polka dots, ribbon and stuff....

So, I was clicking from blog to blog tonight--wasting time before I felt that I could go to sleep. (Sleeping is just not my thing--it takes forever to come and then, it just does not last long). Anyway, I came upon a blog and saw this adorable cake. I immediately saved the picture. But, the problem is that I can not remember which blog it is tied to. Sorry, incredible cake maker--I would give you credit if I knew who you are--but as for now, I will just have to admire your talent from afar. I am just amazed at the talent of people. WOW!!

Anyway, I absolutely just love this cake. I think that it just screams "MICHELLE!" Don't you think? With all the polka dots and ribbon and stuff....Yes, it is just too super-fabulous. I was just thinking--"who would want to eat it?" I would save it forever!!!

I was joking with a friend the other day that when I create a card that I just think that it is the coolest and the most adorable ever, I keep the card in a safe place. I don't send it out--I just keep it. Why on earth for? I don't know--I just do that. So, if I was to create this cake and it turned out like this--I would have it sitting on my counter until it turned moldy or something. It is just me....a tad bit crazy!!!

warm fuzzies

Random acts of kindness….as I sit here thinking of the past few days, I marvel at the random acts of kindness that I have been the recipient. It is amazing how these random acts bring warm fuzzies. Don’t you think that warm fuzzies are the greatest? So, let me start…Ker invited me to her stamp retreat. She did not have to do it, since I am not apart of her CTMH group, but she did and I had a fabulous time. It was quite delightful!!! Not only did she invite me, she treated me as apart of her group. It was great—5 hours of stamping and laughing!!! Lots of warm fuzzies that day!!

Then, there is the “snow removal dude”. Ever since the first snow storm, this “snow removal dude” has shoveled my driveway. I am not sure who he is nor have I been able to catch him. But, he has made a yucky polar bear snow day (Erin’s famous phrase) more pleasant. Just another example of warm fuzzies!!!

Another warm fuzzie was when my parents showed up to hear me speak. Dad was able to maneuver his work schedule to attend my Sacrament Meeting just to hear me speak. I am so thankful for the my parents support. They are amazing people. Just to see them walk in, brought all these warm fuzzies. Yep, just another example of that wonderful feeling.

On Sunday, I dropped by Gerb’s house. Let me tell you, if you are ever feeling sad and down…drop by her house. Her children are absolutely adorable. By the time I left, I had a bag full of homemade chocolate chip cookies and sassy sours. Plus, I left in hand with the most adorable picture drawn by one of her sweet children. They made me feel like I was so important. But, then I had a thought….Gerb-they are just like you!!! You are amazing and you are always giving out warm fuzzies!!!

Oh, then, when I was checking my email later that night…I received the sweetest email from a Young Women’s leader in our Stake. It came out of the blue—but was exactly what I needed to hear!!! Thanks, Sister Smith—your words brought a warm fuzzie!! Oh, I just love warm fuzzies!!!

Then, last night, I was invited to play laser tag with some friends. I am sure that Maleen will blog about it on her blog…so, I will just go to the warm fuzzie part. Oh, but first—we played Guys against Gals. Guess who won? YEP!!! It was the gals alright!!! HEE HEE!!! So, back to the warm fuzzie part…If you have ever been around Maleen, she is a warm fuzzie!!! Her heart is completely gold!!! She is full of sweetness!!! Thanks Maleen for just being a great friend!!!

So, as I look back over the past few days…I am so grateful for the warm fuzzies in my life!!! WOW!!! Life is great when there are warm fuzzies all around.

anyone need a talk...I am starting a file...

This past week, I was walking past the Bishop's office when one of his counselors asked me to step into the clerks office and visit. Another Bishopric member from a different ward was standing in the hall--might I add--he was laughing a tad bit. He said, "Oh, Michelle, they are going to ask you to speak." I said, "I just spoke 3 weeks ago in my ward--they are not planning to ask again so soon." Guess what? He asked. Ok, some people find it scarey to speak in front of lots of people--as for me--I love the adrenalin feeling. Yep, go ahead, "JUST CALL ME CRAZY!!" I even got to speak on my favorite subject--the youth of the church.

Anyway, when I finished preparing my talk today, I re-read it and prayed that it was just what someone needed to hear. I hope that there was someone in the congregation that needed to hear what I said today. Ok, I just might add...I felt an over abundance of excitement with the quotes that I found in my talk. I am not sure who's life it touched--but I know that through the Spirit that someone's was touched.

Afterwards, I received a few comments. One comment came from a little old lady in our ward. I get nervous when they state their opinions. Ever since Gerb shared with me a comment that she received when she cut her hair, I just get all nervous inside when speaking to the older generation. Anyway, this sweet lady comes up to me.

"Michelle, I just wish that they would quit asking you to speak."

Imagine me....the tears are starting to come at anytime now. I am sure my mouth was open because it just hit the floor. I was starting to hypervenilate. Panic started to rush clear through my whole body!! You can surely picture it--it was scarey. THEN...

Then, she went on to say...

"Every time you speak, I feel something and I start to cry and I do not want to cry at church."

Okay, that made me feel a lot better. I was not sure how I would have responded to a different comment. I am not as strong as Gerb...I cry lots!!!! Yes, HUGE HUGE tears!!!

Another comment that came was--"I can see you speaking in General Conference someday!" With that comment, I turned around, burst out laughing and headed out of the church. (Oh, I was on my way home--anyway. She did not cause me to leave the church--ok, just not yet!)

Oh, I love one of the quotes that I found and of course I want to share it with you all. Elder Holland said,

"Be a woman of Christ. Cherish your esteemed place in the sight of God. He needs you. This Church needs you. The world needs you. A woman’s abiding trust in God and unfailing devotion to things of the Spirit have always been an anchor when the wind and the waves of life were fiercest. I say to you what the Prophet Joseph said more than 150 years ago: "If you live up to your privileges, the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates."

Anyone need a talk....I am starting to create an amazing file of quotes!!!

"want a 'puh-ssage'?"

Growing up my little brother could not say the letter "M". Instead he would pronounce it "puh". So things like Michelle would be "puh-chelle." Anyway, he would always come up to me and ask, "would you like a puh-ssage?" Let me translate: "Would you like a massage?" My answer would always be "no--go give one to Mom."

If you know me, I suffer from "spacial issues." I like my space. Better yet, I LOVE my space. I don’t like it when people stand too close unless I invite them in to my space. Anyway, I have lots of friends who like to interfere in my space and try to drive me absolutely crazy!!! One friend, in particular, has tried to get me to overcome this spacial anxiety. Her plan of attack has been quite entertaining for those with whom I work with. Believe me, I always have to have my guard up.

Side note: At the place that provides my income, we have 3 massage therapists that visit 3 days a week. Everyone in the company has the opportunity to have a massage at least once a week. Now, this might sound so exciting for those of you that do not suffer from space anxiety. As for me, I get all creeped out just thinking of it. People touching you....people in your space....what a creepy feeling!!

Anyway, my dear friend has put it on her "to accomplish" list to get me to have a massage. I do not know how many times I have told her "NO"! But, she does not seem to get it. So....a few weeks ago, (after a year of bugging me each day) she talked me into having one. I guarranteed her that I was not going by myself. So, she had it scheduled for her, my SIL and ME to receive a massage at the same time.

You can just imagine the anxiety that crept into every vein, nerve, muscle of my whole being. But, I did it--swearing never to return. So, once again, she talked me into having another one. Believe it is much more work walking down that hallway to get a massage then working a 12 hour shift!!!!

And....again...today, I had another one. Oh, my, this time it was great....okay, not the massage, but they had a heater in the room--right next to my chair. I had been freezing all morning in my office and the warmth of the heater was a complete blessing. Thank you massage therapist #3 for placing the heater by my chair. As for "puh-ssages", I still despise them and can think of a lot of words that start with "puh" that describes how I feel about them. But for today, I did see one advantage--the warmth of the heater on a very cold day.

Eclispe--I finished it!!

YIPPEE SKIPPEE!!! Finally, I finished it. Now to await for the 4Th book that will be released in November of this year. What is this all about? Waiting? I just can't!!! Why is it taking so long to find out what happens? Probably, writing, editing, publicizing....I know, I know there is a process here, but I need to know what happens. I just checked back on my previous blog about Twilight and New Moon. Most of my questions are still unanswered...So...

Does Bella become a vampire?

Does she marry Edward?

What happens with Jacob?

What happens with Edward?

Do they all become friends in the end? Okay, I did get some sort of an answer on this one.

How interesting that I still have the same questions that originated in the previous books...but, I do like Edward much more now then when he left Bella in New Moon. I was not happy with him at all. It, definitely, has been an adventure. Edward, Jacob, Bella, Alice--oh, wouldn't you just love to have a friend like Alice? Then, there was the whole fight thingy--it was just too nerve racking for me. I was scared for the sake of everyone involved--literally!!! Thank goodness it ended so fast. YUCK!!! Where is book #4?

I need a book to read--any one have an idea of one to read?

random thoughts

Well, I have had some random thoughts going through my head this past week. Actually in pure honesty, I always have random thoughts running through my head. So many thoughts and thoughts are just spinning every where. It is kind of like they are drawn to each other and then they push away from each other just to join another thought. I wonder if when we pass from this life, we will be able to see the strategic process of which our thoughts are created from one thing to another.

Random thought #1: So, my sweet mother told me the other day that she sat down and read my blog. My mother is not too crazy about computers, so it was a compliment that she said that she read my entire blog. But, then she added--"I read others that were linked to your blog. You are definitely CRAZY." So, was that really a compliment or was it not?

Random thought #2: So, back to the random thought process. My sister-in-law shared with me a book entitled, Your Song by Mark Hoog. It is simply amazing. It talks about where to look and how to go about finding our gifts and talents in life. Basically, it makes you think about what makes up your song. So, that is what my random thoughts have been about--what is my song. How do I find my song? So, then that leads me to random thought #3.

Random thought #3: I received my patriarchal blessing shortly after I graduated from high school. Side note: I was really scared that when I went to receive my blessing, they would tell me I would die. (another blog entry for another day). So, when I received my blessing, I had an amazing experience. I do not think that it is appropriate to share in a blog. Anyway, there were a few particular things that I was listening for and when I heard those things, tears flowed and flowed and continued to flow until we were sitting quietly with the sweet Patriarch-tears flowing from his eyes as he hugged me and telling me that he wants to see and talk with me "when all is said and done."

So, as I think about my Patriarchal Blessing--is that my song. The problem is that with my blessing, I know that one thing has come to past--"I was born." My blessing is so detailed that it is easy to find out that I know that I was born. So, as I sit here tonight thinking about my very own song--not a lot of things come to mind, but I do have to admit that I struggle with what my song is all about.

Random thought #4: Tonight, I, as a Stake Young Women's leader, was invited to attend my ward's New Beginnings. Through out the day, I received an email from each member of the presidency stating that they would not be able to attend. So, that left, just me attending. As some of you know my heartache when it comes to my ward, you understand that it was extremely difficult to attend by myself. (Don't read anything in to this, I love our leaders in our ward. I know that they were called through revelation and through inspiration to lead these young women.) But, I did attend because I have been called to a position and set apart to be a servant of the Lord with the young women in my stake. It is amazing to know what you can do when the Lord is on your side. So, before I left work, I prayed that all will be well. Just to let you know--everything was fine. But, where my thought process goes is they focused on the Parable of the 10 virgins. We created and shaped our own oil lamps. It was amazing!!! So, then, I think about the oil lamp and how we worked and defined it--so, when we are creating our own song--it is just like the oil lamp--we work and we define.

Random thought #5: This past week, I had someone pop his head back into my life. This is definitely one of my struggles. I have almost gotten over the whole "popping out of my life" but now to pop back in--it is a struggle. Then, I think--is this part of my song. Why do people keep popping in and then popping out--just to pop in again? And, then, why do they pop back in.

Random thought #6: V made a comment the other day that everyone wants to be my BFF. I chuckle and giggle at this because I do not find that to be true. So, then, I think is this all part of my song? Maybe it is easier to have someone else write a song about you--maybe to see what people on the outside of your brain think versus what all the random thoughts inside are thinking about.

If you have made it through some of my random thoughts, bless your little heart. Have you ever thought about your song? If you haven't, think about it.

Stake Conference, Elder Stone & Elder Holland

This past weekend was our Stake Conference. It was amazing! I showed up 45 minutes early for the adult session of Stake Conference only find myself sitting on the hard chairs. That left me completely whiny and ornery!! I told myself that I would only stay 15 minutes and then I was leaving. Okay, that is what I told myself--but in all reality--I knew I was not going anywhere. So, like I said, it was simply AMAZING!! Elder Stone (from the 70's) spoke on faith. It was very powerful and it was awesome to feel the spirit so strongly!!! His stories were powerful, he was powerful, the spirit was powerful. (I am glad I stayed longer than the 15 minutes that I granted myself.)

Then, Elder Holland spoke. I am going to quote from Gerb's blog--She writes,"Elder Holland spoke of the many trials that any one of us could be facing, and the challenges that come with those trials. We can, in a sense, feel broken. He then shared with us that God loves broken things and knows how to fix them. We only need to have faith in his love and let him heal our broken hearts and broken spirits. He reminded us that clouds must be broken to shower the earth; grain must be broken to produce bread. So when we feel like all hope is gone, like there was never a time we have been truly happy, we need to just endure & save ourselves for the days of happiness that are inevitably ahead." Thanks Gerb. You wrote it so nicely!

I just loved his one liners such as:

"Pull up your socks & quit worrying!"

"Work hard & do your best!"

"Hang on & be believing!"

"Endure & save yourself of days of Happiness a head!"

"Tough it out!"

"Endure--sit-up, stand straight, and be big people!!"

"When you are in the roughest sea and there is a huge storm, stay in the boat! Don't bail--where are you going? What are you going to do- doggie paddle!"

"I could just SPIT!"

He told us to NEVER say that God does not love me. One thing that really touched my heart (well, everything touched my heart--I knew I was suppose to be attend and feel what I felt) was when he said that God gave us his greatest lamb--He knows what it is like to hurt. He spoke of the tragedy in Lehi. He told us to hang in there even in the darkest night.

On Sunday, we had our new Stake Presidency sustained. Elder Holland spoke quite while on sustaining of leaders. He said what goes around, comes around. Someone might not have been sustained today as a Stake President, but he might be the one the next time. Then, he spoke to the youth of our Stake. He said that (once again quoting from Gerb's blog) the gospel of Jesus Christ can be summed up in one phrase for the youth of the church - the title of a Bryan Adams song, "Everything I do, I do it for you." Leaders, parents, isn't that what it's all about?"

It was an amazing two days. I am grateful that I was able to attend. I love the feeling of my heart when it gets a little bit of the most needed thing in the world--the touch of the spirit from our Heavenly Father.

Gerb, I hope you don't mind if I use some of your notes in my talk in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. Yep, I get to speak once again--it was only 3 weeks ago that I spoke in my ward about Christmas and now they are asking again. CRAZY!!! What are they thinking!!