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!!!!!!!!!

2010 Is Breezing Along

It has been two months since our last entry and I hardly know where to start.  I can honestly say that 2010 is breezing along rapidly with many slips and hoorahs along the way.

I am knee high and ankle deep in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games from Vancouver, BC.  I love watching athletes who are in the best shape ever and at the peak of their game.  The Games actually started off with the death of an athlete.  It was a sad moment for all the Olympic athletes, the fans, and especially the athlete's family.  But I can honestly say, with the exception of curling and a few of the cross country sky events, there are very few 'Winter Olympic' events that are not treacherous and dangerous.  Watching the games makes me want to try harder and to grit my teeth with determination to finish whatever task I have before me.

We are happy to report that my sister, Lisa, is now considered a 'cancer survivor'.  Lisa endured countless injections of chemo and had her last dose of radiation in January.  Lisa's zest and zeal for life has returned.  She has shown so much courage and optimism as she battled the cancerous ordeal.  Lisa endured her trial well and has shown us all how to battle our physical and invisible obstacles by her grace and example. 

Where can we begin when it comes to our passions, that is our nieces and nephews! Cori and Kristi are both anxiously awaiting their second child.  Kristi felt her baby kick for the first time this week and Cori is heading back to South Korea, when they receive the word, to pick up their son and Seth's brother.  We have a nephew who returned in December from the New York, New York Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  Another nephew left on a mission around six months ago for South Africa.  A niece is filling out her paperwork so she can head out on a mission by the end of 2010.  We have another wonderful niece who will be heading to an impoverished country to dig septic tanks for the less fortunate; three energetic and enthusastic nieces will be graduating from high school in May.  Lynn and I have nieces and nephew out of college and in college, most of them are attending high school, middle school and elementary school.  We were saddened to learn that several of our nephews were laid off this year and others had their jobs redefined because of the nation and world's economic condition.  We have nieces and nephews who are exceptional wives, husbands, mothers and fathers raising wonderful children.  The world continues to spin and move rapidly for them all.  Lynn and I couldn't be happier or prouder of our nieces and nephews.  We love them all so much.

We have a brother-in-law who is serving our country in Iraq.  He was able to come home for a 2-week leave in January but had to return to his tour of duty.  Pauline and Wade have two young children.  Wade's decision to serve overseas in Iraq is a great sacrifice on both of their parts.  We are blessed that God has kept Wade safe and out of harm's way.  We will be even happier by the end of the year when Wade's tour is up.  We love and support Wade and so grateful to him and all the men and women who are serving our country so valiantly for our country's safety and for the freedom of other countries.

Lynn and I continue to plod on with our lives.  Our lives don't ever appear to be as busy as the rest of our families, but we often look at ourselves and ask, 'where has the time gone'?  Lynn is still contracting his service with the Army Reserve.  My assignment with Hartford Insurance ended on Friday.  I feel sad for the lovely faces and friends that I will no longer see on a daily basis; at the same time, I am anxious and excited for what lies ahead.

Lynn and I are so grateful and feel so very blessed to have our family and friends.  They enrich our lives, they continue to strengthen us by their remarkable examples, they love us unconditionally, and our family and friends support us in all our professional and personal endeavors.

As March 2010 rolls around, Lynn and I can honestly say, "WE ARE INDEED BLESSED!"

-Shelly

The Best Christmas

The Christmas season is over for another year and the hours of 2009 are slowly winding down.  In two days we will wake up to another century, 2010.  What will 2010 bring for me, to Lynn, to our families and friends? I guess we will just have to wait and see.

Before 2010 arrives though, my sister-in-law, Alicia, sent us a moving and poignant Christmas story, "The Best Christmas".  Author, unknown.

"Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.

It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn't in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn't get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn't figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn't worry about it long though. I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard.

"Come on, Matt," he said. "Bundle up good, it's cold out tonight."

I was really upset then. Not only wasn't I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We'd already done all the chores, and I couldn't think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one's feet when he'd told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn't know what.

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn't going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn't happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. "I think we'll put on the high sideboards," he said. Here, help me.." The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood - the wood I'd spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something.

"Pa," I asked, "what are you doing?"

“You been by the Widow Jensen's lately?" he asked.

The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I'd been by, but so what?

Yeah," I said, "Why?"

"I rode by just today," Pa said. "Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They're out of wood, Matt."

That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand.

"What's in the little sack?" I asked.

“Shoes, they're out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn't be Christmas without a little candy."

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen's pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn't have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn't have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn't have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible then, we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, "Who is it?"

"Lucas Miles, Ma'am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?"

Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

"We brought you a few things, Ma'am," Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children - sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out.

"We brought a load of wood too, Ma'am," Pa said. He turned to me and said, "Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let's get that fire up to size and heat this place up." I wasn't the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn't speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy that I'd never known before filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone's spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn't crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us.

"God bless you," she said. "I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us."

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I'd never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.

Pa insisted that everyo ne try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen's face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn't want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, "The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We'll be by to get you about eleven. It'll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn't been little for quite a spell." I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.

Widow Jensen nodded and said, "Thank you, Brother Miles. I don't have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will."

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn't even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, "Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn't have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand."

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen's face and the radiant smiles of her three children.

For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life."

I don't think we have to wait until next Christmas to do some kind gesture.  Chances for service surrounds us every day, especially now due to the economic and financial situations of the nation and the world.  We all need to look deep into our souls and try in 2010 to make a difference to at least one individual, perhaps two.  It could be a member of your family, a friend or for a citizen in the community.  Two insights we could apply to our lives for 2010 are diligence and attitude.  "True greatness is not always tied to the scope of our tasks, but to the quality of how we carry out our tasks whatever they are. In that attitude, let us give our time, ourselves, and our talents to the things that really matter now, things which will still matter a thousand years from now."--Spencer W. Kimball, "A Gift of Gratitude", Tambuli, Dec 1977

Happy New Year's everyone!


-Shelly

Peace ON EARTH!

We are honored and feel so blessed to once again find ourselves at Christmas time living in Illinois.  Chicagoland is a magical place filled with spectacular and historical surroundings and memorable people.  Miracles occur everday, if we only but look.

We are Christians and belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saint (the Mormons).  We DO believe in Jesus Christ.  We DO know that on this special and hallowed Christmas night the earth and mankind was transformed.  Angels sang from heaven.  A new glorious star shone bright signaling the Savior's humble birth.  Kings from noble birthrights sought out the Christ child.

May we all look to the year of 2010 as a time to renew our commitment to God, strengthen home and family, rekindle friendships, old and new; and that we might find joy and success by all that surrounds us.

We would like to wish our family and friends a very Merry Christmas and a spectacular and prosperous New Year!

Lynn and Shelly Hook

Merry Christmas From Our 'Round World' to Your's.

Live Life

HOW TO STAY YOUNG

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay 'them'
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. 'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.' And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER :
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

-Shelly

A Plug for Nadine!!!

My friend, Nadine Bozek, is so talented.  She is a talented, extremly creative and artistic artist, photographer and seamstress.  Actually, Nadine could turn a puzzle piece into a work of art.  I just want to go ahead and give Nadine's websites and blog Shelly's official ten thumbs up award. [Ten thumbs up  in 'my world' is greater than ten star rating.]  Here are Nadine's sites.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nadinebozek?section_id=6024338
http://www.nadinebozek.blogspot.com/
http://theportraitparty.blogspot.com/2008/07/nadine-bozek-mia-thurlow.html
http://www.zazzle.com/nadine+bozek+gifts
http://www.artellaland.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=99

I met Nadine in August (2009) thanks to PDS Technical Services and our temporary work assignment at The Hartford.  She's extraordinary! Of course, I am a little prejudiced because of our friendship, but as a 'lover of the arts' she has a dedicated work style and is passionate about her art.
 
If you want to find out anything more on Nadine? Do what I did? Google her name, Nadine Bozek.  Here is a picture from her photography studio, along with a picture of Nadine.
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
I also have the privilege and opportunity of working alongside Anita Alltop day in and day out.  Working side by side, 5 days a week ... 40 hours a day ... with these two wonderful women has been a highlight and a true blessing in my life.  It will be a sad day :o(  when I actually have to leave The Hartford/PDS and not see these two dear friends and their faces on a regular basis. - - Because of them, I am enriched.  Because of Anita and Nadine I AM a better person. 
 
-Shelly

At A Certain Age

At a certain age, everyone will understand this poor guy as he explains his dilemma:
____________

"I thought about the 30 year business I ran with 1800 employees, all without a Blackberry that played music, took videos, pictures and communicated with Facebook and Twitter.

I signed up under duress for Twitter and Facebook, so my seven kids, their spouses, 13 grandkids and 2 great grand kids could communicate with me in the modern way. I figured I could handle something as simple as Twitter with only 140 characters of space.

That was before one of my grandkids hooked me up for Tweeter, Tweetree, Twhirl, Twitterfon, Tweetie and Twittererific Tweetdeck, Twitpix and something that sends every message to my cell phone and every other program within the texting world.

My phone was beeping every three minutes with the details of everything except the bowel movements of the entire next generation. I am not ready to live like this. I keep my cell phone in the garage in my golf bag.

The kids bought me a GPS for my last birthday because they say I get lost every now and then going over to the grocery store or library. I keep that in a box under my tool bench with the Blue tooth [it's red] phone I am supposed to use when I drive. I wore it once and was standing in line at Barnes and Noble talking to my wife as everyone in the nearest 50 yards was glaring at me. Seems I have to take my hearing aid out to use it and I got a little loud.

I mean the GPS looked pretty smart on my dash board, but the lady inside was the most annoying, rudest person I had run into in a long time. Every 10 minutes, she would sarcastically say, "Re-calc-ul-ating" You would think that she could be nicer. It was like she could barely tolerate me. She would let go with a deep sigh and then tell me to make a U-turn at the next light. Then when I would make a right turn instead, it was not good.

When I get really lost now, I call my wife and tell her the name of the cross streets and while she is starting to develop the same tone as Gypsy, the GSP lady, at least she loves me.

To be perfectly frank, I am still trying to learn how to use the cordless phones in our house. We have had them for 4 years, but I still haven't figured out how I can lose three phones all at once and have run around digging under chair cushions and checking bathrooms and the dirty laundry baskets when the phone rings.

The world is just getting too complex for me. They even mess me up every time I go to the grocery store. You would think they could settle on something themselves but this sudden "Paper or Plastic?" every time I check out just knocks me for a loop.

I bought some of those cloth reusable bags to avoid looking confused but I never remember to take them in with me.

Now I toss it back to them. When they ask me, "Paper or Plastic?" I just say, "Doesn't matter to me. I am bi-sacksual.." Then it's their turn to stare at me with a blank look."

By: Allyn anonymous

-Shelly  :o)

zeehook@yahoo.com Email Account Compromised

Anything that you recieve from the zeehook@yahoo.com account since last night will not have come from Shelly. Her email account has been compromised. She is not in France, and does not need money. Okay we need money, we always need money, but we would not be asking for it via that mode. Sorry for the inconvenience that this has caused anyone.

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God's Pharmacy!

It’s been said that God first separated the salt water from the fresh, made dry land, planted a garden, made animals and fish… all before making a human. He made and provided what we’d need before we were born. These are best & more powerful when eaten raw.

We’re such slow learners…God left us a few great clues as to what foods help what part of our body.

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye.. and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.


Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don’t have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocadoes, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female – they look just like these organs. Today’s research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) mo nths to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of n utrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow.Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body’s cells. Today’s research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.


Live Life Abundantly!!!


-Shelly

** I was sent God's Pharmacy by way of Email from several friends and family.**

The Amazing Cucumber!!!

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day, just one cucumber contains Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Asking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realize that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realize you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

** This information was in The New York Times several weeks ago as part of their "Spotlight on the Home" series that highlighted creative and fanciful ways to solve common problems.**

-Shelly

** TWO YEARS AGO **

Goodness, how time flies! It was 2 years ago, last Monday (Columbus Day), Lynn and I pulled the car up to our new townhouse in Aurora, IL. It was an uneventful road trip from Utah to Illinois. However, the 2 years we’ve been in Aurora has been anything but typical or what we usually call, 'normal'. Maybe, that’s why Lynn and I had to move to Illinois (Chicagoland). Instead of having another ordinary life ---- our lives have had more upheavals along with several roadblocks, but the journey has been extraordinary. And, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Lynn and I are both are at jobs we like (even though mine is a temporary situation), we have met countless and wonderful new friends. My sister, Ami, is 4 to 6 hours away in Michigan and it takes 45 to 60 minutes to drive to my niece, Cori’s, house.

Aurora and the Chicagoland area are wonderful places to explore. My first 18-months in Illinois was spent indoors and not feeling well, but things have changed now. I’m up, feeling healthier and sassier than ever. My exploratory bone is ready to see new things, haunt and hunt down the hundreds upon thousands of museums that surround us. I’m ready to visit and see the exquisite landscapes and parks of the Midwest and the Great Lakes region. The dust is off my tennis shoes since we have several walking and hiking paths close to where we live aching and waiting to be discovered. Everywhere I turn, there is something beautiful to see … whether it’s the sun as it is setting in the west, the innumerable green hues of the trees that dot the landscape, and the wildlife. I am in awe and feel totally surprised and flabbergasted. ** Chicagoland is AMAZING!!!** We are blessed to be living now in the notable and noteworthy state of Illinois.

Lynn and I are strapped down into the rollercoaster of life. We can’t wait to see what the next 2 years will bring!!!!

-Shelly

Juicy Tidbits ...

I have to start this entry by letting you know, MY MOM IS COMING FOR A VISIT! :o) My mom will be here for a very short window span, but I am so grateful for the time she is taking out of her busy and hectic schedule in Utah to visit with us. It is hard to share time with mom when there are nine of us clamoring for her undivided attention, plus my other siblings have more arsenals in their bag of tricks to keep my mom’s attention, they include ‘grandchildren’. My mom will be coming in on Wednesday, Oct 21st and heading back to Utah Sunday evening, Oct. 25th. So our time frame isn’t that long, but it will be jam packed with love, love, and then more love. I am fortunate though that one of my wonderful nieces and her family don’t live far from us in Aurora.

I received ‘good news’ this week. I had to take a few days off from work due to the flu and I was worried about my temporary work assignment with PDS Tech. Inc. When I came home from work on Monday, I found a message on the answering machine. Hartford Insurance wants to extend my contract for another 2 months. Ana (w/PDS) said that the professionals at Hartford like my attitude and my work ethics. YAHOO!!! That means I may be working with Hartford/PDS up until Thanksgiving, and who knows … it may be longer than that if Hartford wants to extend my contract even longer. We (my other temp colleagues and friends, Nadine and Anita) have started a gigantic, multi-tasking project. Anita, Nadine and I work so well together. We are over hauling the filing system. I didn’t think it would be so time consuming. But, there seems to be one small hurdle after another. I don’t mind it though. I love, absolutely love, working on a project where I can actually see some kind of progress. I am so glad Nadine and Anita started with me. Working as three, rather than one lonely temp, has been divine. We are the ‘Three Musketeers’ in all aspects when it comes to our job at Hartford.

We are still waiting to hear if Lynn’s contract with the Army Reserve will be renewed the first part of October (2009). Yep, the date is right around the corner! The Reserve Unit he’s with definitely wants to renew it and keep Lynn on, but the paperwork is being shuffled through the federal bureaucracy. Last year Lynn had to take a few personal days off because his contract didn’t get signed in time. – I’m glad that Hartford & PDS Techs don’t take that long to finalize things.

Lynn's sister's husband received a surprise job offer, and they are now moving to Southern Utah. Lynn's youngest sister, Pauline's, husband will be in Iraq for the year. He is in Kuwait now and is traveling today to Iraq. We have 2 nephews who are on missions for our church. One is in New York the other in South Africa. Both, JJ and David, love the areas they are in, they love the people with all their heart and enjoying new cultural experiences.

My sister, Lisa, is still going through chemo for breast cancer. Lisa is on a second type of chemo and it has actually made her more ill than the first concotion they gave her. My older sister, Linda, has had a few health problems crop up this year with multiple kidney stones that are in both kidneys. The medical teams are still trying to find an explanation for the kidney stones and a cure.

The rest of our families are doing well. We have a myriad of nieces and nephews that are in grade school, junior/senior high school, and college. All of our siblings are doing well, rattling around their houses, trying to keep up with their tykes and school kids, etc. .. living life to the fullest.

Next week we’re suppose to get our first ‘real’ taste of fall. Cool temps, wind, rain … I just LOVE FALL!!!:o)

-Shelly

My Ode To Fall ...

The green leaves outside our windows are once again turning lovely shades of red beginning at the top of the trees interspersed with yellow and orange coloring throughout. Fall is one of my favorite seasons and the thought by Lin Yutang captures my feelings so perfectly.

"I like spring, but it is too young.

I like summer, but it is too proud.

So I like best of all autumn,

because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer,

and it is tinged with a little sorrow.

Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring,

nor the power of summer,

but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age.

It knows the limitations of life and its content."

- Lin Yutang

-Shelly

Happy Thoughts To Live By....

I received this Email from one of my friends and I found that many of the sayings were meant espically for me; therefore, I wanted to share it on our blog page so they will inspire and maybe help someone else.