My first

Thanks to a wonderful woman, who fittingly is nicknamed "Shine", I got to go to the General Relief Society Conference at the conference hall downtown.  It was amazing.  For the first time I ever I got to be in the same room with a Prophet of God.  More specifically, President Monson.  I got to sing at the top of my lungs with four billion other beautiful women.  I got to meet new friends.  And when I left, I had this as a first view of the outside world.  It was tough.  And we get to do it all over again this Saturday afternoon!!  I love conference weekend!!  Woot Woot!

Currently Receiving Transmission

I just finished "Contact" by Carl Sagan. 

Contact is an extremely interesting, and challenging book.  I know it's fiction.  Still, it's hard to read a theological argument between the main character, Ellie, a scientist and "agnostic" (as she says) and a televangelist. 

It's hard to hear because I know there are so many who are thinking and believing (or not believing) all those things Ellie is struggling with.  Modern day revelation.  Hypocracies among the religions.  She keeps asking, "Where has your God been?  Why would he prophecy to Prophets of old, but to none today?  Where has he gone?  Why has he gone?"  I want to shout to a fictional character, "He does.  He's here.  For good.  To stay.  Hallelujah!"  I could start my own television show.

But it's SO MUCH HARDER to read the televangelists views, and know that there are BILLIONS who are following these beliefs.  "God talks to me all the time.  God has told me that a revelation is at hand.  When the end of the world is nigh, the Rapture will be upon us, the judgment of sinners, the ascension to heaven of the elect..."

Well Reverend Rankin, revelation is not at hand.  IT IS HERE!  Hallelujah!  *Smack!*

Where was I?  Ah, yes, maintaining the Spirit through patience with fictional characters.

D&C 5:20
"Behold, I tell you these things, even as I aslo told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem; and my word shall be verified at this time as it hath hiterto been verified."

Dan. 2: 44

44 "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

And my favorite, D&C 13

"Upon you my fellow sevants, in the name of Messiah I conver the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness."
 
For me it is the wonderful reminder of the blessing of modern-day Prophets.  But more importantly, the fact that there will always be a Prophet of God on earth, and that he will never be taken away.  That this is the last dispensation.  And that I get to be a part of that.  How sad would I be if I didn't have the Gospel?  Would I even know what I was missing?  Would I recognize the Spirit again, as I did almost 11 years ago testifying of the truthfullness of the Gospel?  How different would I be without the Gospel?  Without the Spirit?  Would I be like Ellie, unbelieving, skeptic?  Or worse, like Rankin, "Join Jesus or be DAMNED!" 

Yikes! 

Kelly Out

Planned Obsolescence Part III

"Family moments cost less at WalMart."

Yeah, you just have to buy them over and over again.

Kelly Out

Oh dear

This girl.  Oh dear.  Brett and I have a LONG 15 or so years ahead of us. 

Is it Tuesday YET!?

When I didn't go to the Temple for like a year (gasp!) it really didn't feel like that long.

Then we (the hubby and I) decided we needed to get going on our duty.  And now going even a week feels like a long time.  The urge to go is always strongest on Sunday, when of course I have to wait until Tuesday.  I think maybe that's why Tuesdays are always so busy in the Lords House: everyones feelin' the push.  So I started trying to go on Saturdays, give myself a little Temple boost before the two day sabatical I was facing. 

But when I don't go, I feel it keenly.  The pull is stronger than gravity.  It is physical, spiritual, mental, emotional.  I need it.  I crave it fortnightly (name that movie).  I can't wait for Tuesday! 

"I would advise all the Saints to go to with their might and gather together all their living relatives to [the temple], that they may be sealed and saved, that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes forth; and if the whole Church should go to with all their might to save their dead, seal their posterity, and gather their living friends, and spend none of their time in behalf of the world, they would hardly get through before night would come, when no man can work." -Joseph Smith

I gave a lesson yesterday that included this qoute.  Basically, what I hear at the end of this is that even if we spent every waking minute focusing on getting to the Temple, getting our family and friends there, and doing the work, WE WOULD HARDLY GET THROUGH BEFORE NIGHT WOULD COME.  I have a T.V., I can honestly say I spend more of my time in behalf of the world, than in behalf of the Lord and his amazing work. 

"The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead." -Joseph Smith

Seek after them, redeem them, and redeem ourselves.  Why, oh why, must the Temple be closed on Mondays? 

In one of this months Visiting Teaching messages, Barbara Thompson says: "We need women to be 'anxiously engaged in a good cause.'"  I can say I am anxiously engaged in Temple work.  I am anxious to get to the Temple, to get names to the Temple. 

Well, back to the world for me.  Kitchen needs cleaning (or a can of gas and a match), the bathroom is dripping with some slimey green goo, and I'm pretty sure the smell wafting up from the basement is a dead rat (thanks Kitty!).  So, Tuesday can not come soon enough!

Kelly Out

Salute to Sunday

I've been hunting and searching for some way to describe this weird, powerful feeling I've been feeling lately.  I found it today in D&C 136:27

"Thou shalt be diligent in preserving what thou hast, that thou mayest be a wise steward; for it is the free gift of the Lord thy God, and thou art his steward."

I suddenly want so much to be better.  I want to recycle, to stop buying stuff that doesn't last, to fight back planned obsolesence.  I want to be a better steward over this beautiful world the Lord made for us.

Moses 1:31-32
"For mine own purpose have I made these things.  Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me.
And by the word of my power have I created them..."

And what more reason do you need to help make the world a better place than for these little people:

I love the Gospel.

Kelly Out

P.S. My friend Lacie does a salute to Sunday.  Her's are always better.  Thanks Lacie for your great example and inspiring words. 

Planned Obsolesence: Part II

See this chair leg?  It was once broken.  I glued it back together.  I'm pretty awesome.

So imagine my surprise, my utter amazement, to see this:

BAH!  Broken again.  But no, my glue job was amazing.  This is the twin brother, Mario.

The exact same leg broke on Mario.

Now, I bought this table and chair set two years ago for $20.  Pretty cheap right?  Exactly. And the old me would've thrown this one away and happily, merrily, trotted my way to the store and bought another.

 But I refuse, refuse (verb), to make this set refuse (noun). Hyuck hyuck.

It's not about the money.  It's about the fact that they made this chair to break.  They purposely created a horse. 

A broken leg=garbage. 

Planned obsolesence is the devil.  Brett and I are fighting back with carpenters glue. 

Kelly Out

Always Learning

I'm watching my eldest monkey this morning. He's just learned how to blow up a baloon.

It's a beautiful reminder for me. I actually remember learning how to tie my shoes. I was four. It was so hard, and so frustrating, but so flipping rewarding.

And then I realize: I am only 25. I've learned much, tis true, but there is so much I don't know. How will I learn? Will someone sit with me, teaching me patiently, calmly, all the important things I need to know?

Yes. I am so grateful for that. Grateful for the scriptures, for weekly church, for weekly opportunities to start fresh. Grateful for teachers. Grateful for the Priesthood. Grateful for the Lord, sitting beside me, teaching me.

Thanks Cohen. You're a real eye opener for me.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have a wonderful lesson about patience, pre-prepared and everything. It includes spilled milk and cereal.

Kelly Out

Planned Obsolecence

This morning I got a good reminder of "planned obsolecence".  Why, oh why, can't we just change the batteries?  Why do we have to throw away these toothbrushes and replace them with completely new ones?  What a waste. 

Marvel at my photography skills.  Bask in the glow.  Or the flash, which ever.

Kelly Out

Breeding-Mania

Holy crow in a hand basket, there's some major baby mojo goin' on right now.  I have 12 friends who have recently announced.  Sheesh.  Not including two cousins (one with twins).  Not including me, because I'm not pregnant.

But WOW!

Kelly Out

Hurry Up!

I just ate an entire medium thin crust pepperoni and pineapple pizza by myself.  Brett better hurry home before I become and official blimp instead of one on the cusp.

"I'm doing great!  I have no stress.  Coping mechanisms?  I don't even know what those are!" she says, as she takes another enormous bite of pizza.  "Please pass the coke."

Super Excited

For two reasons:

P-Dub made a cook book.  I'm beyond thrilled.  I'm gyrating with excitment.

Second:

She's actually doing a book tour.  I don't ask questions.  I only know I'll be showing up.

Kelly Out

A Few Good Things

I'm not sure what's wrong with me.  Scientists are investigating as we speak.  They  have a pint of my blood, four thousand hairs (with follicles), toe nail clippings and a shirt I wore in the third grade.  Scientists are weird.

Anyway, when Brett leaves me for large amounts of time, like say...two weeks, I sort of turn off the "I have a husband" and take on the more sombre "I once had a husband" attitude.

I like to pretend that for the time being I'm husbandless. The children are fatherless.  I cannot rely on anyone but me.  It's the only way I can cope with him being gone =)  It's been workin' okay.

I also try really hard not to think about "it".  About him being two billion miles away, about me being alone for days on end with two short people who follow me around with growling tummies calling me some weird name.  "Maaaammmy". 

But there are a few nice things about being a single mom for two weeks.

One: I get to say my personal prayers out loud.  I mean, I could when Brett is home, but I don't.  I don't know why, I just don't.

Two: I get to put my book on his pillow.  This, for some reason, gives me great pleasure.  Probably because I'm lazy and I don't have to lean over and put it on the side table.

Three: I get to have a saucy affair with this good-looking Pharmaceutical man out in Chicago.  We chat on the web-cam some nights, other nights just over the phone.  His name is Brett.  I think I'm in love.

All in all, I miss him terribly, but it's not so bad.  I hear other women complaining to the hilts about how tough it is to have their husbands gone, blah blah blah.  Like I said, I don't know what's wrong with me, but it's not that tough.

Also, I think I'll lay it on thick when he gets home.  With things like, "YOU WERE GONE FOR TWO WEEKS.  YOU WASH THE DISHES.  YOU CHASE THE KIDS.  YOU WEAR LIPSTICK!"  That sort of stuff.  I'll make it seem like it was a lot harder than it really was.  You understand.  I'm a woman.  It's my perogative.

Kelly Out

Hi.  I haven't posted lately because I don't do real well...thinking...with no sleepy.  I no thinky well.

Brett's been gone for two days.  But he was also gone ALL LAST WEEK as well.  He's in Chicago.  He went to a Cubs game.  He's having a real tough time.  Poor guy.

But I've been doing such fun things!  I will now commence sharing time.

I participated in a torture session called (for legal reasons, I'm sure) "Trigger Point Therapy".  It was actually very helpful with my back.  She was actually able to rub out six different knots, and I only cried most of the time.  So doing that again! (They really do need a sarcastic font.)

We had a really good Enrichment tonight, for which I only participated in for half and hour.  But what I did get to see and hear was really inspiring.  It was all about choosing the better part.  A ward member and I did a small skit of a modern day "Mary and Martha".  I love my Ward.

I have a friend that gave me some quality service today.  She visited with me while I washed dishes.  I can't tell you what a difference it made.  It was like I wasn't washing dishes at all. 

Last night I didn't fall asleep until 2 AM.  I have become OCD about checking ALL the windows and ALL the doors, and checking out the blinds about every fifteen minutes.  Every noise I hear is a serial killer/rapist coming to attack my children, while I sleep blissfully unawares like.  I miss Brett.

Finding a spider in your bed is the absolute most terrifying thing in the world.  Barr none.

Well, thank you for participating in my drivel.  I promise more exciting posts in the future.  When I've had sleep.  I.E. when Brett comes home and snuggles with me.  I'll go no further, this is a family blog.

Kelly Out

P.S.  Tanya pointed out that in my last post I did not mention the recycling bin I bought at IKEA.  This is true.  I did buy a recycling bin.  But, BUT, it was with a purpose.  And I had been planning on buying it for months, I just don't make it out to the middle of nowhere that often.  It wasn't STUFF, so stop judging me!  Tanya.  Just kiddin'.  I love ya!