My brain is tired, so you are getting another installment of randomness.

1. Which is worse: a long, boring meeting or standing in a return/exchange line after Christmas?

A boring meeting for sure!  At least standing in line, you can play on your phone and no one cares.  In meetings, they don’t like it when you don’t pay attention.  But I don’t stand in long lines after Christmas.  I wait 2-3 weeks, and then do my exchanges/returns.  No lines!

2. When you feel cornered and defensive, do you "bite back" or become passive aggressive?

I am definitely passive aggressive.  I absolutely hate confrontation.  I shut down and don’t say anything, but when I am out of the situation, I rant and complain and say mean things.  But I would never say them directly to the person.

3. Do you know anything about your genealogical background? (What country, culture, ties to prominent historical figures, or other stuff.)

Yes, my ancestors are from Sweden, Denmark, and Finland.  My mom said she was able to trace her mother’s line back to Marc Antony!

4. Cake, pie, cookies, or ice cream?

Ice cream.  I love peppermint ice cream.  Cookies are a close second.  Pie, meh.  And I don’t care for cake.

5. Do you regularly change your handbag to coordinate with your outfit?

I bought a Miche bag, and have two shells…black and a pink plaid.  That pretty much covers all my outifts!

6. Are you task-oriented or relationship-oriented?

Definitely task-oriented.  I keep a list of things that need to be done and love to see them crossed off at the end of the day. 

7. Do you scrunch or fold your toilet paper?

I’m a scruncher. 

8. What is one area of life in which you would like to develop more discipline or organization?

I wish I would control my eating.  I am really struggling with it right now. 

9. Was middle school fun or painful?

Horrible.  Absolutely horrible.  I spent it in Great Falls, Montana and I wish I could erase those years of my life.

10. If you had to choose to not ever wash your bed sheets again or not wash your bath towel again, which would you choose?

I would choose the towel, because when I use it, I am clean.  I am just drying clean water off my clean body.  I can’t imagine sleeping on the same sheets for the rest of my life.  I sweat too much!

Okay, that’s enough thinking for tonight.

This whole moving thing is so stressful.  A few examples:

We haven’t started looking for another house because if I found a house and then this one didn’t sell, it would be such a let down.  I can’t afford 2 house payments.  

I have started boxing things up, but what happens if the house doesn’t sell?  I like how much room we have with a bunch of stuff boxed up in the garage!  But we have had to go out and dig through boxes several times looking for things that we need.

And boxes…trying to collect boxes.  I hate begging at the grocery store, but I have been getting a lot.  But again, what happens if it doesn’t sell?  So I am not boxing up too much stuff, which means I have a bunch of empty boxes in my garage!

It is hard work keeping my house clean enough for random people to come through and see my house.  I still have to live in my house!  I am so stressed trying to keep it picked up and the dishes done and the boys’ bathroom smelling good! 

We have been fixing things up and doing touch up painting that has needed to be done for several years.  Why do we do that…have things on our to do list and put up with it undone, only to finally fix it when we are going to leave?  I would have been so much happier if we had done it years ago!

When I am home alone during the day, I am terrified to go to the bathroom for any extended length of time.  What happens if an agent decides to bring people through without calling first, and because I am “occupied,” I don’t answer the door, so he uses the lockbox and lets himself in?  See where I am going with this?

What stresses you out about moving?

I have another tip for your Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. 

My kitchen floor is laminate.  Dirt has gotten down into all the little bumps and valleys in the floor.  I scrubbed it with a rag, but it wasn’t coming out.  So I pulled out the Magic Eraser and it got rid of the dirt beautifully!  It took elbow grease and time, but it looked so much better when I was done!

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

I use generic for most of my purchases.  But there are a few things that I use name brands.

Tide and Tide with Bleach.  I love how it cleans, and I have been using it for over 15 years.  I don't know if anything works as well, because I love how well it works, and I don't want to take the chance of buying something else and it not working as well!

My shampoo.  I buy Pantene for my hair, everyone else in the family just uses Suave or whatever is the cheapest. 

Charmin.  Ultra soft Charmin.  Oh, my bum is so happy! 

Puffs Plus with lotion.  My nose is never sore, even after a week of a cold. Just don’t clean your glasses with them!

Dawn dishwashing soap.  Nothing cuts grease better.  It’s just worth it.

Campbell’s soups (cream of mushroom and tomato).  I have tried the generics and they just don’t taste right.

But the best chocolate chips in the world?  Sam's Choice milk chocolate chips.  They are so creamy!

What do you buy brand name that you won’t compromise on?

Many years ago, we were visiting The Doctor’s hometown.  We were at his parent’s church house, which is in a very rural area.  We stayed there for several hours, and then we headed for their house.

As we were driving along the gravel roads, we heard a cat mewing.  We pulled over and checked under the car and around and didn’t see anything.  We got back in the car and headed out, but again, we heard a cat.

We pulled over once more and we were checking under the car and heard the cat.  We opened up the engine and a cut jumped out and went flying down the road.  It must have climbed under the car and up into the engine to get warm and then couldn’t get out when we took off. 

We laughed about that for weeks!

My sister’s dog, Zeek, had to be put to sleep today.  She got him 17 years ago, which is 119 in human years.  He was such a good dog to both my sisters.  I am so sad for both of them.  I hope they know how much I love them and I am thinking about them.  In case they don’t…

I love you Aprill and Ashlee.  We all do, and we have been praying for you today.

This is The Teenager and Zeek, 16 years ago. 

What are we willing to give to be clean and receive that joy?

Yes, it’s true.  We have put our house up for sale.  We are moving up north to be closer to The Doctor’s work.  He is commuting an hour each way for work and he is tired of it.  Before he did that, he commuted 45 minutes each way down south.  He is tired of driving so much.  He could be at home more if we lived closer. 

We have been in this house for nearly 7 years and that is the longest that I have ever lived in one house.  I have been itching to move for quite a while.  How else am I going to get the house clean?  I have never had a to a deep cleaning because we just moved and that’s when I deep cleaned!

We did not decide to do this lightly.  He has been commuting for 3 years and it has been the right thing to do.  But we have prayed about it and it’s time now.  The conditions aren’t great for selling right now, but we have had several miracles happen that have shown us the way so we can sell.  I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father who loves me and has helped us find the way.

So if you know anyone looking for a house, we would appreciate it if you would send them our way!

I have had my scriptures since I was 16.  I bought them when the quads first came out and I was so excited to buy my own.  They are blue leather.

I looked at them a few months ago and realized how dirty they were.  I tried to clean them, but it just wasn’t come off.  So I decided to try the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser on them.  It worked like a gem!  It got all the dirt out of the cracks and they look brand new.

I love this thing!

I don’t drink caffeine.  It is addictive.  There is no argument there.  Our church leaders have never come out and said don’t drink it.  But this is what they have said.

“Is it against Church standards to drink cola beverages or any other beverage containing caffeine?”

Answer - Bishop H. Burke Peterson

This is a very perplexing question to many. Maybe we should lead into its answer by first recounting a true story. Many years ago the ruler of Babylon was King Nebuchadnezzar. There was a war going on between Babylon and Judah. During the war King Nebuchadnezzar’s army was laying siege to Jerusalem. After capturing the city, the king, knowing of the fine quality of the Judean young people, instructed his leaders to capture certain of these young men of Israel who had royal blood in their veins. They were known to be strong of body and of mind and skillful in all wisdom. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to raise them in his court that they might be a strength to his own people. The king set up a program where they would be given a daily provision of meat and wine—the same quality that he ate and drank. His plan was to have them thus fed and taught for three years and then to have them brought before him to be observed and tested with the thought in mind of then using the best of them as some of his country’s leaders.

Among those captured was a young man named Daniel and his three friends. When Daniel was told what he was to eat and drink, he was disturbed. He did not wish to eat the king’s food nor drink his wine for he knew it would be damaging to his body and mind. Now the Lord had made it possible for Daniel to become a good friend to the king’s chief servant. Daniel asked the chief servant if he could eat and drink something different that he might not defile his body. Daniel told the servant that he knew he and his friends would be stronger and wiser than all the other captured young men if he would allow them to eat proper foods. The servant was afraid the king would take his head if he disobeyed. However, Daniel talked the servant into letting him eat another kind of food and drink only water for just ten days. This was to be a test to see if there wasn’t a difference between him and his friends and all the others. The chief servant consented, and at the end of the ten days Daniel said the servant looked upon them and “their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.”

After seeing the results, the chief servant then allowed these four to continue eating and drinking the good food they wished. The scripture says, “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Dan. 1:17.)

At the end of the three years King Nebuchadnezzar had them all brought before him to be questioned and tested. The record says that among them all, none was found like Daniel and his friends. In all matters of wisdom and understanding the king found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in his kingdom. What a tribute and blessing to four courageous young men who would not defile their bodies with food and drink that was not good for them! Even then Daniel understood the Lord’s law of health.

The Word of Wisdom is a guide to strengthening the body and mind and keeping them healthy so the spirit of the individual can function without impairment. If we understand the Word of Wisdom properly, we will do all things necessary to avoid weakening the marvelous temple the Lord has given us to house our spirit.

The revelation in the 89th section of the Doctrine and Covenants says:

“And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man.” (D&C 89:10.)

We should notice the word wholesome and always consider the things that we take into our body as to whether they are wholesome or not. The scripture continues, “All these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.” (D&C 89:11.) Consider the word prudence. Would eating a whole apple pie or a cake or watermelon at one sitting be prudent? It is contrary to the principles embodied in the Word of Wisdom to take an excess of anything into our bodies.

Two of the tests we can employ as we question the use of any food or beverage are: Is it wholesome? Is it prudent? As we know, some of us need more rest than others. These same principles imply that we should not tax our bodies beyond good judgment. Finally, remember that the Lord has counseled:

“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.” (D&C 58:26.)

We know that cola drinks contain the drug caffeine. We know caffeine is not wholesome nor prudent for the use of our bodies. It is only sound judgment to conclude that cola drinks and any others that contain caffeine or other harmful ingredients should not be used.

For those who are willing to exhibit the same courage and good judgment as the boy Daniel:

“And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

“And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

“And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

“And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.” (D&C 89:18–21.)

 

‘nuff said.

The Lord is voting for me, Lucifer is voting against me, but it is my vote that counts.

I am so over all the giveaways in the blogosphere.  Don’t get me wrong, I love free stuff.  I just hate jumping through all the hoops to try and get it. 

“Follow me and get three more entries.” 

“Blog about this and get another entry.” 

“Like me on Facebook and get another entry.” 

“Be sure a leave a comment for everyone of these for the entries!” 

It’s tiring.  What happened to “Leave a comment and you are entered.”  Simple and everyone gets a fair chance.  Why does following someone deserve more entries?  When I follow you, it doesn’t mean I’m going to check your blog more often.  And I already “Like” too many things on Facebook.  It’s too cluttered as it is. 

I love, love, love the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.  It is the best invention in cleaning products that I have seen in a long time!  And the generic is just as good.  So the next few cleaning tips will be focused on this magic tool. 

Today, let’s talk about your countertops.  You wipe them down, maybe even with Clorox disinfecting wipes (I don’t).  Get your Magic eraser wet and scrub a circle on the counter.  I did.

I shouldn’t have.

The circle was clean.  I was horrified at how dirty my counters suddenly looked.  I had to take everything off and scrub the counters down.  It didn’t take long because it was very easy to see where I had been!  But I love how clean they look and how clean they feel. 

Try it.  I dare you!  LOL

Wasn’t General Conference good?  I love being taught by our prophets.  They are so inspired as to what they talk about, and I am sure they all are thinking of me when they choose their topics!  Some of my favorites:

*The cafeteria approach to obedience.  We can’t pick and choose the commandments we want to obey.  We have to obey all of them.  For me, that means Visiting Teaching. 

*When we are struggling with trials, sometimes the Lord answers our prayers, not by taking away our trials, but by changing our perspective.  I know that I have experienced that.  Struggling with a heavy burden, and then seeing what someone else is struggling with, and suddenly mine doesn’t seem that heavy.

*The sheep and the lambs.  They lambs will follow the sheep wherever they go.  So it’s up to the sheep (adults) to lead the lambs (children) in the right direction.  That means it’s even more important for us to follow the commandments, attend our meetings, and basically set that example for our children.  And not just our children, but all the children in the ward.  Because sometimes a Young Men’s and Young Women’s leader can have more influence on our children than we can. The children are always watching.

*Visiting and Home Teaching will strengthen our testimonies.  Ahem, yes, I am listening.

*Desires lead to priorities, and priorities lead to actions.

*Preach the gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words.  That goes back to the sheep and lambs thing, too.

*Tithing.  This has always been a touchy subject for me and I’ll tell you why.  Growing up, my parents struggled financially.  They always paid their tithing, and I always did as well.  But they just had financial problems.  So I would hear talks about tithing and how someone paid their tithing and they got a check in the mail and everything was okay and I would get mad.  Because that didn’t happen for my parents. 

But as I’ve gotten older, I have learned more about the promise of tithing.  The scripture says, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:10).

It does not say that you will have all the money you need.  It says you will not have enough room for all the blessings you will receive.  It doesn’t mean that you will be wealthy, but you will not go without the necessities of life.  Even if that means that you have to get help from the Bishop and the welfare program.  But the spiritual blessings will be multiplied over and over and over.  I have a firm testimony of that.

*Neither professions nor possessions should determine our self worth. 

*The gospel is to comfort that afflicted and afflict the comfortable.  I love this one!

Anyway, I am really looking forward to reading and studying these talks when they come out in the Ensign.  And I will get my visiting teaching done!  I promise!

Am I being selectively obedient?

The church I belong to, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormons…yes, we believe in Jesus Christ!) will be holding it’s General Conference on Saturday, April 2nd, and Sunday April 3rd.  The sessions are from 10-12 am and 2-4 pm, Mountain Standard Time.  This is a time when our prophets speak to us and give us counsel and advice.  I am looking forward to watching.  You can watch it live below.