An Amazing Maze, by an Amazing son

Isn't that MAZE, a-Maze-ing?

See how long it takes you to get to the finish.

David is talented in so many ways and he continues to use the talents he has been given, in very productive, positive ways.

Currently, in addition to studying his architecture books, he is working on his genealogy. 

Steve & Sue have been able to send him a lot from his Dad's Norwegian side.  They have a family history book, that has been very helpful.  Because, he doesn't have access, of course, to a computer, he has to rely on me helping him to look up things.  (I'm not very good at it though).  So, if any of you have some information on our side, that you could make copies of our family tree, that would be of great interest to him.  He also loves hearing the stories about our grand-parents too.  Mom sends him copies of Grandpa's old family newsletter he use to do, and David loves to receive those too.

A snapshot of my week

 Yep.  Those are my girls.  They keep me 'hoppin'.

Need I say more about that picture. haha.

 I've been enjoying watching how fast  Springtime is blooming all around me.

 Of course, I'm always thinking about, and sometimes, struggling with my place in the world and God's Kingdom.  I know what's right, yet some days I'm so weak.  I guess a lot of my indecisiveness, regarding being a 'member' of a church, is my FEAR. 

Fear of what? You may ask?  Fear of failure again.  Fear of  changing.  Fear that I'll never totally 'fit in'.

Fear of being separated from David somehow.  God knows my heart and David's too.  David and I are traveling this journey together,  I have many thoughts and continue to grow spiritually. 

Now, from church to guinea pigs.

How's that for a smooth transition?  Actually that's how my mind works most of the time.

My mind thinks fast and can jump from one subject to the next.  I have learned to switch gears on the fly. (Actually that is how you shift a semi truck with 10 gears in it.) Some call that 'flight of ideas'.  I call it a blessing and a curse.

Thankfully, we are just babysitting these guinea pigs for spring break. They stink inside, so we put them in the garage.  You have to change that sawdust almost everyday it seems, to keep them from smelling. 

 

Play date, at the dog park.

These are 2 of Brandi's friends and fellow students. The girl in middle has to go up to Massachusetts to take her State Boards for Dental Hygiene, so we are going to care of her Lab, 'Frega'.  I'm excited of course, because I still miss Sugar so much.  It will be nice to have Frega with me, for a while. 

Also, notice my T-Shirt with all these UNC Tarheel Girls!

 SUN DEVIL MOM.  ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY.  I gotta 'REPRESENT' Curtiss too.

March week

 Stayed busy this week.  Tuesday started drinking a healthy breakfast smoothie, and then

Greg and I were able to go golfing.

 Back in the gym.  Increasing my neck and back pain.  But I feel I 'gotta keep movin' or my

whole body is going to freeze up. I'm having a lot of joint pain.  I'm going to have to have my left knee replaced soon.  Ugh!

 Saturday we all participated in a service project.  We put in a whole playground for a school.

 I did a juice cleanse for 3 days.  The GREEN MONSTER.  Yummy.  It actually tastes ok to me.  I like the carrots in ginger in it.

I've been working a lot getting messages out to Senators, and Legislators, communicating with our Administrator of M.I.S.S. regarding our upcoming conference.  We are fighting to get rid of solitary confinement  and the rights of the mentally ill inmates, and fighting for prison reform and against mandatory minimum sentencing.  We are organizing so our voices will be heard.  Positive things are happening.  We do have some senators on our side introducing  bills.   Senator Rand Paul, and Patrick Leahy this week introduced a new bill to congress.  Changes need to be changed.

Although, these Bills will not help David, I am dedicated to help make changes for other inmates who are being abused and mistreated and going without medical treatment and keeping some in their cell, isolated, 23 hours a day.

Just LIFE

I'm still very sad and out of sorts, so to say.  Sugar was such a part of my routine, I still look around for her.
But I know she's okay and must continue on with my life. DAVID called to cheer me up and make me laugh, and always reassures me that he is doing well, And how much he appreciates and is strengthened by visits every week-end.  Brandi brought me some beautiful Lillies to help cheer me up and they smell wonderful.  I didn't realize how good they smell. Sweet, little Patch is a good buddy and always comes around me to cheer me up too.  
I received a surprise package in the mail from my sister, RONNA.  Four colorful PINWHEELS!  I love pinwheels. They make me HAPPY. (my picasa pictures are down so I can't download a picture YET.)
The world just keeps on going.  I have so much to be happy about and thankful for.  I really have no reason to be unhappy or sad, yet some days I am.   I think to myself, why?  Why just under the surface I'm anxious and overwhelmed. I wonder if it's a chemical imbalance? A nutritional deficiency?  A mental problem?  Or, all of the above.  Sometimes I have 'stinkin thinkin'.   I feel like I don't deserve to be happy.  That I deserve to be miserable.  Intellectually, I know that is NOT TRUE, but it's something I struggle with all the time.  I read the bible and positive books, .....blah, blah, blah.  I know the drill.  But, still,  I'm human and today and  tomorrow I'll do something positive for myself.  I read from the bible.  I said my morning prayer.  I went outside and walked Patch and got some sunshine and Vitamin D.  I juiced my vegetables. Kale, parsley, celery, spinach, ginger, carrots, and an apple.  Drank large glasses of lemon water and some detox tea, and now I'm going to the gym. YIP-EE!  So, I'll put a smile on my face and try to say positive affirmations to myself.  Haha.

A Special Day for Lucy

 Friday Brandi took her State Boards for Dental Hygiene and we were invited to go with their good friends to beach, to share in the celebration of a special day.

This is cute little LUCY and Anna.  Lucy wanted to get baptized in the ocean.

So her family made arrangements and family and close friends headed to Nags Head, NC, for a fun week-end together.

There's an interesting little side story about Lucy.  Last summer, her family, Brandi & Matt, and some other friends were here at the beach, and Lucy was attacked by a shark, in 2 feet of water.  Her mother was nearby and able to grab her and pull her out of the water. Her dad is an emergency room doctor and rushed to her aide.  (you can google her for the full story)

 Family and Friends gathering on a cold windy beach for Lucy's 

Baptism by her father.

It was cold, but that little Lucy didn't bat an eye.  She is one strong, resilient, impressive little girl. 

After the baptism (by immersion), we went to the church house where she was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and given the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Then  we all went out to lunch.  After lunch the SUN CAME OUT  and we all headed to the Sand Dunes.