What do YOU think the baby is???

I guessed right on the first try! :-)

Knock, Knock . . .

I hate answering the door. Especially when I don't know who it is, and when I am not expecting anyone. More than 90% of the time it is a solicitor trying to pedal their product. I NEVER BUY. EVER. So really, don't bother with our house, I will just say, "Sorry, I'm not interested." I mean I am REALLY not interested! Please go away, sales-people.

I was in the middle of some work I do to help Charles, I was on a roll, moving fast, and then I heard, "KNOCK, KNOCK!" I had to decide whether or not to answer (there have been quite a few packages dropped off lately, and I happily answer the door for packages!). I thought I better check.

*You must understand our street gets A LOT of solicitors, it is crazy and annoying!

I slowly opened the door and saw two familiar nicely dressed ladies, in long black jackets. They had hair done, make-up applied, and they looked lovely and very kind. They had little pamphlets in hand, ready to share. Their lovely appearance caused me to remember how I looked. I had been freezing all day so I was sporting baggy black sweats, Charles' gray over-sized long-sleeve shirt, my make-up was smeared from the day before, and my hair was in a messy pony. I looked terrible. Really terrible. Ridiculously terrible. Have I no pride?

The nice ladies were Jehovah's Witnesses -- very common missionaries around our parts, because our neighbors are members. These particular ladies were back for a second round, because I accepted their material the first time, out of respect. I greatly respect and appreciate our neighbors (who are Jehovah's Witnesses) and their beliefs, they are the BEST kind of people. I have a lot I could learn from them. We live side-by-side in harmony with our different beliefs, and we look after each other. They are the kindest people. They even wanted to cut down a huge barrier of bushes between our house, so we were not blocked off from each other. How cute is that? Now instead of a huge bush-barrier, there is a beautiful flower garden that divides our yards. It is kind of symbolic.

Anyhow, I was SO embarrassed in front of these formal ladies. I was not setting a very good example of my faith by the way I appeared -- sloppy and unkempt. The T.V. was on (playing a squawking Donald Duck) and William was in their line-of-sight, intensely playing the Nintendo DS. My house was not clean, it did not smell good (I normally have a candle going), and I just felt so sheepish standing in front of these ladies who were so well put-together -- while I was at my very worst. I am telling you, nasty. I was gross.

The ladies knew that I belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (they had been here before), and discussing religion in my condition of mega-sloppy seemed so uncomfortable to me. I was ashamed, really. They were kind, they offered me more reading material, and being the nice person I am -- I took it. I sure hope I am not getting their hopes up -- because I am afraid I will never stray from my faith, and the faith of my ancestors. I would cease to exist without the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am nothing without it. It is my life. It is who I am. Converting me to another faith is an impossibility. Sorry nice ladies.

I suppose I should not take their material, maybe someone else would want it? But I am too nice to decline. However, after sifting through some of their pages, it just makes me that much more grateful for what I know. I am so grateful to have the complete truth, and not just little pieces of it. It is in my very nature to want to know everything. I am a question-asker, a truth-seeker, a deep-thinker. Nothing but the whole-truth would satisfy my appetite for knowledge and light. I am so very grateful to have the fullness of the Gospel of Christ, I would never have peace any other way!

However, I LOVE those of other faiths. I love it when people believe in something. I love it when people believe in God and Jesus Christ. I love to see people of other faiths living good clean lives, of righteousness, and joy. It makes me happy. There is something special when people have faith, when people believe.

I wish I could have been a better example to these good ladies. I hate to think of them walking away, not having a good impression of members of the LDS church -- because of my slothfulness of appearance. I hope, somehow, they could see past my baggy sweatpants and dripping mascara . . . I hope that my "light within" was able to shine past my poor physical presentation. I tried to be extra smiley, kind, and polite -- maybe they didn't notice my messiness? Not likely, but I can hope! :-)

They said they would like to come back again sometime . . . maybe it is time to start pulling myself together during the day, just in case! I guess you never really know who might be knocking on that door . . . and when you will make your first and lasting impression! I tell you what, I felt ashamed all day. I can do better than frump.

Rocky Road No-Bake Cookies

NO - BAKE ROCKY ROAD COOKIES

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter

1/2 c. evaporated milk

1 c. marshmallows

1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

3 c. quick cooking oats

1/2 c. chopped nuts

In saucepan, combine sugar, cocoa, butter and evaporated milk. Bring mixture to boil; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in marshmallows and vanilla. Add oats and nuts. Stir until combined. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper lined baking sheets. Let cookies cool. Store in covered container in refrigerator.

*These cookies are SO easy and SO yummy. WAY better then the normal no-bake. Add extra marshmallows to make them even better. Oh, and I skipped the nuts, but I am sure they would be yummy, too.

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As you have noticed, I have posted a lot about sugar, lately. Well . . . I have been hungry! My two favorite things have been meat and sugar -- I am guessing I will have a chubby (meaty), sweet (sugary), baby. :-) (Don't worry, I shove my vegetables down, too.) And I was right, my pants don't fit anymore. Well, they "fit" but I can't sit down. Bring on the stretch pants!

Only 6 more days and I find out if this cherub is a boy, or a girl, baby. Most of my family believes it is a girl, but my dad thinks it is a boy. Me . . . I have no idea. Not a clue. Only a few more days of suspense! The kids are freaking out, they REALLY want to know! (So does mommy!) It is nice to prepare mentally for one or the other. Boy or girl, it is kind of life-changing, ya know?

Thursday is the day. I'll post the update then. :-)

Enjoy the cookies! Yum.

I am a STAR!

Deep within each of us a star shines. It is the light that, when it finally breaks through the fog and haze of self-doubt, causes each of us to know that he or she is a child of God and is special.

Each of us was sent to earth to be a "star" -- to be someone special. Some never really come to fully believe that. Thus their light remains hidden by the midst and clouds of inferior feelings and the lack of faith in themselves and in God.

But there is a special place for each of us in our Heavenly Father's plan. We are not in competition with anyone else but only with oursleves. When we come to know that we are special, that does not disqualify anyone else from the same distinction. For all the sons and daughters of God are special.

-George Durrant, 1976.

I have been doing a lot of reading lately. It seems as if someone is trying to tell me something . . . the theme of "being special" seems to keep popping up, right in front of me. I used to have the same feelings about being special as the boy Dash in The Incredibles:

Helen: Dashiell Robert Parr, you are an incredibly competitive boy, and a bit of a show-off. The last thing you need is temptation.
Dash: You always say 'Do your best', but you don't really mean it. Why can't I do the best that I can do?
Helen: Right now, honey, the world just wants us to fit in, and to fit in, we gotta be like everyone else.
Dash: But Dad always said our powers were nothing to be ashamed of, our powers made us special.
Helen: Everyone's special, Dash.
Dash: [muttering] Which is another way of saying no one is.

If everyone is special, that means no one is . . . right??

I used to feel that way. How can everyone be special?? How can I be special?

But now that I am a mother of 3 children (soon to be 4), I can easily see how each and every one of my children are indeed "special". They are each unique, and wonderful, and they have their own individual talents and abilities -- abilities they seem to have been sent to earth with. I adore each one of them. I stand in awe of what they can do. I marvel at their being alive, and them just being them. It is clear to me that they are special. They are special to me. They are my little "stars". I love to watch them shine.

As a mother it makes it MUCH EASIER to see how each and every one of God's children are special and unique, with their own set of talents and abilities. We are all very special to God. We are His. We are His children. We are special just because we are who we are. We are special because we exist. We are special because we were made special . . . no running from it! Why hide under a cloud of self-gloom when God wants to see us shine?!

I will be the first to admit that it is often self-doubt that keeps me from being the best I can be. I admit that my insecurities, and imperfections -- can keep me from shining as brightly as I can. But it does not have to be that way. Self-doubt can only exist if I LET IT. If I really want to, I could wake-up in the morning, jump out of bed and say, "TA-DA! Here I am world!" I do not have to commence in doing something heroic, Earth-changing, or stage-worthy, to be special -- I just have to be happy to be alive, grateful to live another day, and thrilled to be ME! I believe good will naturally flow from such an attitude.

I am special. I am unique. I am talented. I don't have to proove anything to anyone in order to feel, or to be special. I don't even have to keep up with anyone else. I just have to be me.

God made me. I am His. I am special. I am a star.

And so are you!!

A Letter FROM Santa . . .

Click on the image to make it larger.

(I had to type over some of the words, the letter got ripped.)

I found this letter underneath my bedroom door. . . A letter from Santa! Wow! I am lucky!

I just HAD to share it and also preserve it for the future.

Awesome.

Just Thinking . . .

Do what you can

With what you have

Where you are

-Roosevelt

And I would add . . .Then be happy about it. :-)

I spent some of my time today looking through images of beautiful homes, decorations, and craft ideas. Before I knew it, I started to think about all of the things I wish I had and things that I wish I could create. But of course, all of these things take money and time . . . and a willingness to give money and time to these endeavors. (I am not talking about small crafts/ideas I mean BIG ones!) There are just so many wonderful ideas out there!

But, right now, we have bigger fish to fry -- bigger goals to accomplish. I have to keep my eye on those goals, or I will get sidetracked. Being happy in the meantime is a good idea, too. :-) I tend to feel restless . . . excited for things to come. But I am TRYING to just enjoy the NOW with what I have, where I am. It is hard when I know SO MUCH WILL CHANGE very, very soon!

The year 2012 will bring great change into our lives:

-A new baby (and all that entails)

-A new house, or new home addition (2 bedroom home will be tight . . .)

-A new living arrangement: My parents will come to live with us long-term, starting in the summer (Yeah, I am a lucky girl to have my awesome parents with our family)

-A new car (we have a 5 passenger car for a soon-to-be 6 passenger family)

-A new Kindergartner

-A new President of the United States (if all goes well)

-A new Hobbit movie :-)

BIG CHANGES.

2012 will be one very interesting year.

I look forward to it and all of the education I will surely gain!

Patience is NOT one of my virtues. But I can't do anything about these big changes now, except wait . . . happily, of course. :-)

I Love Disneyland at Christmas . . .

There is something truly magical about Disneyland . . . and Disneyland at Christmas is like stepping into a dream.

Since moving out of Alaska we have been able to visit Disneyland much more often. My parents did manage to get us down to D-land a number of times when I was growing up, and from there my love of the land has just deepened as I have grown older. My children have grown up walking the magical streets, and they are NUTS about it. Sammi is often found researching everything Disney. She loves to know ALL the details.
When Charles and I left Alaska (to go to school in Washington), we stopped in California for our first ever family Disney adventure. It was amazing. However, it did take Charles awhile to get into it, since he was so overwhelmed at first. (He was a new Disneylander.) I think it took going on the Pirate ride and Haunted Mansion and then he was HOOKED! He relaxed and begin to immerse himself in pirates, parades, and his favorite -- churros. Yum. Now he LOVES it! But who doesn't??
Ooooooo . . . Haunted Mansion. One of my favorites!

"its a small world" ride. Love it. I cry every time. Magic.

Toon Town -- My kids love it there.

Main Street . . . love the buildings.

When the lights go out there is another level of magic. I LOVE night time at Disneyland!

They have special light shows on small world at night.

Magic, Magic, Magic!

Soon we will find ourselves in this magical land, and I am so excited (and grateful!). I am pregnant, so I will have to miss out on some of the "fast" rides, but there is still PLENTY for me to enjoy. I am hoping to discover some new things and places . . . maybe I will find all of the hidden Mickeys. :-) Or maybe I will eat churros all day long. Yeah, that sounds good.

Pirates, ghosts, Fantasmic, fireworks, small world, Mickey, churros . . . Here I come!!! Yee-ha!

*Erin, I know you are jealous, but you have to love me anyway. ;-)

--pictures from www.wdwinfo.com -- great place for info and fun pictures.