BUZZ WAPP !!

How do you count your blessings when you don’t even know about them?

We have been having problems with our cable internet connection being very slow. With up to four computers on at once, and doing things from games (high graphics) to downloads (very intensive) to business (very important); we really need the connection to be reliable.

T & I talked about replacing this or that, but then he started to do some testing on the connection. We could get on the internet, but the cable company showed that we didn’t have any connection. Can you say “Found The Problem”?

We didn’t know exactly what the problem was, but we knew it was in the cable stuff and not our stuff. Since we pay a whopping $3 a month for the cable company to come inside the door without charging us for it-we scheduled a “check-up”.

Jason was the tech that came out today. He began sorting through the web of wires (some of which are not even in use) under T’s desk. He got some tools and stuff. Then I hear “WOW” and see a puff of smoke. (Now this is where I question the hiring practices of the cable company) He tried to touch the coax cable to the connection he had just taken it out of and there was an arc of electricity about 3 inches long! As Jason left the house to get a voltage meter, the cute little comments were made about waking up, zapping, etc. (I really think he had to go change his pants)

We found out that the problems actually began about May when we last had a tech out. That first tech had wired an 80 volt ac line directly to our cable inlet. This means that ANYTHING connected to cable in our home ($30,000 easily) could have been fried, shorted out, burned, wiped out, melted down, zapped, buzz-wapped, AND emitted toxic smoke. The problem was corrected- immediately!

Then we sat back and began to realize just how many blessings we have had in connection with this. But I don’t think we can even touch the surface of the actual number! If we had tried to change any coaxial cable connection in the house, someone would have gotten that buzz-wapp feeling that is likely to end with a trip to the hospital. And then while you were at the hospital the house would have burned down around that 80 volt current that you dropped when you got buzz-whapped.

I wonder if the monsoon storms we have been having created more danger, I mean blessings?

Which Disney Princess are YOU?

I am Mulan!

Strong and spirited. You're no one's girly girl; actually you are very determined person with a strong sense of self. Never let go of that! The only thing that equals your sense of self is your family, but the traditions of society can always be bent to protect something or someone you love.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

It was 29 years ago

29 years ago today, I went to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport with my husband to get our first child as my father brought a little baby boy off the airplane. I was filled with emotions I still can’t put a name to!

After I got that little boy into my arms, I didn’t want to let him go. Since this was in 1979, it was before any laws for seat belts or child restraints. So I held that little baby as we left the airport and drove to my parents’ home in Mesa.

When I think back now about how everyone carried children in their cars, I am almost horrified! I used to put the babies on the seat beside me, lying down, so I could take care of them as I drove. When they got older, they would sit in the back seat where they sat, crawled around, laid down, or stood; whatever the mood happened to be. When we had a panel van, I would put the baby on the floor between the seats. Sometimes it makes you wonder how so many children survived their childhood.

I looked for the picture we took sitting on the couch with him, but couldn’t find it.

First-time parents can do some pretty interesting things. I was the oldest of 10 and had a little bit of understanding about babies (emphasis on LITTLE BIT). My hubby was 4th of 5.

When we got home to our apartment, we took care of this brand-new little boy and then we went to bed about 11:30pm. About 2:30 am, the baby began to get fussy. We both got up to feed him. Things were going just fine until hubby jumped up and ran into the bedroom. When he came back in the front room, I asked what was wrong. He had sat an alarm for 3:00 so that we would not sleep through the feeding time!

If I remember right, I began to laugh!! Having lived with lots of little babies, I knew that it was VERY UNLIKELY that we would sleep through a crying baby that was in a bassinet right next to our bed! That has always been a good story to tell! Of course, he never set an alarm for a baby again. Duh!!

I'm happy it wasn't my day

I make a practice of reading the blogs of relatives and friends on a regular basis. You just never know when you will come up with a treasure, a great idea, or a good laugh.

This one is just such a great one, that I have to share it! It makes me grateful for a boring, calm life.

http://thetietjenzoo.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-very-bad-day-must-read.html

Happy Birthday S

I have the best daughter-in-law in the world and

today is her birthday.

Just a few things I love about her:

1. She loves my son and is the best wife I think he could have chosen.
   


2. She is a wonderful mother to my grandsons.
   


3. She enjoys the mischief and mayhem that comes with two little boys and still loves them with all her heart.
   


4. She is the only one I trust completely with my hair.
   


5. She can do things with a blog that I can’t begin to duplicate (and I am trained on computers)!
   


6. I have never heard her raise her voice, for anything.
   


7. She is beautiful and very feminine.
   


8. She loves to cook and make bread and do all the things that go into creating a happy, loving home.
   


9. She supports my son in everything (even when I probably wouldn’t have).
   


10. She has a loving smile that makes you feel like she is smiling just for you.
    


11. She loves Christ and you can tell by her actions that she does everything she can to live as Christ would want her to.
    


12. She is accepting of everything. (Sometime I’ll have to get her to tell me what she really feels!)
    


13. She is the most well-rounded, gospel loving, happiest woman I know.

Happy Birthday S!

We love you greatly and miss you a lot!

Too bad she doesn’t have the best mother-in-law,

or she would be getting a handmade card instead of this blog.

Stitch & Pitch Baseball

There are some things in life that just don’t seem fair!

I have read about many Stitch & Pitch baseball games and have wanted to go to one. Yesterday, I found out through my local crochet group that the Arizona Diamondbacks are finally having one. I started to calmly express my joy by jumping up and down while dancing.

Then I read the date – August 24th, 2008. This happens to be a Sunday. My joyful dance turned into huge frustration!

Sunday is out! No hedging! And if there was ever a time I felt like rationalizing—this would be it. Sunday is a day to attend church, read scriptures, rest, visit family, or other things that would keep the Lord’s Day holy. (See the Ten Commandments)

Well, I didn’t give myself time to start the rationalization; I just sent my reply saying that I would not be there, but ONLY because it was a Sunday.

So, I tried to put it out of my mind. Well today, I promptly looked up what the tickets cost; hoping that the price would be huge and would make it easier for me to miss it. The price is only $15.00 and there will be vendors there (companies who sell things related to crochet) which means that there would be freebies and other things that I would love to get.

Well that tactic didn’t help at all! So I’m down to just staying home because I know that going to a sports event on Sunday is not what I should do. There are times that obedience can be a real bummer!

Will all of you who go to the Diamondbacks Stitch N Pitch game think of me and make about 1000+ comments about how it should be on any other day? Then next year I might be able to go. (And I hope you feel guilty for breaking the Sabbath Day!)

Anita Renfroe

This is a video of probably the FUNNIEST thing about motherhood I have ever seen. It never gets old, I can watch it over and over.

After you have watched it, the lyrics are below the video if you want to try and follow along

THE MOM OVERTURE by Anita Renfroe

Get 'em out, get ‘em out, get ‘em out of bed~ Wash your face, brush your teeth, come on sleepy head~ Get your clothes, get your shoes, get a word I said~ Get up now, get up and make your bed~ Are you hot, are you cold, are you wearing that~ Where’s your books and your lunch and your homework at~ Grab your coat and your gloves and your scarf and hat~ Don’t forget, you got to feed the cat~ Eat your breakfast. Experts tells us it’s the most important meal of all~ Take your vitamins so you will grow up one day to be big and tall~ Remember the orthodontist will be seeing you at three today~ Don’t forget piano lessons are this afternoon so you must play. Don’t shuffle, she’s lovely, but hurry, the bus is hear~ be careful, come back here, did you wash, behind your ears.

Play outside, don’t play rough, could you just play fare~ Be polite, make a friend, don’t forget to share~ Work it out, take your turn, never take a dare~ Get along, don’t make me come down there~ Clean your room, pick up clothes, put your stuff away~ Make your bed, do it now, do you have all day~ Were you born in a barn, would you like some hay~ Do you even hear a word I say~ Answer the phone, get off the phone~ Don’t sit so close, turn it down, no texting at the table~ No more computer time tonight~ Your ipods my ipod if you don’t listen up

Were you going, when your leaving and what time do you think your coming home?~ Say thank you, please, excuse me, bless you , welcome every were you go~ You’ll appreciate my wisdom someday when your older and you are grown~ Can’t wait until you have a couple little children of your own~ You’ll thank me for the council I gave you so willingly~ But right now I’ll thank you not to roll your eyes at me~ Close your mouth when you chew and appreciate~ Take a bite, maybe two of the stuff you hate~ Use a fork, do not burp or I’ll set you straight~ Eat the food I put upon your plate~ Get an A, but don’t get smart with me~ Get a grip, take a breath, counting down to three~ Get a job, get a life, get a PhD~ Here we go.

I don’t care who started it~ Your grounded until your 36~ Get your story straight and tell the truth for once for heaven sake~ And if all your friends jumped off a cliff would you jump too?~ If I said it once I’ve said it at least a thousand times before that~ Your too old to act this way~ Must be your fathers DNA~ Look at me when I am talking~ Stand up straighter when you walk~ A place for everything~ And everything must be in place~ Stop crying or I’ll give you something real to cry about~ Oh

Brush your teeth, wash your face put your pjs on~ Get in bed, get a hug, Say a prayer with mom~ Don’t forget, I love you, *kiss*~ And tomorrow we will do this all again~ Because your moms job never ends~ You don’t need a reason why~ Because, because, because, because~ I said so~ I said so~ I said so~ I said so~I’m the mom, the mom, the mom, mom, mom~ The Mom~ Tada

Come, Come, Ye Saints

Sunday, during Sacrament Meeting, we talked about the Hymns of the Gospel. We heard from 6 individuals and then we sang their favorite song. It was one of the most spiritual meetings I have been in for a long while. One of the songs was “Come, Come, Ye Saints”.

The words were written as early members of the Church made their way across what is now the USA to what is now Utah, in order to find a place to worship without persecution.

I have always known that my ancestors were among those who made this difficult crossing. Being one of the rare individuals whose ancestors, living at the time of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, ALL joined this marvelous gospel and made that terrible journey across wild country, is a particularly touching heritage.

Also, I have been putting this same heritage into the computer for almost the last year; both sides and as far back as we have records for. Many of the names are ones I have heard all my life, as my parents did research and talked about their ancestors. Many are familiar to me. Some, I knew before their death; most of them, I did not. But it has been a singular experience, for me which has been a blessing in many ways.

As we sang this song, Sunday, I suddenly realized that I really did have a wonderful heritage of ancestors who sang this song when it was first sung, by those travelers as they walked,

• more weary than I can imagine;
• heart-sick at just burying a family member;
• as they sat at the campfire trying to lift themselves each night before going to sleep on the hard and seldom level ground.

As we began to sing the second verse, I thought of how much complaining I do about the 115°+ heat as I sit in my air-conditioned house or drive in my air-conditioned car. The only thing close to air-cooling they had was the dirty wind blowing across the sweat on their faces. I still don’t like the heat and will probably still complain; but I have a different outlook about how I came to be here (even if it is too hot) and what my ancestors did to make that happen.

==============================

Come, Come, Ye Saints

1. Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;

But with joy wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day.’

Tis better far for us to strive

Our useless cares from us to drive;

Do this, and joy your hearts will swell—

All is well! All is well!

2. Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?

’Tis not so; all is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward

If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.

Our God will never us forsake;

And soon we’ll have this tale to tell—

All is well! All is well!

3. We’ll find the place which God for us prepared,

Far away in the West,

Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid;

There the Saints will be blessed.

We’ll make the air with music ring,

Shout praises to our God and King;

Above the rest these words we’ll tell—

All is well! All is well!

4. And should we die before our journey’s through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

But if our lives are spared again

To see the Saints their rest obtain,

Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell—

All is well! All is well!

Text: William Clayton, 1814–1879 Music: English folk song