Our Differences are All Good!

I have been taking an uplifting class lately. And who doesn't need that this time of year, eh?

One week we discussed "Personality and the Color Code." You may or may not have heard of it. One takes a quiz with 4 words in each 46 questions asked. One picks which word describes one best. We are either red, blue, white, or yellow. I was more dominately blue. It's a strong personality but sensitive to others' needs. It's motivation is "Intimacy." Red is "Power." White is "Peace." and Yellow is "Fun."

The great thing about this is that one can see the different personalities in one's family and become empowered to use these differences for everyone's good. No one person is right all the time. It gives the strengths and limitations to work with. It's especially helpful for parents. So, if you have access to this, I would recommend it. It gets rid of power struggles and motivates in the right direction.

Then, I ran across a quote from Henry B. Eyring to go along with it.:::
"The children of God have more in common than they have differences. And even the differences can be seen as an opportunity. God will help us see a difference in somone else not as a source of irritation but as a contribution. The Lord can help you see and value what another person brings which you lack. More than once the Lord has helped nme see His kindness in giving me association with someone whose difference from me was just the help I needed. That has been the Lord's way of adding something I lacked to serve Him better."

So, it's a nice thought for "Valentine's Day." And I wish you all a "Happy Valentine's Day!" Here's to accepting and celebrating our differences!!

The Time Change

Who likes this time change? Do you like that it gets dark an hour earlier? I'm not convinced that it IS a good thing. And WHY does it have to happen anyway? I guess some go to school and work when it's lighter outside and that's probably a good reason. But, all in all it just makes us want to "veg" in our houses and be lazier. Maybe that's why so many of us eat more this time of year. (Not to mention it starts with Halloween and a non stop eating holiday frenzie season until after Valentine's Day) Anyway, I would just like to hear your opinions out there....

This time of year also reminds me that my mom and dad have to spend hours and I literally mean HOURS turning their clocks back. The reason being is that they own SOOO many clocks. Sorry Mom I don't know the official count at this point but suffice it to say it is close to 2000 somewhere. They have beaten out the contenders in the world records but have not chosen to enter it in their book. People of all ages come and tour through their home on their clock field trip. They have been given clocks from friends and acquaintances. My mom used to demo at Sam's Club and she had a clock for every season. She was a lot of the customer's favorite as they would go in there just to see the different clock she would have sitting there. My mom and dad are very entertaining. My sisters and I say that when their time comes we will either make their home into a museum or sell the clocks to pay for all of them that they purchased over the years, lol. We all have our favorite, chosen clock of course. The oldest sibling has already spoken for the grand daddy of them all-the beautiful Grandfather clock. And I guess that's her heirarchy right, yeah right. Me, being a sentimentalist wants the clock my dad made out of an old business timeclock. The 3rd sibling in the family want a silver, musical clock which I do, too but I don't think the baby of the family has mentioned which clock she wants as maybe the 2 oldest talk too much. :) So, they range from the big daddy down to the pretty miniature ones. They also have some whimsical clocks. The "Fart" clock was a favorite but bit the dust. They are so fun to look at. The only problem I have with the collection is the basement clocks. They are the ones that didn't make the "cut." They are...well...NOISY!! When we visit, it is our residence down there which we appreciate so much but the noise from the clocks makes one feel like their on the Alfred Hitchcocks's Vertigo or some insane assylum. I have to remove some of the batteries and replace them and set the clocks again when we leave just to get some sleep. They are on every inch of every room. The ones going down the staircase fall off when they are bumped going down. One of the advantages might be when I'm on the phone with them I can hear the clocks all going off in unison so I know after the 2nd hour of them going off I should probably rap it up. Anyway, the clocks bring joy to them and those around them so who am I to judge anything. Just wanted to share that I feel sorry for them 2 times a year as they are changing all those clocks. :)

Quote of the Month

Remember this and think about it, only too true...and I don't remember where I picked it up but here it is....

A successful marriage is the union between two great forgivers.

A Day in the Life.....

AAAAHHHHH, the sweet life of country living. Warm summer breezes, views as far as the eye can see....

WRONG!! We've had road construction in front of our driveway for going on 5 days now. Meridian City is tying into the sewer line for the bathrooms they are putting across the street. That's right, when we moved here we were the only ones around. It was almost spooky because we were the only ones out here. That was 21 years ago. Even the babysitters got scared. NOW...there is a full blown 20 acre soccer park across the street. The place crawls with people EVERYWHERE! Now, I don't like to complain...well....maybe a little. But we DID move out here for a REASON and that reason was to be away from noise and now it's all about noise. To add insult to injury there will also be a Church next door that takes the place of all the lovely fields that grow everyone's....FOOD. So now, my husband searches diligently for a cabin get-away somewhere up in the mountains. We have been up there looking around several Saturdays. Can anybody relate out there???

When we first moved here my kids played "Kick the Can", played in the ditches, four wheeled, all things kids want to do and NEED to do but they are now 26, 24, 22. Now, my 6 year old has a new playground....

Life is Like a Boomerang

Steven R. Covey wrote this in his book and I was reading it the other day from an email a dear friend sent. I love getting random emails from friends!

We've heard this concept before but if we apply it to our lives in a real way and practice what we know--then the change comes alive....

10 percent of life is made up of what happens to you.
90 percent of life is decided by how you react.
Absolutely everything we do, give, say, or even think is like a boomerang. It will come back to us.
Maybe one of your children breaks a special keepsake. How do you react?
What if somebody cuts you off in traffic when you are already 5 minutes late for work-does it make the rest of the day go bad?
If we want to receive, we need to learn to give first.
Maybe we will end with our hands empty, but our heart will be filled with love, and those who love life, have that feeling marked in their hearts.

Tip of the Day

http://www.sthuberts.org/poop/Images/Ice%20CreamSundae.jpg

Who out there LOVES ice cream? We all love ice cream!
So, here's the tip for the day....
For brain freeze: press tongue or thumb firmly to the roof of mouth -OR-
you can take a couple sips of warm beverage.
Brain freezes lasts 21 seconds typically. This is from the good ol' "Farmer's Almanac." Good advice for this hot month of July.