A Meme

I was just over visiting No Excuses and saw that she'd done a "Wednesday Wickedness" meme. Apparently, Wednesday Wickedness is a blog that focuses on meme questions; every Wednesday there are new quotes with questions after each quote. It looked interesting, so even though it is Sunday and not Wednesday, I think I'll play along. :)

This weeks quotes come from Oprah:

1. “I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life.” What was the last thing that you did to help somebody’s life?

By now I think I've told you all about my mom getting her wheelchair taken away for a week because she ran into the refrigerator at her nursing home. I guess the last big thing I've done is to contact an Ombudsman to check out the legality of the nursing home's policy and hopefully get things changed there.

The last little thing I've done is get Michael some lunch. :) Both are important, don't you agree?

2. “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” How long have you ever held your breath?

I'm terrible at holding my breath, and I can't say I've ever timed myself. Give me a few seconds and I'll see....30 seconds. Okay, I stink. Oh well.

3. “As you become more clear about who you really are, you'll be better able to decide what is best for you - the first time around.” At what point do you think that you really decided who your were?

After my divorce in 1994 I realized that I'd put all of my value on being a wife and mother. I had to rebuild myself through the following year, and I've continued the process ever since.

There is nothing wrong with loving to be someone's wife or your children's mother, but it is my honest opinion that you have to be *you* first and foremost.

4. “The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” At what time of the year do you think you celebrate your life the most?

Hmmmmmm. I don't think I do. Maybe I need to start!

5. “So go ahead. Fall down. The world looks different from the ground.” Are there times when you thought you had fallen down and learned something about yourself?

Absolutely. A divorce. A baby's death. Nearly dying, myself (twice actually). Learning that Michael had hydrocephalus, an oral aversion, cerebral palsy, being delayed physically and mentally. Failing at a business and having to pay the accrued debt anyway. I've had lots and lots of learning opportunities.

I've learned that I'm strong. I'm a survivor. That every milestone your child progresses to is a miracle and that nothing should ever be taken for granted.

6. “Devote today to something so daring even you can’t believe you’re doing it.” What was the last thing you did where you thought that you could not believe in what that you were doing it? (the question seemed wrong, so I changed it)

Every day I get up and continue parenting even when the night before I was ready to quit. Being a diligent parent is a very courageous thing to be.

7. “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength.” Do you think that you must struggle to become strong?

Absolutely. You can't expect to gain physical muscle without working out and neither can you become strong at anything without working on it.

8. “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” Do you feel that life’s experiences always prepare you for what there is to come?

I do. I think that life is very much a line-upon-line learning process.

9. “The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Can only a rich person feel this way? What do you think Oprah means by this?

I think that everyone has dreams for themselves, whether they be some big goal or lots of little ones. By having a dream, or a goal, we are working our way through life rather than letting the winds of many storms determine our destination.

10. “I do not believe in failure. It is not failure if you enjoyed the process.” Do you believe in failure?

I have a hard time with failure. I am a perfectionist and absolutely hate the thought of failure. I have been known to avoid things that I feel that I might fail at. I need to change this, because in theory I truly believe that we can't learn to run if we are afraid to take the first step.

That was fun! I hope that some of you will stop by Wicked Wednesday and try one for yourself. :)

25 Things I ♥ Meme

Are you ready for a Meme?

This one is tricky...25 things?! The sheer number of things to come up with is overwhelming, isn't it?! I'm changing it a bit and titling it:
The 25 Things I ♥ Meme

1. Let's start with this one: I ♥ these bumble bees! Be Different...Act Normal is having major giveaways. The bumble bees are what I love. So, by pointing you in her direction, I get to add one more comment in the drawing! Wish me luck, because....

2. This is what I'll do with those bumble bees: I will put them on a wall with this poem:
What do you suppose?
A bee sat on my nose.
Then what do you think?
He gave me a wink
And said,”I beg your pardon,
I thought you were the garden.”
-English Rhyme-

Too cute, huh?!

3. I love avacados. I do! Sprinkle generously with Redmond's Organic Natural Garlic Salt and it is heavenly.

4. I have really dry skin in the winter. I have hands that crack and bleed. BUT! This winter I have taken *good* cod liver oil (not the garbage at the grocery stores) and my hands have been soft and smooth! Never! has this happened in the last 6 years since I moved to the dry climate in Utah.

5. I love Vitamin B. When I am feeling out of control I take my vitamin B and it makes me feel much better. Standard Process has good vitamin B.

6. I love "warm" smelling shampoo and conditioner in the winter. My favorite is Suave's Vanilla Floral shampoo and conditioner, because I'm all about cheap! And I love the smell!

7. My very favorite soap is Oil of Olay with shea butter. Just regular bar soap. It is wonderful for dry skin!

8. My all time favorite hair spray is the Aussie aerosol. Sorry about that. I know it isn't great for the ozone, but it is terrific for my hair. It is the biggest "un-green" thing I do. The pump hairspray leaves my hair crunchy, but the aerosol has great hold without the sticky hairspray feeling.

9. I love coffee mugs. The bigger ones. With cute pictures. Each member of my family has their own mug with its own design. It is how we tell our cups apart and I don't spend my day washing hundreds of cups!

10. I love Redmond Real Salt. I love that it is *real* salt. Real Salt also sells: Garlic Salt, Onion Salt, and Seasoning Salt. ♥ it!

11. I love good smelling dish detergent. It is why I buy the detergent I do. Hey, if I have to wash loads of dishes to clean up after my family of 8, I want to enjoy it!

12. I love Young Living Farms and their essential oils! Steve signed us up as resellers/representatives last year, but we haven't done much with it yet. But we buy our own stuff. And I LOVE Lavendar Days! I am so excited for it! I love the wagon rides around the fields of herbs...the smell is wonderful and relaxing. Only five more months!

13. I love getting my hair cut! And I love that Merrilee cuts my hair with such skill. I never have to worry about her cutting it wrong, so I can just relax and visit with her. I found her about 5 years ago and have always been pleased with her cuts.

14. I love good books! I am half-way through The Long Winter after starting it last night. If I could choose one book for everyone to read, it would be this one by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

15. I love art. I can get lost for hours in art museums!

16. I love to write poetry, but I'm shy about sharing it. Steve is about the only person who has read most of what I have written.

17. I love to draw. I'd love to learn to paint better. And if I could simply master lighting I would be so happy!

18. I love to take pictures. Photography has always been something I've been interested in.

19. I love to eat good food. This one should be separated in half: "healthy food that tastes wonderful and makes me feel great" and "non-healthy but tastes fabulous" food. My favorite treat is "bars". Here is the recipe:

2 sticks melted butter
3 cups graham crackers
Mix together and pat onto the bottom of a 9" x 13" pan.

Put the following layer on top (in order):
2 cups coconut
2 cups chocolate chips
2 cans sweetened condensed milk

Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes. Let cool completely. Try not to devour. ;-)

20. I ♥ Patchwork!

21. Tide Detergent! Stains are rarely left behind when I use this miracle worker!

22. I love Better Homes & Gardens "Dream Gardens" Calendars! If I can't have a dream garden of my own at least I can enjoy the pic in my kitchen!

23. Girl Scout Cookies! Be Different...Act Normal has recipes! Hello, Thin Mints! There goes the diet....

24. I ♥ my favorite tv shows! Smallville & Chuck are my absolute favs! House is alright, but man he gets on my nerves! I also love oldies: Cosby Show, Mad About You, Andy Griffith, Brady Bunch, Gilligan's Island....

25. I love to laugh. I love to be silly. I am one of those people who laugh at their own jokes. And sometimes....I snort. Laughter really *is* the best medicine!!

If you'd like to do this Meme, let me know when you post it, okay? You can make up 25 of anything: stuff you love, random things about you, favorite Christmas presents you've ever gotten....whatever. Have fun!