us that he is so down every day, thinks that he is no good. Stuff like that. Heartbreaking and a universal feeling I dare say for almost everyone at least once. The thing is you would never have thought this about him.

We'd talked about the first 4 points, talked about him some, and then I began to talk about the 5th, "Forget not that the Lord loves you".

First off, and something I hadn't remembered at all hearing at the RS session. He talks about how he as a child felt sometimes small and insignificant. He wondered if he'd be forgotten by his family or Heavenly Father. This was surprising to me simply because of the kind of man he is today. I'm sure there was no chance his family would forget him and surely not Heavenly Father. Yet he felt that way, as we all have sometime in our lives.

 Now, thinking of the boy I've talked about, read this quote. Let me tell you, before this I had no idea how apropos it would be:

"... wherever you are, whatever your circumstances may be, you are not forgotten. No matter how dark your days may seem, no matter how insignificant you feel, no matter how overshadowed you think you may be, your Heavenly Father has not forgotten you. In fact, He loves you with an infinite love". 


****
What good thing did I do? I think it was that I listened to the Spirit when it reminded me that I needed to prepare a lesson, that it directed me to that talk, that I made a copy of the talk for her, which I did not feel that I needed to do for our other sister and actually really thought about not doing, and that I was able to share that quote. A time that I really caught the purpose of VTing. Something my stubborn head often overlooks.

I think we all truly need that quote to take hold in our minds. If you like this message don't get used to it coming from me. As I said I really like to keep these moments to myself.

And that's what Mamaface says.

I almost forgot, every post needs a picture.

One Little Piggy

I'm his mom, he's my kid. It works.

These are Called Good Times

update: no new look... just messing around. skip paragraphs 1-7. 

I see you're checking out my new look. (tip: click on the post title and see it all big and lovely). It's called 'magazine', which looked attractive to me and once I thought about it I knew why. Cuz I loves magazines and when I still had hopes and dreams I did aspire to work for a brilliant magazine. It seemed so glamourous. Living in the big city, wearing fashionable clothes, driving a sports car, going to plays and museums, and of course the cutest hippest apartment would have been mine.

OR I would have worked on a college newspaper like Rory, and have bantered back and forth with my cute hip mom, who would never miss a beat.

There are several problems with these scenarios. Like the fact that I'm not much of writer, though I like to think I could be, and the fact that I would've had to graduate from college, which I din't. It might have helped if I had gotten past fantasizing. A willingness to work hard, really hard, not giving up, not talking myself out of even trying.

Not to mention the ability to speak as fast I think.

Ah. How I digress. Even before I've gressed.

That fantasy still pops up now and then and that is why I now have my own fake magazine. With 3, possibly as high as 4, readers.  Now if I could figure out how to have a crazy great header, like a HEADLINE, that'd be just so perfect. Blogger just can't figure out how to be totally user (the clueless kind of user) friendly. Am I supposed to be able to write CSS? Do I know what that means?

Let's gress.

This past 1/2 of a weekend Kevin, Wes, Hunter, and I saddled up the horse and buggy, aka the Chevy Silverado 4x4 and Toy Hauler, and headed on up to the Bear Lake. A lake which I've been asking to visit forEVER and which now Kevin thinks he discovered. We met Jessie and Tanner at the KOA in Garden City. The campground was basically deserted which is fortunate since I do not think that's a place I'd want to camp in when it is fully occupied. It has to be said that Tanner saved our butts that night, jumping in making our dinner before we knew it. (Not to mention breakfast the next morning).
Jake and Makaela came up and ate dinner with us. We visited, we laughed, we ate pink jello and omgosh the best pumpkin brownies ever. After Jake left, J&T and Wes and I played UNO, much too loudly, while poor Kevin tried to sleep. Times spent with my family are quite simply the greatest moments for me. I can't even put it into words. So yeah, who needs a flipping magazine career anyway?

It was dark and there was a man-eating beetle so I didn't really know much of what things looked like until the next late morning. Welp, it is gorgeous, just gorgeous. Did I take one single photo of the autumn leaves on the trees all over the rolling hills and mountains? Well, heck no. What is wrong with me!? (Too busy lusting after the cabins).

yep, the biggest, grossest, shudder-inducing, but I hadn't seen until Jake sent me this photo, water beetle.

After a very relaxed, late start to the day, we piled into the truck and drove around the lake. Which was tee-riffic except for the carsick prone among us. We finally threw Wes into the back of the truck so he'd quit his complaining. I think it worked.

Property of the Highland Hawks

What's your opinion?

I'm Free!

Possibly my most favorite photo ever. 

After driving nearly all the way around, at the north end, we stopped at where I hope we camp next year. For longer than 24 hours preferably. It's called Rendezvous Campground and I type that only to show that I now know how to correctly spell rendezvous. 

We pulled into a campground spot, which is connected to the little beach and spent some time. Where the majority of the photos from the trip were taken. 

Discoverer of Bear Lake

LOOK AT HUNTER'S FACE!

Mary and her Boy. 

That's me and my boy, Wes.

(And my hideous San Diego Sweatshirt. Someone put that thing out of its misery).

J&T

Could they be any cuter?

Rock Skipping

The epitome of style and grace. 

All the right moves.

Wes

What are those two in the background looking for?

Still looking I guess.

Eureka!! Looks like they found it. Whatever it is. 

Wes and Jess

Looks like Wes was planning something... 

Chipmunk in the Tree
What can he see?

ask Wes

Where's Wes?

oh yeah. you already knew. 

So ends my saga on the trip to the Bear Lake. So ends another fall. All the more to look forward to next year. 

*****

IF all that wasn't entertaining enough for you, check out what Wes brought home from Church today.

It's true. He really does. 

toodles. 

surprise!

Anyone who reads this blog already knows what surprise I'm talking about. Whilst not a total surprise it was an unexpected surprise. Surprise sounds so festive. Shall I go with straight up bad news?

Kevin was laid off on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, after working for PC for 30+ years. He worked in almost any capacity you can imagine. He worked so hard, and with such integrity and loyalty. A class act which he will carry on as he is working next week to get the new team settled. I can't imagine how hard it would be to go back and work after being laid off, but Kevin is good to the core and never thought of leaving his job undone.

Don't get me wrong. Over the years there were some extremely rough times with PC. Working with the partners was a challenge at times. But how would I know if it would have been different with any other company? I wouldn't. I will assume that with most companies there are stressful times. We did spend a whole lot of time complaining and bashing and struggling with PC. Survival tactics I suppose.

But overall PC treated Kevin and our family so well, and it was a huge blessing to have been involved with them. So many choices over the years which led to some big rewards. I fully recognize this.

It's not like I can even compare the company Kevin worked for all those years, and the one he's been with for the last few. Night and day differences. The level of integrity fell dramatically and was so against Kevin's natural inclinations. Not that he was put in situations that that challenged his personal integrity, but the choices of others will always affect a whole lot of people besides those directly involved.

I can't possibly encapsulate 30 years into one blog post. Even with the lengthy ones I've been known to write.

Wednesday, as soon as Wes and I walked in the door after our appointment with the Dentist. (I would certainly prefer to be writing about that app't, which seems to always turn out to be a painful experience, than what I am now), Kevin had me go into the bedroom to talk, and I knew instantly what it was about. My first feeling was relief. FINALLY it was over. (I don't really need to tell any of you how extremely stressed Kevin has been. Extremely doesn't even really describe the last year or so).
Then my knees kind of buckled and I sat on the floor. Didn't feel all the relieved anymore.

NO JOB? This has to be a mistake. Surely they will be calling to say they made a mistake. OR some kind of mix up.

Of course that didn't happen. This is real life after all. And not something which I have any control over. OF COURSE, just like most of what constitutes a real life.

My first real moment of fear came when I thought about insurance. We are good on that for a year though. What a blessing. I'll worry about that if or when it becomes necessary.

My next thought, NO JOKE, is that we'd have to get rid of CABLE. You laugh and I understand why, but watching TV is a huge stress reliever for me and we're entering a time of stress that's for sure. I'll need my marathons of ANTM and Project Wunway, and Real Housewives, etc etc. It's the Hanson in me I guess.

All kinds of fearsome thoughts came to me, some of which are legitimately scary. But, inexplicably, I felt and feel a sense of calm. Like everything's gonna be ok and this is life and you just go through whatever is handed to you cuz you really have no other choice. (Haven't we traveled down that road before?). I do analyze these feelings because it is certainly not my M.O., to be calm about the unknown. Geez, how much did I fret about the weather for the reception? I lost far more sleep over that than this.

Maybe I'm in denial. Maybe thoughts enter my mind and I push them aside. Maybe I'm delusional. But so far I am feeling like everything really will be okay.

Today Kevin is out 4-wheelin'. He wanted to go by himself to have time to get his head together. (Not that I'm sad about missing the quad ridin'. pfft). My heart breaks for him. These past few years haven't been a cake walk, that's for sure. Looking back, from my viewpoint, they were more awful than I really realized.

Kevin and I both think that if this had to happen that it is the best timing. K, J, and J&T are out on their own and basically settled. Wes is a resilient lil guy and could care less if he wears too short jeans and old shirts, which look even worse on him since he sleeps in them. In truth, boys are generally less expensive to raise.

We have basically no debt. That is such a blessing. We don't need much. (Wants on the other hand... but that's what they are, WANTS). The you can live without stuff. (Although what I can live without and what Kevin can are two different stories).


Who knows what's next?

I DO! It's picture time!!!!

Hunter, (in a rather comprising position), and Kevin. Gosh, he loves that dog.

Spiderman aka Wes during our Saturday trip to Target. Don't worry we did not buy the mask. We looked around the toy section for like an hour, but he didn't buy a thing. Suddenly, now that he has a fair chunk of change, he's less interested in spending it.

A Rock Star who looks like Rapunzel aka Wes AFTER our trip to Target. I did buy the wig. It's for Halloween. I must say, he looked surprisingly good as a girl. DO NOT tell him I said that. I will have to kill you.

Finally, people who take their own picture with my phone will end up on this blog. SURPRISE.

*I'm emotionally drained just writing this post and I cannot bring myself to edit myself. I seriously don't know for whose benefit I am making this disclaimer.