Recreational Repenting of Others

I just read a great article. I would recommend it for everyone! It is called Recreational Repenting of Others by Wally Goddard (http://www.drwally.org/moving-from-selfhood/recreational-repenting-of-others/) It has two specific applications in my life.

First, with my mother. I have excused my irritability by saying "I hope my children have more patience than I do." No, I need to do something about it! There is no better day than today to begin.

Second, in my Church calling. I have followed this approach in that I know I can change any situation by changing my behavior. I may not be able to make the situation perfect. But, I can make it a lot better.

This is the conclusion of the article ". . . can see his or her own irritation as an invitation to repent. Irritation is not so much about what my partner is doing wrong but how I am thinking wrong. I can repent. I can choose to see the good. I can see the differences as a blessing. I can allow my partner to be different from me. I can choose to learn from my partner and to feel blessed by my partner.

Fixing people is really God’s prerogative. Only as we become more godly should we presume to change another person. And here’s the great irony: As we become more godly, we enjoy people more and more just as they are."

You really need to read the article. Oops, I really needed to read the article. Perhaps there is something in it that could bless your life. I hope so.

Saturday Was

I finally got a picture for my blog---me and Ella--I think it is so cute!

Saturday actually started on Friday night with a sleepover with Ella. We slept in Dave's old room. She was a great sleeper and we didn't get up until 6:55. WAHOO!!!
Of course we had the traditional pancakes. She always wants pancakes at our house--she gets to help make them. I even let her crack the egg. We left some for Papa but they dissapeared before he got home from the Temple. Oh, well.

Granny picked up Mia and then us and we all went shopping. First to Michael's where I got Ella another wood parrot to paint (only a dollar, but the last one I bought her we ended up giving to a friend for his birthday). Then we went to Albertsons. Mia is at the fun stage to take shopping. She doesn't ask for anything but loves the attention. We got the usual groceries and some donuts for Lance to share with the guys helping them move. Yes, it was moving day again for Ella's family. This will make the fifth home she has had in less than five years.

We found her Dad at the new house just finishing the first trip. They were fortunate to have some helpers from Lance's employment and Scottie (brother-in-law) come and help. It was such a rainy day, awful for moving! But in the end it all got done.

After lunch Ella and Papa were off to the Movie, Earth. Mia and I got well deserved naps. And a little after three I dropped the girls off to their other Grandma's house and breathed a sigh of relief. I made it! I only yelled once--the stress got to me trying to get out the door to the store. Of course, with the help of Great Granny and Papa.

Nanny and Mia

All and all it was fine and fun. Mia is just the sweetest thing. She's a little shy but just a love. the rest of the day was uneventful. Except I did actually cook dinner. And worked on Ella's birthday party invitations.

And thus you have it, my Saturday before Sunday.

Another Sunday

Today was indeed another Sunday. I really wish we had more than one a week. How would it feel to be spiritually fed more than once a week? Not bad! But for now one will have to do.

A happy Granny picture

I made it to my early morning meetings (7:15), running off the newsletter, teaching Relief Society, then bearing my testimony just seem to take all I had. But it felt so good to be back into the swing of things. We did skip choir practice but we will get back to that as well.

I must add. Dad was the first person to stand and bear his testimony. I was shocked. He does it fairly rarely. But what's more he expressed his appreciation to our Heavenly Father for blessing me through the surgery . . . I don't know why I never thought of pat as actually praying that I would live and be made whole. this has been so costly and the expenses continue to rise. bot tmy CPAP and Oxygen machines went out. The CPAP needs to be replaced ($1900), the oxy machine will require $80 just to have the people in SLC look at it and tell us IF it is repairable. All this on top of the surgery. How blessed are we to have insurance?

I am truly glad to have survived the surgery. I pray I will continue to gain strength and the abilities I need to continue to enjoy this life-my family most of all- and make the most of the o
pportunities the Lord has given me to serve Him and the members of our ward. I have a grreat life, and I would not trade it for anything. With all of its trials and challenges--this life is a blessing beyond what I could ever have imagined. May we all have many Sundays and Saturdays and Mondays and . . . .and enjoy and appreciate them. They are gifts from God!

Our House

I heard this song again today. I really loved it years ago but haven't thought about it for a very long time. it made me cry. Tears of gratitude. Thanks Dad.

I know it's not the best picture, but I could find it and get it into this blog....
I still miss my rocking chair

Our House - Crosby Stills Nash and Young

I'll light the fire, while you place the flowers
In the vase that you bought today.
Staring at the fire for hours and hours,
While I listen to you play your love songs
All night long for me, only for me
Chorus:
Our house, is a very, very, very fine house.
With two cats in the yard,
Life used to be so hard,
Now every thing is easy 'cause of you.

Come to me now, and rest your head for just five minutes,
Everything is done.
Such a cozy room, the windows are illuminated
By the evening sunshine through them,
Fiery gems for you, only for you.

Chorus:
Our house, is a very, very, very fine house.
With two cats in the yard
Life used to be so hard,
Now every thing is easy 'cause of you.

I'll light the fire, while you place the flowers
In the vase that you bought today.

Home again

Greetings,
I am home again and it has only been a week since I had the surgery. But I am already restless and ready to get on with life. I still want my life back.

The hormones are raging and causing great distress but If I have to go through it to get to where I want to be, so be it.

This picture (thanks Lexy) reminds me of what I am living for; to honor the past, enjoy the present and bless the future.

It's late and even after all the rest I have had--all day long--I need to go to bed. But I wanted to thank everyone who cared and prayed for my health and safety. The Lord and your prayers saw me through this major step in recovery.

I'll love you forever, Mom

PS I had it which the local doctors and took my own stitches out-I was not going to go all the way back to SLC for two little stitches. So I guess you can see I am getting some of my spunk back!

Hi Granny

Sarah took this picture over the Easter weekend. I thought it was just darling! It made me think of the wonderful day when I see them at my door again. That will be after the "big day." Granny and I are headed for SLC today. Tomorrow is the big day, finally. I am so looking forward to getting my life back.

I love you all and truly appreciate all your prayers.

Renee

A New Resident and Easter weekend visitors

A Little Easter Love, Mia and Granny

It seems we have a new resident at 446 N 400 West, a muskrat. I think it is a muskrat. I didn't move my car for a week or so. When I did I found a good size pile of poop and fur under it. I could not imagine where it had come from. This morning, however, on our way to the temple at 7 a.m. out on the lawn was this animal. Way to big to be a squirrel but brownish gray with a tail kinda' like a squirrel. He seemed to be eating our newly raked grass. The minute we opened the front door, he was gone. We have since found a couple of poop and fur piles--Why the fur in the pile? Do you think they clean their coats after winter and eat it. . . .ugh!

What should we do about our new resident? I really have had enough of the poop piles. Since the dearly departed Elvis has gone on to greener pastures it has been nice to be able to take the kiddos out into the yard without worrying all the time about what they might find or step in. Animal control? that doesn't seem to neighborly. Maybe Derek next door could just hunt him down. That seems even less neighborly. Oh the joy of "muskrat love."

He didn't show his face during our Easter egg hunt. It was so cute. Noah was the horder, Lily caught on. Mia got lots of help from Ella and her Mom, Benji crawled around a bit but liked what he already had in his basket more than the ones spread all over. Tessa watched from her Dad's arms. And Ella Had her own scavenger hunt and seemed to really enjoyed it.

The lineup; Tessa, Noah, Ella. Mia. Lily, and Benji.

Granny watches from the ONLY Rocking chair

Ella and Granny





Lily the runaway! Caught by Rachael followed by Seuao and Tessa

Noah the Champion!

Of course there were lots of great pictures followed by a really sweet devotional by Lexy and a family dinner.. What a great Easter fun day!

Papa and Benji

After all the festivities the Marmot was found hiding between the garage and the shed. there are various pictures of the not so little fellow on cell phones and cameras around the house. But sorry, none have made it to my computer yet. Stay tuned!