This LOST parody cracks me up.
And... Hermione is all grown up... also her boyfriend's band sounds 80s to me...and I am a sucker for UK voices... so I'm digging this.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
We're nesting...
For the last few weeks my hubby and I have slept with the windows open. I especially love it in the mornings as the birds always seem extremely vocal as I wake up. I enjoy it, until my hubby slams the windows shut so he can get a few more minutes of snoozing.
About a week ago I looked out our family room to find a nest...
...but WAIT!!!! There's more...
a bird and...we also discovered...
(this is where you press play)
(this is where you press play)
We're having BABIES! THREE OF THEM!!!!
...well, via a surrogate...and other species.
...well, via a surrogate...and other species.
Sometimes I catch the Momma bird on our backyard fence...and then nest completely un-sat on...and I worry. But my hubby tells me that the birds know what they're doing. Sometimes I also worry a wild cat that likes to flit around our backyards and in the open space behind us will figure out how to mount the patio cover... so I am waiting for the safe hatching of the momma bird's eggs with anxious and excited nerves. Not my babies and I'm totally caught up in the natural drama of it all!
One day I saw ...who I'm assuming was the father of the eggs, feed a worm to the momma while she was sitting on the eggs. I was so excited and mesmerized I forgot to call my girls over to see. It was a wriggling worm...and it was awesome.
I can't wait to see what hatches out of those gorgeous bright, blue eggs.
I am highly tempted to go get some bird food and bird houses to hang out there to entice my birds to stay.
*ahhhh... summer* We love our little house guests.
Side note: If you know me, you know I am not a country, camping, red-neck, truck-driving...girl. I'm more of a beach, room-service girl... but one that appreciates nature...
ps. I also recently caught a spider for a pet...aren't you proud of me?!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Offering our hearts, minds, souls
I know... I know. It's been a while. I've been busy living in moments with my family. Pursuing dreams and ... dreading spending hours sitting on my rear end staring at a screen...watching my time disappear. Twitter and FB I can do from the bathroom... with an iPhone... I guess I could blog that way too...but... it would be too much balancing in a precarious position for me.
So I guess it takes a lot lately for me to really fire me up.
I also have a slew of family stuff to chat about... that will come... but first...
Last Sunday one of the Laurels gave the lesson on sacrifice. Our kids know what it is to sacrifice. It might seem odd to say that, given the fairly stable, middle class neighborhood we live in. These kids seem to have everything they would need...and want in most cases.
They aren't called on to sacrifice their hunger, their physical well-being... but they are asked to sacrifice their reputations, their pride...and to be honest, their safety amongst peers. Frankly, we aren't asked to sacrifice like Prophets and believers were in Old Testament times. We do not have to voluntarily, go roaming in our fields for a perfect, unblemished male animal to sacrificeLeviticus 1:3) on an altar. But we are asked to give our Lord a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:20).
In a world that often looks at those who follow God willingly, as "blind sheep", it can easily be a source of pride and self-satisfaction when some knowingly disagree or work against what God has asked. I don't understand it. I get frustrated. Our sacrifices will require actions we don't understand. Just ask Abraham, or Adam. (Moses 5:6 - I love this verse "I know not, save the Lord commanded me" isn't that enough?) Our sacrifices will include following God, even when we don't know the "why". Our sacrifices will require us to choose faith, and leap. Our sacrifices include suffering some persecution and base, deplorable behavior. We may not be asked to leave our homes, trudge in horrible conditions to find the promised land... but our souls, our faith will be asked to expand, our pride will be asked to shrink... to sacrifice our own, feeble opinions, ideas for the very simple principle of obedience.
If there's one thing I know... it's that popular opinion, generally, should require us to be more wary, vigilant. Whenever popular opinion, or trendy behavior starts to breed... I tend to dig in my heels. Which is why, when I hear loud voices justifying, rationalizing a brilliant crises of faith, or right to vandalize places of worship, careers and terrorizing families, I recognize exactly the source of that kind of behavior and power.
While people like that disappoint me. It also fires me up. It rankles me and makes me want to plant my foot firmly where I stand and be as immovable as I can. As a parent I am constantly trying to teach my children the wisdom of obedience. Is it me or is wisdom becoming a lost art? When I teach a principle like, looking both ways before they cross a street, will keep them from getting smashed by a car... I want them to obey that principle, because I love them. I don't want harm to come to them. They may not understand why it's important to always look, even when it seems like there aren't any cars... but by listening to me and doing what I ask, my kids show me that they trust, love and appreciate me.
Sure I am often a murmurer. I complain when things are unexplainable. But when the lines are drawn, you'll find me there, clearly delineated because... I know I'm not in charge. For a type A gal who loves to be in charge, that's kind of a relief. Frankly, I'd rather follow the Lord wherever he leads, because I trust, even when I don't understand... I still trust because I know He loves me. I know He has a plan. I know He sees eternity, where I can barely see a sliver. Sometimes sacrifice is as simple as saying... "here, I will let you guide me." That act of handing over the reigns of our life... because God asked us, may just be the greatest sacrifice we can give. Christ did. He gave His life for all of us, because Heavenly Father asked His son to atone for us. Is there any better reason to give our lives over to Him ...other than simply, He asked us to...
So I guess it takes a lot lately for me to really fire me up.
I also have a slew of family stuff to chat about... that will come... but first...
Last Sunday one of the Laurels gave the lesson on sacrifice. Our kids know what it is to sacrifice. It might seem odd to say that, given the fairly stable, middle class neighborhood we live in. These kids seem to have everything they would need...and want in most cases.
They aren't called on to sacrifice their hunger, their physical well-being... but they are asked to sacrifice their reputations, their pride...and to be honest, their safety amongst peers. Frankly, we aren't asked to sacrifice like Prophets and believers were in Old Testament times. We do not have to voluntarily, go roaming in our fields for a perfect, unblemished male animal to sacrificeLeviticus 1:3) on an altar. But we are asked to give our Lord a broken heart and a contrite spirit (3 Nephi 9:20).
In a world that often looks at those who follow God willingly, as "blind sheep", it can easily be a source of pride and self-satisfaction when some knowingly disagree or work against what God has asked. I don't understand it. I get frustrated. Our sacrifices will require actions we don't understand. Just ask Abraham, or Adam. (Moses 5:6 - I love this verse "I know not, save the Lord commanded me" isn't that enough?) Our sacrifices will include following God, even when we don't know the "why". Our sacrifices will require us to choose faith, and leap. Our sacrifices include suffering some persecution and base, deplorable behavior. We may not be asked to leave our homes, trudge in horrible conditions to find the promised land... but our souls, our faith will be asked to expand, our pride will be asked to shrink... to sacrifice our own, feeble opinions, ideas for the very simple principle of obedience.
If there's one thing I know... it's that popular opinion, generally, should require us to be more wary, vigilant. Whenever popular opinion, or trendy behavior starts to breed... I tend to dig in my heels. Which is why, when I hear loud voices justifying, rationalizing a brilliant crises of faith, or right to vandalize places of worship, careers and terrorizing families, I recognize exactly the source of that kind of behavior and power.
While people like that disappoint me. It also fires me up. It rankles me and makes me want to plant my foot firmly where I stand and be as immovable as I can. As a parent I am constantly trying to teach my children the wisdom of obedience. Is it me or is wisdom becoming a lost art? When I teach a principle like, looking both ways before they cross a street, will keep them from getting smashed by a car... I want them to obey that principle, because I love them. I don't want harm to come to them. They may not understand why it's important to always look, even when it seems like there aren't any cars... but by listening to me and doing what I ask, my kids show me that they trust, love and appreciate me.
Sure I am often a murmurer. I complain when things are unexplainable. But when the lines are drawn, you'll find me there, clearly delineated because... I know I'm not in charge. For a type A gal who loves to be in charge, that's kind of a relief. Frankly, I'd rather follow the Lord wherever he leads, because I trust, even when I don't understand... I still trust because I know He loves me. I know He has a plan. I know He sees eternity, where I can barely see a sliver. Sometimes sacrifice is as simple as saying... "here, I will let you guide me." That act of handing over the reigns of our life... because God asked us, may just be the greatest sacrifice we can give. Christ did. He gave His life for all of us, because Heavenly Father asked His son to atone for us. Is there any better reason to give our lives over to Him ...other than simply, He asked us to...
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