MILD PANIC

When Evan was in the sixth grade he spent a week at Science Camp (outdoor school in Ojai) and I was slightly distressed about him being gone. Of course nothing terrible happened at Science Camp and Evan had a wonderful time. He also learned how to take a 3 minute shower.

Aislyn went this last fall and I didn't panic at all... :) I don't know if it is because she was the second child to go to Science Camp or that I knew she could handle herself or that I realized that Science Camp was only an hour away... :)

She also had a wonderful time and learned how to take a 3 minute shower. She however, still takes 30 minute showers unless I threaten her with severe discomfort... :)

On April 1st, Evan embarks on a new adventure. He is leaving for Washington DC with the rest of his 8th grade class. He will be gone for 5 days and will be visiting various monuments and museums as well has Historic Towns. The learning experience will be great for him.

I however; am a wreck. This will be his first plane trip without me. He is flying across the country. To add to my panic - I am afraid of flying and my fear has transferred to the fear of Evan flying... :( This is no trip to Ojai and I can't rescue him if something bad happens).

So, for the past week - in anticipation - I have tried to stay calm and not think about my baby going far away. Now it's two days away and I will have to say goodbye to my baby jet-setter. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Of course, Victor thinks nothing of it and Evan is excited. OH MY GOODNESS! Do they not know how dangerous this is? The plane could fall from the sky or the bus could skid off the road or... this list goes on. Then I remind myself that everything is going to be okay and that Heavenly Father will watch over him.

I think this is mini preps for when he leaves for his mission which is fast approaching - a little over 5 years from now. We talk about him going on a mission and we are all excited - I do think I will be the mother that will pray every night for his safety while he is away - because that is what I do now. Even when he goes on overnight campouts with the scouts.

Any way, here's to being an overly protective mom!!!! :)

REMINDERS

I loved Mom's post and true heroism. Several years ago I was going through an extremely difficult time and I was angry and frustrated. I did not understand why I had to experience so much pain and betrayal and I wanted to lash out and punish those who had offended me so deeply.

I had confided in Mom and she e-mailed me the following poem by Emily Dickinson

To fight aloud, is very brave,

But gallanter, I know

Who charge within the bosom

The Cavalry of Woe.

Who win, and nations do not see,

Who fall, and none observe.

Whose dying eyes, no Country

Regards with patriot love.

We trust in plumed procession

For such, the Angels go,

Rank after Rank, with even feet,

And Uniforms of Snow.

She then shared with me the following scripture:

"Fear not, for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." - 2 Kings 6:16-17

She then stated:

Consider: The "weapons used by the "Cavalry of Woe" can fill us with anger or bring a loss of faith, and thus, lead to the death of the Spirit. The only "weapons" that work in an attack against the "Cavalry of Woe" are weapons of life: faith, hope, love, forgiveness, and repentance. Trust in "plumed procession" -- "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding, In all they ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." (Prov. 3:5-7)

Prov. 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

I have all of this posted in my cubicle at work and have often turned to it when I begin to feel the despair and sadness that often occurs during this time of tumult. I find peace and solice in these reminders. I have learned that my own soft answers to personal attacks from others turns my wrath away. Sometimes it softens the offender - not always. I also know that if I have taken offense and returned equal assault my spirit is still tormented with anger and I am not better for the experience.

Mom also said to me: "Did you ever think that perhaps you should thank (your assaulters - names removed because they have been forgiven). Think about it."

2ND BACK POPPING DAY

After work I had another appointment with the back popper. It was a little easier this time around - but still unnerving...

After the first appointment I felt the same about an hour after that appointment and went to bed with a headache.

After last night's appointment and spending two hours at the church for Relief Society Birthday commemoration I was able to sleep through the night without any aches or pains. I woke up this morning without pain and without pins and needles in my hands.

It was refreshing to be able to pick up various items without the painful pins and needles this morning while I was getting ready for work.

I am pretty certain I can get back into my YOGA routines without discomfort.

So far, today, I have been able to work without pain or pins and needles. I don't even have any pressure building up in my neck.

Maybe the adjustments are just the ticket.

DEXTROSCOLIOSIS

This is the term that the doctor's are using to describe my crooked neck! :)

I have been having pretty bad headaches coupled with neck and back pain and it had become increasingly difficult to sleep at night. After being prescribed different medications my doctor finally decided to prescribe x-rays. The results:

LUMBAGO in the lower back (which means back pain)... :)

DEXTRO SCOLIOSIS in the cervical spine - which means by spine curves to the right in my neck. As a result I have pinched nerves in my neck; making my fingers and hands numb (painful pins and needles; along with severe headaches and aching shoulders).

The regiment that is currently being followed: see a chiropractor 2-3 times a week to get my back and neck adjusted and have some physical therapy. My first adjustment was yesterday. I thought that he was going to pull my head right off my neck!!!!! The cracking and popping in my neck and back was a little disturbing.

I get to go back today and have it done again.

If the adjustments and therapy don't work (keeping my neck straight); the next option is a neck brace. I am not looking forward to that.

Last and final option - surgery. Not looking forward to that either. Hopefully it won't come to that.

BIRDS, BIRDS AND MORE BIRDS

Mom's blog reminded me of some fun and amazing animal life in our backyard.

We usually have a lot of sparrows in our yard and we can hear them constantly. Lately, while working the yard we have had many humming birds buzzing around. Many of them are quite daring and will buzz right past our heads - protesting against our noise and invading their feed grounds. While I was picking oranges this weekend there were about two hummingbirds buzzing around the tree feeding from the orange blossoms. The were not afraid to get up close and personal with me. My fear is that they will poke my eyes out with their straw-like beeks....

We have an enourmous flock of doves that hang about in our backyard and sometimes we see them on the patio perched on the rafters. The like to eat the dog food that Sparky and Moya leave laying around. These buzzards are fat!!!

From time to time we have a visiting red-tailed hawk and he is fearless too. Not afraid of us when we are wondering around in the back-yard working away. He just watches us.

In late fall; early winter we are visited by Canadian Geese and often search for them in the sky when we hear their distinctive honking. Victor's dream/desire is to own a couple Canadian Geese. They are, I think, the most beautiful of geese and I wouldn't mind if he ever decided to purchase some (he has looked on line and he has to order at least 12)... :) LOL

Two Saturdays back we had been working out in the yard and I had gone inside to get a drink of water. While I was standing at the kitchen sink spying on my children working away with Victor I glimpsed a long legged bird... What? I was shocked. In the back-yard there was a very tall; pure white crane walking around in the back half of the yard. He didn't seem disturbed by all the work that was going on and didn't even flinch when my children discovered him and started squealing in delight over this new visitor.

We are about 5-7 miles from the ocean and about 1/2 a mile from the dry river bed. I have never seen a crane this far inland. He stayed for about an hour or two and some time when I wasn't looking he just disappeared. He hasn't visited us since - I hope he does so I can capture him on camera... ;)

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES!!!!

Well, since my family in Utah is having difficulties with NOT consuming various forms of bad carbs I have to confess...

My niece, Raquel, is a new brownie this year and has been selling girl scout cookies. Victor and I have been quite disciplined when we go to the grocery store and we have been able to say "NO!" to the cute little girl scouts and brownies, until...

Raquel came over last Sunday after her brownie meeting in her cute little uniform. She smiled up at me and Victor showcasing her brilliant white teeth and crater size dimples while asking the question: "Will you please buy some girl scout cookies from me?"

Who could resist. Victor and I dutifully order 4 boxes each from her ($32) and we were told that she would have them for us the following week...

Well, Raquel was true to her word and showed up yesterday evening with our priceless treasure... I picked them up and put them in the freezer in the garage (so that I could forget about them)...

About 9:00 p.m. last night while getting ready for bed I had a sudden craving for carbs. I wanted something crunchy and possibly salty; maybe something sweet. I searched the pantry; I still had boy scout popcorn tins from my nephews and my sons... didn't really want that though... I was hoping to find a bag of potatoe chips and remembered that I didn't have my favorite dip... I spied the bag of tortilla chips and remembered I hadn't made my salsa...

I checked the refrigerator... lots of eggs; lots of navel oranges from our tree; lots of apples and bananas. There was even orange juice, apple juice, pomegranite juice... lots of juices... I didn't want that either...

I checked the side freezer and remembered that I ate all of the icecream the day before...

I ventured out to the garage and looked in the small freezer... nothing but frozen meat... There were strawberries in the frig out there but I had already consumed a whole green basket while making dinner....

I opened the glorious outside freezer... it is 22 cubic feet and can hold a whole butchered pig; a whole butchered elk; or even half a side of beef... I love this freezer...

There, just on the door were the 8 boxes of girl scout cookies. I quickly grabbed the peanut butter sandwhich cookies; ran to the living room; tore open the box as I plopped down on the couch next to Victor - giving him a victorious smile. He smiled back at me. I popped open the first tube of cookies and offered Victor a cookie and he declined; Leaving me to consume the whole tube guiltless... I am happy to report I only ate 4 cookies and then I carefully wrapped up the remaing cookies and slipped them back into the box next to the whole tube of cookies....

They were put in the inside freezer for quick retrieval...

When I got up this morning it was all I could do to drown out the screaming peanut butter cookies wanting me to eat them. As I made my lunch the call was hard to ignore... i grabbed the partial tube of peanut butter cookies and threw them in my lunch bag...

I ate the whole tube at work after I had my oatmeal... :)

I LOVE SPRING!!!

The past two Saturdays we have been working in the Yard and making the planters lovely again.

The pink jasmine in the front yard is in full bloom and smells wonderful. The Navel orange tree was full of ripe oranges last month and we picked them all and took them to the Ward Social. The Navel tree is completely loaded with white blossoms, which are very fragrant. When I walk out in the morning to go to work I am blasted with the fragrances of the white orange blossoms and the pink jasmine blossoms.

I planted two more plumarias in the front planter along with 4 tomato plants and a miniture palm.

The planter that curves around the patio has been worked on as well. The Calla Lily bulbs have been split and replanted in various spots in the backyard. I discovered that two of my rose bushes were actually several bushes that had been planted together by the nursery. I dug them up and separated them as well. The front planter has four rose bushes. The side planter has two. The planter under the kitchen window has 8 rose bushes; one Persian Lime; one Asian honeysuckle and baby calla lilies.

I also planted peas; strawberries; lettuce; garlic tomatoes and various flowering bulbs to add low ground color. So, when everything is in bloom in the next couple months there will be a spectacular display of colorful flowers and it should also be pleasingly fragrant.

I have become bored with the straight lines of the backyard and have ordered many plants and flower garden plans (landscapes) and will be changing the shape of the front half of the backyard so that it looks less like a public park and more like a nicely landscaped backyard.

Our friends, the Martins gave us two new trees and they have been planted in the back half of the backyard. We now have a peach tree and a pomegranite. I still need to replant the peach tree that my children sprouted from a pit and replant a cutting from one of the cypress trees.

In a couple of weeks I will have a green house in the back half of the backyard and the Activity Day Girls will begin their service vegetable gardens. The Young Men will be joining us with this service project and the Young Women have been invited to participate. This idea was actually started last year when I was the Young Women's President and we harvested a lot of produce that was given to the Bishop for the needy in our Ward. The First Counselor in the Bishopric was glad that we had decided to do this garden again this year and will be donating some vegetable plants for this purpose.

When I figure out how to get the pictures from my camera to the computer in the garage I will post some pictures.