Hhhmmmm.....

Does anyone ever read these things? If so, make a comment, leave a note, or drop me a line....let me know you were here.

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Saturday, December 29, 2007

CLeaN uP iSLe 5

There I was, searching for bead after bead, setting up the new jewelry display. I'd pretty much spent every working hour over the last two weeks on the new floor design, so I was relieved when I heard my name. "Oh Somer, there you are!" Cathy, my boss, had a big smile on her face as she walked toward me. "You're going to be a nurse. Could you clean up the puke in the main isle. Some kid just got sick all over the carpet."

Almost five years at Promise....no vomit. One month at Roberts....puke duty.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Christmas Memories....

HeLLo...Mr. Dickens? Are you out there? I'd really like a visit from the Ghosts of CHRiSTMaS tonight.

I'd LoVe to go back and look in on my family at Christmas. The house transformed each year into a land of lights and color. Family photos came down....Christmas pictures went up. Greenery everywhere! Garlands, wreaths, and of course our tree. SToCKiNGS hung by the chimney with care---especially when Dad lit the fire. LiGHTS on every branch of every tree, both inside and outside. Mom's legion of eLVeS making mischief throughout the house. Morning never did come soon enough as I lay in bed on Christmas Eve as a child...for me, or my siblings. I'd love to stand unnoticed in the room and listen to us GiGGLe and talk. Oh the speculations! What would be under the tree? Would we hear Santa? Whos turn it was to ask for the zillions time that night if the hour had come to get up. We never did get much sleep. I doubt my parents did either.

I'm eXCiTeD for Christmas' to come. TRaDiTioNS...there will be traditions! Those passed down and carried on through my life, those of my sweet hubbies...and those we will make ToGeTHeR.
I doubt I'll sleep much as a parent...too much excitement waiting for the little ones to PeeK out from their rooms.

A future Christmas will soon be past. Dumpsters will be adorn with paper and RiBBoNS no longer needed to hide secret treasures. I'm excited for gifts...more so the ones I GiVe. When I close my eyes to visit Christmas past, or look forward to Christmas yet to come, it's no present under the tree that fills my view, but the PReSeNCe of the wonderful people in my life.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Interview With God



Somewhere between sleep and awake lies a place which is neither dream nor reality. Here, I sit on my front porch holding hands with God.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Behold Your Little Ones

Last night I saw the lights of Temple Square through the wide eyed excitement of my 28 month old niece. The lights were brighter and the joy was tangible. She'd point and say "Somie look!" as she pulled my face in the direction of whatever had caught her eye. She oohed and awed, pointing to the mural of the universe, as she was carried up the ramp on her daddies shoulders to see the Christus. As soon as the statue of our Savior was in sight she squealed, "Jesus! Daddy go there!" She wiggled her way to the ground and pushed through the crowd of people until she stood at the feet of Christ. I stood there, little tears silently finding there way onto my cheeks, watching as her parents kneeled to talk with her about our older brother and Savior. I thought of the resurrected Saviors visit to the Book of Mormon people...

Jesus "wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took
their littl
e children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed
unto the Father for them. And w
hen he had done this he wept again: And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones. And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes toward heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them."
(3 Nephi 17:21-24)

I love that little girl so much. For those few moments, I had a small glimpse into the depth of the Father and the Son's love for me. I ache for the time when I will share that love with my children, when I will indeed behold my little ones.



Thursday, December 13, 2007

From Santa, with LOVE


A long time a go in a land far away
A child was born on a cold winter's day

He wasn't the baby you're thinking about
But another small lad, he stood short and stout

He grew up to be quite a caring old man
He loved little children, everyone in the land

He found the 'Good Book' and studied it's pages
It was the story of Jesus passed down through the ages

His heart overflowed as he read, could it be
A love so divine that he died just for me?

A twinkle appeared in his eye on that day
He found a road straight to Heaven and Christ was the way

As Christmas came closer his heart filled with joy
He'd show God's people he loved them--every girl, every boy

He made lots of goodies and stocked up his shelves
Yes, Santa was busy and so were his elves

He was filled with such love, that he wanted to share
So he handed out gifts to kids everywhere

Praise be to God, let the angels sing
This jolly old man spreads love for the King

As he steps into the chimney he looks high above
And whispers, "Happy birthday dear Jesus, from Santa with love."

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Footprints on my heart

Have you ever noticed that it's often the smallest things that leave the biggest impressions on a life? They range from momentary encounters with strangers to lifetimes of moments with cherished friends. I've been shaped by those moments.
I treasure each of them.

"SOME PEOPLE come into our lives and quickly go.
Some people move our SOULS to DANCE
They AWAKEN us to UNDERSTANDING
with the passing WHISPER of their WISDOM.
Some people make the sky
more BEAUTIFUL TO GAZE UPON.
They STAY in our lives FOR A WHILE.
They LEAVE footprints on OUR HEARTS.
And we ARE NEVER, EVER THE SAME.
~Flavia


For each moment you've blessed my life and left a footprint on my heart...
I love you.


Friday, December 7, 2007

Dream Big


"And when you dream, dream big
As big as the ocean blue
'Cause when you dream it might come true
When you dream, dream big."

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Life is Beautiful



I am a creature of habit. I thrive in structure mixed with chaos. Chaos I control. Always moving and on the go....heading toward the goals and destinations that figure into my plan.
As a child, I dreamed and imagined of what life held in the future. Anything was possible and all was probable. I was going to change the world. As I grew, dreams and imaginings turned into plans. As I grew, I planned, creating a list of goals, filled with checks and balances that would lead me to my destination...my life. But then something happened. I did not reached the milestones I had determined would show success on the path to my life. Somewhere, somehow, I had missed the events that were to be the checks and balances pointing the direction to my life. I failed. So, I slowed down. I went through the motions, placing one foot in front of the other, without direction or determination, heading farther into a dismal forest. The, I stopped. I became that which I feared--an uninspiring, unimaginative, forgettable life. I had been running, sprinting toward my dreams and my goals, only to find I'd been running in place. Somewhere along my path I accepted the doubts of those along my path. Their words echoed in my mind. Phrases and labels becoming etched so deeply inside, I believed they were true. Words, phrases, labels. All chains preventing forward motion and growth. I was worn out and yet I was standing still. Where was I? Who was I? I searched the image in my mirror for someone I recognized, only to find mediocrity starring me in the face. I had settled. I searched, harder, longer, for the girl lost on the path of the past. She imagined. She dreamed. She believed. Fear filled my chest with the realization she may be gone forever... and I was the one who lost her. How had I believed in words and not in myself? My eyes darted about, still searching, looking deeper and harder at the image, hoping to shatter the glass. I'd been sleep walking through life in that dreary forest full of shadows and was now searching for the path I'd lost somewhere in the hazy darkness. Suddenly, the sun flooded through the canopy of wearisome trees, piercing the darkness and our eyes locked. Hers and mine. I began to see. She'd been there all along, hidden by the shadows I had accepted, her scream drown out by the voices I let in. I began waking up. Emotions overwhelmed me, and tears poured down my face with the realization she'd been pointing the way all along. Not on the map of my creation, but one with a greater design. A map of my life and not to it, showing not where I was going, but where I'd been while searching for a life I'd forgotten to live. Life is found in each moment. Moments not to be markers on the way, but moments to be lived. I see the way clearly as I follow the map of greater design, not leading to a life I hope to find, but showing how to live my life. I look around at this unexpected life and realize how beautiful it is. My life is beautiful. And with that, I move forward.