Bad Hair Day

I always thought I had a certain..talent when it came to doing my daughters' hair. Today, however, was not a highlight in my hair career. In honor of Halloween and the Literature Day Parade at school today Tare-Bear asked me to put her hair in curlers last night.

It had been so long since I had done that, I seem to have forgotten all of my tricks and tips for SUCCESSFULLY using curlers.

I took my tiniest foam curlers, and placed them all over her head, and she slept in them. When we took them out this morning she looked like Shirley Temple.

Of course, this was NOT ACCEPTABLE, so she asked me to please "Fix It, Mom!"

So... still forgetting all of my previous skills, I tried to comb through the hair with my fingers...and this is what you get

Tare-Bears reply?: "I look like Corbin Blue!!!!"

At this point I am laughing out loud, and she is hiding her face. Her sister and father are also seeing a lot of humor in the situation.

What do I do? I attack it with the Spray Bottle! What was I thinking? I don't know!

Poor girl ended up with some better looking curls, and quite a bit of straight bits. Those don't go together in one hairdo.

I braided the straightest parts, pulled them back and slapped a crown on her. and she just had to deal with it.

The last thing she said before leaving the bathroom?

Mom, can you straighten my hair when I get home and just flip it out like normal?

Yes, I promised her!

Tonsils contintued...

I went back to the ENT today, and he drained 3 ccs of icky, yucky junk out of my tonsils. Trust me, it was not fun, and it was REALLY GROSS! But, on the plus side, i am already feeling a lot better! Another 10 days of antibiotics, and i should be good. I am so grateful for the guidance of the spirit and a wonderful friend who led me to Dr. Gonzalez, who knew just what to do for me, and do it quickly and well.

Tonsils and Steroids

Yesterday I went to see an ENT (ear, nose, throat doctor) for a REALLY nasty swollen tonsil and mouth. I had gone to Urgent Care last week for it, they swabbed it and the swab came back with no bacteria or infections. I had no other symptoms, no rash, fever, sickness, anything... but they gave me antibiotics just in case.

The antibiotics have done nothing for my situation, hence the trip to the ENT. Dr. Gonzalez said it was really odd that everything was swollen since I have no history of tonsil problems. SO, he prescribed me some Steroids to take. They are supposed to help reduce the swelling and let the antibiotics hopefully fix something.

I go back to Dr. Gonzalez tomorrow for a check-up. If the swelling has not gone down by then, he will either try to drain them (EWWWWW!!!!), or possibly take my tonsils out (no thank you!).

My question for everyone is, since I am on steroids for 9 days, if I do a little weight lifting, do you think I can look like this?

Restoration

Last night I was reading my daily dose of scriptures before going to bed, and I was having a really hard time focusing on my reading. I was in Alma Chapter 41, where Alma is finishing up giving instructions and guidance to his wayward son Corianton. The subject of this chapter was resurrection and restoration.
As I read vs 12-15, I was suddenly struck with what Alma was saying about restoration:

12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?

13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.

14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.

15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.

I have read this... I don't know how many times in my life.. but for some reason it really struck a chord with me last night. I began to think about what I have been sending out in life, and what will be returned unto me.

I try to be kind and good, but when I really thought about it, I could remember a lot of things that I should not have said or done in my life.

I have never really thought about restoration in the way Alma was teaching in these verses. This has made me commit to myself to be "merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually". When I recieve my restoration I want to have good rewarded unto me with mercy and justice, not condemnation.

Love Letter

Today I want to write a love letter to my wonderful husband, Eli.

My Dearest Eli,
Last night as I was laying in bed with my hand resting on you, I could feel your chest rise and fall with every breath. It gave me such a feeling of peace, protection and love. As I pondered on those feelings, I began to list in my mind so many of the reasons that I love you.

I love you for taking such good care of me, especially since I am "so expensive" right now.

I love that you can romp and play with the girls, and tease them into giggles.

I love when you pull me close to you on the couch while we watch a movie together.

I love that I can call you anytime of the day and you take the time to talk to me about nothing.

I love that you listen to my every thought and feeling. Even when you may think those feelings are just silly.

I love that you never complain when you have parenting time with the children so that I can go to Bookclub, Girls Night Out, Quilting Class, Presidency Meetings, Trainings, Birthday Dinners, or Ice Cream and Late Night Talks with my friends. You always give me 100% of your support.

I love that when I tell you that I need a date, you listen.

I love that when your girls ask you how they look (all 3 of us) you always say we look beautiful.

I love that every Easter and Christmas you wear "girlie" colored tie to match our outfits.

I love that you take the girls to school in the morning for me.

I love that you talk to me about your life outside of home.

I love that you work so hard to support our family so I can stay home with our children.

I love that you love me.

I love most that you are my very best friend.

I hope that I give you as many reasons to love me.

Eternally Yours,

Dixie

Funny Faces

So, a few of weeks ago we were all sitting around the dinner table (in our pajamas), and one of the girls asked me to reenact a funny face I had made for them earlier that day. They wanted to hear daddy laugh at me. I obliged them with the following face:

Picture this face with my head jerking to the side, and my bottom jaw moving up and down! Well, this face was such a hit, that everybody in the family decided to do it!

The girls couldn't quite reenact this fabulous look, but they did try really hard! M&Ms looked like a bobble-head as she tried, which was most hilarious!!

My favorite, though, was daddy's face:

You have got to LOVE a daddy who can be silly!

The family then took turns making up funny faces, and we all tried them out. We were laughing so hard that I had tears rolling down my cheeks. After dinner the girls said it was The Best Dinner EVER!! Who knew it was that easy?

Thanksgiving Message

I was in charge of writing the presidency message for Relief Society for November. Even though we still have more than a week until Nov, I wanted to post it anyway. If you have any thoughts on the subject of thanksgiving, please share.

My Dear Sisters,
It is with thanksgiving in my heart that I write to you this month. November is such a wonderful month! The air is starting to cool, a feeling of peace and thanksgiving is beginning to pervade our homes and neighborhoods, and families draw near to each other. At no other time of the year do we focus on our blessings as much as we do now. Though we now live in times of fear and uncertainty, we have many reasons to be thankful and happy. Elder Uchtdorf asked us last year “My dear brothers and sisters, aren’t the restored gospel of Jesus Christ and our membership in His Church great reasons to rejoice?”
I assure you, they are great reasons to rejoice. We are blessed to have the fullness of the gospel in our lives, and the spirit of the Lord with us as we live righteously. How often do we remember to thank our Heavenly Father for these blessings? Robert D. Hales told us “Prayer is an essential part of conveying appreciation to our Heavenly Father. He awaits our expressions of gratefulness each morning and night in sincere, simple prayer from our hearts for our many blessings, gifts, and talents.” This year my goal is to make November a month of prayerful thanksgiving, morning and night. I know that as we increase our thanksgivings to our Heavenly Father, our blessings will increase. I wish you all a safe and wonderful holiday!
Dixie

Non-Walking Boot

They actually call it a "walking cast (or boot)", But as I am not actually allowed to do any walking, (or jumping, or skipping, or dancing...), I am referring to it as my Non-walking boot. It is not as fashionable as other boots around, but I am hoping it will do the trick. Here is a picture of my freshly painted toes in my non-walking boot:

I am also trying out a new style for wearing your pants: One leg down, One leg rolled up to your knee. Do you think it will catch on?

Friends

I have so many wonderful friends. They are so good to me. I was so touched by my friends yesterday. For our monthly Girls Night Out our little group was going to see the musical play Camelot this Thursday night. Due to my broken foot, I need an aisle seat for my crutches. The theatre was sold out of aisle seats for Thursday, so my wonderful, amazing, loving friends changed their plans, and the date, to Tuesday, just to accomodate me! How lucky can one girl be? So I wanted to say THANK YOU to all of my friends...
Here are some poems I found on friendship:

Your Kind of Friendship
It takes more than caring

To be a real friend;

The nature of friendship;

Requires a blend

Of warmest compassion

And love deep and true

To reach and to comfort

The way that you do.

Because I can see

That your kind of friendship

Is priceless to me.

Why GOD Gave Us Friends

GOD knew that everyone needs

Companionship and cheer,

He knew that people need someone

Whose thoughts are always near.

He knew they need someone kind

To lend a helping hand.

Someone to gladly take the time

To care and understand.

GOD knew that we all need someone

To share each happy day,

To be a source of courage

When troubles come our way.

Someone to be true to us,

Whether near or far apart.

Someone whose love we'll always

Hold and treasure in our hearts.

Trials, Blessings, and Perseverance

Today was the girls first day back at school since Oct break began. It was wonderful having them home for 2 weeks, but they were excited to be back with their great teachers.

These past couple of months have definitely been times of trial, which I am working on being thankful for. On Aug. 5th I broke my left foot when I was running. I was training for a triathlon (my first ever) which quickly came to a stop. 3 days later I was rear-ended while I was stopped in traffic, and then a week later I was in urgent care with some other health problems. During all of that Eli has been struggling with his own health problems centered around gastric reflux.

Through all of these events, though, there have been so many blessings. For example: because I broke my foot I was driving the 4-Runner, instead of the Saturn, when we were rear-ended, so the girls and I were much better protected.

These events have also given the girls an opportunity to help out a lot more around the house since I can't do much at all. They have been so wonderful,and have really had fun doing things for me.

I have also come to have a much deeper appreciation for my wonderful husband. He has really gone the extra mile with the house and the children while I have been on crutches and in the wheelchair. He has had to cook and do the dishes more in the last 10 weeks than he has had to do in the last four years.

He has been so good to me!

Naturally, all of these events have caused me to do a lot of reflection. The first question that I think always enters our minds is "Why did this happen to me?" I don't know why it happened, but I know these things have happened for a reason, whether I will ever know the reason or not. Right now my focus is on learning greater patience and compassion, and persevering; even when I want to cry and scream because I am "so done" with this broken foot.

Last Thursday I was glancing through a talk by Joseph Wirthlin from 1987 titled "Never Give Up". He had this to say about perseverance:

"Perseverance is a positive, active characteristic. It is not idly, passively waiting and hoping for some good thing to happen. It gives us hope by helping us realize that the righteous suffer no failure except in giving up and no longer trying.

When some people have a difficult job to do, they give up everything else until that job is finished. Others just give it up.

Of course, the ultimate example of perseverance is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has and will overcome every obstacle in doing the will of our Heavenly Father. Indeed, Jesus is perfect in perseverance and has taught us to be perfect even as he and his Father are perfect. Studying his life can help us learn and live this important principle."

Though perseverance may often be difficult, it is vital to our eternal happiness. We may never know what we may have lost when we don't persevere; even in seemingly small things.

My First Blog

Well, as you can see, this is my first posting on my first blog.

I have so many things that I want to write about, but I am a bit held up. I have never claimed to be a big tech person, so trying to figure out how to make my blog really me is proving to be a little bit difficult.

I am waiting for my good next door neighbor Melissa to get back in town and help me figure everything out. I also have a ton of pictures that I want to post, but I need my husband to show me yet again how to download the pictures off of the camera, and Melissa to show me how to actually put them on my blog.

Pretty pathetic, huh.

Never fear, though, I will get this blog up and running and really simply me.