I like getting older!

A dear friend of mine sent this to me. I understand these thoughts and I am thankful I do. I love my age!

"I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.

As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers,or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and
compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day(if I feel like it)."

TOFW-

This past weekend was Time Out for Women. I believe I have been to all the TOFW that have been in Florida. I always enjoy them. The first year I went I went with friends and each year I have been able to add someone I love to that circle. Kathy moved down here and then Alyse came and then we added Emma and Kristen. Then last year we added Michelle to our mix. I look forward to these conferences not only for the spiritual uplift but the bonding moments we always have. It is a time to leave the rush of life away and enjoy some soft moments basking in the Spirit of love.

This year we missed Kathy as she had a commitment and couldn't come. Michelle couldn't make it due to numerous things and Brittany is in Idaho. One day maybe we will all be able to make it. We did add Lindy, Kristen's roommate to our group and Emma brought up her friend Erica. We stayed at the Rosen Centre and walked to the conference.

The talks and music were wonderful. I will say I enjoyed one talk the most. It happened to be by Kris Belcher. She shared her story of her life and her dealings with cancer. We laughed and cried and I sat in amazement of her strength and courage. She is now one of my heroes. I am glad I bought her book since it contains some of her talk and some other stories. She has given me a different perspective on trials and how they can become some of our holy places. Thank you Kris Belcher for enriching my life.

Thank you Alyse, Becky and Tom

Well it's Tuesday night and this is the night Becky and I walk around her neighborhood. We try to do it twice a week. 5 times around her neighborhood is 2 miles. She has a killer hill that we always huff and puff to get up but we do it. Lately with the days warming up it is harder to walk in the heat. Last week I swear Becky counted wrong and we went 6 times around. She assures me that we only did 5. We repeat this ritual on Thursday's as well.

I do feel better when I exercise. Tonight I had a headache and Becky thought she couldn't walk so we agreed we would start back up next week since we both wouldn't be able to do Thursday night as well.

I was watching the "Biggest Loser" tonight and the challenge was to run a half marathon. I want to run a marathon sometime in my life and hopefully soon. I wanted to see if I could run for a little while but I have a problem with my knees. I am in pain most of the time. I talked a friend Tom, who told me he could give me shots in my knees. He gave me my first shot in my right knee and it felt amazing to not walk in pain. 3 months later I asked him for another shot but one for both knees. For the first time in years I can walk and not have pain. It is glorious.

So tonight I asked Alyse to go run with me. She said now??? It was after 9:00. I said sure... lets go. We got on our shoes and exercise clothes and out the door we went. I RAN a 1/2 mile. It felt great and as I ran I kept saying... just keep going. My lungs wanted to fly out of my body and flop on the ground but I told them to knock it off. Alyse was a great cheerleader who kept me going and encouraging me.

So Alyse, Becky and Tom- I say THANK YOU! You are helping me inch towards my goal! Italy here I come!

Remember Lots Wife

Well, I have waited a long time for Elder Hollands talk to be put online. And I found it today. I am so excited. Here is the link if you would like to listen to it. It is one of the best talks I have ever heard! I will be adding this to my Mp3 player. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have and will continue to have. And I would like to say Thank You, Elder Holland!

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1819&tid=5

These are the best of times, these are the worse of times

I was checking the news on the Internet. I don't remember where I went online but as I scanned the headlines I saw that a man had killed his family and himself because of financial problems. I felt sad for the family and wondered why this man thought he could take their lives. I had a scripture pop into my head as I read about his possible financial ruin. "Men's hearts shall fail them...." I grew to a greater understanding of this scripture and how increasing this problem is becoming. Men's hearts are failing them. I have taught this scripture many times and I have thought about the great depression how Men's hearts failed them but I am now living to see it really happen.

I think about Madoff who stole billions from investors and how some people who were once wealthy now have nothing. For months after we read how men killed themselves because of financial ruin. Finally I think I am understanding these 2 things and how they are connected together. Then of course my mind is left to ponder over this and I end up asking myself, how do you insure that your heart does not fail you?

This past week I have had another scripture running through my head for some reason. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding..." I have pondered upon it as well. Then this morning as I was laying in bed pondering on different things these two thoughts came together. Men's hearts shall fail them.... lean not unto thine own understanding but to Trust God.

My thoughts then went back to those who have taken their lives because they trusted in Man and not God. These two thoughts intrigued me and how they fit so well together. I got out of bed and went to the computer and to the internet. LDS.org is our home page. There was the sweet face of Pres. Monson. I pulled up his current Ensign talk. What did the first sentence read??? “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Now while this is all very cool to me and now I have come to understand the theme that was building in my head better, I have no idea why these thoughts have come to me? Is something coming on the horizon and I need to have this knowledge and testimony in place? I sure hope not! Is it a wink from God saying I'm just checking to see if your still thinking about me? Perhaps I use it to make sure that I always trust in the Lord and not in man's arm or knowledge.

Which is very interesting to me since I work with people who achieve what the world acknowledges as the highest degree of education that of being a Ph.D. I often listen to them talk and while they know their stuff they are relying on the arm of flesh and how long will that carry you or will it carry you? I think I can say no that when we rely on ourselves solely we fail.

So I might not have a Ph.D but I have a sure knowledge and I am grateful that I don't have to fear the future because I can trust Heavenly Father. That is worth more than any amount of school knowledge, life knowledge and all the money in the world. Thanks for the wink!