"Audience of One"

(This song has a fabulous beat! Kyra and I crank it up and sing it loudly in the van. I never really looked at the lines of the song until now, we just love the chorus. Something is really lost here without the funky beat and the dynamics of the song. Oh well.)

Here tossed about

Reaching out

From an endless sea of souls

Losing sight

You face life

With a heart that feels alone

Well I want you to know right now

He can see you in the crowd

You... are golden in His eyes

He's right there by your side

And He knows your every heartbeat

Though... millions seek His will

Remember He would still have come

For an audience of one

Here on the earth

Rest assured

That He'll meet your every need

Through and through

He loves you

In a way you can't conceive

Oh you've got to know right now

He can see you in the crowd

You... are golden in His eyes

He's right there by your side

And He knows your every heartbeat

Though... millions seek His will

Remember He would still have come

For an audience of one

Oh can't you see it's true

He would have given His all

If it had just been you

(Chorus again)

"You'll Get Through This"

Pull the shades down on the sun

Don't want to see the morning break to another day

I don't have the strenght to face

Close the door and keep it shut

This ache just is too much for me to take

How do I begin to pray

My way back to some kind of peace of mind

But then I hear Love whispering through the darkest of times

You'll get through this

You'll break new ground

When you're lost within your weakness

Hope is waiting to be found

You'll get though this

No matter what it takes

I believe in you for heaven's sake

You'll get through this

When doubt starts tearing at

The faith deep in you don't be afraid

Just remember what He said

Nothing formed against you will succeed

As long as your heart's turned towards Me.

You'll get through this... (chorus)

Nothing formed against you will succeed

As long as your heart's turned to Me

You'll get through this... (chorus)

Providence

I have a CD by an LDS women's quartet called Providence. They really don't have a specific style that I could pick out, except to say that it is all spiritually based and uplifting. They have amazing voices and I love their version of "I Need Thee Every Hour" where they sing it a cappella. WOW! I won't retype all the words to that song since it's in the hymn book, but I am going to do a few more posts with some of their other song lyrics. Obviously some songs speak more to people than others so take from them what you will or don't read them at all. Sometimes I'm thinking of my friends when I hear them, sometimes myself, sometimes nobody at all. Some of them have a great beat while another I just recently appreciated the words since the tune seems to drone on and on. Enjoy, or don't.

The Difference a Week Makes

This time last week: I could be found sitting in this same chair, in my pj's, picking lice of our little children's hair. My neck would be aching, I was cranky, and I had probably yelled at both my kids already. The kids were probably hungry but there was nothing good to eat since I had not been to the store and could not find an ounce of energy to be creative in the "let's find something to eat" department. My mom had fed me 3 meals already that week (bless her heart) and the thought of making, planning, or cooking was last on my list of survival skills. If none of this had happened, then you could find me in bed, avoiding all of the above.

Now this week, this day: I've been up (happily) since 4 am, done some serious scripture study (not the kind where you read the chapter to say you've done it), emailed and blogged (both read and typed), been to the gym (1/2 hour on the bike), showered, make-up, Tasha is ready and waiting for the bus, and I'm ready to get going as soon as I do my hair. I'm debating going to the temple to do some initiatories or going to Costco since Tasha said she didn't want to go with me. I imagine if I hurry I could do them both. The prospect of shopping does not overwhelm me and I am looking forward to cooking some meat to freeze for future meals.

So what's the difference?

No lice + No sugar = No neck pains + No headaches

Life is good again.

Sweet and Sour

I was about to post about the fabulous feeling that I had after talking with a friend and winning at Hearts, but now I'm pissed off beyond all belief so I think I'll introduce a new title post: Sweet and Sour. Diane introduced this concept to me when we were in YWomen's together. You simply ask what the sweetest (good) part of the day was and what the sour (worst) part of the day was. It's great if you have to struggle for a sour, but sucks if you have to search for the good. Here goes:

SWEET: I beat the computer at Hearts. (It's harder than you think) I had a great chat with a friend at the park. I don't have any lice and chatted with another friend while she searched. And I'm not lazy. I thought I was lazy, but this phone conversation cleared that up...

Friend: What are you doing these days in the afternoon?
Me: Not much, this and that. I try not to commit to anything in particular.
Friend: You're not working?
Me: No. I picked up a substitute application the other day but still haven't filled it out. I figured I could turn it in, work a bunch up front, and then be picky about when and where I go. I'm lazy though and don't want to work.
Friend: You're not lazy.
Me: Yes I am. I don't know why Bill doesn't kick me in the butt and make me get to work.
(there was a lot of in between banter now about kids and school etc. that I don't remember but this was the line that got me...)
Friend: Alright. Would you be working if you didn't have kids?
Me: Yeah, I guess I would.
Friend: Then you're not lazy.
Me: OK.

SOUR: Now I feel good again and don't want to rehash the sour. Let's just say it involves the stupid dog, dying plants, a chewed up water hose, a paper-strewn lawn, an angry husband and a bit of yelling. (in that order because the first on the list was the cause of all the rest)

So now comment and give me your sweet and sour...

Salads, Park Day, and Email addresses

I like to share salads with Tasha because she only likes the greens and a few carrot slivers. That leaves all the good cheese, nuts, and craisins for me. She'll eat just about any kind of salad too (most greens and most dressings). Her favorite is probably romaine and spinach with some sort of balsamic vinegar dressing. She will eat small crumbles of feta with this combination if you don't make a big deal out of it.

Just today I found out that she likes the middle "crunchy part" of the romaine leaf. The part that is white and has no flavor that I usually toss out. This is very strange to me that someone would choose to eat that. Again, this works out nicely for me when sharing a salad with Tasha.

Our personal favorite salad at the moment is Fresh and Easy's Craisin and Bleu Cheese for $4.06 (after tax). Yum. We grabbed one today on the way to the park. Oh, and speaking of parks... I'm taking over Mommy and Me until it is too hot to be outside. Because I'm me, and I don't care what time works for you, we're rescheduling to fit my schedule. Future Mommy and Me's will be on Tuesday's at 12:30 and we will meet at one of the many Tempe Parks. Look forward to a master schedule (as soon as I get on the ball), spread the word, bring a lunch if you'd like, and come enjoy the AZ winter. This will be a weekly venture, so join the fun. I do need your vote though... does there need to be a bathroom available at the parks we go to? Yes or no? Thanks for your input.

Also, since I have your attention... I don't have email addresses for many of you. If you have not received any email correspondence from me in the last month or so consider yourself lost in my book. When the computer crashed so did the address book. If you want to hear from me you'll have to step up, put yourself out there and email me first. Thanks for understanding that I don't hate you, I just can't contact you.

We Passed Inspection!

Bill took Kyra to school this morning and had to wait around until her head passed the official head-lice inspection. She got the seal of approval and wa-la, she's in! Yippee for us. And by us, I mean all of us! Thanks to Monique, Ester, and Crystal for helping me dig through hair and Bill for making the trek to school and being late for work while he waited around to see if she was good to go.

The last time Kyra missed this much school was in the 2nd grade when she had double pnemonia. She missed the school overnight and was quite sad. The school was supportive and missed her, but not like Desert Marigold. I've received 2 phone calls and an email from her teacher and the kids were delighted to have her back. (Both this time, and last week when we thought she could go back.) Here's the conversation Bill had with some unknown girl...

Girl: Are you Kyra's dad?
Bill: Yes.
Girl: Is Kyra here today?
Bill: Yes.
Girl: Is she staying?
Bill: Yes.
Girl: YES! (and she runs off to tell a group of kids)

That's my husband, a man of many words. Give him a break, it was still early. We're assuming this was a girl in Kyra's class. Bill did go talk with her teacher to let her know all was well.

What a relief this is off my shoulders. I felt so good this morning that I actually pretreated some stains on some shirts as I did laundry. With the 10 extra loads of laundry this past week (sheets and towels every day) I haven't had the energy to do anything other than shove them in the machine and hit the buttons. It was so bad that when I bought laundry soap I bought the powdered kind, opened it, scooped it, and THEN realized I couldn't use it in my machine. DUH. We got a high efficiency machine last summer and it only takes "he" liquid detergent. I'm such a genious sometimes.

Now I need to decide what to do with Tasha. She's still laying in bed and preschool started 5 minutes ago. That's what I get for enjoying my friends and letting her stay up late several nights this week. Oh well, I'm sure she can make up the work. :)