Book Review: The Help

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was a quick read, which means it was a good read. I think historical fiction is becoming my new favorite genre. Besides the interesting historical bits, I found myself mostly in love with the characters over the content.

It's not that the plot wasn't great because there were many and I wanted to uncover the end to them all. It's that the characters were flawless. The whole time I was reading I kept trying to decide if I was more like Aibileen or Minny or Skeeter. Or was I like Elizabeth, LouAnne, or heaven forbid Hilly? Was I like Skeeter's mama or was I like Miss Celia? I finally had to compromise that I was like each and every one of them.

I love to encourage the babies like Aibileen. I also like to tease the kiddos by asking them where are their tails and funny things like that. I also would have a lot of "I am not on good terms with that dress" moments because I hate to iron just about more than anything.

My mouth, just like Minny's, has got me into heaps of trouble. Thank goodness I have never been hired or fired as The Help. I don't think I could have done it. I rejoiced when Minny finally got her gumption to love herself. Yeah for the Co-dependent's success. And I have to say that because I go to a support group every week where there are many ladies who get beat by their husband's and they are all trying to find their courage.

And Skeeter. Well, she loves to write. What more do I need to have in common with her? Although I do have more than just the love of writing. I like to think that I would be a risk taker just like her. I would do what was right for the greater good, even if it meant I committed social suicide. And I have a dream of living in New York someday, and really you don't need more than this commonality to love a person.

Like Elizabeth, do I worry too much with impressing my friends? Do I not appreciate my children enough? And LouAnne. Well, I don't want to give her secret away, but let's just say that I understand psychological warfare. And I think that every woman on this earth can relate to Hilly, especially if they've been through Middle School. I know I was way too worried about getting to the top of the heap and staying there for my 4 years of High School. What a disgrace to my own history.

Skeeter's mama was proud and she was blind to how her own pride screwed up her relationship with her daughter. Every critical statement was really just a reflection of Mama's own pride issues. And once again, we all have those...especially Americans. Oh and Miss Celia. How I loved her loyalty and her naivety. I like to think that my love also has no bounds and that I can be blind to invisible social taboos. It would be really great if I could look that great in an evening gown too. :)

Anyway, this book is a must read. I really enjoyed it. I am glad that it was chosen for the book club. There is a little bit of language and there is one racy part with a sex offender, but I hope the book club ladies will be able to see past these parts and know that the good is always weightier than the bad. It is quite possibly my second favorite Southern book after my all time favorite To Kill A Mockingbird.

And lastly, Thank you God for sending us Martian Luther King. And the misspell in Martian is my way of honoring the fictional hero Aibileen. My hat goes of off to our civil rights activists...especially those who lost their lives. Whenever I meet another racist in TN, I am going to leave them this book on their porch, but we all know that those racists probably don't read.


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Who is Mormon?

I was mesmorized listening to the stories of other Mormons this morning. My church has done an amazing job with their site Mormon.org. I really love this page that features small videos of different Mormons and how they define themselves.

Here is a video to a mom named Rochelle that really touched me. I loved how she ended her 30 seconds. "I'm Rochelle. I'm a redhead. I'm a Texan. I'm a mother, and I'm a Mormon."

Being a mom is so wonderful, but I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the mom's of special needs kids. I am almost jealous of them. No, I AM jealous of them. God has given them a great gift. A special reminder that stays with them constantly that God is love.

Check out this video of Jane Clayson. You remember her from her job as a Network Journalist. You know, the one she gave up to be home with her kids.

Go and check out the videos. They are amazing. I love hearing people's life stories. I will be watching videos the rest of the day. So far I have been introduced to a guy who works at the Library of Congress, a successful brilliant singer in England (who happens to be black and was left by his mother who went back to Nigeria when he was 11), a professional surfer, a Harley Davidson sculptor, and a several other professional artists.

I love Mormons. They are all so amazing. But, you know what? All people are amazing. Everyone has a story. I wish I could learn the story of each and every person I come in contact with.

If any of you ever want to meet some Mormons. Come to church with me anytime.

What's your addiction?

So, as I have mentioned before I have been spending one night every week at a Codependent Support Group. It has been so eye-opening, supporting, and validating. The ladies range from being in physically abusive relationships to those who have had complete mental breakdowns. Many but not all have significant addicts in their lives in the form of a spouse or a child. The addicts are addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, or they have personality disorders or just plain have character flaws that keep them from living normal lives.

We, the codependents, come to our meeting to get support on how we are supposed to deal with the chaos in our lives. We come to get support on acting like we know we should. We come to find our voice. Codependents are addicts too. We have everything very much in common with the people that society refers to as "the real addicts." We come to our meeting to take responsibility for our part of the cycle. We come to recover from our own addictions, even if they are more socially acceptable.

The women in my group are all addicted to love, for that reason, they are also called codependent. You don't know them, but I am sure you know somebody like them. It may even be you. You may be unaware that people like this can actually have an addiction too. Codependent people are self described as SuperHuman. They get it ALL done and more. They take care of everyone which means that they also attract needy people. They take self sacrifice to an all new level. Even though they are the ones that everyone goes to when they need something done, they are really a total mess, and should be the one seeking support, not dishing it out. They have no voice, except "do whatever it takes to keep the peace, to help people, and to stay loved." They are totally unhealthy. Sometimes the people on the outside start to catch on to their problems. Why are they on their 20th loser boyfriend? Why do they stay with that man that beats the crap out of them? Why do they complain about so much yet do so little to change it? Why do they go crazy at the slightest turn of events? Why can't they set boundaries?

This link was interesting to me this morning. It's an article from Psychology Today about new thinking in regards to addicts. In the past we have all just thought that addicts were spiritually weak, or mentally ill, wired wrong, or maybe just given "the gene". But, the more time that goes on, the more the experts realize that we are all addicts. Every single one of us. Humans have a mentally evolved reward system. We find things that make us feel good and we gravitate to those things. Some people choose exercise. Some people use food. Some have preferences for shopping, online gaming, pornography, tobacco, caffeine, alcohol, drugs, sex, or feeling loved by other people. So, you see, those of us who have in the past loved pointing fingers, are now stuck with only one option..turn that finger around, and evaluate yourself.

What is it that you are addicted to? Addictions can be rated at different levels of problematic. Your addiction may not be a problem because you have learned to control it. Everybody has something that attracts them. Some things are just more socially acceptable. We all put on the pedestal those people who have amazing bodies, but to look like that, they are probably more than likely addicted to exercise or body image, or both. Funny, that those model bodies have always been praised while the overweight have been ridiculed, and they really have the same problem deep down inside...addiction. One has chosen exercise and one has chosen junk food, but really it's the same problem. They are looking for love in all the wrong places. Sorry I couldn't resist using that lyric. They are both getting a mental feel good moment from whatever their choice of drug happens to be.

The thing we all hold in common is that we are each looking for things that reward our brain. Things that make you go OOOO. Things that make you go OOOOO. Some of us (OCD) find that fix in a clean house or an immaculate yard. Some prideful people are addicted to making their children perfect or at least having everyone think that they have a perfect little family. Many addicts are addicted to work. Again, one of those socially acceptable addictions. I think my kids are addicted to making messes. I don't know how this makes them feel good, but it must because they do it all the time.

I love that of course, once again, my church was ahead of the game. Look here for the manual they put out on how to use the 12 steps to overcome addiction. They have a class at church once a week for addicts to attend. If they want help overcoming a weakness, they can use the class, the manual, and the 12 steps, to personally apply the atonement in their life and to let God help them overcome their addiction, no matter how socially acceptable. On the part of the person who wants to change, all that is required is the desire and commitment. Then when you seek out help, you will be given the tools to apply the grace of God and makes weak things strong.

The scriptures are true. The verses from the Bible that talk about moderation in all things were God's way of telling us to bridle our passions, control the feeding rewards to our brains. We have to avoid our natural man telling us that we NEED the good feelings caused by our worldly passions. Get our rewards from God because there is one place where we can never have too much and that is God's love.

Let go and let God. That's what they teach in AA and it is gospel truth.

A local gem

Have I ever told you that I love church signs.

I need to stick to my job of

photographing them better.

Especially when the pastor can't spell.

Sophia's Sheep

Little Bo Peep

She lost her sheep

and what was on them?

I will tell you what..

her underwear.

My Sophia is the highlight of so many of my days.

Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me #14

Don't always act your age.

And I just had to use this picture of Uncle Logan.

He's pretty serious most of the time,

but he can also be a lot of fun.

Look how my girls have all grown.

Our True Identity

I was hoping for something, anything inspiring at church today.

In Sacrament meeting, we got a talk about Staying Out of Debt.

Although it was good.

That topic is never really touchy feely for me.

Especially since we have so many law school loans.

My answer for greater peace
came today in the form of a video.

It seems like such simple message,

but I pondered on the application of it in my life.

If all of us

would just see ourselves

as God sees us,

we would not only be so much happier,

but we would have limitless potential.

We are all truly NOT ugly ducklings.

Summer Reading

Last week I punished Abigail

for teasing her sister.

She had to go to her room and read

four chapters of Harry Potter.

After looking at the picture above,

and how the girl loves to read,

now you all know how

my disciplining isn't always the most effective.

What can I say?

I'm a softie.

I love reading.

I recently spoke to a friend

about how when I die,

I want to leave a living legacy.

One part of that legacy

would most definitely be

that I inspired people to read.

I know that reading

is a powerful tool.

A tool for

education,

and

inspiration.

Reading changes people

who will in turn make a better world.

If I could leave a living legacy of a love for things literary,

my influence would never end.

An eternal influence

is what I want for myself.

Nothing less would be enough.

I don't want the buck to stop with me in the pine box.

I was really happy when onlinecollege.org

just linked my book review

of Cold Mountain.

It was an awesome post,

compiling book reviews for

books related to places of summer travel.

Of course, Cold Mountain

is a great feature for our own

beautiful Appalachian mountains.

My linked review is number 74 on the list.

Codependence

Most people I know have no idea what codependence means. In fact, blogger does not even recognize the term. Here is the short definition from the wikipedia link:

Codependency or codependence is a tendency to behave in overly passive or excessively caretaking ways that negatively impact one's relationships and quality of life. It also often involves putting one's needs at a lower priority than others while being excessively preoccupied with the needs of others.

This post may not be really entertaining, as it is meant to be informative. I wish I would have heard of codependency a long time ago, as my recent study of codependency has made me an extremely healthier person. If you have known me for any length of time, you know codependent behavior. I fit the "controlling" part of codependency to a tee.

Control patterns:

• I believe most other people are incapable of taking care of themselves.
• I attempt to convince others of what they "should" think and how they "truly" feel.
• I freely offer others advice and directions without being asked.
• I lavish gifts and favors on those I care about.
• I have to be "needed" in order to have a relationship with others.

Here is a little blossom analogy to help myself past trying to control. A few years back the girls and I were at my friend Valerie's house. Her tree was full of gorgeous blooms. I lined my girls up for a great photo op. For over ten minutes, I kept telling them EXACTLY how to sit, look, and act. I got some good photos. It was so important to me to have that picture perfect photo. At the time, I wasn't in touch with WHY this was so important to me. Through therapy I have finally discovered my need to be loved...part of that is my need to look perfect. I perpetuate that onto my family.

Aren't they just about perfect? God has been good to me.

Wishful Thinking

Happy Birthday Big Guy.

I wish we could stay in bed all day.

And do nothing.

Or something.

But instead we will be

getting Caroline tubes in her ears,

closing your practice,

searching for a new job,

taking kids back to school shopping,

paying bills,

cleaning house,

and

working on church callings.

All of which will require us to get out of bed

VERY EARLY.

I'm so glad I married a morning person.

One of these days,

let's get out of bed early,

and go somewhere

where we can stay in bed all day.

The Ultimate Summer Church Sign

This makes me want to go swimming at Bethesda.

Book Review: Leaning Into The Curves

Every day this little old blog of mine gets

hit repeatedly from a certain google search.

Bucket list.

It has to do with this old post of mine.

It seems that everybody has a bucket list.

I know I do.

Funny that one thing I mentioned doing

in that old bucket list post

happened years ago at

The Rose Parade.

I asked a complete stranger for a ride

on the back of his Harley.

Fast Eddie was so sweet to me and graciously obliged.

That trip up and down Rose Boulevard

is one of my fondest memories.

You have to just throw caution to the wind and enjoy life.

It is still on my bucket list to

ride across the country on a motorcycle,

stopping to see all the sites.

Funny that my husband's bucket list

has the same cross-country trip,

but his chosen choice of transportation is an RV.

Someday our dreams will have to be negotiated.

I know this.

That is why I loved this line from Hank

to his loving wife, Molly, in

Leaning Into the Curves:

"The answers I need are right here.

You and me together."

Negotiation isn't a chore

when you have each other.

The jist of the whole book for me was:

when you love someone,

you make it work,

no matter what.

You compromise,

you change,

and communicate,

and you overcome fears,

and choose to trust each other

and love your differences.

Now who can't use a book like that?

Leaning Into The Curves

felt like a real life love story.

That is much preferred by this realist,

over all that impossible romance rhetoric.

The authors, Anderson and Morris,

are obvious pros at this marriage thing.

While reading the book,

I found myself following along on my

own Honda Gold Wing,

touring with the Temple Riders Association,

on a wonderful adventure,

full of charming life-like characters.

It was an extra bonus

that I was also taken through

some marriage counseling, too.

The authors are not just wise

wives, mothers, and grandmothers,

obviously in touch with an array of life challenges,

but they are witty,

and very stealth with their flawless life coaching

through great story telling.

And I know you can all use some

bonus marriage counseling

and life coaching.

Reading this story

was like sitting at the feet

of a beloved grandmother,

where she is effortlessly telling her life stories,

and everything that she says

is exactly what I needed to hear.

Although there are some

disappointing "for Mormon eyes only" references,

I still think even Non-Mormons could

relate and be entertained.

(But what do I know about writing for a specific audience?)

It was a really light and fun read.

And funny. Did I mention funny?

And I am not just saying that because

they sent me a free copy to review.

I would give it a strong 4 stars.

I rarely give out a 5.

Like maybe 10 adult books in the whole universe.

So buy it.

Here.

This would be a great gift for

retired people,

best girl friends you love to walk with,

newly-married people,

motorcycle loving people,

adventurous people,

people with an irrational fear,

people who need to find a hobby,

or people who need to create a bucket list.

And if you are never going to read this book,

do one thing,

get back in touch with your bucket list.

Don't wait until you are retired to enjoy life a little.

I relearned that important truth in the pages of this book.

Oh, and they nailed the end.

I never love the end.

This one was great.

And I was happy for the closure,

which was somewhere between,

"they lived happily ever after"

and

"they loved each other all along".

Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me #13

There are a lot of different ways

to get to the top of the jungle gym.

Change

Guess what?

We all screw up.

It's a fact of life.

The good news is that we can always improve.

We can change.

We fall down.

I've learned the hard way

that we shouldn't focus on the fall.

But, getting back up.

I recently read this quote by

Donald Foster

in Quotes of the Day

"No one who cannot rejoice in the discovery

of his own mistakes deserves to be called a scholar."

At church a while back,

my friend Brenda taught me something profound.

I was lamenting about how

I always have so much self improvement to make.

It gets overwhelming.

She said,

"That shouldn't make you sad or discouraged.

You should be encouraged.

Because the fact that you know

what to improve upon

means that you are

in tune with the voice of God.

He is talking to you.

And you are hearing it."

How wise.

My favorite quote last week:

"The best way to make

permanent change for good

is to make Jesus Christ

your model

and His teachings

your guide for your life." ~ Scott

I wrote it on a piece of construction paper.

And tacked it above my computer.

Funny, LG walked by as I tacked.

He questioned,

"Is that for me?"

"No, it's for me, silly."

We all need to change.

Embrace it.

Self-Employment

For the past two years,

LeGrand has been running his own law practice.

It is a two years that I would

NEVER want to live over again.

LeGrand has done a great job.

His practice has been successful.

He really did amazing things.

He's accomplished a lot of his goals.

And he has gotten to know himself

more than ever before.

I bet he has been significantly more successful

than most people who start a practice

right out of school.

But it's all because of God's grace.

And it does no good for anyone

to compare themselves to others.

Better than monetary success,

LG has helped a lot of people.

And that makes LeGrand

really happy and proud.

He could keep going,

and we would only get richer.

But, life isn't about riches all the time.

Sometimes it's about having some vacation time.

I can't wait for the day that LG clocks out

and leaves work at work.

I want to be the wife that looks forward to

that summer vacation.

Instead of feeling guilty for asking the man

to take a day off of work.

I couldn't be happier,

that it's time for the next adventure.

Because the stress that LG has carried around,

has about killed his wife.

And I am pretty tough.

Thanks be to God

for letting us know

that we can finally move on

from our second two year mission.

Or maybe it's our third mission.

The first being our literal church missions.

(Where we met by the way)

The second being having all of our children

while finishing college.

And the third being the law practice.

I wonder what the 4th will be?

Here's to NOT minding your own business.

And going back to working for the man.

I know that LeGrand will find the perfect job.

People would be stupid not to hire him.

He's a genius.

What does this have to do with church anyway?

Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me #12

Red,

white,

and blue,

always go together.

Large Families

This is an opinion post.

I just want your opinion.

Here's a disturbing news story about a lady

who was dead for 18 months

and was only found after her house sold.

There are really great promises about having a big family.

One of those is going to be

that I am not going to die

and not be discovered for 18 months.

My kiddos may send me to a nursing home,

but they aren't going to forget about me.

Just like I will never forget my parents.

And neither will my 6 siblings.

I would love to be able to handle 7 children,

like my mom.

Sometimes 4 feels like my max.

I am 36.

I could crank out a couple more.

Especially when looking at this.

It feels like 4 children doesn't really define a large family.

I think that 5 is large.

But, 6 seems to be the magic number for large.

What do you think?

Airline Rap

Sometimes I wish that I could go on vacation.

And then I remember that there

are advantages to not traveling.

Proud Mothering Moments

When I was a young mother,

I screwed up all the time.

I would like to think that I screwed up

then more often than I do now.

I laugh as new mothers ask me

how I do so well with 4 children.

I laugh because they don't believe me

when I tell them that there's a learning curve.

To prove my point, here's a great story.

One time, LG and I went shopping with Abigail.

Remember, we only had ONE child.

Maybe two, I can't remember if Sophia was born yet.

We went to Utah's finest hub for young poor college families:

The Wal-Mart in Orem, UT.

Abigail started whining that she needed

to go to the bathroom.

We cut our shopping short,

and checked out quickly.

LG was assigned to take the things to the car.

And, I took Abigail to the bathroom at the front of the store.

I took her in a stall and got her situated.

When all of the sudden,

a wave of "I need to relieve myself too"

washed over me.

I told Abigail to stay in her stall

and that I was going to run into the stall next to her.

I talked to her as I ran over and the whole time

I was doing my business.

In the middle of this, I see her feet hit the floor.

I adamantly encourage her to wait for me.

I tell her to sit back down.

She took a step.

I tell her to stand still.

She keeps walking.

I see her feet run out of her stall.

I don't know if she can hear me.

I start raising my voice.

"Abigail, Abigail, mommy is right here."

"Abigail, come here."

I notice that she left her pants and her underwear

on the floor of her stall.

I hurry and pull my pants up.

And run.

I don't even think I flushed the toilet.

Gross.

By the time I got to her,

she had walked out of the store.

With no pants on.

So much for Code Adam.

So much for Wal-Mart greeters

watching for suspicious activity.

And so much for me being

a natural at raising kids from my first.

And I have never EVER tried to go to the bathroom

at the same time as one of my toddlers

ever since that horrifying day at Wal-Mart

back in 2000 or 2001.

And one lesson, after another, and another,

has made me into the amazing mother

that I am today.

And lucky for me,

none of the rest of my lessons,

consisted of me

running after a naked child

in the parking lot

of Wal-Mart.

Did I mention that she had pooped

and hadn't been wiped?

And the same goes for me.

Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me #11

Crawling still gets you there.

My two cents:

And learning to walk, brings greater responsibility.

For the walker

and her mother.

Fear is the opposite of faith.

Matthew 8: 26 "Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"

When we have that kind of faith and trust in the Lord,

we have true security and serenity in our lives. ~ Oaks

Fear is the antithesis of faith. ~ Hinckley

Recently, a friend of mine revealed a new concept to me.

All humans are either driven by anger or fear.

Interestingly enough,

this is in direct correlation with our flight or fight modes.

If you fear, you want to flight.

Anger makes you want to fight.

I have been reading some evidential arguments

for fighting being a healthier reaction to terrorism.

In fact anger is a driving emotion.

It builds energy.

While fear is an energy draining emotion.

It creates digression.

No energy.

It made me think of this poem that I wrote.

I will choose the faith, not the threatening fear.
Observe the children at play and not their danger.
I will hear the laughter, not see the tear.
The love of a friend, not the threat of a stranger.

Life is not lived if we choose to retreat.
If all we see is wrong then we have failed our test.
Let us not all give up, stay home, be beat.
Choose to live and give and take from life the best.

It's not my best work,

but nonetheless telling of my unchosen emotion.

I don't like fear.

I am an anger girl for sure.

I'm not chiding on fear.

I get it.

Fearful people have their place in this world.

They are needed to balance out us angry folk.

But, what if we all tried to overcome

either our anger or our fear?

My husband is full of fear at times.

He has come to learn of it's debilitating effects.

He is overcoming it.

I just asked him if he had fear conquering strategies.

"Only one", he said.

"Fear is the opposite of faith. I am going to choose to have faith."

I asked him how that translated into

conquering the fear in those moments

that seem to have nothing to do with faith.

You know, like, how does he find the courage

to fix that dishwasher when he has never done it before

and he's afraid because he doesn't know what he is doing?

What does that have to do with faith?

He didn't answer.

My thought is that if we have faith in God,

he will give us faith in our own abilities.

So, back to the picture above.

Sophia hates to have her picture taken.

People trying to force her to get her picture taken

isn't so good for the final shot.

I think we are like that.

We have to choose to have faith.

When we choose it, we open ourselves up to God.

And we will get the perfect final picture.

And then we can look straight into

the lensof whatever fear we have,

and smile.

Because we know that God is over all.

And even if that picture isn't the way we wanted it to be.

Or even if we are getting a picture,

we never wanted at all.

It will be God's will,

and that is all that matters.

Because he knows what is best for us.

And when we believe in Him,

we can have trust.

Perfect trust.

And then we will also have peace.

And interestingly enough.

I would say that peace is the opposite of anger.

Hmmm.

Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me #10

If you want a kitten, start out asking for a horse.

My two cents:

Of course.

Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me #9

Wait for your little sister.

Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me #'8

If you try to catch two butterflies with one net,

they'll both get away.

And my two cents:

If you don't have your pictures

in your hard drive organized,

it will take you 40 minutes to find

that picture of that butterfly.

And when you do find it,

you realize it may just be a moth.

Me and the Seven Deadly Sins

My good friend Rita is a Catholic. I love discussing her beliefs with her. The other day we got into the topic of The Seven Deadly Sins. She had to memorize them when she was in Catholic School or for Catacism or something. I really have no idea what I am talking about. Maybe Rita will correct me in the comments on where she really had to memorize these. But anyway, I came home and looked them up online. I wanted to know how guilty I was.

I guess I could feel exempt since I am not a Catholic, but, you know, I'm a woman, so I always like to find things to guilt myself over. And you know I really have a problem when I don't have enough guilt in living one of the strictest tenants of faith, that I have to go to another religious sect for a good old fashioned guilt trip.

Here are the seven deadly sins: wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, gluttony.

I am pretty sure that out of all of these seven, my hardest one is gluttony. When I recently saw this picture when I was eight months pregnant and realized that I weighed less then than I do now, I about threw up. I am typing this now as I chow down on a big fat homemade waffle with butter and syrup and a glass of 2% milk. At least it's not whole milk, right? I am trying to give myself props once in a while, along with the guilt trips.

I need to make this glutony a matter of prayer. It is time to get it under control once and for all. But food is my friend. It is my friend that I go to when things are bad, when things are good, and when things just are. I especially go to food when I have a child who sucks me dry. Because let's face it...all kids are needy and they can take every last ounce of your energy if you let them. When little ones stretch me to the max, food is a great place to get lost. I always say that once I am done having babies, then I will be more motivated, but it just isn't true.

I am motivated now, but I just don't want to give up the fat grams, or the sugar, or the white flour. It's a disease. Seriously. An addiction. I hate when I eat gluttonously. I feel like crap. I hate exercising and not seeing any results because I just eat more, guilt free, to fill the calories that I have burned. Because after all isn't that why I walked this morning? So I could have two brownies beyond the one that I shouldn't have eaten in the first place?

What about you? What's your hardest sin of the seven. C'mon people. Let's help each other feel better here.

There is one thing I know. It's that we all have weaknesses. Some people don't like to share any of theirs because they want people to think that they are perfect, but I don't think that allows for God's grace into your life. I also don't think it's being a very good friend.

It's not that I want to know your trash. Don't give me nitty gritty details. You can just tell me one of the very broad seven deadly's. And tell me what you do to try and overcome it. Then I will be validated that I am not alone in the struggle and that you understand and you will reach out for my love and support as I do for yours.

Don't tell me to go to Weight Watchers. Don't tell me what I need to do, because I know what I need to do. Tell me what you do to overcome your weakness, and then maybe I can glean some wisdom for my situation. Even if your pet sin is one of the other six, I think that the help we need in overcoming all of them is universal. For instance, prayer, it would help with any of the seven I am sure. Or how about vacation time. Nobody is glutenous on vacation, right?

One thing annoys me in the blogging world. It is the same thing that annoys me in the Christmas Card world. I don't want to hear your best bragging. I don't want to see all the pictures of your perfectly matching children who have straight A's and play five instruments, and went on 10 mission trips, and have 12 pen pals in Zimbabwe. I can handle listening to all of this stuff, if you just add in one or two pieces of the reality with it.

Consider this my best attempt at reality.

Moms are so competitive. I think most of them will have the deadly sin of envy because they feed into the world created by the other moms. Oh, your kid does that? Then they turn around to their husband that evening and say, "I think that little Bobby should do ballet." Their husband says, "Heck no." But because the kid of the best friend of your sister's sister in law is doing it, you don't want your kid to be outdone. You think, "Why can't my kid do that? My kid is good. I want to be as good as them. I don't want them to have more than me. And you perpetuate this onto your children."

Well, my blog is not one of those places that encourages envy. What works for you, won't necessarily work for me. And I am wise enough to know that my kids don't need to compete with your kids. The only person they need to compete with is themselves. And that goes the same for me. Yeah, you may be a Size 2. I don't care. I don't want to overcome my love affair with food so that I can look like you. I want to overcome it so that I can overcome it and feel better with what I have accomplished in self improvement.

Come to my blog to feel better. Know I am on the journey with you. I'm imperfect. And I know you are too, whether you want to admit it or not.

Rita just stopped by. We were discussing sloth. I noticed all the cobwebs in the corners of my home. Maybe I have another deadly sin.

Oh no! I can't breathe. I'm dying. Oh yeah, I'm not Catholic. It's all good.

Really Important Stuff My Kids Have Taught Me #'7

Go barefoot.

God Bless America

land that I love.

Snapshots

Something I love about photography is that

it forces you to live in the moment.

So many NOW moments are lost without being appreciated.

People may get too busy running around,

or worrying about building up that stash of honey.

Or if they are really bad off,

they want to control everything.

I just like to be in the state of being.

As much as possible.

Give Me Four

Sophia is hilarious.

We've already established this.

The other day as we were going through papers in the attic,

we came across the seatbelt that was diamond sawed from her middle finger.

Have I mentioned the girl is our most clutzy?

Yes, she got a seatbelt stuck around her finger like a ring.

And yes, it took a surgeon to remove it.

The girls were talking about how lucky she was

because they didn't saw her finger off.

Sophia then held up her hand while bending down her middle finger.

And she said,

"I know, I am really lucky,

if they would have cut my middle finger off,

the rest of my life,

I would have to say,

give me four."

Then my older less innocent daughter added:

"And you wouldn't be able to flip anybody off either."

I don't think that would have been a problem.

Sophia is not just hilarious, but 100% kind and loving.

She wouldn't flip off a bird.

And, yes, that is my best attempt at a pun.

And the reason, I am so impressed with

Sophia's witty humor.

She gets that from her dad's side of the family.

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

This morning I was uplifted.
I was encouraged.
I was thanked.
I was given perspective.
I was humbled.
I was honored.
For no other reason than
I am a mother.
Because I am a mother,
I am a partner with God.
My children are so wonderful.
Because they came from God.
Therefore, He helps me,
even when I don't know it.
I am greatly blessed.

Thank you to my God for the words of a truly inspired Apostle.