First time out…

 

Today was the first time that I have really left the house.  I have felt awful but I knew that I needed to get some fresh air and staying inside all week has been tough but being in pain has been the worst.  I needed to get out and do something.  So, Mom and I decided to do a little shopping.

I came home with another fuzzy warm cuddly blanket,

a new purse

and a chair. 

I think the blanket and the chair were inspired from this past week of cuddling in my Mom’s quilts and their awesome recliners.  I was kind of spoiled with those things this week.  But the purse…I guess, everyone needs a new purse now and then.  HA

My chair fits perfectly in the corner of my room.  I am so exited to snuggle in it and fall asleep.  Hmmm…I think that I will just do that. 

~Michelle

OUCH!!!

Last September, I was flossing my teeth when a filling came loose from one of my molars. I went to the dentist and as he was probing and checking out things, he found that inside a couple of my roots on this particular tooth was little razor type things. The previous dentist had performed a root canal on that tooth many years ago and had left the little cleaning razors inside my roots. Who knew? Not Me. The result from this procedure has created a lot of scar tissue surrounding the tooth, in my sinus cavity and has affected the bone. He cleaned as much as he could and he ended up having to perform an extraction. He then referred me to a periodontist. AW…I don’t like going to the dentist and a periodontist even was scarier for me. Thank goodness that the periodontist is amazingly nice and he has an incredible office staff that made me feel welcome and at ease. Good thing because I will now be part of their patient load for the next two years. L

So…this past Tuesday, I went in for surgery. I had to have a bone augmentation on my upper jaw and my lower one…something like moving some bone stuff from one side to the other. Leaving the surgical center with 48 stitches, pain pills, antibiotics, nausea pills and bottled water, I settled down at Mom and Dad’s for the rest of the week. I don’t think that I have ever had so much pain. The pain was intense and all I could eat was soft cold foods for the first 48 hours. Once I was able to get the food down, it just came back up. I am not sure if you have ever had oral surgery but the pain sure does intensify when it comes back up.

What did I learn from all of this…my parents are awesome, friends who show up with cold delicious Jamba Juice are, fantastic, pain pills create horrible long emotional dreams and pills for nausea are worth their money in GOLD? I cannot say that I am grateful for this experience but I am grateful that I am healing and for the many prayers said in my behalf.

But…I cannot wait until all 48 stitches come out of my mouth!!

OUCH!!!

~Michelle

The Four Agreements: A Personal Guide to Personal Freedom

 

When I arrived at church today my dear friend, Lena, told me that I needed to read this chapter in her book that she had been reading for class.  She is attending the Institute of Healing Arts. She said that when she was reading it, she knew that this was something that I needed to read. I have been struggling with a few things and as I read, I became more intrigued about what this book had to offer.   I put the book away during church but once I arrived home,  I began reading and reading. I couldn’t put the book down. There were a lot of amazing provoking thoughts coming from this brain of mine and I knew that I needed to keep reading.

Anyways, a few minutes ago, I finished the book. I have written down lots of thoughts and quotes, set some goals and it leaves my brain thinking…thinking….thinking…..  I know that there are a zillion file folders in my head that need to be dusted off, folded together and put back in the filing cabinet. There will be definitely a lot thinking going on for quite some time.

As I perusing the internet, I found a summary of the book…typed up in a cute and colorful form. 

If you would like a thought provoking book, this might be a good and easy read for you.  I truly enjoyed many parts of it.

~Michelle

I like warm hugs…

I  was taking a nap when I heard the “knock knock knock” chirping from my phone.  I looked over and saw this….

accompanied with the following message, “Just browsing Pnterest, saw this and thought it could bring a smile to your face.   I hope you’re having a great day. “  I am grateful for friends who care so much to brighten my day.  Aw…thank you so much! Plus, who wouldn’t smile if Olaf popped up on the screen of your phone?  He makes me giggle.

~Michelle

I am strong!!

Today was an emotional difficult day.  I don’t think that I have felt so bad in such a long time.  There was an incident this morning that tore at my heart.  You know those moments where you feel like you are getting to the point where you are completely strong and then, someone says something, or yor receive an unwanted note or an unpleasant phone call.  Well, this morning, I received such that…the thing that tears at your heart and you are unable to gain control so tears frantically flood down your cheeks and rest gently on your desk.  You feel like you are not even worth more than the scum of the earth.

Then, you receive a sweet kind text from a dear friend who treasures your heart and soul.  Even though your heart feels like it is breaking, you know that there are people who truly care…those who love you for your faults and your weaknesses and those that could care less about what others might think about you.  How I treasure those types of friendships.  How precious are the friendships that will laugh with you but will cry with you in times that you need to let everything out?!  I am so grateful for those types of friends.  True friends.  True friends that do not judge.  True friends that do not worry if you are a boy or girl; young or old; fat or skinny; black or white; popular or not popular.  Those are friends that I adore…simply adore.  I hope that I am one of those friends…friends that you don’t doubt where you stand in their life. and is completely loyal. 

As thoughts and emotions ran rapid through this brain of mine, I started to reflect on the many experiences that I have had…good and bad. 

Then, a quote showed up in my email inbox:

…and then a sweet comment accompanying it…You are strong.  I know it!!!  Love you so much!!

Then, the world seems a little more brighter.

~Michelle

Today is the day…

Today is the day…Mom’s 5th surgery and we are hoping the last of one.  Want the summary of the past several months?  Mom had a total hip replacement on June 27th.  On the afternoon of July 20th, she went in for emergency surgery.  She had an infection and they almost lost her during surgery two different times.  We soon found out that she had a Staph infection.  They removed the replacement, cleaned out her hip and placed another hip inside her.  She started IV antibiotics and continued every single day with a treatment.  On September 12th, she returned back to the hospital, with a severe infection.  The Staph infection went from her hip to her knee.  The doctor told us if she would have waited too much longer, we would have lost her.  So, they removed her hip and placed an antibiotic spacer and transported her to Provo’s Specialty Hospital where she spent the next 25 days.  She was finally able to come home and have out patient IV antibiotics until October 24th, she went back into the hospital hoping for a new hip.  Not this time…still infection.  She was released to go home and had outpatient IV antibiotics. She has been fighting this infection since July.  So, today is the day…

We waited…

Papa read books with Brylie….

We waited….

Brylie read books to Papa…

We waited…

Papa read more books…

Then, coming around the corner, we saw Dr. Smith walking towards us.  He had a huge grin on his face.  “Come on Grens, let’s talk.”  The surgery was a success.  When he said that, Brylie cheered, Dad cried and I did both.  It has been a long day…long emotional day.  I am so grateful for so many things today.  I am so grateful that Mom is on the road to healing.  I am grateful for friends that stopped by the waiting room to check on Brylie, Dad and I.  I am grateful for the many phone calls and text messages that helped us get through the hours of waiting.  Thank you so much for being wonderful blessings in our lives. . Love you all.

~Michelle

GO JAZZ!!!

 

For Christmas, Vieve and I purchased JAZZ tickets for Julie.  Julie had a great idea to spend the night with us crazy girls.  So, after speaking with Dustin (my go-to-guy at JAZZ headquarters) a bunch of times, we were able to rearrange our tickets so the three of us could go and tonight was the night.  We rode the FrontRunner to Salt Lake.  Since this was Vieve’s first time on FrontRunner, she was a tad bit nervous.  (ok…she really wasn’t but the picture that I took of her looks like she was).

We headed to get a bite to eat. Delish!!  We missed the National Anthem which is my most favorite part of a sporting event.  But, hey, that is ok…the rest of the game was amazing. 

We had fantastic seats.  We cheered and cheered.  Aw… I love basketball.  I just absolutely love basketball  it.  I simply enjoy any type of game…little ones, high school, college and professional.  I love them all.  Anyway, it was an awesome game.  The JAZZ were amazing, my friends were grate and the evening was simply perfect. 

~Michelle

Yep, we were twinners today!!

 

My mom is preparing for her 5th surgery so she spent most of the morning at various doctors’ appointments and doing prep work at the hospital.  Since Miss B had the day off from school, she spent the morning with me at work.  When she showed up at work, we both started laughing.  We both had on hot pink sweatshirts, jeans and pink shoes.  She said that we were “twinners” today.  It was awesome.  Oh, I love this girl!!!

She was full of hugs and plenty of compliments.  She kept making sure that I knew that she loved me and that I was her BFF.  Who could ask for anything more?  I love yous, huge hugs and telling me how beautiful I am.  It was exactly what I needed today.  I love her so much and I am so grateful for in my life. She blesses my life in so many ways. I am proud to be her aunt and I am so lucky to have an amazing relationship with her. 

Love her so much!

~Michelle

Peace

 

I have plenty of thoughts going through this brain of mine that I really need to deal with and some decisions that I need to make so I decided to get up bright (ok…it was extremely dark) and early to attend the temple before I went to work.  I wasn’t in the mood to go alone so I dragged along my dear friend, Lena.  Ok, I didn’t really drag her—she was eager to go.  As I approached the temple, I was touched at how beautiful the whiteness of this sacred building illuminated against the darkness of the sky.  It was extremely breathtaking. 

We finished our assignment and sat in the temple for quite some time talking.  It was so nice and peaceful.  I didn’t want to leave.  The peace that I felt was incredible and I did not want to leave it behind..  I love attending the temple.  I love being removed from the world for a couple of hours to relish in the peacefulness of the Spirit

~Michelle

It’s just amazing!!

I had the most incredible experience today.  I was struggling with the whole concept of teaching the Old Testament for my calling in church.  See, I am a Gospel Doctrine teacher for our ward and I love teaching but teaching the Old Testament terrifies me.  When I opened up the schedule and found that I was going to be teaching the first lesson of the year, I started to panic.  I was hoping that I would be the fourth teacher to teach…you know, get three lessons over with and see how the other teachers teach the Old Testament.  As I opened up my scriptures, I realized that the reading material was discussing Moses 1.

MOSES CHAPTER ONE!!!

I began to get excited.  I love book of Moses.  I LOVE CHAPTER ONE!! 

It is the preface to the Old Testament.  It shares with us three IMPORTANT things:

Who are we?

How can we overcome the influence of the adversary?

What is God’s work and glory?

I started with an object lesson and everything just unfolded from there.  It was awesome.  After the object lesson, I shared a quote by Elder Dallin H Oaks, “Consider the power of the idea taught in our beloved song ‘I am a Child of God'.’ …Here is the answer to one of life’s questions, ‘Who am I?’ I am a child of God with a spirit lineage to heavenly parents.  That parentage defines our eternal potential.  That powerful idea is a potent antidepressant.  It can strengthen each of us to the mind of a …person the powerful idea that he or she is a child of God, and you have given self-respect and motivation to move against the problems of life.”  I shared a personal experience and then opened up to the class.  Oh my goodness, what I witnessed was amazing.  The Spirit was strong…it was on fire.  Hearts were touched, emotions were shared and testimonies were strengthened.  I absolutely love my calling.  I am so grateful for the privilege and opportunity to teach using the Holy Ghost as the teaching guide.  Aw…I love it!

I really  love it!

~Michelle

thoughts hovering over thousands of file folders

I do have the greatest intentions sometimes to do things that I want to do but…sometimes they just stay in my brain and I put them aside so that I can accomplish other things. I have many blog entries in this brain of mine for the month of December and I still plan on posting them but I need to stay current with the thoughts that are permeating in this brain of mine. See…my brain is made up incredible adorable looking file folders. Some of them have bright colored flowers on them and some have polka dots, others have stripes or a chevron pattern or even plain ones…they are all creative and amazing. Right now in this brain of mine, I think there are a thousand file folders opened with lots and lots of thoughts escaping and just hovering over the top of these file folders seeking the opportunity to be thought about and moved back into their appropriate file folder.

So, as we start the beginning of a new year, I hope that you will stop by to hear of my thoughts, adventures and opinions. I am so grateful for a new year and look forward to many beginnings and experiences. Happy New Year Friends!!

~Michelle