Proof---I am Agreeable

I ran across this, and since I have been absent from blogging for a week and becacuse we have had so much snow these past few days, I thought I would give it a try. The result? Proof for my family. I mean how can the computer lie? The results said my snow personality is AGREEABLE!

Your Snow Test Says You're Agreeable

You feel like something good will happen to you eventually, but not soon. You love to work, especially when work is creative. You have the makings of a successful artist. You are a cooperative, agreeable person. You enjoy the company of others, and you enjoy compromising for the good of the group. Your biggest worry in life is your family. You stay up at night thinking about them. When it comes time to relax, you have no problem letting go. You are already pretty relaxed as is!

http://www.blogthings.com/thesnowtest/">The Snow Test

Christmas Tag

I have been tagged. It's short so play along on your own blog if you would like.

Christmas Tag

1. What is your favorite Christmas tradition? I would have to say our family Christmas party. It is the time of the year that I get to see the largest number of family members at one time. We always have Mexican food and sometimes we get to play games--A & R are coming in from New York, so maybe I'll have a few willing participants this year in the game area!!!

2. What is your favorite religious themed Christmas Song? Once in Royal David's City--however, it is the least sung song in my meetings. At work I heard a new song (at least to me) written by one of the members of the board of education and I love it too. It is called Christmas Star.

3. What is your favorite Christmas memory from childhood? I remember sleeping in one room with my other siblings. We could hardly get to sleep because we were so excited. We would promise that whoever woke first would wake all the rest. My brother made this tradition the best as we got older. He would put Christmas lights in his room and pack a cooler full of goodies. We would watch tv and snack with Christmas lights glowing all around us until we finally fell asleep. Since we were so excited for Christmas morning we were usually ready for bed the minute it got dark--yes, you have calculated correctly--it is winter so we were ready for bed around 6 or 7. I guess you could say he REALLY helped the time to pass.

I have also been working on a few cards. I love the small 3 x 3 sized cards. I decided this year I would make a few to use for Christmas gift thank you cards. However, I wanted them to be something I could use all winter if I don't use them up at Christmas time.

Remembering Gratitude

As it is the last day of November, I had to account for my goal of recording things I am grateful for. To be honest, I am happy with the nine times I wrote about things I am grateful for. After all, that is 9 more times than I wrote the previous year. I must look on the bright side and say that is progress.

Let me recap the first nine things: family, friends, education, humor, diet coke, hobbies, religious freedom, and life. Now to catch you up on the other things I am grateful for this month. . .

1. Warm showers

2. Cuddly babies--nothing more peaceful than holding a sleeping baby in your arms

3. Fun-filled family visits

4. Sunday dinner with family

5. Work--although I hate the getting ready part, I am thankful to have a job to go to every day

6. The view of the mountains all around the valley I live in

7. My bed--nothing better than my own

8. Hairspray--what can I say, I am a product of the 80's

9. Good books to read

10. Ice--the pebbled kind is best, but anything else will do in a pinch

11. Good neighbors that watch out for me and sometimes bring my garbage cans back in

12. A home to live in

13. The smell of fresh lime and the taste of it in my diet coke with vitamins.

14. Candle tarts for my melter--smell as good as a candle, but without the smokey mess

15. Faith

16. A good chick flick

17. Games--you name it, I will play it, unless I am on an exhausting trip to D.C. where my body never quite adjusts to the time changes. Hopefully "D" will forgive me.

18. A good belly busting laugh complete with tears running down my face

19. Kids and all the great things they have to say

20. My camera--to capture those memories forever

21. My mom--although gone from earth, her love and teaching still guide me

22. My dad

23. Computers--for too many reasons to name

24. The temple--to remind me of more important things

25. Transportation--so many places I still want to see

26. My own two feet--and the ability to move

If you haven't taken time to think of all that you are grateful for, you should try it. It was harder for me than you might think. I know my list looks like it is full of mostly the trivial things, but in reality, I am grateful for every "little" thing in my abundant life. (Yes, I threw in a few more than the ones I committed for the 3o days of November. Why the extras? Because I really do have a lot to be grateful for)

I am so blessed!!
Now for a few cards I have been working on.

Cards vs. Craziness!!!

Black Friday is aptly named. That is to say that if you are brave enough to fight the crowds then you will end up in a black mood. I generally volunteer to watch the sleeping kids while my sisters and their husbands go shopping. This year however, all the kids were covered and so I stayed home and tried to finish up a few cards and tags for some gifts I am putting together. Boy was I glad I did when "A" called to tell me that while she had been at Walmart the paramedics were brought in three times--one man broke his shoulder, another woman broke her wrist, and a lady fainted. No sale is worth that to me. Then I logged on to check the weather and on ksl.com it said that a worker in an Arkansas Walmart died after the crowds broke down the doors and knocked him down in their pursuit of a bargain. So sad!

Well, on to the cards and tags. I used today's card sketch on splitcoast stampers for the layout design. I made my own patterned paper with a polka dot set I have, filling in some of the circles with snowflakes. The tags are part of the gifts I have put together for my neighbors. Every year I try to think of a gift that is not food related and that can be useful. These tags along with some wrapping paper and a cute poem are what I am handing out this year. If I get time to take a few more pictures I will share the other tags I have come up with. In all I have about 10 designs.

By the way--HAPPY BIRTHDAY "J" and "B"

Life

My funloving nephew "W" was in an accident last night, and so on this Thanksgiving Day, I am most thankful for life and for my angel mom that kept him safe. I'm glad he could feel her presence as his truck rolled at least 4 times that he can remember. All 3 boys in the truck were wearing seatbelts, thank goodness! I think all of us need to be reminded once in awhile that we have a purpose on earth and will stay here until it is our time to go. Pray for his friend that will need surgery.

Grateful for Religious Freedom

With all the backlash from proposition 8 in California, I have taken time to reflect on what I believe. I am grateful that even in this time of opposition, I can say proudly that I am thankful to be a memeber of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In a conversation I once had, the question was raised, "What if you die and find out that none of what you believe is true?" My response was, "Everything I believe in makes me want to be a better person. How can I go wrong there?" There is certainly nothing wrong with wanting to be good enough to live with God again. Certainly better than what I would have to do in order to go along with what people are saying and doing to church members and church properties aournd the U.S.

Vitamins and Minerals?

Diet Coke now comes with vitamins and minerals. Sweet! Now I can get my vitamin C with that slice or two of lime and extra vitamins and minerals put right in the mixture by the coca-cola company itself. Imagine all that in one refreshing glass! I truly don't know if I should be happy or mortified at the prospect.

Although I know I need to quit what I call "drinking" soon, I am a Diet Coke addict. In fact, it is one of the things I often think of writing about when I think of my gratitude journal. However, since I continually "think about" seriously quitting, I am in the middle of a conundrum because how can you be thankful for something you know you should give up?

However, for today, or until I finally manage to give it up, I am thankful for

Diet Coke!!!!!!