Scarlett red

This Sunday and last Sunday were the best Sunday's I've had in forever! I went last week and this week to the ward that meets at 9am because Tanner's been sick and so I wanted to make sure I got to take the Sacrament but then I got there and everyone was so welcoming so I decided to stay for all the meetings. What a great treat! I wish I could do that every Sunday but I don't think I'm allowed....am I?????

Tanner has Scarlett Fever. It's basically strep throat on his body...or so I've been told. So today is his last day of isolation at home and then tomorrow he gets to go to school. YeaH!!! We are all very excited. He LOVES school and is quite sad when he has to miss it. He's been on an antibiotic since Thursday night so thankfully that has helped him. You know, I'm all for natural, holistic care but I do believe that there is a time and place for "real" medicine. I try not to run to the doctor for a prescription at every little cough or cold. Tanner is more susceptible to respiratory things because he had RSV when he was 12 1/2 months old, but we've been pretty fortunate so far. He's in pretty good spirits and was only really miserable on Friday. Well, not miserable, but grumpy and "naughty"...for lack of a better word.

Side note: Yes, Jamie, poundage is a real word...it's MY real word ; )

We attended the 4H basketball tournament on Thursday night and then I went on Friday to watch our senior boys loose. I will not discuss my opinion about small town sports on my blog because I have to live and work here. Let's just leave it at that. If you really care to know, then e-mail me ; )

I ran in the Moonlight run on Saturday. I did not train AT ALL for it. I haven't been on my treadmill for about 2 months and boy did I pay for it! My legs were so sore that I could barely walk yesterday and today. Luckily I have a great Chiropractor that adjusted me and now I feel like a human being and not a robot walking blob. Anyways, my time was 52:48. Not as good as my last one, but all I wanted was to come in under an hour. I did it mostly for fun (even though now, I am thinking it wasn't fun because of the pain...but that's my own fault). I knew lots of people who ran in it this year and I am so proud of them...especially Sharon and Susanne. They did awesome and it was so nice to share the night with them.

Well, I think that's about all for now. It's been a busy couple of weeks.

No Title

2 post in one day is H-U-G-E!! Lucky you...lucky me...

I was pondering as I was reading through my blog list today about self image.

Recently I said to someone that I'm fat in my pictures and they told me I shouldn't say that. For me, I don't believe in lying or deceiving oneself for any reason. BUT just because I'm fat (according to me) doesn't mean I perceive myself as fat. Now this may be confusing to some so let me explain. Fat is a relative term to me. I'm fat but that's okay. When I look in the mirror I do not think of myself or even see myself as 'fat'. But when I look at pictures of myself that's what I see is me-fat. So what if I'm fat? That's my problem.

Now this may sound like a "poor mandy, she feels bad about herself" or "what is she talking about? why is she saying such negative things?" kind of post but it's not meant to be that.

To me, it matters more about what's inside than outside that matters. If I was really worried about the fact that I'm 'fat' clearly I need to take some action. But I don't really care if people see me that way because I know inside I'm a good person and I'm doing my best.

I certainly don't mope around all day thinking about me being fat. I have way better things to do with my time. But if someone asks me why I don't like looking at pictures of myself it's for that reason.

But I wonder if other people out there are the same way. Do you look in the mirror and see yourself differently than you do in a picture or video of yourself? It makes me think of that cartoon that I've seen in the New Era (or maybe it was a different publication) that shows a normal looking person looking in the mirror and the reflection back is thin and frail. It's supposed to be a representation of the difference between being physically healthy on the outside, but starving spiritually on the inside. I may be 'big' in my pictures, but I do not perceive myself that way when I look in the mirror.

I don't live in a dreamworld and think that I'm thin. By no stretch of the imagination am I thin but I don't think that I'm big like Reta McNeil. Of course I could afford to loose some weight but I choose not to be consumed by weather or not I am or not losing weight. If I gain some poundage, fine, if I loose, then great. But I am not trying to be negative when I say "I'm fat". I just don't believe in lying to myself.

I always think of the skit from SNL where the character sits in a chair and looks at himself in the mirror and says "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and doggone it, people like me". I do not recite that to myself in the mirror but my attitude in life is something similar to that. Saying I'm fat/big...whatever... is not, in my mind, a negative thing. It's simply stating a fact...lol. How I look on the outside doesn't hinder or control what I think about myself on the inside. And for me, that's what's most important.

Sickness

Matt and Tanner and I have all had a period of sickness...okay really...I had a day of the flu (which I haven't had in 7 years) and Matt was/is sick with a cough that could last up to 2 more weeks and now Tanner has a cough along with the cold he got. It seems to not end right now. I am hoping this weekend will be a restful, relaxing weekend. It should, because we have nothing planned. That's a first in about 2-3 months.

I am looking forward to General Conference. It's a great time of the year! It's such a blessing to be able to hear the prophet speak to us and guide us.

The weather here had been nice up until today. Doesn't mother nature know that spring should be here? Maybe she didn't get the Memo.

We had our annual Relief Society party last night. It was really fun and very uplifting. I was so happy to be there and I sat at a table with some ladies that I don't normally hang out with so it was really nice to get to know some other sisters in the ward. I think it's important to get to know other sisters and step out of your comfort zone. We have such a great ward and I am very blessed to be part of it.

Spring break is coming up for Tanner. We are doing a scavenger hunt for him and Emerson instead of trying to find hidden eggs. They'll just be lead to a big treasure this year. I got Tanner a watch to put in his basket. It's a Spiderman one. I think he'll love it. He is really into the Magic School Bus as well as the Magic Tree house. He just loves to read the books and watch the movies. They are so well done for kids and they're easy to follow.

Tanner also had his final skating performance. He did great. The theme was Candyland so all the music had something to do with Candy.

We've decided not to put Tanner in anything for the spring. I think it might be too much. We're waiting to hear back from a couple of places for Matt to get a job. I think from now until September will be the hardest because if Matt works in the summer while Tanner is out of school, we'll have to find someone to watch him. I know the Lord will provide the way.

Anywho, life has calmed down a bit and it's been nice.

A birthday gift

Last night I received my first birthday gift. Guess what it was....no really guess...your guess is as good as mine because I am not allowed to open it. When? Well my birthday is over a month away (April 9th) and I am not allowed for one month and 6 days to open it. I am only allowed to look at it and yearn after the beautifully wrapped gift that sits in my house. I know it will be a really good gift...after all it is from one of my dearest friends. Ahhhh...the agony of having to wait. For those of you who want a list of things (no, I am not assuming certain people will get me a gift) that I would like here it is:

Hot Rollers for my hair

A stock pot

A glue gun(I don't even own a little one)

High School Musical 1,2& 3 on CD

Miley Cyrus' CD breakthrough (or is it breakout???)

Carrie Underwood's last CD (I have Play On, her newest one)I think it's called Carnival ride.

Movie passes

fun, everyday bracelets/necklaces

Knee socks-I like wearing them at night to bed

So, nothing too fancy. I will be celebrating my birthday in Calgary with my family during Easter break.

We have had Tanner sleep without pull-ups this week and for the last 2 nights, he has been dry in the morning! It's kind of a big deal because we told him he could sleep in our bed when he was dry through the night. Matt is sick right now so Tanner and I will sleep on the guest bed so that we don't get sick.

I have had some really good study sessions the last couple days. Really good for answering questions that I have had for a while and also at provoking (for lack of a better word) more questions. I am grateful for people who know the answers or for finding the answers through reading more. It helps me to understand the principle of line upon line, precept upon precept.

Life feels a little crazy right now. We are so busy babysitting, me working, delivering papers and cleaning that it keeps us out of trouble and from being slothful.

I haven't been feeling overly great lately. I've been getting a lot of bad/migraine headaches. The doctor wants me to get some blood work done but it's a fasting one so I'm waiting to do it next week when I have time to do it. It could just be that my migraines are changing...which kind of sucks because after having braces I got one maybe once a year...if that. Life goes on, though.

I am running in the Moonlight 6k run in 2 1/2 weeks. I'm excited to do it. Sharon, Susanne and I are all going to do it. Well, Susanne and I are doing it together while Sharon gets her goal time...which will be at least 5 or more minutes before mine and Susanne's ; )

We are looking forward to our trip to Salt Lake in the summer. This will be our first family trip together. It's kind of exciting!

Well, things are good and we are looking forward to spring.