Okay, not really. But today, the RS teacher said such cool stuff that just nodding along with her didn’t seem like enough. And then, another person responded with the coolest comment ever, and then followed by ANOTHER awesome comment, and it was all I could do not to jump up out of my seat and shout, “aMEN sisters, aMEN!” It was a huge outpouring of the Spirit, not the kind where you are crying and sniffling and trying to hold it together, but the kind where your soul recognizes truth and rejoices.

So I went home and said “AMEN SISTER” on her FB page. Just not quite the same….

Are Mormons good at expressing joy?

How do you express YOUR joy?

I skipped over to two of my favorite blogs today, Rocks in my Dryer and Every Day I Write the Book (they are both on the side bar, and I’m too lazy for a hyperlink, sorry) and realized something.

LOST took over their blogs, too.

When I was recently talking to a friend about the Segullah Writing Retreat and mentioned that I was going to be on a blogging panel, I realized that my own blogging street cred has taken a serious hit since LOST came along, as the most I’ve talked about recently is The Island. (But I’m over the finale, really. Really. I swear!! PINKY swear. IT DOESN’T MAKE ME CRAZY AT ALL! What, this? No, that’s not my eye twitching. I have allergies. )

(And yes, the Segullah retreat gets a hyperlink, because it’s more important that you click through to info on the retreat than click through to Shannon or Kacy’s blog. I don’t know Shannon or Kacy in real life, but I think they’d be cool with not having a hyperlink. Because they’re good like that.)
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I’m sitting in the DFW airport waiting on my connect flight to Salt Lake City to imbibe on a weekend of blogging, all the while I’m trying to determine how NOT to get on the connecting flight. 

My heart is racing, I’ve been up since 2:30am worried about turbulence, plane crashes and not seeing my family again.

I hate to admit, but I am TERRIFIED of flying. (more…)

Two exciting things coming your way. First, a reminder about the Irreantum essay contest. The deadline is soon–May 31. Sorry I didn’t post about this earlier, but there’s still time!! Dust off the essays you’ve started a hundred times, finish them and send them off! Good luck!

Also, Segullah is having a writer’s retreat June 25! It’s going to be super duper fun, and lots of cool people will be there to teach you lots of cool stuff about writing. All the info is here. I am going to be there talking about blogging with some other fun bloggers, and I am going to be taking copious notes at some of the other workshops so I can pretend I’m almost as cool as a real writer.

So start writing, and plan on coming for some good writing and fun at the Segullah Retreat!!

Warning:  Mature themes and situations are presented in this post.  If children are present, read with discretion.

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Did any of y’all watch Alias? You know, the one where Jennifer Garner is a spy who gets to speak a lot of different languages and beat people up?

Good stuff, my friends. Good stuff.

Until about season 4. (more…)

As many of you are also nightly bedtime readers, I give you Green Eggs and Salmonella?   Somehow it made me think of Heather O and her aversion to the “I Love You Forever” book and the rants about what they were feeding children on the Lost TV series.

I’m going to get flamed for this. I know. But I just can’t help myself.

I don’t live in AZ, I don’t live in TX, I have never, and probably will never, live in a border state. I don’t know what it’s like to have illegal immigrants running through my yard at night, and I don’t know how much illegal immigrants are costing the US in terms of health care costs vs. the cost of health care for legal citizens who are uninsured. I’m sure I don’t have the entire story, and I question every news source for bias and half truths. I will be the first to admit that I don’t know what the answer to illegal immigration is.

But when I read an email from a fellow member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a man who has covenanted through baptism to mourn with those who mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort, who says he is excited to have found constitutional interpretation that will deny citizenship to children who are born in the United States, comparable to what this country has done to Native Americans (’cause THAT’s a happy part of our history) it makes me want to vomit.

The end.

Well, all righty, did we actually get some ANSWERS? It’s like it’s not even the same show. (more…)

 (This is actually my pool).

My pool has an in-floor cleaning system.  It rocks - and basically means the pool cleans itself.  Why they haven’t come up with something like this for the home, I have no idea.  In-floor mopping?  SOLD!  Heads that pop-up and suck dirt out of your carpet periodically throughout the day?  DONE.  Self cleaning showers and toilets?  I’m sure it can’t be that hard for all the geniuses out there.  It must be a conspiracy.  I’m sure the Republicans/Democrats/”the Fed” are behind it somehow.  Or maybe the drug companies.  Possibly the Communists? (more…)

I’m going to tell you about my friend Nicole. Besides being movie star gorgeous (and she looks like that naturally, pretty much all the time), she is one of the kindest people I know. She’s gentle and patient, and though I’ve seen her frustrated, the most swearing she ever does is say things like, ‘Good garbage!’. Her kids are gentle, too, and I know that while some of it is genetic, a lot of is because her home is one of peace and love.

I want to be like her. (more…)

Weep for me.  Weep for my unheated leftovers.  Weep for my frozen meat, which will now require PLANNING to thaw.  Weep for the rock hard ice cream with no way to soften.  Yes, people.  Weep for me.

Kay, gotta say, loved this episode. (more…)

Yesterday was a good day. It started with a 3 mile run, which is always a plus. When I got back, my son was curled up in our bed next to his dad, and Little Sister was still asleep. I took the opportunity to suggest scripture study, and we had a nice quiet spiritual moment. I let DH sleep in a little more, and took my boy down for some chocolate chip pancakes. Dh joined us later, and Little Sister eventually came down, happy and rested, and delighted DH by running to him and jumping into his arms and throwing her arms around his neck. It was a moment when I thought, “Hey, this family is really working.”

Today was, um, a little different. (more…)

My son just dropped a brand-new gallon jug of bleach down our stairs. I am trying really hard not to a) completely freak out, b) scream and cry or c) completely freak out and scream and cry.

This is a rental. I don’t even have money to buy my kids sandals for summer- let alone replace carpeting. Please please please, oh mighty mommies, someone tell me they’ve dealt with this before, and that all is not lost. I’ve dumped water on the worst parts and sopped it up with all my remaining (now ruined) towels- hoping to dilute it. The carpet is beige, and I am watching for the fading to start. The fumes are unreal. Someone have some advice..!?

I apologize for those of you wondering - I spaced out writing a post when Diana came home, but since I THOUGHT so hard about writing it - my brain told me I did, sort of…I know, it makes no sense.  Anyway - here you go. (more…)

I have two Moms.

The one who gave birth to me.

And the one who IS my Mom. (more…)

I’m tired of this show. (more…)

This is a guest post by anonymous.

All of a sudden my teenage daughter is in need of a therapist or other professional intervention. She’s tended to be moody at times, but we just found out from one of her friends that she’s been cutting herself. She’s also lashing out at parents and siblings and has mentioned suicide a few times in our recent talks with her. From all indications, she doesn’t seem to be manic-depressive or psychotic, just depressed. (As if a teenager can be just depressed!)

The problem is, we don’t know how to find professional help. My husband and I talked with the bishop and he suggested talking to a school counselor. We’re not sure that would be proper or adequate, but we don’t want to ask around in our community for recommendations; this child is mortified that we have been talking about her, and we do want to protect her privacy.

We don’t want to pick a professional at random from our insurance company’s list of providers; we would be placing a lot of trust in someone to be able to help our daughter and also respect our values, and we don’t have access to an LDS counselor within a reasonable distance. Does anyone have suggestions on how to choose a provider? Should we take her to a psychologist, psychiatrist, LCSW, cognitive behavioral therapist? What should we ask when we call professionals?

And does anyone have suggestions on how to cope with a child who is becoming increasingly damaging to the peace of the home? The other children are starting to imitate her bad behavior.

Seriously, I can not breathe. I just mowed the lawn, and while I oddly kind of get a kick out of mowing the lawn (something about instant gratification from a job that once you do it, it actually stays done. Until next week. That, or I’m completely insane), it does make for a difficult morning. For some reason, today was particularly bad, and I can practically hear my lungs crying uncle. It’s enough to make a girl wish for fall. Almost. Allergies aside, this is still the most spectacular place to be in spring and early summer. (more…)