Striving Toward Simplicity

sim·pli·fy

To make simple or simpler, as:
a. To reduce in complexity or extent.
b. To reduce to fundamental parts.
c. To make easier to understand.

So, while on our vacation during the first half of July, I came to understand that I need to simplify my life. I have begun to spend too much time, either physically or mentally, outside of my home. When I get into a mode such as this, I tend to become easily overwhelmed and I feel disconnected from my purpose in life. The "outside" world begins to control my "inside" world and then my priorities start getting out-of-alignment.

Society is tricky this way. It tries to convince us, as mothers, that we need to be outside the home by either working, having our kids in multiple activities, friend groups, etc. so that our focus is not completely on our home and family. Plus society also tries to convince us that we need to change ourselves (usually physically) to fit into the current "in" trend, which causes us to feel inadequate, thus giving Satan the win. I also believe that we as women and mothers tend to justify these situations by saying that we are doing this for "us" and not anyone else. So, my challenge would be, why do we feel we need to change ourselves unless some outside source has convinced us to? Children don't feel the need to change themselves "just for them" because they haven't yet begun to understand what society is expecting of them. Wouldn't it be great to have that same level of self-esteem? To not even recognize where "society" is telling us that we don't fit in? Which just reinforces the scriptural reference of "becoming childlike".

So, I suppose I have recognized where I need to let go, which are mainly societal pressures, and where I need to refocus, which is my home and family. I know that when I do this, my life seems so much more in balance and so much more peaceful. I'm going to strive to keep my eye on the "eternal perspective" and away from "who's doing what, wearing what, saying what" because simplicity dwells within the "eternal perspective" and my current goal is to obtain complete simplicity.

New Twilight Trailer!!

Here's a new Twilight Trailer that they just released. If you haven't seen it yet, just click on the link below. It's a good one!! :)

American Idol Tour-2008

For Mother's Day, I bought my mom tickets to go see the American Idol Tour 2008, which was last night at the E Center. Both Hannah and I went along for the fun evening. It really was spactacular!! I loved it!! But my favorites would have to have been Michael Johns (I mean, who can not say he's AMAZING?!?....Love his accent!), The chick from Ireland (I wasn't a big fan of hers while she was on the show, which would clarigy why I don't know her name but let me just say that she was outstanding live!), David Cook--Of course (he was even better than he was on the show, which should say alot!! Brilliant!!), and last but not least, my man, David Archuleta!! It was truly a thrill to get to listen to him sing in person. We were only on the 31st row, which sound far back but we had a great view, besides all the heads that were in the way! When he came out singing the crowd went wild!!! It was hard to even hear him but we calmed down a bit into the song so that we could listen to him BUT when he was finished the cheers began and went on and on and on and on some more. I bet we sat there clapping and screaming for him for 8-10 minutes straight. And I don't mean a normal cheer, I'm talking the kind that hurt your ears and you can't hear the person next to you even if they are screaming directly into your ears. I've never experienced something like that but I have to say that I am glad to have been a part of it. By the end of the four songs that David A. had sung, he was in tears! He was overwhelmed by the reaction from his home state. I adore him because he is just so humble and caring. He's the type of boy that I want my little Hannah to marry :) ...I'm sure that there are more like him out there....somewhere :)

Anyway, there was one bad thing to the evening and that was the fact that I didn't bring my camera. I called the E Center and asked if I could bring a camera. They said I could as long as it doesn't have a retractable lense on it, which is does. I thought about bringing it anyway to see if they'd let me in with it but opted out because I didn't want to leave it in the car if they didn't. As soon as I was inside I was so bummed because there were many people there with my style of camera. So, the only camera we had was my mom's which doesn't do so well in the dark and from 31 rows back. I think we tool about 100 photos and the ones I'll post on this entry are the best ones, which should say just how awful they turned out :( I really am a bit upset about that!

So here are couple of photos. Ironically enough (and to my delight), it seems like the only ones that came out somewhat clear are of David Archuleta!! YIPPEE!!

Just the girls!

Hannah and her handy-dandy glowstick.

I am so grateful for the big jumbo-tron that was behind David because these photos are just not high-quality at all!! But what's funny is that the other singers didn't show up well at all on the jumbo-tron. They were either really blurry or big bright balls of light! Very strange that these are only ones that came out somewhat ok :) And I still can't help but see Gabe as a teenager when I look at David Archuleta. It's so funny to me how much they look alike and how many expressions they have that are similar. It'll be fun to compare once Gabe is a teenager though I don't really want to think about that right now. I want to keep him little forever :)

Can You Read This?

Ok so I have seen this before but it's still fun. I just copied and pasted it from an email that I received. Let me know how you do! :)


Only great minds can read this!

This is weird, but interesting!

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too.

Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

Amazingly Inspirational

I was going through some of my old emails that I hadn't had a chance to read and I came across one from my friend Karie. After I read her words concerning the video clip that she wanted me to view, I knew it would be worth the 13 minutes it would take to see it. I am so grateful I did because it has helped me see that the Lord's love is amazing and that we, as his children, need to be grateful for whatever circumstances we are currently in. Because if we use our difficult times to make us stronger, we can become amazing followers of Christ.

The man in this video is not of my faith but I know that his testimony of Christ is solid. He loves his Savior and had dedicated his life to sharing the love of Christ. Some terms used may not be the same terms that someone of my faith may use but believe me, this man is bareing his testimony of his loving Savior and it touched every ounce of my soul.

I can only hope that the Lord can use me in the way He is using this man.

Please take the time to watch the whole clip. You will not be sorry that you did. And I believe you will be a better person afterwards. :)

Enjoy!

When Will I Ever Learn...

...I HATE WAL-MART!!!!

Buddy's 2yr old Photos

Well, Gabe's 2nd birthday was on Mother's Day (May 11th) so I am a bit late getting his 2yr old photos done but better late than never, right?

I really felt bad for Carma because Gabe was in his usual "out-of-hand" mood. She pulled out every trick in the book but still only got a few photos where he's smiling. And then poor Hannah had to sit there with a perma-grin on just incase Gabe actually did look at the camera and smiled. So the photos with them together are a little rough around the edges but still adorable. Hannah insisted that her teddybear pumpkin be in a few shots and actually, there was suppose to be photos of Gabe with his "softies" (his soft blue blanket) but I don't remember seeing them in there. I'll have to look at them again to make sure and if they're not there, then I'll give Carma a call. I know they probably didn't turn out the best (the one's with Gabe & softies) so I hope she didn't delete them. I want one anyway! (Ok, I made a mistake. They're there! Yippee! I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get one of him and softies :)