Thoughts From a Frazzled Mind

Happy, Happy Birthday to Shandra! She is 23 years old today - I think she is really only 21, but she keeps insisting that she is 23. I'm not sure how she could have gotten this old already! To celebrate her birthday she took the day off work and told me that she wanted to spend the entire day with me - I was feeling very honored that she wanted to share her special day with her mom until I asked her what she wanted to do all day. She then sprung it on me, she wanted to spend the day at our friend, Cynthia's house! I'm pretty sure that she was just using me as an excuse when all along she wanted to spend the day with Cynthia, not me! And who could blame her? Cyn is the greatest! If you ever want to spend hours and hours eating food, playing games, and laughing then Cyn's house is the place to be! In addition to being the funnest gal around, Cyn is a superwoman. Right now she spends her days babysitting her three granddaughters ages 9 months, 12 months, and 3 1/2 every d...

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the wedding of our niece, Stephanie. It was an absolutely beautiful ceremony. Weddings in the Olsen family are incredible to say the least. The preparation, execution, and take down are performed in a manner that mimics the mechanics of a well-oiled machine! About 30 hours before the event, the family begins their magic which includes loading the props into the truck, set-up of all backdrops, tables, chairs, fences, lights, benches, etc. Tablecloths are ironed, and flowers and fabric are strategically placed. In the family we have experts at tying bows, arranging flowers, food preparation, and tons and tons of decorating savvy. In addition, we have cake decorators for the perfect cake. We have hair stylists to make the bride look like a princess. There are lots of men and boys ready to carry, shift, move, serve, and fetch. It is amazing to behold! After the seemingly magical transformation of a cultural hall or a backyard into a magnificent pla...

Five minutes after he got his drivers license BJ asked me if I was an organ donor . When I explained that I had always felt very strongly in favor of organ donation, he got all excited and said, “me too!” He was so proud of the words, “organ donor” on his drivers license. Numerous times, seemingly out of nowhere, he would bring up the subject of organ donations – often chastising whoever he was talking to if they indicated that they didn’t have those magical words on their licenses. One day just over four years ago, BJ and were in the car together and he said, “mom, you know that if anything ever happens to me, I want my organs donated .” I replied that I did know that, and I reminded him that I felt the same way if anything should happen to me. Our conversation then turned to other things. Little did I know at that time that less than two weeks later BJ would be able to get his chance at being an organ donor . It was almost comical to watch Susan, the nurse, timidly approach us on t...

So it’s me again… and just to clear the air and in my defense, my mother was over my shoulder telling me I had to hurry and get the last post up and going, so forgive my fingers. They were under pressure and they don’t work well under pressure! I will try to be better with less typos this time! Well to start off do you guys think my mom has babies on the brain? The other day she told me she forgot to take her diapers... instead of pills ! I wonder…where would she be taking them? And I heard rumor that when she was at girl's camp she asked someone if they needed to blow up their diaper bag instead of air mattress (thanks for the tip, ladies). And yesterday she told me I had to put all the condiments in the garbage . Well, I think that might be a waste of a lot of ketchup, mustard, and pickles, but mother knows best I guess! You would never know it just by looking at her that she is capable of such interesting mistakes would you? But the list does go on and on! Now I don’t know if y...

Girls Camp: Spending 3 ½ days with 24 young women and 12 great “mature?” women, dirt, campfires, no sleep, tons of food, laughter, singing, improving old friendships, making new friends, a cross-dressing husband, secret sisters, strengthening testimonies, building great memories. This year our ward went to Camp Shawnee up in Liberty. This was our 3rd year in a row to have the opportunity to stay in cabins ! Whew Hoo! No tents for us! Shawnee had a lodge for all of our meetings and meals. We almost had all of the comforts of home – less warm water in the showers. Jenny Hepworth told us that we used the “Hokey Pokey” method of showering, “you put your right foot in, you put your right foot out, then you shake it all about” all the while trying to breathe and squealing “ooooo, oooo, oooo!” We had a cute mascot, Hercomer, a giant spider who would appear labeled with the names of two girls. When those two girls found where Hercomer was hiding, they would take him to Jodi or Heidi who wo...

Olympic Medal winners at NBC Olympics.com!

I have been doing some deep thinking the last few days and whenever I start thinking "deep" I am reminded of the many, many blessings that I have. Here is a partial list (in no particular order). * The gospel: I feel so very blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I have been a member of the church all of my life, however it seems that I have only begun to appreciate what a blessing that is since I have gotten older. I feel such gratitude for a loving Heavenly Father who created a world with such amazing beauty and who provided a Savior for me so that I could live with Him again. How grateful I am for Jesus Christ who suffered great pains in my behalf so that I may be made clean from my sins and who understands every trial that I face in a way that no one else can. I'm so grateful for the Plan of Salvation that enables us to live together with our family, friends, and Heavenly Father after we are through with this life. * My family: We have such fun togeth...