Rain, Rain, go away, I really want to stain my deck today!

I was supposed to go up to Bear Lake this weekend to stain the deck and get somethings ready for our summer rentals but I could see that wasn't going to happen with the weather and the temperature. Sooo I thought I would stay home and stain my own deck. When I woke up it was sunny so Brady and I hurried and moved everything off the deck and started the preparations when Brady said "Mom go look out to the west". I did and all I could see was dark clouds coming our way!!!! So I guess I will bag the weekend projects!!

The rain really has made everything sooo green and pretty this year! So I really can't complain!!

This is a picture of the leaves on my little tree out front. Alex took these great pictures!


This is the view of my back yard!

Friday Feast

Appetizer
When you drink soda/pop/coke, do you prefer to drink it from the bottle, a can, or after pouring it into a cup? I don't drink soda/pop/or coke! Really I don't!! I didn't grow up drinking soda so I really don't like it. I prefer water with lemon in a glass, I do like some fruit juice and I really like tomato juice. I know I am weird this way, John has always thought so anyway!! He grew up on soda!

Soup
What television show are you willing to stay up late to watch? I really got hooked on American Idol last season and would tape it when I wasn't home to watch and stay up late and watch it when I would get home. The only other TV show I really like is "HOUSE" and when my teens get me to set I watch the "OFFICE".

Salad
Name one person, place, or thing you think of as brilliant. After reading the biography of Gordon B. Hinckley he is one person I will always think of as brilliant. I have always thought of the places that have built lighthouses as a brilliant idea, there are some pretty amazing stories that you learn about when you visit a lighthouse. And the one thing that I think of as brilliant is my vita mix blender!! It has the ability to crush anything and make it smooth and tasty!!

Main Course
Would you be willing to work 4 10-hour days instead of 5 8-hour days in order to save gas? I would love 4 10-hour days! This never ending 13 to 15 hours 7 days a week are insane!! I guess I really didn't get the no pay long hour schedule I sign up for when I became a MOTHER!!

Dessert
If you were a superhero, what would you call yourself? What do you mean if I was a superhero? I am a MOM doesn't that qualify for something?? I always thought the being invisible thing would be great, sign me up for that one!!

To have fun with feasting yourself go here: http://fridaysfeast.com/?p=19

Mind Games:
Skills for Healthy Thinking

You have likely seen this excerpt below before, but I want to share it with you and some insights about what it means beyond being a fun and interesting exercise for the brain. Please read the quote below:

Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a ttoal mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.

Now let me ask you a few questions:
Did you have any problem reading this sentence?
Did you read what it actually says, or what you thought it said?
What does that reveal about the way the mind works?

What became stunningly apparent to me after seeing this paragraph was the natural inclination of the mind to create meaning where none exists. In actuality, this paragraph doesn't make any sense - if you read the actual words. Yet our mind quickly juxtaposes the words and interprets it in a logical way.
Think about it.
When we communicate with others, how often do we take what they say and interpret it to make sense to us, instead of hearing what they are actually saying? When we think our private thoughts (especially negative thoughts), how often do we distort what is actually happening or being said, and instead interpret something in a way that doesn't actually have anything to do with the meaning?

Our mind is an amazing thing! It is very easy to turn on the auto pilot of our mind and mindlessly go through life thinking we are living in an aware state. The real challenge to life it to turn off the auto pilot and and stay in the moment! This is one of the reasons that a couple of years ago I started reading quotes. For myself it has helped me focus and stay in the moment and has helped me live life in the moment! This is why I use quotes in my blogging I want to remember the things I am learning on a daily basis and share that knowledge with others.

SOOO once again Have a Day!

Don't let the Day have you!!

Every day is a birthday; every moment of it is new to us; we are born again, renewed for fresh work and endeavor. Issac Watts
Well according to Issac Watts, I guess a Happy Birthday is in order! Happy Birthday everyone! In all seriousness, isn’t this a hopeful quote filled with the wonder of newness? Have you ever thought about why we are so happy when a baby is born? Or why do we countdown the seconds to a new year? These events speak of new opportunity, fresh starts, hope.
This quote brings us to the very important realization that the same opportunity, newness and hope resides in every day - in every moment. All we have to do is accept it. Today, you could make the biggest change of your life. There is no need to wait.
Today is my friend Sharon's Birthday and I was able to have lunch with her!! But I forgot my camera!! Sharon is the best friend anyone could have. I love you Sharon Happy Birthday!!

It seems like forever since I BLOGGED!! Not only blogging but my favorite is reading all my friends and family's blogs and I haven't even had time to do much. I am going to tonight even if I have to stay up late!! It takes me a while to adjust to the summer schedule and fun and all that comes with summer. WOW the weather sure has been wonderful the past couple days. This is my kind of weather, warm days, cool nights. I wish this was the temp for the whole summer!!!! We went to seven peaks on Saturday to celebrate Karson's B-day. Hope you had a fun day Karon we sure did. We love it when Karson comes to play, and we love it when he has us over to play.
Sunshine and Summertime here we come!!