The Still Small Voice

Have you ever listened to your inner voice, and, as a result taken a leap of faith?  Maybe you delved into something so outside of your comfort zone that nobody really understood.  Maybe it was something you have been thinking about for some time.

I do that a lot.  Maybe it's because I have no inhibitions. Or maybe because I have great faith?  Or maybe because I am crazy?  Who knows.

But I want to explore this deeper.

What is faith?

I have this bookmark on my refrigerator that one of the kids made in their primary class about a year ago.  It says...

For those of you who can't see it (because my camera is an absolute disaster and epic failure), it says..

              Faith is things that are hoped for and not seen

That could mean many different things to many different people.

I have taken many leaps of faith.  

1.  I took a leap of faith to leave a PhD program, defend my masters and start a wedding business.  Mind you, my degree is in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
2. I took a leap of faith when I joined weight watchers
3.  I took a leap of faith when I converted to the LDS church
4.  I took a leap of faith when I started sewing - learning via You Tube (if you can believe that).
5.  I took a leap of faith when I started this blog - after almost a year of promptings.  
6.  I took a leap of faith when I started the site design for The Squishable Baby.
7.  I took a leap of faith when I started working out seriously.
8.  I took a leap of faith when I chose to believe that my Mother's death was not in vain.
9.  This blog post itself is a leap of faith.  When I got up this morning, I had no idea what I was going to write about.  This post came about from a prompting I got off Twitter (of all places).

All these things have one thing in common.  I listened to the still small voice - the one that lives inside me.  It fills my heart with such unbelievable glory - it's beyond words.  

You have to be ever so quiet (in heart and mind) to hear it.

What comes out of taking "the huge plunge" into the unknown abyss?  There are lots of glorious things, none of them necessarily having to do with money.  Sometimes you are to gain an experience that will help you with your progression in this life.  Sometimes you are to meet someone - and that connection will make the world (for you and/or others) a better place.  Sometimes, it's so you can help someone else.  Sometimes, it's so you yourself can be helped.  Sometimes it's for an experience that must be had, and sometimes it's not to be understood in this life. 

And sometimes, it's because you are going to gain financially.

And sometimes, it's because it increases your own faith.

So, tell me dear friends, when have you listened to the still small voice - and exercised your own faith?  What did that look like, and what was the outcome?  Please tell me, because I really really want to know.

Cheaper by the Ton

I walked into an urgent care clinic one day because one of my kids got sick.  So, the doctor walks in and comments - WOW, you have a ton of kids.

Really? 

A ton? 

I walked into another doctors office.  She was like - wow - is this all of them or do you have more?

What the? 

And, what is it with doctors????

I never thought about 3 being a ton.  I was thinking more along the lines as a few, so this got me thinking - why in the world would these people think I have a ton of kids?  They were not being loud or obnoxious.  My kids are actually pretty obedient and kind.  The office was pretty small - so maybe it looked like there were a lot of people there - but still, a ton?

With three, have I officially become - a baby maker?

So please tell me what you think.   I really do want to know. 

How many kids do you think is a ton?

I'm Just a Mom

So, I am looking for a new design for my blog.  I want to be a successful blogger  - so I must conform, right?  I want comments and such - just like any blogger would- so I suppose my blog "must" fit in.

So, steps one and two in the process are - one - look for the blog designer - and two - create a look and feel for the blog.

Okay, so I have found a designer that I "dig".  She has a website that has the right balance of elegance, simplicity, creativity and pop.  Certainly she can help me create the look and feel I'm looking for.

So now, figuring out what I want.  That's the harder part.  I have seen a lot of blogs - many...many...many blogs.  I have noted the aspects that I like - and many of the aspects I don't like.  What it comes down to, I think, is the question - who am I?  After all, I can look at as many blogs as I want - but those were made for other people.  I'm me, so of course my blog has yet to be created.

So, who am I?  Well, my life is made up of 37 years of "growing" experiences.  Is that who I am?

Okay, so I have basically done science and math for 3/4 of my life.  So, I suppose I am a geek. Thanks to The Big Bang Theory - geek is now the "in" thing to be.

I have a BA from

and loved it!

And an MS from

 Brown University

in Cellular and Molecular Biology.

And hated it!

It wasn't me.

You know what?  I think I just figured out who I am not.  I am not a scientist - at least a laboratory scientist.

So, who am I?

Right now, I think, I'm just a Mom.  I really enjoy being a Mom.  It's a cool thing to be!  I make mistakes and learn from them - but all in all - I think I am a pretty good at it!

Simply put, I am a woman who loves her kids more than anything else in the world,

So tell me - Who are you?

L 

The Bubble Family

Well, the Flu has gone to nuclear levels in our house.  My daughter is the last one to fall - and my baby boy is getting better.  I'm still miserable.

The little one seemed to feel so much better that he decided to get up and watch a bit of tennis - at 1 o'clock in the morning.

 
He was wide awake. He and I were at severe odds.  He wanted to play and I wanted to sleep.

Drat!  I guess another one in the kids column.

Needless to say - it was a very long night of playing.

The sad part of this is that I was thinking about today's blog - and decided to snap a picture.

I have also come to the conclusion that I'm putting myself and the kids in a bubble.  What do you think?  Should we put ourselves in a bubble?

 At least during flu season.

L

Nooooo - Not The Primary

I'm going to start out this post by saying - I know that Heavenly Father loves us very much - and knows each one of us personally.  I also do know that challenges are put in our path, because they make us grow in ways which are necessary for eternal growth.

However, I don't want to teach Primary.  UGH  <whine>.

Just a week ago, I was telling one of my fellow Relief Society Sisters that I didn't want the Primary calling.  I'm with kids all day - every day.  They never leave.  They are always there.  When I go to Church - for two hours I have time to myself (well, I have the baby but I often pass him off).  I have time to reflect and learn in peace.  In peace - with reflection.

Did you get that?  PEACE and QUIET reflection?

 I really do enjoy and love Relief Society.  I feel renewed each week.

This past Sunday, the Bishop calls me in his office, and gives me the news.

Ugh, I should have never said anything.

DRAT.

It's not the kids.  The kids are simply lovely.  I have 5 and they are very good, really cute and nice kids.  They are 7. 

But, they are going to eat me for breakfast.  UGH.  I'm not nice and sweet like those other Relief Society sisters.  Like - you know - preschool type teachers.  I'm a slave driver.  Just ask my son and daughter.  Haha!  I'm much better for an AP high school class - 16/17 year old's.  Not sweet and innocent little 7 year old's.

I looked at the manual, and I have to prepare these lessons each week.  They are long.  <whine>

Ugh...ugh...ugh.  You can always think of 100 reasons why you can't do something.

I want my old calling back.  I liked conducting the music in Relief Society.

Of course since this calling comes from "On High" - my Heavenly Father and my Ward need me to do this - for whatever reasons.  I guess it's better for me to do this then hang out with my Sisters each week.

Ugh.

L