Constant Smiles

I am often curious about my natural face. You know, the automatic fall back look after some external stimulus has changed your expression? I also wonder about my automatic responses. Sometimes I wish I could be observing my life through a camera viewpoint as well as my optical one. My favorite is when I regain awareness of my expressions while lost in the experience. Like in Zumba class, when I song has carried me away to some tropical hide away and Fernando and I are dancing (we won't go further with that image.) Smile. Or when I reading a clever blog and try to limit my comments so as not to seem too creepy, but silently reveling in the words and moments of their lives. Smile. And when I watch my children in their element and really listen instead of pretending in that state of multiprocessing motherhood. Smile.

Ah, this life has so much to absorb and love and taste. I can't see why I slip so often into that natural state. I suppose that's why we should be more childlike. Unfettered love and curiosity with the willingness to obey = pure joy. (with a few exceptions like cleaning their toy room or folding their clothes). Smile.

The Standard Prayer

Whenever Fernando is on the night shift, I often struggle with avoiding my biggest weaknesses. There are good reasons that they are called the "better half". Last night was no exception. I started out with the simple desire of finishing the first part of the John Adams HBO movie (kind of a let down for me, kind of like Amazing Grace. Both about amazing men, but became too side tracked to be as powerful of a movie as those could have been.) Fernando called from the hospital at the half way point in the movie and suggested I go to bed. He warned that if I didn't stop now, I would stay up too late. This accusation is based on countless previous offenses which bring unfavorable results (AS IF WE NEEDED THE REMINDER OF MAMA MIA AND THE CHURCH FIASCO.)
After the flick, I decided to see what was on tv. I walked right into the trap. I flipped between lame shows before settling on a duo of True Beauty (lame) and a fantastic show about Polio. (No sarcasm should be taken there. My favorite shows are based on history. Really, if you have time. . .that link takes you to the show to watch online.) By the time that show was over, I felt a little less guilty since it was an educational show (really amazing. Ok I don't want to build it up too much). By this time it was midnight. I collapsed on my bed and tried to sleep.
I kept feeling the need to check to doors to make sure things were locked. I had already hit the point where sleep was just a few moments away. Still, I couldn't get rid of that nagging feeling. Even after trying to make my suppositions into fact, I went too see for good measure.

Gratitude for listening to that prompting came at the front door. The door wasn't even locked. At the back, I found the door ajar. I don't need to go through all the what if's that came rushing to my mind. I instantly thought of my standard prayer phrase. Every night I try to pray my thoughts and feelings of the day almost in the manner I would tell a friend. Yet, I keep a phrase in each nightly prayer "Please watch over our home and keep us safe." Every morning I thank Heavenly Father for answering that prayer, but last night my prayers overflowed with gratitude for answering my prayers in such an obvious blessing.

What do you do in the Summer Time?

I was going through my pictures and found a treasure trove from last summer. We, I should say I, missed the boat on getting Sea World Passes. Strangely, I did have the parking pass for the season. I didn't know if Sea World was the destination for me and the 3 kiddos this last summer. The idea of me trying to keep tow excited kids safe while packing around a 3 month old didn't sound fun or safe. With no pool in our community (hopefully I can change that soon), we were hurting for some aquatic adventure. Thanks to fun primary people, we had a riotous time in the church parking lot. As you can tell, cheap entertainment is still entertainment.





All of the fun games included water, but in ways I never had seen. For example, transferring water from one tub to another via a plastic cup on your head. Another fun one dealt with Frisbee and splashing water. The rest included catch the water filled balloon and scope water into the next bucket.

Still, this year I think I am busting down the walls of uncertainty and get the pass. I am sure that sun block companies will love my economic stimulus they'll be getting this year.