Life the universe & all that

The Life and Times of a Host Parent to a Russian Teenager.

2012-01-09T21:51:00.003-06:00

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You probably read the title and are waiting on the drama or the "OH Let me outta this" post but it's not.

Vlad is an amazing young man. He is very excited to be here. He came to the US in 2010 with his father on a business trip. He has dreamed of coming back ever since then.

He arrived in Nashville on Friday January 6 and we have had a great time since then.

On Saturday we took him to breakfast at IHOP, his first experience with American pancakes and such a large menu. Then we took him grocery shopping and he was amazed at the variety of the same items.We then took him to his first Nashville Predators Hockey game. After the first period he told us that he did not like Russian hockey it was too boring, but he really loved American Hockey. He already has a favorite player and can't wait to get a t shirt with the players name and number.

Sunday he came to Church with us. It was a totally different experience for him. His family only goes to Church on important religious holidays. He was not use to such an informal service and a bit confused by the sacrament.

We tried to register him for school on Monday but due to some confusion and some communication errors we are now trying to find a spot in a school for him. He is so excited to start classes. This is an unusual circumstance. There was approval for the school but when we got there today the right forms had not been filled out. So we are now waiting on a place for him. Hopefully we have one for him by tomorrow or Wednesday!

He is looking forward to going to more hockey games and he is starting to think in "English" Sunday in church Leon and I had our google translate application open on our phones trying to help him understand certain words and phrases. He is getting more confident in his English it seems by the hour.

He told us today that he feels like he is at "home". We did not expect to hear that until much later in his stay.

Just 3 days and he already feels like our own son. I am already dreading the day we have to put him back on a plane to Russia.

2012 Here We Come!

2012-01-04T00:14:00.000-06:00

I'm not going to make any resolutions or promises that will get broken later. There are some things I want to put on my 2012 to do list.

I want to be a better friend and be there for my friends the way they have been there for me.
I want to make sure my living room and dining room is always company ready.
I want to run more this year
I want to be healthy
I want to go to Cancun with my oldest and dearest friend and her and my family and not just talk about it.
I want to work on me.
I want to blog at least once a week.
I want to work on my writing
I want to take classes don't care what kind or anything specific I just want to take classes
I want to work on my painting
I want to create memories with Vlad and really make him part of our family forever.
I want to make a difference.
I want to make 2012 much better than 2011

To sleep

2011-12-01T01:47:00.000-06:00

Off to find that elusive waifish dream called sleep. May I slumber as Puck and his friends in a Mid-Summers Nights Dream........ to let the weight of the things yet to do just fall away as my eyes flutter closed, as my body sighs in relaxation, letting the day go as my breath escapes,as I sink down in to the softness of my pillow eyes closed the world gone but for a brief moment.

Realizations: Dedicated to the Class of 1992 BHS

2011-11-09T13:58:00.002-06:00

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I had a realization this afternoon. In Jr. High and High School me meet the people that shape us in to our future selves. Relationships, friendships, and the kids in the hall that made fun of you are all struggling to figure out who they are as well. Years later finding people after all that "creation" happened makes for some pretty surprising friendships. I'm glad for facebook. It has given me the opportunity to reach out and ask for forgiveness and to forgive. I am in no way in favor of bullying and name calling and purposely making someone's life hard. But I do know that there were people in my life that did make it hard that rubbed the rough edges off that polished the grime away and helped me shine and be who I am today. I only had one experience in high school that terrified me. I guess being chased through the neighborhood with a knife will do that to you.

I'm not going to say that being noticed and being made fun of was the greatest experience in my life but it helped create a passionate woman whom too timid to speak up for herself then has found a voice to speak up for not only herself but those that have no voice.

My choice friends are still around two very special women. One has known me since 4th grade the other since Jr. High. My two oldest and dearest friends. Shaped me as well. Loving me for me and all my oddities and quirks and goofy clothes. Knowing that money didn't matter that we could share lunch in the sewing room any day and still like each other. And ten or twenty years later we still call each other "fish" or on the phone when life just seems to crowd in too close.

Then there are people that you didn't realize how much of an impact that you made in their lives or they in yours. I have a couple of school days friends like that. Again due to facebook and classmates and myspace.

Oh don't get me wrong there are some people to this day I do not like nor do I want any association with. Those are the people that never seemed to change they are the people that got stuck in the time warp of their high school selves. They are still the mean girls and the mean guys. We all know the type.

The rest of us fall in to the friend category. We are happy when our classmates succeed, we cry at their saddest moments and cheer when they conquer and overcome. We have made friends with their wives and husbands, we have met their children. Some of us even stayed in touch over the years our families growing together. We all feel the ties of that small high school built in the middle of a cow pasture. We all remember our freshman football team "our boys" winning the CIF championship. We cried together at the lost of dear friends much to young to go. We cheered at football victories and losses. We built floats that melted in the rain. We worried when the skies were filled with ashes from the forest fires. We all shared immense love and great dislike for some of our teachers. We marveled at what was before us after we got that piece of paper that said we were done and free to go our separate ways.

We came together at the beginning of the computer age in elementary schools. We had some of the very first computers in our classes. We were there as the moon man landed and video killed the radio star and again as MTV killed the video star. We were the "real world" generation. We grew either together or apart during the LA riots and Rodney King. Our grandparents saw the wall in Germany go up and one generation later we saw the wall come down. We were there for the demise of the record that gave way to the cassette tape that gave way to the CD that gave way to the MP3. We went from VHS, to laser disc to DVD then blu-ray and now blu-ray 3D.

We grew up with Growing Pains and the Cosby Kids and Alex P. Keaton, the Gremlins scared us and Goonies made us all want to do the truffle shuffle. The two Cory's made us drool while Micheal Jordon made us want to soar.

We listened to U2, and Heavy D and the Beastie Boys, and NKOTB and The Jets, and Tears for Fears, Culture Club and Madonna. Debbi and Tiffany. The Cure made us moody and The Pet Shop Boys confused our parents. Michael Jackson made us scared of the night and we crowned him the King of Pop. We put our fist in the air with Bruce and sang Born in the USA with all our heart. We either wanted to sing like or marry Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson, George Michael oh my........Bon Jovi taught us how to rock. Bobby Brown stole Whitney and our worlds collided. Garth Brooks and Billy Ray taught us about country and how to do the Achy Breaky. Not that we will ever admit it.

We lived through things that shaped our nation and are now in the position to shape the world for our children and theirs. Our Fathers were Vietnam era vets and joined our brothers and classmates in Desert Storm and Shield. Now our sons and daughters, brothers and classmates are serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and all over the world their families giving so we can have the freedom to do or not to do.

We have lost a few along the way. We have cried and laughed and kindled old relationships and new loves, we carry those in our hearts that have gone on before us, and cherish the ones we've yet to connect with. We hold close those moments of success and those best times we shared. We are making new moments and memories everyday. Those we never thought we would see again become new friends out of the flames and ashes of the past.

So dear classmates of mine. This is for you, for all the above and all yet to come.

M. Lynne.

Disney World: What is worth the time and money and what isn't.

2011-08-15T23:17:00.001-05:00

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From August 6th to August 14th 2011 Hubby and I went to Orlando for our summer vacation. I had never been to Disney World. When Leon and I went on our honeymoon we went to Orlando. We were too young and poor to be able to afford Disney. As we drove away from Orlando back in January of 2005 Leon promised to bring me back and take me to Disney World. Finally we were able so away we went!

Planning vacations in our family isn't always easy. For example Leon will have to submit his vacation this October for his two weeks next year. Even then vacations are chosen by seniority so the weeks we want may not be available. We have been really fortunate and have gotten the weeks we ask for.

So our planning for Walt Disney World started last October. We decided on our week and started planning where we would stay and how much it would cost us just for travel and tickets to the park.

We started by looking for tickets for the parks. We found a really great deal where we bought 3 days + Parkhopper+Water park and more and got 4 days free. We paid about $54 dollars a day.

Next we looked in to hotels. At the time I didn't think it would matter if we stay at a Disney Property or not. We know better now.

There are so many benefits of staying on property:

Buses that run every 15 to 20 minutes to each and every park and Downtown Disney.
Free delivery of purchases to your hotel (this means no carrying around those bulky bags all day long)
Currently you can only add the meal plan if you are staying at the hotels. For example we spent approximately $2600 on our tickets, food, hotel and flights.

Had we booked our park tickets, hotel and dining plan which would have included the number of meals we at each day and 7 days park hopper. We would have spent $2400 and if we stayed with the same flights that would have added $252 for a grand total of $2452.00.

Okay so a couple of hundred dollars doesn't seem like much but when you don't have to worry about missing your shuttle back to your hotel, or what your going to miss because the last bus back is at 10pm and there is no guarantee that there is going to be room for you even if you are there early enough.

So over all we did a really good job on the flight, tickets and hotel. We did not account for cost of dining so we could have done MUCH better and we know for next time.

We had such a good time. We had the opportunity to visit each of the parks: Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot. We also had admission to Disney Quest but unless you have children it is boring for adults.

The fireworks at Epcot are worth the trip, Fantasmic is a MUST see if you to Hollywood Studios. The nightly fireworks at the Magic Kingdom are amazing as well as the pre-show. Be sure to ask a cast member which night Tinker Bell is flying.

The one thing we are so happy we did was get a Disney PhotoPass. It is a card that has a bar code on it. There are Disney Photographers all over the parks with professional Nikon D300 cameras that will take your picture. Then they scan the card and your photos are saved online. Most of the Character Spots have Photopas Photographers but some do not. If you use the photopass be sure to ask your photographer for "Magic" pictures. These are special items that are added to your photo's.

There are several options that come with the photopass photos. You can log in and add borders and "virtual" stickers to your photo's then save them. You can also purchase the pictures individually or ALL of the pictures on a photo DVD for $150 for all the pictures that taken while you are at the park. It doesn't matter how many pictures you have. So take advantage of hunting down those photopass photographers.

We also suggest that you either purchase a poncho or bring one with you. It rains most afternoons in the Summer in Orlando. The outdoor and water rides do not stop unless there is lightening. It's kind of like TN weather. Wait around and it will change.

So what is the short list of do's?

Stay on property and get the meal plan and your tickets
Take advantage of the Photopass
If a cast member asks you to flap your arms like wings and gobble like a turkey you just might get dinner for free.
Enjoy where you are. If you don't have kids with you act goofy and silly. Believe me the first time you see your favorite Disney Character you will be 7 years old again anyway.
There is really magic at Disney World soak it up and carry it with you when you come home.
The park hopper option is great if you want to spend the day in one park and watch the evening shows in another.

The short list of do not bother with or be aware of:

Staying off property can cause problems with your plans if you hotel does not have adequate shuttle service.

The park hopper option isn't necessary if your planning on being there long enough to spend a day in each park then you can see everything.

Dining with out the meal plan can be expensive BUT you can bring in your own food and drinks to save yourself some money.

Don't stay anywhere on Highway 192 or what is considered old town. The hotels are some of the oldest in the area and everyone we talked to that stayed in that area had complaints including us.

Most hotels/resorts charge a resort fee that is NOT included in your reservation cost plan on anywhere from $10 to $20 per night.

I hope this helps some of you. If you want to know about something that isn't here please feel free to ask.

Lynne

Something to ponder.

2011-03-23T14:22:00.000-05:00

I think we have all asked the questions that are posed by the main character in this short story. It reminds me of Christ when speaking and teaching those thought to be the dregs of society. These dirty and unclean souls that needed his touch and attention.

One day it occurred to a certain emperor that if he only knew the answers to three questions, he would never stray in any matter:

What is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?
The emperor issued a decree throughout his kingdom announcing that whoever could answer the questions would receive a great reward. Many who read the decree made their way to the palace at once, each person with a different answer.
In reply to the first question, one person advised that the emperor make up a thorough time schedule, consecrating every hour, day, month, and year for certain tasks and then follow the schedule to the letter. Only then could he hope to do every task at the right time.
Another person replied that it was impossible to plan in advance and that the emperor should put all vain amusements aside and remain attentive to everything in order to know what to do at what time.
Someone else insisted that, by himself, the emperor could never hope to have all the foresight and competence necessary to decide when to do each and every task and what he really needed was to set up a Council of the Wise and then to act according to their advice.
Someone else said that certain matters required immediate decision and could not wait for consultation, but if he wanted to know in advance what was going to happen he should consult magicians and soothsayers.
The responses to the second question also lacked accord.
One person said that the emperor needed to place all his trust in administrators, another urged reliance on priests and monks, while others recommended physicians. Still others put their faith in warriors.
The third question drew a similar variety of answers. Some said science was the most important pursuit. Others insisted on religion. Yet others claimed the most important thing was military skill.
The emperor was not pleased with any of the answers, and no reward was given.
After several nights of reflection, the emperor resolved to visit a hermit who lived up on the mountain and was said to be an enlightened man. The emperor wished to find the hermit to ask him the three questions, though he knew the hermit never left the mountains and was known to receive only the poor, refusing to have anything to do with persons of wealth or power. So the emperor disguised himself as a simple peasant and ordered his attendants to wait for him at the foot of the mountain while he climbed the slope alone to seek the hermit.
Reaching the holy man’s dwelling place, the emperor found the hermit digging a garden in front of his hut. When the hermit saw the stranger, he nodded his head in greeting and continued to dig. The labor was obviously hard on him. He was an old man, and each time he thrust his spade into the ground to turn the earth, he heaved heavily.
The emperor approached him and said, “I have come here to ask your help with three questions: When is the best time to do each thing? Who are the most important people to work with? What is the most important thing to do at all times?”
The hermit listened attentively but only patted the emperor on the shoulder and continued digging. The emperor said, “You must be tired. Here, let me give you a hand with that.” The hermit thanked him, handed the emperor the spade, and then sat down on the ground to rest.
After he had dug two rows, the emperor stopped and turned to the hermit and repeated his three questions. The hermit still did not answer, but instead stood up and pointed to the spade and said, “Why don’t you rest now? I can take over again.” But the emperor continued to dig. One hour passed, then two. Finally the sun began to set behind the mountain. The emperor put down the spade and said to the hermit, “I came here to ask if you could answer my three questions. But if you can’t give me any answer, please let me know so that I can get on may way home.”
The hermit lifted his head and asked the emperor, “Do you hear someone running over there?” The emperor turned his head. They both saw a man with a long white beard emerge from the woods. He ran wildly, pressing his hands against a bloody wound in his stomach. The man ran toward the emperor before falling unconscious to the ground, where he lay groaning. Opening the man’s clothing, the emperor and hermit saw that the man had received a deep gash. The emperor cleaned the wound thoroughly and then used his own shirt to bandage it, but the blood completely soaked it within minutes. He rinsed the shirt out and bandaged the wound a second time and continued to do so until the flow of blood had stopped.
At last the wounded man regained consciousness and asked for a drink of water. The emperor ran down to the stream and brought back a jug of fresh water. Meanwhile, the sun had disappeared and the night air had begun to turn cold. The hermit gave the emperor a hand in carrying the man into the hut where they laid him down on the hermit’s bed. The man closed his eyes and lay quietly. The emperor was worn out from the long day of climbing the mountain and digging the garden. Leaning against the doorway, he fell asleep. When he rose, the sun had already risen over the mountain. For a moment he forgot where he was and what he had come here for. He looked over to the bed and saw the wounded man also looking around him in confusion. When he saw the emperor, he stared at him intently and then said in a faint whisper, “Please forgive me.”
“But what have you done that I should forgive you?” the emperor asked.
“You do not know me, your majesty, but I know you. I was your sworn enemy, and I had vowed to take vengeance on you, for during the last war you killed my brother and seized my property. When I learned that you were coming alone to the mountain to meet the hermit, I resolved to surprise you on your way back to kill you. But after waiting a long time there was still no sign of you, and so I left my ambush in order to seek you out. But instead of finding you, I came across your attendants, who recognized me, giving me this wound. Luckily, I escaped and ran here. If I hadn’t met you I would surely be dead by now. I had intended to kill you, but instead you saved my life! I am ashamed and grateful beyond words. If I live, I vow to be your servant for the rest of my life, and I will bid my children and grandchildren to do the same. Please grant me your forgiveness.”
The emperor was overjoyed to see that he was so easily reconciled with a former enemy. He not only forgave the man but promised to return all the man’s property and to send his own physician and servants to wait on the man until he was completely healed. After ordering his attendants to take the man home, the emperor returned to see the hermit. Before returning to the palace the emperor wanted to repeat his three questions one last time. He found the hermit sowing seeds in the earth they had dug the day before.
The hermit stood up and looked at the emperor. “But your questions have already been answered.”
“How’s that?” the emperor asked, puzzled.
“Yesterday, if you had not taken pity on my age and given me a hand with digging these beds, you would have been attacked by that man on your way home. Then you would have deeply regretted not staying with me. Therefore the most important time was the time you were digging in the beds, the most important person was myself, and the most important pursuit was to help me. Later, when the wounded man ran up here, the most important time was the time you spent dressing his wound, for if you had not cared for him he would have died and you would have lost the chance to be reconciled with him. Likewise, he was the most important person, and the most important pursuit was taking care of his wound. Remember that there is only one important time and is Now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future. The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at you side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.”

Leo Tolstoy

Just a thought for the day.

Really bad at posting....

2011-03-14T15:57:00.000-05:00

Wow I didn't realize that it had been so long since I wrote anything here. Things around the Blaisdell house are going well. So far this year Leon and I have run 2 5ks and our third is next Saturday.

I started a new fitness program called Art of Strength. It uses kettle bells, cardio and huge marine boat style ropes, TRX bands, medicine balls, bandit loops and truck tires, bar bells and determination. This last Friday was the end of my third week. I can really see the difference since I started this class. My squats are lower and I'm getting stronger.

As many of you know I was not feeling well this weekend. I did go to the doctor today and I have an upper UTI meaning that it's started in my kidneys and all the water I was drinking was a good thing. The nurse practitioner gave me an antibiotic and told me to drink lemon aid and lemon water to help get rid of the water I've been retaining due to the infection.

Guess that's the update!

Lynne and Leon

Pondering and Wondering what you think.

2011-02-07T20:09:00.001-06:00

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I had a friend on facebook today say that she was happy that MTV was showing a Jersey Shore marathon. It seemed odd to me because she is a member of the same church as I am. I was taken aback that she would be so excited to watch such a horrible mess.

I have seen several articles lately about another show on the same network called Skins. This one unlike Jersey Shore is scripted. Apparently it has teenagers doing and wearing things that teenagers shouldn't being doing. Acting out adult scenes and such.

So here's my opinion. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints it just makes my skin crawl and I can feel the spirit leave my home if I even linger on a program like that.

I like watching a good train wreck as much as the next person, but is watching a "directed" reality show any better/worse than watching a scripted movie portraying the same things?

When Leon and I got married we decided that we would follow the guidance of the Prophet and not view or own R rated movies. Since we have been married there has been a change to that direction the direction now is to let the spirit guide you. This coming from the position that there are movies that are rated less that R that are just as inappropriate.

So where is that line in the sand? Do we say oh it's scripted and not real, I know what's right and wrong I'm not doing it so it's okay. I don't live like that it's okay?

I think it's just as wrong. We are constantly bombarded in our daily lives as women, mothers, fathers and men with advertisements, and programming that pushes the limits of our tenets of our faith.

Now I'm not saying that we are perfect with our choices, but we always choose to stay away from the filth of these types of shows. Scripted or "directed" it is still portraying a lifestyle that is not inline with what we believe and how we live our lives. No sense is letting that cloud our thoughts and driving the spirit from our home.

Melding mind, body and soul.

2011-01-28T11:50:00.000-06:00

For most people that is a given. For someone who is bi-polar sometimes it is hard to get all three to exist in one space at the same time.

I realized last night that I was not "at one" with myself. Leon and I were chatting about music and I was posting to facebook asking some friends for some suggestions. I had finally found the words to describe what was going on with me.

I was disconnected from myself. See the body does what the mind tells it to. If the mind is off wandering by it's self the body just sits and waits. The problem is when the mind wanders the soul tends to do so as well.

I know my soul has been well taken care of. How do I know this? Well for the last 27 days I have been feeding it everyday. My mind and body have been present at feeding time as well. My daily scripture study has really helped keep the three in the same location for a few moments each day.

I know I sound really crazy to you all right now, but hold on and I'll make sense I promise.

A couple of days ago I found a book with basic yoga positions and how to breath properly while doing yoga. I thought hey this is cool this will help me limber up to run.

It wasn't until Wednesday night when I couldn't sleep did yoga come in to the picture. I had finally gone to bed at 3 am and laid there for 30 or 40 minutes unable to sleep. I had, the night before read through the yoga book about lobular breathing. It's a form of deep breathing used in yoga.

For you yoga people this is done in the dead man pose 1. I went through the steps and POOF, I rolled over and went to sleep. Mind, soul settling down to let the body relax and rejuvenate.

I did not until last night realize just how much that $2 book was going to help me get back on track.

I made the decision last night that I needed something to help me focus on bringing all three parts of me together. I pondered at what would be the best way to make that happen. I came up with my 21 day challenge calendar.

I knew that mind and soul came together each day for scripture reading and the body just followed along being still long enough to study. I then realized that if I did yoga that the mind and soul would follow the body. Hence two things at the beginning of the day that have the cause and effect of bringing all of me together.

On day 1 of yoga and, day 6 of morning study, and day 27 of studying so far all of me is still present and not disconnected and scattered like an order of hashbrowns at Waffle House.

I know that the next 20 days are going to be tough. There are going to be distractions that will pull me away, but for my physical health and my mental health I will need to "stay on target" (100 geektitude points if you know the reference)

So here's to a more connected me.

21 Days At A Time.

2011-01-24T11:51:00.000-06:00

Back in December one of our Relief Society lessons was on developing good habits. They passed out a card with nine squares. Each of these squares has a 21 day calendar.

I kind of put it off and didn't really do anything with it until the new year. My first 21 day challenge was to read and study my scriptures every day. I didn't want to do just reading. I find when I do that I don't take my time I read what ever number of chapters or pages is on the schedule. So this time I decided to read just one or two chapters a day and take notes and write down observations in a "Scripture Journal".

I am very pleased to say that I made it 21 days and didn't have to start over. My next 21 days is going to be an addition to reading every day. This 21 day cycle I'm planning on starting my day reading my scriptures. I have them by my bed so they are there in the morning. So my alarm goes off I get up and do some necessary things then make the bed and study my scriptures. It's great because I get it done before I even open the bedroom door and I can't get distracted by the rest of EVERYTHING I have to do.

Life in our Universe Lately.

2011-01-17T13:01:00.000-06:00

Wow this past week was a busy hectic one. My internship with Ace Photography has kicked up a notch now that we are in the lull of winter. I got to attend and help out at my first bridal show. To my running friends think of a race expo except filled with a fashion show, and grumpy grooms trying to figure out just why they are there.

I had a goofy teen age star struck moment.

As many of you know I really appreciate any form of art work and I am in total awe of people that create art with sugar and cake.

I was running back and forth getting stuff out of the vans and taking stuff back. It's what interns do. I saw Jay Qualls walk in with a dolly full of display cakes. They were extremely beautiful. I asked if he would stop a moment and let me look because TV just does not do them ANY justice at all.

I introduced myself and let him know who I was there with and then we chatting about a few things and he asked my name again and I said it was Lynne and he said my name is Jay Qualls and I replied "yeah I know" in a breathy star struck voice.

Sheesh I'm such a goober. Maybe one day when I've finished my internship and I've moved my way through the photographers battle field someone will come up to me and I'll take the time to chat with them.

Lynne and Leon

Choose to Become......

2011-01-13T23:03:00.000-06:00

"All things are possible to him that believeth" Mark 9:23

I have the awesome opportunity to be a part of the Nashville Time Out For Women. I get to be the team member for our ward. That means I get to talk about Time Out For Women and show off my neat bag when it gets here, and encourage the women in my life to take "Time Out" for themselves.

We spend so much time as Wives, Mothers, Sisters, Relief Society Presidency, Primary Presidency, Young Women's Presidency, Boy/Cub Scout Leaders, Sunday School Teachers, Primary Workers, Chief Keeper of the House and just about any other title that isn't filled by someone else already, that we sometimes do not take time and pause and do something for ourselves. Nor do we take time to refill the battery. You keep going and going and going and soon your going to be run down, drug out and on your last leg.

Some of my favorite ways to take time for myself are to read and ignore the laundry, dishes, dust, dog, dinner, you know. The other is to take long hot baths, not so nice in a little dinky apartment bathroom but hey a girls gotta sink in to bubbles where she can. I also run that is purely for me and nobody else.One of my most important things I like to do is go to Time Out For Women. .

I am really excited about this years conference here in Nashville. I'm looking forward to hearing Hilary Weeks sing live. and to hear with such love and humor Marry Ellen Edmunds. The last time I saw her she showed up on stage with a clowns nose on.

The speaker that I am really looking forward to hearing from is Mariama Kallon. This sister is simply AMAZING. "From her Muslim upbringing in war-torn Sierra Leone to serving as a Missionary at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Mariama has learned what God can doin our lives when we give our lives to him" (from the TOFW flyer"

If this woman in chaos and loss and heartbreak and family tradition could choose to follow the gospel and serve a mission and pray for someone from her country to teach one of the missionary disscussions to and have it happen not five minutes after she arrived at her assigned spot on Temple Square. Than I can block out a few hours on my schedule and make time to listen to and learn from this sister that has prospered out of the ashes of a civil war, loss and apprehension of leaving behind all she knew to become who she is.

So will I see you there at Time Out for Women Nashville? Hope so, if you have any questions please feel free to message me here, on facebook or after Church on Sundays.

Lynne

Welcome 2011!

2011-01-01T08:20:00.000-06:00

We did not attend any fancy parties or wander around downtown Nashville till the wee hours of the morning ringing in the new year. It came softly in the night as I was in bed by 10pm. I was falling asleep in the computer chair and decided I needed to go to bed.

On this the first day of 2011 we are up early and ready for the first run of the year. The local YMCA Resolution Run this year entitled "So you want a resolution" we are registered for the 5k a nice short distance.

I hope that we can make this a New Years tradition starting the year off healthy and active.

We are looking forward to a year of blessings and trials and most assuredly a year full of happiness and love.

The Goodlettsville Blaisdell's

December...

2010-12-01T11:18:00.000-06:00

Wow where did the year go? Mine was spent running from one spot to another literally. We have been so blessed this year. From the very beginning of the year Heavenly Father has held us in his hands and we have done our best to stay there. As the final month of the year winds up and I begin to fill out our Christmas letter, I am so grateful for this blog. I find I write more often when I feel like I am sharing with a good friend. And all of you that follow me I consider my good friends.

As I get ready for my final half marathon of the year I ponder just how far I have come from that first day in November of 09 when I started out on the treadmill then moved to Moss Wright Park and from there to running with Hendersonville Running Club then on to my first 5k, then my second and then my first half marathon in March followed by the second in April, a few more 5k's sprinkled in, and my 3rd half marathon and now it's December 1st and I'm staring down the barrel of another starters pistol for my 4th half marathon of the year. Considering my goal when this all started was just to run the Country Music half, I have come a long way baby!

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever consider myself a runner. Now not only am I a runner but I am a distance runner, an endurance athlete. This the girl that played tennis in high school to avoid running the track during PE.

I am proud of myself because each of these races that I have completed this year means that I started AND finished something. That is the biggest accomplishment of all, being able to look at the list of training runs and races and checking off the done column is such a fulfilling thing.

I often look in the mirror and have a hard time realizing this woman I have become. For the most part, because it was not the image of myself that I thought I wanted to be. It is what I have let Heavenly Father mold me to be. It's so wonderful to know that ALL things are possible when we stand and stay in the palm of our Heavenly Fathers hand. It's true there is nothing we can't do with out Him.

So I have set my new goal by this time next year I want to be in the final days of training for a full marathon. That's the next step in this endurance journey.

Sometimes the end of the race when I'm so tired and my body doesn't want to go one more inch I remember that there is a finish line and that just like our journey to return to Heavenly Father we have to take it one step at a time and keep moving one more step, one more mile, one more finish to get there.

I and so looking forward to a new year and a new adventure in running and living and loving this world and people around me.

L.

To be Thankful...

2010-11-24T12:18:00.000-06:00

What is it to be thankful? What does it truly mean? Are we just thankful for the good things that happen in our lives? What about being thankful for those not so nice times?

My husband and I decided back on New Years that we were going to change the way we prayed. Our prayers seemed to always be fervent pleas to Heavenly Father to help us out of what ever jam we found ourselves in. We were doing all we thought we were suppose to do for blessings from our Father in heaven, but it seemed as if we were mired deeper and deeper into those prayers to "save" us from our trials.

I can't remember if it was from a conference talk or a sacrament meeting talk but somewhere we heard a talk about thanking Heavenly Father for the trials and tough times. That evening as we prayed we found ourselves thanking Heavenly Father for those trials and problems.

It really hasn't been an easy road this year, with Leon's broken leg and my fighting for stable ground midst a bi-polar storm. There were nights where the words just didn't seem to be there. There were nights where we felt as if we were saying the same words over and over pouring that fervency into these new thankful words, it was not easy to be thankful for Leon's broken leg or my inability to function. There were times where it was easy to be thankful for all that was going on.

The hardest thing for Leon to be thankful for was his job. Leon, if you don't already know is close to being Mensa material, the job he does anyone off the street could do. It takes no special training or prior knowledge of the job. At times Leon has told me that I could walk in of the street and take over the plant managers job and do better than she can, the rest of the management doesn't seem much better.

Don't get me wrong UPS is a good company to work for it just seems as if the local management is full of untrained monkeys.

It has at times been really hard for Leon to be thankful for this job, and hard for me to see how it affects him. So we decided to specifically pray for the management to recognize Leon for the asset that he is and can be to the MDC. It's working Leon wrote a small program that allowed him to only have to scan an item one time and the scanned info would go directly to the other two places it had to be scanned. When his manager saw it Leon was worried that he would get in trouble, it was the exact opposite! The manager wanted Leon to get with IT to have it put on all the computers. There will never be any recognition that it was his program but the sense of value boosted Leon's morale greatly and he felt like an asset to the company.

It has not been easy to remember to say "Thank You Heavenly Father for (insert trail here)" but looking back over the last 11 months it has really helped us grow closer to each other and to Heavenly Father as individuals and as a couple.

I am thankful for Leon's broken leg, it helped us repair our marriage.
I am thankful for learning how to deal with being bi-polar
I am thankful for the job my husband goes to every day that he dislikes to provide for our family.
I am thankful for the opportunity he has to go back to college and finish his degree again to better provide for our family.
I am thankful for callings that make us stretch and grow.
I am thankful for all the trials and sorrows of the last year because we have kept ourselves at the center of the gospel.
I am thankful for the opportunities to work and learn photography and earn a bit of spending money along the way.
I am thankful that I can share my faith and values and testimony and have no fear of reprisals in America.
I am even thankful for the current administration of our government, and for the uniting force of the American people to stand up for what they believe is wrong.
I am thankful for my husband and his family that has accepted me as if I always belonged there.
I am thankful for the Temple and for the ability to be sealed to our families for time and all eternity.
I am thankful for every breath I can take and every step that has led me across so many finish lines this year, literally and figuratively.
I am thank for the love, support and encouragement from friends and family that it's okay to be whom I want to be when ever I figure out what that is.

I am thankful for you dear readers, tho you may be few but the knowledge that you are there and reading what I write and miss me when I don't means so much.

Lynne and Leon

It would be a shame not to share this....

2010-11-22T10:16:00.000-06:00

This past week was a crazy hectic, scary, sad, happy, terrified, soul satisfying, testimony building week.

As you dear friends have read I had a tire blow up on the side of a very busy section of interstate that was the scary, terrifying part of the week, well at least part of it. That was just Wednesday....

Then on Thursday I had a really good day, we found a Chair Person for our Relay for Life, we set a date and got a location all in one meeting. I really like working with decisive people.

I came home for a bit took a nap, and then headed back out for a training session for my position as Community Public Relations" Chair a new position for me on the Relay. I will be doing this AND logistics. Finished up with that and met a good friend down at Starbucks for one of their Salted Carmel hot chocolates..Say what you will they do have killer hot coco's. I really like the atmosphere at this Starbucks near Vanderbilt University. It thrums with the vibration of creativity and learning, and comfy coziness that you can only find near a college campus. It makes me want to be a college student again just to justify sitting there for hours on end reading or people watching, or writing.

Then I got to write out my first "BIG CHECK" you know like those big award checks you see for charities? I am sort of a product tester for a local sock company, who was also making a donation. I was asked to come down and hang out at an event where a local trial riding bicycle group received just over $3000 dollars to help maintain bike trails in the Middle Tennessee area. Kinda cool if you ask me.

What I didn't know at the time was that Leon's Grandfather had some dental work earlier in the day and was having a bad reaction to something in the medication used to numb him up, revealing that he has atrial fibulation, or a fast heart rate. So the doctors wanted to keep him over night so that they could monitor him. Leon and I headed over so that Kieth, and Leon could give Grandpa a priesthood blessing. On Friday they put grandpa on a new medication and wanted to keep him another day and he was not having that at all. So they discharged him with the promise of a return to the doctor's office on Monday for a recheck to see how he was doing.

Friday was busy with planning the weekend. Saturday was going to be really hectic for us.

Leon's sister has a daughter from her previous marriage, and she remarried and she and her new husband were sealed together back in 08 on our anniversary. It was a little sad because our niece could not be sealed to them at that time. G. has been trying for years since our niece was 2 years old to get her father to sign over rights because he has had little to nothing to do with his daughter. Long story short the papers were finally signed and it was made official back in October that G's new husband adopted her.

So Saturday morning we all got up early and were at the Nashville Temple and the entire Stroup family was sealed for time and all eternity. It was so amazing to be there and watch. I was a bit teary just because this has been such a long hard road for the family and moving forward. I was able to watch Megsie's face as the words were said, and to see the spirit descend up her and the sacred nature of the sealing to see the veil part for just a moment for her, was so amazing and I'm so lucky that I got to be there to see it.

We then as family tradition dictated headed over to Cool Springs for some lunch. It was such a beautiful day and we were all relaxed and really enjoying have so much of the family in the Temple all together at the same time.

Kieth and Grandpa ordered their meals first because they needed to head out to go see Grandma. They ate and were out in the car when Tauna got a call from Kieth that he was calling 911 because he was having a possible heart attack. She came in and told us and immediately I had the strongest impression that he needed a blessing right then and there. I voiced my thoughts to the guys and asked if any of them had any consecrated oil with them, they didn't, wheels working in my brain with the spirits assistance told me that they could give him a blessing of comfort with out the oil. So we headed outside to the van. I asked Kieth and Grandpa if they had any oil and Kieth didn't but Grandpa did. Then and there before the EMS arrived four of the six priesthood holders there gave him a blessing.

As they put him in the ambulance one of the EMT's says to Kieth as they are getting all the monitors and equipment on him carefully pulls up his shirt under his white dress shirt and say's "I'm in the Mt. Juliet ward" so there was priesthood with him on the ride to the hospital. It took three rounds of nitro two tabs and one patch for the heart attack symptoms to stop. They then ran all the tests and blood work and wanted to keep him overnight due to him having such high risk factors.

Leon and I had to take Devon back to Goodlettsville, he was there to watch our other niece Charli Rose while her parents were in the Temple. So as the ambulance headed over to the hospital we headed back north. We got Dev home then went and got some groceries we would need and changed clothes and headed BACK to Franklin to the hospital. On the way back there was a serious traffic back up stretching for several miles heading North that wasn't there when we drove through the area only 30 minutes prior. We knew we were blessed with being able to get Dev back so quickly and then head back to Franklin and the hospital just a quick.

Us kids stayed until he was put up in his room. By this time we had missed Priesthood leadership and were not going to make the adult session, and it was looking like a hour or more to get home so we stayed a bit longer and decided that since we were on that side of town we would go ahead and try to get to the game that way we would a) be close if something happen to Kieth and b) be able to fulfill our promise. It took quite a bit of discussion and trying to figure out what to do. We waited until the doctors decided that Kieth was going to stay over night for observation and a stress test in the morning and that he seemed to be resting comfortably and out of immediate risk of another episode.

The third item we had on the Calendar was going to the Vandy/UT football game. We had made plans to do this clear back when this years football schedule was released. Clark and Heather (Leon's baby sister and her husband) are students and avid UT fans and Leon and I are Vandy fans. We tried last year to go and things just didn't work out we were determined to keep our commitment...that was until Kieth's heart attack.

The next morning the results of all the blood work and such came back and Kieth passed the stress test with flying colors. The doctors were stumped. There was nothing conclusive showing he did have a heart attack and no signs or symptoms of an anxiety attack. There was NOTHING. When I asked Tauna about this she said she was chalking it up to the power of the Priesthood.

It was a reminder to all of us what the Priesthood can do when used by worthy, righteous Priesthood holders. We all have received a strengthened testimony of the Priesthood and of the healing power of blessing when faith is liberally applied.

I am so thankful for my testimony and for the missionaries that never gave up on me and for the fullness of the Gospel and the tender sweet mercies that Heavenly Father blesses us with when we live righteously and with in the center of the Gospel.

I have learned a few lessons as well. Stop trying to prevent people Heavenly Father has put in my path from giving me blessings. Listen to the promptings of the Spirit and don't let anyone stop you from moving upon them. I have learned that I don't have to be afraid or worried to hurt someone's feelings when it comes to listening to the Spirit. I have a renewed testimony of the power of Priesthood blessings.

The last lesson seems to be the one that Heavenly Father has presented us with all year. Not in a repeat this lesson until you get it right way, but in a reassuring I'm here I'm not moving just stay close and this is what happens if you do.

Sometimes when the bottom falls out there really is a silver lining....

2010-11-17T17:48:00.001-06:00

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Yes I know nothing for weeks, and two posts in one day.... Well today was special didn't know it was going to be but here it is..

It started out normal and just and average day nothing really planned but trying to keep the laundry from encroaching upon the rest of the apartment. I got a call from Leon's dad asking me to take his dad (grandpa) to the hospital for his visit at lunch with grandma, because he (Dad) wasn't feeling well.

Not a problem got there got grandpa and headed out towards Nashville down 65 South. As you all know I drive a well used Cadillac. We keep it in the best condition we can it's an older car and has some issues. The electrical wiring for the inside lights has a mind of it's own, and sometimes even with a new battery and alternator that checks out just fine she doesn't like to start. Today was a good day for Caddy.

There we were driving along took the 65 south split towards downtown we were nearing the Rosa Parks exit and all the sudden the car starts shuddering and shaking and I can't hardly move the steering wheel at all. There was a semi truck driver behind me that seemed to understand that something was wrong, I turned on my flashers and blinker and was trying to get over, no one would let me, he slid over to the right hand lane and let me get over.

I was more upset about blowing the tire and the thought of Grandpa missing his visit that I starting calling for someone to come get him before I even called about getting help with the tire. I called Dad and he happen to have a tire the right size with no rim so he headed out to meet me and get the bald tire and rim out of the trunk, in the mean time I got Jenni to come and get Grandpa and take him to the hospital to see grandma....and during all that we called Triple A to come get me off the side of the road.

The Triple A operator on the phone said that grandpa HAD to be there and well I wasn't going to let that happen and him completely miss his visit so I told him to go ahead and I would work it out later.

Jenni showed up and got Grandpa and then Dad showed up and got the tire and stayed until the two truck showed up and got me.....except the car is rear wheel drive meaning it can be towed from the front.....but since we were only going less than a mile the guy just left the car running and put it in neutral. Not usually a good idea but I was in a really bad spot just and I mean just out of the turn right before bridge over the river and exit 85.... As some of you saw from my facebook post it was pretty scary, traffic didn't move over and they didn't slow down....I even had 3 Metro police cars pass by me and honk and wave me over further to the side of the road, the car was not going to move anymore I was down to no rubber and at the rim at that point.....

The tow truck driver was so great his name is Phillip I mention his name because good people like him need people to know his name. He got me off the road and safe, stayed with me and the car until Dad showed up with the tire mounted on the rim and Phillip put the tire on the car. He did not make a stink about grandpa not being there didn't worry about me signing anything and did give me a small talk about what to say the next time I call for roadside assistance and how to get what we needed faster.

I get home safe and sound and then get a call from a number I didn't know but thought I should answer it, it was Phillip in the process of climbing in the car from the trunk to unlock the doors he dropped his personal cell phone in the trunk (had to leave the car running in neutral it auto locks the doors) so I go down and check and yup there it is. We make arrangements to meet up so I can give him his phone back..

He was so nice, told him it was no problem I had to go get gas anyway and that's when the small "oh you don't have to do that" argument happen....

He started out by offering some gas money and I told him he didn't have to do that then he told me that he happen to over hear earlier when I was telling Dad that we would be facing two lay off days in December. (Nothing too bad that was going to hurt us too bad financially just make it a bit tight.) He went to check his wallet and said "I only have a couple of bucks follow me to the gas station and I'll put some gas in" I tried to argue and say he didn't have to and he said that he wanted to....

It was then that I got hit with the notion that I shouldn't turn down a blessing that Heavenly Father was placing in my path....

When we got to the gas station I tried to explain that we were not going to suffer like some were with these lay off days and he said that he knew what it was like and not to worry about it, he had it let him do it. I then made sure that I had his name to write and tell Triple A how nice he was and he said doesn't matter that they know....

He ended up filling up my gas tank...such a great blessing and such a great guy....

Lynne

Reviewing

2010-11-17T10:43:00.000-06:00

I have been pondering this post since last Sunday. I couldn't seem to find the words that would fit what is happening. Some of this post will focus on what is going on in our new callings in the ward and the rest will deal with what I am going through right now. I wasn't sure if they should be separate posts or if they were connected. I know now they are connected.

Leon was released from his calling as Assistant Ward Clerk. For the five years we have been in the ward that calling has been consistent in our lives. I have gotten use to staying after our block of meetings and chatting with our friends from our ward and for the ward that meets right after ours.

That has slipped away a bit due to our callings as ward missionaries. We have a meeting every week and Leon had to tend to his duties as the financial assistant. We were beginning to joke about how many ward clerks and assistants he has gone through. There are been at least 3 ward clerks and way to many assistants to count that have moved on or been called to other assignments in the ward.

Leon got a call on from a member of the Stake High Council. At first he was not going to answer the phone, we don't normally answer calls if there is no caller id or we don't know the number, this was especially prevalent with all the robot dialing during the mid term elections. As Leon told me later he had an impression that he needed to answer the phone.

He had an early before sacrament meeting with the High Councilman and received a new calling, we were both taken aback and immediately overwhelmed with the calling.

I was asked to join Leon in Priesthood opening because he has been called as EQ 2nd Counselor. This is the first time Leon has held a position in any presidency in our church.

There have been some surprising firsts for us this year, Leon got to baptize for the first time in the Temple earlier this year on a Youth Temple Trip, our first trip to Seattle, Leon's first broken bone, the first light of day for me after finally getting treatment and drug therapy for my bi polar disorder, Leon's first call into a Presidency position in the Church.

Heavenly Father has been a constant companion to both of us this year. The spirit in our home has grown to overflowing. The time we had at the first of the year to really get a chance to learn about each other again was such a blessing.

Our family is having daily prayer and scripture reading steadily. We are both doing independent scripture reading and studying as well as our family reading and study. We both have callings that are stretching and teaching us to grow out of our comfortable zone, and we are seeing the blessings from that.

I have good days and weeks and sometimes months, then I have not so good days. There are really more good than bad. I know now why Heavenly Father planted the running seed in me. It's the really bad days that running become therapy. Because running isn't for anyone else. I'm not doing a favor for you by running, or for someone in my family. I am doing something just for me.

Each step that I pound out is a little but of the down swing being released. It's making room for the good stuff. Someone asked me what it was like being bi-polar, well I'm not bi-polar I have a bi-polar disorder. I determined early on that I would not be defined by my illness and it is an illness it is a genetic defect in my DNA, just like cancer, diabetics, or any other disease that you are born with.

It's not something that I can just get over or decide to be happy. I have to work very hard to keep on an even keel. One child that was diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder described it the best. It's like a storm in my brain. Sometimes it's calm and sunny then all the sudden there is a tornado building and all I can do is hang on till it's over. I am lucky if you can call it that. I have a milder form of Bi-Polar called Hypomania webMd describes it as follows:

Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. Hypomania is a mood that many don't perceive as a problem. It actually may feel pretty good. You have a greater sense of well-being and productivity. However, for someone with bipolar disorder, hypomania can evolve into mania -- or can switch into serious depression.

EDIT WEEK TWO
Yes it has taken me this long to get this far because I've really prayed about what to say here and how to say it.

Now for the most part my medication keeps me from swinging one way then the other in rapid cycles....It's more of a slow motion gradual swing that I can mostly predict and control.

With that being said one of the side effects seems to be no short term memory for details like dates and sometimes I get lost in conversations. Yeah it happens. It is one of those side effects that I don't mind. I am working really hard on taking lots of notes so I don't forget dates, times and events that I'm suppose to be at or do something for. It isn't an all the time thing either. It seems to show up when I'm on a down swing. So be patient with me, understanding that sometimes I lose track of time and dates and I'm not trying to be rude or ignore you I promise.

Lynne

Gladys Knight and the Saints Unified Voices Choir

2010-10-17T23:07:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to see the Saints Unified Choir tonight, and I would be remiss not to share my thoughts and feelings after such a moving evening of music.

I almost didn't go. I was tired and not feeling well. My mother in law called me to make sure that I had enough tickets for her and her guests. I then decided I should go, that I needed to go.

The music was wonderful, it was moving and amazing. The spirit stirred and moved through our little Stake Center like I have never felt before. We were sitting in the gym about 3 rows back from the padded seats, but that fell to the wayside as soon as the Choir stepped to their places and began to sing. They sang so many songs that I was familiar with but I couldn't name a single one for you now.

What I can tell you is the feelings I felt and the "after taste" of the night.

I felt the spirit move in to that building as the choir and Gladys Knight moved up the isles, I can tell you I was three people away from her and she shook my father in laws hand.

Then the music began. I commented to someone that she directed the music with her entire body. You could just feel the music flow over the attendees. It was so tangible I felt like I could reach out and touch it. As the program progressed the building began to feel overwhelmed with the spirit. As people were touched by it they moved to their feet, clapped their hands and laughed at Sister Knight as she laughed with us and shared her testimony with us, and the need for us to remember that we are all children of God no matter what we look like or where we come from. Soon the numbers of people on their feet multiplied and it seemed as if I was being lifted to my feet just light as air and full of happiness at being present and able to see Heavenly Father working to touch the hearts of those present.

I, like Gladys will probably never be a missionary on a bike, I unlike Gladys can not sing, but I can make sure that I remember that the Gospel is full of love and light and joy and solemness. Like she said there is a time for quiet reverence and a time for coming to your feet and clapping your hands and letting Heavenly Father move you.

I need to remember that quite is good but so is showing the joy the Gospel brings to my life.

L.

Well I did it again and missed September.

2010-10-06T17:23:00.000-05:00

Things have been going great around here. The home study is done, in the hands of DCS and just awaiting it's approval. I finished my Sept. 25 half marathon and have begun training for my last long race of the year. On December 4th I will be running the St. Jude's half marathon in Memphis. I'll be going up the Thursday before to help Cari celebrate her birthday and help her clean and organize like she did for us to get us ready for our last home study inspection.

The beginning of October has been so hectic that I've really enjoyed it. Leon and I have some good friends that own a professional photography company. We have talked back and forth about me working with them either part time or doing an unpaid apprenticeship. Neither of us seemed to be in the right place for this to happen. They ended up needing some help this past weekend and I was available so I went and helped out. It was fun to get out of the house and to "work" not that it's really like work at all, because it's something that I love.

For as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with photo's and photography. My favorite photographer is Ansel Adams I discovered his work in high school and gravitate to it to this day.

In high school I took a photography 1 and 2 class that turned in to working on the newspaper and annual staff. That was when I held my first "real" camera where you had to set the f-stops, the ISO and cut, roll and load your own film. I still have fond memories of my photography teacher.

There have been some amazing and wonderful advancements in photography since I was actively taking pictures daily.

I am excited about this internship and the part time work because I can learn from the ground up. It will be something that I can take with me into the future. I'm am not looking at being one more in a list of photographers. I am looking at learning a craft. Anyone can take a picture, I want to create a moment in time.

L.

Just about ready*** I think

2010-09-14T10:26:00.000-05:00

I have heard that you will never be truly ready to be a parent. The little things are the ones that cause you to be surprised.

If we were pregnant we would know exactly what we need, and what age to buy for. As foster parents willing to take 0 to 18 it's really hard to be prepared. I'm not sure I even know what we need.

A good friend of mine asked as we started classes this past June if she could throw us a shower. I was touched that she was so thoughtful. Then we got the info from our DCS worker that all she needs to do come and do the final safety inspection and she sees no problems with us being certified and our home being opened.

This must be what expectant mothers feel in the last trimester. Unprepared, doubting our ability to be parents, especially to children whom have already gotten the short end of the stick.

Maybe that's why the last little bit left to move out of the office to make it a bedroom seems so overwhelming to me.

Can and are you ever really ready to be a parent?

I just seemed to miss August all together..

2010-09-02T12:20:00.000-05:00

The month started out with us in Seattle from August 9th to the 16th visiting Leon's brother Matthew and his family. We had a blast and I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest.

I need to find the SD card with the pictures so I can post some.

While we were on vacation we FINALLY got a call from our DCS worker that she wanted to set up our home study and meet with us for the first time. Over achieving me decided to set up the appointments for the Thursday and Friday after we got home. For some reason I think I'm superwoman sometimes. Got most of the house ready the dinning room table is still being used as my desk and office and bill pay center. And there was a pile of clean laundry on our bed but we were ready.

Then she called and canceled on us. I was a bit miffed about that but was okay because our first home study visit was the next day.

We really loved our home study writer and were pleased that she wanted to do the home study in 2 visits instead of 4. That has moved things along pretty quickly considering that DCS at this point only has 60 days to complete their portion of this process.

We also had the chance to be part of a friends birthday bbq and it was a blast. It's really nice to have such a close ward. We are going to really miss the families that will be leaving after December Graduation.

We now just have to finish up tearing down our second bedroom and transform it from "Office" to "bedroom" things would probably go smoother if I wasn't feeling horrible today.. But that is how August flew by in the Blaisdell home.

Monday July 5th 2010

2010-07-07T08:53:00.000-05:00

This post is taken out of the middle of the last one. I felt that it needed a special place of it's own in the blog.

I have spent quite a bit of time pondering the current state of our Republic. I wonder where we are going and how we are getting there. Pulling out the threads of the truth in the midst of the muck is many times tiring and seems almost impossible. This could be why history is such a comfort to me. Sure there are two sides to each moment in our Republic's past but for the most part it is indisputable that it happen.

Such moments as Washington at Valley Forge, The Signing of the Declaration Of Independence, The Assassinations of Joseph Smith, Abraham Lincoln, John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

All of these moments change the course of the lives of the people around these men as well as that of the Republic. It caused men and women to look around themselves and evaluate their beliefs. Now one could argue that the assassination of Joseph Smith may or may not have had an impact on the nation but I present to you the facts of the exodus of thousands of men women and children to the west. The population and creation of at least one state of the Republic.

Of all these things I pondered this weekend the weekend of celebration of The Declaration of Independence. The freedom of the people from the subjugation of a ruler from a far off land. Yet in our history we know that following the Declaration of Independence that there was yet another document that had to further the cause of ALL men to be free. The Emancipation Proclamation.

It might seem as if I have digressed a bit and am rambling but I beg your indulgence and ask patience with me.

There was another time in our history when men, women and children were treated as second class citizens due to the color of their skin or ethnicity. That time was not that long ago. In fact it was my parents generation the baby boomers that chose to take up the fight. There was a great divide in our country from the Civil War all the way to World War II and between WWII and the Vietnam War that divide was still present and in our faces every day.

That divide was the color of a person skin. It was not just black and white, it was Asian and Philipino, and Women of any color, and anyone that was perceived as different. It was the struggle to have good homes, neighborhoods and jobs. It was not just black families it was any family of color. From this struggle came a voice a voice of reason, a voice of non violence. A voice that taught that all men, and women and children despite their color deserved good schools, good educations and quality of life. This voice preached that the men and women that did not have these had the right to stand strong and peacefully demand those rights afforded to other with no questions asked as citizens of our Republic.

This voice that stood strong and peaceful in his endeavor to unite our Republic under the content of our character and not the color of our skin. In the last 42 years since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated I look back at the change that has happened.

We spent Monday of our mini vacation in the downtown Memphis area. We went to Beale street and ate at the original BB Kings, we watched street performers doing flips and acrobatics. We saw the outside of the famous Orpheum Theater, and we walked to The National Civil Rights Museum. We stood on the street in front of the Lorriane Motel, We stood where room 307 once was, we peered out over the railing and grew silent as we view the spot where Dr. King stood as he was murdered.

I stood at the bars of the cell where Dr. King was held reading a recorded phone conversation between Dr. King and his wife holding Cari's 9 month old in my arms. Next to me was a black woman we both were having a hard time taking in all around us.

As most adults do when a little one is around they coo and talk to them I call it baby flirting. At the moment as the baby was playing with her bracelets and we stood in front of that cell a wash of feelings and emotions swept us both up. In that moment in time in that place we three humans were the living fulfillment of everything Dr. King stood for and preached. It is a moment that I will forever cherish. It was one of those moments in time where the past and the present and the future all converge at the same apex of time.

Yet we are at the crux of yet another great fight. There are still people in our nation that feel as if they are being treated unfairly. That their rights are being infringed upon. I agree that all legal citizens have the right to stand up and say I am not being treated fairly. The key words being legal citizen.

Every nation in the world has some policy or procedure in relation to the rights and protection of those rights based on your citizen status . In our Republic you have to be born in the country or obtain citizenship legally. You need travel the legal pathways to obtain those rights. If you are not a legal citizen of this great Republic then you are not entitled to receive any of those rights you are entitled to the rights of a visitor to our Republic. Those rights are not the same that are afforded to citizens. If you so choose to stay in this country then you should endeavor to be come a legal resident of our Republic.

That being said it really bugs me when people get upset at enforcement of immigration laws. There is not one country on this planet that I can think of that will let me cross in to their borders with out some form of documentation, nor will they let me get a job, or governmental assistance, without proof of citizenship. Why then should things be different here?

Should you have the opportunity to come to this Republic and have a better life? Of Course! Should you have the opportunity to get an education and take your skills you learn back to your home country in order to improve conditions there? Of Course! Should I as a tax payer have to pay for your education and medical costs while you are here? Are you working and paying taxes as well as on a student VISA? Notice I say working and paying taxes. Of Course you are contributing to the economy and paying your due to receive those services. Are you here on expired documents, forged documents or illegally and are not taking steps to either become a citizen get a green card OR apply for asylum? Then no you are not entitled to ANY rights or privileges of the citizens of this county. If you are here and are trying to get your documentation and green card or applying for asylum and are waiting on the extremely slow wheels we call government then more power to you. Work, pay taxes be a productive member of society. Don't got out and work for cash under the table and refuse to pay taxes and drain an already bankrupt system.

I have no problem with legal immigration. I have no problem with people wanting to be apart of this great Republic. I have a problem with you being here illegally and leaching off the system and taking what you have not earned. I have a problem with you working for cash and not paying taxes that help pay for your children's education and teachers. I have a problem with you being here illegally and on welfare, or disability.

That my friends is what most people are against when it comes to the great immigration debate. We have no problem opening our arms and welcoming those that wish to become citizens we have a problem when you hold our arms behind our backs and rob us blind.

Pondering, Refreshing and Remembering.

2010-07-07T07:38:00.001-05:00

Leon and I needed a break, not from each other mind you, but from the house and the stuff that life seems to dump on you from time to time. Usually we take a weekend trip in the Spring. It is kind of like a mental and marriage spring cleaning. We missed ours this year and when we starting looking at what to do for the 4th of July, we came up empty until I remembered that we have friends in Memphis. So we called and asked what they were doing and if they were up for some company over the holiday, and made plans to be in Memphis in time for fireworks Saturday night.

Leon took another Friday off to work on his car, much more successful this time, well until we tried to drive it, and then we had to go around the block and put it back in the Blaisdell Family Garage. We are not sure at this point what is wrong with it, we just know there is a horrible grinding noise now that wasn't there before and it won't stay started. (awkward sentence I know)

So after some stresses of the past week, we talked and decided that taking some time away would be good.

Saturday: I got back from the Girls Morning Out on Saturday and then we packed up and headed to Arlington, TN which is just east of Memphis. We arrived at the house and then got a bit settled and headed out to watch a really nice fireworks show, I got some cute and amazing pictures on my iPhone because I left my purse with the camera in the car.

Sunday: We got up and were treated to German Pancakes with strawberries and so many different toppings that I could not decide EXACTLY what I wanted on my pancakes. The we got ready for church. Leon was surprised to see a brother from our ward there at the Arlington Ward meeting. Sometimes a small world is a nice thing. Leon went to his regular meetings and I joined Cari for primary. Sunday was nice because we didn't feel rushed. We had some lunch then took a nice Sunday nap. We were again treated to more yummy goodies. Cari made lasagna. It was so good. I need to have her send me the recipe it was the perfect marriage of noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, meat and sauce. I am not found of over saucy lasagnas. The we just hung out and enjoyed each other's company.

Monday: You will have to read the next entry because it is worthy of being a single entry.

Tuesday: We left Memphis a bit later than we originally planned on Monday night but we so very glad that we did. For the first time in a very long while I was not worried about getting from point a to point b and planning everything. We decided on the way out of Arlington that we wanted to spend Tuesday with Megan and since Leon had another mandatory lay off day that we would use it to spend one more day just being.

We headed off to Beech Bend Amusement Park and Splash Lagoon in Bowling Green Kentucky just under an hour North of where we live. Taking Megsie with us was fun. It is a small amusement park but there was only one ride that she was not tall enough for and that was the Kentucky Rumbler wooden roller coaster. After hitting all the rides we wanted to this time we then went to the water park and played in the pool area and some of the kids play area. To be honest we didn't ride ALL the rides we did not have the time even though the lines were short. After getting out of the water and changed we headed out to do two more rides the Kentucky Rumbler for Leon and the Wild Mouse Ride for Megsie. We had so much fun and are planning on going again.

I do have to thank some of my friends for showing me how to coupon because we saved $37.00 on admission with a buy one get one admission and a $7.00 of weekday admission. IT was such a great feeling to know that we had more to use for the gift shop we each got something from the park. Megsie got a pink shirt, I got a necklace and Leon got a great straw fedora style hat.

It was nice to have so many positive days in a row.

Busy, Busy, Busy

2010-06-27T21:34:00.002-05:00

This month has been crazy hectic on one hand and on the other the tip of the iceberg of a home full of blessings. We have had the opportunity to have our niece Megan with us Monday through Friday from 8am to 4pm. Usually we take her for a week in the summer to give mom and dad a break. She started school last fall in kindergarten. She was in a before school program at the school, then full day of class then an after care program as well, all of this at a private school.

This fall she starts first grade. She will also be starting a new school, with brand new kids and is having some anxiety at going to public school, granted two of her friends at the private school did nothing to help that anxiety. She will also start a new before and after school daycare. With so much changing I offered to watch her this summer the idea being if her parents were going to pay someone to take care of her it might as well be me.

We have a fun filled summer so far. We spend Monday in the pool most of the day and working on a first grade work book to keep up her math and reading and writing skills. On Tuesdays we have a movie and dress up day, Wednesdays are a field trip to the downtown branch of the Nashville library. It is really a beautiful place. We go turn in our books from the week before and get new ones, then we read for a bit before the story time starts then we visit with Mary Mary, Library Pete and The Professor, sometimes we get to see Tommy Dog as well. Then it's across the hall for a fun summer reading craft. On Thursdays we sometimes go back to the library because they have fun programs the first week we went they did a "cold" science show with liquid nitrogen, then the following week they had some friends from the Country Music Hall of Fame bring some fiddles, banjos, dulcimers, guitars and let the children each try the instruments.

We have been to the Frist and saw the Dale Chihuly installation and are going to try to go to Cheekwood to see the rest of the Chihuly works there. On Fridays we are back in the pool and spend most of the day there.

I have really gotten a great SPF tan. I use spf 50 or higher on both Megs and I and we are a really nice shade of brown. It really kind of makes me wonder about the whole sunscreen thing?

We are also working on a summer science project and have a blog just for our summer fun. We keep that blog just to friends and family because Megs posts pictures and writes most of the content.

We will be done with our PATH classes this coming Tuesday night. It has been a great learning experience and resource for our family. We also won a really great book on discipline called 1, 2, 3 Magic. You can find this on DVD as well as print. Our classes took up quite a bit of our time, 6 hours on Saturdays and 3 hours on Tuesday nights. After Tuesday night we will be starting the home study process and have one CPR class to take and we are on our way to being parents.

For those wanting to know we are not going to be traditional foster parents. Since our ultimate goal is adoption we will be doing foster to adopt parenting. Meaning that if all goes well we will only have children in our home that are potential matches to our family, or preparing them to go to another adoptive family. This children differ because the birth parental rights have been terminated and these children are waiting for their forever family.

That my friends is a not so short update on the Goodlettsville Blaisdell's

L&L

Walk Me Home ...to the place I belong.

2010-05-31T19:07:00.002-05:00

As I might have mentioned Leon and I are starting our foster parenting classes the month of June in combination with that we are doing our first charity fund raising walk/run.

Walk Me Home is the signature fund-raising and awareness event for foster care in America. We know not everyone can be a foster parent, but Walk Me Home is a great way to support the over 513,000 children in foster care. This year thousands and thousands of walkers will participate in Walk Me Home events across the country, raising funds to support the life changing programs and activities of foster care associations throughout the United States.

The link above will take you to our page where you can join our team or donate using the "Walk Me Home" button on the right of the page.

You can also "virtually" walk with us.

With foster care and adoption so close to our hearts we want to make sure that we take the time to share it with our friends and families.

If you don't feel that a monetary donation is something you can do please feel free to support, cheer, pray and share our story with others along the way! We are grateful for any support on this journey we can get!

Lynne, Leon and Team Blaisdell

The first steps to growing our family.

2010-05-26T10:40:00.002-05:00

Many of you know that Leon and I have struggled to have children of our own. This just is not possible for us. I have some medical issues that make it dangerous for me to stop taking birth control hormones. We have tried several times and each time I come off the medication I end up having to have surgery.

After many long months and years of praying we started looking into private adoptions. As some of you know this can be extremely expensive, but there were other options. The one option that has presented it's self to us time and again is foster care. Just in Davidson county alone there are over 500 children waiting for a loving home and only 130 homes. These were 2009 numbers and they are not any better in 2010.

We talked and decided that we should find out if there was a training class available this summer while Leon is out of school. We thought that Davidson County had one but they did not. Fortunately for us in the state of Tennessee you don't have to take the classes in the county that you live. They will forward all the information to Davidson County when we are finished with the process. We will not be doing any races in June because we will be starting our classes on June 5th and they will only go for 4 weeks which is quicker than the one we originally wanted to take.

Needless to say we have a lot of work to do and have a room to tear apart and put back together so that there is space for the new child in our lives.

The other really neat thing about doing foster care through the state of Tennessee is after six months of fostering we can start the process of a state subsidized adoption of a child in the system.

We are very excited and are so happy to finally be moving forward in building our little family.

Check out www.parentachild.org it is a really GREAT site and will touch your heart. I know it did ours.

Lynne

What a wild ride!

2010-05-24T09:15:00.002-05:00

With all the stressful negative things that were going on at the first of the month I wanted to turn that in to something positive.

I spent two days working with Hands On Nashville, posting to facebook what the updates were for friends out of town and those whom had facebook on their phones but had no power.

Then we had to go up to Clarksville on May 5 so Leon could take his final exams for this semester. So happy one more down and it feels like way to many more to go.

He has enough credits to be considered a College junior BUT because he can only take two to three classes at a time due to his work schedule he only gets one semesters worth of classes in a school year. We have decided when he gets to the point where they do not offer any more classes that he can take online he will leave UPS and we will be moving up to Clarksville and I suppose in Married student housing, and he will become a full time student. That is a ways off. We are currently only 6 months into a two year lease. We are hoping that by the time our lease is up he will be ready to go full time.

Anywho, while waiting for Leon to take his finals I was browsing the Hands On Nashville website on my phone and came across a request for a person to fill the position of Logistics Chair for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life in Hermitage.

I met with the Representative for ACS and we hit it off and OFF I went trying to get things ready for the Relay on May 22. Yes this past weekend. I have been one busy woman the last several weeks.

With the flooding and the water we were having problems with our venue being under water, then we had problems with them doing construction the day of the event AND mud from where they tore up an access road that we needed to use. THEN they got upset when we were tracking mud over where they were power washing....umm handed them a clue about all that. Not possible to have our even with out tracking mud. Then it rained for like 10 minutes and people freaked out and packed up their camps where they were selling stuff to raise money for the ACS and left. Met some awesome people and had a blast on the four wheeler that we were loaned. SO addicted to it I want one that I can sling mud in!!! For real that is.

My Daddy and brother in law Thomas saved my skin in getting generators and lights down in to the venue and helping out. They both had a GREAT time and I really appreciated their help.

SO needless to say I got up on Friday at 6:30am to take Leon to work. Then to the venue to make sure we could get in, then to Franklin to pick up a John Deere Gator (another great ride), then back to the venue. We got started had a great time. The event went till 7am then we had to load out the teams that did stay, get all the ACS branding taken down and get all the generators and light poles out of the area. Got that all done about 9:30am. Got the two vehicles loaded up dropped off the four-wheeler and headed home. Got home around noon and by that time was sunburnt, dehydrated and had heat stroke, was now up 30 some odd hours with no sleep, little food was too busy to stop and eat. Hubby got me upstairs I took a shower tried to drink and eat a little bit, didn't settle well then tried to go to sleep.

Have you ever laid down to sleep and felt like you were wide awake and completely aware of what was going on around you but you sort of drifted in and out? That is what happen to me after laying down about 1pm. I was so tired my body was done my brain wouldn't shut down and I finally gave up about 5pm and got up and tried to eat again so I could take my migraine meds and watched some TV. The eating didn't go so well I finally was able to keep down just some plain Naan bread and got my meds taken and headed to bed again about 8:15pm the last thing I remember is telling Leon I was going to bed. I woke up Sunday around 11:30. We had some food, we actually quite a bit of food. I was really hungry FINALLY. Spent some awake time with my husband then he went to bed for work this morning and I wanted to read for a bit with it quiet and woke up on the sofa around 1am got up and went to bed. Today I finally feel human again.

I like being busy. I do not like that I am not paying attention to my hydration levels and my food intake. As a runner I know better. I really do need to be better about those things.

Well that about covers the month of May in the Blaisdell Household. Till next time.

Lynne and Leon

I don't understand.

2010-05-03T19:51:00.004-05:00

This disaster in Nashville has caused what I call the "stupid gene" to come to the surface. It shows up when disasters happen.

I have seen this with floods, tornado's, earthquakes and Oklahoma and WTC. The reason it bothers me so much is because I grew up in a family that was part of the Civil Air Patrol, at one time it was an Auxiliary of The United States Air Force. During World War II they flew missions over the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans with pilots and observers looking for Japanese and German ships, submarines and boats. Since that time CAP has been tasked with doing all the inland search and rescue for the Air Force and civilian airplanes and doing aerial and ground search and rescue during natural disasters. After the World Trade Center the CAP was moved under the umbrella of Homeland Security.

My affiliation with the Civil Air Patrol started at a young age. My father started out as a Cadet and after his tour of duty in Navy during Vietnam he returned and continued his involvement with CAP. As an adult I also participated in the program. I achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant. I am a certified observer in several different aircraft as well as a ground team search leader and member.

In a disaster like the magnitude of the flooding in Nashville several things have to happen. Some of those things involve the co-operation of the general public.

The first thing that needs to happen is there is a waiting period. This waiting period involves the severe weather stopping, evaluation of the current needs of the citizens that were not able to safely get out prior to the water overtaking the area. The next several steps happen at the same time. There are governmental assessments of the damaged areas and what course of actions need to be taken first.

There are several things that can inhibit the above processes. More severe weather, out of area lookie loo's coming to sight see, secondary issues like fires, power outages etc.

Having people flock to the affected areas is one of the biggest hindrances to the rescue and recovery operations. When the law enforcement, the mayor, the governor, send out messages to stay put, stay away. It is extremely important that people listen. I have seen it time and time again. People with intentions of just going to check out the damage more often than not cause more problems.

The emergency officials need the roads clear to get to those that need help, if they tell you or you hear on the news they have asked people to stay out of the affected areas then stay out.

If they ask you not to do something there is a good reason for it. They are trained to handle these situations when the system is overloaded as it is in Nashville and most surrounding areas they do not need unauthorized people getting in the way.

During an event like this flooding there are systems and programs in place to mobilize and get help to the most urgent areas. In times like these where we are trapped or stuck we often feel like we are the most urgent. I know it sounds cold and hard hearted but the main things that need to be taken care of are the water sources, electric services and any gas lines that may have ruptured. At the same time crews are trying to rescue people.

It really upsets me when people do not heed warnings and go out. I can not tell you the number of times I've had to assist in rescues of people that were just "checking out the damage". The worse one was the time we had to call in cadaver dogs to find the people that got swept away "just checking out the damage".

I guess that is why most of today and yesterday on Facebook anytime I've read posts about people going out to "check out the damage" or doing things in downtown Nashville where the Mayor has specifically issued orders for people to stay out of downtown. Asking that only residents and business owners come downtown and only if necessary or urgent.

Please friends, and family take it from me it is not fun, it is not a good idea. Please take all the warning and cautions to heart. Please know that they are for your best interest.

L.

What a weekend......The Great Nashville Flood

2010-05-03T10:09:00.003-05:00

Saturday was an adventure. The day started out with us up early to head out for The Happy Feet 5k race. We had looked at the radar and expected the rain to move by quickly as it has the last several times it has rained. We headed out to The Streets of Indian Lake phone in hands checking email and messages waiting for news. We got an email that the race was canceled. We regrouped with Leon's parents and decided to go to the Temple. We came home changed clothes and headed out.

We headed down 65 South it was raining and hard to see but there was no major flooding at this point. We got to the Temple and had a wonderful time. We left the Temple and headed to WhichWhich in Cool Springs for lunch around noon. That is when the bottom dropped out of the storm. The parking lots became swift running rivers.

The rain continued for two days and now the flooding continues as the underground watersheds are overflowing and adding to the rising water levels.

Everyone we know so far has been safe and or rescued and are now safe.

L.

All the training, all the work and all the rain.

2010-04-25T21:08:00.003-05:00

Well, it is over. 5 months of training and leaving sweat and tears on the streets of Hendersonville, Goodlettsville and Nashville, 40 pounds and almost 20 inches the weather decided to get in the way.

Everything felt right, had a great easy week before the race. The nerves and fears were not even present. I was excited I could not decide if I wanted to run, or watch. over 32 thousand people were registered for this race. Mother Nature was apparently racing Saturday as well.

I never felt so in tune with my body. I still hit a spot between mile 4 and 8 that just seems to be all negative. After mile 8 the pain from the blisters was gone, mental block I guess. I was still running. The that little ugly Nissian Cube showed up, just before mile 10. I was not happy with what she had to say to me so I ran a little faster. The race official told me that they were closing the course and pulling all the runners due to sever weather. I said a prayer looked skyward and knew that I had run in worse. I kept on for two or three tenths of a mile and she pulled next to me and said due to the course closing I would have to get in. I was not a happy camper. My body and my mind and the road in front of me were in tune, everything was working the way it should.

Common sense prevailed and I got in. The van driver decided instead of following the course with his all access pass to go 45 minutes out of his way to get us back to where we could rejoin and cross the mats. Not that it really mattered. I had been cheated out of a strong finish. What made it even worse was the group with the hula hoops two minuets ahead of me were not diverted. I think that if they were going to close the course and make us stop and so many others than they should have made everyone. Just my humble opinion.

I got the bling but it feels tarnished. Leon and Cari on the other hand just 22 minutes ahead of me were able to finish all 13.1 miles. I am so proud of both of them. Leon because this was his first race and we were not sure if he was going to be able to do any of it due to breaking his leg just three months ago. Cari was not able to get much training time due to a new baby boy. I am so please to have shared this experience with not only my husband and oldest friend but with my Hendersonville Running Club friends as well.

I'm already gathering a training plan for my September Women's Running Magazine Half Marathon here in Nashville. I will prevail.

Lynne

Blessed and Blessed Again!

2010-03-30T14:31:00.002-05:00

The light at the end of the tunnel was NOT an on coming train! It was the fulfillment of many blessings that Leon and I have received over the last 3 months.

Today was the final visit with the orthopedic doctor. The bone is completely healed, so much so that you can't even tell it was broken. He has been fully released to full work duty, with out physical therapy. He is only to wear the brace when he is on uneven surfaces or going to be doing pivoting movements.

We went into the appointment determined to convince the doctor that we could no longer afford for Leon to be off work.

Early on in this whole adventure Leon received a blessing that he would heal completely and quickly and return to work sooner than normal. Now usually when you break a bone especially so close to the ankle you spend a serious amount of time in the hospital, then time home and off it, then you get to walk on crutches, then you move to just balancing on the foot, next you spend several months in a orthopedic boot and in physical therapy. The entire process can take up to six months time. A friend of mine broke her leg just about the same spot and spent six months in therapy and the orthopedic boot, her total recovery was almost a year.

In Leons case he broke his leg January 9th, had surgery same day to repair the break and was sent home that same night. Until his next appointment two weeks after surgery he had to stay off it and keep it elevated at all times for the first month.The middle of January the bandages were removed and he was put in the orthopedic boot and told he could use it to balance but was not to put any significant weight on it. The end of February he was told he could start walking on it with the help of crutches to start then when he felt comfortable enough he could lose the crutches and move to a lace up brace when he felt comfortable enough. It only took a week or so for him to move from one brace to the other. Today just 80 days later he is totally free and clear to return to work.

We are so blessed to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. To have testimonies of the truthfulness of the restored gospel, to live in the day and age of true living prophets ordained of Heavenly Father, we are blessed to have such strong testimonies of tithing and the difference it can make in your life. We are so blessed to have friends that believe as we do that we can lean on when we are weary. We are thankful to have a Temple so close to us that all we have to do it get dressed and head South and we are there in less than an hour. We are thankful for each other and the strengths and weaknesses we each have.

We have learned so much over the last three years each and every time we have been put in a position where our faith and resolve has been tested and tried. We joke sometimes that whatever Heavenly Father is preparing us for must be a doozie because of the trials we have been asked to endure.

I know that we are both stronger and better people after each of our trials, there are some lessons we have been taught over and over, and some we have only had to learn once. I know that no matter what Father is there to give us a ride when it gets too tough.

Lynne and Leon

With a new season comes new insight.

2010-03-24T23:51:00.003-05:00

This week has been wonderful so far. Leon and I actually feel like we are seeing a light at the end of this mess. We have been blessed that he has a job and that he has short term disability that has helped to take care us our needs. We are blessed that the orthopedic doctor saw the need to get him in the same day of the injury to make sure that it healed correctly. We are blessed that we have had time to grow and develop our relationship while he has been home.

We have noticed so many blessing this time around when life decided to mix things up. Someone once told me that life is what happens when you make plans. Leon and I seem to have been taught that lesson quite frequently over the last three years. We have learned that we are not perfect, we are not supposed to be perfect. We are suppose to try to be a bit better today than yesterday.

In Relief Society last Sunday the lesson was on the strength of Eve. She brought up some points about Eve that I guess I never really thought about. Then today we went to the Temple for the first time since Leon broke his leg. As I sat there in the Temple listening and being taught I thought about the strength of Eve and all that she blessed her posterity with. It was not Adam alone it was the union of Adam and Eve that only those two people could have achieved the task set forth by Heavenly Father. Then I starting thinking about our marriage and the things that we have accomplished and the things that we have had to overcome. I realized that only the two of us could have weathered the storms and enjoyed the calm seas. I also realized that there is no other person in the world that I would want to sail with.

We have been so blessed this week to be able to work together on Leon's car and around the house, and spending time with family from in and out of town, and being back in the Temple, and then spending time with wonderful friends and sharing their night with us.

As I look back over this entry I am so happy that it is a positive entry. It is nice to have good positive things to share.

L&L

Motivation.

2010-03-10T21:46:00.003-06:00

Tom King Classic. 13.1 miles, the longest I will have ever run on purpose. It really had me tied into knots. I posted on the Hendersonville Running Club yahoo group that I was worried and in a really negative frame of mind. They are such a great group of people. They reminded me that it is just a really long training run with a t-shirt, medal and all you can eat breakfast afterwards. I'm feeling much better about the race. The other positive is even if I'm slow I will have enough training time to beat the 13.1 PR at Country Music.

In looking for inspiration and up lifting thoughts the line "Run and be not weary" comes to mind. I think I am going to get that printed on a training shirt. The other thing I found was a list of of quotes by great ladies.

Inside every older lady is a younger lady -- wondering what the hell happened.
-Cora Harvey Armstrong

Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut her up with cookies.
-unknown

The hardest years in life are those between ten and seventy.
-Helen Hayes (at 73)

I refuse to think of them as chin hairs. I think of them as stray eyebrows.
-Janette Barber

Things are going to get a lot worse before they get worse.
-Lily Tomlin

A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who never owned a car.
-Carrie Snow

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry with your girlfriends.
-Laurie Kuslansky

My second favorite household chore is ironing. My first being, hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.
-Erma Bombeck

Old age ain't no place for sissies.
-Bette Davis

A man's got to do what a man's got to do. A woman must do what he can't.
-Rhonda Hansome

The phrase "working mother"! is redundant.
-Jane Sellma

Every time I close the door on reality, it comes in through the windows.
-Jennifer Unlimited

Whatever women must do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.
-Charlotte Whitton

Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.
-Caryn Leschen

I try to take one day at a time -- but sometimes several days attack me at once.
-Jennifer Unlimited

When I was young, I was put in a school for retarded kids for two years before they realized I actually had a hearing loss. And they called ME slow!
-Kathy Buckley

I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb -- and I'm also not blonde.
-Dolly Parton

If high heels were so wonderful, men would still be wearing them.
-Sue Grafton

I'm not going to vacuum 'til Sears makes one you can ride on.
-Roseanne Barr

When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country..
-Elayne Boosler

Behind every successful man is a surprised woman.
-Maryon Pearson

In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.
-Margaret Thatcher

I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.
-Gloria Steinem

I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.
-Zsa Zsa Gabor

Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.
-Eleanor Roosevelt.

Some of these are funny but the two that stick with me the most are the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Thatcher.

L.

Well...

2010-03-10T16:15:00.002-06:00

Wow has life been a roller coaster lately. Leon's leg is healing nicely on the inside, the incision is taking it's sweet time to heal. Leon is now out of the ortho boot completly and using a lace up brace. Twice now he has done thirty plus minutes on the stationary bike. He is getting antsy to get back to work. It also doesn't help that he is on spring break for school. On the school note he was invited to join Gamma Beta Phi Honor Society. I wish we had the $75.00 fee.

My training is going well my race last week was an improvement over my first race. So that's a good thing. The hills kicked my tush that's for sure. I have a 1/2 Marathon this coming Saturday that has got me tied up in knots. It will be my first long race as well as the longest distance that I have run. I've only got 3.5 hours to finish it.

I had to go and have my first mammogram due to some usual things happening. Took for ever for the nurse to let me get dressed and leave. I have been expecting a call all day from my doctor but nothing yet. I'm not real happy and as time goes on with this OB/GYN I am seriously considering changing doctors. Her fix for all my female problems is birth control. Which is only treating the symptoms and not the problem. It really seems like a vicious circle.

Just venting and well it's my blog I can if I want to.

L.

Mostly okay now...

2010-02-25T14:57:00.003-06:00

My wonderful computer literate to the max husband was able to save all our financial and personal stuff. We are seriously considering adding an external hard drive to our computer components. Just after getting the computer up and running and thinking all was well. I re-installed the iTunes application. It is what we use to add music to our phones and it is supposed to back the info on the iphone as well.

A funny thing happens when you attempt to back up your phone numbers on iTunes. It seems to like numbers but not names. neither of us has taken the time to learn exactly what we need to do to sync the iPhone contacts with windows contacts and not have the email info get all mixed up with the phone contacts. We really need to take the time to learn how to do that, because I don't have the energy to have the computer AND the phone crash in the same week.

I really have a wonderful husband that tries his hardest to keep me sane. Sometimes it is not an easy task. I love him so much for trying so hard.

The good news on the Leon front is that he is now able to walk with out the crutches and to put weight on it. He is a bit sore today he has only been walking on it since the 23rd of Feb. He is anxious to get back to work. The healing process is going well.

I guess that is the update for the week so far.

Lynne

Stones in my stomach.

2010-02-24T07:24:00.002-06:00

Ever had one of those days? You know the ones I'm talking about. The one's where months and years of your searching for the perfect website or article or link that makes your life a little easier to deal with? Those of you that saw my facebook last night know that the laptop crashed. XP would no longer load, we could not find the orignal key for our factory installed version so we tried the version we have on the desk top computer. First sinking stone in the stomach feeling. All our wedding pictures. All our vacation pictures. All the pictures of our life for the last 5 years. The next was the realization that all the work I have done on my novel was gone, charecter sheets, all my free writing, all of Meniah's conversations with me. Then it also dawned on me all and I mean ALL of our financial information for the last 5 years was locked on the hard drive.

We have relied on Quicken to keep track of all of the financials. It is much easier to keep up with. A bill comes in, it goes into Quicken.

Fortunatly Leon was able to get a dos command prompt up and move most everything to the D partition. The financial's and the photo's and the novel and all our documents. The one thing I can't seem to find is all my saved emails from our email program, and all my collected bookmarks. I don't even know where to begin. I am really hoping that when Leon gets up he can restore those items for me.

Lynne

What a great Monday.

2010-02-22T16:12:00.003-06:00

Now mind you I don't normally get excited about Mondays. I guess it was from all the years of working. Monday was always the first day of the rest of long dreary week counting days until off work again.

Today I got an email I never in a million years thought I would ever read.

As many of you know the first race I entered this year was the Country Music Marathon 1/2. It is what fueled the fire for the running bug. Every few weeks the CMM organizers send out newsletters. In one of these newsletters there was a request for stories from participants about how/why they started running and how it has changed their lives. I, on a whim decided to share my story. Which you faithful readers already know.

Today's email was a request for before and after pictures as well as a picture of me running if I had one. As well as notification that they would like to feature my story in the annual race program. I was floored. I was shocked. I am still in shock. I don't know why me or my story. I don't really feel like my story is so special, but someone does. I am extremely flattered and appreciate this article more than I have words say.

Lynne

Good Deeds.

2010-02-16T17:24:00.002-06:00

Got this today in a motivational email from the parent company we own our online travel store through. I thought it was a really good example of what we can do when we decide we are not too good to help.

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to eke out a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.

The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the nobleman. "You saved my son's life."

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked. "Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be proud of."

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the nobleman's son, the very one who was rescued from the bog, was stricken with pneumonia. And what saved him? Penicillin.

Lord Randolph Churchill was the name of that nobleman, and his son - saved twice by the Flemings - Sir Winston Churchill.

I knew it was coming!

2010-02-16T09:11:00.001-06:00

If you follow my running blog you will notice this is cross post. I am so excited that I just had to share it here.

The last couple of weeks my weight and I haven't been doing so well. Honestly I knew I would hit a point where I would be stuck due to the running and cross training and building muscle. I was not really that upset about it. My doctor and I agreed that I would give myself a 5 to 10 lb. cushion just so that I would not get discouraged about any gain.

I knew that when I started the hardcore running and cross training I would experience no weight loss, then I would transition in to a gain followed by a significant loss. It is just the way the body works. Knowing this really helps when I see that number creeping up. It's nice to know that the creeping up in weight is muscle mass and not fat.

Today the significant weight loss showed up. I am happy to say that as of today my new maintain weight is 259.4 for a total loss of 39.6 pounds. Needless to say I've been doing a happy dance all morning long.

It is nice to see all the hard work paying off. It also helps in my training. The less weight I have to hall around the easier it is to get what is left moving.

I feel amazing. When I stepped on that scale this morning I did not expect to see such a drop. I am only 12 pounds away from my first 50 pound goal.

When my doctor and I set the goal weight I felt intimidated by the amount. I have listed things we come in contact with that are 50 pounds.

50 Pound Items:
10 5lb bags of sugar
7, new born babies that average 7 lbs. (WOW)

Here is to new lifestyles and meeting my first weight goal!!!

SO EXCITED

2010-02-04T08:44:00.003-06:00

Through an exciting turn of events I will be actually running my first race this coming Saturday. One of the runners in the club I run with is unable to attend the race and has given me his number. I am so excited.....nervous....think I might toss my cookies...excited!!

I'm really happy about this as you can tell. Not sure what the weather is going to be like but I'd love to see friends at the finish line. I'm running the Preds. Fangtastick 5k. If you can't be there pray I don't fall flat on my face!

I'll post the results after the race.

Lynne

Sleep, or the lack there of.

2010-01-21T08:54:00.004-06:00

It is now 8:54 am. Not really a significant time in our book except for the fact that I had a terrible case of insomnia last night. When I can't sleep I read. I have to be careful of the books I choose to keep by the bedside table. I have a tendency to fall into certain kinds of books. Now mind you I love to read. I always have. I can remember, I believe I have posted this before, my mother getting a library card because my sister and I read so voraciously. Even now books do not last long in our house.

I was reading "The Blind Side". As you may know it is now a major motion picture staring Sandra Bullock. The story peeked my interest just from interviews and previews about the movie. So needless to say I pick up the book. I started reading it yesterday around 3 pm and finished it at 4 am. It also didn't help that there was an insistent rhythmic tapping we kept hearing and could not place that eventually caused us to call security to find the source. We finally had to turn on some ambient music to drown out the tapping noise.

The only reason I picked up the book last night was because the moment my head hit the pillow my eyes shot open. I really dislike when that happens. I become restless which in turn disturbs Leon. So I pick up a book. I apparently picked up the wrong book. At 4 am when I finally could lay down with out my eyes popping open I was instantly asleep. To my dismay at 8:00 am I was wide awake. I tried a sleep mask, I tried soft music, and I just gave up around 8:30 am and decided there must be something I need to do. I haven't figured that out yet, but I have confidence that I will.

So for now I'm updating my blogs, puttering around quietly and trying to figure out why I'm wide awake after just 4.5 hours of sleep.

Lynne

Okay I'm beginning wonder....

2010-01-09T22:00:00.004-06:00

Okay I'm beginning to wonder if we need to just skip January all together.... In 08 my dad was hospitalized and we were told he probably wasn't going to make it, in 09 I had my wreck, and this year you ask?

Well as you know I'm grounded from training until I get over this flu, so Leon headed out this morning for a group training session with HRC out at Drakes Creek. Towards then end of the first 1.8 miles he slipped on some snow and apparently fell on his twisted ankle. I on the other hand was tucked warm in our bed asleep so asleep that he had to call me twice before I heard the phone ring. It was Leon telling me what was going on. Fortunately he was not out by his self he was out with the HRC beginners group and there were people to bring him home, there were two of them, one to drive our car back and one to drive Leon. Joana and Tim thank you so very much. I am so thankful for all the wonderful friends and support we have received from HRC (Hendersonville Running Club).

What was originally thought to be a severe sprain was actually a broken fibula (bone anatomy) Just above the joint. We were given a perscription for some pain medication, a big black boot, crutches and a referral to an orthopedic surgeon. So we bundled up and headed home. We got to our exit and got a phone call from the surgeon, oddly enough he had just finished an ankle surgery and the x-ray tech told them they had just had another broken ankle, the surgeon pulled up the x-rays and called us and requested that we come back to the hospital due to the break and where it was at he said that it would heal better if we could come back and have the surgery done today, so I whipped a u-turn and headed back to Hendersonville hospital. Leon had what they called an internal reduction and stabilization. They used one screw to hold the two pieces of bone together, then added a 6 hole plate and 5 more screws. We were able to go home several hours after surgery. Leon is asleep as I update our blogs.

The fact that we chose Hendersonville Hospital was a fluke anyway, we debated as we left which ER, Skyline or Hendersonville would have the shortest wait, we live just about halfway between both.

We went there because we felt the wait wouldn't be too bad that early approximately 8am in their area. So off we headed to the east.

Looking back on the entire situation tonight we were guided in every step we were at the right hospital, at the right time, with the right employees on duty to catch and take care of Leon so well. We know that our Heavenly Father guided all the care events that took place today.

The love and outpouring of support from our family, our HRC family, our ward family and many many friends, has been so comforting and wonderful.

It's Official....

2010-01-08T11:35:00.003-06:00

I'm sick. Went to the doctor today and got chastised for not coming in sooner. Good news it's not developing in to pneumonia. He did give me some stuff to curb the intensity of the coughing that doesn't stop the productiveness of the coughing... I know TMI.

I am excited for Sunday we find out who our new Bishopric is going to be. Leon and I along with I am sure most of the ward has been praying for whomever these worthy men are going to be.

For the most part other than the flu things have been going well.

Till Later,
L&L

The Tournament of Roses Parade.

2010-01-06T11:34:00.002-06:00

This is one of my all time favorite parades and has been a family tradition for me for 36 years. Since I moved to TN I have been so disappointed in the coverage of the parade. Unless it has changed out west the coverage was always awesome, they did a pre-parade show that talked about each of the floats and what was used with a small recap as they passed the channels both. Then they ALWAYS stopped to let the bands shine. That is the best part of the parade listening to the bands that scrimp and save and earn the money to get there to preform. It is so sad that the TV stations out here don't care. There are thousands of parents that sit by their TV's to try and catch a glimpse of child marching down Colorado Blvd.

I guess I'm going to have to make plans to be out there next year just so I can enjoy the fullness of the parade.

Stepping off my soap box now....

ps I'm just now ranting about this because I DVR'd the parade and am just now getting a chance to watch it.

An explanation or two.

2010-01-05T16:54:00.002-06:00

As most of you know I have no qualms about telling people my weight and my progress. Some of you also know that I was diagnosed with a mental illness last year, some of you may not have known. Part of getting my self healthy was therapy. See I have a tendency to ignore or downplay my issues and problems and would much rather help with your problems.

As part of my therapy there came a realization that facing facts about me is something I need to embrace. I have done that by taking control of my weight and physical health. I have become very accepting of the fact that yes I am overweight, in fact according to the AMA I at one point was morbidly obese. Accepting who are what you are after years of hiding is not something that is easy.

Many of you also know that I started a new blog called Diary of a fat chick running.
I've had a few people upset and bothered by the new blogs title. I'm very sorry if I have offended anyone with that title.

I am secure enough to realize that yes I am fat and yes I am a "chick" and yes I am running. For me it is cathartic it is part of accepting what I am.

Being overweight is not something new to me. I have been overweight to some degree for most of my life. I spent years in school in shame as people made fun of me and my size. I would hear guys saying "baboom ba ba boom" as I walked down the halls of High School.

I carried that shame with me for many years. This coupled with undiagnosed mental illness caused me to eat even more to find comfort in food. This came to a head in January of 2009 when I stepped on the scale and weigh 299 lbs.

For years I endured others making fun of me to my face and behind my back. Diary of a fat chick running is taking ownership. What's that old adage that many comedians have said over the years? You can't make fun of me if I make fun of myself first? I spent years feeling worthless and less than human. I only saw myself through the eyes of cruel and mean people.

The blog title is not being derogatory, it is empowering, and I hope that someone out there finds my blog and is empowered to get up off the couch and get moving, that they begin to take ownership of their self worth and stop allowing others to make fun of them and make them feel worthless.

2010-01-05T11:17:00.001-06:00

Three Cups of Tea One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time.

I just finished reading this book and was moved to tears by the good that Greg Mortenson has done in a land most people are scared to even talk about. I have always supported education and those that strive to further education.

If I may suggest please check out www.threecupsoftea.com

This book has been added to my must read and share list.

A few of my favorite things!

2009-12-10T11:11:00.002-06:00

This is a list of my favorite holiday things! If you like it steal it and list your favorite holiday things!

1. Movies: Sound of Music, Luke 2 LDS Church video with "Afro Gabriel" Charlie Brown Christmas Special, The Mizer Brothers, As well as Frosty, Rudolf and the other stop motion movies of the same time period.

2. Music: As many Christmas albums that I can find. Christmas Crooners is one of my favorites, but mostly any and all Christmas music. Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Just to name a few

3. Food: Homemade hard crack candy cinnamon flavored, pecan sticky rolls Christmas morning, Eggnog, Boiled Custard, hot chocolate,

4. Traditions: Opening new jammy pants on Christmas Eve, Having the Missionaries serving in our ward over for brunch and sending them home with Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. I still wake up early on Christmas morning. Stuffing stockings. I like to find little stuff all year long to put in stockings for family. And yes Santa still visits.

5. Favorite memory: The first Christmas Leon and I had was just 7 days after we got married. The next year we had our first Christmas in our first apartment. I also cooked my very first Christmas dinner. As I was seasoning the turkey with some thyme. My hands were wet from rubbing the thyme on the turkey. I went to reach for another spice to add to the turkey rub and said I thought to myself "I've got too much thyme on my hands" So now when I say something about not having enough "time" Leon suggests I go get the thyme.

Exciting and new things on the horizon.

2009-12-08T12:33:00.002-06:00

Wow! Am I the only one that thought this Stake Conference was awesome. Hearing from Brance was awesome, and then at the end of his talk finding out that he'd tossed away what he'd written on paper and was speaking by the spirit and from his heart! So wonderful! The Saturday evening session was so neat. I kept trying to think of a question but none came to mind until I got home and then I kicked myself.

Sunday was just as wonderful. It will be sad seeing the old Stake Presidency "retire" and so exciting to see what the new Stake Presidency brings to our little piece of Zion.

I am all at once happy and sad.

This time of year brings so many losses to my heart. My grandfather, my mother, my grandmother, the stress my sisters family is under.

Since moving here in 1995 I have always called my Grandmother around 7am on Christmas day. I will miss her "Bird's Nest" breakfasts, her peach cobbler, her.

I have tried to keep many of the holiday traditions from my childhood as possible...
Those were happy times. The holidays always meant a reprieve from the hardness of our stepfather. Even he became "like a child" at Christmas.

Leon and I have over the last 5 years tired to create new holiday traditions. I'm not sure we have been very successful.

One of my favorite traditions goes back to when I was in college in Ankeny, IA. A good friend of mine and his family always served Thanksgiving at a homeless shelter. They spent the entire day there. I so enjoyed those times. He and I and his brother and father would get up and sing Johnny Cash. As you know I can't sing...but the people didn't care. They appreciated the effort I think. Either that or they needed to laugh. And we were a group to laugh at.

As I travel down this road called life and look back at the bumps and bruises and the elation and joy I know with out a doubt that all of it has made me who I am today and will continue to shape who I will end up to be. I am thankful that 7 years ago two missionaries biked into my life. It has been the best thing ever to happen to me. Without it I would not know the sweet joy of the gospel.

Desperate times call for desperate prayers!

2009-12-02T20:43:00.003-06:00

Okay blogger friends, I'm really going to ask a HUGE favor!

Well my sister and her family lost their home unfortunately due to a snafu on the part of Well's Fargo that they refused to correct, meaning my sister and her husband had a foreclosure and have been paying rent to my grandmother for the last 16 months.

Due to my grandmother passing away Medicaid is looking for recompense for the aid they gave her, which is only fair. Long story short we are probably going to have to sell the house in order to repay Medicaid. The unfortunate part is that my sister, her husband and their two kids are now going to be homeless, they are tying to find financing for the amount owed to Medicaid but they are having a hard time finding any one willing to either co-sign or take a chance just 12 months after the FC.

I say all this to ask the following: Please pray that the lawyer can find away for my sister to keep the house, to find away to stay there. It's really important that they are able to stay in that house.

I'm just sick and in tears, this is the only home my sister remembers, the only place where she felt safe growing up, it was the first safe place she ever lived after the abuse of our step father. I know it's in Heavenly Father's hands but deep down I feel it's important for her and her family to be there.

Please keep us in your prayers and that what ever happens it's Heavenly Father's will for their lives.

Inspration in the most incrediable places!

2009-11-30T14:27:00.003-06:00

As many of you know I've been losing weight consistently this year. I went to my doctor a few weeks ago for a check up. Lots of good news, my good cholesterol is up and the bad is down. Yay me! He did say that even though my diet is better I needed to get moving.

Well I'm one of those people that I have a hard time working out alone. I don't necessarily need someone I know to prod me into going. I just need someone to pace myself with, and since I really don't like doing stuff by myself it's easier to do with someone I know.

I have several blogs that I follow. Two of those blogs belong to women I know from church. They are mother and daughter and have recently participated in at least two half marathons that I know of. This starting giving me ideas of what I could do to motivate myself to get moving more. Nashville has its own marathon. The Country Music Marathon. They have a full 26 mile marathon and a 13.1 mile marathon.

A small aside to tie this all together, when I moved to Iowa in 1993 my aunt's next door neighbor and I had a really good friendship. He was an older gentleman but he use to train to walk marathons and he encouraged me to do the same. The town we lived in was one mile square before I left for college I was doing pretty good, but as life happens I did not continue jogging once in college. There never seemed to be enough time to do it.

So anyway, with the example of these two women from church and my desire to get to a healthy weight and to have a longer more healthier life, I as of today, starting training for the Country Music 1/3 marathon.

I've got 145 days to be able to walk 13.1 miles in under the 4 hour time limit. That means that I have to walk 3.3 miles per hour to come in under the time limit.

Day one of training I went down to the fitness center on our apartment property and got on the treadmill. I needed to know how far I could walk in one hour. I really surprised myself. I did 2.41 miles in one hour. When I was in college I could do an 11 minute mile not great but decent. So my pace had dropped but man was I happy that I didn't fall flat on my face when I was done.

I am excited because that means I'm not really too far off where I need to be. I have some hard work ahead of me but it doesn't seem so far out of reach.

If your on facebook I've probably sent you an invite to join my marathon support group, yeah I sound needy but I figure if I'm kept accountable I'll succeed.

****EDIT*****
Leon will be joining me in the 1/2 marathon. Woohoo I wonder how many people I can get to walk with me?

Lynne

Decisions, voices and chattering.....

2009-11-23T12:55:00.004-06:00

Welp. I've gone and done it. I have found, um er rediscovered what I want to do when I grow up.

As many of you know I'm an avid reader, most times reading 3 or 4 books at a time. It helps my multi-track mind really it does. Early on in my adventures of reading my mother finally gave up buying me books, and got me a library card, she could no longer afford to keep me in books. I don't think I remember a Christmas or birthday that I didn't get books.

One of my early favorite authors when I was a teenager was SE Hinton. The Outsiders, and so many others. What intrigued me about her was that she was very young when she was published.

Earlier than that though I had a 2nd grade teacher that was wonderful, to this day I will always remember how she taught us our spelling words. Our assignment was to write a story using all our spelling words. THAT was my first venture in to writing.

I have always written stories and kept journals.

Flash forward to just a few months ago. A good friend from high school just released her second internet published book. Just a few weeks ago she sent me an email announcing that she and some friends have created their own epress. She has offered to review and edit for me, due to the fact that she is the submissions editor.

I've been on cloud nine for the last couple of weeks about this. I've had a problem tho. My characters are chattering constantly in my head, telling me stories and about themselves but when I sat down to write them out they suddenly became silent. Then my editor gave me a hint or two about managing them. I now carry around a small spiral notebook so that when they start chattering I can just jot down what they say. So if you see me furiously writing in my notebook that's what is going on.

I've chosen to go this route because I don't know if I have what it takes to "be" a writer this way there is little investment other than my time. This is something that I've wanted to do forever... I keep starting and stalling because of self doubt some of that being who is going to want to read what I have to say. What if I don't have anything to say? What if I stink? What if I'm a success?

A journey into discovering my path in this life.......

This time of year.

2009-11-17T16:00:00.004-06:00

I love this time of year especially here in Tennessee. All the colors and the fall smells. The back of forth of being bundled up with hot coco, then the almost Indian Summer feel in the air.

I was born in December, eleven days before Christmas to be exact. My mother decided to put the tree up the Saturday before I was due. Needless to say I was late by about seven days. But for years the holiday traditions of Christmas were the same. The tree always went up the Saturday before my birthday. As an adult I have held on to that tradition, sometimes it's just putting out stockings and the little stuff, or when we have had the time a tree and all the trimmings.

Being a December baby and my birthday being so close to Christmas Mom always made sure that my birthday was a big deal. Of course it was hard when I was little because well sure a birthday was important but it paled in comparison to Christmas.

We didn't have a lot of money growing up in fact I didn't realize it at the time but we were one paycheck away from welfare. But Mom was always there to make sure my birthday was something special. I had a birthday countdown and even had a birthday wish list, completely different mind you of my Christmas list. Never the twain to meet. There were some years that I asked to if I could have a combined birthday/Christmas list. The answer was always no. My Birthday was one holiday and Christmas was another. Boy was it a holiday. I didn't have to do any chores, got to pick the meal, my mother always made my cake, she even took cake decorating class prior to my sweet sixteen so she could make a my cake special.

Years later after Mom passed away, and mini strokes began to take a toll on my Grandmother I'd forgotten just how much Mom tried so hard to make it something special.

In fact it wasn't until I went up north as we were going through things after Grandma's funeral did I remember.

Now that I'm older and married, Leon and I have often combined our birthdays and anniversary to get something nice for the house, part of me longs for the birthday count down, the list, and that home made cake that was so special. There weren't parties with friends that had games and all the trimmings, as I said things were tight especially around December, but there was always my family and that one day a year that was just mine.

So if I seem a bit reluctant to be filled with "Christmas Cheer" it's not because I'm being a grump, it's because my one day a year is almost here.

Lynne

Spring Cleaning er Fall er umm just cleaning...

2009-11-14T22:47:00.003-06:00

You never realize how far you have let your house go until you start to clear it out.

As many of you know when we moved last year we moved 2 days before the surgery on my hand. That was September of 08, and I had no to limited use until late October early November. Of course by then we were just struggling to get get boxes empty. It was like a maze trying to get around things. Then I went back to work and really didn't have time or the inclination to do much. Well since May when I became a full time Real Housewife of Nashville(snicker). All the boxes are empty you can move around the house.

When we moved this last time we got rid of TONS of accumulated stuff. When you got it all here to the new apartment as we unpacked we have continued to de-clutter our lives.

Today we spent the morning getting rid of the rest of the stuff in the living room. I can even see part of the top of the piano. I'm so excited....almost there. Just a few more trips to get the video gaming stuff out of the living room and I'll be able to put up Christmas 2009 December 1st. I use to wait until the weekend before my birthday on the 14th because the year I was born my mom had Christmas set up the weekend before just so it would be up. I've found that it's really not enough time to enjoy it.

I can't believe it! I'm actually getting organized...either that or pseudo nesting....;)

L&L

What a month.

2009-10-31T18:10:00.002-05:00

Life is a whirlwind. It seems like so much has happen this year. Just when I started to think that things were settling down. I got a call on the Saturday the 10th actually several calls. My family up North was trying to get a hold of me to let me know that my Grandma was in the hospital not doing well in a diabetic coma. Leon and I were at the Temple it was a wonderful day there. It was beautiful.

Monday was going well I had placed calls to DCS and Home4Good about out inquiry about foster/adoption.

Then 4:30pm on Monday the call came that I needed to get up North ASAP. Called my husband's dad to find a ticket ASAP and then called Leon and started packing. Driving to the Airport Leon was in the passenger seat praying as I was driving down Briley Parkway not sure what carrier or when I was leaving only knowing that the last flight out of town was 6:15pm it was 5:15 at time was flying got there about 5:30 Leon and I both jumped out of the car and pulled out my bags and I ran into the terminal....Most nerve wracked I've ever been flying.

The whole time we were praying I would make the flight and I get there and find out that the flight has been delayed over an hour. I was ecstatic. The business travelers and other not so much. Guess with lots of prayers you can stop a flight when you need too.

Needless to say I made it to Iowa and got to say "Goodbye" I spent the night in the hospital on Monday and then they moved her back to the nursing home and stayed there then Wednesday I was up early enough to hold her hand and tell her how wonderful she was as she went home.

I want to thank all my friends here an in the ward, and even those of you here and on facebook for all the love and prayers and support the last three weeks I've been out of town.

It's going to take some time for me to catch up on three weeks of "stuff"

Love ya'll

L&L

Oh and I realized that even though I was born in Southern California went to college in the North, I am truly a Southern Girl at heart.

You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls.

2009-10-06T16:04:00.002-05:00

You Can Do It! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grown-Up Girls Dare to Dream Learn Something New Do Something Just for You. By Lauren Catuzzi Grandcolas.

I found this book several years ago in a bargain book bin. I thought it would be interesting to try it out. I looked at some of the "badges" and thought it was interesting. As things happen in life it got pushed to the wayside and put on the book shelf.

As I was laying on the sofa today recovering from the Orthodontist torture yesterday. (What we go through to be healthy) I starting thinking that I have all this time to discover who I am and what I like to do. No longer am I rushing from work to go home to sleep, then back to work, then home sleep and then Church. I can take time and smell the roses. I know that I've said that several times and I have started exploring my creative side and renewing my love of cooking and reading and discovering all the other things I've never given my self time to learn or enjoy.

I thought about the above mentioned book. And I thought about a promise I made to my self when I first "retired" from working. That promise was to get to know better some of the sisters in my ward. I've not been very successful. I sometimes feel like I don't fit. I don't have children so sometimes I feel like I can't quite relate. Two of those sisters that I wanted to get closer to and to know better dispelled that self imposed roadblock. I know what I can relate with these women because first and foremost we are women trying to uphold the same standards in an ever changing world.

The whole rambling point of this post is I am wanting to put together a, as my Grandmother called it "Coffee-the coffee Clatch" I would like to invite you my friends, family and sisters to join me in working our way through the Grown up Girls Badges.

There are about 60 Badges. Now excluding the the learning to fly and the wine appreciation badge. Most of the badges are things that can be done inexpensively and have the potential to be fun, creative and great bonding experiences that will help build lifetime friendships.

I would love have all of you join me, either way I'm embarking on my badge hunt.

Email, comment or call me and we will get started.

Lynne

Hiding out I guess.

2009-09-24T13:38:00.003-05:00

Strangely I haven't had the urge to blog. I know I know strange coming from me. I've been on my new medication for a month now went Tuesday to follow up and my doctor was surprised that I was doing so well on the beginning doses of medication. I think (my two cents worth here) I'm doing so well because I want to be me again.

See I worked in law enforcement in corrections for 5.5 years. Several milestones there. The first being it was the longest term of employment for me EVER, and I've been working since I was 18. It was the first job that I REALLY liked. I felt I was good at what I did. On the downside sometimes, towards the end most of the time, that gruff law enforcement attitude began to take over. I had forgotten the softer side of life. It was becoming really hard to connect with people outside of law enforcement it was hard to deal with the rest of the world.

Leon and I had known for sometime that I needed to leave. It took me getting hurt severely to realize that it wasn't worth it. All that time I spent at home made me realize what I had been missing. What was wrong. My focus was skewed. After I recovered from injury and recovered from being fired for the first time in my life, I thought I had to work. I thought that if I didn't work that we would suffer financially and I couldn't deal with that. We were working to become financially secure.

It wasn't until I sat down and started looking at what we could do with out, what we could have with a little creative money sense. We dropped everything we didn't need. Then the things that we wanted we shaved off the costs. We reduced our "extra" services and did away with what we really didn't need and were not using. I even started baking our bread and we found that with a teaspoon of vanilla that the dry milk from our food storage was pretty good. In fact we have come to like it better. Just by reducing those two items our grocery bill has been reduced by almost $50.00 a month. Now that may not seem like a huge change, but it really was. After someone posted a coupon for free items from a home delivery food company we have found that we have reduced our grocery bill yet again to about $100+/- every two weeks instead of $400+ a month.

It just proved to me that we may not have anything thing in savings yet but we are coming back from a very dismal 08 fiscal deficit. But we survived. I know exactly how many days after the due date on our bills I have before they are late and we get late fees. I have been shown time and time again that when we pay our tithing first there is enough money for all our needs, not sure how that math works because some months we've been in a hole on paper but yet everything was taken care of. Heavenly Father blesses us so much.

I think this post was more for me then for anyone else. I am learning how to measure the success of my day not with how much housework or laundry I do, but by the joy of smelling a fresh baked loaf of bread coming out of the bread machine, or by the moments of inner-peace I feel inside knowing I'm in the right place at the right time in my life. The ruler I now use to measure the worth of my day has so greatly changed these last few weeks. It's moments of creativity, not moments of panic because I didn't do anything on my list. It's moments of joy in doing something I want to do and not what I need to do. It's finding out who I really am, not who I am according to others.

L.

Fed up with politicians.

2009-09-10T11:58:00.004-05:00

DISCLAIMER: This is a political rant please feel free to not read this entry, and please feel free to comment but please remember this is my opinion my personal views I am in now way trying to force my views on anyone else.

That said I am seriously considering turning in my Republican party card. Okay I don't agree with this health care bill being shoved down our throats in such a quick manner. I am disappointed in how the Republicans behaved last night. I don't care if you like or dislike the current President of the United States he does deserve the respect of the office.

I am so fed up with all the arguing on both sides of the isle. Health care, the unemployment rate, education, all these are important to EVERYONE regardless of party affiliation.

I happen to catch "The View" today and Whoopi Goldberg made a statement that I believe that rings true with everyone. She said we should take all of congress health care away and make them deal with what the average citizens have to deal with and they would come to a compromise that would benefit everyone quickly.

Am I scared what our future is going to look like after this President's actions. Yes! I'm worried about my children and grandchildren's futures.

The blame game has got to stop. It doesn't matter which past President is responsible for the situation we are in now, because it boils down to it being "our" faults for time and again electing congressmen and senators that only have their interest at the forefront of their agendas. We need to vote for term limits do away with the "career politicians" We need to take our country back. As a Republic it is our responsibility to keep it. Our constitution lays out a government "By the people for the people" We have forgotten that we have turned our government over to self serving, money hungry, lying cheating snakes in the grass.

I like free stuff!

2009-08-21T15:24:00.002-05:00

I found this website via StumbleUpon and thougth I would share it with you all!

CheepToday.com

Vacation and life after.....

2009-08-19T20:30:00.002-05:00

On Friday the 7th Leon and I took off for Greenville, SC to reunite with my cousin at her daughters wedding. Tracy and I haven't seen each other since we were little she is 7 years older. It was an amazing time. At the end of the wedding the couple showed a slide show of the family and grandparents that has passed on prior to the wedding. That meant that there were pictures of Grandma Ruth Gage and my Aunt Rieta and Uncle Rick. Rieta was my father's sister. I hadn't seen any of my dad's family since I was eight years old or so.

It was nice because Tracy and I have linked up on facebook. Finally reconnecting with my dad's side of the family has been such a wonderful blessing.

Then after the wedding Leon and I traveled to Knoxville and waited for Leon's family to meet us there on Sunday. On the way back to Knoxville the car started overheating really bad, so we turned on the heat full blast and that kept the temp down. We got to Clark and Heathers in Knoxville and began searching for the problem. We changed the thermostat and that didn't do it. Finally it came down to we needed to replace the water pump the fan belts and the timing belt and that was done the following Saturday and Sunday due to the fact that we had to get back to Nashville.

During the week we got to spend time with all of Leon's brothers and sisters.

Monday we hung around the pool and water slides at the condo.

Tuesday we just hung out and played games and spent time with family.

Wednesday Leon and I went white water rafting on the Upper Pigeon River. We had such a blast. We did get tossed out of the raft on the first class 4 rapid called "Lost Guide" in fact everyone but the 8 year old that was with us got tossed out including the guide.

Thursday we went with the some of the family to Wonderworks it was a pretty cool hands on science museum.

Friday we went and rode golf carts and played mini golf and had way to expensive pulled pork then spent decorated for Jenni's surprise birthday party.

Saturday was the last day and then we headed back to Knoxville to fix the car.

Since we got back I've been feeling really good. I've been getting up early and have started getting things put back together after not feeling so well. I used my bread machine for the first time. This is the machine that I got for $10.00 that retails for over $100. So far we really enjoy all the breads we tried.

I think that is all the update for the last week or so.

I do want to say thank you to all those that offered prayers on my behalf for my health.

Lynne

Exploring hobbies

2009-08-04T12:12:00.002-05:00

I've always enjoyed writing and cooking and discovering new recipes to try out.

I've also been looking for a way to go public with what I find so I can share, to find a voice in the world and share it.

So I started a blog called "Tasting Nashville" I hope to be able to grow the blog and eventually make a little pocket change with it. So if you feel like wandering over there please take a look your can find it at

http://tastingnashville.blogspot.com/

Would love your input and suggestions.

L.

Excited and feeling better.

2009-08-03T13:38:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure how I did it but I've lost 26 pounds. I guess a week of not feeling like eating will do that to you, well at least for the last 6 pounds.

Today I woke up and tho I did want to go back to sleep because it was an hour and half before my alarm was set to go off. I feel good. Felt even better when I stepped on the scale and saw that six pounds gone.

It's the first day in several weeks that I actually feel like doing "stuff". EXCEPT my car keys are in my husbands car..... So I'm just puttering around the house today.

But you know what all in all it's a good day...

FINALLY

2009-07-29T10:06:00.002-05:00

For those of you that do not know. I had to have emergency surgery on Tuesday. I was scheduled on Monday to have a sonohistogram, to check out the issues and problems of the heavy bleeding that has been going on for 7 months.

When I scheduled the appointment on Thursday it looked as if everything would be a go for the test on Monday. BUT as with this issue I never know what to expect. I go in Monday and the sonographer finds a 4cm cysts on my right ovary, nothing new and it was benign (just fluid filled).

Then they begin prepping for the test and they can't do it because they can't see anything due to my heavy bleeding. So they stop the test, I of course started bawling. This would mean we would have to explore options that would affect my fertility. NOT something that we even wanted on our plate. We talked about it but could not make a decision one way or the other. I felt like every time I prayed I was either too upset to hear the answer or it just wasn't coming.

So since they couldn't do the test I called my doctor and spoke to her via the nurse. She told us to head over and we could talk. On the way over Leon and talked and decided that fertility aside the best thing for my health was probably an ablation. We felt settled that we FINALLY could make a decision and we felt it was the right one.

We get to the office and they put us in an examine room. All the sudden I get this horrible feeling that we've not made the right decision. I listened for the doctor to come to the door and looked at Leon and said a quick prayer. We just asked for the decision to be taken out of our hands because we couldn't make it, and if the ablation wasn't the right direction that it would be made clear to us what that direction would be.

As soon as we finished praying the doctor came in the room. I couldn't even ask any questions because I was so emotion. My wonderful loving husband looked at the doctor and in a moment of tremendous strength asked the question I could not get out.... Fertility aside what was the best option for my health and sanity. The doctor said we are not putting fertility aside. I've already called and scheduled you for surgery tomorrow morning at 8am. That is the best option for your wife's health. He then asked about the ablation. She said it didn't matter that they couldn't do one if they wanted to.

We were both skeptical about having another D&C due to the fact that the last one didn't help. They did one when I had surgery back in 06. This time the doctor wants me to stay on BC for at least 3 months skipping the placebo so that my body has time to recoup.

The surgery went well. As of this morning there is no spotting or bleed which is a WONDERFUL. I got my first full night of sleep with out having to get up in the middle of the night.

I'm still a bit sore, and have some cramping but that's normal after the surgery I had.

I'm hopeful for the first time in awhile that we are on the right path.

L.

Bewildered.....

2009-07-23T12:05:00.002-05:00

As a former law enforcement officer the last day or so has really blown my mind. I understand and acknowledge that there are some Officers that do have racial bias. I disagree with those bias'. From my point of view if you break the law, become either verbally or physically aggressive towards a police officer then you put yourself in a position to be charge with a crime.

I do not know all the facts of the case. I was not there. I do take issue with the President of our nation making comments on a situation on national television when he admittedly did/does not have all the facts. The safety of the officer's involved in this case and their families are now put in jeopardy. The responding officer will no longer feel safe in his home or community. We talk and talk about innocent until proven guilty, but what do you do when the President insinuates that your motives were racially based? This really bothers me. Why did he comment when he didn't have all the facts? AND if he wanted to comment on it WHY did he wait a week to comment on it? Why did he wait until a national broadcast when the entire nation was watching.........

Thought process...

2009-07-11T22:46:00.005-05:00

I've been thinking about where our lives are taking us lately. Just this year has been and adventure.

Lynne becoming a SAHW (stay at home wife)
Leon going back to school
Trying to revive the travel agency
Temporary shut downs at UPS
Lynne's health going up and down
Following Heavenly Fathers direction with Faith and a little fear

This list seems to sum up the last 6 months in a way that seems to trivialize the turmoil that bubbles just under the surface.

The becoming a SAHW has saved our marriage. It has restored what at one point we thought was broke. Due to our work schedules we had forgotten how to function as a couple and were more like roommates. We had forgotten how to communicate and that we needed to really talk about EVERYTHING. We rebuilt and fell in love all over again.

Leon going back to school has been a five year journey. He has always wanted to finish and get his degree but constantly fought the anxiety of making the decision. Once we got him registered and in class he took to it like a duck to water loving every minute of his intense 8 week class. He is now registered for the fall semester at APSU and is looking forward to graduation.

Early in 2008 Leon and I had the chance to invest in a home business opportunity. The investment was small and we got off to a running start and did well to begin with, the latter part of 2008 and the first part of 2009 we have not had the time or opportunity to market the business much. The opportunity was to purchase our own online travel agency. We have used it on several occasions as well as friends and family. We have been blessed with this business and our plans are to move forward in building our travel bookings till we have enough bookings each month to add a decent amount of income to our household.

The shut down at the MDC where Leon works for UPS was not something that caught us by surprise. Leon had some early warning signs that it might happen. They had been asking people quite frequently to volunteer to go home as early as the beginning of their shift. They will be shutting down for five days this month, and we are praying and having faith that business will pick up and that this is only a temporary situation. This is where our faith in knowing that I'm supposed to be a SAHW is being tested and stretched. Even will all this we both feel that it's still the right decision for me to be at home.

My health has really seemed to be an issue the last several years, whether it's getting hurt at work or getting pneumonia or it has something to do with problems of the female variety. These have all taken a toll on my overall health. Most recently I had to start a course of low dose birth control to regulate my cycle. Unfortunately the low dose bc did not work and as of last Tuesday have found out that if a stronger dose does not stop my cycle then we will have to visit our other options which could include a hysterectomy. Needless to say we are praying hard and heavy that the bc does the trick. I keep saying that it's easier for Heavenly Father to overcome bc then it is to overcome missing parts. I know not funny but I have to deal with this somehow after twenty some odd years you think I'd be use to it now.

It seems like when we follow Heavenly Fathers direction and path in our lives there is lots of faith and a bit of fear. I think it is that bit of fear that keeps us praying and growing and keeps our faith firmly planted.

I did not write this for sympathy, I could have written this in my private journal, I could have even hand written it. But sometimes you need to shout at the world what's on your heart and mind, not for hugs or a sympathetic ear or even as a cry for help. I think sometimes you just need to shout and I guess that's what I'm doing.

Pondering how long it takes.........

2009-07-09T11:10:00.003-05:00

I have a question that I have pondered for many years. Actually since about mid year of my senior year of high school. My story begins then....

Our drama department was just finishing preforming the last show of our production of "Big River". On the final night of the show 6 or 7 of us got together for a after show "cast party". Needless to say we got bored of punch and cookies and headed out to the local grocery store and purchased multiple rolls of toilet paper with the goal to toilet paper the homes of the rest of the cast that we were friends with. As an adult I understand that we probably did not make the best decision. BUT we did anyway.

On the following Monday one of the students that we toilet papered was irate. Now before hand we had all been friends but after for some reason he never made known to me only two of us received his rage for toilet papering his parents house. Now mind you this same person had been with the same group when they toilet papered MY house when I became a member of the Thespian Society.

Almost ten years ago I found this person on classmates and received an angry response from him.

Well recently I have been reconnecting with old high school classmates on facebook. And have run in to him again. Again, hoping that time and years have healed what ever hurt might have come to him due to a silly incident.

This person always made me laugh and we had tons of fun in school together, I regret that our friendship ended so badly.....

I really hope he can forgive the actions of a much younger and not so wise me.

Things like this make me mad.

2009-07-07T20:43:00.002-05:00

This post is a vent. I ran across this on facebook from an old high school teacher.

Now a bit of my family history.

My family going all the way back to the Revolutionary War has served this country. My maternal grandmother worked in the Long Beach Ship yards rebuilding the Navel Fleet after Pearl Harbor, Her Fathers 2 or 3rd great grandfather was a German Hessian that orginally was sent to fight against the Colonies but upon getting here joined with the colonist for independence from England. The name he choose, was George Washington Belcher. My father, my uncle, and several cousins have served in the Navy. My Uncle and Father served in Vietnam. My cousins in conflicts and wars since then. I have brother in laws that have served in Saudia Arabia, Iraq, Afganistan, and else where in the Middle East.

So needless to say I am 1000% in support of those that have served, are serving and will serve.

I'm going to post a video and a link to the latest of the ACLU's attempts to harm Veterans and Vetrans Memorials. If this touches you PLEASE pass it on. If you don't like it fine, if you don't feel it necesary to take a stand that is your decision.

But this is my stand.

Day One with Megan

2009-06-29T15:36:00.003-05:00

Today we got up early. So early that Aunt Lynne and Megan snuggled for a little bit because it was too early to get up.

Then we had chex cereal for breakfast.

Next we worked on Megan's addition and subtraction with her new Disney Princess flash cards.

We then watched a Dora the Explorer episode and helped Dora find squeakers.

When we went down to the pool it was closed. Megan was sad, but Aunt Lynne called a friend and after going to the store to get some goggles and snorkel, a kick board, a noodle and some diving sticks, THEN we went to lunch at McDonald's where Megan tried a plain cheeseburger and really liked it, she had chicken nuggets just in case she didn't like the cheeseburger, after lunch we went swimming with Afton and her little boy Aiden. We had so much fun.

Using her new snorkel and goggles Megan was able to swim with her face in the water. She even learned to hold her breath and went underwater to get her sticks. Then we went down to the 5ft end and Megan touched the bottom of the pool with her foot.

After all that swimming we were tired so we came home and had a snack and then took a nap.

When Uncle Leon came home from work we fixed dinner then went out for ice cream and then came home and played kids catan.

Spending the week with Megan.

2009-06-29T15:29:00.001-05:00

Megan is our niece, she is Leon's middle sisters daughter. We have been really blessed to be able to be an active part of Megan's life.

Even tho she is spending the week we are trying to make it educational. We are going to have swim lessons everyday. Today was almost foiled when we headed down to the pool and it was closed but Afton saved the day and we got to have our lessons.

I've been working with Megan just about every summer on her swimming.

I am going to try to do a post everyday of what we did then on Friday I'm going to help her put together a "Summer at L&L's house"

I also found some really cute princess flash cards for addition and subtraction and multiplication. She's not quite ready for the multiplication, but they were only a dollar so I got both sets.

Moving forward but staying stagnant...

2009-06-26T10:33:00.002-05:00

How is it possible to move forward and feel like your staying stagnant?

This last week has been odd. We got back from Holiday World and of course I was drained, but I moved toward not wanting to do much of anything.

My laundry is staring at me with those "Do me now or pay for it later" eyes. I easily avoid it by staying out of our room and using the guest bathroom. I know I know.

I find myself getting lost in little things. Like old reruns of really bad 80's TV. Then I feel guilty and turn off the TV and seem to wander around lost.

I'm thinking of changing around my deck so that I can move my laptop outside to the table on the deck. I think about going to the pool but the thought of listening to conversations and noises I can't just mute or turn off makes my ears itch.

Wednesday was better Tauna, Jenni and I went to our painting class. We had a blast. This is the second class that we have taken through www.paintandpour.com.

The first one we took was at the flea market last month and then we got a discount on taking a class at the studio in June.

I'll have to take and post some pictures and post them here so you can see.

I know this sounds like I'm slipping in to a depressive episode but it's not that, for the last month or so I've been constantly going and doing I think this is my body forcing me to take some down time. Which I'm okay with. At least this time I'm paying attention and can focus on taking the time I need.

My wild hot weekend...

2009-06-23T08:32:00.003-05:00

My husband and I and his parents and two of his sisters and their husbands and our niece all went to Santa Claus Indiana to Holiday World.

We stayed at the state park about 5 miles from Holiday World. IT was HOT. We stayed in the family cabins it was nice to stay cheep and not have to drive up and back all in one day.

We got there later Friday night and got unpacked and then had s'mores. Can go "camping" with out s'mores.

Got up early and cooked pancakes and sausage for the family before heading out to the HW. Except when I packed for Leon and I, I got sidetracked and somehow forgot to pack unders......yeah that was pleasant. But we toughed it out and headed out for the park, we had intended to spend most of our time in the water so it really didn't matter that much. We got there and our groups did our usual split, Grammy and Poppie and Gails family headed for the water park. While the Goodlettsville Blaisdell's and the Enismingers headed for the roller coasters. It's hard to stay away from the best wooden roller coasters in the WORLD. Yeah they have two of the number one wooden coasters in the world. The Raven was Number One until they built the Voyage.

So we headed to the Voyage. Last time Leon and I only got to ride it at night the last time we were there. This time we rode in the daylight. I kept my eyes open and I've conquered the coaster so I have no desire to ride again. It really seem to bother me this time. It is a REALLY intense ride. We next headed to Legend and then Leon and I headed to the water park for the rest of the day.

As far as a cheep get away you really can't beat it. We happen to get our tickets buy one get one free. So we saved money that way, the park has free drinks(name brand soda's) and sunscreen. AND you can get Lunch and dinner for around $5.50 per person per meal. Even the treats like ice cream, pretzels are really reasonable. And we carpooled up so we saved a TON on gas. The cabins we stayed in slept 12 and was only like $35 a night. We split that 9 ways so it ended up not costing us very much to get away.

When we got our tickets we purchased two sets of buy one get one free. Well Sunday night when we got home after Church and Father's Day dinner. We were unpacking and started looking at our tickets and realized that instead of 4 tickets they sent us 8. I double checked what I paid and realized that I only paid for two sets. So we got an unexpected bonus....

Yayay more cheep, cheep get a ways for us this summer. I'm excited.

I love my ward family....

2009-06-19T10:56:00.004-05:00

My ward is awesome.

We have GREAT leadership, from the bishopric all the way to the activities committee. I know my last post was not my usual all is wonderful with life, I'm learning lessons and growing. BUT I am.

I've been amazed.
I've been astounded.
I've found smiles and laughter where I didn't think I had any left.

You my ward family are awesome. You helped me remember that even with all my quirkiness, that I'm loved. It has meant so much to me all the wonderful comments and suggestions and even phone calls to see if I'm okay.

This was one of those times when I had to be reminded that I don't ALWAYS have to feel like it's my fault like I did something wrong.

Thank you for the reminders that the gospel is perfect and sometimes people are not.

It's times like this that I understand why Heavenly Father has firmly planted us in Goodlettsville.

On a slightly more stressful note we found out last night that the UPS MDC where Leon works will be shutting down the first Monday and Tuesday of July and every Monday after that in July. We had notice that they were considering shutting down for a week. We panicked. We can not afford to loose one whole week all at once. Now it's spread over 4 weeks but instead of losing just 40 hours we will be losing 48. It seems like a mixed blessing. By doing it this way we won't lose our medical insurance (yay). BUT we are losing an additional 8 hours. ugh...... It all will work out for the best... I think....

They are doing this in hopes that they will not have to do any permanent lay offs....

We will manage. We always have before and we will now, even with me still staying at home...

L&L

How to deal with......EDIT

2009-06-16T10:50:00.004-05:00

Okay I've been a bit lazy and haven't been writing here. I've got two great reasons. First I was sick, and second my living room, dining room and both bathrooms are in order as well as the kitchen..... Does that work?

Lately it seems like quite a few people I know are having employment issues or problems the wife of a friend of ours just lost her job.... not going to comment on that not my place.

The problem is that I feel for my friends greatly I really do. Sometimes I just wish I could snap my fingers and help people. Then there are times when I wish I could snap my fingers and make my problems go away.

EDIT
*** please note if your reading this blog there is a 100% chance it's not you....lol*****

I've always been sensitive to whether or not people have a "good" impression of me and like me or not. I get this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I know that someone does not like me. Now as a grown woman of thirty something this should not matter to me. BUT for some reason it does.

Recently I found out that someone I thought was a friend is not and has in fact told people that if I'm somewhere or going to host something that this person refuses to be part of it. This person has no idea that I know this either. Now mind you I understand that I'm not always likable. I know my faults, I know I'm not always easy to get along with. What makes this hard is that this person has a) Always spouted the mantra "I always let people know when I have a problem with them" and b) is a member of the same church I belong too.

Now for various reasons and such I have learned over the last several years that this person is not as nice and they could be nor as accepting as they could be of others. There has been some serious strife cause to others due to this person and their spouse.

But remember the lesson that I taught last Sunday on Joseph Smith and forgiving and forgetting. I'm having a hard time moving forward. I've tried to examine these feelings and tried to reconcile why all this is bothering me so much...

I think it comes down to the basics of these people continue to hurt others and believe that they are doing nothing wrong. It upsets me that they continue to destroy people and their testimonies (understanding of course that we are each responsible for what we let effect our testimonies).

I've pondering sending a note to this person to apologize for what ever it was that I did to offend or hurt this person. Knowing my faults and issues. But I'm not sure about sending it. I'm not sure I should even acknowledge that this person has a problem with me. BUT I'm torn, IF I have really done something I don't want what I have done to effect this person and their testimony, I know it's confusing, BUT on the other hand I really despise what/how this person treats people.........

How do I deal with this, do I send the card apologizing or do I just move on and leave it alone?

I'm so torn...

It is really gnawing at me....

I welcome any and all suggestions and advice.

Lynne

Long Busy Week and Testimony Builders

2009-05-28T09:55:00.003-05:00

I have had a really long week it seems.

Monday we spent with the family for the holiday, food, games, water balloon war, Rock Band family play time, and funny Britain's Got Talent videos.

Tuesday and Wednesday I spent the day at my dad's house working on his front yard. After the heavy rains several weeks ago my dad's garage was flooded and since he was cleaning up and wanted to do work on the front yard.

His ward has been such a wonderful blessing to him. Quite a few of the members came over the day after it flooded to get the wet mess out of the garage.

This weekend some of the members came out and helped him get the new bushes and plants in the ground, then on Tuesday and Wednesday I went over and helped him put down that black ground cover paper and then 13 or 14 bags of 40lbs + mulch..... I'm a touch sore.

It was really great to spend time with my dad. It's been really great to see his ward fellowship him and bring him back to the gospel and The Church.

I'm not sure if I've ever shared how we found out that he was a member of the church.

In 2008 my father became very ill. So ill in fact that he was in Special Care at St. Thomas for almost 20 days, most of those on a respirator with his doctors giving us no hope that he was going to be taken off the machine. In the mean time my Father in Law was called to serve in the High Priest Group Leadership in his ward they review a list of inactive High Priest age members, and they find that my fathers name appears on the list. My father in law prayed about it and then spoke with my father and then told me. After dad got out of the hospital Leon's parents began to fellowship my dad. We had him over to Sunday dinners, and other Blaisdell family events and activities, then they invited him to Church one Sunday and he decided to go and has become active.

The back story is that my father was totally supportive of me joining the Church. He in fact was encouraging when I was investigating as well. He did ask that when I was taking the discussion that he didn't want a bunch of people in his house. I had known that he had a Book of Mormon and had LDS friends when I was very young. He didn't think he was still on the membership rolls due to the fact that he had inactive for so long. I respected his wishes about contact with the church. It amazes me how Heavenly Father works. I had always prayed that Dad would eventually come around. I am so thankful for the friendship that my father in law offers to my dad and for how my in laws have helped my husband and I seamlessly include him in their family.

I have to say I really love my in laws. I have a hard time calling them my in laws, to me they are my mom, dad, brothers and sisters. It's such a very special relationship I get to be part of.

Our family has been so blessed and I feel so blessed by all the people that have reached out to my father.

Life at Home.

2009-05-11T14:39:00.003-05:00

Life at home as been an adventure. After getting over the I just wanna sit on the couch and veg out, I got some things done last week and I am wanting to do more this week. It's really amazing how much we either ignored because we were to tired or didn't want to deal with.

Last week I got my tomatoes planted and Hydrangeas, and another plant called a Guara that is supposed to attract humming birds.

My goal for this week is to finish the living room and have all the laundry washed, dried, and put away. It's the put away part that I always seem to never get to.

So far today I've started the shopping list for our once a month shopping. I'm also thinking about finding a small chest freezer that we may be able to put out on the deck it would make shopping once a month more economical. We would be able to keep more frozen items.

I need to look at Craig's list or freecycle to find one cheep.

I also want to look into a storage solutions for our year's supply of food in apartment living. I'm really not sure where I'm going to store it all.

I'm almost tired thinking about it all.

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who prayed for me in the last couple of weeks. I'm really happy to say that the heart scan came back great. There is 0 calcium build up and my heart age is 30 years old. My doctor and the cardiologist gave me 30 days to diet and exercise to drop my cholesterol levels. I have actually been doing that I've lost almost 20 pounds since January. I can't wear many of my clothes.

L&L

Goodlettsville Ward Day of Service

2009-04-26T20:03:00.003-05:00

Goodlettsville Ward Day of Service 2009 in pictures

There were so many pictures and I wanted to make sure that everyone got a chance to see them so they are posted at the following:

Some lessons need to be taught more then once....

2009-04-23T10:33:00.003-05:00

I thought I learned a lesson, and have recently come to the conclusion that I didn't not learn it well and good.

This being said my next step was to actually follow the guidance and direction given to us by a wonderfully loving bishop and Heavenly Father.

See we got in to this mind set that I had to work.

When I started at the law firm is was supposed to be part time.

Needless to say it wasn't.

I've been miserable, we've been struggling and wondering why.

This last couple of days has given me time to think and ponder and spend time in quiet.

And once again we come to the same place and are have been taught the same lesson we have been prompted about more then once.

Being hard headed and looking at the negative numbers in the checkbook instead of the negative impacts of me working, pushed us to decide for me to go to work full time again, and yet again we are back in the same place.

So once again I'm humbled and take a step back and start over again. That's the amazing thing about Heavenly Father he is patient and understands that sometimes his children need to learn a lesson over and over until we get it right.

We are putting our faith on future in Heavenly Fathers hands and striving to leave it there and I turned in my notice today to the law firm and I will be leaving.

I'm going to concentrate on making our apartment a home instead of a place just to eat and sleep.

I'm going to concentrate on building my testimony.

I'm going to work on my relationship with my husband and my family and friends and Heavenly Father.

I'm NOT going to get so wrapped up in a job for a paycheck that I forget who I am and why I'm here.

I'm going to ask for prayer.
I'm going to ask who I can help, instead of who can help me.
I'm going to take walks with my husband and go nowhere.
I'm going to be a better wife, daughter, sister, friend, church member.

I'm going forward instead of backward.

Rainy Sundays and the ER.

2009-04-20T11:23:00.004-05:00

Well as most of you know from facebook, I took a trip to the emergency room for the second time this year. This time was a bit less dramatic at least after the EKG came back okay.

It started out a nice lazy Sunday morning. Made some bacon and eggs for breakfast, worked on my Sunday school lesson to tweak it a bit, then decided it was time to get up and get ready for church.

I started to sit up, and felt this tight band around my upper arms and chest and I couldn't breath. I just thought it was some indigestion but it did not/was not going away. I couldn't take any normal breaths and was worried, but just thought I had some "free air" moving around. I got up and started to put some dishes away. I grabbed a small frying pan out of the dishwasher and bent over to put it away and could not breath at all, then I starting having shooting pains down both arms and up the back right side of my head.

Needless to say Leon and I decided to head to the hospital.
The control nut that I am, crying and giving Leon directions to the hospital all the way there......really made me realize I need to work on that seriously......

We get to Skyline, they take me back bp was a bit low, and the EKG came back fine, they gave me something for the pain which was nice more about the side effects later.....
They also did a CT scan of my heart and lungs with the nuclear contrast, that is the weirdest feeling EVER, like every vein in your body is on fire......

The results from that come back no heart problems, no blood clots oh but there is a spot on your lungs you've got pneumonia, here's some pain medication, and a z-pack.

So here I am home after a really nice almost 3 day weekend..... with pneumonia.

What is really stinky about all this is I can't keep the house too warm or too cold because it makes it REALLY hard to breath....so I am keeping it cool and regulating my temp. by using blankets and such......

I really don't like being sick. Last time I had pneumonia the doctor threatened to hospitalized me..... so I sit here pouting that I'm sick but glad I'm not in the hospital.

As for what they gave me at the ER for pain management, morphine I've decided is great at taking the pain away but the side effects of vivid dreams is not something I'm fond of.

For the first time since I was a kid I had a night terror, not just a run of the mill can't seem to wake up nightmare. I had a full blown, terrifying stuck in the dream night terror. Not so fond of those. I think it had to do with the side effects of the IV pain meds.

Went to a follow up appointment today and the doctor there changes me from the z-pack due to the fact that 75% of people who get pneumonia in this area get the strain that is resistant to that antibiotic. He gave me Levaquin, big ole honking horse pills.... BUT I did get a choice off at home until Thursday or a stay at the hospital, needless to say I choose to stay home...... He then tells me it could take 4 or more weeks for me to feel better and to fully kick the pneumonia.......

A simple cold what I wouldn't give for a simple cold......

Spring Time in Nashville

2009-04-10T15:22:00.003-05:00

Spring time in Nashville means Tornado's and flowers and pollen and blossoms right?

I always look forward to spring time. It feels like mother nature is scrubbing up and crawling out from under her winter blankets.

I love to sleep with the window up when it rains and haven't been able to for several years due to apartment living, but now that we are on the third floor I don't' worry about someone hopping in my window at night. Now I just worry about the temp dropping suddenly like it has been. So not only have we had new flowers blooming and spring trying to break through, but we have had all this crazy weather. It makes my head spin.

Leon has gotten a 100 on every assignment and on his first test. The class is really basic for him, but it was a good start for him to get back in the swing of school. We even talked about what we would have to do in order for him to go back to school full time, not sure I'm ready for that. But we are praying about it and are keeping options open.

I went from being an independent contractor at work to being on salary as of April 1st. The firm is growing every month and things are going really well and as of today I can actually see the top of my desk. I sorta forgot what it looked like.

As I read back over this it seems sorta boring, but I just had the urge to write to put some words out in the world.

I am contemplating going back to school and getting my degree in some sort of law just not sure what or when or how......

Well for now I'm going to watch the clouds part and the sunshine dry out Music Row after the rain.

Okay, okay, I need a break.......

2009-03-17T21:00:00.004-05:00

WOW,

Leon and I have been on a whirlwind couple of weeks.

Besides getting ready for the "Women at the Well" program at church we traveled out to Knoxville.

Leon's babysister and her husband sent out a call for help, they bought a cute lil'house in Knoxville.

They have done A LOT to redo the inside of the house one of the last things they have left was the cabinets. They tore out the old cabinets and ordered and had delievered the new cabinets, only one small problem the person that they hired to do the cabinets never showed up. So Leon and I and his parents headed to Knoxville and spent the weekend putting cabinets in.

I am now working full time at the Law Firm a couple of weeks ago and I'm tired lol.... I don't seem to have the enegry to do anything other then fix/find/buy dinner eat and sleep and do it all over again.

I'm ready for vacation....so very ready.... I need a weekend in a town where I don't know anyone, where my phone doesn't ring and especially I don't have to talk to ANYONE if I don't want to. I need to decompress, and renew.....

With Leon starting classes this week not sure that we are going be able to. BUT maybe I'll just hide out.

Lynne

I love my husband.....

2009-02-14T23:39:00.002-06:00

No really I'm not just saying that.

As many of you know the last year was really hard on us not only emotionally but financially. We have really been praying and working on putting all of our "faith eggs" in Heavenly Fathers basket. Both of us really struggled with doing this we both have a hard time "letting go" but we are really making progress.

Even with the wreck things have really began to loosen up for us on all fronts.

We were both able to do something really nice for each other for Valentines Day.

I took Leon out to dinner to a local Japanese Steak house and we got to share our night with some friends from church that we have been trying to "hang out" with out side of church. It was totally not planned just happen to have the same idea on the same night. We really enjoyed going to dinner and then spending time with a really fun couple.

Leon got me Predators tickets with really awesome seats. We just got back not long ago and he's asleep and I'm still to wired to go to bed yet. I really, really love live sporting events. Football, and Hockey top that list but I really enjoy watching most team sporting events live.

The game was great going into not only overtime, but to shootout then sudden death it was GREAT. We had a blast, Leon even swatted a tee-shirt out of the air but was not able to grab the shirt because it fell behind him, I happen to grab it. woot woot free preds shirt.

Leon and I just want everyone to know that we really appreciate all the love and prayers that our friends and family have provided to us. We would not be able to move forward with out your love and care.

Lynne and Leon

Guilty Promotion

2009-02-05T11:03:00.002-06:00

Okay I know that you know that I don't usually promote ANYTHING, music, movies, websites whatever. Well at least I try not to. BUT there is this band that is from our ward that is, in my opinion pretty awesome.

They are trying to get into this "Mormon Music" show case out in Provo, Utah.

Chad just recently returned home from his mission, and Ben well Ben can make you laugh when the forecast says other wise. The two oldest Truman boys are pretty talented and you can't live in Nashville and love music and not hear their music. No it's not country but they do have country roots. So in shameless promotion to secure their spot in the showcase here's the website that you can check them out at .....

You can find Truman here: http://music.mormontimes.com/index.php

Lynne and Leon

Updates.

2009-02-01T14:42:00.003-06:00

I'm tired...

All the time...

And girl problems are just the beginning of it all....

I started taking proleif on the recommendation of a good friend. It's been working like it's supposed to then my body decided to take off in its own in not such a good way. . .

My last cycle started on the 17Th and is still going.....

Last Monday things started getting heavy then Tuesday night things got really bad, Wednesday wasn't much better, so I call the doctor but it's after hours and all I get is the answering service for 4 hours I waited on a call back from the doctor and when the on call doctor FINALLY got back to me she didn't even listen to what I was saying, didn't care that this had been going on heavily for almost 3 days, and that this had started on the 17 and was not showing signs of slowing down........

grrrr.

While I was waiting on someone to call me back I called a friend of mine who is a nurse, she listened, she advised and offered what comfort she could over the phone. She use to be one of my visiting teachers. She's an awesome lady.

Got up and went to work then went to the doctor, NOT the one that was on call. She listened was concerned. Only one problem... NOT once the entire two hours that I was there did have any problems, didn't have to change................grr. Then later that night I started heavy again.

She did blood work and found that due to all the blood loss I am extremely anemic. So that means that I have to start taking "Slow FE" twice a day which upsets my stomach but at least I can keep it down. AND hand to change my multi-vitamin to something high in iron....

All of these things have caused me to feel tired and drug out and, just plain blaaa.....
The iron has made me sick to my stomach, which in turn makes me feel worse....

I just want to feel better......
I just want my body to work correctly......

Lynne........................

Calming Down.

2009-01-19T15:48:00.002-06:00

Well found out today that the insurance company sent the checks to pay off the car and what ever was left to us. So that's a relief.

We are trying to get Leon in classes this semester but things seem to keep popping up. We did finally get him registered now to see if he can get any classes.

The new job is going well it's nice to work with someone that I actually like, and I'm good at it even.

Leon and I were both feeling rotten Sunday. I don't think either of us moved very far from the couch all day long. I go back to the chiropractor. again today and I hope that will help out we'll have to see.

Things really do seem like they are finally going to mellow out. I think I've had enough excitement for the year.

Accident Pictures...

2009-01-07T16:03:00.005-06:00

Recipe for Faith EDIT

2009-01-07T10:53:00.002-06:00

Add heavy rain all day long,

Rush hour traffic

Poor visibility

Poor drainage on Briley Parkway

Me and my car

You get one car with four wheels hydro planing spinning across 4 lanes of traffic, with the final resting place is passenger side rear corner on the middle retaining wall facing on coming traffic. I by the grace of God did not hit anyone else and no one hit me. No broken bones or serious injury, I have a sprained back and a cervical para spinal muscular strain.

IN the middle of rush hour where I was at I should have been surrounded by cars, and I wasn't.. I am so thankful for Heavenly Father keeping me safe.

****EDIT*****

We just got back from cleaning out the car and seeing the damage.... I do not know how I walked away...

The insurance company called they are going to total my car. The good news they are offering more then what we owe on my car. It's enough to pay off the car....... there might even be a possibility of some money left over......... This is such a blessing in the middle of something extremely traumatic and hard to deal with.....

I only know that every single moment of this accident and the aftermath has been completely in Heavenly Fathers hands.

Fast Moving express here....

2008-12-31T13:45:00.003-06:00

Well things seem to be moving quickly in our lives right now....

Leon and I talked last night and decided after pondering the budget that I really didn't need to go back to work full time and that if I could find something part time that would be nice but not really needed if we were careful and thrifty. We decided to start working on our family via natural and adoptive and foster care means. So we are comfortable and settled in our hearts about this decision. Knowing that if we are really going to work on starting our family that I can't be mired in a job that is going to keep me tied down.

So knowing and accepting all this direction from Heavenly Father the stress and knots in our stomachs eased and went away. Now to look for a job that is only 20 or 30 hours a week and will allow me to have the time at home with Leon and to still be involved in social activities.

I get a call today from my best friend the case load of the attorney she works for has increased by 30 to 40 cases a month.... too much for just one assistant to take care of. So he sent her an email letting her know that she can hire a part time assistant for 20 to 30 hours a week..... hrmm sound familiar to you? Me too. So she called me first thing today and offered me to position and yes I jumped at it.

It is in an office but there will only be 3 of us there, the lawyer, her and me. And we worked together at the sheriffs office where we were partners much of the time we were worked there. So we know we get along and can work together. So it falls into my list of likes and dislikes EXTREMELY well.

Well it looks like 2008 is going to end strong and 2009 is going to start strong and hopeful of many new things to come.

Thoughts, ideas, touchstones.

2008-12-29T10:21:00.005-06:00

Ok, so things are not as scary and hard as I first thought. I'm so settled in my heart about all of this and it feels so right. So far we are almost managing budget wise.

Christmas was nice. We got to spend it with our family and had a really great time. I need to back up a bit and fill in some holes in the last couple of weeks.

December 18 was our 4 year anniversary. We were down in the dumps about it because we were not able to do anything for it. As it turns out it was better and more awesome then either of us imagined.

When we got married four years ago Leon told me he'd always dreamed that his entire family would be in the Temple with us. His siblings were not ready at that time. This year we got a tremendous gift.

On Thursday night Gail, Leon's middle sister, and her husband Jake, and Heather all got their endowments. Leon and I got the special gift of being witnesses for the session. Then Gail and Jake were sealed for time and eternity. It was amazing to stand in the Temple in white with a majority of his family there. It was the most precious gift we could have received.

Then on the 2oth we got to go back to the temple for Heather and Clark's wedding. Leon and I are planning on making it to the Temple each week.

Here is a picture of the family Temple night:

It was really nice to have a Blaisdell Family Majority at the Temple. We are looking forward to having more Family Temple Nights.

I have an idea as to what I want to do career wise. I think....
I'm going to work somethings out here so if you've read this far you've not got much more to go. Thanks for reading this far as well.

Things I like:
People
Planning functions
Helping People
Being Social
Organizing Event's, parties and such.

Things I don't like:
Windowless offices
Grumpy co-workers
Punching a clock
Empty busy work
Cubicles
Office Politics

I've narrowed down what I think I would enjoy doing. Either event/party planning, or the career I'm leaning more towards Personal assistant.

So if you know anyone that is looking for a personal assistant and is willing to give someone new to the career a chance please let me know.

So those are my thoughts, ideas and touchstones to pray about.

L&L

Trying very hard to figure out why.

2008-12-12T06:54:00.004-06:00

I know, that Heavenly Father has a plan. I know that there is something better out there.....

I know this but losing my job in the middle of the RS holiday dinner really stinks.

I was blessed to have a story told me that at the time seemed like one of those platitudes that people say when they have nothing else to say.

It was about a man who was a fruit grower, he grew peaches he worked very hard to make his trees grow good strong fruit. Just before it was time to harvest there was a big freeze and this man lost his entire crop. Down and broken he did not understand he'd done everything he was suppose to do. Pay his tithing, serve in his callings, then this happen, he didn't go to church that first week after the lost harvest, then several more Sunday's passed and he passed on those to. Soon his Bishop came to see him and told him that Heavenly Father didn't need strong good peaches. Heavenly Father needed a strong man.

Now I have paraphrased this a bit. I am trying extremely hard keep it all in perspective. I'm just so lost right now.

Leon and I do know for sure and Heavenly Father has made some things clear to us.

1. This year all that has happen needed to happen.
2. We are firmly planted in Goodlettsville.
3. I had to leave the Sheriffs office.

Dropping off the face of the blog....

2008-12-09T19:13:00.002-06:00

Okay okay I haven't dropped off completely just disdapeared as my niece Isabel likes to say.

Leon and I headed up North to see my grandmother due to some gracious helpers. My grandmother had to be put in assisted living due to the dementia and some related cause/effect of it. My Aunt warned us that she has a hard time remembering people if she doesn't see them often enough. It was really hard on the first visit when she didn't remember me or Leon, but eventually she did. She has good and bad minutes. It's often that fast that she dis remembers things or people or situations.

The biggest problem is I'm done with this year. I want to send it back, turn it in get a refund. There have been a lot of good moments but sometimes it seems like one stumbling block after another.

January 21 - March 10 I was off work due to taking care of my father when he became seriously ill.

I got back to work and then got hurt in July, and and was off/out of work, the mandatory move then the new job at Zander on Nov. 14. The Monday after that Leon came home from work and could hardly move he hurt his back fixing his car trying to save money.... He's been off work since then. We found out yesterday that he gets to go back to work this coming Monday.

I know that this sounds like a laundry list of poor picked on us, but I do have a direction I'm going with this.

It's been amazing how Heavenly Father has provided for us. Now I'm going to laundry list...

1. The night that my dad was put on the ventilator at St Thomas I rushed back and prayed at his bedside giving his care and recovery over to Heavenly Father.

2. Finding out that after all these years that my father had been baptized and is a member of The Church. He was baptized in the late 60's early 70's. He never told me, and was never opposed to my joining the church.

3. Found out that Heavenly Father has a plan for us and that means we are here in Goodlettsville at least for some time. Due to the mold in the old apartment we had to move and in looking for a new apartment the only one that fell into place to move in to was in the ward boundaries.

4. While spending time off work due to getting hurt in the line of duty, Leon and I came to realization that I needed to get a new job, and that job needed to allow me to work Monday - Friday and be off in the evening. It happened when the job opened up at Zander. It was the last interview I was going to go on until after the new year.

5. Leon and I were able to spend time up North with my grandmother, which due to the new job we though was going to be impossible, but the agency gave us the day after Thanksgiving off which they don't normally do.

6. Each time either one of us has been off work due injury or what ever there was always a way to take care of things, or help there to help with some of the burden.

7. Heavenly Father has been carrying us most of the year. In doing so Leon and I have grown closer to each other and to Him. The lessons we have learned this year have helped our testimonies and our love grow.

So when it's all said and done I can't give up on this year or take it back because then Leon and I would have missed out on the blessings from Heavenly Father.

Lets hope 2009 will allow Leon and I to grow even more.

Till next time.

L&L

Tagged.

2008-11-16T11:26:00.003-06:00

Diana Sims tagged me and I'm supposed to list 6 quirky things about myself. So here it goes.

1. I had this really great pillow that is ancient. It's a foam core pillow that I got from my dad when I moved back here in 1995 that was his prior to that. It smells like my dad and I'm attached to it. I can't seem to make myself get rid of it. About every 2 or 3 months I get it in my head that I need to find a new one because if I wash the old one it's going to disintegrate. In the last four years I've probably purchased 10 or so pillows trying to find one that is the same firmness and type, but I'm always disappointed. So we always have plenty of pillows for sleepovers.

This isn't as easy at it seems.

2. Prior to my new job. I get up, get dressed before leaving the room. Turn on the computer, get something to eat if it's after 9am, and I always always always check my email first, then the following websites, My journal site, My space, a word puzzle called crickler, For Better or For Worse comic, Helium, Facebook and This blog. I can't help it I'm almost OCD about it. If my email has something in it referring to one of these sites, I don't go take care of it until after I read all my email. I know a touch OCD.

3. I pretty much have an internal outline of my day. When I plan something I like to have every detail and possible variation considered. I don't mind changing plans but even those are planned for. If some outside force causes things to change I get anxious. BUT on the other hand of I LOVE being spontaneous. Like planning a trip by getting in the car and saying okay we are driving east for 2 tanks of gas then where ever we are when we are at the end of the gas we hang out there and explore where ever there is. That's how I found Newport Tennessee. It's a really quaint town that is really charming and fun to visit.

4. I really, really like getting gifts for others. I really enjoy watching someone open something I've gotten for them, and seeing that they love it. I really like finding things for people that they love. I almost get too excited to wait for them to open it. I have a hard time around Christmas keeping things till Christmas.

5. I have to make sure that the USPS mail is checked every day. I've always loved getting mail. If the mail isn't check everyday I feel like I've missed something in my day. I guess it comes from when I was a kid. When your little something coming in the mail is an exciting part of the day. I'm even okay with the mail just being junk mail. I get disappointed when the box is empty.

6. This one is from my husband. Even before DVR I have a short TV watching attention span. If there are two things on at the same time that I want to watch I'll start watching one till the commercial break then swap to the other channel, since we got DVR a few years ago and it's dual tuner I can do this with four channels two on each tuner. I don't often watch that many but I can watch two and never miss a second of either program. I swap between the two tuners. I watch the first one until the commercial then hit the pause button, and swap to the other tuner and watch the other program until the commercial and then pause and swap. It drives my husband nuts. This goes hand in hand with my ability to have a conversation on the phone and in person at the same time about two different things. I function very well multi-tasking and get bored when I have to do just one thing. If I read I have to have the TV or music on just for background noise. Unless I'm reading my scriptures then I prefer quiet. It's the one thing that I can focus entirely on.

I tag Dorshan Millhouse, Amy Rose, Keaven Neely, Cari Stevens, Braden AND Meredith Bell, and Alex Traylor.

Looking forward to seeing everyones posts about this, if I tagged you and you've already been tagged don't worry about doing it again.

L&L

Friday Night day Seven

2008-11-07T22:51:00.002-06:00

Well it's been an eventful week in the Blaisdell household. I got to spend some time with the "girls" we went to go see "The secret life of Bee's" it was really good and okay I'll admit it I was crying, it was good. Now just to find the book and see how close it was to the book. Then tonight we got to spend time at Asher and Amy's for the annual Halloween party. We had a blast good food, good friends, good time.

I vow to do a better pumpkin next year LOL .....

Watch out Dan, Braden and Jeremy We'll getcha next year mwhahaha

L&L

Getting ready to go back to work

2008-11-06T22:48:00.002-06:00

Well it looks like I'm just about set to go back to work on the 14th. I'm really excited. I will be processing new policies for Zander Insurence.

Leon and I are looking forward to the new hours. I'm looking forward to no more nights and weekends and being able to continue the pattern Leon and I have fallen into these last few months that I've been off work due to injury.

It's late and this is a catch up entry more on the next one.

L and L

FYI

2008-11-05T21:17:00.001-06:00

I ran out of time this week and wasn't able to reach everyone so just to let you know, all the ladies are invited to a Lia Sophia Jewelry party on Saturday November 8th at 6:30pm and you are also invited to bring a friend.

Please leave me a note of you would like to join us, and I'll get you directions to the clubhouse.

Lynne

Day Five

2008-11-05T20:42:00.002-06:00

I'm having a hard time today, to say I'm dis-satisfied with the results of the election would surely be the understatement of the week so far.

I'm concerned but I am trying hard to use the example of Braden Bell and his resolutions. I'm really trying hard to find something good in all of this. I guess the only good I can see now is that the election is over and we know the results.

For the good or the bad, I'm sure of one thing. All of this somehow fits in to Heavenly Fathers plan. And all I can do is turn over all my concerns to Him and let Him deal with it for He knows what is best.

L&L

Day Four

2008-11-04T19:08:00.003-06:00

Great great great news to share today. I went and registered with a temp agency, took all the clerical test did well, and then was sent to an interview the same day. Had the interview at 11:30am and was offered the job at 4:30pm this afternoon.

When I got the call I was in store picking up a few needed items and was dancing in the isle. Leon and I have been praying for a job like this. I will be working for Zander Insurance, They do term life and identity theft products. I will be processing new policies getting them ready to send to the customer.

I will be starting November 14th. No more Saturdays, No more missed Sundays, NO more late nights, no more altercations with irate inmates. I will be working from 8am to 4:30 pm similar hours to what Leon works. I can't wait I am so VERY excited.

Day Three

2008-11-03T10:11:00.002-06:00

I didn't mention yesterday here, but did share in Fast and Testimony Meeting how around this time six years ago the missionaries walked into where I was working. I spent the rest of the day pondering my conversion and baptism into the church. Since I'm hoping to keep this blogspot going and making it my "journal" I thought I might share my testimony and conversion to the church here so that I have it "Written" down.

I started on the road to conversion and membership in the church by doing something one should never do with missionaries. I issued a challenge. I had at that time been a student of many religious tenets of belief. But none of them seemed to fill the empty space inside of me. I had agreed to "talk" with them but I let them know that I wasn't one to be "spoon fed" information. As the weeks went on I found that I was running out of arguments to all that they were teaching me. I started taking the discussions and making friends that were members of the church. Things meandered for months. December became January and I was still doing things like going to YSA FHE (Young Single Adult Family Home Evening) I actually taught my first FHE lesson before I was a member. It was on gossip, thanks Jess.

The missionaries Elder Hughes and Hicken spent many, many hours of prayer on me I'm sure of it. Elder Hughes was in the companionship that first contacted me in October of 2002 in all this time transfer after transfer occurred and yet he stayed. Heavenly Father knew that if he had been transferred I probably would not be where I am today. A kind sister that had been hosting my discussion appointments and the missionaries realized that I needed more.

See I read the introduction to the Book of Mormon and the Testimonies of the three and the eight. I knew then that these men even though some of them left the church never denied what they saw. I knew that these were all men of God prior to these testimonies they signed their names to. Therefore it was the truth and if that was the truth then the Book of Mormon was true. My conversion did not come from reading the Book of Mormon, tho I did read it. It came from reading the Doctrine and Covenants. I have always been a person that functions better when I know the "rules".

One night I was sitting in my office waiting for the computer to boot up and there on the desk was this sweet sisters copy of a triple combination (Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Pearl of Great Price) and I driven to the Doctrine and Covenants, I started with Section One and read Sixty Three sections and it hit me. I got it. I understood everything that the missionaries had been telling me. I found what was needed to fill that big empty space inside me. This was a Sunday night. I waited till Monday night at the FHE to tell the missionaries.

I then set my date for baptism February 15,2003. It is my fathers birthday. I had talked to my father about joining and he surprised me by saying he thought it was exactly what I needed in my life. So I got baptized and confirmed the following day.

In the following months I was tested and tried in ways I never thought I could endure, but I did, because I had the gospel to hold on to. Never changing, always the same a steady rock to hold on to.

Towards the end of the year I met Leon. We started dating surprisingly two days before Valentines day in 2004. Several times we prayed and fasted to know if we should continue our relationship, and kept getting the answer that we were exactly where we were supposed to be. That July I went to the temple and received my endowments.

That summer I was called as Young Women's Camp Director for our ward. It was an amazing experience except for the ruptured ovarian cyst the first night of camp. I was in terrible pain and had no idea what was going on. The next day I got a ride home and crawled in the house and then called the only person I knew to call, Leon. He took me to the emergency room. It was then that I knew I truly and incredibly and eternally in love with Leon. He at the same time felt the same way. On August 9Th of 2004 we were engaged and then married December 18, 2004.

Our journey has not been with out it's trials but we have found that together we can endure, whether and overcome and handle anything that comes our way.

That is how my story became our story, became our families beginning.

Day Two NoJoMo

2008-11-02T23:00:00.000-06:00

Sundays are always busy it seems. Alarm goes off, grumble, roll over, cover head and sleep till hubby gets out of the shower, THEN, Get up, get showered, eat, dress, look and clock and freek out that I'm not ready for church yet.

But for some reason this Sunday was different. I got up befor the alarm, showered and then was dress make up on and ready to leave an entire 2 hours early for church, got a chance to sit and read Brisingr it was so nice not to be rushed and harried.

Hubby and I had a great weekend.

NoJoMo Day one

2008-11-01T22:53:00.000-05:00

Okay here I go one entry everyday for the entire month. I really hope that I can do this. The previous post explains what NoJoMo is.

Hubby and I had a rough start for the day... The master bathroom toilet decided to overflow and stay stopped up no matter how much it was plunged. Maintenance won't come until Monday because we have a second bathroom. Boy have I gotten use to a bathroom in my bedroom. DH replaced the half shaft in his VW and it wasn't an easy task. Leave it up to VW to come up with a common bolt with an uncommon star/hex shaped head that we couldn't find a tool for, and finally had to go rent one. After a couple of hours my genius of a husband fixed his own car. It is really saving us on money. We save on labor and parts but not on frustration.

Went to a friends baby shower this afternoon and had a blast. For the most part it was a really nice Saturday.

I'm taking a break from addressing invitations to a jewelry party I'm hostessing for my SIL she is now a lia sophia associate. We are trying to help her build her business, as she has helped hubby and I build our travel business by purchasing event tickets and travel from us.

Well I need to get back to addressing invites.

I challenge ALL of you.

2008-10-29T21:57:00.000-05:00

Every year for the last couple of years I've participated in NoJoMo. There is also NaNoWriMo, NoJoMo is November Journal Month one entry everyday the month of November. NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month. No I'm not challenging you to write a Novel.

My challenge is to write one entry here everyday for the month of November. Leon and I have recently decided to strengthen our relationship with each other and with Heavenly Father. The following list is posted on one of the white boards on our Fridge.

1. Did you say morning prayers?
2. Did you read your scriptures?
3. Did you blog or journal today?
4. What did you do to grow as a person/spouse?
5. Did you have family prayer?

I know I know these are things we should be doing anyway. Most of the time due to the way my work schedule is we tend to do these things separately. It's really hard to have family prayer every night when one of us is at work. So we have really been working on that list. I do have to say I'm not so hot at being awake and coherent at 6:15am when Leon wakes me up for morning prayers but I am noticing that my day doesn't seem as dreary as it was when we were attempting to do these things on our own. And no my posting to the blog doesn't not count for Leon he has to get his own LOL just teasing honey.

But back to the challenge.

Your entry can be anything you want it to be but you must have one entry everyday for the month. You can post pictures, poems, whatever you choose.

So let's get ready for the challenge.....