Wednesday Wrandom Wrambling

It's Wednesday and STILL January.  I swear to you, that this has been the longest January on record.

I have a lot of things to blog about.  Like the quick road trip to AZ and the amazing people and experiences I had, the newly in-gagged son and fun wedding plans, the amazing chocolate that came in the mail today, SoCal in March coming up, you know....stuff.  There's some thoughts rattling around, I just haven't found the mojo to write.

And I use the term "write" loosely.  We all know I ain't no stellar writer, I just like to scribble stuff down.  

And by scribble, I mean type.  On a keyboard.

More snow here in Utahard!  It needs to stop.  Really.  Over it.  Done.  Not liking it.  Abhorring it actually.

Yes.  I DO realize I live in Utah and it's winter.  We get snow here.  I know that, I understand that.  Doesn't mean I have to like it.

I decided that even though it rained the whole time in AZ, I could totally live there.  I've come to accept the fact that I am a desert rat at heart.

How does one convert one's spouse to be a desert rat?  Ideas?  Anyone?

'member those hot wheels cars we had when we were kids?  Okay, so my brother had them, but we had this really cool town map that we would play cars on, and then this super cool orange track we could race them around on.  'member the tires on those cars?  Slicks that just rolled and rolled and rolled?

That's what my back tires look like on my Cooper right now.  Didn't realize how fast the miles added up.  It's made for some interesting (translate - scary) driving the past couple of days.  It's now parked until they get replaced and I'm back to driving Pete the Pathfinder.  I'm grateful for a friend in the business who is hooking me up with some sweet tires. AND, we get to go shoot guns together too.  Friday's lookin good.

If this stupid snow will stop.

I gave up shoveling years ago when I jacked my back up.  Then we got this new snow shovel that is supposed to be ergonomically correct or something, and the user's back shouldn't ache.

They lie.

I have numerous friends who love their cats.  Don't tell anyone, but my heart is softening ever so slightly.  ICK.  Soft heart?  What the aitch is wrong with me?

Enjoying the Biggest Loser this season.  They have good contestants but more importantly, they have incorporated some kids on the show and focusing on childhood obesity.  Love it!  Even have Splenda Daddy on the bandwagon and watching it with me.

I just realized that we have our "shows" we have to watch together each night.  

I realize that's somewhat pathetic.

Pretty excited for the Superbowl on Sunday.  I follow football very minimally, but this year, what with the fantasy team and all - I've been a bit more engaged.  And as always, we have the best food, all the kids around and generally a great time.  Even gonna skype in the SoCal kids.

I love Skype.

Although, I think I could like Facetime just as much.  Smart phone Splenda Daddy?  Pretty please??

Looking outside....it's still snowing

*sigh*

Gonna play paper, scissors, rocks with myself to see if I brave the shovel again.

Peace and blessings, yo

Sunday January 27, 2013 - love, happiness and a beginning

Congratulations Luke and Mindy!

I couldn't be a happier Momma and so excited to add another daughter to our family!!

Spiritual Sunday - questions and maybe some answers

I love this picture and use it often.  The symbol of the Savior teaching a woman at his feet makes it feel very personal to me.  I oftentimes feel like I am her.

Yesterday was interesting.  From pacing a beautiful and stellar race to heartache.  

I'll post about the race another day.

Not today.

As soon as I got to my car and headed back home, I had missed calls and a text with the important "call me asap"

Getting word that a mutual friend had unexpectedly lost her husband.

LuvPilot was too young.  His wife and sons are too young.

Why on earth would this be a good idea?  In what part of what great plan does this fit into?

Once I've gotten home, settled and now awake in the wee quiet hours of the morning, my mind is full of questions, reflections and quiet comforting thoughts.

2012 seemed to be a year of heartache.  In the early months, losing some good friends to the other side felt like my capacity had been reached when added to the challenges of the previous couple of years.  The rest of the 2012 began the workings of a new normal.

Life did assume a new normal.  At least for those of us on the perimeter.  We slowly adjusted to the large gaps left in our worlds, comforted the best we could comfort and helped our friends move forward the best we knew how.

The bleak winter months have a way of sucking one back into those sad feelings though.  And yesterday, to hear of another friend who is suffering, stirs that pot of emotions again.

This morning my mind started off with so many why's.  

Why do people need to feel such heartache?

Why do challenges such as death need to be tackled with young people?

Why does this now have to be with them the rest of their lives?

Why must a vacancy be there that will never be filled?

Why do they have to do this?

I don't know.

Did anyone feel that when I lost my Dad?  Did anyone wonder why did young mCat have to deal with all that at such a young age?

Those two thoughts have never before over the past 30 or so years, ever occurred to me.  Ever.  It just was what it was.  I had no realm of thinking beyond what was inside of me at the time.  I didn't even wonder or have it cross my mind what someone else might be feeling for me.

I then ask myself, for my young friends who are grieving now, is it the same for them?

I don't know. 

I do know this, if I had/have any way of instilling my heartache, sorrow, condolences, prayers, love, comfort into those of my friends who are suffering - I.Would.Do.It.

If I had anyway of accurately conveying my love, my feelings of empathy, sympathy and my desire to ease their burdens to them, I would.

And then the light clicked on inside my little pea sized brain.

This must be exactly how my Savior feels.  

This must be how my Father in Heaven feels.

If there were a way to ease another's suffering, they would do it.

But remember.

In the garden, oh so many years ago, it WAS done.

The Savior took it all.  Not just our sins and imperfections and disobedience.

He took our sufferings.  Our losses.  Our heartaches.  Our physical pains.  Our overwhelming grief.

He took it, He suffered it for us, so that He would know how to give the very comfort that many of us desire to give one another.

"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take up him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:12)

He suffered more than just our sins, because He knew that we would suffer more than just the sorrow of mistakes.  He knew we would learn heartache, grieving, physical pain, hurt feelings, loneliness, depression, anxiety, helplessness, frustration.  He knew we would feel and suffer with those things, so He took them on as well so that He could know how to comfort us.

So the answer is Him.

The Savior.  

The only one who can possibly know exactly how we feel, because He felt it first.  For us.  On behalf of us.  And I believe in a very personal way.

I cannot comprehend how it was done, but this I know.  In my heart and soul.  

It was done.

Perhaps by name.  Perhaps, he took mCat on a personal level and experienced all the things I would experience in my life.  He felt them in the exact same way that I feel them, so that He would know how to comfort me.

I believe He did that for every living soul.

For YOU.

I believe it.  I know it in a place in my heart that is deep and solid

When He tell us:

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy lade, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29)

He means it.  He is telling us He knows how we feel, and if we just seek Him, we will find the comfort.  Maybe not understand the answers, but comfort and peace will be ours.

And on a very personal level.

I think that is what I love the most.  So personal.  So unique.  So intimate.

As I think over the last year or so and the death and passing of friends, I realize that they were all quite unexpected.   No one was ready for it.  Some were complete and utter blindsides.  There wasn't time to prepare and "gird up our loins".

Which brings me to me final thought.

Must always be ready.  Who knows what today, tomorrow or the next will bring?

My relationship must be so close with the Savior that when the sorrow hits, He is the one I turn to instinctively and automatically.  No need to "re-address" our relationship, it's there, it's a matter of simply reaching out my hand to His (which should never be far away - always withing grasping reach) and then holding a little tighter.

And further, as a disciple of His (which I took on when I was baptized a member of His church), I also need to lend whatever comfort I can to those who need it of me in the physical ways that I can provide.  On behalf of Him.

So back to my may "why?" questions?

The only answer I find is in Him.  No one else can answer those questions for us as individuals except Him.

Because He knew what we would need to deal with, He knows why and He knows how to comfort us.

The answer is Him

Good deed Friday

Sooo, I may have mentioned that my middle son is getting married.

(I know right?  They are so cute)

Anywhoodle.... he is up for a raise, but needs to have some things taken care of on the internetz.....  I won't go into the big long explanation simply 'cause not even I understand it all.  Basically, it would be sweet for him to get a raise in anticipation of his upcoming nuptials.

 He needs some "likes" on his new webpage.

SO

Click HERE (it'll link ya right over)

Click on the "like" button at the top right of the screen.

It will change to "confirm" 

Click the "confirm"

It will add another number to his "like" count.  

He needs  ___ number of "likes", so let's get on it peeps!

And mucho grassy ass to all of you who take the few seconds to help a brothah out!

xoxo

mCat

PS - to my friends on facebook, who have already taken the time to do this - I thank you again!

Happy Mail from Flashbang

Yes.   It's mine.  All mine.

Thanks to Flashbang for designing something realistic for women!

Wednesday's Wrandom Wrambling

Gosh!  I haven't posted in a really long time.  

Huh.  Not much to say I suppose.

It's January.  It's cold and dreary.  Pretty sure I have S.A.D.  Like 100% sure....... so...... basically January completely blows.

Woke up with a heckuva headache.  Like I don't think I've had one this bad in months.  Bad enough that I texted my boss and said I wasn't coming to work.  In over a year, this is only the second time I've "called in".  It was that bad.

But I got it under control with meds.  I thank Heavenly Father everyday for modern medicine.

It is so cold here that apparently there is a new game at my house.  First dog to get to my bed after coming in from outside gets the ultimate snuggle spot.  That spot being on my left hand side, next to the laptop with the heat radiating off. 

Jack wins.  Every time.

He's also discovered how awesome it is to lay on the heated corn bag that is under my covers.  It gives just enough heat to him through the blankets that he's perfectly content to lay totally still and sleep or watch TV (depending on what's on)

One more reason why Jack and I are so bonded.

Happiness is opening my email and seeing that my JetBlue TrueBlue points have been transferred and flights have been booked for March.

Now we begin the baby steppin to March.

A few hours ago, the POTUS signed some 23 executive orders regarding new gun laws.  I've read through them, and for the most part, they seem vague.  Other than re-instating a ban on assault weapons, maxing a magazine at 10 rounds and instituting universal background checks, the rest is pretty vague.  Clearly, I will do more research.

And the cost is 5million bucks.  I thought we were broke?  Where is the money gonna come from?  How do these initiatives stop bad guys from getting guns any more than it did yesterday?

It doesn't.  

But I did lovingly pull my gun out.  Made sure the chamber was clear, removed the magazine and just cuddled it for a minute.  

And then I checked my email again and looked to see that my new Flashbang holster had been shipped. 3-5 business days.  Happiness.

Okay, so it's not really official but since Luke put it on his own blog, I am free to blog it myself right?

Engaged!!!  Okay, he's not officially done the down-on-one-knee asking with a ring (waiting for the ring, which he had custom done to be ready), they are in full swing of planning.  I will devote a WHOLE post to that once that ring is on her finger.  

Not waiting because I don't think it will happen, but I want a picture for the post.  

Duh.

Oh, and I love her. 

And her family. 

April 19th yo.

My cute visiting teacher gave me a poinsettia for Christmas.  

I can't believe, it's still alive.  I usually kill stuff like that within mere weeks.  This one has made it to mid January.  It has a strong will to keep perserving in spite of it's surroundings and it's misfortune to be in my home.  

Maybe I should start taking bets as to as long it actually lasts.  That could be a fun game to get us through the winter months eh?

That eh was for you Wendy.  

Because I love you so.

With Luke planning on getting married, he's moved back home to save some money.  Smart move!  Weird to have as many kids back home as we do.  

I don't mind.  It's never lonely.  

What will I do when they all leave again?

*sigh*

More importantly, what will Jack do when his best friend Jace leaves?

Anyone know of  a good dog shrink?

I kid.

Kinda.

And finally, I am going to leave you with two links.

Two great blogs that I follow regularly and enjoy the writing and/or commentary on all kinds of different things.

Virtual Mirage's review of Zero Dark Thirty.  Which I still need to see. I'll write my own review then, but for now - his is stellar.

and 

The Old Jarhead's post Keeper of the Flame.  Very thought provoking and worth the time to read.

There it is kids.  Another rambling post.....

Happy Wednesday!

A list of things I learned about spending New Year's in Las Vegas

What a delightful lil road trip and full of new life lessons

1.  6 hours to LV goes much more fast than 12 hours to Camp Pendleton.

2.  It's much more comfortable driving a long distance in a Honda Accord than a Mini Cooper.

3.  I like having kids/friends in the backseat

4.  If you take enough dramamine, you can actually read a book on the road and the time goes by much faster.

5.  Getting into a secure housing community in Henderson  is harder than Camp Pendleton.

6.  How did people ever find their way without a Garmin?

7.  Staying in a house full of family is the best.

8.  Birthday dinner for Splenda Daddy is the greatest when Chloee wants to sit by him and share his dessert

9.  Always listen to the locals for a good restaurant.  Especially if your nephew is a food whore.

10.  Attending another ward for church is basically useless if you have consumed so much Nyquil that all you do is sleep.

11.  The strip at night on the Sabbath is never a bad idea.

12.  Arguing with a street preacher is the cheapest and most fun form of entertainment.  I could have done it all night long.

13.  There is a ridiculous amount of money spent on and in casino's.

14.  I blew my allotted gambling money (5 bucks) on a bottled water.

15.  I was desperate.

16.  The strip in Las Vegas is absolutely the BEST place to people watch.

17.  Never be too old for a game of hide and seek in the dark.  If you don't play and go to bed instead, you will regret it forever.

18.  Shooting in the desert is much more fun than a shooting range.

19.  My son knows more about firearms than I ever imagined.  And he has taught his daughter every safety precaution possible.

20.  I like big shotguns

21.  Splenda Daddy and I should have taken our own guns.

22.  I don't think I have ever met anyone with more guns than B.

23.  It's one of the many things that endear him to me.

24.  Cleaning all the firearms takes a lot of time and the metal/oil taste in my mouth stays.  It has to be cleared with spicy hummus.

25.  Board games never get old.  Ever.

26.  My nephew is a bigger concert whore than Tiburon is.  And I never believed it could be possible.

27.  It doesn't take much money to spend a few days with family and create some awesome new memories.   It's worth every minute, every penny and I will do it again and again as often as I can.

Happy New Year!!  May 2013 be the best yet!