Useless but still Interesting Information

Well, that should do it.... You could totally be a contestant on JEOPARDY now. 

Well, that should do it.... You could totally be a contestant on JEOPARDY now. 

6 Signs of a Bad Relationship

Believe it or not, there are women out there in the world who are immune to common sense when it comes to the man they are in a relationship with.  

They want to LOVE someone so much they dismiss common sense - choosing to turn a blind eye to what is so obvious to the rest of us.

  

Here are just a few basic warning signs:

6 Signs of a Bad Relationship

1. 1
   "How do I feel about him/her?" If you're debating on whether you should even be with this person, chances are the relationship isn't going to go anywhere.
2. 2
   "Am I being taken advantage of?" Is your partner pressuring you into doing things you feel uncomfortable with? As in getting intimate when you're not ready or making you cover for them for whatever reasons? This is a HUGE red flag.
3. 3
   "Am I wasting my time with him/her?" If you feel like you're sacrificing your time, money, energy, and life just to please this person, it's a sign that they're probably not into you.
4. 4
   "Is he/she always nagging me?" If your partner is constantly putting you down and telling you what to do, you can't possibly feel comfortable.
5. 5
   "Am I trapped in this relationship?" Do you feel like you have to abide by his/her rules just to keep the peace? This is a definite red flag.
6. 6
   "Is all this really worth it?" If you find yourself even passing by this thought, it's best just to end it right there. Good relationships are definitely worth it, and not seeing a future in it means it's time to let go.

 Never allow someone to be your priority 

while allowing yourself to be their option 

The first step in recognizing and admitting you are in a bad relationship. Understand it's like a cancer spreading through the entire body. Until you say enough is enough, your spirit will suffer. Slowly and  painfully the toxic relationship will chip away self esteem.  Poison eventually infects the entire body and the very heart of who and what you are..

Until finally, there is a complete death of the soul. 

No one wants that so if any of those 6 signs sound familiar to you... 

Muster up all your courage and please take that first step.

Believe it or not, there are women out there in the world who are immune to common sense when it comes to the man they are in a relationship with.  

They want to LOVE someone so much they dismiss common sense - choosing to turn a blind eye to what is so obvious to the rest of us.

  

Here are just a few basic warning signs:

6 Signs of a Bad Relationship

1. 1
   "How do I feel about him/her?" If you're debating on whether you should even be with this person, chances are the relationship isn't going to go anywhere.
2. 2
   "Am I being taken advantage of?" Is your partner pressuring you into doing things you feel uncomfortable with? As in getting intimate when you're not ready or making you cover for them for whatever reasons? This is a HUGE red flag.
3. 3
   "Am I wasting my time with him/her?" If you feel like you're sacrificing your time, money, energy, and life just to please this person, it's a sign that they're probably not into you.
4. 4
   "Is he/she always nagging me?" If your partner is constantly putting you down and telling you what to do, you can't possibly feel comfortable.
5. 5
   "Am I trapped in this relationship?" Do you feel like you have to abide by his/her rules just to keep the peace? This is a definite red flag.
6. 6
   "Is all this really worth it?" If you find yourself even passing by this thought, it's best just to end it right there. Good relationships are definitely worth it, and not seeing a future in it means it's time to let go.

 Never allow someone to be your priority 

while allowing yourself to be their option 

The first step in recognizing and admitting you are in a bad relationship. Understand it's like a cancer spreading through the entire body. Until you say enough is enough, your spirit will suffer. Slowly and  painfully the toxic relationship will chip away self esteem.  Poison eventually infects the entire body and the very heart of who and what you are..

Until finally, there is a complete death of the soul. 

No one wants that so if any of those 6 signs sound familiar to you... 

Muster up all your courage and please take that first step.

A Catholic Mom & those Mormon Mommy Blogs

I really enjoyed this article & wanted to share.

GOOD WEB READS Mormon Mommy Blogs and the Quest for Peace

BY MEG T. MCDONNELL, JUNE 26, 2012 I recently had one of those weeks. You know what type of week I’m talking about—with too much on the to-do list and every other task seeming to go not quite right. Deadlines were looming and inspiration was lacking. I’d been working long hours nearly every day for at least the past eight days. In short, I was tired and crabby. Somewhere in between projects and meetings, I found myself with ten minutes of free time. With not enough time to start a new task and the desire to save whatever “thinking power” I had left in my tired brain, I aimlessly wandered to one of my favorite blogs.

I’ve been reading this lovely New York City mother for months and have found her blog to be a delightful combination of humor, grace, and spontaneity. And it had been weeks since I’d checked in on her happenings. As I started reading her post on Memorial Day, I laughed out loud at her self-deprecating humor. “The cool thing to do in the city for Memorial Day is not be in the city for Memorial Day weekend. You know?” she writes. “But who needs to be cool to have a good time? Luckily, not us. ;)” I swooned at the pictures of her and her husband reenacting that fateful moment from You’ve Got Mail when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan meet in the park—you know the scene, at the place where the path bends. Yes, their darling toddler son played the part of the dog, Brinkley, and seemingly perfectly, I might add. And I gazed in awe at the fashionista’s fabulous clothes and awesomely decorated apartment—where does she get this sense of style and how can I get some? As I read, something very distinct happened to me. For those brief moments, I almost completely forgot about the tediousness of work. But, more than that, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. What had been stressing me 20 minutes ago still wasn’t solved, but it seemed much smaller, and somehow less important. My energy was boosted. And most important, I remembered that my work, which is in the service of life, love, and faith, will have the greatest impact if I’m actually living life, love, and faith to the fullest. But something nagged at me as I came to this realization, and it’s this: I found this blog, NattheFatRat.com through some friends of mine who have a mild addiction to what are commonly called, “Mormon Mommy Blogs.” These friends are highly educated, devout Catholics. Some are married, some have children, and some are single. Most of them read a lot of various sites every day, everything from political and national news, to Catholic news and blogs, to cultural commentary. But they’re quick to tell me that these Mormon women’s blogs are often the first places on the web that inspire them, help them keep perspective, and, strangely, motivate them to live their own Catholic faith more authentically. “They don’t have anything good that our faith doesn’t,” one friend explained to me, which of course parallels our Church’s long tradition of ecumenism, of drawing from other faiths for further motivation in our own. And while I know relatively little of the doctrines of Mormon faith, and I can only imagine we have our differences, my friend has a point. In our often cynical and stifling world, these Mormon women seem to have kept the joy alive. So much so that even modern atheist women are captivated. Why, you ask? “Well,” explained Salon writer Emily Matchar, as she confessed that her and many of her secular friends with Ph.D.s read at least a dozen Mormon Mommy Blogs a day, “to use a word that makes me cringe, these blogs are weirdly ‘uplifting.’” “It’s important to acknowledge the hard parts [of life],” Nat the Fat Rat told Matchar in 2011, “but why not focus more on the lovely and the beautiful? That positive attitude is a very common theme throughout all aspects of the Mormon faith.” And so through lovely photos, hilarious stories, and short, often pithy blog posts, these women show their readers how to live joyfully. Alright, I know as Catholics we have that same appreciation for joy and beauty. “Do not abandon yourself to despair. We are an Easter people, and hallelujah is our song,” Blessed John Paul II reminds us. “Joy is the net of love by which we catch souls,” adds Mother Teresa. Or, turn to the model of Christ Himself, who suffered greatly on the Cross, only to gloriously rise on Easter morning; therefore we have 40 days of Lent but 50 days of Easter -- more joyful days than sacrificial days! Yes, we have the emphasis of joy lived out in our faith. So then, why aren’t Catholic blogs gaining traction like Mormon blogs? Why in my moment of, albeit petty, despair, was I not compelled to turn to a blogger of my own faith for inspiration and peace? I have a couple of theories. Catholics are culture movers. Look at all the major social movements and you see Catholics, most prominently, leading the masses, which often include other faiths. That’s something to be proud of. While we have some pretty great, funny, sometimes random, and inspirational bloggers (Simcha Fischer, Jennifer Fulwiler, Emily Stimpson, I’m looking at you), we’re by and large theoretical in our approach to blogging; picking apart news and culture as a means of evangelization and inspiration. For Mormons, their blogs are instead a place to keep a record of their lives, which is a part of their faith tradition. But don’t Catholics also know the best form of evangelization to be the witness of our lives? And have we not been long inspired by the diaries and letters of our saints, the records of their lives? As Pope Benedict XVI writes in Deus Caritas Est, “A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God and when it is better to say nothing and to let love alone speak. He knows that God is love, and that God’s presence is felt at the very time when the only thing we do is to love.” In other words, we can talk till we’re blue in the face about how much we love life, how grateful we are for the gift of life, and how we wished the culture would embrace life, authentic relationships, marriage, family, and faith. But real conversion will only come when we show the world the freedom and joy that’s wrapped up in a life of authentic relationships and faith. So, whether it be through a stream of captivating pictures -- candid, still, or otherwise (yes, iPhone pictures work) -- or short anecdotes of the hilarious or precious moments of life, love, and family, perhaps as Catholics we should do a little less dissecting and a little more showing what it really means to cherish life and faith. I would guess we will not only feel a little freer, we more likely than not will find others turning to us for distraction and freedom from the often stifling culture. And, oh, how people of the world need an escape from time to time. Meg T. McDonnell is a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow. She’ll soon be joining the Chiaroscuro Foundation as their Communications Associate. She’s working on developing her own “Catholic-not-a-mommy-yet blog.” Stay tuned. Photograph courtesy of iammikeb on Flickr. Original article at http://www.altcatholicah.com/altcatol/a/b/aca/4436/

I really enjoyed this article & wanted to share.

GOOD WEB READS Mormon Mommy Blogs and the Quest for Peace

BY MEG T. MCDONNELL, JUNE 26, 2012 I recently had one of those weeks. You know what type of week I’m talking about—with too much on the to-do list and every other task seeming to go not quite right. Deadlines were looming and inspiration was lacking. I’d been working long hours nearly every day for at least the past eight days. In short, I was tired and crabby. Somewhere in between projects and meetings, I found myself with ten minutes of free time. With not enough time to start a new task and the desire to save whatever “thinking power” I had left in my tired brain, I aimlessly wandered to one of my favorite blogs.

I’ve been reading this lovely New York City mother for months and have found her blog to be a delightful combination of humor, grace, and spontaneity. And it had been weeks since I’d checked in on her happenings. As I started reading her post on Memorial Day, I laughed out loud at her self-deprecating humor. “The cool thing to do in the city for Memorial Day is not be in the city for Memorial Day weekend. You know?” she writes. “But who needs to be cool to have a good time? Luckily, not us. ;)” I swooned at the pictures of her and her husband reenacting that fateful moment from You’ve Got Mail when Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan meet in the park—you know the scene, at the place where the path bends. Yes, their darling toddler son played the part of the dog, Brinkley, and seemingly perfectly, I might add. And I gazed in awe at the fashionista’s fabulous clothes and awesomely decorated apartment—where does she get this sense of style and how can I get some? As I read, something very distinct happened to me. For those brief moments, I almost completely forgot about the tediousness of work. But, more than that, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. What had been stressing me 20 minutes ago still wasn’t solved, but it seemed much smaller, and somehow less important. My energy was boosted. And most important, I remembered that my work, which is in the service of life, love, and faith, will have the greatest impact if I’m actually living life, love, and faith to the fullest. But something nagged at me as I came to this realization, and it’s this: I found this blog, NattheFatRat.com through some friends of mine who have a mild addiction to what are commonly called, “Mormon Mommy Blogs.” These friends are highly educated, devout Catholics. Some are married, some have children, and some are single. Most of them read a lot of various sites every day, everything from political and national news, to Catholic news and blogs, to cultural commentary. But they’re quick to tell me that these Mormon women’s blogs are often the first places on the web that inspire them, help them keep perspective, and, strangely, motivate them to live their own Catholic faith more authentically. “They don’t have anything good that our faith doesn’t,” one friend explained to me, which of course parallels our Church’s long tradition of ecumenism, of drawing from other faiths for further motivation in our own. And while I know relatively little of the doctrines of Mormon faith, and I can only imagine we have our differences, my friend has a point. In our often cynical and stifling world, these Mormon women seem to have kept the joy alive. So much so that even modern atheist women are captivated. Why, you ask? “Well,” explained Salon writer Emily Matchar, as she confessed that her and many of her secular friends with Ph.D.s read at least a dozen Mormon Mommy Blogs a day, “to use a word that makes me cringe, these blogs are weirdly ‘uplifting.’” “It’s important to acknowledge the hard parts [of life],” Nat the Fat Rat told Matchar in 2011, “but why not focus more on the lovely and the beautiful? That positive attitude is a very common theme throughout all aspects of the Mormon faith.” And so through lovely photos, hilarious stories, and short, often pithy blog posts, these women show their readers how to live joyfully. Alright, I know as Catholics we have that same appreciation for joy and beauty. “Do not abandon yourself to despair. We are an Easter people, and hallelujah is our song,” Blessed John Paul II reminds us. “Joy is the net of love by which we catch souls,” adds Mother Teresa. Or, turn to the model of Christ Himself, who suffered greatly on the Cross, only to gloriously rise on Easter morning; therefore we have 40 days of Lent but 50 days of Easter -- more joyful days than sacrificial days! Yes, we have the emphasis of joy lived out in our faith. So then, why aren’t Catholic blogs gaining traction like Mormon blogs? Why in my moment of, albeit petty, despair, was I not compelled to turn to a blogger of my own faith for inspiration and peace? I have a couple of theories. Catholics are culture movers. Look at all the major social movements and you see Catholics, most prominently, leading the masses, which often include other faiths. That’s something to be proud of. While we have some pretty great, funny, sometimes random, and inspirational bloggers (Simcha Fischer, Jennifer Fulwiler, Emily Stimpson, I’m looking at you), we’re by and large theoretical in our approach to blogging; picking apart news and culture as a means of evangelization and inspiration. For Mormons, their blogs are instead a place to keep a record of their lives, which is a part of their faith tradition. But don’t Catholics also know the best form of evangelization to be the witness of our lives? And have we not been long inspired by the diaries and letters of our saints, the records of their lives? As Pope Benedict XVI writes in Deus Caritas Est, “A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God and when it is better to say nothing and to let love alone speak. He knows that God is love, and that God’s presence is felt at the very time when the only thing we do is to love.” In other words, we can talk till we’re blue in the face about how much we love life, how grateful we are for the gift of life, and how we wished the culture would embrace life, authentic relationships, marriage, family, and faith. But real conversion will only come when we show the world the freedom and joy that’s wrapped up in a life of authentic relationships and faith. So, whether it be through a stream of captivating pictures -- candid, still, or otherwise (yes, iPhone pictures work) -- or short anecdotes of the hilarious or precious moments of life, love, and family, perhaps as Catholics we should do a little less dissecting and a little more showing what it really means to cherish life and faith. I would guess we will not only feel a little freer, we more likely than not will find others turning to us for distraction and freedom from the often stifling culture. And, oh, how people of the world need an escape from time to time. Meg T. McDonnell is a Robert Novak Journalism Fellow. She’ll soon be joining the Chiaroscuro Foundation as their Communications Associate. She’s working on developing her own “Catholic-not-a-mommy-yet blog.” Stay tuned. Photograph courtesy of iammikeb on Flickr. Original article at http://www.altcatholicah.com/altcatol/a/b/aca/4436/

Faith

Quotes

BRAVE - Two Thumbs Up!

Our family saw the new Pixar movie BRAVE today.   Although this movie was not as heartwarming as UP or Toy Story, we all really enjoyed it.  

I laughed, I cried, I wanted to learn to use a bow & arrow and 

I left the theater wanting long, curly, orange hair.  

As with all Pixar films, the are great lessons to take from the story about a family dealing with issues pretty similar to our own.  I think Brave does for Mother-Daughter relationships what Finding Nemo did for Fathers and Sons.  Her bright orange hair alone is a real visual treat for the eyes.  Great family movie,

especially for Mothers and Daughters to see together.  

 Brave is rated PG - one scene has the men lifting their kilts,  baring their digitally enhanced bare bottoms and there are a few scenes 

with a mean bear that may scare some little children.

The teenage girl - wanting to do her own thing, thinking she is old enough to make her own choices.  Even if that means going against her parents wishes.

The Mother -  trying to teach her only daughter about responsibility, tradition and how to act like a lady.  Knowing from experience, the expectations of a princess. 

The Brothers - three little guys full of energy, mischievous and funny.  They love their family but still enjoy a good prank or two at a family members expense.  They are just as cute as can be and when their sister and mother are threatened, they become a real force to be reckoned with.

The Father - A big, strong manly man who likes to have fun.  He is silly at times and serious when he needs to be.  He relates to his daughters love of archery, admires her independent spirit and you know he will be proud of and love his daughter no matter what she chooses to do with her life.

I sat next to my daughter in the theater today.  About 20 minutes into the movie, I was already wiping a tear or two from my cheek.  Merida and her mother have a relationship that is all to familiar.  I have a daughter who is not always thrilled with the things I say,  the things I do or  the things I want her to be, so the message of the film hit close to home.  It can be very hard to let our children make their own choices.  Especially if those choices are not something a Mother would usually approve of.  Parenting is hard.  That's why I got all emotional during the film.  It was the same as when I first watched Dumbo & Bambi!  Poor Bambi's mother died - so sad.  Dumbo was separated from his mother, and they were mean to her - even more sad.   couldn't help myself.  

My daughter and I had a short whispered conversation:

Me -  "If you had to choose who to marry  from those three suitors...Who would you pick to marry?

MD -  "If those were my only choices I'd shoot the arrow at myself."

Me - Would you feed me a piece of pie with a magic spell inside, because you wanted to change me?

MD - Are you crying?!

Me - .Oh my gosh you would!  

MD - Only if the change I could make was you to stop asking these questions.

Me - I bet Bambi and Dumbo would be happy to have a mom like that...

MD -  Oh Brother.......Bambi and Dumbo did fine on their own and are famous.  They are probably living it up on an island in the Bahama's.

Me - If I am BRAVE enough -  I just may dye my hair orange.

She said it best  -  

".......Ultimately, “Brave” has a beautiful message about bonding, patience, trust, and most of all, love. The end is quite touching and will be sure to cause more than a few misty eyes. “Fate lives within us,” says Merida. “We only have to be brave enough to see it.”

The film is appropriate for ages six and up. Merida challenges authority at every turn, which should generate some valuable family conversations. Children old enough to understand and ask questions about Merida’s rebellion will best appreciate the film.  Parents should be aware of the violence, with plenty of head bonking and hitting with objects blunt and sharp between the Scottish clansmen. There are several intense scenes of fighting between human and beast that may be too scary for the youngest viewers. There is also a brief instance of nudity (male buttocks being shown in the context of a joke about kilts), an instance of an item being dropped into a woman’s cleavage, and mild rude humor, including a reference to mooning (a cultural nod to Scotland's boisterous and bawdy humor).

Overall, “Brave” is sure to be a crowd pleaser that will likely encourage more studios to tackle projects with brave young heroines and to explore mother-daughter issues."  -  Lauren Ivy Chiong,  LA Family & Parenting Examiner

Lauren Ivy Chiong is a noted filmmaker who became a parenting expert the way all parents do: by becoming a parent. She has recently launched her own blog about motherhood called "Reel Mama," which humorously explores the joys and challenges of parenting: 

http://4realmoms-reelmama.blogspot.com 

Our family saw the new Pixar movie BRAVE today.   Although this movie was not as heartwarming as UP or Toy Story, we all really enjoyed it.  

I laughed, I cried, I wanted to learn to use a bow & arrow and 

I left the theater wanting long, curly, orange hair.  

As with all Pixar films, the are great lessons to take from the story about a family dealing with issues pretty similar to our own.  I think Brave does for Mother-Daughter relationships what Finding Nemo did for Fathers and Sons.  Her bright orange hair alone is a real visual treat for the eyes.  Great family movie,

especially for Mothers and Daughters to see together.  

 Brave is rated PG - one scene has the men lifting their kilts,  baring their digitally enhanced bare bottoms and there are a few scenes 

with a mean bear that may scare some little children.

The teenage girl - wanting to do her own thing, thinking she is old enough to make her own choices.  Even if that means going against her parents wishes.

The Mother -  trying to teach her only daughter about responsibility, tradition and how to act like a lady.  Knowing from experience, the expectations of a princess. 

The Brothers - three little guys full of energy, mischievous and funny.  They love their family but still enjoy a good prank or two at a family members expense.  They are just as cute as can be and when their sister and mother are threatened, they become a real force to be reckoned with.

The Father - A big, strong manly man who likes to have fun.  He is silly at times and serious when he needs to be.  He relates to his daughters love of archery, admires her independent spirit and you know he will be proud of and love his daughter no matter what she chooses to do with her life.

I sat next to my daughter in the theater today.  About 20 minutes into the movie, I was already wiping a tear or two from my cheek.  Merida and her mother have a relationship that is all to familiar.  I have a daughter who is not always thrilled with the things I say,  the things I do or  the things I want her to be, so the message of the film hit close to home.  It can be very hard to let our children make their own choices.  Especially if those choices are not something a Mother would usually approve of.  Parenting is hard.  That's why I got all emotional during the film.  It was the same as when I first watched Dumbo & Bambi!  Poor Bambi's mother died - so sad.  Dumbo was separated from his mother, and they were mean to her - even more sad.   couldn't help myself.  

My daughter and I had a short whispered conversation:

Me -  "If you had to choose who to marry  from those three suitors...Who would you pick to marry?

MD -  "If those were my only choices I'd shoot the arrow at myself."

Me - Would you feed me a piece of pie with a magic spell inside, because you wanted to change me?

MD - Are you crying?!

Me - .Oh my gosh you would!  

MD - Only if the change I could make was you to stop asking these questions.

Me - I bet Bambi and Dumbo would be happy to have a mom like that...

MD -  Oh Brother.......Bambi and Dumbo did fine on their own and are famous.  They are probably living it up on an island in the Bahama's.

Me - If I am BRAVE enough -  I just may dye my hair orange.

She said it best  -  

".......Ultimately, “Brave” has a beautiful message about bonding, patience, trust, and most of all, love. The end is quite touching and will be sure to cause more than a few misty eyes. “Fate lives within us,” says Merida. “We only have to be brave enough to see it.”

The film is appropriate for ages six and up. Merida challenges authority at every turn, which should generate some valuable family conversations. Children old enough to understand and ask questions about Merida’s rebellion will best appreciate the film.  Parents should be aware of the violence, with plenty of head bonking and hitting with objects blunt and sharp between the Scottish clansmen. There are several intense scenes of fighting between human and beast that may be too scary for the youngest viewers. There is also a brief instance of nudity (male buttocks being shown in the context of a joke about kilts), an instance of an item being dropped into a woman’s cleavage, and mild rude humor, including a reference to mooning (a cultural nod to Scotland's boisterous and bawdy humor).

Overall, “Brave” is sure to be a crowd pleaser that will likely encourage more studios to tackle projects with brave young heroines and to explore mother-daughter issues."  -  Lauren Ivy Chiong,  LA Family & Parenting Examiner

Lauren Ivy Chiong is a noted filmmaker who became a parenting expert the way all parents do: by becoming a parent. She has recently launched her own blog about motherhood called "Reel Mama," which humorously explores the joys and challenges of parenting: 

http://4realmoms-reelmama.blogspot.com 

Happy Birthday Gordon B. Hinckley

y, Marge of 97.

Gordon B. Hinckley 

June 23, 1910 - January 27, 2008

   

y, Marge of 97.

Gordon B. Hinckley 

June 23, 1910 - January 27, 2008

   

How would you like to pay for that? Visa, Master Card or 36DD?

It's been quite a memorable week for me.

Tuesday - 

Chest pain, hard to breathe 

End up in the ER, thought I was having a heart attack.

Undress, put on stylish hospital gown

lots of tests & four hours later, Cleared to go home 

got a good night sleep

Wednesday - go nowhere, take it easy
Thursday -

I woke up feeling much better

Ran to the store for milk

Pulled my wallet out of my large purse

See cashier get a very odd look on his face

I look down

Realize my bra was still in the purse from changing into a gown at the ER

Bra has somehow managed to hook itself to wallet

Bra has escaped purse, apparently wanting to meet new people

Try acting like that did not just happen

Saw old guy in line laughing at me

Panicked and started to say the first thing that popped in my head

Which was, "It's not mine!"  But that sounds even worse. 

What kind of Maniac carries another woman's bra in her bag?!

I tried my best to act like this sort of thing is no big deal

It didn't work and I exited the store without saying another word

Horrified beyond words and yet I'm laughing

Maybe I should have said, "You should see what else I've got in this bag!"

I'm not up to date on the latest Bra etiquette

What's the best way to handle this sort of situation?  Either way,

Bad Bra - no more outings for you.

It's been quite a memorable week for me.

Tuesday - 

Chest pain, hard to breathe 

End up in the ER, thought I was having a heart attack.

Undress, put on stylish hospital gown

lots of tests & four hours later, Cleared to go home 

got a good night sleep

Wednesday - go nowhere, take it easy
Thursday -

I woke up feeling much better

Ran to the store for milk

Pulled my wallet out of my large purse

See cashier get a very odd look on his face

I look down

Realize my bra was still in the purse from changing into a gown at the ER

Bra has somehow managed to hook itself to wallet

Bra has escaped purse, apparently wanting to meet new people

Try acting like that did not just happen

Saw old guy in line laughing at me

Panicked and started to say the first thing that popped in my head

Which was, "It's not mine!"  But that sounds even worse. 

What kind of Maniac carries another woman's bra in her bag?!

I tried my best to act like this sort of thing is no big deal

It didn't work and I exited the store without saying another word

Horrified beyond words and yet I'm laughing

Maybe I should have said, "You should see what else I've got in this bag!"

I'm not up to date on the latest Bra etiquette

What's the best way to handle this sort of situation?  Either way,

Bad Bra - no more outings for you.

One of my Secrets to finding good Quotes

I have an entire file full of great quotes I have collected over time. One of my favorite places to find some really great quotes is SearchQuotes.com  There are many varied topics, some with pictures and others without.  I love the Picture Quotes because a picture stands out and catches my attention but I also enjoy the way SearchQuotes provides a thought or small blurb about the topic right below the picture.  LOVE it!  


Here's an example:

 The moment you feel like giving up, remember all the reasons you held on for so long. 

There will be times in life that we will all experience the desire to just give up on fighting through our hardships. It is these times that are best for building our character, and shaping who we may be able to become in our future. As we continue to grow in life we have to learn the important principle of learning what not to put limits on in our lives.

If we are willing to limit the amount of work we are willing to put in, then we are willing to limit the amount of growth that we may have reached potentially. Instead of giving up when times get hard, remember that in life there will always be hard times that will try to push us away from our dreams; push harder than life is pushing against you, and 

 The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. 

In our world today we are lead to believe from society's influence that a woman's beauty is usually characterized by how she may appear on the exterior. Women are taught from a young age by the media and culture period that make-up and hair must be done nicely, clothes must be sexy, and bodies must be flawless in order to be considered to be beautiful. We all get caught up in these false qualifications of beauty, and fail to realize that the true qualification of a woman's beauty or anyone's beauty for that matter relies on the person they are at their heart's level.

True enough, being attractive is a part of what attracts humans to each other in the beginning stages of any new relationship, but a connection to someone's heart and soul is what keeps a healthy relationship going. It is important to remember that a woman's beauty on the outside will usually diminish greatly as their age increases, but the beauty a woman holds inside her heart will never fade!

What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful By J. Johnson, picture courtesy of peaceloveandhippos36 February 3, 2012

 What makes you different makes you beautiful. 

The things that make you different are the things that make you beautiful. There are some very unique traits that every single person in the world has that can't be compared to any other person collectively. Sure, we all have our similarities, but there is no way that two people can say that they are exactly identical.

This is one of the great beauties that life has to offer us, even though a lot of us choose not to acknowledge this interesting tidbit, as they desire to fit in instead of stand out. Remember that if you ever want somebody to see how truly beautiful that you are, you have to be willing to live your life as yourself. Don't try on someone's life in an effort to impress, because in the end the only person they will be truly impressed with will be you in the outfit of another person.

Isn't that great?!  So, now one of my secret resources is revealed! Thankfully, I have other secret places I find quotes so, check SearchQuotes.com  out if you are looking for a quote on a specific topic or just keep visiting Simply June and I'll keep the quotes from all sorts of places coming! 

I have an entire file full of great quotes I have collected over time. One of my favorite places to find some really great quotes is SearchQuotes.com  There are many varied topics, some with pictures and others without.  I love the Picture Quotes because a picture stands out and catches my attention but I also enjoy the way SearchQuotes provides a thought or small blurb about the topic right below the picture.  LOVE it!  


Here's an example:

 The moment you feel like giving up, remember all the reasons you held on for so long. 

There will be times in life that we will all experience the desire to just give up on fighting through our hardships. It is these times that are best for building our character, and shaping who we may be able to become in our future. As we continue to grow in life we have to learn the important principle of learning what not to put limits on in our lives.

If we are willing to limit the amount of work we are willing to put in, then we are willing to limit the amount of growth that we may have reached potentially. Instead of giving up when times get hard, remember that in life there will always be hard times that will try to push us away from our dreams; push harder than life is pushing against you, and 

 The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. 

In our world today we are lead to believe from society's influence that a woman's beauty is usually characterized by how she may appear on the exterior. Women are taught from a young age by the media and culture period that make-up and hair must be done nicely, clothes must be sexy, and bodies must be flawless in order to be considered to be beautiful. We all get caught up in these false qualifications of beauty, and fail to realize that the true qualification of a woman's beauty or anyone's beauty for that matter relies on the person they are at their heart's level.

True enough, being attractive is a part of what attracts humans to each other in the beginning stages of any new relationship, but a connection to someone's heart and soul is what keeps a healthy relationship going. It is important to remember that a woman's beauty on the outside will usually diminish greatly as their age increases, but the beauty a woman holds inside her heart will never fade!

What Makes You Different Makes You Beautiful By J. Johnson, picture courtesy of peaceloveandhippos36 February 3, 2012

 What makes you different makes you beautiful. 

The things that make you different are the things that make you beautiful. There are some very unique traits that every single person in the world has that can't be compared to any other person collectively. Sure, we all have our similarities, but there is no way that two people can say that they are exactly identical.

This is one of the great beauties that life has to offer us, even though a lot of us choose not to acknowledge this interesting tidbit, as they desire to fit in instead of stand out. Remember that if you ever want somebody to see how truly beautiful that you are, you have to be willing to live your life as yourself. Don't try on someone's life in an effort to impress, because in the end the only person they will be truly impressed with will be you in the outfit of another person.

Isn't that great?!  So, now one of my secret resources is revealed! Thankfully, I have other secret places I find quotes so, check SearchQuotes.com  out if you are looking for a quote on a specific topic or just keep visiting Simply June and I'll keep the quotes from all sorts of places coming! 

Quotes

The Return of My Old Nemesis

Today got off to a good start.  I had my entire family sitting with me at church on Father's Day!  There were nice talks and I was really enjoying the day, but then something happened in Relief Society.  


The lesson was about sharing the gospel with others.  The sister teaching the lesson always does such a great job and so I sat there between two friends, listening to the discussion. The question was, "Why do we share the gospel?".


All the answers that you would expect to  be given, were stated. Women shared stories of times they stepped out of their comfort zone, or gathered up courage to share the gospel with someone.  I, on the other hand, had quite the opposite thoughts running through my brain.  I kept thinking of all the reasons I have NOT shared the gospel.   I was now entering the GUILT zone.


There was the time many years ago, that I felt prompted to share my religion with a neighbor but I was afraid they would look at me and instantly think that if I was an example of what a Mormon was, they would pass.  I knew they had heard me say a bad word when I stepped on a nail in the back yard.  My neighbor had seen my kitchen when it looked like an episode of Horders - and Mormons believe "cleanliness is next to Godliness", right?  I remember praying one night and actually asking God that if He wanted my neighbors to hear the gospel, either help me be a better example or send better Mormons to live across the street.  How many times have I failed to step up and share the gospel?  I remembered two other times I didn't act on those promptings because I felt I wasn't a good enough example of what a good member of the church looked like.  I've gone to the store on Sunday and I have proudly admitted I am a drinker of Diet Coke.  I have much to work on.


I sat in Relief Society running those sort of memories through my head.  I began to think of ALL the many things I have failed to do and by the time I was walking home, I was feeling very small and insignificant.  Of course,  I know that being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and sharing the gospel doesn't require having a perfect life or that I am an example of what it means to be an LDS woman.  In my humble opinion it means quite the opposite.  It is because of the things I believe and know to be true that I am able to get up each day and try again. Because I know what  the result of all the hard work, making it through tough times and enduring to the end will be, I keep on trying.  LDS women don't have an easier life - we just believe the eternal blessings are worth the struggle.  I know all this, but somehow I let the guilt I felt for not sharing the gospel,  really start to effect me.


As the day progressed, I felt more and more like there is just way to much that I need to be better at.  Dinner was not waiting for us when we got home, and it was Father's Day!  I had meant to get a roast on but forgot to thaw it out.  And then there was all those other things I began to think of....the ways in which I am lacking as a mom or a wife.  I kept telling myself that I am just not doing enough.  I try, but I know I can try harder.  I try and sometimes I fail.  Sunday is one of my favorite days but for some reason, today I saw all the women around me - women I look up to - and I let my old nemesis COMPARISON creeping back into my head.

I'll be honest, part of the problem is that I know way to many seriously amazing women.  They are all wonderful and I am so very lucky to be their friend.   It's actually quite annoying at times.  I love them and I take secret, mental notes all the time  of how I want to be like them in one way or another.  The examples of great women all around me is such a blessing....that is, unless I allow COMPARISON to sneak into my head.  Then, it happens......fear sets in, insecurity and shame rear their ugly head and my thinking changes to - I'm not enough of this, too much of that and I am totally lacking in a whole lot of these and those.  If given the right circumstances, I have all the skill needed to throw an hour long pity party for myself...and you know I love a good party!  But, as I have learned over the years, "all things in moderation".


So, when I feel the party starting I know what I need to do.  I allow myself a 5-10 minute mini party, with the theme of my choice and then I promptly give myself a dose of reality.  Sometimes it's my sister or my friends, my kids and sometimes it's my husband who reminds me I'm not quite as pathetic as I am currently feeling.  Just a word or two from the people I admire and I snap out of    my depressing mood and remind myself that I would never allow anyone else to make me feel like less of a person than I know I am, so why would I treat myself that way?!


And so I fight off my Nemesis with all my weapons.  Quotes, a song, or a favorite scripture are the perfect weapons to go along with the support of those we love.  If we don't like something about our lives, we can do something to either change our circumstances or change our attitude.  The best use of COMPARISON is comparing the things I did in the past to the things I am doing to day.  If I can look in the mirror and know that today I did better than the day before, well, for me, that is a really good day.  Every day I have a new opportunity to be a little better...try harder...be a better mom, a better wife, a better friend and hopefully, eventually, a better woman.      Until then, this is me.....

Hi, my name is June.  I am a Mother, Wife, Sister, Friend and a daughter of God.  I have four children who are great kids but far from perfect and I love them with everything I am.  I have a good man who loves me and treats me far better than I deserve, but I will never admit that to him.  My family mean the world to me, those who live close and those far away.   I try to treat others kindly even if they are unkind to me.  But if you hurt or mess with my loved ones, it will not be pretty.  I love to share stories that inspire or just bring a smile to the face of another. Unfortunately, I find myself smiling or laughing when it may not always be appropriate and I am a bit concerned about the rumor that "loud laughter" is not appreciated in Heaven.  I can usually find something to laugh about in any circumstance, and that still gets me in a bit of trouble.  So does chocolate,  fried zucchini  and cheese fries.
I am a fiercely loyal friend and count those friends as some of my greatest blessings.  I have no patience for mean people, especially those who chose to bully the less fortunate.  Do not treat others disrespectfully, do not be cruel or spiteful just because you can, and you and I will not have a problem.   After many years and pointless tears, I have found that when you replace what the world tell us is beautiful in a woman, with what God sees in us, that is when we are both beautiful and at peace with ourselves.  
I have known sadness and pain so I do all I can to prevent others from experiencing the same.  I have a desire from the depth of my soul to do something good with the life I have been given...to take what life hands me- the good and the bad- and use it to bless the lives of others somehow.   It's impossible to be perfect but I wont stop trying to be better.   I have a testimony of the gospel and I have promised to listen to the promptings and share all the things my heart and spirit knows to be good and true.... starting with these word you are now reading about how I fought my Nemesis and won,  this Father's Day Sunday.

Today got off to a good start.  I had my entire family sitting with me at church on Father's Day!  There were nice talks and I was really enjoying the day, but then something happened in Relief Society.  


The lesson was about sharing the gospel with others.  The sister teaching the lesson always does such a great job and so I sat there between two friends, listening to the discussion. The question was, "Why do we share the gospel?".


All the answers that you would expect to  be given, were stated. Women shared stories of times they stepped out of their comfort zone, or gathered up courage to share the gospel with someone.  I, on the other hand, had quite the opposite thoughts running through my brain.  I kept thinking of all the reasons I have NOT shared the gospel.   I was now entering the GUILT zone.


There was the time many years ago, that I felt prompted to share my religion with a neighbor but I was afraid they would look at me and instantly think that if I was an example of what a Mormon was, they would pass.  I knew they had heard me say a bad word when I stepped on a nail in the back yard.  My neighbor had seen my kitchen when it looked like an episode of Horders - and Mormons believe "cleanliness is next to Godliness", right?  I remember praying one night and actually asking God that if He wanted my neighbors to hear the gospel, either help me be a better example or send better Mormons to live across the street.  How many times have I failed to step up and share the gospel?  I remembered two other times I didn't act on those promptings because I felt I wasn't a good enough example of what a good member of the church looked like.  I've gone to the store on Sunday and I have proudly admitted I am a drinker of Diet Coke.  I have much to work on.


I sat in Relief Society running those sort of memories through my head.  I began to think of ALL the many things I have failed to do and by the time I was walking home, I was feeling very small and insignificant.  Of course,  I know that being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and sharing the gospel doesn't require having a perfect life or that I am an example of what it means to be an LDS woman.  In my humble opinion it means quite the opposite.  It is because of the things I believe and know to be true that I am able to get up each day and try again. Because I know what  the result of all the hard work, making it through tough times and enduring to the end will be, I keep on trying.  LDS women don't have an easier life - we just believe the eternal blessings are worth the struggle.  I know all this, but somehow I let the guilt I felt for not sharing the gospel,  really start to effect me.


As the day progressed, I felt more and more like there is just way to much that I need to be better at.  Dinner was not waiting for us when we got home, and it was Father's Day!  I had meant to get a roast on but forgot to thaw it out.  And then there was all those other things I began to think of....the ways in which I am lacking as a mom or a wife.  I kept telling myself that I am just not doing enough.  I try, but I know I can try harder.  I try and sometimes I fail.  Sunday is one of my favorite days but for some reason, today I saw all the women around me - women I look up to - and I let my old nemesis COMPARISON creeping back into my head.

I'll be honest, part of the problem is that I know way to many seriously amazing women.  They are all wonderful and I am so very lucky to be their friend.   It's actually quite annoying at times.  I love them and I take secret, mental notes all the time  of how I want to be like them in one way or another.  The examples of great women all around me is such a blessing....that is, unless I allow COMPARISON to sneak into my head.  Then, it happens......fear sets in, insecurity and shame rear their ugly head and my thinking changes to - I'm not enough of this, too much of that and I am totally lacking in a whole lot of these and those.  If given the right circumstances, I have all the skill needed to throw an hour long pity party for myself...and you know I love a good party!  But, as I have learned over the years, "all things in moderation".


So, when I feel the party starting I know what I need to do.  I allow myself a 5-10 minute mini party, with the theme of my choice and then I promptly give myself a dose of reality.  Sometimes it's my sister or my friends, my kids and sometimes it's my husband who reminds me I'm not quite as pathetic as I am currently feeling.  Just a word or two from the people I admire and I snap out of    my depressing mood and remind myself that I would never allow anyone else to make me feel like less of a person than I know I am, so why would I treat myself that way?!


And so I fight off my Nemesis with all my weapons.  Quotes, a song, or a favorite scripture are the perfect weapons to go along with the support of those we love.  If we don't like something about our lives, we can do something to either change our circumstances or change our attitude.  The best use of COMPARISON is comparing the things I did in the past to the things I am doing to day.  If I can look in the mirror and know that today I did better than the day before, well, for me, that is a really good day.  Every day I have a new opportunity to be a little better...try harder...be a better mom, a better wife, a better friend and hopefully, eventually, a better woman.      Until then, this is me.....

Hi, my name is June.  I am a Mother, Wife, Sister, Friend and a daughter of God.  I have four children who are great kids but far from perfect and I love them with everything I am.  I have a good man who loves me and treats me far better than I deserve, but I will never admit that to him.  My family mean the world to me, those who live close and those far away.   I try to treat others kindly even if they are unkind to me.  But if you hurt or mess with my loved ones, it will not be pretty.  I love to share stories that inspire or just bring a smile to the face of another. Unfortunately, I find myself smiling or laughing when it may not always be appropriate and I am a bit concerned about the rumor that "loud laughter" is not appreciated in Heaven.  I can usually find something to laugh about in any circumstance, and that still gets me in a bit of trouble.  So does chocolate,  fried zucchini  and cheese fries.
I am a fiercely loyal friend and count those friends as some of my greatest blessings.  I have no patience for mean people, especially those who chose to bully the less fortunate.  Do not treat others disrespectfully, do not be cruel or spiteful just because you can, and you and I will not have a problem.   After many years and pointless tears, I have found that when you replace what the world tell us is beautiful in a woman, with what God sees in us, that is when we are both beautiful and at peace with ourselves.  
I have known sadness and pain so I do all I can to prevent others from experiencing the same.  I have a desire from the depth of my soul to do something good with the life I have been given...to take what life hands me- the good and the bad- and use it to bless the lives of others somehow.   It's impossible to be perfect but I wont stop trying to be better.   I have a testimony of the gospel and I have promised to listen to the promptings and share all the things my heart and spirit knows to be good and true.... starting with these word you are now reading about how I fought my Nemesis and won,  this Father's Day Sunday.