So much of what we hear about today is gloom and doom. I decided to create a blog where I and others can come for a little bit of happiness and maybe even laughter...it truly can be the best medicine. I hope these entries share a smile or two. Enjoy!
Our home is 27 years old and the siding has started to separate in places. On a whim, I took a door-to-door salesman's pamphlet, passed it on to Paul and figured he could tell the people "not interested" when they called back. We had no intention on taking on this kind of expense. If we spend money, I want it to be for two tickets to Greece. Well, one thing led to another, and we now have new siding! Yikes! What just happened!? What happened was, we really got a good deal and we realized that it needed to happen in the next 3 years and we could handle the cost now better than when Matthew is in college or on a mission. When they pulled the siding off, we found water damage on the back wall, so it's a good thing we didn't wait. I love the color - coastal sage - which is a pale green even though it looks blue here (so glad not to be the same as everyone else) and it's all insulated, so we are noticeably warmer (just ask Nadine whose room is above the garage - she claims it was 8 below in her room two weeks ago - whatever...). We plan to paint the trim and the garage door a forest green to match the shutters. Looks like my rendezvous with Greece will be postponed a few years....at least I'll be warm while I wait.
My good friend Debbie gave me this flower, Amaryllis, for Christmas. I thankfully didn't kill it with neglect and now it is in full bloom. Enjoy this winter brilliance!
I teach the 9 year olds at church. Kids constantly crack me up. Today I was teaching about Adam and Eve. I told them how Eve was supposed to be the first to choose life out of the Garden, because if Adam had chosen first, it would have been forcing Eve to have children. God is all about letting us choose and not forcing us, so He wouldn't have let Adam force her. I asked the kids why they thought Eve should have been the one to choose. Tim said "Because girls have babies, not boys." Noah said "Yeah, and it's really painful!" I agreed and said it's hard work and hurts and that's why when they get married, and if their wives have a baby, they should be there to hold her hand and give her whatever she wants. I told them, "If she asks for something strange, like pickles and chocolate, you just give them to her. And if she asks for more pain medication because it hurts, you say 'Hey doc, get over here and give her some more pain medicine.' " Noah said, "Yeah, and maybe she'll ask for a bomb." I was like, WHAT? Outloud I replied that I didn't think his wife would ask for a bomb and risk her little baby. He said, "Well, she may say 'After all this pain, I wanna Nuc this place!" Oh dear, oh dear. 9 year old boys are so bizarre, but at least he's got it that delivering a baby can be painful. =)
The announcement I've been waiting for has finally been made...Sade has a new album, due out February 9th!!! Sade is the queen of sultry and smooth sounds - very lah-de-dah. I have loved her since her first album came out right before I turned 16. I've always thought I'd rather be called "classy" than "beautiful", and Sade's music is full of class. You bet I'll be first in line to get what I know will be another fabulous album. Check her out. You can see the video at: http://www.sade.com/ or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9kqDDj4l04 It is eye candy - so visually stunning. I hope I look this good at 50!
Okay, so it should be "return of most improved/inspirational", but hey, it's a return nonetheless. One of my goals for the past few months has been to get more active. I've actually walked for 6 days now! Whoo-hoo!, as well as added in a few sit ups and a few push ups. When the sign-up for church basketball came around, I debated back and forth whether or not to add my name to the list. Personal conversation: "Now, if you sign up Teresa, you have to mean it." "I know, I know." "And it's early morning games...on Saturday!" "Urgh. I know. I think I can handle it." "Hmm. I don't know about that." "Look, I need to get in shape." "You'll probably pull every muscle and pass out." "True." I hesitate; my hand suspended in mid-air. Then I throw caution to the wind and sign. Now I have to do it.24 years ago I was on the high school basketball team. I started my renown career as a senior (in a very small school, so they were desperate). I played both JV and Varsity. Though not the most skillful player, I was the most enthusiastic...thus the "Most Inspirational" and "Most Improved" awards. (My coach also said I had the weirdest shaped ankles she'd ever seen.)So, this morning I went to my first game. For the first two quarters I was just a shufflin' body on the court. Slowly the old "skills" came back and I even made a basket. The following "happy" dance nearly did me in, but it was fun and I even got my heart rate up. This could be a beautiful thing.Before I close this record of my triumphant return to the court, I have to tell you about these special shoes. They are the shoes I wore in my High School games all those 
years ago. They are my treasures. Sure, they are great shoes...the best in the day; but that's not why I love them. I came from a family of 10, on a teacher's salary. Ya, we were poor. I paid for almost everything I had: clothes, school fees, gifts for friends, treats...everything. I was working hard academically to earn a college scholarship, as well as doing any odd job I could to pay for both my daily expenses and save for college. I didn't have any real athletic shoes. My coach told me I needed to get some. What was I going to do? I couldn't spare the money. My parents stepped in and said they'd pay for them. It brings tears to my eyes even now. I knew what a sacrifice it would be for them. I almost felt guilty picking them out, but deep joy was the main emotion. My mom encouraged me to go for good ones that would last and support my "weird" ankles, and not settle for the cheapest. These cost almost $40, which was pricey for the day. Boy, did I baby these shoes! I only wore them on the court; cleaned them all the time; and have carried them with me for over 20 years. (Okay, so they've only had a year of use, but still.) It was a special moment putting them on again, all these years later. I still feel the love of my mom and dad when I wear them...and I think that love even helps me play better. True treasures.
Okay, I guess I'm on a music kick. Last month I discovered a band that got its start in Salt Lake City...Late Night Alumni. They were in Park City during the fall, promoting their new album, and I missed it, bummer. Their music is often played in clubs and their first album "Empty Streets", out 4 years ago was a big hit in big cities, especially in Europe. I got their first CD off Amazon. It's out of print and an import, but only $20. I like it better than the new one "Of Birds,Bees, Butterflies, etc." , but both are worth a listen. I especially love "The Rest of You", "Beautiful", and "Eros". Enjoy!
For our anniversary Paul and I went to Meditrina, a fabulous little restaurant downtown Salt Lake City. Our friends, the Olsens, led us to it. To me it felt like it was a few new, cutting edge chefs trying to make it on their own. The presentation is creative and the food delicious. I especially LOVED the mushrooms and brie! So tasty. I'm all about promoting new talent. They have been open a year, and I want them to be successful, so I'm putting out their info to all 10 of you who read my blog. You can pass it on, and maybe a dozen or so will try them out. They are in a house on West Temple, just off 14th south, across from the Bee's Stadium. Their website is:http://meditrinaslc.com/You can also check out the article on them at: http://www.saltlakemagazine.com/Salt-Lake-Magazine/June-2009/Have-it-your-way/
To copy my sister Stephanie, I thought I'd do a music recommendation. I was in Bath and Body Works, and heard this song. (So many of the great songs I hear are in stores. This is me, "Ooo! I love this song!" Repeat lyrics, repeat lyrics,....try to remember. Walk to car...dang! What were those lyrics?! No chance of finding out what the song is now....urgh.) This time I remembered the lyrics and found the song on itunes. It led me to Simon Lynge. The song is "Infinitely You" on A Beautiful Way to Drown. I love his music! It's very uplifting and happy. May I also suggest "London Town" and "Love Comes Back to You".
Okay, so I thought I'd be young and cute today, so I put braids in my hair. I'm not a hair expert, so it took me almost a half hour to do two braids. I was feeling so la-de-dah, and then my 4 year old saw me and said, "Ug! Mom! Ewww! You look bad!" So what if he's 4, it was a blow to my ego. Joseph was a good little boy and said, "Jensen, you shouldn't say that. It will hurt her feelings." I asked Jensen what he didn't like about me. He said, "Those dangly things in your hair." "Those are braids," I said. "I don't like 'em," he said. End of discussion. I debated on whether to keep them in or not. Okay, so I did look a bit like a 40 year old trying to look 10, but hey, I was in a young mood, remember. Then Paul came and was the fair prince that I married all those years ago, "Hey, you look cute!" he said as he grabbed me for a kiss. "Thanks. Jensen said I'm ugly in these braids." "He's 4," Paul replied as if that explained everything.I later asked Jensen, "What if you grow up and see a cute girl with braids?" "I won't like her." "What if you like a cute girl and then she wears braids later?" "I'd like her, but not the braids." And that's that. So, anyone trying to win this boy's heart, stick to the straight iron.
Our home is 27 years old and the siding has started to separate in places. On a whim, I took a door-to-door salesman's pamphlet, passed it on to Paul and figured he could tell the people "not interested" when they called back. We had no intention on taking on this kind of expense. If we spend money, I want it to be for two tickets to Greece. Well, one thing led to another, and we now have new siding! Yikes! What just happened!? What happened was, we really got a good deal and we realized that it needed to happen in the next 3 years and we could handle the cost now better than when Matthew is in college or on a mission. When they pulled the siding off, we found water damage on the back wall, so it's a good thing we didn't wait. 
