One little word.... JOY

If you are into the blogging world, than it will come as no surprise that this year, as part of your new years resolution there is a challenge to pick just one little word that will make a difference to you, that you can strive for and for me sometimes, throw me back into reality and remind my self just how blessed I am.

I  decided to choose JOY. 

This banner has been on my Christmas tree for a few years now, but this year something just really clicked for me.

we also used in in our family photos this year.

I have much to be joyful for. but I wasn't letting my self see it, let alone feel it. and why??? we all  deserve     JOY.

As  I have been concentrating more on feeling the holy ghost, I am learning the differences between what the Savior wants for me and what Satan wants me to feel. There are real differences.  I came across this on pintrest ...

As I reflect back on 2013 it all makes me smile.

Well of course this guy does..

                                                                And all his many talents...

                   


He can always bring a smile to my face.

This was a particularly bad day

  Family near and far.....

                            

Not just good friends, GREAT friends

sunsets....

(this is Jon's "race car" the nova muscle car and MC D's - pretty American ;) )


The ocean

And cats....

love this "yoga" cat...
 I was recently asked if I would describe my self as happy and my answer was "well other people tell me I'm bubbly, so yes" Why was I so quick to not just trust my self and just say "yes"? I don't need to look to others to be comfortable and honest in saying what I already know about my self.


This year I want to not only have more JOY but give JOY.


I am the person that likes to make lists and get them checked off. My Husband often tells me I just need to relax more. I usually respond with something like " I can't relax until all this is done". I now see how always rushing to do the next thing isn't letting me see the JOY in my life, in fact quite the opposite.

Heavenly Father choose to Help teach me this lesson  the Saturday before Christmas. I was fallen very ill on the busiest days leading up to the "holiday season" as they name it in retail. All I cared about was getting better and back to work.  I figured I would just be labeled as getting "conveniently" sick and I didn't want this.

A dear friend stopped by to visit me during this time  She brought me oranges! She said it would help everything not be so bad when tasting it for the 2nd time.... That orange was so fragrant, I sat there inhaling its scent and letting its orange color wash over me and re energize me. My heart turned to my grandpa that good 'ole farm boy who always picked the very best fruit and I thoroughly enjoyed it as a kid.

So after 2 days of being violently ill, I went back to work on Monday. It was HARD. let's just leave it at that. Monday was Christmas eve's eve. I had the worst shift possible, especially for this time of year. I was scheduled to close until 10 (good 'ole extended holiday mall hours) and then open early, 7 am for all the last minute shoppers. Well, I just couldn't see doing this in my current condition. not to mention being "no fun" for Christmas day. So I asked for what I needed. I asked if I could leave even just an hour or two early and to my surprise I just ended up working a baby shift! what a blessing!!

So sometimes....well a lot..... heavenly father has to tell me things 2 or 3 times. (2 times is becoming the new norm though... he he) Again, another dear friend stopped by to visit and give me..... Oranges!! coincidence- I think not!!!  

Again I thought of my grandpa and this time remembered he would put a naval orange in my Christmas stocking. My heart was immediately softened that god would grant me this tender mercy. I knew this was my Christmas gift from him. My Christmas miracle.

Not only was I able to feel my savior's love I was able to feel JOY in my heart especially at this time of year when I know so many also feel the sting of a loved ones absence.

Angels work through human hands here on this earth.

I don't remember where  I heard this but it has always stuck with me.

There was a tug boat who loved his work.
One day he sprang a leak
He prayed to Heavenly father and asked for help
Shortly after a friend, who was a cruise ship, sailed by and offered his help
The tug boat replied "no thanks, god will save me"
Again another friend, a barge ship, sailed by and offered his help, seeing as his friend's situation was becoming increasingly  alarming.
The tug boat again replied "no thanks, god will save me." His friend left hesitantly.
The tug boat eventually sank and when the pearly gates opened the tug boat asked God why he would let him sink since he had so much faith in him.
God replied " I sent two ships to save you".

How can we have so much love and trust in the lord but be blind to see his hand in all things?

This experience makes me feel like heaven is very close to earth - not far and beyond the black holes of space.

I think it is more of a perceived distant. like fog on your windshield on a dewy morning, we only need to want to clean it and see what's beyond to enjoy the beauty that lays ahead.

During stake conference ( a meeting held together with all the wards (areas of people that live near one another) where a apostle of the lord speaks to us once a year)  He said "The Lord's hand is in the details of our lives".  As we seek these blessings and share them we can know with surety that he lives and loves each and every one of us beyond a shadow of a doubt.

What's your one little word gonna be????

The Christmas Season begins.


Patience is humble, meek, and mild, quiet

Courage is bold, upright, shining for all to see.

I have used both of these lately, sometimes at the same time.

It took ALL of my patience to stick with this 2^nd Job, even if it was just 10 weeks.

I will spend a moment here to explain, seeing how I never seemed to get to write it.

On the way back to our hotel from a wonderful 5^th wedding anniversary dinner overlooking the ocean, I was expressing to Jon my strong desire of wanting to leave Sephora. “is it right for me?” “is this really what I wanna do?” I specifically told Jon of how people always comment how friendly I am and in my industry “recruiting” happens a lot. “why can’t I just get recruited?”  A week later I walk into a clothing store, Ann Taylor Loft to RETURN a skirt I bought online when the manager chats me up and after less than 10 mins of talking asks if I would like to pick up extra hours and I said yes, of course!

It was only 3 extra shifts, but it would make me have “full time hours”. But as the end of October and November began to pick up I was working on my day off and 2 13-hour days because I would work both places. It didn’t take long for 50 plus hour work week to weigh on me. Also lets be honest-clothes is boring. My shoulders would hurt from all the folding.

I began to wonder “Dear Lord, is this really what you want me to do?”

So then best thing ever, that I have wanted for 6 plus years finally happens to me! Sephora offers me full time with benefits and Sundays aren’t required!!!! All I can express is my pure Joy!! Now Jon and I can finally start a family- I will have medical insurance!!! I can work hard and save save save!!!  This was surreal to me for a few days, and I couldn't believe it, I was waiting for the offer to be retracted.

Not long after, I was watching an Lds you tube video and suddenly, it was made perfectly clear to me. It took seeing this to let my self enjoy what was happening. Elder Holland said it better than I ever could:

best 3 minutes of your day 

 

This is exactly what happened to me. He showed me a “wrong road” quickly so that I might have even more faith in what I’m suppose to be doing. I built even more trust and guidance with my heavenly father. Stay close to the lord and amazing things can happen.

 A few days later reality set in, and it was awful. I had so many errands to finish after work and lots of prep work to get thanksgiving ready  And Then my prayers were answered!! I got to go home from work 2 hours early, I thought this is great, I will be able to get all my prep work done  and go to bed at a decent time before having to get up at 5 am to put a turkey in for a thanksgiving lunch, since I would have to work that evening- yes, on thanksgiving itself.

After returning home at 3 in the morning from my shift on thanksgiving day, I went straight away to sleep to wake up at 8am to go work my very last shift at Loft at 10 am black Friday. I was dreading going back to the mall.

I survived. but just barely. I truly think people came to shop just because it was open. somewhere not their house, and air conditioned - hoping to be waited on hand and foot - on black Friday in the wee hours of the night. I had a lot of disgruntled thoughts that whole day. Why on earth do you want a foundation match and a sample right now???? Lots of people were with their families, but truly could not care that I wasn't with mine. short tempers and demanding needs made it very hard for this gal who usually keeps her mouth shut anyways, to keep that way.

With Christmas just 10 days away now,  it is hard to see the true meaning of Christmas in the mall. But this is not where Christmas lives. It is in our hearts and our homes when we share the gifts of love and kindness and comfort to those around us. May each one of us seek after these opportunitys.

 "The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of family all wrapped up together with joy and love."

My heart has been troubled for many years, today it has been made a bit lighter. Here is a very real, raw post. please be kind.

Nov 8^th 2013

I was in the shower, where I do my “thinking” and this morning this is what came to me.

I was thinking about the words spoken to me in a blessing and how he said my troubles wouldn’t bother me anymore.

My thoughts turned to my dear grandpa and of him being the sweetest, most gentle kind, loving human being I have ever know to walk this earth. My face is now suddenly wet…

I wondered how it was he came to be this way. Are we born this way? Maybe, a bit yes. Or is it grown out of us? It was then I realized we are not so different.

 My mother is a special spirit; they say these “afflictions” are a blessing and a veil of protection to those people. I have always looked at my mother this way. It hurts my heart to think she is not even quite 50 years old and is a schizophrenic in addition to the 6-year  “recent” development of her adding a paraplegic to that. I specifically asked before my blessing: “ what’s my place in all of this?” “I know she has so much life ahead of her.” 

My blessing said I would have patience and courage – which I feel has no doubt been tested, but obviously more to come as well. “ a smooth sea never made a skilled sailor” (insert tribute to Mr. Navy man and WWII vet ,grandpa- right here)

Others are placed in our life for a reason, a season, a blessing or a lesson. With out them how would we develop our talents and traits, stand up for what we believe in and know what’s important? Stand for something or fall for everything, remember who you are, be kind to everyone you meet for they are fighting a hard fight are just some of my favorite quotes from prophets.

Grandpa’s sweet mother was taken out of his life at a young age and was raised by a salty at best, usually sour stepmother. Posey recalls never ever receiving even a morsel of love from her. He was the youngest of three and felt abandoned. Grandpa grew up on a farm doing lots of hard labor. Then as a young man went off to war and was a cook on a navy ship. When he was honorably discharged and hanging out with the “good guys” at the roller rink he met my grandma . He got his high school equivalent. Grandpa said I believe, he only got to the 8^th grade. He then used his G.I bill to finish school. Got married, bought a house, then an apartment building and eventually a restaurant called Snack Hut JR, all while raising and providing for his 4 children. When 2 of his adult children need extra care he did not shirk their need, in fact went above and beyond to what others would name spoiling. What he showed and lived, was that service is about when others need it, not just when it’s convenient for you.  At the beginning of his retirement he took on raising a “sweet granddaughter” and telling each and every person he met this, even at the grocery store. He gave all of his heart, mind, might and spirit to each person in his life. (No wonder he took so many naps!) He is the beautiful flower that grew from concrete. He is proof positive that it is your reaction to life that determines how you live it.  These experiences are what allowed him to flourish and choose joy. His character only grew when shown the adversary. He is truly a man of honor and god. I look back and wonder how he did all this and more.

Challenges are life’s opportunities for us not to shirk and show the world what we are made of. What am I made of?? I’m a girl who wears her heart on her sleeve, will always take an opportunity to express to others my love for them. Love and thanks are gifts, but you must unwrap them for others to enjoy. I am a better cook than I was 5 years ago. I have always “taken the path less have traveled on and it has made all the difference.” I know that it is no mistake that I am born for here and now- to be female and live in the USA. LIFE IS HARD. But it’s also worth it, no matter the circumstance. He never said it would be easy, only worth it. You can choose to laugh or cry –crying requires more tissues.

My mother is a special spirit. She is here to bring about those qualities in me and for me to nourish her soul. She is here to teach me great patience and love so that I might one day become who I should be and for this I owe her my soul. How much love she must have for me to be willing to sacrifice and knowingly come to this earth in this condition.

Summah thyme Pt 2....

The 4th of July:

I decorated my moms room for the holiday a few days before...

 and brought patroitic treats for herto give out  to her  visitors and made her wear silly things



4th of July morning we went on a walk in our matching Old Navy flag tees! Gooooooo USA!!

Later we headed to Jon's Grandma's for a family get togeather...

 I was feeling pretty patriotic  when it came to my eye shadow...

 3 generations of Rasmussen women!!

 Everyone in their festive attire!!!

 The men

LAND of the FREE because of the BRAVE. I enjoy this moment because of them! God Bless our Troops!!



These are Jon's childhood cats.

Krinky (has a krink in his tail and is a boy) has to wear a pink baby swim shirt because he won't stop licking and keeps getting hot spots...  love this picture!!! It was so funny when he would try to lick and end up instead with the shirt stuck to his tounge like velcro!!

 This is Bitty,  she has always been a red headed fire cracker but she became very ill and it took alot out of her.

 This is so a accurate representation of these 2, always close and watching, but never snugglers- she didn't care for him

This is the last picture and chance Jon got to spend time with his beloved cat before he left on a bussiness. She is very missed.

  Jon woke up to this sweet breakfast the day he left me for a week to go to North Carolina for his work.

 Yoga cat!!! I commandeered  a cat to keep me company while Jon was gone for the week, no lie.... and boy did she provide!

Such a pretty girl!!!

 Jon becomes a pro a making guacamole!

  Sandra learns another braid

A family garage sale

 cousins

 a ugly mirror gets a new life

hooray for spray paint!

Pizza with cousins!!



A birthday party for Grandma Carol

We had a nice dinner date at P.F. Chang's in shoreline village and a beautiful, romantic ferris wheel ride with breathtaking sunset views

and then Coldstone ice cream for a sweet ending to a sweet date!!!

 

can you guess which one is mine... I like chocolate.

I met up with the hubbs for a quick lunch at his work

before and after haircut with a lunch at bj's before I went to work

a new sushi restarunt

 a nice stranger took these pics for us...

fun and hair cuts with friends

a couple of evening walks..

a trip to Venice beach with new friends..

 maybe a little beatles inspired???

a trip to Zelda's inspired by a episode of Guy's Big Bite..

 do you see it???

 such a cute little fam.

 crabs!

see you in the fall....