My parable of the snow and the shovel

On Saturday when I was out shoveling the driveway to keep myself busy I was thinking about how I could liken the shoveling of the driveway to repentance.

It snowed earlier in the week and it didn't get shoveled but it did get driven on so when it snowed again there was a thick layer of ice under the snow. The snow on top was really easy to get off but to get the ice off (using my plastic snow shovel) took a lot of work. I would turn it over and scrape or pound it to break up the ice then shovel off the chunks. It was long hard work but it was working. Then Steve drove by and saw me out there using my plastic snow shovel to get the ice off the driveway. Apparently it was pretty funny and he said he could either laugh at me all day or come help. Of course Steve came right over with his gloves and a flat head metal shovel. He told me to clear off the top layer of snow then he would come behind me break up the ice and then I would clear the chunks away. The process was much faster and not just because there were two of us but because we had the right tools to do the right jobs.

So the parable is that the ice and snow were like sin. The longer they went the harder to remove it was and it just kept piling up. With repentance I could do it on my own and get the job done but once I had the right tools and someone helping me with the process (priesthood leader) it was much faster and easier.

These are just the things I think about when shoveling snow I guess....

I Wonder...

In the last few months I've really gotten into facebook. It's been so much fun finding friends from long ago who I lost touch with. Friends from elementary school, high school, BYU, Nu Skin, old wards, etc. I love it.

But it makes me wonder......

I keep thinking back to relationships I've had and lost and now found over the years. Was I nice to them? Was I a good friend? Was I a good example? I know there were times when I could have done more and now that I know more I wish I would have. I wish I would have been a better friend. I wish I would have stayed in contact better. I hope people who have come in and out of my life have felt the love I have for Christ and for my family and for them.

As my good friend Rafiki says....you can't change the past so instead I will try harder to be a better friend, a better example of what matters most and to truly love and serve those in my life.

Did you know...

That AC/DC is cool again? Last night at my first YW activity (I just got called to be the 2nd counselor) one of my beehives said "I love AC/DC!" when their new song came on in my car. I think it's so funny that they aren't just for people my age anymore. (I wonder if I shouldn't play that music when driving with the YW....oops!)

That Sophie is HUGE? I saw a brand new little one last night and when I got home to feed and put Sophie down for the night I realized she is just so big already. Part of me loves her getting bigger because I LOVE that she smiles, and coos, and will soon be sitting up and eating baby food, then walking and before I know it talking back! But part of me just wants to hold her and not let her grow up.

That I can't lose the last 4 pounds? I just have so little motivation to get the last few pounds off. Is it because I can squeeze into my clothes (not that it's cute) or because I don't have the energy to fix healthy food when Todd or Timmy is gone or the fact that I have slept in 3 mornings this week or are the last 5 pounds just stubborn and emotionally attached to my waist?

That I am addicted to Facebook? I recently joined to talk to a friend from St. Louis and then the flood of old friends came. It is soooo much fun to see every one's families and talk to them and I just can't get enough. Perhaps that is why my blog has been suffering. I must find balance!

That I am so grateful for my family? I have the best hubby in the world, my kids are fabulous and I have an amazing extended family on both sides. I don't know what I would do without Todd's love and support. I love that I get to see my family all the time. I love meeting Heidi for lunch whenever we need a break from work. I am so blessed.

That fall is the best time of the year? This is my favorite season. Is it because my birthday is in the fall? Or the beautiful leaves in the mountains? Or school being back in? Or the fact that I get to wear sweaters and boots? I love fall!!!

and finally.....did you know?

The face of a penny coin can hold 30 drops of water. (just a fun fact from my iGoogle page)

Random Thoughts

I saw this post on Jen's blog and it made me think about what I'm thinking about in my life right now. So I thought I would do a post on my random thoughts.

• Why can't I be patient? It took me 9 months to gain all this weight I can't expect it to fall off in 2 weeks. But I'm frustrated!


• Why has Luke had 4 accidents in the last 2 days????


• Could Sophie be a better baby. Thank goodness she is or I'd be going insane with 4 kids


• I really wish I were in good enough shape to do the Spudman this weekend. It is so hard for me to sit on the sidelines and cheer when I really want to be out there.


• I can't wait for Breaking Dawn to come out next week. I signed up for the midnight party today....am I crazy?


• I'm really nervous about Claire getting tubes in a few weeks. But I am ready for her to not have so many ear infections and be on meds non-stops


• I miss Todd. He has a big deadline at work and has been working non-stop this week. I'm excited for a whole weekend away with him.


• I miss running. I ran a mile a couple of days ago and it felt good but it will take me a while to really be able to run again


• I really miss riding my bike.


• I love having so much of my family live close by. And I really miss the ones who are far away.


• I wish I had more patience with my kids. They don't mean to be so crazy, it's just their ages. Do they know just how much I love them?


• I hate filling our cars up with gas...honestly $100 at the gas station?


• I really need a tan - even though I know it's not good for my skin


• Should I really have to use wrinkle cream and acne cream at the same time...there is something wrong with this picture.


• How did I get so lucky to marry the perfect guy?


• Will Claire ever grow out of this stage?


• Why is Luke so darn clingy? Was it something I did?


• Am I a push over? There are currently 2 kids asleep in my bed (1 is Sophie so she shouldn't really count) and I can hear Claire still playing in her room when I put her to bed 2 hours ago.


• I should be sleeping instead of blogging....but where's the fun in that?