The Tender Mercies of God

In our church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint, we believe deeply and with all of our hearts in Jesus Christ, our Savior, and the Father of us all, our Heavenly Father.

As we are coming upon the Easter Season, it is a hallowed and special time for me. This is a time when I think of the inhumanity of man and also the charity and love of my Savior.

I know with all of my heart that Jesus is indeed the very Christ, the literal Son of our Eternal Father in Heaven, the one who was referred to as Jehovah in the Old Testament. Our Savior left his glorious realm on high to come to this earth to gain a physical body of flesh and bones. How else could the Savior know how to succor His flock if He had not walked the same journey? How would he know how to heal my wounded spirit at night if He had not also sought guidance through prayer to our Father in Heaven? How else would He know about pain, my afflictions, how it feels to lose someone through the separation of death unless He had walked that same lonely pathway as well? Would He know what it feels like to be hungry unless He, who was the creator of this earth, hungry himself?

I love to read the stories of Jesus in the New Testament. I close my eyes and I am there with the shepherds as the glories of the heavens were opened to them and angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus Christ. I am there in my mind as the Savior feeds the hungry and I listen in rapture and spiritual delight to his Sermon on the Mount. I see His compassion and majesty as He heals a leper and restores eyesight to the blind. I am struggling with the apostles as they try to keep their boat afloat only to see the Savior rebuke the rough waters and the waters are still. I was also there on that crucial night when He broke bread and provided wine for what is known as the Last Supper and as He, the Lord of Lords, humbled himself as a servant and washed and dried the dusty feet of each apostle. I anguished with Him as our Savior, the King of Kings, the Lord over Heaven and Earth, committed Himself unto will of God and into the hands of evil men, who did horrendous and horrible things to our Savior. I wept with the women and our Savior's dear friends as His spirit left His body on the bloody cross at Calvary. I weep with joy and gladness because I was there with Mary, with Peter, John, Thomas, and all the other apostles of our Lord and Savior, when He appeared to them as a resurrected being and loosened the bands of death.

I know because of the Savior's atonement, His resurrection, along with His perfect life, that I will be resurrected as well. It is my earthly conduct that will determine if I live with Him, my Heavenly Father, along with my family and friends after I die in a state of never ending happiness.

On this brilliant Easter Season, I raise my voice with the Savior's prophets and apostles now and then, I KNOW MY SAVIOR LIVES!

-Shelly

10 Ways to Use Clear Nail Polish You Might Never Have Guessed!!!

Here is another informative and useful article with one of my favorite inventions ever, clear nail polish!!!!!!

'10 Ways to Use Clear Nail Polish You Might Never Have Guessed

We all know that clear nail polish is a great finishing coat for a manicure, and I'd guess that most have even heard that it can be used to keep a run in a panty hose from spreading, but there are scores of other uses for the stuff in and around your home. Some of the most surprising tricks - for everything from waterproofing matches to threading needles - are as follows:

Making jewelry last. To extend the life of costume jewelry and to keep it looking bright and glossy, give beads a thin layer of polish. It helps prevent fading and tarnishing.

Sealing envelopes. In lieu of licking envelope flaps to seal them (not only can this be ineffective, but does anyone find that taste as gross as I do?) dab on a little polish to keep them glued nice and tight.

Threading needles. Rather than get frustrated when attempting to thread a needle, run the cut side of the thread through the polish brush. Roll the thread between your fingers a couple of times; the polish will dry immediately and the thread becomes stiffer (and much more easy to get through the eye of the needle).

Keeping belt buckles pristine. To ensure belt buckles stay bright and shiny, shellac them with a coat of polish to prevent oxidation.

Securing buttons. Brush on a dollop of polish in the center of your buttons to keep the threads from coming undone. If you have a sweater or dress with pearly buttons, give the whole thing a coat of polish to keep them luminous.

Fixing window screens or shades. If you have a tear in a window shade or screen, paint on some polish to keep it from worsening.

Waterproofing matches. As any camper can attest, there are bigger drags than a box of soggy matches. To waterproof them, paint the flammable tips with polish.

Wood floor repairs. A bit of clear polish is fantastic to touch-up minor dents and little scuffs on wood floors.

Avoiding rust stains. You know those rust rings that form on your tub is you leave shaving cream in the shower? Just varnish the underside of the can with a little polish to keep the metal from scraping.

Shoelace protector. To stop shoelaces from unraveling and fraying, dip the ends in clear polish."

by: Emily Hsieh, Shine Staff - March 18, 2010

One thing this article did not mention that I know clear nail polish is good for is car/truck windshield repair.  When a rock from a moving vehicle cracks your windshield, immediately dab the chip (the outside  window) with clear nail polish. Similar to the nylon logic, this will keep the chip from growing and cracking through your windshield.

CLEAR NAIL POLISH IS MY FRIEND!!! 

-Shelly

The Dos and Don'ts of Loading Your Dishwasher

:o)  Hmmmmmm!  Loading a dishwasher should be as simple as, say ... 'counting pennies'.  Unfortunately in this techno-savvy world, we (or at least I am) are becoming too self reliant on doing things fast and haphazardly. For this entry I thought I'd move into a whole new direction and focus my attention on an article I read about the 'Dos' and 'Don'ts' of dishwasher protocol. - - I don't know how many times I'll go to unload my dishwasher only to find food still caked on dishes or chunks of tomatoes stuck in and on the silverware. The article I'm referring to was written by Emily Hsieh, Shin Staff on March 16, 2010, I would just like to copy it, word for word' for any other dishwasher challenged individual.

"The dos and don'ts of loading your dishwasher

My husband and I are divided when it comes to loading the dishwasher. My methodology is aimed at space efficiency.  I line up all the plates on one side, all the cups on the other, and anything random/big in the middle. His technique, or lack of, is completely haphazard - he just throws things in the machine in the first empty spot he sees (which means only about half as many dishes fit). And as it turns out, as was reported in The New York Times, there is actually a science to this, and my approach could use some finessing too.  Here are some pointers from the Consumer Reports Home and Garden Blog to help your dishwasher perform at its best, and to prevent your dishes from chipping:

1. Load large items at the sides and back of the dishwasher, so that they don't block water and detergent from reach other dishes.
2. Place the dirtier side of dishes toward the ccenter of the machine to provide more exposure to the spray. Don't let dishes or utnesils nest, or rest side vy side, which can prevent water from reaching all surfaces.
3. Use the top rack for plastic and delicate items that are dishwasher safe.
4. Rest glassware on prongs to prevent breakage. And to prevent chipping, make sure that china, crystal, and stemware don't touch each other. Don't machine-wash brass, bronze, cast iron, disposable plastics, gold colored flatware, gold-leaf china, hollow-handle knives, pewter, tin, or anything made of wood or with a wood handle.
5. Load silverware with handles down but place knives with the handles up. If your dishwasher as an open basket, mix spoons, forks, and knives to prevent them from sticking together.
6. Place items with baked-on food facedown and toward the sprayer in the bottom rack."

'Shine on' clean and sparkling dishes and utensils!!!

-Shelly

Life On A Train

I was sent this thoughtful piece by my good friend, Deyon! I hope it will make you stop and think of what is important to you like it has me.
 * * * * * *

     "A while back, I read a very interesting book that compared life to a train ride or a series of train rides.

     Life is like a train ride, it read. We get on. We ride. We get off. We get back on and ride some more. There are accidents and there are delays. At certain stops there are surprises. Some of these will translate into great moments of joy, some will result in profound sorrow.

     When we are born and we first board the train, we meet people whom we think will be with us for the entire journey. Those people are our parents! Sadly, this is far from the truth. Our parents are with us for as long as we absolutely need them. They too have journeys they must complete. We live on with the memories of their love, affection, friendship, guidance and their ever presence.

     There are others who board the train and who eventually become very important to us, in turn. These people are our brothers, sisters, friends and acquaintances, whom we will learn to love, and cherish.

     Some people consider their journey like a jaunty tour. They will just go merrily along. Others, will encounter many upsets, tears, losses on their journey.  Others still, will linger on to offer a helping hand to anyone in need.

     Some people on the train will leave an everlasting impression when they get off. Some will get off and on so quickly, they will scarcely leave a sign that they ever traveled along with you or ever crossed your path.

     We will sometimes be upset that some passengers, whom we love, will choose to sit in another compartment and leave us to travel on our own. Then again, there's nothing that says we can't seek them out anyway. Nevertheless, once sought out and found, we may not even be able to sit next to them because that seat will have already been taken.

    That's okay ... Everyone's journey will be filled with hopes, dreams, challenges, setbacks and goodbyes. We must strive to make the best of it ... no matter what.

     We must constantly strive to understand our travel companions and look for the best in everyone.

     Remember that at any moment during our journey, any one of our travel compaions can have a weak moment and be in need of our help.
     We too may vacillate or hesitate, even trip ... hopefully we can count on someone being there to be supportive and understanding.

     The biggest mystery of our journey is that we don't know when our last stop will come.  Neither do we know when our travel companions will make their last stop .. not even those sitting next to us.

     Personally, I know I'll be sad to make my final stop ... I'm sure of it!
     My separation from all those friends and acquaintances I made during the train ride will be painful. Leaving all those I'm close to will be a sad thing. But then again, I'm certain that one day I'll get to the main station only to meet up with everyone else. They'll all be carrying their baggage ... most of which they didn't have when they first got on this train. I'll be glad to see them again. I'll also be glad to have contributed to their baggage ... and to have enriched their lives, just as much as they will have contributed to my baggage and enriched my life.
     We're all on this train ride together. Above all, we should try to strive to make the ride as pleasant and memorable as we can, right up until we each make the final stop and leave the train for the last time."
- Author: Unknown

Shelly

A Wonderful Opportunity

A wonderful and humble opportunity has presented itself to us.  Lynn and I, on Friday, were asked to be Ordinance Workers at the Chicago Temple, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We are extremely excited and nervous to undertake this sacred and holy calling in the House of The Lord.  Once a week (every Friday from 12:30-6:30pm) and without pay, we will dedicate our time by serving God and our fellowmen and to do that service in His House is an honor and a blessing.

-Shelly

My First!!!

On Tuesday (Mar 16, 2010), I had my first colonoscopy.  Oh my goodness! To prep for the procedure, my diet on Monday was restricted to clear liquids.  For the day, I had to drink 36 oz of clear liquid or more.  I mixed my water intake up with apple juice and white grape juice.  I did have some light colored jello during the day, which of course was a pure delight.  Then around 6:00pm on Monday I had to drink a not-so-fun 36 oz. liquid cocktail (9 oz. every 15 minutes until the drink mixture was gone).  Along with the liquid concoction, I had to drink an additional 6 oz of clear liquid to stay hydrated because about 30 minutes after finishing the drink mixture all my bowls started loosening.  I was on the bathroom throne for over 2 hours literally flushing out my large and small intestines.  (The picture I'm creating doesn't look pretty, does it!) Even after this, I still had to continue drinking clear liquids.  I want you to know during the night hours my whole abdominal area felt like it was being plummeted by ping pong balls and it was making horrendous sounds that would make even a dinosaur jealous.

Tuesday morning (the morning of my procedure) I had to get up at 4am to once again down the nasty 32 oz liquid (9 oz every 15 minutes until the mixture was gone) finishing each segment up with another 6 oz glass of water.  I am literally floating on water by this time.  I couldn't believe a person could drink so much and not drowned.  I couldn't eat or drink anything after 5:15am until after the colonoscopy.  What an ordeal!!!

Lynn and I arrived at Mercy and met with a countless number of medical aides and nurses and then met Dr. Seigfried for the first time.  Dr. Seigfried took his time to explain to me, and to Lynn, what the procedure involved.  What they would do to me in the surgical room, the type of anesthesia he would use, if I had any questions, etc?  Even if I had wanted to make a mad dash for the door, an IV was in my hand and I was in the lovely hospital gown attire, so there was no way out, I was in too deep already.

Lynn kept assuring me for weeks that the worst part of a colonoscopy was the prep time.  Lynn had already endured 2 colonoscopies, so he was my expert witness.  I still was not convinced that the prep was the worst part of the procedure as the nurses were wheeling my bed (w/me in it) down the long hallway to the surgical center.  Is it just me or are all hospital corridors extra long when being wheeled to surgical centers? In the surgical center, I was given oxygen and the nurses said I wouldn't be strapped down like I was during my other operations, so I was pretty relieved about that.  The propophol they were using was like an off and on switch.  On, I was out like a light. Off, I was (somewhat) awake.  The last thing I remember in the surgical center was a nurse giving me oxygen and another kind lady saying, 'it's time to sleep!" and that is all I really remember except when my dazed and somewhat bleary eyes started to focus on Lynn!  :)

I can't remember much after the 'it's time to sleep!" stage and until I noticed Lynn; however, Lynn says after the procedure he could hear me talking up a storm all the way down the hall, thanking the nurses (I'm glad I was thanking them ...) for helping me and chatting about everything.  I can't remember any of this conversation.  I do not remember anything from the surgical completion to about 30 minutes later when I became fully conscious of my surroundings.  Dr. Seigfried arrived after I was awake to talk and show me the results of my colonoscopy. -- Prognosis:  Me = Good, Colon = Excellent, Next Visit = 5 years!  :)  Dr. Seigfried did not have to remove any polyps, which meant my diet would not be restrictive.  I was cautioned though to eat light during the next 24 hours.

I am somewhat relieved that my colon came out with flying colors.  There are so many real life horror stories of men and women dying of colon cancer.  One of the major news anchors, Katie Couric's, husband died quite young, due to colon cancer.  Katie has been trying to raise the publics' consciousness to the hazards of colon cancer and how to prevent it. 

I came home from my colonoscopy with pictures, 28 glossy colored pictures of my intestines and colon.  I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to do with all of these pictures.  When Lynn had his 2 colonoscopies, he came home with 2-8x10 sheets of 4 colonoscopy pictures, 8 pictures altogether.  My pictures are rather small, but I still have 28 pictures!!  What am I to do with 28 pictures from my colonoscopy? Should I cut them up and send a picture of my colonoscopy w/each Christmas card or should I turn them into framed art pieces and hang them on our wall?  To save all of you the thought of getting one of my highly valued photos or for the mad rush to our house to see the art exhibit, I decided to post the colonoscopy pictures here on our blog.  That way no one will feel deprived or feel 'unloved' for not receiving a photo.  You can see the pictures for yourself and on your own timetable!  Now, if there is one particular photograph that you'd love to have hanging around your house or in your wallet, just let me know.  I will pop it into the mail for you.  :)

Speaking of colonoscopies!!!  If you are over 50 and haven't had one, please do so.  If your family has a medical history of colon or adnominal cancer or if you are young and are worried about your health, get a colonoscopy.  It is a relief to you, to your spouse, to your children and those who love you! Lynn was right.  The preparation for the colonoscopy was the pits, the procedure itself was a cinch!

* I hope you enjoy the pictures!!!!

-Shelly

Miracle of Miracles

What are the lyrics from the musical, "Fiddler on the Roof", "Wonders of wonders, miracles of miracles ..."?  I can raise my voice to the top of the hills and say this week, "I WAS A RECIPIENT of one of God's many astounding and loving miracles.

On February 26th, I sent a Chicago care package to my friend, Ethel Roberg, who lives in Salt Lake City (UT).  I told Ethel to keep an eye out for the package.   Since a few weeks had already passed by since we sent the box, and I had not heard anything from Ethel, the UPS information slip was thrown away only to find out that Ethel had not received the package.  I obtained another tracking slip with the help of our UPS store, which indicated the dates, along with the various location stops the box had took before it reached it's final destination. 

Ethel informed me that she had already been scouring the outside of her property for weeks, hoping to find the package.  I knew the box was delivered on the porch of her house since that is what was on the tracking slip.  During more conversations with Ethel, I found out the information I had on her address was incorrect.  I was sending mail to the wrong address!  All the mail to Ethel over two plus years was never delivered to her or sent back to me, so I had assumed Ethel was receiving our mail. {This should have been my first clue there was a problem since Ethel will always acknowledge any type of correspondence or act of kindness by saying, thank you.}  All of the cards and letters for Ethel were in some gigantic black vortex hole, and now the package was gone.

This week Ethel wanted to see where the package and all of her mail (from me) was being delivered.  To her astonishment, it was not a residential residence I was sending mail to, instead it was a vacant lot.  Ethel and her husband did find a house next to the lot where the address numbers were missing and the address was a digit off.  Ethel thought the UPS driver might have delivered it to that house by mistake.  Even in error, the home Ethel and her husband were looking at didn't look safe or lived in.  Ethel was apprehensive as she walked up to the porch and around to the back, looking for the package.  No box. Finally, Ethel's husband told her to ring the bell.  Ringing the bell was the last thing Ethel wanted to do, but she did.  Do you know what Ethel found in the doorway? The package!!! :-) The box was lodged between the screen door and the wooden door.  Isn't that something!!!!

Ethel was prompted by the Spirit to find the residence I was sending her mail to; and then, Ethel listened to her husband.  Ethel's husband listened to the Holy Ghost!

This was not a desperate situation, heralded by trumpets, nor was it earth shattering; but  it was one more witness to me of God's love.  Our problems, large or small, are significant to God if it is important to us.  God does hear and answer our prayers, even when it is as simple and insignificant as a care package.

-Shelly

PARENT / GRANDPARENT

Job Description:

POSITION:

Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma, Grandma, Gammy, Grams

Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop, Grandpa, Papa

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Long term, team players needed, for challenging,

permanent work in an often chaotic environment.

Candidates must possess excellent communication

and organizational skills and be willing to work

variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends

and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.

Some overnight travel required, including trips to

primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless

sports tournaments in far away cities!

Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The rest of your life.

Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.

Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly.

Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule

and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat

in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,

such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.

Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and

coordinate production of multiple homework projects.

Must have the ability to plan and organize social gatherings

for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embrassment the next.

Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a

half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices.

Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.

Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product.

Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and

janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

None.

Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and

updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required unfortunately.  On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses.

A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because

of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent.

When you die, you give them whatever is left.

The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that

you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

While no health or dental insurance, no pension,

no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered;

this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love,

and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

** FOOTNOTE **

THERE IS NO RETIREMENT - - EVER!!!!!!!!!