Home Again

We survived our trip to St. Louis, Missouri and back home. It was fun to catch up with old friends and to make new ones. In some ways it does makes me miss the military. For some the environment would be uncomfortable, but for me it was quite comfortable. Some what like going for a reunion. If you have been in the military there is a certain degree of connection period. We understand the sacrifices we each made to keep our freedoms and our fellow country men. 

I have enjoyed being involved with the VFW since my friend Sanford "Sandy" Beshear, past Utah State Commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars. Gave me my first membership. A year later I paid for my life membership. I was not very active at first, but a move to Brigham City, UT changed that. My Aunt was active in the local post and invited me to a post meeting and then I met Norm Nelson, Past State Commander and current Post Commander. I have been active participating in Funerals, Eagle Scout Flag Presentations, and many other events over the past 10 years. This year I have not been as active because we are building multiple entrepreneural ventures and gaining my self-directed education. My reading has focused on becoming an inspiring servant leader. I am very imperfect and admit sometimes I have a touchy trigger. Certain things set me off. I know my kids aren't perfect and I freely admit it. I just wish that honesty was everywhere. I love the kids I have known who are true to their personalities in front of their parents as well as away from their parents. there should be no difference in public versus private behavior. Anyway tangent over. I have learned so much from those around me in the last year it is amazing, more so I have learned so much about myself. Looking back I can see how I have pushed myself to become better than I was. I have learned what I need to correct and improve on.

Listening. generally I am good, but when I get hungry or tired or frustrated because I need to step away from work. I become a little crabby.

Eating this has been an issue for some time, I generally can not eat until later in the morning which can be frustrating when I have to spend the day out and start early. I wake up really nauseated, I am only able to take in liquids-not very filling. Fast Sundays for me are real fun.  I have been doing a modified breakfast for about 8 years. I eat just enough bland food to take the edge off my hunger. because when I am able to I eat.

Exercise. This one is funny, because I truly love health and fitness. It is my chosen profession. I have struggled with it for about 8 years now because of Severe Chronic Fatigue.  I have beat myself up over my lack of exercise for a long time and only recently decided that I do what I can do. I have my weight set, Treadmill and other fitness tools in our living room. Most Women would have a cow if their husbands did this. But I am not just any woman. I wanted it in my face to prick me and tell me use it. Why would I torture myself this way? Because I know there is that hump you get over and exercise is something to look forward to. For many years it was my major Stress release. I have a history of bodybuilding prep, in which I spent most of a year prepping for a competition in which I chose not to compete. I know that getting back on the horse to ride will help me feel better about myself and look at life more positively. I especially love helping and serving others obtain their fitness goals. The human form is a beautiful masterpiece that iron and steel can shape and mold. I am very visual when it comes to human form and I notice beauty (male and female). But let say I notice the heart too. when the heart and the human form combine it can very exciting.

Family time. My daughter found out I can have fun. At home I am so tied up in things that need to be done sometimes I forget to stop and smell the roses. I am changing that. I am making an effort to spend time doing things my kids like. John the youngest is teaching me Minecraft, 15 mins is all I can do. I am learning to listen carefully and notice the signs of an older child struggling with their faith and belief. Not knowing why others behave as they do. He says it makes him doubt. He says all religion sounds the same. My heart aches for him and I pray he will find his way. My daughter is getting to go on her mission for our church for 18 months.

Husband time.  I have always done my best to give most of the time available to my husband. but I do not always succeed it is rather hard when his is half way around the world and wants to chat when I should be sleeping. But I have given my best effort. I am making the effort to give him more time especially working in our businesses. He needs it even more. I do not want him to think that I don;t need him, because that is just not true. I do need him  without his support and encouragement I would not be where I am at now.

Time for my Heavenly Father the most important of all is this relationship. Why? because the closer I get to Him the more things fall into place in my life and it all flows better. With Him all Things are possible.

I'll leave off here for now.

Dying Laptops and Dreams

I tried this yesterday, my laptop is going the way of most electronics. We used to love Dell, until they shipped all their work overseas. My oldest being the geek he is was able to recover everything with a Linux based program once my windows became un-repairable. The laptop limped along 6 months then I transferred the hard disk from the chassie (spelling?) to an external case and used it on an older dell that was on its way out. Ironically that desktop is still going with Fedora (a Linux based Program). I got a new HP Laptop for $600 through Costco shipped directly from China. Well come to find out I cannot  upgrade to Windows 8.1 or downgrade to Windows 7 (really would be an upgrade). No Bluetooth on board. DO NOT Buy these laptops, spend the money on a decent laptop. You get what you pay for. WE are buying an iMac next. Like all things we do and buy now, we put money aside until we have accumulated enough to do the activity or buy the item.

We went on Vacation Mid-May until Memorial Day. We traveled to Denver and waited for my husband to complete Reserve Duty. We then headed to Nauvoo, IL. In Nauvoo, we were going to camp but because of high winds and rain decided it best not to. We did do a few activities that afternoon and looked around the Visitors center and souvinier shop. John got a cap from the time period. I picked up a couple books and Rolling pin. We also bought homemade root beer. The next day my husband and I were able to participate in a Temple Session. It is such a beautiful and spiritual environment. The kids were able to participate in some other activities while we were there. Next we headed to NC to see my brother. WE spent a few days there. It was good as my youngest kids never met him and his wife. It was fun to take a trip to Nags Head to the beach. Many years ago, I was stationed at Fort Bragg, NC. My husband I would frequent Cape Hatteras Beach and Light house. We also loved touring the USS North Carolina. WE headed to Berks County to look at Headstones for my husbands family. It was actually fun looking at various Headstones and such. Now if I could get my Dad's Genealogy past the 5 Generation mark in Finland. We then headed to the capstone event and that was to see one my husbands friends from Tours in Iraq get married. A beautiful wedding. I honestly have not seen that many weddings. Receptions- yes. Sealings in the Temple-all total 3. The ho-down after was absolutely fun to watch.
Thank you Chuck and Nicole Beebe for a wonderful experience.

Our next Adventure was a LIFE Leadership Major Convention in Columbus, Ohio. Wow! What a drive. Should I say we needed oars. It was great. Loved all of the speakers Friday and Saturday. Bill Lewis was Awesome times two. The recognition was awesome. Orrin Woodward Setting a New Guinness Worlds Record was fun and getting to help was even more fun. We left Early Sunday, because my husband had to be home to go to work. Really sucks, but the future is bright. I will have to review notes and report on those.

WE love the Sons of Liberty,  we belong to a wonderful Team.

Time for more reading and self education.

October the Month of Conventions

It is the first full week in November, and I am recovering. I have been so blessed in my life. In January 2010 I was invited to the Metabolic Blend Launch at Noah's. This one event has affected my health in a very great way. I waited until the end of February to sign up and begin experimenting with essential oils. I knew of essential oils and had used them on  and off along with herbs. I still do. My past experience had not boded well, because I had used other essential oils with out success. I know I had been approached by more than one company but did not 'feel' right with the approach. I did not want to actively sell something I did not believe in or could not use myself. During the time between February 2010 through October/November 2012. I began to progressively use more of the essential oils, though I was not very experienced, only knowing I could use them topically and aromatically. I started looking at our situation overall. I did notice some subtle changes. It was a very stressful time in our home. One of our older sons had made choices that made his life and our life more difficult, during that summer he went to find his path. We pray he is happy where ever he is and in whatever he is doing. Our oldest left on his LDS Mission serving in California Los Angeles Mission Spanish speaking. That left three kids. 22 Chickens, two Nigerian Dwarf whether goats, two cats (in the garage) and two dogs at home. In November my desire to share what I was learning through the internet became stronger. I found a local Wellness Advocate/IPC and asked if I could join her group. I did. I was an Orphan IPC it was simple. I was then linked to (now a very good friend) Lillian. She has been mentoring both my daughter and I in using the oils. Her wisdom is beyond, what I can describe and I learn something new from her every time we meet. She has given me gentle correction, as needed (sometimes often). She has been a listening ear helping me see the something I missed. She has helped our knowledge grow about the essential oils-It is phenomenal. Her coaching has given me the confidence to share what I am learning more. I attended my first Essential Oil Convention October 2013. WOW. 12,000 people tickets sold out in less than a month. Then they brought in the live stream because of demand for the knowledge that is gained, there were 6,000 plus who watched the general sessions at home. Next year 2014 this Essential Oil company has both the Energy Solutions Arena (the old Delta Center) and the Salt Palace Reserved for convention. I did my ticket already. But guaranteed they will sell out again. Well my head was swimming from that one and I was ready to go share some more. There was a period of just over two weeks and it went by fast and off to the next convention. It was for LIFE.

LIFE? I meant to say The L.I.F.E. Business. (Living Intentionally for Excellence). Background to this is I have home schooled my kids using the canned ham method. I got a program for math, science, etc. worksheets-ugh! Then I discovered the 4-year-plan I rotated Science-Literature-History on a 4 year cycle.
I had a list of suggested books to read with my kids. We loved doing the Science experiments and reading and acting out history. Reading books was hit and miss with which one s the kids liked. During this Iw as also working on my Bachelors Degree. Yes going to college by day and homeschooling by afternoon or night. It took lots of work, but I had the frame work. Thank goodness. During my last term in school via the Salt Lake Home Educators Group I learned about Thomas Jefferson Education through the Face-to-Face with Greatness seminars sponsored by George Wythe College from Cedar City, UT. I attended all three of these seminars. The last one was had the most impact though it was the weekend after 9-1-2001, For me because I an a veteran and my husband stills serves now. The friends I got to know over time in those seminars-Dr. Shannon Brooks and Oliver DeMille, I consider to be friends who helped me turn down a very different path. They opened education up for me in way I had not thought of-I read a lot of books anyway but to direct the what I was reading int the way they were suggesting was short of mind-boggling. I took what was suggested to heart and I combined it with the four year plan. I was able to get fresh new books and perspectives for myself and my children. Now you are wondering what does all this have to do with a convention.

Welll... the beginning of this year my husband and I began discussing our future, our grandchildren, and the radical changes being made in our country. It is not the same one I grew up in. My husband had reread my TJEd Library and figured out he needed a mentor. I told him to write to Oliver and ask for advice. Well he waited and waited and waited. So I finally did what any good wife would do and contacted Rachel (Oliver's wife) I explained the situation and we discussed back and forth. Once I had done this I let my husband know what he needed to do. He wrote an email to Rachel who discussed it with Oliver. They in turn recommended and excellent young man whom they knew personally was receiving great mentoring-Their son-in-law Ian (married to Emma). David and Ian had meetings as regularly as the Railroad would allow. Oliver and Orrin Woodward had released Leadershift. David and I attended a seminar at which Oliver presented the 9th Key and signed books. My husband finally met Oliver and he was intrigued the spark of light went from a small flicker to a full flame. About a month later, Ian closed out one of his sessions asking to meet with both David and I-we agreed. As the week progressed we discussed back and forth what the meeting was about. Many theories abounded-we will not expound on those now. But the day came and Ian Introduced us to the Life Business. At it's core and center is building community, That community works together to live principles that are natural law. Those principles are discovered through reading, studying, and then associating one with another, edifying and learning together. This brings us to convention the end of October.

Fall Leadership Convention was totally awesome! How inspiring well worth the ticket. To learn about the humble beginnings of all of the founders and those who are Roundtable and Policy Council Members. My head is so full. I can't wait to get the recap. Especially Tim Marks-'There is a bat in your bathroom.' The big take away was dream the impossible and it is possible as long as you work toward it. The materials have a life changing effects on lives of individuals, marriages, and families. Focusing on the 8 F's -Faith, Family, Finances, Fitness, Freedom, Friends, Following, Fun. I will try to discuss this more later.

Hopefully it was interesting til next time.....