25 April 2010

Lois Wilson and the Hallmark Movie

Hey y'll,

I just want to say thank you to Lois Wilson and Bill W for their love for each other. Millions of lives have been changed due to AA and Al Anon and all the other programs that are an outgrowth of addictions.

Even the LDS Recover Addiction Program are adapted steps from the AA and Alanon Programs. I love that program.

For all those who have ever struggled with addiction or have lived with someone with an addiction, apply the steps in the program and you will finally have peace.

And soon, pictures of the kitchen. Although today I hit another glitch. After I installed the hardware and went to hang the cupboard doors, I realized that shimming them made the cupboard doors NOT fit correctly. I misdrilled one, maybe two doors so I'll be swapping them out and hopefully I'll be able to hang them all soon. Ughhh................

Have a great night.

06 March 2010

Just some musings from today...

I was just sitting here thinking. Dangerous, I know, I know, but my mind wandered all on its own. I wonder if I was packing or digging like I should be, would my mind be wandering?

Whatever. It did. So I was thinking about just the world and I went from Haiti to Jon who served a mission in Haiti to how he taught me how connect the restoration of the fullness of the gospel to my testimony to Jim who taught me how to share a Book of Mormon with a friend.

I am so grateful for these guys who helped me learn the gospel and also influenced me tremendoursly in going on a mission.

Jon, could be John, don't even remember his last name necessarily. He was in my stake, lived across the sound in Gig Harbor. I knew his sister a little bit. I didn't know him at all and didn't really care to actually. I was a freshman at the community college and there were about 4 kids who worked in our office who had graduated from a small, relgious private school in Tacoma that I had never heard of. One day one of the guys began drawing comparisons of the catholic and protestant religions on the white board and asked me where I thought ours fit in and I knew it didn't fit into either but I just wasn't sure how to explain it to him so I just said, protestant. John was sitting there and he said, Sharon, no it isn't. The gospel of jesus Christ was restored to the Prophet Joseph Smith and drew a new line and included ordinances and ongoing revelation. I was definitely humbled and embarassed but so grateful that he didn't just sit there and LET me screw that one up. He never let me live it down but I didn't care. Now I knew HOW to say it. ANd boy has it come in handy for the rest of my life.

I believe that a lack of knowledge about other relgions and how they came to be was a contributing factor to my lack of finess way back when and still can be today. Obviously now I'm much more aware due to the fact that I work with churches of all kinds, all over the places. I lvoe working with churches and explaining to them the God and Country Award, the ownership that they have over their units and how to make sure they have the influence of God in their scouting programs.

My brother has been calling me for weeks now and I just haven't been able to connect with him until yesterday. We talked for about 45 minutes and he told me that he was working on getting his life in order including meeting with the High Council. He said he walks with a little zip in his step and that he is happier than he's been in a long time. I am so happy for his decision. It came all on his own and he's pretty excited about whatever the outcome. He said, it doesn't matter what they tell me, I know what I should be doing and I will do it. He LOVES his stake president and his home teacher. As assigned he is a member of the high council. I just gotta say kudos to the stake in MI for making this happen when they couldn't get it to work on the West coast with my ex. When you go through this, a stake level HT is ALWAYS assigned and this one actually visits my brother.

I am grateful that we served our missions at the same time and that we have that shared experience. We wrote every single week without missing even one week for 56 weeks! I got home a year before he did so I slowed down a bit and I'm sure that hurt his feelings - but I was too busy (yucky, that tastes crappy coming out of my mouth!) at college wishing I was dating. Bluchhh...I wish I had remained faithful in my writing.

Maybe I'll try and escape to MI at the end of the month for the weekend and be there for him. I know he would love it. It would show him that I cared enough to come.

Hmmm...maybe.

ALmost done packing up the kitchen. Just gottan hit the bottoms and then make some decisions about demo! yeah!

13 February 2010

KItchen what?

I'm taking a poll - who has been through a remodel before? While I can honestly answer yes to that - it was so long ago (like 30 years, lol) that I don't think it should count.

My parents remodeled the kitchen and I remember it taking a long time but my mom probably remembers it wayyyyy differently.

Ikea required me to "draw it myself"? What the freak - don't they know me? That I like to get everything for nothing and that I don't have any skills? No, they didn't get that memo but they were patient with me. I have to say that after a day of "edubacation" on how to remodel, I'm sure it'll happen now. I'm just not sure of when. Probably one of my biggest annoyances is that I've accepted the loan and it's been funded so I'm paying interested on stuff I don't have installed yet and that bugs the living bejeebers out of me!~

I am so annoyed at the process of just "getting a new kitchen". But hey, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it - oh, wait, they are all doing it! I went into the cabinet factory outlet and every single piece I needed/wanted was already sold and backed up in the warehouse because they were selling so quickly. That fact that they are having a sale didn't really help either.

(I just realized I'm going in reverse chronological order so we'll just keep on going!)

This AM I started out home depot where the nice lady Kim took almost 2 hrs with me but I didn't feel at all confident about what she was telling me. I did however, pick out a dishwasher, a microwave, a sink and flooring. None of which she helped me with. This was really all about personal preference.

Anyway. I'm beat and now it's off to learn something about the Abrahamic Covenent for my lesson tomorrow. Oh, and somehow I've got to fit in some cardio. Did I mention its 21:30?

Hugs,
Sharon

29 December 2009

Gratitude is all attitude! ~ What I'm grateful for in 2009!

First 3 months? Boring cause I can't remember anything meaningful happening.
In April I let a friend and kids move in as she attempted to leave her husband – she lasted two weeks but lots of things transpired during that time. I cleaned out a bedroom, sold my huge, bar room style dining room table. I LOVED that table. I believed that a table meant you would eat at it, which I did often, and could have company over, and play games around it. It was very difficult to say goodbye. In fact, I took pictures to remember it with!
This all opened up space so I could potentially have someone live with me and so my roommate moved in at the end of May. It's been a transition and it sort of what prompted me to realize that I could adopt. Kirsten is nice (not to be mistaken with Kristen from Woodland). Moving on now, lol.
In June I joined Toastmasters International and really, really enjoy it. I do believe out club could at least follow the plan but hey, it's ok to be a rebel every once in awhile, right?
I'm grateful for Ohana – I took my furlough and vacation and went to Hawaii for the 2009 Nihipali Ohana Reunion where I met up with my brother Kenji and spent quality time with my extended family. I didn't get enough so I went back for Thanksgiving. Mahalo for your love and support!! I love you guys, which I did scream from the car window as I drove away. Yep, you heard correctly I said I love you!
I'm grateful for friends – Julie Slack moved into the ward in September. She has been a HUGE blessing for me. Jody, Shannon and of course Matt and Lisa.
An invitation to the Single Adult Labor Day Camp out at Ensign Ranch with Shirley and Carla and where I met Kristen. Kristen was camping right next to us at the ranch and we hit it off. I hadn't had the opportunity to camp for FUN in about, oh, 5 years. Yes, I work for the BSA but I work when I camp. To just go, be dirty and sleep on the ground was SOOOO awesome. I felt so great about it and had a blast dancing and just being me. It also led to purchasing fruits on the way home and a first time canning experience. I did pears, peaches and then apple sauce and blackberry peach jam. I'm thankful for friends and visiting teachers that helped me get started in the canning arena. I plan on doing a lot more in 2010~~!
It's during this year that I have begun the process of adopting. I chose to do it even tho I am single because I believe that children are worth more than “the system”. The kid(s) will be from the foster care system and up here we get to choose from the 4 state area of WA, OR, ID and AK. I believe the adoption worker is working on my home study and I'm working on a scrap book and taking the necessary trainings. It's a process and will take time and may never happen. I'll be sure to keep my facebook status updated, lol!
I was released as Cub committee chair and called to teach Sunday school for the 15-18 year olds. I love and adore my kiddos. This is a great age to teach – they are old enough and smart enough to have a great time.
And could there have been a great Christmas gift than to be invited to Matt's sealing? Nope. It was awesome and beautiful. Kristen deserves a medal for driving, arranging our lodging and then being bored out of her mind.
The Atonement is real. The Church is true. The scriptures are TRUE testimonies of the prophets that have lived before us. I love the Gospel and my family and friends. I am so blessed and grateful.

22 December 2009

Matt's Story



I hope Matt doesn't mind that I'm telling his story - or my story about him.

I just love this kid. He was there for me - we bonded over whole chicken and a walk around the pond at our annual retreat going on 6 years ago now. He was new with the council and I was in dire straits. I was going through a horrible divorce and he was alone really for the first time in a new place. He was a good listener and a great friend.

One day he called me and asked me about Joseph Smith in an obscure way. I can't remember the entire question but I do know it was odd. I asked him what he was reading and he said the biography of Joseph Smith's mother. I said, that was a good choice but did he have a Book of Mormon. He said no and I said you will tomorrow morning. I scrambled - I'm embarassed to say that I didn't have one at home or in the car already - but he had one on his desk by the time he arrived the next morning. I asked him if he would join us in reading the Book of Mormon by the end of the year as President Hinckley had asked us to. He said that he would. I don't know if I put anything inside or if I wrote a little note...I'm sure that I would've about what knowing about the Restoration meant to me and how grateful I am for the Savior.

He has many, many friends in the Gospel that had been laying that ground work for a long, long time. He joined the church - and I spoke about the blessings of attending the temple at his baptism. Also, he had standing room only at his baptism which is pretty intense considering he moved during the time he took the discussion and he got baptized in the stake where the missionaries were living and everyone - from friends and family to both single's wards attened. It was awesome.

The same was true this Saturday when he was sealed to his sweetheart Molly. Standing room only in the sealing room. You know Matt, I love you man but when he called yesterday to tell me thank you...we were both tearing up (and I was at work - he was in the privacy of his car) but all I can say is you are welcome. I hope that you and Molly have a HUGE family that bring you joy and happinesses into the eternities. Your sealing was amazing and beautiful. Your sealer did a wonderful job in explaining how it is the crowning ordinance of the Gospel plan.

Now the real work begins - but I'm sooo happy for you two. I couldn't help but keep talking about how excited I was/am for you to all my friends. They probably wondered why but knowing the eternal blessings of the sealing and purpose of families helps us know that it's not just a temporary thing.

You are and have been a true friend and huge blessing to me!! I love you man!

Sharon

05 November 2009

Just a quick update

I'm busy at work. We had an Eagle Scout reception last night and it was VERY nice. The turn out wasn't as high as we'd have liked however, those that came, came with enthusiasm and gusto and had a chance to share their story and how Scouting had impacted them.

The food was nice, the facility even nicer and the company great. What more can a girl ask for?

I booked my Thanksgiving week trip to HI yesterday as well. I texted my aunty to tell her and to say hi to my parents who are there now, visiting for my grandma's birthday. Of course everyone thinks I should've been there for that and I would have loved it but I just didn't have those days off for vacation and I do Turkey day so for the first time since my mission - and my first year of marriages past - not be home for Thanksgiving. It is my all time favorite holiday - good eats, good fun, great company and no gifts. Just gratitude.

We had stake conference last Sunday and I was called on to bear testimony. That was such a shock to me that the Stake President announced that he would let me collect my thoughts and called on someone else. This someone else, consequetly was sitting next to the girl I was sitting with. Julie leans over and goes, gosh, it's good thing he didn't know MY name, lol.

I sure do love my stake, ward, the area. you know, every time I try and escape from this place, something happens and I can't. I know it's where I'm supposed to be otherwise I would find a way out. That's how it works for me.

I switched Rotary clubs and already feel more at home and at ease than I have in a long while. I'm having lunch with one of the gals - she's only 30 and she's assistant admissions director for Linfield College here in town. I'm gonig to talk to her about volunteering or such and getting my foot in the door so I can begin applying for those types of postitions.

I have a new friend - her name is Julie and she is amazing. She and her brother and father live up on "the hill" - makes me laugh when they call it that but that is exactly where it is outside of Amity. Their view faces south, southwest and it's amazing!!!! The owners have a Christmas tree farm and we hiked through it last week. The Slacks have a beautiful puppy - so sweet and adorable. I hear they aren't always like that but theirs is. Julie is so awesome because we went to Conference together and then hung out at her place and when I forgot my $$ because she drove, she drove me back to my place and then back into town! Then we got pizza and went home and ate and then just laughed and talked and joked until we fell asleep. Then we went to conference the next AM. It was nice to have someone to go with. She made this amazing breakfast casserole and then dinner in a pumpkin. Both were delicious. I love being away from home but still close. I LOVE having a friend nearby - honestly, who would've thought it possible. I mean, how many single, 34 year old LDS women can there by in Amity? well, now there are two!

I've been walking with Kirsten twice a week and going to water aerobics 2 times a week and have lost 8 #'s so far this month. I think the formula is working. Lose 4.2 more and my feet will finally get some TLC - it's a reward and although I walked by the salon, I didn't go in!! Ugh, they need it and I need to get rid of my fat.

Alright, I should get ready for our meeting tonight. I've been preping for our 45 minute interview with Matt Devore, our new Scout Executive. I think it's exciting to talk to him for so long. If only Don wasn't there. I hear our FDs won't be in on them so that should be interesting. I'm feeling frisky and like I shold tell Don off in front of Matt but I do like employment so who knows.

Till later gator!

23 October 2009

Feel trapped in bondage? I read Alma 34:1-5 this AM and Alma is talking to his son Helaman and he explains that just like in the generations before, Jesus Christ delivered the Israelites and the promises are for us too and He continues to deliver us today. Alma also says he knows this "not of any worthiness of himself". Don't let Satan discourage you with his "you're not worthy line"!! Don't believe him when he says, oh, you've already messed up, what good can being obedient do now? You're already on the wrong path, so who cares? The Savior does and He loves you. That's right, He loves you - and me - and all of His children. His love is constant and steady, not like our obedience. Have faith and repent, with His help.

I wanted to put this on FB because I love my family but it was too long. So I guess I'll just put it up here. [Especially since I haven't blogged in eons, but I will tell you all about Dave Ramsey tomorrow!]

Sharon