Special Olympics

Yesterday I was lucky enough to spend the day at the Summer Games for the Special Olympics. I always thoroughly enjoy my time there, and consider myself so lucky to have the opportunity to spend time with, and learn from these incredible individuals. And so I thought I would share with you two of the many lessons I have learned from participating...

First Lesson: It's not about winning or losing. Give it your all, and that is all that matters. The final score is never remembered anyway...

"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

This is the motto of the Special Olympics. It is my belief that we could benefit greatly by making it part of the motto of our own lives... Too many times we forget that life isn't a competion between us and the world. We set out on the path God has given us. He has asked us to finish, to endure to the end, that is all. We must be brave and keep going even when the going gets tough. Life isn't easy. It isn't meant to be. And it all requires a lot of courage and faith on our part. But stick with it, for He has promised that the end result will be more than worth the struggle.

Lesson Two: There is always time for kindness and compassion...











I took this picture this Fall while playing basketball. An athlete's shoe came untied, and she was unable to re-tie it herself. One of her teammates saw the need, stopped in the middle of the game, and tied her shoe for her.
As I watched this unfold, tears came to my eyes and I was deeply moved by what I was witnessing. Here in the middle of a close scoring game, the game and winning, became secondary to the need of another.
We would do so well to remember this little lesson. Too often our concern is about getting ahead of another, or winning, or being better, or whatever. If that is our focus, we will surely miss out on what is really important in life.
Take the time to show compassion and love. Take time to serve those around you. It will bring a feeling that can't be beat. For it is that feeling that creates a feeling of fulfillment. I dare say that loving and serving and helping each other is the majority of what this life is about...

"The test then, of our soul's greatness is rather to be sought in our ability to comfort and console, our ability to help others, rather than our ability to help ourselves and crowd others down in the struggle of life." -Joseph F Smith

Hope

So I have been thinking a lot about hope lately... I heard a saying when I was quite young, that I have never forgotten: "Never take hope away from anyone, because it may be all they have."

There is some serious depth to those words.

We have all been in a time and place in our lives in which hope and faith is all we had to cling to. We felt abandoned, betrayed, alone, what ever the feeling may have been, it was the hope of our soul that it would pass. That the rain in our life would cease, and that the sun would return. It was the prayer of our soul that tomorrow would be better that the 'today' we found our self in.

We hope every single day. We hope that our day will go well. We hope that we will do better than we did the day before. We hope that a difficult person in our life might change. We hope that______... you fill in the blank. We are always hoping. To me, hope is an action word. You have to have faith behind that hope. You have to have faith that God is hearing those prayers and those pleas and that He will somehow, someway, answer them. Some days that faith and that hope is stronger than others, nevertheless, each day we go forward with that faith, with that hope.

And so I say to you, if you are in the midst of a dark or difficult or trying time, hold on. Keep hoping. Have faith that tomorrow will be better. Tomorrow might come and it might not be miraculously different and improved, but even if there is the slightest improvement, know that He is hearing you. Patiently hold on, and the light will return. I think little orphan Annie knew what she was talking about when she said, "The sun will come out tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow there'll be sun...so ya gotta hang on til tomorrow, come what may." That tomorrow might be a few days or weeks or unfortunately a few months, away, but it will come.

"Hope is the feeling we
have that the feeling we have
is not permanent."

-Mignon McLaughlin

Bump-It, Bump-It Good!

Nothing says Wow!...Nothing says Sexy!...Nothing says Come on boys, y'all wanna marry me...like a BUMP-IT. Case in point:

Sadly, you don't get the full effect, as my head is tilted backwards. But lets just say that when you were to face me head on in all my double-bump-it glory, BAM! you would be in awe and wonder.

Happy Birthday Lori!

Today is Lori's birthday...And so today I say, I am so thankful that you were born!

She is truly one of the most incredible people I have ever had the chance to meet. I am blessed beyond words to be able to call her my friend.

I don't know of many people who have as many desirable attributes as she does. She is eternally kind and compassionate. Everyone who comes in contact with her feels loved and uplifted. She inspires you to want to do good and be good. Her goodness is endless. She is true and faithful in every sense of the words.

I want to be like her when I grow up...

The Zoo

So I went to the zoo yesterday with my kids from work. What a hoot! What an exhausting hoot! It was so fun to watch them...watch as they were fascinated by the monkeys...or as the elephant began to make noise. Simple wonders! And it made me realize yet again what a sense of humor God has...to see the oddity of some of these animals! Like the rhinos or the baboons. It reminded me of a little poem...

Too bad we make Heavenly Father so stiff, so old, so stayed.

How can we be so silly when we look at the things he’s made?
Have you missed the twinkle that must have been in his eye,

When he created the hippo or the rhinoceri?
Have you watched the ostrich swallow, then doubt God loves to play,

Or question his sense of humor when you hear a donkey bray?
Could the God who made the monkey have forgotten how to laugh,

the same who striped the zebra or stretched out the giraffe?
How could an austere person fashion a pelican,

or stiff and sober creator, ever imagine man?

I think it is a funny little poem that does remind us that our Father in Heaven really does have a sense of humor...

Speaking of humor...Here is a little pic of me at the zoo. You might ask yourself what I am doing?!...Well, I will tell you...I am 'two finger ready.' What is 'two finger ready' might be your second question, I will promptly answer you and say that 'two finger ready' is the proper approach to petting any animal at the zoo (any authorized animal I should say). How might I know this? Because I attended "Boo At The Zoo." This was a little gathering in which the ParaNormal Society was there and we thought we were going to get a haunted tour of the zoo. Needless to say it was a bit of a bust. No ghosts. No Shasta the Liger sightings.But what we did get was plenty of laughs. Many of those laughs came as we got our hands on experience at the end. For example, as we were two finger petting the big turtle, it took a leak on Moe's purse...Good times.

So when you go to the zoo there are three important things to remember...

1. Don't drink out of the big lion drinking fountain...there are LOTS of germs in it, on it, all around it. BLAH!

2. Be two finger ready at ALL times.

3. When a big turtle pees, they pee A LOT, so make sure you grab your belongings and run for cover.

Biggest Losers Big Win

Last night was a big night for my team in the local rec softball league...We actually won a game! Yeah, for those of you who know this team, or have ever watched us play, I know the shock that you are experiencing as you read this right now. It is a shock that is probably pretty comparable to that which we felt when they told us that we had won.

It was a delightful game full of our fans in the audience that had occasion to finally not be embarrassed to say that they were our fans. There were a lot of laughs, posters of support, and did I mention that there was a win?...

So let it be written that we are securely in Fifth Place. That's right F-I-F-T-H Place. (Okay, fine! Yes there are only six teams, but hey, at least we are no longer tied for last!)

(Here is one of our best fans, as he came
fully equipped with posters, whistles,
and a whole lot of enthusiasm!)
What a stud!

Patrick's Hope Concert

I came across this story today on ksl.com ...

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=10778146

It is a story about a sweet little boy named Patrick, that is in need of an intestine transplant. He was born with what they call 'short-gut syndrome', meaning that he is missing about 95% of his intestines.


Transplants are unbelievably expensive. And so to help out with costs, Paul Cardall and Friends are putting on a benefit concert to raise money for this life-saving operation for this little boy.

So everyone check out this website! It's got all the details and the link to buy tickets. Tickets are only $9.75! The show is Saturday May 22nd, 2010 @ Eisenhower Jr High @ 7pm. There is an auction that begins at 6pm. Seating is general admission, so get there early.

http://www.showclix.com/event/9223/

Tell everyone you know about this wonderful cause!

Happy Mothers Day

With it being Mother's Day I thought I would write this and say...

Dear Ma,

Thank you for having the patience to raise me. I know that there were multiple times, dare I say even in any given day, that you had thoughts of wanting to ship me off to boarding school, fat camp, China, the insane asylum...anywhere so that your sanity might be saved. But you didn't. You kept me. And I am thankful for that.
I know you would often times look at me and wonder where in the world I came from. Like the time I got my head stuck in the rungs of the banister. Or like when I would refuse to leave the house without my Tina Turner cardboard cut-out. Or maybe the time when I got hit in the head when I walked under a crossing arm (okay, yes that was only a few years ago, and I do realize that most 'normal' folks don't have this happen to them.) But all these times. All I can say is that I have it from multiple good sources that yes, I am yours. Genetically connected, we are. And the fact that we look and sound so much alike, makes it even harder to deny this fact!
But I do want to thank you. Thank you for believing in me when I wasn't sure of myself. Thank you for showing me what strength looks like. I have no idea how you've done what you've done raising me and the boys on your own. Most of all, thank you for loving me, always.
I love you more than I can say.

Love~
PussyCat

And yes, though I have shared these nice words and love, you still need to be on your best behavior to avoid a future at Shady Pines...

SugarLand

Amazing! Simply amazing!

I've always been a Sugarland fan. Now I am even more so. The show was one of the best I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of shows! Jennifer Nettles has one of the most unique and versatile voices. I don't know if there is any genre she couldn't sing and be successful at. She did a little medley that included everything from Beyonce's 'Single Ladies', to the Jackson 5, to James Taylor's 'Sweet Caroline." Unbelievable.




And they are humble and kind to boot!...






They autographed a guitar and gave it to a young girl in the audience. Then a while later Jennifer Nettles spray painted a flag with the word 'Love' on it, and gave it to a little boy to walk around the arena, and allowed him to keep it.

My vote is that they are good folk!

So if you ever get the chance to see them in concert...GO! And if you are looking for a good cd to purchase, any of theirs would be a good choice. (Well, I will be honest and say that I was not a huge fan of their Christmas cd. But other than that, you couldn't go wrong) I can't wait til October when their new cd comes out...

Race For The Cure

This is an event that I look forward to every year. Though I cannot stand the fact that so many people are affected by cancer, it is so nice to see so many people united in trying to find a cure. This event is one of hope. Hope that one day there will be an end to this disease. It is an event of support. Strangers become friends as hugs and encouraging words are exchanged by those who know first hand what the other is going through, having been through it themselves. It is an event of unity. Everyone who is there is there for the same purpose, to do our part in raising money to find a cure.



This day I celebrate my mom, a survivor. I am so thankful that I am able to walk with her. And for those whom I love who lost their battle, I lovingly walk for you...

O'Doyle Rules!

So I was driving down the road day before yesterday and this is what I saw... (look on the roof of the car, to the right hand side of the picture. It's a banana peel...)

I started laughing out loud. All I could think of was "O'Doyle Rules!" from the movie Billy Madison. Cracked me up...

The Good Samaritan

So here it is Sunday. Sunday is go-to-Church-day. And so I feel like I should offer a more spiritual note for this evening...

I've been thinking a lot about a VERY disturbing story I read this last week. It was about the man who was stabbed and died in the streets of New York City, as he was trying to rescue a woman who was being attacked. He stepped in and was stabbed. He fell to the sidewalk and was bleeding. The most disturbing thing about this, is that 20+ people walked past him and none, NOT ONE, stopped to help him. One man lifted his head up and saw blood and then dropped his head back down and continued on his way. Someone else stopped only to take pictures with their cell phone. It was an hour and twenty minutes before help arrived, and by that time it was too late.

I cannot begin to say how this just tore my heart up. How could one person, let alone 20 people, walk on past this dying man and do nothing to help?! I don't understand.

I've thought about this story every day since I read it. And as I've thought about it, I began to make a 'spiritual application.' I thought about all of the people we know in our lives, that are struggling. That are spiritual dying. Do we notice? Do we stop and help? Or do we just walk on by? There are so many people that we come in contact with on a daily basis that are in need of us. Of our friendship, or our love, or our faith. Do we offer these things to them?

There is the story of the Good Samaritan, that so many of us are familiar with. The man stopped to help. He saw the need before him, and he acted. It was a total stranger he was helping, but he freely gave of himself, his time, his compassion, and he even gave monetarily to make sure the man in need was properly taken care of after he left. How amazing. How many of us would, or do, the same thing?

I also think of Jesus when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane. As He was about to be arrested and the little scuffle ensued, and Peter cut off Malcus' ear. Amidst the commotion of it all, Jesus noticed that there was a need for His healing. He quietly and unassumingly restored the ear. He was aware and noticed a need, and acted... So I am committing to being more aware. More aware of the people around me and their needs. More aware of the countless opportunities I have each and every day to help someone in need. I pray I don't ever just walk on past another who needs my help...