Out of The Shadow

Last night, The Boy was in a surly mood.  As he is a 15 year old teenaged boy, this isn't unheard of, however, I hadn't seen any of the typical triggers to bring on this kind of behavior.  So I gave in and finally asked him "What is bugging you?"

"Mom," he said, "Can't you see my mustache?"

He was in a rotten mood about this otherwise universal sign of maturation.  "How can I get rid of it?!" he wanted to know.

I suggested that he might want to ask "Santa" for an electric razor for Christmas.  He looked at me with daggers in his eyes.  "OK," i told him, "if you don't want to shave, I know a great lady who could wax it for you."

He coughed at the idea and stated that he could think of nothing more uncomfortable than that.  I tried to encourage him by telling him I've had my eyebrows, among other things, waxed and it only hurts the first time really bad.  He still wasn't interested.

I told him that I have friends who bleach their mustaches.  Of course, in my mind, I was thinking that these are darling little ladies who do this so he won't want to hear that either.

Instead, he jumped at that.  "How do you do that?!"

I suggested that for tonight he use some hydrogen peroxide and a cotton ball and work on lightening it.  He ran upstairs to see what he could do with that.

Before bed, he came back to show me that it was "definitely lighter" (his words, not mine) and that besides the stinging this was his preferred method of dealing with it.

I'm not sure how he could get any stinging from a little cotton ball dipped in hydrogen peroxide...but if he thinks it is working for him, OK. Whatever.

Crazy things that the teens in my house get upset by, don't you think?  I mean, really.  Now if your baby was obviously growing up and getting to the point he will need to shave, well, that is a reasonable situation to be upset about!

Good Point!

I saw this today and thought I would share.  Especially as the Election-Hangover is wearing off and reality is slapping us in the face:

Isn't really?  We know who is REALLY in charge.  And we already know who will win in the end.  Didn't Elder Holland tell us that our biggest issue would be to make sure we are playing for "His" team?  Our allegiance to God and our conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ should be true regardless of who won the election.  And maybe considering all the election ruckus, it is even more important now.

The Day After: Time to Get to Work

The US elections are over.  And only one of the candidates I voted for won.  Maybe I am a jinx for these elections.  Regardless of my personal preferences, I think we need to examine the fact that America is a pretty great place. 

I have received a few messages since yesterday's results that I completely agree with:

From Dear Friend Jan: "Ok , no matter how this all turns out. I just watched my husband (who is a Republican and I'm pretty sure voted for Romney) kneel and pray for President Obama. The hatred has got to stop. What kind of Christians are we when we are consumed with despair and hatred? We now need to have faith in our form of government which, I believe, is inspired. And we need to work to change our country for the better. Whining accomplishes nothing."

From a former neighborhood YW:  " I was talking to a rather disappointed customer about the election last night. The only thing I could manage to say was that 'it could be worse. I haven't found an acceptable alternative, but it could be worse.' She looked at me and said, 'ya, we could live somewhere where we don't have a say in our national government.' She's right, we do have a say in some of the things that go on here. If you don't like the things going on at the capital, write your congressmen. They are there to listen and speak for you. All you have to do is tell them what you want. There are ways to make the next four years relatively painless for yourselves, speak up to someone that can do something about it. Being all worried and pissed on FB isn't going to get anybody anywhere. Besides, if the group of you that I know have an immense trust in God truly do trust in him the way you say you do, then you know that he has a plan for all of this. We may not know what it is, but it obviously wasn't to make Romney president. If you truly believe God has a plan for all of us, then you must have faith that even though you think Obama will destroy us God will help us all. If you don't like a policy let someone in government know, make use of the system that the founders provided to you. Don't just post to the internet that you are mad Obama won. If he tries to pass something else you don't like write, call, or send a telepathic message to your local representatives. They are supposed to be there to help. Make the do their jobs and then go home and trust that God will make it all work out for the best."




And from Dear Friend Micheale, a good reminder: "'The future is as bright as your faith.' -Thomas S. Monson"





 If we have done all we could, then we need to get past the disappointments and get to work.  What can we do in our community to improve the situation?  Can you volunteer at a school?  Can you run for city council?  Can you work with a non-profit group to affect the changes you were hoping to see in this election?

Don't let the disappointment from one election stop YOU from making a difference.  We are each still responsible for doing our best to make the world a little better and that is true regardless of which candidate won the election.

So friends, I'm off to the high school again today to do my best to make a positive difference.  What are you willing to do?

A Worthy Hour From My Day

Genius Golfer and I just got back from voting.  Our precinct was buzzing.  It only took an hour to get through the line.  Perhaps the most important hour of my day.

The best part?  Perhaps tomorrow the ads on the TV and radio and internet will be gone.  We can hope for that change, among others!

Released, and Relieved

Yesterday, the release from just over six years of serving as a counselor in our stake Young Women's presidency came.   I had the privilege of serving under two presidents in that time period, and loved both groups of ladies very much. I learned far more than I imagined I would and truly came to love the YW in our stake--many of whom I still see at school each week.

We had a little meeting with our wonderful stake presidency Thursday night when they issued the release and thanked us for our service.  Friday and Saturday I wondered around like someone dealing with clinical depression.  I knew this was coming, but didn't expect to feel so out of sorts with it.

Then the relief came.

Sunday morning in our sacrament  meeting, our representative from the high council read our names to be released...along with our stake Young Men's presidency.  Then he read the names of those to be sustained for both presidencies.  Instantly, upon hearing the women's names who were just called I had a sense of relief and assurance that these ladies were in the right place at the right time.  I know all three of them (no secretary called yet) and I love them!  They will be marvelous. I know the majority of the new YM's presidency too and I think they are fabulous!

Then last night we had our closing fireside for our missionary month events.  Our Stake Youth Committee did a tremendous job and I couldn't have been more proud of them.  The old presidencies sat in the audience; the new ones sat on the stand with the committee kids.  Just as it should be.

Following the meeting there were many hugs, more tears, and expressions of gratitude and appreciation all around.  I was worried at first about having to go to that right after being released, but it was a good and fitting end to our term of service.

And I think the end of my feeling like I need medication or therapy!  Now the worry about what they give me next is slowly creeping in.  *anythingbutprimary*anythingbutprimary*anythingbutprimary*

Video Sunday