Meanwhile Back at the Gusty Ridge Ranch

Post-Op Update

2012-01-27T12:34:00.000-08:00

Sorry to have left so many in the dark. Seems as though our life on the Ranch has felt more like an on-going saga filled with ups & downs that fatigue me. My health being one of them. That one being so exhausting to live through, let alone re-live over & over. Also, for many who popped on here in December, it was their yearly Christmas Card visit. Nothing's more festive than all my medical issues laid bare, I'm telling ya.

So it was one of those things that I elected in the month of December to just keep in my heart and ponder over.

When many people fret over me, I become overwhelmed. Then I worry too much that they're worrying too much, or I wonder if I'm making too big of a deal of it all in the first place. Now, the second-guessing myself, or downplaying of the situation, isn't healthy either. Therefore, my approach this time around was a new one for me.

Plus, I figured the less I talked about my upcoming surgery, the less nervous I would be.

It did work, I was less nervous. I didn't downplay or back out of my surgery. But a lot of people have been blindsided by the fact that a procedure went down, and the fact that I'm still down & out in recovery.

Let me make perfectly clear, this surgery was NOT life-threatening. It was also NOT a recreational procedure (that's right, no correction of the flat spot on my nose). However it was due to a disease, so that means it was necessary.

Substantial Endometriosis was detected at my girly doc visit in early December. Keep in mind he is a new-to-me doctor, in a new-to-me office; however, he is THE best OB-GYN practitioner in our region. Trust me, I've just about seen them all. Anyhow, he detected it in the visit & then immediately rushed me over for better insight from an ultrasound. From there my surgery was scheduled for Friday, the 13th of January. (Some would question the Friday the 13th thing, but that questioning falls on deaf ears. It's just another day. And historically for me its actually been a pretty LUCKY day at that. So don't stress.)

The luck held for me that day, in the sense that once my doctor got in there he found quite a bit more than he had anticipated, so he classified it was both substantial & aggressive. (I have 3 pages of photographs to prove both. But I won't be posting those here. Sorry & you're welcome!) So I'm grateful I went in on that day for I shudder at the idea of having waited any longer. My last procedure to rid my body from Endo was a decade ago, and even then it was just an investigative procedure where they happened to discover the Endo while there. (Beyond extracting & cauterizing the Endo found in the OR, no further treatment was pursued to keep the Endo away. So it came back, and essentially incubated for 10 years. Yuck!)

As like with my surgery 10 years ago, a Chromotubation took place; where dye was sent through the tubes to check for adhesions. There were none, again. Thanks goodness!

Since then I've spent the last couple weeks being soup on the couch. Doped up, managing the pain, & sucking up documentaries like there's no tomorrow on NetFlix (a great program suggestion named Downton Abbey has come in from Cherie, so its definitely que'd up). With all that nasty Endo gone now, I'm tender & feeling a bit raw in my belly, to say the least. My incisions are still sensitive, however at my Post-Op check yesterday they were deemed to be healing beautifully. Also at yesterday's visit, my Lupron & hormone regiment kicked in with my first monthly shot of Lupron right in my sitter!

Nothing makes a girl feel more like prized-livestock-heading-to-the-county-fair like an shot in the butt cheek... Nothing.

This regiment consists of a monthly dose of Lupron to kill off any Endo that may still be lurking in my body. The side-effects from Lupron is normally some extra irritability and bone loss. So, the hormone I'm taking is an Estrogen. Estrogen actually promotes Endo growth, therefore this is a low dosage of Estrogen. Just high enough to counteract the (excuse my french) bitchiness & prevent the bone loss -but low enough that the Endo stays squelched. So, yeah, there'll be a chemistry war going on in my body for the next six months. Huzzah. (For the less-explosive witch festival factor, though, Mr LKP is very grateful for the estrogen part of this, just sayin'.)

At least I'll be pain-free!

Chemistry war aside, I too am grateful for this regiment nonetheless; it buys me time really. Could be just a few years, or it could be many years. There's no telling for sure. At the end of the six months it'll be as though I have a clean slate with my girly health (not perfect, but at least a cleared slate nonetheless). And we are told that my fertility will have improved greatly when all is said and done. Whether any additional infertility treatment will be necessary from there will be determined after a trial period once we've gotten me the healthiest I can be. (I'm still coming to grips with where I stand on further infertility strategies coming into play for us. But I've got six months to come to that official decision. Plus, I'm reminded of the parable of the talents, found in the New Testament. Heavenly Father gives these doctors knowledge, talent & techniques not so they can be buried; they're given on which to be built upon. Same goes for my body's health. He won't give me the adequate health just for me to throw my hands up, not trust Him nor who He's placed in my medical life, and give up. On the other hand, I don't want to be so eager & determined that it bankrupts us, and destroys what family I DO have. And all that for what? To still have my arms empty & my heart obliterated? So I'm working on it, slow but sure. Will take lots of prayers & faith.)

Now I don't want my hopes (or anyone else's for that matter) to get too high. I've been there and done that for over 10 years now. NGL, being a perma-optimist can really take it out of a girl. It's thoroughly worn me out and has led me to living hopelessly.

However, the next 6 months may not only be a period of reproductive rehabilitation, but also the rehab for my ability to hope. So in a way, this is a rejuvenating idea & kind of exciting. Like my second-wind of hope. Does that make sense?

So we'll be praying a lot. We'll be hoping more than we are used to. We'll be planning for the future more brightly than before (since we were looking at the idea of becoming empty-nesters in 3 very short years --- and that idea's brought some very dark emotional clouds with it cause I feel 35/36 is WAY too young to be an empty-nester!). Perhaps 2012 will be the year Mr LKP & I finally get pregnant.... could be amazing!

Aside from Post-Op checks, my ventures out of the house have been limited to some of Mini-Me's basketball games (which, btw, she finally scored the first 3 points-in-a-game of her entire basketball career on Wednesday -whohoooo!), and a couple hours of church. Yesterday I was told to continue to lay low, for probably the next month. As for my photography, no shoots. As for editing any previous shoots, I can only do that for 30 minutes at a time, and only once my body agrees with that. Additional time can be added once the doc clears it.

So, if you are waiting on photos from me, I apologize. I'm trying to get better as soon as possible so I can have that all squared away for my clients.

And that, ladies & gents, is the Post-Op update.

On the other front, in December, Mr LKP elected to end his employment with the trucking outfit he was with, and return to his family's construction company. It has been an inspired move for him. Prayers have been answered, anxieties have been soothed, and our family has experienced healing in a whole other way. He's been able to really help his father, and they're prepping for probably their biggest, most productive year in the entire 36-year history of the business! BONUS: Mr LKP's been able to be there for me through this whole surgery ordeal, which that itself is a miracle. (We can't even fathom how difficult this situation would have been with him gone to North Dakota for most of it.) Thanks be to God for these new chapters in our family's life and all the blessings He's given us!

...Now, since this has taken much longer to compose than I had anticipated, I need to lie down for a little bit before I head to Mini-Me's last home game in a few hours.

Oodles of XOXO. I'll leave you with just a handful of phone pics that have been taken in the past two weeks. Thanks for the many well-wishes that have come in. Thanks for the many prayers that have been offered. You are all so wonderful!

::hugs::

Willow, helping LKP heal on the couch with infamous Puguini snuggles

(and with her cautious burrowing under covers & over pillows)....

A fabulous long-stem sucker bouquet from the wonderfully talented, clever, & in-tune Cherie!

(Love you, woman!)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Everytime He's Shufflin'

2012-01-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

We discovered, while de-Christmasing the house last week, that Willow's not a fan of Snoopy's moves, no matter whether they're like Jagger or not!

(You might need to lower your computer's volume a tad. She may be mini, but her bark is MEGA!)

Headed in for pre-op this morning. Wish me luck! :)

What I Believe: Stand All Amazed

2012-01-08T06:21:00.000-08:00

A new year for teachers in the LDS Young Women's organizations = a new lesson manual.

Every four years the same set of manuals start over.

So for 2012, we're back to Manual 1. Which I'm excited over. Abundantly so.

The last time this manual was taught from was the first year I was called to serve in the YW's program. The experiences gained while serving with that elect group of women & serving those promising young ladies set my heart on fire for the YW program, even more than it had been when I was a teen benefactor of the program myself!

It was while serving in the YW organization, still in that area, that year our Mutual theme (for both the Young Women & Young Men's organizations) was the same as this year's carefully selected, and inspired, theme:

"Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations"

Like I said, inspired. Divinely inspired.

Thus that year became a journey of Light for our group. It was the most splendid year, as both the teen girls AND us leaders witnessed great fortification within our group, strong testimonies began to grow & flourish, young girls from ages 12-18 got their "a-ha" moments, and scripture study was more than just a study. There was an insatiable hunger for the light found in the scriptures. It was one of my most favorite years of my life!

Standing at the beginning of as promising a year as that marvelous one, just four years ago. I'm eager. Not just for a repeat. No. Many dynamics have changed in my life, many circumstances are different within our YW group here. However, I'm eager for this NEW journey of Light.

Light = Truth = Christ.

How can it NOT be the most marvelous year to date?!

So I bring up the manual once again. I love this manual.

Each manual is a wonderful resource & they are all equally filled with truth. But for some reason I feel my heart set on fire again at these early lessons we're christening our new year with. Today's lesson is titled, "Jesus Christ, the Savior."

Doesn't that just give you chills & goosebumps?!

It does me.

I love my Savior. Not only because He is my older brother, but because He is everything I want to become & an example of everything I want to be worthy to inherit someday. I love Him for His selflessness. I love Him for His faithfulness. I love Him for His steadfastness in His Father's purposes. I love Him because He is the ONLY one who could secure our Salvation for us, and it is ONLY through Him that we are able to progress and enjoy Exaltation.

I cherish the greatest gift ever given, that only Jesus Christ could give, and that was the Atonement. Only He could suffer for the world's sins, and pain, and heartaches, and imperfections. Only He could shed a drop of blood for each one of us. Only He could love each of us so intricately that He knew of us & WILLINGLY suffered through the wine press so we would not have to.

Jesus Christ is the Son of the Almighty God. He is the Son of the God of Abraham, Issac, Moses. He is so great & so pure - yet so concerned with even little old me, and my troubles, and my silent tears (and sometimes not so silent tears).

In my lesson today, I have the privilege of being some special young women's tour guide through the most awesome scriptures that testify of Jesus Christ's divinity, His foreordained mission here on earth as the Son of God & the son of a humble young mother here on earth.

Ancient scriptures today, folks. Scriptures from many hundreds of years before Christ was even born. Scriptures both recorded in the Holy Land, and scriptures recorded here in the Americas. No matter these ancient civilizations' geographic locations, Heavenly Father loved ALL of children enough to place prophets among them that would act as mouthpieces for God as prophecies came forth & Christ's coming was heralded in every land... in every tongue. How privileged we are to have access to these scriptures. How blessed we are to have witness after witness of Heavenly Father's love for the world.

I have the opportunity to teach them from some of my most favorite passages of scripture, like this- one of chapters of the Book of Mormon that I cherish THE most:

"And behold, he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem which is the land of our forefathers, she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

"And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon 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.

"Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me." -Alma 7:10-13

(I love Alma 7. So much is taught in this one chapter. It's filled with promise! Considering how giddy I feel when I read & study it, I can't imagine how it would've felt to have lived at the time this prophesy was received and declared in market places & villages & ancient dwellings among the indigenous people of the American continent. Christ hadn't come yet. Mary hadn't even been born yet. Here I'm on the other side of this fortelling; the side where I know He humbly came, walked the earth, and wrought such mighty miracles both before and through His death. Can you imagine the anticipation just looking forward to his first coming? Wow!)

It is true.

God loves us so much that He gave His Only Begotten Son to a wicked world... He gave Him to us. Jesus Christ, this same Begotten Son of God, loves us so much that He gave His life & the Atonement. What then shall we give in return?

Our gratitude. Our selfless service to others. Our will. Clean hands & pure hearts....

I get to assist these young women in pondering more on this fact.... I get to help them broaden their realm of concern beyond themselves or their wardrobe or their material lives. And I get to witness Heavenly Father's choice daughter start to "get it."

Getting it means seeds are planted. Then I get to help them tend & further nurture these seeds' growth throughout the year. It's phenomenal!

I get to introduce some of these girls to the beginnings of their own "a-ha" moments with the Lord. ...And I am honored. ...I am in awe. ...I am so grateful.

Eventually these "a-ha" thoughts become "a-ha" actions, and the world suddenly becomes more beautiful!

In the beginning of the new year, what better way is there to initiate such an epic journey of Light than to kick it off with our focus & attention of learning of Christ? As I mentioned before, Light = Truth = Christ... therefore this year will be a journey of Truth... a journey of Christ!

Amazed doesn't begin to quantify it.

"I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me
Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"

("I Stand All Amazed," Hymn #193)

In keeping with today's lesson material, I've prepared the following hand-out for my girls. It also gives me goosebumps & makes my heart want to burst with gratitude.

(If you'd like to use this, feel free. Just right click on it & save. If you'd rather have the full-res jpg file emailed to you, shoot your email address over to me in the comments below.)

Some Photo Low-Down

2012-01-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

Details have been a bit sparse over the past month, or so... or longer.

Doesn't mean there hasn't been plenty of life lived. Believe that!

Due to how exhausted this current flu-bug has got me, however (and the fact I don't want it to become pneumonia), here's some photos of our activities -- sans long, essay-worthy narratives. Please forgive.

...And yes, inside my CDO (translation OCD) is in fact freaking out. Yet the germies have overpowered my willpower & controlling disorderness.

Germies - 1, LKP - back to bed.

::germ-free hugs to you all::

A New Year, A New Word

2012-01-01T20:32:00.000-08:00

Crazy how much can happen in 12 fleeting months.
Even crazier is the difference 1 little word can make.

2011's word was PERSEVERANCE.

Not that last year's word brought on all of last year's overwhelming events.
No, that's not it at all.

Matter of fact, last year's word served almost as my airline-seat-turned-floatation-device.

By remembering that Heavenly Father wanted me to seek these events as opportunities to
learn how to persevere & to focus on doing so with a happy heart is what kept me afloat.

Hence I really gained a greater appreciation for a word for a year's theme.
Brilliant I tell ya!

Knowing I cannot handle life these days without a focused word (aka an inspired grip for my steering wheel), I have been wrestling with words for the past several weeks.

There are so many good words in the world. Profound words. Big words, small words. Long, poetic words. As well as short words of prose.

Also, there are so many things, both blessings & attributes, I'd like to be more aware of in my life. So, so many.

However, after much thought, prayer, and personal reflection,
may I present to you the Gusty Ridge Ranch's word & theme for 2012:

ex·hale verb \eks-ˈhāl, ek-ˈsāl\

1: to rise or be given off asvapor 1a : to breathe out ("she exhaled a sigh")

2: to emit breath or vapor transitiveverb

"...if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants. ...And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land..." ---Mosiah 2:21-22

I honestly thought my word this year was supposed to be 'no,' but the Spirit has continually pulled at me that it was more to what I need this year than simply N-O.

Exhale means so many things to me I think, such as:

peace
balance
relief
let go
relax
faith

...and so many more.

Exhale simply covers it all. :)

Happy 2012 word seeking. May your word come to you swiftly!

New Year's Eve came... and went.

2012-01-01T08:01:00.000-08:00

There was a regional youth dance,
where games were played,
songs were danced to,
boys were flirted with,
and New Years kisses were given,
as well as received.

...And a dad rightfully panicked,
while a certain daughter gleefully laughed at her dad's folly
(as they were Hershey's New Years kisses, you see).

A delightful movie was enjoyed;
"New Year's Eve" (directed by Garry Marshall).
It was full of constant laughs, giggles, tears, families, goodness and mostly hope....
oh yeah, and Bon Jovi!

A romantic New Year's kiss went down at the stroke of midnight
(don't stress as it was between mom & dad, and not a certain daughter).

Today we're recovering from sore throats & lost voices, but we're together.
So that's a great way to start!

...To 2011, all I can say is, GOOD RIDDANCE!

...To 2012... Hullo Nurse! WELCOME. WE CAN USE ALL THE GOODNESS & PROMISE YOU'VE GOT IN STORE!

Happy New Year to all of our dear ones!
::hugs::

A Gusty Ridge Ranch Christmas

2011-12-24T11:19:00.000-08:00

'Twas the day before Christmas

And all through the house,

Not a creature is stirring,

Not even my spouse.

Packages are all wrapped,

Most recipes have been made.

And to her dad's for a visit,

Mr LKP whisked Mini-Me away.

A sweet call from a friend

has just been hung up.

The dogs are outside

Blissfully running amuck.

While cranberries & oranges

are simmering away,

Bing's crooning of an axe, apple & jacket

from back in the day.

In this serene Christmas moment,

My thoughts are reflective

Of this year's activities

And our busy perspective.

2011's been a struggle,

There've been heartaches - no lie.

Why, just this month's been trouble,

Even our health's been awry.

Despite all these set backs -

Despite several tears,

We've also been given many

Sweet blessings this year.

Stockings are hung from the shelf,

Why dwell on specifics?

With what-ifs, why trouble oneself;

When from here its all quite prolific.

Amidst traditional music & movies ahead...

Carolers, gifts, and food as well;

For a moment, focus on the Savior instead,

And may His love within your family dwell.

On the Gusty Ridge Ranch it's my Luke 2:19 year -

Soon photos on the blog will arrive, sweet & bright...

But, until then, Merry Christmas to all (said in cheer),

And to each one of you we wish a good night!

"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart." - Luke 2:19

What I Believe: Gifts to the World

2011-12-06T06:20:00.000-08:00

Grateful for...

2011-11-30T02:58:00.000-08:00

the many fun previews at the movies (ix-nay on the several appy-cray review-pays; bleck!).
military discounts at the movies (wish it extended to cover refreshments as well, oy!).
sharing laughs at the movies.
seeing the Muppets back in the movies (lurve this flick! It was goofy just the way a Muppet movie should be, Kermit was just as green as ever, and the cameos were awesome... makes me want to put in Fraggle Rock episodes or Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas again, since I can't buy this new Muppets movie on DVD yet- it was THAT Jim-Henson-good).
wasted time in the lobby, at the movies.

...light-hearted date nights at the movies.
Each time I go, it feels BIG TIME, like the "Let's Go to the Movies" scene/number in "Annie" (the ORIGINAL Annie movie from 1982---one of the best films ever made! For the past 29 years, it has been one of my all-time faves. We even used to have it on laser disc! Do you remember laser discs?!!! Oh yeah, I AM that old, lol. Our family had Annie, The Red Shoes, Rocky, and Star Wars- New Hope, Return of the Jedi, & The Empire Strikes Back- all on laser disc. We were THAT cool!).

Mr. LKP has this magic way of making a night at the movies feel like I'm being whisked away from all my cares. He certainly knows how to soothe a tired old wife's nerves.

(Feelin' right at home... man, Muppets are the bees knees!)

(Darth Maul is no match for MY Jedi Knight!)

"Whatever you read, listen to, or look at has an effect on you. Therefore, choose only entertainment and media that uplift you. Good entertainment will help you to have good thoughts and make righteous choices. It will allow you to enjoy yourself without losing the Spirit of the Lord."

~The First Presidency ("For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet," topic: Entertainment & the Media)

Grateful for...

2011-11-27T18:27:00.001-08:00

this girl!

At 14 years old, Mini-Me is the greatest miracle I have ever had the privilege of playing a part in. She is talented, funny, too mature for her age, compassionate, lovable, snarky at times, too good at quoting movie lines verbatim, lively, sweet, charitable, kind, always learning, effervescent, and such a delight to be a mom to.

"Give me a young woman who is virtuous and who has maintained her personal purity, who will not settle for less than a temple marriage, and I will give you a young woman who will perform miracles for the Lord now and throughout eternity."
~President Ezra Taft Benson ("To the Young Women of the Church," Ensign, November 1986.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-26T22:33:00.000-08:00

a sweet first-kiss...10 years ago today!

"If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce. Argument would never be heard. Accusations would never be leveled. Angry explosions would not occur. Rather, love and concern would replace abuse and meanness."

~Gordon B. Hinckley ("The Women in Our Lives," Ensign, November 2004.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-25T22:19:00.000-08:00

HEALERS.

I've become quite emotionally exhausted over the past 3 days. So much so, that I will not expound on all the gory details. Just works me up too much.

Two nights ago, I had mentioned briefly in passing that we'd had a scare with my FIL at the hospital.

Well that scare has blossomed into so much more.

When we had left him that night, he was connected to IV's to rehydrate him, with the plan to be that he would be released for home following all that. Turns out his condition was worse than they had originally thought.

One of his two kidneys has permanent damage and its not very likely to recover. The other has sustained some blockage & trauma as well, so he's very limited as to his options.

Consequently, he wound up admitted & into a private room by 5:30am, Thanksgiving morning.

We received that update about 3 hours after he was settled, and was by his side within a couple more hours. (Not your typical family Turkey Day celebration.)

Since then, there has been surgery. There is talk of further procedures necessary for his kidney "situation" and another pending surgery for his 13 year-old artificial hip. Not a splendid outlook, especially for that to be the first news he received after coming up out of anesthesia.

You could safely say that his reaction was a wee-bit grumpy. A smidge, really.

Regardless of where we've been as a family the past 72 hrs with him, and regardless of the road ahead (as he's still in the hospital, for an undetermined amount of time - and some dialysis has been mentioned), I am still extremely grateful for these talented healers, who have the best at heart for him, and are utilizing the most advanced medicinal practices available to keep this ornery ol' guy, that we love so much, still viable & kicking around.

(Not gonna lie, I'm not ready to let go of ANY more ornery guys in my life right now! I NEED THESE ORNERY GUYS!)

I'm thankful for those professional healers (be they nurses, nurse-practitioners, or doctors) throughout the world, who give so much to so many. More than anything, you promote hope when it seems so far out of reach.

::MILLIONS OF HUGS TO EACH OF YOU!::

Also, I cannot fail to mention that I am so very grateful for the healing power available through Priesthood Blessings. Through this experience with my FIL, there was a beautiful & powerful Priesthood Blessing given. So powerful, in fact, that many tears were shed, and testimonies were strengthened.

I am grateful to those who administered his blessing... and I'm extremely grateful for the many who were willing to help with that blessing, at the drop of a hat. Humbling, really. Nothing warms my soul more than to hear the extended offers of help. They are sacred to me!

I am grateful that Heavenly Father loves us so much that He would be willing to extend His power, through the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, to His children here on Earth. I am grateful that He knows us each so well that He is aware of our illnesses & pains... and that He would be able to tend to each discomfort that is ailing us, whether spiritual, physical, or both.

I am grateful, beyond words, to be married to Mr. LKP, who is a worthy Priesthood holder. As such, he is able to participate in & honor its ordinances, as well as administer its blessings, as God sees fit. The strength Mr. LKP brings to his entire family is palpable. His leadership and valiant, yet humble, example is inspiring.

Mr. LKP leads this family in honor, dignity, and humility. Through the Priesthood he holds & honors, he is also a healer- one led by revelation and moved to action by the Holy Spirit.

Even without a medical degree, for these reasons, Mr. LKP is my hero.

"I would be my brother's keeper;

I would learn the healer's art.

To the wounded and the weary

I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother's keeper-

Lord, I would follow thee."

~"Lord, I Would Follow Thee"

by Susan Evans McCloud

"The priesthood is here. It has been conferred upon us. We act in that authority. We speak as sons of God in the name of Jesus Christ and as holders of this divinely given endowment. We know, for we have seen, the power of this priesthood. We have seen the sick healed, the lame made to walk, and the coming of light and knowledge and understanding to those who have been in darkness...

Paul wrote concerning the priesthood: 'No man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.' (Heb. 5:4.) We have not acquired it through purchase or bargain. The Lord has given it to men who are considered worthy to receive it, regardless of station in life, the color of their skin, or the nation in which they live. It is the power and the authority to govern in the affairs of the kingdom of God. It is given only by ordination by the laying on of hands by those in authority to do so. The qualification for eligibility is obedience to the commandments of God...

There is no power on the earth like it. Its authority extends beyond life, through the veil of death, to the eternities ahead. It is everlasting in its consequences."

~Gordon B. Hinckley
("The Cornerstones of Our Faith," Ensign, November 1984.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-24T08:53:00.000-08:00

24 hours to:

slow down & stay in one spot.
be surrounded by loved-ones.
abound in comfort.
center our attention on the endless blessings in our lives.
celebrate everything with gratitude.

...Thanksgiving Day!

"Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of honest men;

but be careful that you do not take the day, and leave out the gratitude."

~E.P. Powell

"Know ye that the Lord he is God:

it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

~Psalms 100:3-4

"We need to be more grateful. It's one of the marks of strong character,

to have a feeling of thanksgiving and gratitude for blessings that are ours.

We need more of that spirit in our homes, in our daily associations, in church, everywhere.

It's so easy to cultivate the spirit of appreciation."

~President Ezra Taft Benson, ("All This and the Gospel Too," New Era, November 1991.)

"...take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust,
and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth;
and that ye live in thanksgiving daily,
for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."
~Alma 34:38

“Our society is afflicted by a spirit of thoughtless arrogance unbecoming those who
have been so magnificently blessed. How grateful we should be for the bounties we enjoy.
Absence of gratitude is the mark of the narrow, uneducated mind.
It bespeaks a lack of knowledge and the ignorance of self-sufficiency.
It expresses itself in ugly egotism and frequently in wanton mischief...”
~Gordon B. Hinckley ("With All Thy Getting Get Understanding," Ensign, August 1988.)

"On Thanksgiving Day we acknowledge our dependence."

~William Jennings Bryan

Grateful for...

2011-11-23T13:07:00.000-08:00

my mother, who was told she would never be able to have children.... and who was medically counseled/strongly encouraged to abort me when she DID get pregnant. She's been there for me through everything life has dished out... from the very beginning!
my father who, has never claimed to be perfect, yet is the perfect daddy for me.
my step-mother who, despite rocky times, has hung in there and loves me no matter.
my husband's sweet mother who, with grace, battled cancer & passed away too young.
my mother-in-law (Mr. LKP's 2nd mom) who, even though Mr. LKP is not hers biologically, has loved him as her very own... and has held my hands & caught my tears in some of my most frightening "military-wife moments."
my father-in-law who, ornery & feisty & full of out-dated snarky comments as he is, has helped mend my dog pens, has helped us manage our land, has made sure we have firewood... (and who scared us tonight with some kidney issues & a trip to the hospital) and has kept me sane as I navigate what it means to be a member of his family.

...FAITHFUL & DILIGENT PARENTS. They have shaped who we are today. I couldn't imagine our lives without any of them or their influences. Their legacies Mr. LKP & I continue to follow, even today, that we may eventually become the best parents possible for Mini-Me. (It's an on-going process. No lie. We couldn't even begin to tackle this without each of them. We'd be lost!)

"I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents..."

~1 Nephi 1:1

"Train up a child in the way he should go:

and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

~Proverbs 22:6

"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long

upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee."

~Exodus 20:12

"...As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

~Joshua 24:15

Grateful for...

2011-11-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

8 simple, but profound words:

(thanks, TSJ! ::hugs::)

"Therefore if any man [or woman] be in Christ, he [or she] is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

~2 Corinthians 5:17 (emphasis added)

Grateful for...

2011-11-21T15:09:00.000-08:00

feline critters that bring us joy.
canine critters that bring us joy.
feathered critters that bring us joy.

...all creatures great and small! (Each are blessings & fulfill the measure for which they were created. Though I may not be the biggest fan of coyotes, mice, spiders & snakes, they do, however, fulfill the need only they can meet in Heavenly Father's great plan. For that I am grateful... especially since Heavenly Father has granted us here on the Ranch the privilege & blessings of our domesticated critters, plus all of the wildlife, such as deer & jack rabbits, that cross our land & enrich our lives. His plan is a beautiful plan, our stewardships were thoughtfully mapped out for us according to our needs, talents, & abilities. Perfection in every detail! Just think, how much better we are promised that things will become someday. I love what we have already, I can't fathom what other beauty awaits us!)

(Looks like a great place for a nap.... have I mentioned that Tuffy also likes to either climb into the shower to chase water drops as they run down the curtain, or sit on the edge of the tub and soak the bottom half of his tail in the tub with me? What a card!)

(No matter who's packing or for where, Tuffy never likes to be left behind!)

"All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all..."

~"All Things Bright and Beautiful"

(by Cecil Frances Alexander, Children's Songbook of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, pg 231.)

(What good little hens, doing what they do so very well!)

"And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

¶And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

¶And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

¶And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so."

~Genesis 1:20-30

(Hula + Sullivan = Mortal Enemies... unless its naptime & Mom's ripped the back couch cushions out for cleaning!)

"All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

...Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!"

~"All Creatures of Our God and King"

(verses 1 & 7. By Francis of Assisi circa 1225)

Grateful for...

2011-11-20T13:38:00.000-08:00

...well, first of all, for friends.

Friends can be partially responsible for trouble we may get ourselves into, and then again, friends can be partially responsible for great discoveries about ourselves. They may feel that they play minor roles, but the truth is they are some major characters to us!

Friends without number have touched my life in many ways along this so-far-32-year-long path.

From some friends, I learned I AM capable of doing or withstanding many hard things. From other friends, I've learned what I am NOT capable of enduring, or what I should never try to attempt... for their safety and mine. ;)

Many friends I've had most of my life. Others have only crossed the stage in the latter scenes of this act. Regardless, each has blessed my life and for that I'm grateful.

Sadly, some friends have departed as peculiarly as they had arrived. Others are still timelessly close and I'm loving watching their families & their hearts grow.

The very best of my friends? Him, I married almost a decade ago.

Friends inspire & bring out some of the best in me! Seriously, thanks to one friend, LatchKey Photography even exists, no.lie. Her encouragement and constant faith in my skills helped me muster the courage not to just leave my images in obscurity & dust.

Another friend, newer in the last couple years, has been one of my rocks while facing & coming to terms with the realities of secondary-infertility in my life. She's witty, and sharp as a tack. She's got empathy/sympathy galore as she battles through her own endometriosis and infertility. No sad day's too sad for me to face with her in my corner.

A couple friends in Idaho are my long lost siamese twins.... separated by geography, different mothers, and years. But otherwise we're soooo connected! They're the up to my down, the snicker to my guffaw. And they're just two examples of several amazing Idaho blessings that I count as dearest friends. Same goes for some of my Utah friends; even an endearing friend back East, a talented Australian friend, and a Utah-turned-Germany friend. The list really goes on & on!

Trust me when I say that I have been blessed with great friends!

One I'd like to mention a little more, though, is another sweet gal. She's a stalwart example of perseverance to me. She battles MS while simultaneously raising 4 phenomenal boys. She holds down the fort all while supporting and loving one handsomely-named husband (well and he's quite dashing to behold as well)...sometimes from afar, based on where his job pulls him to at the moment. When he's away for work, she has it all on her shoulders. Overwhelming as that is, she still wakes up, puts her feet on the floor, and moves forward every morning.

...Karen.is.amazing.

If I had my druthers, and money was no object... and family didn't mind us moving away again, the Gusty Ridge clan would up & move to her neck of the woods in Colorado, just so I could help her with the details of each day.

So- she has inspired this grateful post of mine, thanks to her guest post at another of our friends' blog: Ruffled Sunshine. Coming away from reading her tender blurb, and Jenn's thought-provoking request that we share what we are most thankful for... this is where my thoughts are, which is our "second of all" for today:

"the small things.

for me its the way that only buttons can make my fingers feel as they tumble out, after i've dug my hands deep into a bucket of them!

the way my soul jumps for joy when i'm holding brand new pencils, or smelling a brand-new, freshly opened pack of crayons.

the lilt i feel when i hear from a kind friend, for the first time in a while.... or the bated-breath-anticipation that comes when dropping a note in the mail for someone dear.

it's the lightness i suddenly discover in my step after connecting with a new font, or the flutter a small handful of words can give my heart.... kinda like my new faves from karen's post above:"The sparkles of happy in their eyes every day."

it's the small things that make everyday feel like Christmas. they're what make my existence feel significant.

yep. i'm grateful for the small things. :)"

In the grand scheme of things, friends can at times appear to be small things-

but their impact is always LARGE & always LASTING!

Thanks to each of you, my friends. Thank you for every facet of my life that cannot help but be changed by you & your influence. ::hugs::

"To the soul there is hardly anything more healing than friendship."

~Thomas Moore

(Um, excuse me, Mr. Moore, sir? I'd say the Atonement is more healing... MOST healing in fact. But then again, the Atonement is a gift from our most perfect friend, Jesus Christ. So, then again, carry on!)

Grateful for...

2011-11-19T08:18:00.000-08:00

generous chickens, who craft THE most beautiful & tasty brown eggs.
brown eggs that there's great demand for since they're organic & farm-fresh.
people purchase our organic & farm fresh eggs, which therefore helps finance life's details like Mini-Me's new basketball shoes, occasional hot school lunches, and Mr. LKP's & my romantic date nights.

...Heavenly Father who gives us everything.
(including chickens, tasty brown eggs, people who enjoy buying & eating brown eggs, new basketball shoes, hot school lunches, and especially romantic date nights!)

"All things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator"

~Alma 30:44

Grateful for...

2011-11-18T15:10:00.000-08:00

COLORS.

I have a dear friend who shared her heart on her blog the other night. Real and true.
Knowing a bit of her back story and some of the pain she's been up against over the past months breaks my heart and warrants many prayers on her & her family's behalf. I won't share her details, or even who she is, out of respect for their privacy. Just know that she is one in a million! And she most definitely can use your prayers, if you've got any to spare. Thanks!

Anyhow, back to her heartfelt post. Throughout all of the adversity she's facing, she's still able to identify & offer her gratitude for the power of a loving Heavenly Father in her life. He's central to it all. Even the trials = blessings in the long run, and I love that she can see that aspect as well. She taught me something with her post as she closed it by saying that God "is most certainly full of awesomeness."

Her simple declaration did something to me. I suddenly felt aware of all the baby hairs on the back of my neck; the way it feels each time the Holy Spirit impress upon my heart matters of truth. I couldn't hold back, with my heart being so full & open. All I could do was share. So the following comment is the testimony revealed to me by the Holy Ghost. It is true. In every aspect.

"He’s full of awesomeness…. and don’t you just find that He’s spilling over in colorfulness too? You know, different temperatures of colors in our lives? The cool shades of blue that tug at our heart, and sometimes feel a bit lonely, so much so that they start to seem more of a vintage gray? Though they feel like a curse, in fact they are a blessing. Without the blues & grays, we’d not be able to comprehend the value & depth that super rich, enveloping-ly warm, rusty shades of weathered love truly feel like in our lives. And when the red overtakes the blue, it is oh so liberating! Then there’s the crispy, zesty greens of envy every now & then. Splashes of green over what used to feel perfect… or what just feels slightly out of reach, for some reason or another? Occasionally the green hue of irritation comes along, and my- doesn’t it sometimes just feel consuming? Those greens definitely keep us on our toes. Shifting the balance from them blues & greens to the over-the-top, ferris wheel-worthy yellows of happiness that we long for is sometimes a tricky task indeed. But when we step back and look at the canvas of our lives, every stroke of each color, no matter it’s contrast against another, or blending with it’s neighbor is beautiful. It’s beautiful because we created it with the Master. His controlled hand is what brings it all together."

This is not meant as a means to toot my own horn. No. After re-reading it, when her response came in my in-box, I fell even more in love with what better understanding I gained in that moment. So much so, that I wanted to share here as well. That all of you, my dear friends, may have the opportunity to know, without a doubt, that Heavenly Father's hand is in all things. Opposition is a necessity to this mortal experience. Without the dark, we'd not understand or appreciate the value of the light. It is with great purpose that we are dosed our trials. Much is to be learned on our parts, and great thanksgiving for this Heavenly education should be offered from our lips.

May your weekend be blessed with COLORS of your own; custom-blended just for your needs. ::hugs::

(Google Images)

"Every life has peaks and shadows and times when it seems that the birds don't sing and bells don't ring. Yet in spite of discouragement and adversity, those who are happiest seem to have a way of learning from difficult times, becoming stronger, wiser, and happier as a result."

~Elder Joseph. B. Wirthlin ("Come What May and Love It," Ensign, November 2008.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-17T10:48:00.000-08:00

Successful, edifying, spiritual experiences (like last night's YWIE. It was glamorous & phenomenal!).
Tylenol PM. (Equals good sleep finally & ZERO pain. What a blessing!)
Downtime to re-gather myself & my thoughts & plans & schedule. (And to reorganize my "office.")
That Mini-Me's head basketball coach is a devoted teacher as well; one who's more concerned with the student than the sports star- one who institutes a 90-minute study hall twice a week so the team stays on top of their grades! (Could almost hug that guy!)
One more night as a family with Mr LKP home.... home late, but home nonetheless!

...a potpourri of blessings. They may seem small or, perhaps to some, insignificant. However, each simple blessing is a MAJOR MIRACLE! (Therefore each is extremely significant.)

"...But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

~1 Nephi 1:20

"Miracles are everywhere to be found... When faith replaces doubt, when selfless service eliminates selfish striving, the power of God brings to pass His purposes."

~Thomas S. Monson ("Our Sacred Priesthood Trust," Ensign, May 2006.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-16T16:48:00.000-08:00

the opportunity to get all dolled up for Young Women in Excellence tonight.
the opportunity to celebrate & honor 25-30 of the most amazing young women & their accomplishments. (Included in these dynamic young women is Mini-Me!)
the opportunity to help them appreciate who they REALLY are and their intrinsic value as royal daughters of God.

...the opportunity to soak in all the goodness, as I am surrounded by Heavenly Father's most cherished S.T.A.R.s! (Hopefully that means I'll be that much better off, by association. For STAR = Stand for Truth And Righteousness!)

“There is no more beautiful sight than a young woman who glows with the light of the Spirit, who is confident and courageous because she is virtuous.”

~Sister Elaine S. Dalton ("Remember Who You Are!," Ensign, May 2010.)

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

~Proverbs 31:10

Grateful for...

2011-11-15T09:45:00.000-08:00

Mondays spent with my husband, in front of NetFlix.
Mondays spent picking up Mini-Me from her first basketball practice of the season.
Mondays spent hearing how hard the coaches worked the girls out on their first day back.
Mondays spent hearing how much Mini-Me relished each drop of sweat she shed.
Mondays spent witnessing how impressed & excited Mini-Me is at her own increased physical abilities.

...Mondays spent being pleased to be a wife & a mother. (Those Mondays truly are a gift!)

“During my professional career as a doctor of medicine, I was occasionally asked why I chose to do that difficult work. I responded with my opinion that the highest and noblest work in this life is that of a mother. Since that option was not available to me, I thought that caring for the sick might come close. I tried to care for my patients as compassionately and competently as Mother cared for me.

Many years ago the First Presidency issued a statement that has had a profound and lasting influence upon me. “Motherhood,” they wrote, “is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels.

Because mothers are essential to God’s great plan of happiness, their sacred work is opposed by Satan, who would destroy the family and demean the worth of women.”

~Russell M. Nelson (“Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women,” Ensign, May 1999.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

a 5x7' chunk of ivory carpeted rug, newly nestled between our couch and TV.
how this unassuming bit of carpet has conquered my issues with bare, wood flooring.
the feel of the warm fibers as they cradle my feet & toes, even on cold mornings.
the quiet the rug adds to our small space. (I can't wait to enjoy our season's 1st woodstove fire from it.)
the cozy way all is gathered safely in by this small bit of rug (cats & dogs, pillows & blankets, our little family).

...the lesson of the meek little rug. In exchange for its new home, it offers the blessings of peace & comfort. Which, if you think about it, is like obedience. In exchange for all that we have to give, which is a small offering in comparison, our lives are abundantly blessed!

"...if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

~Ether 12:27

"It is a time to do what is right regardless of the consequences that might follow. It is a time to be found keeping the commandments. It is a season to reach out with kindness and love to those in distress and to those who are wandering in darkness and pain. It is a time to be considerate and good, decent and courteous toward one another in all of our relationships. In other words, to become more Christlike."

~President Gordon B. Hinckley ("This is the Work of the Master," Ensign, May 1995.)

"And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

~Mark 12:41-44

Grateful for...

2011-11-13T16:52:00.001-08:00

Mr. LKP finally home, today (yep, you got it- one day later than we thought).
Afternoon naps (much appreciated after a sleepless night of double-lesson prep & fighting the sporadic internet connection, due to the sporadic power outages, due to the mad-blustery storm of the weekend).
Actually having electricity securely restored (luckily I had barely enough power later this morning so showers & hair-drying were possible, which only delayed our arrival to church by an hour. After we left the house, apparently the power again went out for another solid 5 hours).

Old-school, Sunday afternoon couch time with the family, sans electricity- like in days of yore enjoying reports of the past 7 days' adventures (all while outfitted in sweatpants, sweatshirts, warm suvvy socks, and with card games in-hand...).

“What if you decided to be cheerful tonight at the dinner table, and in spite of what others might do or say, hold to your course. See how long you can uplift your whole family”

~H. Burke Peterson

Grateful for...

2011-11-12T07:47:00.000-08:00

today.
my muscles today.
all of them, especially my arm & leg muscles, today.
getting to once again coach my parks & rec volleyball clinic today.
seeing the sweet, smiling faces of my little volleyball girls again today.
wrapping up a final image disc for a sweet client's son today.
getting our Young Women in Excellence programs laid-out, printed & covered today.

...looking forward to Mr. LKP (my hot veteran), coming home from North Dakota, sometime later today!

Grateful for... (What I Believe: A Long-Overdue Stance)

2011-11-11T01:16:00.001-08:00

"ANY BUG CAN HIT A WINDSHIELD, BUT IT TAKES GUTS TO STICK!" ~UNKNOWN

On many blogs lately, there was been a YouTube trailer featured, linked to, or embedded in a multitude of different posts. The trailer is for a documentary called "Miss Representation." The film discusses the negative affects today's media has on the young women and young girls of the world, which is deteriorating our girls' self-esteem, personal body-images, how they talk to & treat others, and the legacy of strength intended to be passed on to the next generation. The discussion includes interviews with teenagers (guys & girls alike), successful women of accomplishment, women & men of scholarship, women & men in leadership & government positions, as well as women & men who work in mainstream media.

I agree that society/the world/the media have gotten away with moral travesties! I agree that it should stop. I agree that the tipping point or paradigm shift can only happen if we demand accountability on the media's part & demand better for our kids. We must be our children's champions.

If you'd like to see the trailer for yourself, please go here. Though I agree with the position of the documentary, I do not want some of the images, shown as proof of what we already know to be true, to have a home here in my family's blog.

The first blog I heard of this from was a dear friend of mine. Her blog did not feature the video either, instead she chose to link to her friends' blog where it was viewable. Rather than leave my lengthy comment on this poor-gal-who-doesn't-know-me's blog, instead I decided to post my comment here. Once you've seen the video, you'll understand where I'm coming from. Since this had originally been intended to be just a comment, please excuse the lack of capitalization. Thank you.

*************************************************************

"i'm here via SIF's blog. what this video/trailer addresses are daily concerns of mine.

being the mother of a 14 year old HS freshman, i'm constantly guarding against the negative outside-influences in my kid's life. i don't agree with the media out there doing its thing but, it DOES feel like i can't stop those in the media from continuing further down the path. what i HAVE found we can do is educate our daughters.

solid ground rules/expectations (in regards to dressing modestly, using clean language, having self-respect & respecting others, etc.) are set & continuously maintained within our family & home.

"no other success can compensate for failure in the home." ~david o. mckay

we encourage & foster a good relationship with our daughter where we can openly communicate and discuss questions she may have. also, we CAN limit the media's influence here in our home & family. as vile as the media's offerings are, we are not victims. we do not have to welcome any of it in.

also, in our family, we are very careful about the music we listen to. when a degrading song comes on the radio, the channel is changed and the floor is then opened for educating our daughter as to why it's degrading, the extent of damage such lyrics & artists cause, and -despite the catchy beat- what elements are most offensive so we can avoid the unseen destruction from future songs or artists' tactics.

in addition, we don't watch TV. no MTV and no network programming here. (not only do too many shows lack a conscience any more, i definitely cannot trust what additional smut or filth enters the home via simple movie trailers and other commercials in between. so we've been TV-free for 7 years now.) we DO have an extensive DVD collection that we enjoy, where the titles selected and in our library have gone through meticulous evaluation on our parts as the parents. that's.our.job.

we also have netflix and a wii.... but with both of those, we most definitely rely on the parental controls to help police all content viewed there. some old movies that were released prior to the movie ratings system aren't even able to be viewed. books are also scoured to be sure content is appropriate. our family library consists of many classic pieces of literature, material from trusted authors, and books that educate, uplift & teach us how to become better in various aspects or skills of our lives. no romance or graphic novels are allowed in our home. we also do not take magazines in the mail, with the exception of perhaps 2 (one for adults & one for teens) each month, both from our church. we've taken protecting our daughter so far as not even allowing victoria's secret catalogs come in our mail or into our house.

we have one functioning computer and it is centrally located in the house, where anyone can see the content being viewed. passwords are in place so that computer time can be closely monitored. internet time is limited in our home as well. the internet is not used as an entertainment source, but as a resource for school projects & correspondence (via email, and online journaling on our blogs). therefore, there simply are ZERO hours wasted on youtube, and our daughter does not have a facebook account. we feel its better to be safe now than sorry later.

please keep in mind, however, that just because we discipline ourselves, that doesn't mean we live under a rock or are socially inept in any way.

since there is so much that we cannot control when she walks out the front door, we have to keep ourselves involved & relevant in her life. we do this by getting to know all of her friends & their parents. we are highly involved with school committees & supporting the sports teams she plays on, as well as her class activities. we do not allow her to spend the night at anyone's house other than family. however, we DO allow "late nights," where she is picked up from others' homes by 11pm at the latest. also, we DO allow her friends to stay the night at our house, as we know what movies will be viewed, where the girls are at at all times, and what will be consumed. when her friends are our guests, they're treated as extensions of our family. going to a movie, playing board games, or going bowling is a family event and we do enjoy those things together. this allows for my home to be a refuge from the negative, outside influences of the world/society/media. not just for my daughter, but for her friends as well.

countering the negative influences of media/society/the world doesn't happen successfully by only removing the bad. if that's all anyone did, there would be a vacuum effect that would follow. when something bad is extracted, and the void is not actively & vigilantly filled with positive, then the void most often is filled with worse & more shocking influences. influences lead to thoughts/attitudes. thoughts/attitudes lead to actions. actions (even if swift & fleeting) lead to permanent consequences.

so why not start the whole process with positive, uplifting influences in the first place?

for this purpose, not only do we have our set of values by which our family is successfully kept in check but, we keep our daughter involved with good, positive friends who share & are raised with similar rules/beliefs. this is why she is actively involved in church & youth group activities & attends wholesome dances on a regular basis. this is why we encourage her to fill her time playing HS sports. through sports, not only is she gaining new skills, but she is learning how to get along with various personality-types. she's learning how to problem-solve in a very real & tangible way. she's learning how to lift-up those around her, how to be dependable, and how to be a team player. she's learning to stay healthy, both physically & mentally. she's increasing her skills & talents, thus building her confidence & sense of self-worth in what she can accomplish and not in the labels she wears, the amount of skin she shows off, or what boy's paying attention to her. not to mention, she's learning to busy herself with worthwhile endeavors.

for eons there have been proverbs & scriptures that teach us idle hands are the devil's playthings, and that idle minds are the devil's workshop. same with idle time. idle time = empty brains. too much "nothing" time leads to something... something that is less than virtuous. frankly, anything less than virtuous is not good enough for my daughter. anything less than virtuous is also not good enough for my future grandchildren.

"who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." ~proverbs 31:10

so what am i trying to get at?

yes, the media's out of control.
yes, we should be ashamed of what the media is promoting.

however, no matter what's going on outside of our home, we have a duty as parents to put our foot down, and be anxiously engaged in placing boundaries to protect our children. we must be hard-nosed about this. we must not be consumed with fear of what others might think of us. we must not worry about being popular with the under-developed intellects of our children & their peers. we must be the sounding voice, demanding that schools enforce their codes of conduct, their dress codes, and that they police not only drugs & alcohol consumption, but even the lyrics of songs allowed at school dances & school sporting events.

here's a perfect example: volleyball this year.

it's disheartening to hear the majority of play-lists for many of the teams as varsity girls warm-up. track after track is degrading to women. they mention an array of sexual acts women are expected to perform, disrespectful names women are referred to as, illegal drug use, graphic violence, etc.

why are our young women representing their communities to music that negates their validity in this life?
why are our young women singing these songs, word-for-word, as they warm up for tax-payer-funded, school-sponsored sporting events?
more importantly, why are they ALLOWED to step foot onto a court with these horrific lyrics as their teams' theme songs?
where are the coaches & where are the rest of the parents at?
why aren't the adults paying attention?!

do our kids have a choice? heck yes.

what they do have their choice in is whether to obey or disobey. what they do not have, however, is the choice of consequences that follow their decisions.

we must be firm. that is how lessons of are learned & decency is perpetuated.

adults: we are the adults for a reason. to set the boundaries. to teach self-discipline. to set the bar for the next generation. if we are irresponsible with the children we are stewards over, and we neglect to protect them & fail to demand better for them, then i am afraid that the world/society/the media will do nothing but continue to be a degenerative force that will soon annihilate our children's future. (i say children, because these influences teach our boys evil & degrading things as well. the boys see or hear something they think is "cool" because its in a song or movie or magazine or online, and then they start to subscribe to that mentality as well. again, thoughts lead to actions. actions lead to consequences. often those consequences are hurtful or violent, and always permanent.)

we absolutely cannot afford to be passive. we cannot afford to stand idly by and just expect the state of the world to heal itself. won't.happen. nothing comes from nothing... put in nothing, and you'll get nothing in return.

society's back-sliding has to stop somewhere, and that somewhere is in the family, in the home, with the parents.

"without hard work, nothing grows but weeds." ~gordon b. hinckley

set your mind now. set your precedences now. set your rules now.

be strong & don't back down. children need boundaries, so that there's never room for doubt as to where you stand. so they know they're loved. so they know they're worth your invested time & attention. so they know they are not alone. so they see you follow-through, and so they learn what integrity & virtue are all about."

*************************************************************

Thanks guys & gals for hanging in here until the end...

Now, thoughts are wonderful. Actions produce change.

"ABUNDANCE IS FROM ACTIVITY." ~TURKISH PROVERB

Grateful for...

2011-11-10T19:34:00.000-08:00

words just when they're needed, even if we doubt our readiness to hear them.
words of encouragement.
words of friends.

...words of the Prophets.

"Now, my dear sisters... You are doing the best you can, and that best results in good to yourself and to others. Do not nag yourself with a sense of failure. Get on your knees and ask for the blessings of the Lord; then stand on your feet and do what you are asked to do. Then leave the matter in the hands of the Lord. You will discover that you have accomplished something beyond price."

~President Gordon B. Hinckley, ("To the Women of the Church," Ensign, November 2003.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-09T20:45:00.000-08:00

Heavenly Father knowing me intricately.
Heavenly Father knowing who I need a hug from.
Heavenly Father knowing what I need to be involved in.
Heavenly Father knowing my weaknesses & how to make them my strengths.
Heavenly Father knowing what I need to remember.
Heavenly Father knowing my heart.

...Heavenly Father knowing the words I need to hear.

"When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold.

Count your many blessings; money cannot buy

Your reward in Heaven nor your home on high..."

~"Count Your Blessings," Hymn #241

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits..."

~Psalms 103:2

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

~James 1:5

Grateful for...

2011-11-08T22:26:00.000-08:00

safety... from the freezing temperatures, weather extremes & natural disasters.
safety... from the dangerous people of the world who enjoy bringing harm to others.
safety... especially from the pack of coyotes agressively howling & yipping just a few hundred yards from my home tonight.

...safety... spiritually-speaking, thanks to personal vigilance & my close relationship with my Heavenly Father, through prayer and the Holy Spirit.

"Love. Healing. Help. Hope. The power of Christ to counter all troubles in all times—including the end of times. That is the safe harbor God wants for us in personal or public days of despair..."

~ Elder Jeffrey R. Holland,

("Safety for the Soul," Ensign, November 2009.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-07T23:05:00.000-08:00

modern marvels: like today's medicine. Thank goodness for Urgent Care, especially tonight so Mini-Me can be on the mend much more quickly... thus missing less school, thus driving her poor ol' mom less bonkers... thus everyone's that much happier that much sooner.
modern marvels: like cell phones. Communication is so efficient. (Though I do miss my old, heavy rotary phone.)
modern marvels: like computers, satellites & DSL. Speaking of efficiency, presentations are practically instantaneous... conducting business is more streamlined, so less Holiday time is wasted in lines at the mall. Plus, blogging is such a great resource for journaling & networking.
modern marvels: like vehicles. Whether a plane, train, automobile or truck, they not only provide speedy transportation, but also ensure job-security for millions & millions the world over.

...modern marvels: revelation. Like all of the above things, today's "advancements" are here all because of some sort of modern revelation. Together they are articulate instruments meant to be employed in the building up of the Kingdom of God... even by way of allowing for more time in our lives that we can devote to serving Heavenly Father.

"How wonderful it is that we believe in modern revelation. I cannot get over the feeling that if revelation were needed anciently, when life was simple, that revelation is also needed today, when life is complex. There never was a time in the history of the earth when men needed revelation more than they need it now."

~President Gordon B. Hinckley, ("Inspirational Thoughts," Ensign, September 2007)

"Revelation need not all come at once. It may be incremental. 'Saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more' (2 Nephi 28:30). Patience and perseverance are part of our eternal progression."

~Elder Russell M. Nelson, ("Ask, Seek, Knock," Ensign, November 2009.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-06T22:42:00.000-08:00

pairs: a great deal of the miraculous evidence that Heavenly Father's plan has order would be lost if Noah had only loaded one per animal onto the ark.
pairs: best friends are at their best when there's two involved. Think about it.... Burt & Ernie... Wallace & Grommett... Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid... just sayin'.
pairs: though I am a catch, a marriage to myself would be incredibly BORRR-ING!
parenting is ALWAYS easier when it's "co" rather than "single." Trust me. I KNOW this more than most.

...pairs: they're meant to be. Let's face it, shoes would be incredibly dissatisfying if they came solo. (I rest my case.)

"God will help us see a difference in someone else not as a source of irritation but as a contribution. The Lord can help you see and value what another person brings which you lack. More than once the Lord has helped me see His kindness in giving me association with someone whose difference from me was just the help I needed. That has been the Lord’s way of adding something I lacked to serve Him better."

~ Elder Henry B. Eyring

("Our Hearts Knit as One," Ensign, November 2008.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-05T19:20:00.000-07:00

the blessing of family.
the common threads that connect us together.
the quirks I have thanks to the influence of each family member in my life.
the legacy we have inherited & are perpetuating.

...the memories, love & laughter we've shared.

(Grow grandkids ~ circa 1982...ish)

"Since 'no other success can compensate for failure^' here, we must place high priority on our families. We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time."

-President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

("Of Things That Matter Most," Ensign, November 2010.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-04T22:30:00.000-07:00

talents: old ones I forgot I had.
talents: ones I depend on daily, in each of life's crucial moments.
talents: new ones I'm discovering.

...talents: future ones I'm adding to my "must-develop" list. (The pursuit of them keeps me on my toes, as well as keeps the boredom at bay... and maintains my irreplaceability within my family, and hopefully my community!)

"I wonder if you sisters fully understand the greatness of your gifts and talents... One of your unique, precious, and sublime gifts is your femininity, with its natural grace, goodness, and divinity. Femininity is not just lipstick, stylish hairdos, and trendy clothes. It is the divine adornment of humanity. It finds expression in your qualities of your capacity to love, your spirituality, delicacy, radiance, sensitivity, creativity, charm, graciousness, gentleness, dignity, and quiet strength. It is manifest differently in each girl or woman, but each of you possesses it."

-James E. Faust ("Womanhood: The Highest Place of Honor", Ensign, May 2000.)

Grateful for...

2011-11-03T19:26:00.000-07:00

the fact that Mr LKP has a job (even if it IS dragging him to N. Dakota for the next week... on treacherous roads).
the fact that Mr LKP is phenomenal at his job.
the fact that those from Mr LKP's job always see his stellar work ethic shine through.
the fact that Mr LKP's job takes care of all of us here on The Ranch.

...the fact that Mr LKP enjoys working, nay- relishes working, & loves to provide for his family. (We are blessed indeed.)

"There's a reason its called work, and there's a reason you're paid to do it." -Unknown

For Those Enquiring Minds Who Want to Know...

2011-11-03T15:50:00.000-07:00

Remember this small undertaking from a little less than a month ago?

BTW, thanks again to SLOVLY for the lovely art featured throughout our event's motif!
(Sabrina's so amazingly talented & sweet to work with!)

Well, here's the only pics I've seen from it (since I was going a million MPH on zero sleep in 72 hours). Thanks to Cherie who always is sweet, and dependable.... and ALWAYS has her camera handy for documenting! (People's she's seriously THE greatest!) Her little getaway to my neck of the woods was in part because she wanted to come get her Creativity on! You can read more about her & her honey's adventure here.

Isn't Cherie so beautiful? Happy people are the most lovely people in the world, ya know.

Now, if you'll be so kind as to erase that hideous image of my sleepless face & make-up free double-chins from your mind, I'll be eternally grateful. Thanks, you're a gem!

NGL, grateful the event went well. Grateful the RS has decided to hold a "finish-it" night for November's activity night, so those sisters who didn't get to attend, or signed-up for more than they could knock out that day can complete their projects. Grateful my brain mostly survived. Grateful for the experiences I had in that calling over the past year. Extremely grateful to now simply teach the Beehives in Young Women. No more big events....

K, I say that, however we've got Young Women in Excellence in the next couple weeks. Perhaps I spoke too soon. :)

Anyhow, thanks for wanting the update.

P.S. There are other updates still to come that I've promised you over the last 12 months. They will come, seriously. Just know that I'm in my catching-up mode. So they may seem random. But I just want to make good on my promises is all. So thanks for continuing to hang in there, on the edge of your seats, with bated breath. Yep, you SO rock the Casbah!

If You're Hungry and You Know It....

2011-11-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

...and you're local... and if your calendar allows, c'mon down to the Grange!

Promises to be scrumptious!

Grateful for...

2011-11-02T22:05:00.000-07:00

opportunities to serve, through my calling with the Young Women.
opportunities to learn, from the Holy Spirit, while preparing Sunday's lesson.
opportunities to grow, by associating with strong daughters of God each Wednesday.

...opportunities to be even more grateful for inspiration from Heavenly Father.

"Ponder deeply and diligently in the scriptures and in the words of living prophets. Persist in prayer for the Holy Ghost to reveal to you the nature of God the Father and His Beloved Son. Plead that the Spirit will show you what the Lord wants you to do. Plan to do it. Promise Him to obey. Act with determination until you have done what He asked. And then pray to give thanks for the opportunity to serve and to know what you might do next."
-President Henry B. Eyring ("Act in All Diligence," Ensign, May 2010.)

Grateful for....

2011-11-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

new weather patterns
new opportunities
new hope
a new-again wardrobe, fresh out of storage
a new high school sports season
a new day
a new month of gratitude

...new perspective.

Where Our Time's Gone

2011-10-17T22:41:00.000-07:00

Well, lots has been happening lately in regards to the Ranch. As I scramble to locate photo proof of our adventures, for now I'll leave you with the following images from this past Saturday night. Mini-Me's first homecoming dance. She and her gal pal went stag, and had probably one of the best nights of their lives!

Dress is compliments of a vintage dress shop visit with her daddy. VERY Audrey Hepburn ala Breakfast at Tiffany's!
Hair is thanks to the talents of Mr. LKP's cousin Shellie.
Accessories are thanks to Mr. LKP's mom... her seamstress talents, and impeccable eye for style!
The red 'Stang was compliments of my dad.
And the chauffeuring service + dinner was provided by Mr. LKP & I.

(SIDENOTE: The girls were in agreement that the red Mustang was hands-down, waaaaay cooler than the limo a bunch of their friends rented! Everytime Mr. LKP gave it a little more gas, we'd hear the girls' giggles erupt from the back. Mini's friend even gasped "That's good stuff right there!" the first time the mustang sped up a little. It was adorable how much they enjoyed their evening. So nice to know they had a great time, and even more re-assuring to know that Mini-Me has fabulous friends who are safe & good kids. We even grandparents' house hopped, and her friend was so gracious, kind & well-mannered. What a treat to have two young ladies that evening who knew how to behave like proper young ladies!)

We've also got a Homecoming class float, Grange meetings, volleyball games, and a Create event (aka Super Saturday) to show for our time away from the blog. So.... until I've got pics from some of those, these'll have to do. :)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Top Chick

2011-10-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

(Meet Autumn, our only chick this season.... spontaneous arrival, but so cute.)

addicted much.

2011-10-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

these tunes lift me in the most happy way. love it.

plus added bonus, mat kearney's originally from eugene oregon. so in a way he's a somewhat local boy. in a roundabout, NW sorta local. (mr. LKP drives through there all the time, so it feels like just down the way.)

give him a listen. especially track #8 - "she got the honey." yep. only a tiny bit in and you'll know why this album's seeing me through today's workflow... like melted butter, only better. like honey... promise. :)

NEW CHILDREN'S PREVIEW

2011-10-06T02:26:00.000-07:00

Pop on over & see what we've been up lately, here.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: "Mom, I don't want to jump. I just want to eat the chicken poop!"

2011-10-05T05:19:00.000-07:00

NEW SENIOR PREVIEW

2011-10-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

Pop on over & see what we've been up lately, here.

cReaTe. a SUPER-Saturday

2011-09-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. …Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.

Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty... remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe.

The bounds of creativity extend far beyond the limits of a canvas or a sheet of paper and do not require a brush, a pen, or the keys of a piano. Creation means bringing into existence something that did not exist before—colorful gardens, harmonious homes, family memories, flowing laughter.

What you create doesn’t have to be perfect. So what if the eggs are greasy or the toast is burned? Don’t let fear of failure discourage you. Don’t let the voice of critics paralyze you—whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside.”
-President Deiter F. Uchtdorf
(“Happiness, Your Heritage” Relief Society General Meeting, 2008)

In an effort to follow our General Relief Society leaders’ direction in getting back to the basics, as well as heeding President Uchtdorf’s counsel, the Snake River Ward’s first-ever Super Saturday promises to be the most ambitious Super Saturday endeavor any of us sisters have seen in a long time. Frankly said, there is much to be done… and a little something for everyone!

As many sisters enjoy Super Saturday events for décor purposes or Christmas preparation, not everyone falls into this category. Some sisters enjoy these events for the sociality & company. Some sisters have crafted their hearts out over the years and haven’t any additional hanging space on their walls, or they can’t possibly handle another item to dust. It is also understood that not everyone is the paint-y, ceramic-y, or glue gun-y creative type. However, this does not mean that we must cease to cReaTe!

In order to meet universal needs within our ward, it has been decided that various workshops will be offered, in addition to several craft projects. Keep in mind each craft and workshop helps us to cReaTe more Heaven here on earth…. within our lives, our communities, our families, and our homes. Creation, in all forms, is one of the most divine qualities we have inherited from our Heavenly parents. October 15th is our day to celebrate this together.

Circulating at church are binders (2 in Relief Society, 1 in Young Women, and 1 in Primary) filled with examples of this year’s available crafts & workshops. Please browse through the binders and sign-up for those you’d like to participate in, attend, or purchase kits for (Order forms are also in the binders at church.)

Feel free to peruse the descriptions & example links provided. Signing up via email is acceptable as well. Simply include your name, phone number, the classes you’d like to attend and/or the projects you’d like to be involved in.

Looking forward to realizing all that we can cReaTe together! See you October 15th from 9am-3pm. (Nursery & a Soup-Smorgasbord lunch will be provided.)

Sincerely,
The Relief Society Activities Committee

P.S.
So as to allow ample time for our supplier to cut our order, please be aware that all vinyl project orders (dry-erase, blocks, & signs) must be in by Sept 28th. Thank you!

CREATE --- A SUPER SATURDAY LINE-UP:

PROJECT…                          COST…
Bless Blocks                          $10.00 kit (wood + vinyl)
Book Worm Wreath                   $3.00
Cupcake Ornaments Trio             $3.00
Dry Erase Family Calendar
      (Vinyl only; fit for 11”x14” frame- must provide own frame)      $12.00
      (Vinyl only; fit for 16”x20” frame- must provide own frame)      $20.00
Dry Erase Family Menu
      (Vinyl only; fit for 16”x20” frame- must provide own frame)       $2.00
Fabric Pumpkin Trio            $5.00
Gingerbread Ornaments               $1.50 (each)
Hair Clips & Flowers          $4.00 (each)
Korker Bows            $2.50 (each)
Home-stitched Cards (set of 20)               $3.00
Hand-Stamped Necklace                         $3.00
Holiday Planner                     $7.00
Photo Lamp                                    $ 21.00
       (Bring up to 18 of your fave photos on a jump drive )
Proclamation Blocks    $6.00
   (2 - 5”x7”, 1 – 1.5”x7”; Please bring 5”x7” family photo to modge-podge)
Prophet Quote Blocks
1.    Live with Gratitude (8”x6”)                   $4.50 kit (wood + vinyl)
2.    No Other Success (4.75”x6”)                $3.00 kit (wood + vinyl)
3.    Stand Taller (7.5”x3”)                $4.00 kit (wood + vinyl)
4.    Without Hard Work (12”x2”)                $3.50 kit (wood + vinyl)
5.    Most Important Work (5.5”x6”)          $3.75 kit (wood + vinyl)
6.    Love People Not Things (2”x4”x6”)     $3.00 kit (wood + vinyl)
7.    Find Joy (6”x6”)                                  $4.00 kit (wood + vinyl)
8.    Our Power to Do (5.5”x6”)                 $3.50 kit (wood + vinyl)
9.    Everyone is Master (4”x6”)                    $3.75 kit (wood + vinyl)
10. Be Different (4”x4”x2”)                   $1.50 kit (wood + vinyl)
11. Bright as Your Faith (8”x6”)            $5.00 kit (wood + vinyl)
12. Feet to Steady (8”x6”)                    $4.50 kit (wood + vinyl)
Ruffled Burlap Table Runner (95”x16”)    $14.00
    Plain Burlap Runner, Sans Ruffle                      $7.00
Sacrament Activity Book & 3 File Games               $5.00
      (Dry Erase Crayons available via Amazon.com & ToysRUs.com for $5 or less)
Sacrament Bag & Matching Crayon Roll        $4.00
      (Dry Erase Crayons available via Amazon.com & ToysRUs.com for $5 or less)
Saddle Up Sign (18”x6”)     $9.00 kit (wood + vinyl)
Sculpted Nativity                          $16.50 (clay only)
      (The wooden stable was found post-Christmas for less than $5)
Snowflake Wreath                            $3.00
Start & End with Family (36”x8”)       $18.00 kit (wood + vinyl)
Tea Towel Apron & Sculpted Spoon Set           $8.00

WORKSHOPS…                                    COST…
Better Budgeting                                FREE
Family History & Extraction                   FREE
Humanitarian Quilt Project                       FREE
Hygiene Kit Assembly Project                   FREE
Identity-Theft Prevention                          FREE
Living Wills: Basic How-To’s                      FREE
Photo Editing: Basics FREE
Soups-in-a-Jar Class                                   FREE
Weatherizing Your Home                                                        FREE
Quilted Seasonal Table Runner Project                                    FREE

***SUPER-DUPER BIG THANKS TO SABRINA VINCENT AT SLOVLY.COM FOR BEING SO KIND AS TO INTRODUCE US TO "CHRISTA" AND HER FABRIC STASH.***

(Christa's our event mascot in the invite up above!)

As you can see, Sabrina is extremely talented and oozing with inspiration to cReaTe as well!
Please go see what else she's been up to on her site, in her etsy shop ,

& in her originals ACEO ebay shop!

Wish Our Puguini Was As Cool As This Weiner!

2011-09-16T10:37:00.000-07:00

NGL, that mutt's pretty dang talented! :D

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Friends Just Know

2011-09-14T04:08:00.000-07:00

JUST A FEW WORDS:

My mail ladies were soooo jealous that I have someone who sends me beautifully wrapped packages. No lie. The huge box was wrapped in the most lovely purple butterfly wrapping paper, taped to high-Heaven, and labeled for shipping. Just like that!

I was tickled when I opened this package, and had intended to toss a post together about it 2 days after it arrived.

...literally, it was on my to-do list for the day of August 15th. However, nothing on that list got any attention since that was the morning the unexpected call about Grandpa came.

Funny thing is, she had no clue to timing. When I've been bluest the past few weeks, all I have to do is glance at my kitchen and there's her love just sitting on the counter. Thanks, Cherie. You're the sweetest! ::hugs::

P.S.
In case you any of you were wondering, Grandpa's memorial BBQ over Labor Day went well. It was nice to sit and enjoy everyone's company. Having a casual occasion in his honor just felt right, and was so relaxing. The words shared in his memory were filled with humor and honor.... they were beautiful. I have a feeling he's up there, quite pleased with how we've handled things so far down here. (Thanks for wondering. ::hugs::)

What I Believe: Connecting & Remembering.... Always

2011-09-13T05:18:00.000-07:00

"...Peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment... And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

-Doctrine & Covenants 121:7-8

Sunday I spent mostly alone, as Mr LKP had to hit the road for work that morning, and Mini-Me was spending time with her father, who had the fortunate opportunity to break away from editing his magazine and come spend some time here in town for the weekend.

My thoughts were to dial-up some 9/11 footage here online. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. All I could remember was lying curled up on the couch, glued to my TV for 2 days solid, completely cried-out, but unable to turn it off.

My heart ached at the thought of re-opening that wound... and I cried again, even without the footage. So I put those thoughts aside and went about things the Ranch needed that day, and wrapped up MOST of my workflow from the the last event I photographed. (Almost had it to burn-point, and realized something went wrong in my slideshow, so I am tweaking it to perfection tonight, and dropping discs in the mail tomorrow. But that's neither here nor there.)

In my attempt to stay busy, I missed out on the ONE thing I was most hoping to see. Not that we have cable or Dish or even public TV, but I had been counting on being able to pull it up online. I was sorely mistaken. So, Tom Brokaw and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's "9/11: Rising Above," on the Music & the Spoken Word program, went on without me. I'll most likely pick up a copy of the digital CD. But I missed it first-hand.

I also read about, later, in our local newspaper online, that a new memorial was celebrated and installed Sunday as well. It's a piece of of beam from one of the Twin Towers. Amazing! Just perusing the photo gallery reduced me to tears. So, in part I'm glad I missed that one first-hand (I'd have been a mess). But I'll probably go see it in my own time, away from crowds. I just need a private moment there I think. I feel I need to place my hand on it. Probably sounds weird, but I need that connection. Some sort closure for me, I guess.

One of the speakers at the 9/11 Memorial unveiling called the piece of beam sacred. I get that. Makes sense to me. I felt the same way in the middle of one cold October night in '06, at the Oklahoma City National Memorial as well. It was 1 or 2 in the morning when we visited, which probably added to the quiet, intimate experience. There's a part of the wall still in place there. There's also the Survivor Tree, which literally survived the explosion that blew past it. The whole site feels sacred, and humbling. Similar to how it feels for me when I'm in the Temple. That alone was beautiful, but the moment I placed my hand on both the wall and then the tree, I felt this energy... this connection. It was real, and I wasn't alone. Intense and amazing all at the same time.

So I think I need me a moment with this piece of 9/11 that has come to its new home here.

Felt another connection today, though. While I was in town, I saw Time's commemorative issue on the newsstand. Picked it up and flipped through the images. My favorite section are the portraits in the "Beyond 9/11: Portraits of Resilience" feature. Instantly, I identified some of the faces and loved hearing their perspective. Other faces I hadn't seen prior to this morning, but the connection was still there. Real. Alive.

"I had burns, they say, on 80% of my body and a broken bone in my back. I had my contacts in, so they were melted to my eyes. I don't remember all of it. My wife says she came into the hospital two days later and walked right past me."

-Ron DiFrancesco, Survivor, World Trade Center, South Tower, 84th Floor

"I was intending to turn right, to stairway C, which is what I was in charge of as fire marshal. Something, and I can't explain it, just pushed me around to the left. I went down the other hallway and went to stairway A. And with the fullness of time, we learned that there are no stories of anybody surviving from anything other than stairway A."

-Brian Clark, Survivor, World Trade Center, South Tower, 84th Floor

Amazing no? I've got a feeling that what fuses the connection I feel each time, is that same something that Mr. Clark couldn't explain in the moments before the stairwell. That something isn't a what, its a Who. The same Who teaches me what is truth... Who comforts my aching heart, and Who walks with me every moment of each day, since Heavenly Father & Jesus Christ cannot personally do so. The Holy Ghost (aka Holy Spirit) was given this purpose, so as to tend to God's children.

Heavenly Father wants us to be connected, to remember, and to not move on but to move forward with greater resolve to be better versions of ourselves... as well as create a better version of this world.

Tragedies occur, this is true. But without those tragedies, also known as opposition, we could not know joy and peace and happiness nor how priceless each of those are in our lives.

"...We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things."

-Articles of Faith, #13

I will be connected... and I will remember. Always.

What I Believe: At Their Feet is the Best Seat in the Room

2011-09-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

We've been given living prophets to lead and guide us in these latter-days. This was a true principle of Christ's ancient church then, and therefore a great indicator of and necessity in Christ's true church today.

 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ...And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone..."

-Ephesians 2:19-20

Many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in the northwestern United States are preparing for a regional conference this weekend. Where direction and inspiration pertinent to the details & needs of their lives where they are living, will be received. Simply stated, the regional conference will be an opportunity to be spiritually fed by those in authority to receive revelation on that area's behalf.

Three weeks from now, members & officers of the church from all areas of the world, will gather in Salt Lake City, Utah, to receive counsel and instruction from their church leaders. Other members will gather in their homes & their meeting places for General Conference. The weekend of October 1st-2nd, 2011 (aka the 181st Semiannual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) will be devoted to learning once more at the feet of those in authority to receive revelation. For this conference, the included feet will be those of the Twelve Apostles, the Prophet and his two counselors --- these honorable men hold the authority & keys by which to receive revelation for the world.

The time which we have prior to each of these conferences is busy, and filled with not only our everyday tasks, but also much preparation. To help us along the way, Heavenly Father has scattered preparatory resources throughout our lives. Such as our own personal scripture study, prayer, church meetings & leaders, Family Home Evenings, and the study of past conference talks.

My friends, we have been given an extra special treat!

One more additional spiritual primer, available now in the form an article from our current prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. His words have been published by the Washington Post, in regards to the 10th anniversary of 9/11:

"The calamity of September 11th, 2001 has cast a long shadow. Ten years later, many of us are still haunted by its terrible tragedy of lost lives and broken hearts. It is an episode of anguish that has become a defining moment in the history of the American nation and the world. This week, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, along with Tom Brokaw, will pay its own homage to the unforgettable events of September 11, 2001.

There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy. People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.

Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed. Healing has come with time, but so has indifference. We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt. Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives. The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment. But we are forgetful. When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well.

Our Father’s commitment to us, His children, is unwavering. Indeed He softens the winters of our lives, but He also brightens our summers. Whether it is the best of times or the worst, He is with us. He has promised us that this will never change.

But we are less faithful than He is. By nature we are vain, frail, and foolish. We sometimes neglect God. Sometimes we fail to keep the commandments that He gives us to make us happy. Sometimes we fail to commune with Him in prayer. Sometimes we forget to succor the poor and the downtrodden who are also His children. And our forgetfulness is very much to our detriment.

If there is a spiritual lesson to be learned from our experience of that fateful day, it may be that we owe to God the same faithfulness that He gives to us. We should strive for steadiness, and for a commitment to God that does not ebb and flow with the years or the crises of our lives. It should not require tragedy for us to remember Him, and we should not be compelled to humility before giving Him our faith and trust. We too should be with Him in every season.

The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly “need Him every hour,” not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed.

It is constancy that God would have from us. Tragedies are not merely opportunities to give Him a fleeting thought, or for momentary insight to His plan for our happiness. Destruction allows us to rebuild our lives in the way He teaches us, and to become something different than we were. We can make Him the center of our thoughts and His Son, Jesus Christ, the pattern for our behavior. We may not only find faith in God in our sorrow. We may also become faithful to Him in times of calm."

So profound. So true.

Like any other learning opportunity, the responsibility of the situation does not lie 100% squarely on the shoulders of those who teach. In fact much of the responsibility is on the student as well. The same is true in this weekend of remembrance, as well as with the upcoming conferences.

...For instance, while sitting at a desk in geometry class, it can be easy to become distracted by the whimsical butterfly engaged in an aerial ballet just outside the window. The butterfly is in fact beautiful & good, however it is still a distraction when the student's immediate attention is needed at the front of the room, in the lesson being offered. This is the same when it comes to each one of us in our day-to-day lives.

Heavenly Father has an entire curriculum for us, that he is offering through instructors whom he has hand-chosen. We should be more dedicated to the learning processes at the front of these coming conference "classrooms." The beauty outside our windows will still be there when the class is dismissed. May we be more attentive in our spiritual learning experiences, that the beautiful distractions of this unsettling world would not interfere with our learning the great eternal lessons necessary for our salvation. This is where we can not only find increased strength in our lives but, more importantly, peace in our lives. Thus allowing us to be more faithful to our Heavenly Father (who has ALWAYS been faithful to us) --- in our sorrows, as well as our calm times.

May we be ready to receive profound answers to the questions troubling our hearts, and a steady direction to the path that will lead us back to our Heavenly Father. May we readily accept the blessings He has granted us in our mortal experience, that we can be prepared to weather the refining process necessary to grant us the ability to be in & remain in His presence.

"...Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven."

-Doctrine & Covenants 121:45

AN OPEN LETTER --- something of a book review

2011-09-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Any of My Sweet Friends Reading This (and Mr. Jason Wright):

Needing something new in your life? Something else? If you're like me, one more thing to add to your plate of chaos? ...Also, if you're like me, I bet your answer may be following along the lines of some universal "Like another hole in my head" thoughts.

I know, I know. And that's okay.
If ANYONE can relate to the runaway-train called life, it's most definitely me.

(Source)

However, go out on a limb with me and pick up The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright.

My thoughts originally for this book were:
A) I thoroughly enjoy & trust Mr. Wright's writing... seriously, so much. Never do I stress that I'll cringe at either Jason's writing style, nor at his depth of characters, his sprawling setting illustrations & or his rich content.
B) I've enjoyed his past work so much that when I discovered this ~~new~~ new-to-me book on the newstand before Mini-Me got on an airplane for California this summer, I couldn't help but pick a copy up for her.

Certainly, I figured, she would appreciate it and then I'd get to read it when she returned. Wouldn't you know that Mini-Me had beat me to the reading-punch?! At the gate, she informed me she was already in the middle of re-reading Brisingr and planned to finish it while on vacation. "No bigs," I figured. I then hugged her goodbye & left with something I planned on enjoying while putting my feet up for the week she would be gone.

Well that week came & flew by. Not one foot got put up, nor was the title page even turned. ...And life just continued to accelerate from there clear through the last half of summer.

It wasn't actually until we were navigating the 11 hour drive down to Utah for my grandfather's funeral that I was able to "slow down" enough to read. However, what I had not anticipated was that less than 2 chapters in, I would hit an emotional brick wall.... and subsequently not pick it back up for another 2 weeks.

The passing of Grandpa in August, butted-up by the loss of Grandma in May (like a proper pair of bookends), was still raw and my heart already ached enough. I couldn't mourn for a fictional character at the time. Just couldn't. My cheeks, too eroded by tears. My grief, too fresh.

Please know, that the book IS masterfully penned, life's timing was just wrong for me then.

However, ladies & gents, I finished The Cross Gardener this week... and at no point was I let down. Jason Wright has proven his moxie as an author yet again in my eyes. Each character was just what I needed them to be. Every one of my heart-strings was dexterously played.

For the record, Jason's SO accurate in his details- from the highways to the towns & their locations. I felt transported, as though I too was standing behind the line in the gravel at the orchard's edge. There are times I've found myself longing to live in the Shenandoah Valley because, like a tourist brochure's photo, Jason captures the area so perfectly in his words. (BTW, in case you're wondering, Yes! I ADORED all of the apple talk, from the happenings of the orchard to the precious varieties of fruit. Not sure if it's mostly due to my early childhood years in our family's apple orchard, or the fact that our ranch is next-door neighbors with the most exquisitely sweet smelling, organic apple orchard. Either way, my entire soul delighted in this book!)

At the conclusion of The Cross Gardener, I found myself wishing that I had pushed past my emotional wall, cried extra tears at the time, just so I could have come to the peace at the end that much sooner. It is a contagious peace. A comforting, familiar truth.

As John Bevan, the main character, learns, the reader learns along side him. And I mean REALLY learns: he learns how to obtain clarity & peace. I truly believe, perhaps, my own grief for my grandparents would've been easier to cope with than it has been, had I finished this book weeks ago.

The beauty of John's whole story, from the overwhelming numbness to an enveloping serenity, is the way Mr. Wright has lovingly set each puzzle piece in its proper place. Resolution is an understatement, as well as a moving promise.

I'm not saying it's all rainbows & unicorns in the end. No, what I love is that the reader is along for every step of the journey, in coming to better terms with how life simply is. No razzle-dazzle. Just healing. Lots & lots of healing.

In closing, my dear friends, go check-out, buy, or borrow The Cross Gardener. You'll feel a cleansing in your soul and find renewal in your faith.

(Author, Jason F. Wright)

...And lastly, Mr. Wright, thank you for this beautiful book. Based on what I've learned and had re-confirmed through reading The Cross Gardener, I've become a better listener. I truly don't want to miss a single thing.

Your Avid Fan,
LKP

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: An Invitation

2011-08-31T23:50:00.000-07:00

Please RSVP to latchkeyphotography@gmail.com. Thank you.

(Comments Off)

For the Archives

2011-08-31T04:29:00.000-07:00

Nope. No sketches this time.

I know. I'm lame-sauce. But I've also been without time, which yields limited creativity.

This is more about the Relief Society weekday meetings we've held, that I've busted my can over publicity for. Was scanning through my files, and they're kinda rad. (Of course I'm biased.)

But I figured if sharing them here was gonna do anything for anyone outside of my brain, perhaps it will be that these examples will serve as inspiration... whether as what you can grab hold of and run with for your ward... or what NOT to attempt in your ward.

Take 'em as you will.

::hugs::

(Okay, no its not my original image creation, just a revamp on the CAN idea. Still was a hit!)

(This one's in the works.... and materializing well in my head. Kinda thanks to the inspirations below... but we'll see how it translates into reality.)

Keep your fingers crossed for us on this fun little evening.... not to mention on the plans for our Super Saturday coming up the following month as well! Loads of inspiration is coming now, just hoping we'll have a committee in place by then, and all the dominoes just fall into place from there. :)

What I Believe: His Family's Hero

2011-08-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

"...and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted."

-Alma 53:20

It's been a busy past four days. The funeral services were held Friday in West Jordan, UT. But we are now home, safe & sound.

They were spectacular, filled with honor & the Holy Spirit from beginning to end.

Inside the Memorial programs was a poem that Mini-Me wrote the day Grandpa Grow passed away. She's given me permission to share it:

ONE SO RARE

By Mini-Me

"There is a kind man,

Who we all have known-

Who has held our hands,

When we were about to let go,

And said through love, 'Hold on, press on.'

There is a brave man,

Who has spared us from tears.

Who fought for us repeatedly throughout the years;

Never to waiver, to ask for relief-

Comforting, saying 'Be at peace.'

There is a God-fearing man,

Whose testimony he lived.

Who served his Lord, and fellow men,

And family in everything he did.

There is a rare man,

Whose heart remains pure.

Whose soul radiates truth,

With open arms, He waits for us now,

His pride and joy, saying, 'I love you.' "

Since Grandpa was a Korean War Veteran, there was an honor guard who assisted us in escorting him to his final resting place. Since none of the rest of us could handle conducting the services, Mr LKP stepped up and took care of directing the small program. An opening prayer was said, and Mr LKP read the following life sketch:

"...Jesse Clyde Grow was born on November 3rd, 1932 to William Griffith Grow and Jessie Knowles Grow, in Salt Lake City, Utah. As the 5th of 7 children, it was in down-town Salt Lake where he and his 6 siblings (Russell, Rosemary, Billie, George, Virginia, and Kathleen) were raised. It was within their home-life that Clyde’s love for family, service to others, and strong work ethic was fostered.

Having been born in the last wake of the Great Depression, work was neither glamorous nor extremely profitable. However, Clyde learned the value of hard work from watching his father bring home just over a dollar a day, and thinking that his father was doing quite well. Prior to entering the workforce himself, Clyde was no stranger to breaking a sweat as his permanent household chores consisted of shoveling coal and its ashes in and out of the furnace, as well as sorting the “wet garbage” from the “dry garbage.” By the time he was 12 years old Clyde was riding his bicycle halfway across Salt Lake City, doing odd jobs to earn money. One such job involved grooming & clipping a local Doctor’s yard for 6 grueling hours - for which he was paid only one quarter. This job taught Clyde a valuable lesson, that one cannot trust all whom they encounter; and he never worked for that man again. Throughout the rest of his youth Clyde earned money by collecting scrap iron, recycling fat, cutting lawns, and he was a “huckster” on the hometown vegetable truck.

Amidst all the hard work being done, Clyde did find ways to have fun, from playing “keepsies” in the park & “kick the can,” to accidentally blowing up his own toilet with an M-80. Compared to the standards of life today, these roots might appear meager, however, when asked about this comparison, Clyde said, “Today’s culture leaves a lot to be desired. We need to go back to some of the older standards…”

Before Clyde could finish High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy as a Boatswain’s Mate in 1951. He served during the Korean War Conflict, saw many ports, and witnessed many harrowing scenes. He was honorably discharged in 1955. It was during his years in the Navy that Clyde felt he truly grew-up; aside from war experiences, he also met & married Etha Mae Johnson. Together they both welcomed, and bid farewell to their still-born son, Jeffrey Clyde Grow. Not long after, Clyde & Etha Mae went their separate ways and were divorced.

After his time in the Service, Clyde opened a gas station & mechanic garage on 21st South. It was through associations he had there that he was fixed up on a blind date with Joan Sharon Mortensen. Ten days later they were married! Shortly thereafter they purchased a condemned home to restore on 6th East. Subsequently, Clyde & Joan had 4 wonderful children (Kris, Cindie, Jessie, and Barbara). Together the Grow family weathered the loss of Clyde’s business, and flipped the restored house- which enabled them to purchased a quaint home on "Christmas Street" (aka: Glen Arbor). The carpets were thread-bare, and very little furniture was available, however the family’s needs were met due to Clyde working 3 jobs. In his spare moments on Christmas Street, Clyde gave of his time & talents- becoming known as the “Christmas Tree Man” who selected, cut, and installed the neighborhood’s 40'-tall Christmas Tree every year. The Grows' sparsely-furnished home was filled with friends and loved-ones, but mostly warmth.

One of Clyde’s job transfers with the U&I Sugar Company led the Grow family north to Brigham City, Utah in 1971. A brand new home was purchased on Shamrock Drive, and life was quite blessed. Clyde & Joan enjoyed an active country club lifestyle, and made lifelong friends while there. Clyde loved that his daughters were happy climbing the nearby waterfall, catching muskrats in the creek, retrieving stray golf balls from the same creek to sell back to the golf course for money, and going on family outings to see the Golden Spike site at Promentory Point. Clyde was also pleased that it was here in Brigham City his son, Kris, found his eternal companion, Diane. (It didn’t hurt that Diane was gorgeous, either!)

In 1973, Clyde was transferred to the Prior Land Company, from U&I Sugar, which took the Grow family further north to Kennewick, Washington. Soon after, Kris & Diane moved to Kennewick as well. Clyde worked for various companies trying to build a career, and to obtain a totally debt-free life. A comfortable family home was secured, and the girls all grew to adulthood, and marriages. Often his daughters’ dates would arrive at the family home to find Clyde cleaning various pistols. Later, while walking one of his daughters down the aisle, Clyde whispered, “It’s not too late to go have a beer instead.” Clyde didn’t even like beer, but knew that daughter did. Later, when the same daughter’s divorce was final, he said, “I guess you should have taken me up on that beer.” Clyde’s legacy of facing life’s trials head-on & with humor continued throughout his life, and helped mold the lives of not just his children, but also the lives of his 8 grandchildren (Jamie, Jenelle, Rob, Keely, Sabrina, Kiel, Cody, & Bailey) - and the lives of his 7 great-grandchildren.

Common memories from his grandchildren & great-grandchildren consist of: hours spent fishing, family camping trips, collecting agates, harvesting cherry tomatoes, attending frontier-style Rendevous events, vacations all over the U.S., panning for gold in the mountains, watching Seattle Seahawk football games & Seattle Mariners baseball games; LEGENDARY family BBQ’s, garden swings, hammocks, his attending their various sporting, dance, & school events; handmade butcher-blocks, wooden rocking chairs, rocking horses, & even a rocking swan; attending Native American pow-wows, going to local dams & fish hatcheries; learning croquet, badminton, & baseball from him; enormous, bristly bear hugs (thanks to his whiskers), Sunday breakfasts, a great love of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams Sr, & other “Old Standards” such as “A Bicycle Built for Two (Daisy Bell).”

Clyde was his family’s hero. He was resourceful & quick-thinking. On one horseback trip in the Teton Mountains, he was yanked & drug from his own horse as he reached out to grab the straps on one of the guide’s wild, runaway horses. Clyde would help mend split knees, save his newborn great-granddaughter from unbearable heat by shimmying in a side-window to unlock the house, and even got a traffic ticket for jumping the curb in a roundabout (he called them “Roundtables”) as he raced to be at his son’s hospital bedside.

Clyde treasured his wife Joan, and strived to meet her every wish. Upon having to say farewell to his sweetheart in May of 2011, he was perplexed as to why she passed away first. He desperately missed her & longed to be reunited with her.

Clyde was a great man, and needless to say, his family adored him. This was the greatest honor Clyde could have received is the love of his family, as he cherished them, and his fondest memories involved seeing them happy. He gave all he had to raise his family to be responsible, respect others, love one another, and serve the world around them. He relished in the righteous posterity his grandchildren & great-grandchildren are becoming. He wanted nothing more than for all of them to preserve their close relationships, and he left this world trusting & knowing that we will all be reunited again someday.

In all we do, may we honor Clyde's legacy by heeding his counsel, 'Be Good Like Me!'"

********************

Following the Life Sketch, my brother read a poem he wrote 11 years ago, based on interviewing Grandpa for his Senior project:

SAILOR OF LIFE
by K.J. Bowen

"Life and the open sea,
Gone from home.
An individual one who's free,
Through those waterways flown.

Coxman at the ship's helm,
In deep waters release.
Only sea air to calm,
As the trials never cease.

Traveled man in youth,
And content in one place.
Seeking out the truths,
In water and inner space.

Pictures reminding of the past,
All but forgotten in time.
Still near water he casts,
Leaving false answers behind.

Sailor of life,
True to family and self.
Mast of the family and wife,
Never put off needs beyond help.

Capped as a torrent wave,
Hair of soft white.
Marked in the trade,
Of love in the sailor's light.

Many squalls come and gone,
The storms have a way to teach.
Straining to rest in his rests dawn,
Remember, his wisdom lay beyond the beach.

His lessons learned over,
Not quite at rest from strife.
One of the last old soldier,
Or, maybe a sailor of life.

(This poem is inspired by and written for Jesse Clyde Grow, whom is an inspiration to his family and me. I firmly believe he was inspired by the many waves which broke beneath his bow, whether those waves were metaphors or not.)"

********************

From that point in the program, the Honor Guard then paid full military honors to Grandpa Grow with a beautifully bugled "Taps," a 21-gun salute, and Grandpa's flag folded & presented to my mother in gratitude for her years of caring for him in her home. While "Taps" was sounded, something miraculous (in my humble opinion) occurred. The skies that day were mostly cloudy. Pleasant but overcast-ish. As soon as the bugler began, there was a break in the clouds and warm sunlight washed over my cousin, my aunt, and I. The instant the song was finished, the clouds closed again. We worked hard to honor Grandpa with dignity that day, and it was as if he shared his approval with us. A final sign of gratitude & love, until we meet again. Not gonna lie, it left my heart pounding, a lump in my throat the size of Montana, and my eyes sweaty! Those few moments were very powerful; they left a lasting impression, and I am grateful for such tender mercies.

********************

In prayer, Uncle Don dedicated the grave site, and then the mic was opened for those in attendance to share their thoughts & memories. It worked out beautifully, as my uncle & my mother both shared their love for Grandpa and some warm memories with us all. There were many laughs & oodles of tears.

At the conclusion of the program, my cousin took a basket of flowers around so each person there could have a flower by which to say their final farewell with. Red & yellow roses and white daisies littered the top of his casket. It was so handsome! Had he been standing at our sides that day, he'd have been moved to tears by all of the love & admiration. ...And then he might have cussed a little & scolded us for belly-achin' over him. :)

Grandpa is a great man.
He is our hero, and no other tribute could've done better justice (aside from if the rest of the grandkids & great-grandkids could've been there too).
He will be greatly missed!

**NOTE FROM AUTHOR: All funeral photo credits go to my amazing my cousin & her mad D40 skills! A-thank you. **

My 7 Links

2011-08-17T15:48:00.000-07:00

I know what you're thinking.... "Why? What could one possibly do with seven cufflinks? SEVEN, really?! That's not even enough for four groomsmen in a swanky wedding..."

Push all your doubts aside, and fear no more, for the 7 links referred to are blog links... and this project acts like the links on an incredible chain uniting "...bloggers (from all sectors) in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned and create a bank of long but not forgotten blog posts that deserve to see the light of day again.”

The project got kicked off by Tripbase Blog, and I must thank Linda at 2BrownDawgs.com for being so kind as to nominate us to participate in this most ambitious "My 7 Links" Blog Introspective, (here).

So here goes:

1. My most beautiful post

One Little Click --> Not gonna lie, the particular morning of this post was beautiful. I may not have been at that hour of the day, but the morning was nonetheless. And it was inspiring as well. Taught me a very valuable lesson. (+ It involved my camera, so doubly-beautiful!)

2. My most popular post

Little of This...Little of That --> Not sure what all the fuss is about. This post wasn't the longest, didn't have the greatest photography, and I certainly didn't pour a whole lotta classic LKP charm into it. So I can only assume that it was the title that made it so popular. According to the stats (which never lie, right?) This has consistently been our most popular post of all time for well over the past 18 months, with darn near 3,000 pageviews. ::shrugs:: I don't get it. Maybe its more stellar than I originally (or currently) thought?!

3. My most controversial post

WHAT I BELIEVE: Battle Cry --> I don't like controversy, cause it's Siamese-twin is contention. However, there are some sacred things in this life that are worth defending. As a child who sat front-row to her parents' multiple divorces, and now as a witness to the disintegration of many of my friends' & family members' marriages, I've had enough. Some people view marriage as an outdated institution. Others feel marriage is like abstract art, and open for any twisted interpretation that fits their own personal agenda... whether through infidelity (in person or online), sexual abuse, or any of the litany of violations constantly committed against the sanctity of marriage & family. Therefore, this post was a risk and a half considering the instant digital-age we live in, and how easy it is for backlash to tear a voice-of-reason to shreds. But, I stand by it and will to the bitter end. It's time we all grew up a little more, and shifted back towards the more wholesome values of yesterday. For preservation's sake, people!

4. My most helpful post

Where's My Travel Agent? --> More than I could've realized,
I needed to get these thoughts moved from just tumbling around in my head, to typed, and organized in front of my eyes. When life's too overwhelming and I find myself wussing out, this post always helps put things back in perspective.

5. A post whose success surprised me

"My Yoke is Easy, and My Burden is Light..." --> This life often feels as though we're Meryl Streep, facing deadly odds & rapids in "The River Wild." (Remember that flick? Terrifying. Totally showed my age, didn't I?) Excuse the drama here, but it can feel like that every second of every day. Then again, perhaps its just me. Either way, around the time I wrote this post, I felt I was clinging to the rope on the side of my raft, taking on water, and barely able to catch my breath. MEMO: There's redeeming hope... for all of us. It reminds me of a t-shirt I saw at a truck stop this week. The shirt had a red & white theme to it, with appropriate symbols (such as a life-ring), and said, "LIFEGUARD: Mine Walks on Water"... told ya... Redeeming hope. So, posting this was a success in and of itself!

6. A post I feel didn’t get the attention it deserved:

My Husband is Like Well-Aged Cheese --> Perhaps some people don't love cheese like I love cheese. I assure any potential readers that in this post I am most definitely NOT referring to any stinky cheeses, as my husband's similarities to well-aged cheese has absolutely NOTHING to do with odor. Or funk. Well, he CAN be funky at times, but more in a far-out manner, and less in a grotesque manner. I promise. Go ahead now, read on.....

(Image Courtesy of Google Images)

7. The post that I am most proud of

To the Moon --> The passing of my Grandfather is still a fresh wound. The best healing I have experienced, and continue to experience, is from the peace I find in recalling all he's given me. (In WHAT I BELIEVE: His Family's Hero, the rest of our tribute can be found. In all he gave me, one of my most cherished gifts was the warmth felt while "Taps" was being played. Read more about it there. It was peace, and comfort. It was truth testified yet again in this mortal journey. A truth confirmed by the Holy Spirit, aka the Comforter. I'm so grateful for embraces Heavenly Father sends through the Holy Ghost!) When I grow up, I want to be just like my grandfather in character & integrity... in love for those around me... in honor & humility.

(My grandfather & I, camping.)

I enjoyed going back, reminiscing & rereading some of the older posts--- and being shocked that I, in fact, wrote this stuff! (Sometimes I forget that I can write and have it turn out to be half-interesting. Lol.) Thanks again to Linda for the nomination! And now, (...drumroll, please...) for MY SIX NOMINATIONS (the list's been checked twice, so I'm not duplicating):

Ruffled Sunshine. Jenn is more than extremely talented, she's an eclectic-genius with a creative vibe beating in her chest.... and talent dancing across everything she touches. This gal has an incredible eye. Understated perfection. Never over the top. Seriously, Jenn can make a gunny sack seem couture, thanks to just the right details! She's a whiz with vinyl, Valspar paint, chicken salad, sea salted caramel dip, friendship bracelets, and any fabric & thread! Visit her. You won't be disappointed nor will you come away uninspired.

Bakow Babble. Cherie is amazing. 'Nuff said. This woman can cook.... and bake... and laugh... and movie-watch... and travel... and sing Bon Jovi.... and dance.... and wear red lips.... and party-plan... and love her family better than most people out there. With her, its never about the facade of life.... it's always about LIVING up every last ounce of the moment! Her faith is refreshing. Her testimony she never preaches, instead she lives it. Yep. Someday I'll be 1/1000th as phenomenal as Cherie!

Single Infertile Female: now what? SIF is 100%; no holds barred. She tells it how it is, and I admire her frankness. The beauty she offers in her little place on the web is SIF's honesty & courage. Not just in her fierce stare-down with infertility, but in all aspects of her life. Perhaps walking the journey with her, as she processes the snot-rags life's handed her, in turn helps me process through my own battle with secondary-infertility. I know I love how cathartic it is to read her posts. I love that she's genuine. I love that she's humorous. I love her tenacity. SIF's a strong woman, and an example to me. Give her a listen/read. You'll be amazed at how instantly you'll feel compelled to cheer her on... out loud... REALLY LOUD.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan. Tauna is the real deal here people! She's a nurse, so there's her priceless "Ask a Nurse" feature, chock-full of pearls of medical wisdom. She loves pedicures in the sand, and dislikes oodles of snow for long periods of time. Tauna's also a food-virtuoso, having mastered delish homemade salsa, hand-dipped chocolates & "Christmas Pickles." (Trust me. I've had them ALL in person. DE-VINE!) She's crafty in all the best ways, cause they usually involve giving said crafts to others..... she's sweet like that. Tauna's also a talented gardener, and true shutterbug! Her timing & wit are priceless, and she'll be the first one to turn the corners of a frown upside down. She warms my soul, and I'm so glad she's my friend!

That's What She Said. M-Cat's spunkiness is beyond infectious! She's always thinking... always putting it out there... always M, and nothing less - not for anyone. Her vernacular leads to fits of laughter, and entertaining mental pictures. She's an exquisite verbal illustrator! She's a super-wife... a super-mom... a super-Mimi... a marathon superstar... a super "crafter" (on a whole other level)... and to her young women at church, she is a super-fantastic leader! Her grasp on life, love, spirituality, family, and zest for life will hook ya... from the beginning. Adore her!

AnnieValentine. Seriously, the girl's all PRO when it comes to putting words together. Her writing skills leave me to shame, and in constant fits of laughter. No wonder she's regularly published. She and her family recently relocated to Germany due to her husband's work. This geographic upheaval in their lives has provided even more comic relief in Annie's day2day, and more tear-inducing laughter from her audience. She's a must-read! Come, visit, be captivated.

Please help keep the chain strong...
and pay these FABULOUS-O bloggers a visit. I cannot wait to see what they will choose to share as their 7.

These peeps = some of my favorites. No lie folks.
They're what life-long friends are made of! ::hugs::

What I Believe: To the Moon

2011-08-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

"...having been born of goodly parents..."

-1 Nephi 1:1

Same can be said of me in my life.....but let's add to that:
"...having been born of goodly grandparents..."

One of the greatest men in my life passed away yesterday morning...

At least now, he's reunited with his beautiful bride.
I've got a feeling his heart has been so broken & he's missed her terribly.
Still, it was more than a shock.

He's also reunited with his oldest son, one of his adorable daughters, and his loving parents.

He was the best man.
Humble, honorable, kind, funny, reliable & ornery.
To say he'll be missed is the most severe understatement.

He was a superhero in my eyes; like my own personal Popeye.
He was a tattooed sailor and strong to the finish. Could have beat up any bad guy for me,
and saved me from ANY danger.

The day after Mini-Me was born, he drove her & I home from the hospital in 105+ heat.
Because the AC was out in his car, he literally broke into my house
and shimmied through a window just to save us from the sweltering summer temps!
He had to save his girls. Told ya, superhero.

His orneriness & personality?
Tommy Lee Jones' performance in Captain America pretty much gives the world a taste of what my family has lived with and loved for 78 years!
(Haven't seen the movie? Go. Do. You have to now, just so we're on the same page. Matter of fact, I think I want to go see it for a 4th time, just so I can laugh and feel closer to him again.)

From this man:

I learned how to be patient on a riverbank, holding a fishing pole.
I learned the value & potential of an old metal coffee can (great for collecting agates in, for harvesting warm & sweet cherry tomatoes with, for harboring polly wogs & toads).
I learned how to talk like a sailor when I really needed to.
I learned how to master the technique for a proper "swift kick in the butt."
I learned how to rough it when camping.
I learned how great it was to NOT rough it when camping (with a luxurious 80's camper).
I learned how to work hard & how to appreciate the great sacrifices of others.
I learned how to love watching baseball games (especially Seattle Mariners games).
I learned how cool baseball cards are (and how nasty the stick of gum in the card pack is).
I learned how to love watching football games (especially Seattle Seahawks games).
I learned how to love making things with my hands.
I learned how much better it is to make others happy.
I learned how to get swallowed in a bear hug, complete with bristly whiskers.
I learned how wonderful endearing nick names are ("Lil' Shit," "Bumpa," "Bumpy-Clyde-Monster").
I learned how important family is.
I learned how BBQ's can do more for a person than just feed a hungry tummy.
I learned how sitting on garden swings, hovering around bird baths, climbing trees, and playing whiffle ball with cousins can heal all heartaches & unjustices in life.
I learned how old dogs have a few new tricks up their sleeves.
I learned how Primary songs will always be classics worth returning to ("Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam" & "I Am a Child of God" for example).
I learned how to enjoy a hearty laugh.
I learned how to be a good neighbor.
I learned how to pitch in & serve others.
I learned how to be patriotic.
I learned how important it is to do your very best every time!
I learned how important family events & accomplishments are.
I learned how to honor my family's heritage... who & where I came from.
I learned how great it is to be me.
I learned how to be loyal.
I learned how to forgive.
I learned how to love... unconditionally.
I learned how valuable & true the farewell statement "Be good like me" is.

While in Utah for Grandma Grow's burial, he & I shared a lovely experience.

He was resting in the hotel room, and we began talking about our favorite songs.
He said that his most favorite song was "Fly Me to the Moon" by Frank Sinatra.
I was so thrilled to hear this, for ever since I discovered this tune in 1997, it has been my most favorite as well (finally beating out Chris DeBurgh's "Lady in Red"). He began to sing a bit.... then paused, trying to remember what came next. I then sang the rest of the line. His eyes lit up and he said, "That's it! That's right!" He then sang a bit of the next line, and I finished that one. It went on like this through the whole song, back & forth. He was so giddy, I was teary, and the whole scene was most tender. The song will continue to be my favorite until the end of time, but with even greater savor now.

"Fly me to the moon,

Let me swing among those stars.

Let me see what spring is like,

On Jupiter and Mars.

In other words,

Hold my hand.

In other words, baby,

Kiss me.

Fill my heart with song,

And let me sing forever more.

You are all I long for,

All I worship and adore.

In other words,

Please be true.
In other words,

I love you.

Why don't you fill my heart with song?

Let me sing forever more.

You are all I long for,

All I worship and adore .

In other words,

please be true.

In other words...

In other words,

I... love.... you."

(Jesse Clyde Grow: November 3rd, 1932 - August 15th, 2011)

Grandpa Grow,
I will always strive to be my best, thanks to your example.
I will always love the ones in my life with all I have, thanks to the legacy you left.
I will always cherish God's blessings in my life, thanks to the humble ways you've taught us.

I will always be there to help you sing...
In other words... I... love... you!

P.S.
I will miss your glacier-blue eyes the most!

::hugs::

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Best Furry Friend EVERRRRRR!!!

2011-08-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

O-F-F, Lopped it Off!

2011-08-08T18:19:00.000-07:00

Remember this mane?

...well, here are the remnants.....

So, today, Mini-Me was liberated from her oppressively flowing mane!

Something about a new school year

+ a New school

+ That new school being High School

= Wanting a new self-image

Totally understandable... but.... I just don't know 'bout this!

She looks more grown-up now, doesn't she?

At least she's happy & bouncy about it!

...perhaps it was last week's long, sweaty, filthy mop of hair
along the Trek that helped her make up her mind....?

(No matter the "whys," I'm already sweating bullets.

Add to the cut a brief visit with the eyebrow gal

+ Mini already having mastered her new make-up routine

= Mr LKP & I are in for some trouble.

I think I'll just schedule our counseling sessions now. ::gulp!::)

NEW LKP FAMILY & FRIENDS PREVIEW

2011-08-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

Pop on over here & see what else we've been up to the past few weeks!

Trek 2011: CHECK!

2011-08-06T12:23:00.000-07:00

"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, 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.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

-Matthew 11:28-30

Our Stake, and our sister-Stake (product of the Stake split in February of this year), joined our youth together for the Rescue Through Christ Trek this week.

4 days
approximately 7 miles journey each day
390 youth
100 "Ma's & Pa's" and leaders
countless hours spent behind OODLES of sewing machines to produce authentic pioneer clothing items prior to event
old fashioned entertainment of pioneer games & music
ZERO ELECTRONICS (with the exception of the Stake's designated photographer)

It's quite the adventure! For those unfamiliar with what a "Trek" really is, through re-enactment efforts, this event is an opportunity for our LDS kids to step out of the comforts & conveniences of our time, and to literally walk in the shoes of their religious ancestors who traveled overland from Illinois, Iowa, & Nebraska to the Salt Lake Valley in the mid-1800's. Each company's journey was riddled with hardships, heartache, and even death. However, equally present was the joy & happiness of miracles and blessings God granted along the way. This Trek was a chance for our kids to catch a small glimpse of their perspective, in both the pains & especially the joys.

Our youth today, need this opportunity in order to not only better appreciate their ancestors & their sacrifices on these kids' behalf.... but also, so they can gain an enriched testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ, and His love. All true rescues come through the power of the Savior. This was true for many who embarked first-hand across North American for religious freedom, over 150 years ago. The same is true for our children today, whether the rescue is physical, emotional, or spiritual.

Through Christ, all things ARE possible, & our burdens can be made lighter.

Our ward, Wednesday morning @ 6am. Out of the 490 people participating in this year's Trek, 50 of them were from our ward.

Don't they look great?!

Isn't she just the most adorable?! In helping her research our ancestry and seeking members of our family who migrated with the various LDS pioneer companies, we were able to discover more about our family history than I had before realized. For instance, I was always under the understanding that my family lines were strictly Danish & English. Turns out we've got some Dutch, Norwegian, AND Scottish blood in us as well! Looking at Mini-Me, above, I can't help but think that SO VERY MANY of our female ancestors looked just like she does. :) She's done them proud!

In our research, we came up with the following ancestors - whose families before them crossed the Atlantic ocean, in order for, generations later, these individuals to eventually cross the U.S. in harsh conditions, of which they survived only through the strength in their backs and the power of the Lord:

Joseph Young, age 53 (brother of Brigham Young), William Snow & Joseph Young Company - 1850
Mary Ann Huntley Burnham, age 36 (wife of Joseph Young), Unidentified Company - 1852
'Clara' Clarentine Young, age 2 (daugther of Joseph Young & Mary Ann Huntley Burnham; born at Winter Quarters, Iowa), Unidentified Company - 1852
Jasper Conrad, age 16 (retail clerk in a dry goods store), James S. Brown Company - 1862
William Howard Knowles, age 27 (left from Mormon Grove, Kansas- aka modern-day Atchison), John Hindley & Richard Ballantyne Companies - 1855
Joseph Croft Knowles, less than 1 year (born en route, along the Little Blue River, Nebraska), Richard Ballantyne Company - 1855
William Henry Deuel, age 35, & Eliza Avery Whiting, age 28, (of the infamous Deuel Cabin currently on Temple Square), Charles C. Rich Company - 1847
Cacey Potter Bowen, Senior, age 18 (Indian War Veteran), Silas Richards Company 1849
Samuel Mulliner, age 41 (Scottsman), Warren Foote Company - 1850

FOR HER FAMILY:
Mini-Me went. She trekked. She conquered. She returned.
...with honor, I might add!
(She was able to earn her Trail of Faith award as part of this experience.)

She came back scrungy and on Cloud 9!

...then proceeded to head straight in for a shower.

Then, after a bit, Mr LKP & I looked at each other and asked, "Where's Mini-Me?"

We figured she was catching up on 4 days' worth of texting & technology...

like her mp3 player & headphones....

Negatorio!

She was flat passed-out in her bed!

Apparently, sleeping on rocks under the stars & trekking 7+ miles each day in the

scorching desert sun isn't as glamorous as was first expected.

She still loved it, just is exhausted!

For more coverage from their Trek, here's the local newspaper's photo gallery:

LDS Trek 2011

All we know is that we're glad she enjoyed herself, but we're most glad that she's home.

Out of all her travels & adventures this summer, we missed her most of all this week.

So did all the Ranch critters. :)

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Remember this Door... + Mr LKP is A-MAZING!!!

2011-08-03T06:13:00.000-07:00

...and chalkboards DO rock! (Especially pantry door chalkboards! Lol.)

Thanks to karina, ink. for the inspiration.

Thanks to Mr LKP for being patient, and talented, and loving me!

(Now, all I need is to get my spice baskets/racks re-hung on the inside, so my spices can quit living out of a cardboard box.)

What I Believe: Taming the New Animal

2011-08-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

Perhaps I'm alone in the fact that this summer has morphed into an animal, the likes we've never seen before.

We knew June - August would be busy, but we had not anticipated the understatement "busy" would become. Funeral services, camps, tournaments, California surprises, practices, Trek, back-to-school prep... it seemed daunting, but tackle-able just the same.

That was in the beginning.

Me going back to work full-time in all the previously-scheduled breathing room was not part of our summer strategy. Thus, the house looks destroyed 24/7, and I've been DRAGGING my butt in every night just to crash. Add to that the ultra-swamped trucking season summer is, and that means Mr LKP's gone more than he's home. The combo's been down-near lethal.

Oy! So much is happening, while so much else is NOT that it makes my head spin.

Matching socks for my kid? Heh, I wish.

Laundry nicely folded and put away? Instead try diving into the mountain of laundry over yonder on the couch --- hey, you're lucky its CLEAN!

Square meal on the table every night? The kitchen's there folks, and I hope food's in there some where as well. Dates may be expired, but there's food. Ethiopian kids would NOT be complaining!

As I was in the shower getting ready to stare today down again, I said to myself:
"Self, at least you squeegeed your shower!"

Right then & there the thought smacked me in the kisser.

That's right! Amidst all my life's chaos, at least I took 30 seconds to myself and squeegeed the shower curtain & walls. The rest of the bathroom may look like hell vomited all over it, but by golly my shower got a long-overdue squeegeeing!

That's my mantra today, and possibly the rest of this summer:
"...Hey, at least I squeegeed my shower...."

Snippy lady in the checkout lane at the grocery store? "Hey lady, take some Midol, and oh, BTW, I squeegeed my shower..."
Cell phone junkie just cut me off on the freeway, when I'm already 5 minutes late to the clinic? "First, buddy, its illegal so put that cellphone down. And second, I SQUEEGEED MY SHOWER... so don't mess with me!"
Church members concerned cause we've been MIA from meetings & volleyball most of the summer, and Mini-Me the majority of all Mutual? ::shrugs:: "Yeah I promise there's no need to place us on the inactive list and pay a visit to our doorstep... see, at least I squeegeed my shower..."
Bloggie buddies whose spaces I've failed to frequent recently? "...Hey, I still love you all, so please still love me enough to forgive me since I haven't had time enough to visit your blogs....but hey, I found enough time to whip up this little humdinger of a post so you could know that, dang it, at least I've squeegeed my shower..."

Seems minimal to others perhaps, however, I'm figuring this is my Get-Out-of-Jail-Free Card.
To myself anyhow.
Seriously, the squeegee works for me!

So, how does this fit into my "What I Believe" part of life? While pondering this profound declaration in my life, 2 Nephi 25:23 came into my mind: "For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (emphasis added)

Not gonna lie, I do feel a bit better after my little Extreme Makeover, Brain Edition.

Since this summer hasn't killed me yet, I'm sure there's always more I can do. However it was reassuring to think that perhaps in those moments when I've reached my very brink, and that really & truly all I CAN do is squeegee the shower, Heavenly Father has enough Grace in store for me to cover what I can't. I've got an inkling that He's definitely got enough Grace saved up, in fact, to cover this entire summer!

God is good. So is His Grace.

In a way, this thought-provoking act of squeegeeing has become like another squeegee all its own. It's cleared my mind, and helped me see more of what Heavenly Father is offering. Grace is the most important squeegee (besides repentance & forgiveness). One that wipes out all the guilt that's been building over not meeting many others' expectations for my summer... it wipes out all the second-guessing I've been doing... it wipes out all the doubt. He knows, and He's STILL rooting for me.

When I feel like I'm losing here, I feel so lucky to know that He's still a big fan of me up there! (Matter of fact, it makes me an even BIGGER fan of Him!)

So, folks, if you've given all you've got and still feel bad? Cling to the squeegeeing acts in your life, and know that they're enough. He knows you, your efforts, your limitations, your heart. So, trust. Trust that He's got the greatest of squeegees ever, Grace, just for times in life like these!

::hugs::

Oh, and P.S.....

In addition to squeegee-ing the shower, I also managed to squeeze enough time out today to make some homemade laundry detergent with my SIL. She swears by it, and her husband's a massive grease-monkey for his job from dawn-to-dusk. So, it's THAT good! Plus it's waaaaaay affordable. Seriously, for about $18-20 (the price of a large tub of Tide) you can get everything you need to make roughly 6 batches. Each batch yields AT LEAST 300+ loads of laundry in a top-loading washer (600+ in a front-loader). That's like a year's worth of laundry for less than $3! Interested? Recipe is HERE. (Thank you, Duggar family!)

(image)

In my humble opinion, go with the Fels-Naptha, it's pure soap, and easier to grate than the Zote bar. And Fels Naptha has no beef tallow, so it's vegan. (Added bonus, when going with the Fels Naptha, its safe enough even for MY mega-allergies & sensitivities!)

Squeeeeeee..... er, um, Squeeeeeegggggeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!

:)

With All the Blogger Shingdig-Hopping Going On....

2011-07-28T18:40:00.000-07:00

...and future plans being made for me to attend 2012's CBC event next spring with my Bear Lake ladies, Mr LKP stated tonight that he's going to put-on/host his OWN blogger gala locally. Something along the lines of "Mr-Damn-LKP's Blogtopia 2012." Not sure how well it'd go over, nor how hillbilly it'll become, especially with some of his proposed ideas for a marketing campaign.

Like this, maybe for print:

...and this, maybe for online distribution:

...and finally, no convention of any sort is complete without T-Shirts:

(You've got to know StrongBad to really understand... + know how crazy about ANYTHING StrongBad Mr LKP & Mini-Me are. Like this classic SBemail or this other, equally entertaining, if-not-more-so, SBemail.)

It takes all kinds, people. :)
What more can we say?

".....YES I'M AWESOME!!!!"

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY: Happy 1st Birthday, Willow!

2011-07-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

What I Believe: Bravo Emma!

2011-07-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

It's already been established that we're not a Harry Potter household.

(No need to debate the virtues vs. the lack there of in the whole Harry Potter situation/ the author/ the author's intents.

I won't be swayed and, frankly, that's okay.)

However, that being reiterated, I totally LOVE this:

"I find the whole concept of being ‘sexy’ embarrassing and confusing. If I do an interview with photographs people desperately want to change me – dye my hair blonder, pluck my eyebrows, give me a fringe. Then there’s the choice of clothes. I know everyone wants a picture of me in a mini-skirt. But that’s not me. I feel uncomfortable. I’d never go out in a mini-skirt. It’s nothing to do with protecting the Hermione image. I wouldn’t do that. Personally, I don’t actually think it’s even that sexy. What’s sexy about saying, ‘I’m here with my boobs out and a short skirt, have a look at everything I’ve got?’ My idea of sexy is that less is more. The less you reveal the more people can wonder."

(Wanna read it for yourself? Go here.)

My hat goes off to Miss Watson for her thoughts on keeping more covered up than her famous counterparts. Its refreshing to read of an accomplished young woman who's got a good grasp on who she is, and protecting that person. Glad she's comfortable enough in her skin to not feel she needs to hang it out all over the place. Just sayin'.

"Modesty in dress and manner will assist in protecting against temptation. It may be difficult to find modest clothing, but it can be found with enough effort. I sometimes wish every girl had access to a sewing machine and training in how to use it. She could then make her own attractive clothing. I suppose this is an unrealistic wish. But I do not hesitate to say that you can be attractive without being immodest. You can be refreshing and buoyant and beautiful in your dress and in your behavior. Your appeal to others will come of your personality, which is the sum of your individual characteristics. Be happy. Wear a smile. Have fun. But draw some rigid parameters, a line in the sand, as it were, beyond which you will not go."

-President Gordon B. Hinckley, 2004 from a talk entitled, "Stay on the High Road"

Have Been Enslaved

2011-07-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

(courtesy Google images)

...to our insane schedule.

Which has included all of Mini-Me's crazy sports stuff + full time hours back at my old office until a gal comes back from maternity leave + Mr LKP out of town for work the majority of this week (Hopefully he'll get to come home today or tomorrow.) + full-blown CPR re-cert training + a photo shoot last night.

Had to have a little liberation just for Mini-Me and myself, since the post-scheduled hours of the day usually have resulted in me seriously crashing, just to wake up shortly thereafter to start it all over again.

Therefore, following the shoot, she & I raced into town and stood in line for Captain America tickets.

BEST. MOVIE. EVER.

Captain America IS what a SUPER HERO should be! (Broke the mold with this guy.)

NGL, Captain America's hot in a very charming, classic, clean-cut way. No language issues (which was FABULOUS) and both of us girls were literally on the edge of our seats the WHOLE time!
ADDED BONUS: The casting of Tommy Lee Jones was impeccable, as was that of Stanley Tucci! We were tickled to see Hugo Weaving in there as well, and were stunned at how well he plays the villain. (Haven't seen much of him since he played Elrond in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.)

Cannot WAIT for the next Marvel movie installment, when all the best are brought together. Too bad that won't be until NEXT SPRING!

Since I'm impatient like that, AND since Captain America was so good, I'm thinking Mini-Me & I will have to take my sister & dad to see it again tonight! (She didn't see it yesterday, but wants to. Will be wonderful. All depends on when Mr LKP comes home. Perhaps we'll take him AND my sister tonight!)

Go see it, m'kay?!

(P.S. If you were wondering, Green Lantern was completely rad. Got outta there around 12:30am, and let me just say that the drive home in the stark dark of night and all the lights speeding past was such a rush! No lie, Green Lantern made night driving SO much fun. I want to be a lantern! Can't wait for #2 which is due out 2013. Sinestro's got some issues to be dealt with, people!)

Sorry, but I'm a comic book kid. So if you don't love comic books yourself, or never did, just don't hate. K? To some of us, comic books & Jedi Knights are like crack. Kinda like how sparkly vampires & lightning-bolt scarred kid wizards are crack to others. Suum cuique.

Random Silliness: What Boredom Yields

2011-07-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

...Posts like this.

Am kid-less again for the next few days (as Mini-Me's at her first regional church dance -- 5 stakes! -- and crashing at Grandma's until Tuesday where she's gonna sew her Trek skirts and interview Great-Grandpa about our family's pioneer heritage. Great Grandpa is who we're related to Henry Grow & Brigham Young through).

Husband-less until late tomorrow night (thanks again to his truckerism).

So, I did some massive family history research until my ears started to blow steam. Ignored some housework (its not going anywhere, so I'll get to it when I feel inspired). THOUGHT about spraying a few new photo props down with some fab spray paint (but will wait until its sunny, and not windy). Considered taking myself out to the movies. Instead wound up in YouTubeville.

Stumbled upon the following video. Gotta admit I STILL love the song. + I'm a MEGA Divine Comedy fan, so the combo is phenom:

Oh yeah, and remember P90X? Well if you're wanting a good laugh, or to shoot whatever your beverage is out of your nose, check out my friend, Chelsea's blog post "P90X is Death." Or watch the next video, or read and then watch, or whatever:

OOH-OOH! And I could NOT have gotten through tonight without THIS gem:

...and with that, I'm grabbing a ball cap and am headed to the movies afterall... Green Lantern, here I come!

Happy weekend, bloggin' peeps!

Big Mouth!

2011-07-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

If you've been following along for a while now, you'd expect that the title "Big Mouth" would be one of two things:

an insult lodged in my direction
a term of endearment from my old radio friends who are also TALK-ERS!

I'm here to tell you actually that this post has nothing to do with my motor mouth! Instead it's one full of love, appreciation, and high-marks for our latest addition here on the Ranch:

My brand spankin' new BIG MOUTH 14 CUP FOOD PROCESSOR by Hamilton Beach!

Serio, folks. This thing is BEYOND thebomb.com!

While cooking up at camp this year, I fell in love with my SIL's wonder mixer/blender/juicer that we used constantly.

Each year we strive to feed our Jr Grangers not only well, with loads of taste, but also LOADS of nutrition. Therefore there's GOBS & GOBS of veggies chopped down until they're unidentifiable and then mixed in with the ground beef or ground turkey. This way, when whatever sauce goes on top, the stealth NINJA VEGGIES are already there, waiting to sneak in and do the job they're supposed to! ...And the kids totally think they've got their parents snowed, since their camp food can't POSSIBLY be good for them 'cause it all tastes so dang good. ;)

So, Mr LKP picked out (on his own - isn't he a gem?!) the BIG MOUTH processor. Brought it home to me, and I went about the same ninja veggie routine as the true test. The BIG MOUTH knocked my SIL's blender/mixer/juicer out of the park! No lie. What took minutes, at 1-2 handfuls of veggies at a time, took only seconds, per full batch of veggies, with the big mouth.

There was ZERO clogging & clumping. ...And I was in kitchen appliance HEAVEN!!!! I'm delighted at the performance. Mr LKP is tickled over how easy it is to take care of & clean-up. Mini-Me is ECSTATIC over the phenom grater + fry-slicing plates. (Innocent, unsuspecting sweet potatoes be warned!)

It's a win-win-win! (Well maybe not for all the veggies we plan to decimate. Lol.)

Bonus features?

4 suction-cup fee,t so it stays in place on the counter. Hooray!
Built-in safety switch, so the blades don't start their magic until the lid is locked in.

People, this is better than anything Ron Popeil's come up with!

"...Set it, and forget it!..."

So, there you have it.

Me.

A happy homemaker, all thanks to another BIG MOUTH in the house! ...and NINJA VEGGIES. (I'm telling ya, they're where it's at. ::wink::)

...Oodles of high-5's to Mr LKP for this smashing success!...