The Regulator

A wagging finger

My dream calling in my church is to be the "regulator". The number 1 reason is because there is such a NEED for one.

Here are some of the duties I perform : (whether in my mind or in action, it happens every week).

*When a speaker goes too long, the regulator produces a cane with a hook and removes them from the pulpit.
*When incorrect doctrine is spoken, the regulator shines a laser pointer right into the offender's eyes, thereby causing him to cease and desist.
*When teachers are excused early to go and prepare their classrooms, the regulator stands at the door to verify if they are really teachers or just trying to pull one over on everybody. Because, hey - that group gets bigger every week.
*If the hymn is being sung too slow, the regulator taps a large plastic wand on the piano until the organist and everyone else gets up to speed.
*If the hymn is too fast.....nevermind. The hymn is never too fast.
*Unless....you are in Relief Society and the pianist, because she is not singing, runs into the next verse before you have finished the last line of the previous verse.
*The regulator makes sure that there are no long or unnecessary meetings. This is a big one and takes a lot of energy.
*The regulator provides a list of those wanting to give sacrament meeting talks. It is populated by those giving closing prayers lasting longer than 1 minute and containing it's own subject matter.
*When the time is up, the regulator stands up and pulls a hand across the throat as a sign to stop. This is especially useful, since the entire congregation sees it too. There's nothing like church peer pressure, is there? (This will have to be it's own post).

*When the third hour is over, it's over. Because we are like sponges, you and I. We are capable of soaking in during the entire lesson, but if it goes even one minute over (this includes the song) the sponge begins to leak at a very rapid pace, replaced by agitation and in some cases, hostility.
*Teach monthly seminars on how our church calling does not define who we are as a person. Nor does our church calling take precidence over other things, like say.....FAMILY.

Stay tuned for part II because trust me, I have only scratched the surface of the need for a ward regulator.

Who are "they"?

Sometimes pet peeves are just on your mind. This morning as I emptied the dishwasher and dumped water down the front of me, it was brought to the fore-front again.

Why do "they" make pan handles, strainer handles; you-name-it handles with little reservoirs on the bottom side of them? I can get the cups with a hollow spot on the bottom; they pretty much have to be made that way, but handles?

I think that "they" need an advisory panel (aka: regulator for anyone who knows my secret, yearned for church calling) to sift out these kinds of un user-friendly things about consumer goods.

Who are "they" anyway?

Who makes towels, anyway?

Has anyone noticed the braided edge of most towels?

I suppose the makers think they are pretty-ing up the towel, providing embellishment.

Pay attention the next time you are drying your hands after washing with hot, soappy water (several times per day, thanks to H1N1). Where do you grab to dry? The middle? No - the end, where the braided part is. There is no fluffy towel there.

When you step out of the shower or bath, what part of the towel do you use?

I am on a quest to find towels with no braided or embellished edges.

In the meantime, grabbing the towel in the middle to dry will have to do.

Just some random thoughts about towels.

Time for the Headlamp

I love it when I open the garage door and there is Gordon working hard, wearing his headlamp.
He and the boys just returned from their weeklong elk hunt in Eastern Idaho at Fall Creek. As I listen to them talk, they mention having their headlamps like it is as every day as carrying your car keys with you. Apparently, they have them in their "fanny packs" and when it gets dark and they are riding their horses back to camp, they pull out the headlamps.

What an image to imagine.

I have a headlamp in my car.

I should use it. I'll keep you posted.

Cease and Desist Order

What makes a blog slug? In my case at least.

I can go for weeks with something to blog about every day and then the seasons change and my blogging dwindles.

True, I am sad to see my favorite season end. But it's not depression; more a melancholy. I always feel this way when we have seen the last of summer.

I love the colors of the leaves changing and try not to focus on what comes next - dry brown branches leading into my least favorite season - winter.

I am trying to make this Jessica's best year ever before she takes off for college next fall. I'm determined that it will be a happy, exciting time for her. But inside, I fret. I think about this time next year. I wonder what life will be like with an empty nest.

But worry is not a productive activity. So I must cease and desist.

I must take my own advice and feed all of the positives in my life. And there are so many. I truly am a grateful soul. I thank the Lord every morning for all He has given me.

I think gratitude is the key to a happy life.

Father and Daughter

Jessica had the honor of being nominated for Homecoming Queen this year. Her proud papa was there to escort her on to the field.

While she wore her blue prom dress (she wore a shorter, different dress for the dance), Gordon fretted much more than she about what he should wear.

He had her convinced all week that he had a tuxedo tucked in the back of his closet and that I had taken it down to the drycleaners. I got to quietly nod my head and try to go along with things, even though keeping a straight face was hard at times.

"You have to tell him, Mom. Nobody will be wearing a tux; not even the boys nominated!"

"You will have to be the one to tell him", I said with a straight face.

She spent the better part of the week trying to subtly convince him that it really wasn't necessary to wear a tux. When he insisted, she told him they made some sort of announcement at school about what the parents should wear (this was a stretch at best).

Gordon replied by telling her that he had put a call in to Alta (the principal) and she gave the go ahead.

Finally, he gave in and told her he had been kidding her all week. It was a good one and we really had her going.

Teasing our kids has been one of the great joys of parenthood.

Notice how nicely his light blue tie coordinates with her dress.

Top 25

Summer seemed like it was going to last forever this year.

And it was.

Until Friday when the temperature dropped drastically and then Saturday when it started raining and hasn't stopped yet.
People say they love the change in seasons, particularly to the Fall. I love Fall too. I just wish it didn't have to push summer out of the way.

So, in a fond farewell to summer, here are some of my favorite things:

Top 25 of the summer:
1. Scott getting home.
2. Going to the cabin right after Scott got home.
3. Scott's homecoming weekend.
4. Seeing all of the family for Scott's homecoming.
5. Watching my boys goof around together, obviously happy at being together.
6. Watching Jess finally having a sibling semi-her age around again.
7. Jess skiing & Scott watching her for the first time & being very impressed.
8. Scott skiing and throwing the rope when the water got rough.
9. Cam and Eli warming up to Scott as though he never left.
10. Ben & Laura moving home to Boise.
11. Helping Ben & Laura find the house of their dreams.
12. Getting slurpees with Jess.
13. Getting our new boat, the Black Marauder.
14. Rich & Jo organizing our Lucky Peak camping trip.
15. James introducing Scott to his bride, Suzanne.
16. Horseback riding with Scott, Jess & Gordon.
17. Skiing for the afternoon/evening at Lucky Peak.
18. The hot, hot sun on my back.
19. Sunbathing with Jess.
20. My summer toasty-tan.
21. Freshly mowed lawn.
22. Flower pots overflowing.
23. Planting, cultivating and working in the yard.
24. My roses.
25. The sunshine!

In the grayness of the winter and in fairness to the seasons, I will post a top 25 of the fall. (A top 25 of the winter? That could be a stretch).