Anyway, on to some memes…

76) In your opinion, what makes a great relationship?
In ANY relationship, whether with a spouse or friend trust and loyalty is #1, when that is gone, it is pretty hard to get back, unless both parties are willing.

77) How did/could someone win your heart?
He sure did, over and over.

78) In your world, what brings on more creativity?
beauty and an appreciation for nature.

79) What is the single best decision you have made in your life so far?
To be a wife and mother.

80) Why did you break up with your last ex?
It was so long ago I don’t really remember, but knowing me he was probably a bore.

81) What would you want to be written on your tombstone?
Hi! (seriously, wouldn’t that be funny?)

82) What is your favorite word?
facetious – at least I think it is a cool word.

83) Give me the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word: delusional.
absolutely nothing comes to mind.

84) What is a saying you use a lot?
I know, right?

85) Are you watching Idol this season? If yes, how do you like it?
I’m not watching much of anything lately.

86) Were you surprised that House got canceled?
Is that a show?

87) What is your current desktop picture?
Chandelier from The Disney Dream

88) If you could press a button and make anyone in the world instantaneously explode, who would it be?
Explosions are too messy – I wouldn’t want that.

89) What would be a question where you’d not tell the truth?
I don’t think there is one – I’m pretty honest (to my demise)

90) One night you wake up because you heard a noise. You turn on the light to find that you are surrounded by WEEPING ANGELS. The Weeping Angles aren’t really doing anything, they’re just standing around your bed. What would you do?
Hmmm…get really worried?

91) You accidentally eat some radioactive vegetables. They were good, and what’s even cooler is that they endow you with the super-power of your choice! What is that power?
The power to read minds.

92) You can re-live any point of time in your life. The time-span can only be a half-hour, though. What half-hour of your past would you like to experience again?
My wedding ceremony

93) You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?
I wouldn’t. All those experiences – good and bad – have made me who I am now. I kind of like me.

94) You have the opportunity to sleep with the music-celebrity of your choice. (let’s say that you are both single and available) Who might it be?
I probably wouldn’t because can you imagine the number of people THEY have slept with?!? EW!!

95) You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere. You have to depart right now. Where are you gonna go?
I’d have to say Italy. I wanted Turks but it’s an island and I’m afraid I’d get bored after a while.

96) Do you have any relatives or friends in jail?
Not yet – haha! I kid!

97) Who’s winning the U.S. Republican presidential nomination? Why?
No clue. Because I’ve chosen not to follow politics presently.

98) Who’s winning the next U.S. Presidential election?
Whomever can buy the most votes – and that’s the honest truth.

99) If the whole world were listening to you right now, what would you say?
Make this headache go away someone!

I am grateful for:
1. my husband
2. my bed
3. my medicine
4. my kids
5. my bed (yes I’m that sick :,( )

Their soaps are divine! Their bath bombs are to-die-for! Their body butter and lotions are amazingly smooth!

I have been known to order a few from time to time when I know I’m not going to make it to Kissimmee for a while.

If you are somewhere close – GO! If you have the chance to get something form there – GET IT! If you are given something from the store – USE IT!

I am so grateful for:
1. soft tissues
2. patient children
3. my bathtub
4. my DVR
5. inspirational books (that make me cry while waiting for my kid in the car rider line. lol)

On the upside? A VERY good friend of ours came over and FIXED THE DISHWASHER! My hands and I thank him from the bottom of our hearts.

I thought I would share a fantastic APP that I LOVE! It is a great nutrition app that gives you tons of ideas and tips and help when you are out and can’t have a good clean meal from home.

It is Shroomies Nutrition App. Right now, I find myself using it quite a bit!

I am grateful for:
1. being able to sleep
2. awesome employees
3. my heating blanket
4. a kid that can go into the store and get stuff for me.
5. theraflu in pill form.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
*Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
[*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

What comfort is mine! I am so blessed! And, truly, no matter what trial or arrow that is flung into my path I KNOW I have so much to be grateful for! It doesn’t make the hurt or the stress or the sorrow or the worry go away. It doesn’t make the situations disappear. But it DOES help me to remember that by really leaning on The Lord, asking for His help, and by being obedient, He WILL make my burden lighter. He HAS made my burden lighter! It is amazing how just when I start letting the weight of the world get me down I get a little reminder to look up!

I am so grateful for:
1. my sweet and tender husband.
2. moisturizing lotion for my dishpanhands!
3. tender mercies that come in the most unexpected ways
4. mormon channel
5. wireless mouse. lol

Chicken Tortilla Soup.

I have to say I do NOT put the toppings on. I find that it is good enough without them. I also substitute one of the cans of tomato sauce with a small jar of salsa and I love it!

Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium jalapeno peppers, chopped
½ medium green peppers
4 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cups frozen corn
½ cup dry white wine or ½ cup water
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 (14 ounce) cans chicken broth
2 (14 ounce) cans diced tomatoes
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce

Directions
Sauté onion, garlic, jalapeño and green pepper with olive oil in a large pot until soft.
Add all the rest of the ingredients to the large pot and bring to a boil.
After about 15 minutes, remove the chicken breasts and shred.
(Two forks work well to pull the chicken apart!).
Return shredded chicken to the pot and simmer an additional 45 minutes.
Serve, topped with crushed tortilla chips if desired.

This has been a delicious part of my meals off and on for the past few weeks. It is packed with flavor which is necessary if you are going to eat clean! Right? RIGHT!!!!!

I am so grateful for:
1. food apps that give me healthy quick ideas!
2. new yummy recipes which hit the spot
3. finding my inner chef
4. feeling FULL after good eats!
5. energetic food!

51) Do you tend to hold grudges against people who have done you wrong?
No, once I’m over it, I just put it out of my mind.

52) What is your astrological sign?
Taurus the bull – which would probably explain a lot of things, or nothing at all – either way. lol

53) Do you save money for anything? What?
purses, shoes, sunglasses, jewelry, disney things…yeah.

54) What’s the last thing you purchased?
milk, steak, apples, bananas

55) Have you ever had a relationship that you realized was lust not love?
yeah….thosesodon’tlast

56) In a relationship?
Going on 22+ years.

57) How many relationships have you had?
I’d say this one is the only real one I had.

58) What do you want to tell us about your day?
The upside to school canceling is I get a really good workout on an otherwise lighter day.

59) Where were you yesterday?
church, home, Autism Works building

60) Is there anything interesting within 10 feet of you?
I’m sitting at my home desk so I am sure if you went through it you would find it very interesting.

61) Are you wearing socks right now?
Yep – I’m always wearing socks.

62) What’s your favorite animal?
Ummm…no clue. I don’t think I have a favorite. But I’m fascinated by them.

63) What is your secret weapon to get someone to like you?
I don’t have one – maybe that’s my problem.

64) Where is your best friend?
Across town at the office – I’m in the home office.

65) How did you end your last relationship end?
That was too long ago – I don’t even remember.

66) What is your heritage?
Basque, Norwegian, Manx, Scottish, English, and much more!

67) What were you doing last night at 12 AM?
sleeping away!

68) What’s new?
It snowed for the first time this winter.

69) What is the key to seduction?
Pheromones, usually that is what does it, right?

70) What was the weirdest thing that happened to you this week??
The week just started – it’s Monday so….I’ll get back to you.

71) You are walking down the street on your way to work. There is a dog drowning in the canal on the side of the street. Your boss has told you if you are late one more time you get fired. What do you do?
I would never be walking down the street, there is no canal in town, I am the boss, so…lol.

72) You are at the doctor’s office and she has just informed you that you have approximately one month to live. a) Do you tell anyone/everyone you are going to die? b) What do you do with your remaining days? c) Would you be afraid?
a-I would tell just so I could party it up. lol (figuratively, not literally). B-try to see family and friends(I’m boring)c-no, I’m truthfully not afraid to die.

73) You can only have one of these things: trust or love.
Without trust there is no love so I would opt for trust.

74) What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?
Domino – Jessie J

75) Who has your cell phone number (other than family)?
friends, business associates, anyone who see the church roster. lol

I am so grateful for:
1. Snow days!
2. my office window.
3. warm comfy clothes
4. cold cold water
5. new software programs!

So I have really made a conscious effort to drop some more weight and get a bit more healthy before our trip to Orlando next month. I am finding that the more I drop, the more energy I have, the better I feel about myself, the more control I have, the more I want to keep eating clean and healthy, the more I feel gross after I eat bad, and so on…and so on…and so on. I am searching the net for yummy healthy meals that I can make on a Saturday afternoon and have enough for the week. I am LOVING the soups and other warmish foods. I have been better and counting my calories or actually just keeping an account in my head of what I have eaten. I am finding new exercises to keep my muscles guessing (and sore) and that keeps things stimulating at the gym. I love it! I have found I can’t just do one thing. I can’t just run or walk or do one form of exercise. Maybe it is the ADD in me but I need variation for that stimulation and the desire to go back in. Once I feel I have “mastered” a muscle exercise or technique I have a desire to find another that challenges me and makes me sore and need to work in order to be able to do it with good form and with proper weight. I am finding I like the better definition in my arms and legs! I am stronger too! I am hooked completely! It is kind of nice to be at a weight that I was at before #3 and 4 were born. Not much longer and I will be down to prebabiesdestroyedmybody weight! Go me!

AndI’mout. lol

I have taken on a new calling at church and I love biting into something new and challenging. I still have kept my goal of the conference talks and I am excited to be through all of them by the end of the month! I am also looking forward to either linking my thoughts on some of the ones that I have already discussed or writing my thoughts on the ones that I have been listening to. I am amazed at how much I get the more I listen to them! LOVE IT! But, this new calling is going to be fun I think and the women I work with are great. We are lucky that we have such a great ward.

I have also taken on to help more with a local autism support group. I am really excited and hoping to be able to help get this organization into a great source of support for both kids and parents! It is a good group of parents and they have a lot of wonderful ideas and a lot to offer.

Graigg has been such a doll today! Well, actually all weekend but he offered to let me get some things on the computer that i need to get done and we would make dinner for the kids and hang with them. I am so grateful to that man sometimes. I feel like I have all these projects that are time-consuming on the front end but as soon as they are set up, it will be easy to just keep them up. It is just setting them up that takes all the time. I am so glad that he is sensitive to that and is willing to just help out so I can put my head down and get some things checked off my list.

I am so grateful for:
1. inspiration and spiritual growth.
2. health
3. check marks next to “things on my list” lol
4. my scriptures
5. the exceptional heat in my home office. HAHA!

JoJo got sick Tuesday into Wednesday…she still is a little.

Graigg came down with it last night.

CW was sent home from school this afternoon.

Aches, pains, coughs, fever, overallyuckiness.

And still – I went to my hair appointment, worked out, met with the primary president to go over things that she needs me to make up for her, did 3 loads of laundry, had the house cleaned, worked, and sent out 3 rental quotes.

Yeah, Iprettymuchrock.

Okay, maybe not, but I did get more done than I thought I would. However, that probably has to do with the fact that Graigg was asleep all day and didn’t bother me. HAHA! (normally)

Here’s to a just as productive Friday!

I am so grateful for:
1. Fun websites with fantastic ideas!
2. early nights
3. a great hair dresser
4. my ihome
5. happy productive days!!!

I have decided that I am going to start listing more sites and blogs. There are some great local people. There are some great fitness sites, health food sites, and many many other site that I thought would be fun to include. I think it is time to be more inclusive and give people a place to look at a variety of places they may go. Even if I can’t go to all the place I think it would be nice to have them listed.

Graigg has been so cute lately. He is watching Downton Abby with me. For the past 3 weeks he tells me to not watch it until we can watch it together. Usually, that hasn’t been until Wednesday or Thursday night. This man sometimes surprises me in the most unique of ways. It’s endearing. That man can be so incredibly sensitive sweet!

I am so grateful for:
1. mormon Channel
2. my scriptures app
3. awesome nutrition apps
4. funny CLEAN shows. lol
5. online shopping.

Check it out!

That kid cracks me up.

Mallea is doing PHENOM with some of her piano pieces. I need to record her and put it up. She plays with such feeling. I love listening to her.

We had some friends at the house in Florida and they decided to extend their trip they are having SUCH a great time! I was so incredibly excited that they are enjoying it so much! Nothing brings me more joy than to see the happiness in others.

Time for a little gratitude:
1. for opportunities that have come my way.
2. my returning health
3. kind social security workers
4. upbeat new music
5. conference talks that speak to my soul.