A Son's April Fool's Day Joke Or Dang, He Got Me That Time!

Yesterday was a very uneventful day for me, until 10:30 PM.  My son, E, called me on the phone.  He lives here in town and is going to college, majoring in some sort of Geography where one does environmental planning for cities and towns.

I laughed to myself, thinking, "He really must think I'm naiive if he thinks he is going to pull one over on me tonight."
After a few words of greeting and small talk, I asked him if he thought he was going to try and get me for April Fool's, because I was ready for it.  He said, "What? It's April Fool's?  Oh, now you're really not going to believe me when I tell you what I'm about to tell you. I'll just call you back another time"
My curiosity got the best of me and I said, "Oh just go ahead and tell me." 

After a long, pregnant pause he said, "I've been expelled from the University.  I was in the administration office on Tuesday and these three guys started getting insulting with me, making fun of my Indiana State hat, and it escalated from there.  I was having a bad day anyway, and I just couldn't handle these three f_____s messing with me like that, so I ended up breaking one guys nose, breaking a knee and laying out the third."

Why is that so believable?  Because E. loves to fight.  He does MMA throwdowns and just waits for anyone to even look like they want to fight.  He would be in the fray in 2 seconds.  He's a really good boy, but he has that little bit of extra testosterone in him that needs an outlet.  If he had a girlfriend or something I'm sure he would settle right down.  But no girlfriend,  he's busy with school right now. ;)  I've been surprised that he hasn't gotten into more trouble than he has. So far he had kept it down to a few late night escapades with paint ball guns, and one or two meetings in an empty parking lot, but nothing involving the law or disciplinary processes.


At this point I was still skeptical and rolling my eyes, but then he told me that his court date was May 15th and that he was probably, in addition to being expelled, looking at 6 months in jail.  He told me that his roommate's dad was an attorney and would probably agree to represent him for a reduced rate and that he could probably get the sentence down to maybe a month, and that he could get it expunged later.  As far as the University, he could probably enroll in the "other" university in town, although it doesn't have his major and he would totally lose this semester, that is just finishing up.


My despair began to set in and I started seeing a bleak outlook for my son, who I had such high hopes for.  In addition to finishing up school, I also had hoped that he would serve a two year mission for our church.  He is 21 right now, and the standard age for serving is 19.  He has had braces until just this past month and that has made it impossible for him to go out at this time, as they don't allow missionaries to go out with braces.  So he has just gone ahead and finished more school.  With a police record and being expelled from school, a mission for the church would be next to impossible.  They just don't let just anyone go out.  You can't have felons out serving the Lord.  They need to at least have their acts cleaned up!


My eyes started tearing up and I started telling him things like, "I KNEW that MMA throwdown stuff was bad.  You start thinking you can take it outside the ring. Now look where it's gotten you.  Are you on steroids?  What the heck were you thinking?  And this, after all my begging and pleading for you to keep yourself out of trouble...."  I told him I had to go.


I told my husband what had happened and I was in tears because this was devastating to me.

Then the phone rang, and there was E. on the phone again. I prayed that he was gong to tell me, APRIL FOOL'S! !!!  

And he did.

Avoiding A Ticket And Finding A Memory

The day could have been so much worse than it was.  Actually it was a pretty good day! But it could have been a crummy day...if I had gotten that ticket.

Every city has one--a road that says 30 mph but where everyone wants to go faster because the very nature of the road invites you to. The road is wide, uncrowded, open, long, made for driving......well, faster. I was driving that street, as I do almost every day, since it's how I get home in Sandy, Utah.  My mind was elsewhere, thinking about a million other things, planning what to make for dinner, planning out the next day, weighing the importance of one activity against another, wondering if I will have a job by the end of this month.  My speed crept up, unbeknownst to me, to about 20 miles over the speed limit.  I was in my driving trance. 

I noticed a quick flash out of the corner of my eye. I looked up and saw an on-coming car.  Wait, did that car just flash its headlights?  Why, I believe it did.  I don't see that too often here in the city.  As a matter of fact, hardly ever.
When I lived in Floyd, Virginia, I saw it all the time.  The shortest way from Floyd to Christiansburg is Rt. 8, a 30-mile stretch of country highway, with a speed limit of 55 mph.  Since Floyd is such a tiny place (it boasts all of one stoplight), one finds many occasions to go to the larger town of Christiansburg!  It is a beautiful stretch of road, with hills and trees and views that are breathtaking.  After all, it is right on the border of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  While there are many places where one needs to go much slower than 55 because of the sharp turns, the blind entrances, and the steep uphill climbs, not to mention some sheer drop-offs, there are other places where 55 mph is just really tough to abide by.  I often found myself flying down the road at speeds that were closer to common freeway speeds on I-15.

                        My Virginia Stomping Grounds

Of course, it was a favorite lurking place for the County Sheriff's men.  They had such clever places to hide.  A favorite place for them was right at the bottom of a hill that was hidden until you passed them, almost always over the speed limit.  Of course they weren't always there, so you just had to know that maybe, they would be waiting.  But country folk look out for one another.  Just as it is so common for people to raise a friendly hand in greeting as they pass each other in opposite directions on the road, so it is also the practice to warn your fellow southern citizen that the Fuzz is on the prowl!  You can almost be certain that if someone knows that the cops are in the vicinity, you will get a warning flash from your oncoming friend!  I can't even count the number of times I was saved from a sure write-up because of the friendly flash of an oncoming car's headlights!

But this time, it was the neighborly flash of a car from my city neighborhood.  It was surprising, really.  Nevertheless it came at a welcome time, because sitting on the side of the road as I rounded the bend at the crest of the hill, was a cop.  He had his speed gun out, ready to sock it to me.  But he didn't get me that day, thanks to the flash of some headlights from an unknown neighbor.

While that incident made me very grateful and happy,  heck it saved me at least $80,  it also created a bittersweet memory of the life I once lived in the hills of Virginia, where cops have it hard because everyone warns their neighbors and where they greet one another with raised hands as they pass on the road.

Not To Keep

A couple of things came together simultaneously for me just recently.  I ran across these pretty gruesome x-ray pictures of Sgt. Dan Powers, who had been savagely attacked by a teenage Iraqi insurgent, having a 9-inch knife plunged into his skull. At first he thought he had been punched in the head. Amazingly, after being airlifted to Walter Reed Medical Hospital and after a grueling rehabilitation, where he needed to learn how to walk again, Sgt. Powers regained his physical abilities.  He went on to rejoin his fellow paratroopers out of Fort Bragg, NC and boarded a plane, headed for his next assignment--in Afghanistan.

Rejoin his fellow paratroopers?  Are you kidding?  What must his family have been thinking as he went back out?  He just narrowly escaped with his life in tow and now he's going out again to risk it?   I can only shake my head in disbelief....did the military really need him that badly?  Or did he choose to go back on his own?  I don't know the whole story.  If anyone does, I'd love an update.  Does he have a firm conviction of what he is fighting for, or is he just in it for the paycheck (such as it is)?  Does he like the excitement or is he doing it for the camaraderie of it all?  These things are a mystery to me and I can't help but be deeply touched that these men can go through this kind of duress and go back without being physically hog-tied.  They go back willingly and bravely.  Did he have a wife or a sweetheart?  What was she thinking as he left her yet again. 

I found this poem a couple days ago and I think it is appropriate for this scenario, though not in all aspects. 

                  Not To Keep

                            by

                     Robert Frost  

They sent him back to her. The letter came

Saying... And she could have him. And before

She could be sure there was no hidden ill

Under the formal writing, he was in her sight,

Living. They gave him back to her alive-

How else? They are not known to send the dead-

And not disfigured visibly. His face?

His hands? She had to look, and ask,

"What was it, dear?" And she had given all

And still she had all-they had-they the lucky!

Wasn't she glad now? Everything seemed won,

And all the rest for them permissible ease.

She had to ask, "What was it, dear?"

"Enough,

Yet not enough. A bullet through and through,

High in the breast. Nothing but what good care

And medicine and rest, and you a week,

Can cure me of to go again." The same

Grim giving to do over for them both.

She dared no more than ask him with her eyes

How was it with him for a second trial.

And with his eyes he asked her not to ask.

They had given him back to her, but not to keep.

 ___________________________________
And so, as they send their sons, husbands, fathers, brothers out once, twice, maybe for the last time, do they have a sufficient reason to believe that this was what was meant to be?  Can they be at peace with themselves and with God.  I think some can, and some definitely can't.  And thus comes the unbearable sadness and despair and possibly bitterness that the loss of that loved one brings.

I feel grateful to have the belief and knowledge that when I send a loved one away, as I have done and I  will do again, more than once more,  I know that it won't be the last time I'll ever see them.  In fact, I have quite a bright hope that not only will I see loved ones again after I "send them away" or they are "sent away", but that I will have the chance to associate with them on a bright and happy level someday and somewhere.  I'm not exactly sure of all the details, but I know I will see them again.  Will I be sad?  Will I miss them? Of course!  But my belief may just help to carry me through those dark days of missing whoever I may have to send away for a little while!  But in the end, I will keep!

A Little Boy's Prayer

I went to church with my Dad yesterday, as I do every other Sunday. I do this so that he won't have to go to church by himself all the time. Have you ever gone to church by yourself? Sometimes it's OK, but I prefer to go with someone, as I'm sure he does as well. It was Fast and Testimony meeting. Fast and Testimony Meeting happens monthly on the first Sunday of the month and it is exactly what the name implies. We come to the meeting, ideally having fasted for 2 whole meals and with the money saved from not eating those meals, donate that money to Fast Offering, which, in turn, is used for helping the poor around the world. The members of our church are also given an opportunity, as they are moved, to bear their testimonies about  the Gospel of Jesus Christ and their feelings for it.

Towards the beginning of the meeting, an elderly gentleman got up and told about his son-in-law in Afghanistan. He is commander in chief of a company of Utah marines there. This past week he lost 2 young men in combat. It turns out that both of them were from here in Orem and both went to Mountain View HS. One was Lance Cpl. Nigel Olsen, 21, and the other, Lance Cpl. Carlos Aragon, 19. He told of how his daughter was so sad and devastated about the loss and would be attending the funerals of both these young men, and how tough it has been for everyone to lose these fine, valiant, young men. The two news articles are here and here.

Then he went on to tell about his own little 3-year old grandson, who was with him this last week, before anyone knew of the incident. He recollects that as they were in the car driving together, his little grandson said emphatically, "I need to pray for my Daddy. My Daddy's in trouble and I need to pray for him now." This grandfather, who was also accompanied by one of his own sons, stopped and let the little boy say a prayer for his Daddy in Afghanistan. He goes on to say that this little boy said the most heartfelt, mature prayer on behalf of his father, pleading to the Lord to save his Father and bring him back home to him someday. It was beyond a 3-year-old's capacity, but he was witnessing it along with his son. After the prayer, the little boy returned to being a 3-year-old. But for a moment, they witnessed a true "out of the mouths of babes" experience. Later they learned that this company had been under some extremely dangerous circumstances, and of the two losses.

This reminds me of how special our little children are and how in tune to the quiet whisperings of the Spirit they are. Now, granted, I'm sure this little boy has been taught by his parents to pray when he feels the need.  But more than that, I feel he has been taught to recognize what those quiet promptings are and what they feel like.  That little boy, in turn, taught me how far I have to go to be able to feel, recognize, and act upon those promptings that are directions from God himself through his Holy Spirit.

What does the influence of the Spirit feel like?  Here are some descriptions that I've recently heard:  "When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas."  "A sensation of light.", "it feels like sunshine," "a feeling of comfort, like a warm blanket", "a still, small, voice", "feelings of "peace, hope and joy."  Have you ever felt any of those feelings?  If so, chances are that it was the influence of the Holy Ghost!

Next, I ask myself, how can I better recognize these feelings?  The Lord has counseled us to "be still, and know that I am God."  Maybe if I can provide myself a still and quiet time each day when I am not bombarded by television, computer, video games or other distractions, I can allow that still, small voice an opportunity to provide personal revelation and to whisper sweet guidance, reassurance, and comfort.  Maybe I can save myself a whole lot of unnecessary grief and regret if I can do that! 

And last, it all reminds me of a poem that I heard put to music a few years back.  The words are from Charles Dickens:

They are idols of hearts and of households.  They are angels of God in disguise; His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses, His glory still gleams in their eyes; Those truants from Home and from Heaven, They have made me more manly and mild; And I know now how Jesus could liken The Kingdom of God to a child.

  Photos from Flickr!

I Told You So

I have never enjoyed a song more by Carrie Underwood than I did on American Idol '09 when she and Randy Travis came and performed this song live for the first time. Let me tell you how it was for me. I heard it one time and it's simple melody and words became branded in my mind. This morning I woke up with it playing in my head . I looked it up on YouTube and it brought tears to my eyes. Am I getting sentimental? No, not getting....I have always been. But what a sweet and haunting song. Judge for yourself! Although Randy Travis wasn't at his best, Carrie Underwood showed once again what a versatile singer she is, when it comes to Country Music!

My List of 10

Some of my wonderful bloggy friends have been doing lists.  Lists of  things that make them happy.  And boy, it makes me happy just reading the lists of all those wonderful things. It certainly is a fun exercise!  I think it would be fun to list 100 blogs that make me happy right here, right now!  I could list 100 types of flowers that gladden my eyes and "fill up my senses". (John Denver, Annie's Song)  I could list 100 songs that I absolutely love and I could list 100 people who have made and make my life beautiful.  I could list my top 100 quotes, my top 100 foods, or my top 100 book list.  You know, I may do that some day when I have a lot of time to recollect, rhuminate and resonate.  Today won't be that day.  But I would like to try and put out a mini list of sorts.  I think a list of 10 is a great little start.  So here is my list of 10 things that make me happy today!

1.  I am so happy when I have a beautiful place to walk or hike.  I had that today.  There is a park in Sandy, UT called Granite Park.  You take the trail and it leads you out to a long overlook where you can see for miles all over the City and you are overshadowed by the awesome mountains.  It literally goes for miles.  I walked there today.

2.  I am happy that I can spend time with my Dad.  He is 81 years old and at the twilight of his years. It's nice to just be around him and see how even at his late stage, he is still progressing in his life and being moulded by God into the person he is meant to be while on this earth.  I believe in that, you see.

3.  I am happy that I have gone through trials in my life because I now see that they helped me to become a deeper, more thoughtful, more insightful human being.

4.  I am happy for humor!  There is nothing better than to be caught by surprise at something that strikes you funny and then to let it out in a chuckle or a belly laugh.  Ah, good for the soul.  I did that today when I talked to my Dad, read a friend's blog and talked on the phone with my hubby!

5.  I am happy for food!  I love food!  Why do we make food our enemy so often?  I am here to tell you I would sacrifice 2 inches in my waist just to enjoy the food I like.  Last night I cooked for my family and we ate.  It was wonderful to be able to enjoy it with them!

6.  I am happy that I didn't have to do the dishes last night.  Do you know who did them?  My Dad!  I meant to go up and do them after I digested my food, but I was too late.  He had already done them.  My Mom had a keeper when she got him.

7.  I am happy that the Olympics are almost over.  They had me glued to the set a lot. Especially the speed skating events, and especially when Apolo Ohno skated.  He is the only celebrity I follow on Twitter.  Did anyone see him on Dancing With the Stars?  I didn't, but am wishing that I did.  He is the true epitome of an Olympian.  Gracious, beautiful, charismatic and breathtaking.

8.  I am happy for blogging!  I never liked writing as much as I do now.  Writing in high school was just another requirement, to be avoided if at all possible.  (What is the minimum number of pages I can get away with writing?  Maybe the teacher won't notice so much if I double space it!)  What is it that makes expression in a blog so much fun?  Knowing me, it's a phase and at some point, you'll wonder where I went.  But right now, at this time, blogging is fun!

9.  I am happy that Spring is just around the corner!  I can feel it!  You go outside and there is a certain smell.  A smell of earth teeming with life just underneath its surface.  It's going to bust!  Yes, we had snow here in Sandy last night.  But it was as if the snow was trying to make a last show of dominance, before retiring into inevitable submission.

10.  I am happy for a loving and kind husband.  He and I grew up in the same area, but never met until we both ended up here in Utah for the sake of our children.  We've been through some hard patches, but those rough times are turning out to be just what the doctor ordered for a great marriage!

OK.  I just can't make my list without this one last thing.  So please humor me, if you will!

11.  I am happy for my knowledge and belief in the Savior, Jesus Christ.  He lives, you know.  He is watching and waiting and hoping that we will turn to him and pray for his loving mercy and help.  It is He is who I have leaned on in my times of great trial.  He is why I am happy--even today!

My Take On Network and Multi-Level Marketing

I have been a fan of network marketing since I was introduced to a company, some years ago. I loved their products and still do!  I loved the fact that they were delivered to my door!  I loved the fact that if I wanted to,  I could attract other customers to their products and they would pay me a commission for having done so.  I dabbled in the marketing side of this company  for some of those years, got customers, got paid, still get paid, but I found that there was also a lot of opposition to network marketing, a lot of misconceptions.  One common term I heard was "pyramid scheme".  People associated network marketing, even Multi-level marketing with pyramid schemes.  Maybe I was lucky. This was never the case with the company I associated with.  Of course it is always good to check out a company's record, customer service rating, BBB rating, etc. but that is true with any company, not just MLM's.. 

Personally, I now buy regularly from at least 3 multi-level, network marketing organizations.  Why?  Because the products from these companies far out-weigh any that I might find in a regular supermarket or department store and at much more reasonable prices.  The benefits I receive from their products increase the quality of my life and the life of my family members.  It is very convenient and I consume these products on a regular basis.  Plus there is always the built-in benefit of product recommendation.  If I refer a customer to any one of the companies that I purchase from, the company will reward me monetarily.  So I am not only getting quality products at a reasonable price, I am also receiving bonuses when I refer someone else.  Network marketing is something that Proctor and Gamble has even started doing, in a limited fashion, because they have seen how powerful network marketing can be. Their limited bonus program gives mom's a few free products if they will refer potential customers to them.

Recently Network marketing has been touted the  "Most powerful way to reach the end user" as quoted in Success magazine. We now have many companies like Microsoft, Coca Cola, IBM, Sharp, AT&T, Gillette, Texas Instruments and Colgate distributing their products via this Network Marketing system. These big companies are proof enough of the network marketing credibility and success. And within a few years, probably within the next 10 years, Network marketing industry will be distributing more services and products to the end user.

You will also see some of the most advanced, cutting edge products available to the consumer only by way of network marketing companies . Why is that? It is because they have spent more  money in product development and research, using distributors who move these products by way of network marketing.  They have cut out paying big advertisers, and some of them actually manufacture their own products, cutting out yet another expense.
We've all heard the extreme success stories of people who have received their golden ticket to life because of the money, time and quality of life they have gained through network marketing.  Many people believe it's kind of like the lottery or they think that one can only make it big if you get in at the 'ground level'.  They think that it could never happen to them and they better hold on to those dreary but dependable 9 to 5 jobs they trudge through every single day.  But how dependable are these jobs nowadays?  Where are they now?  I've always believed that there is an opportunity for everyone somewhere in America, if you work hard enough and believe in yourself.  I'm still optimistic about it, although I think that people really need to focus and work hard at what they believe in and not give up if it doesn't work at first.

Some advantages of Network Marketing Companies are:

• Good quality products: Because these companies generally are able to cut costs on advertising, their products are very high quality.  A good question to ask oneself is 'Would I still consume the products and services of this company even if there were no opportunity to market them?  I have found the answer to be a resounding 'Yes!' in many circumstances.

• Residual income:   When you have customers that consume a product on a regular basis, and you get a portion of the profit, that is residual income!

• No employees to hire:  By far, this is a clear advantage over traditional businesses. An MLM affiliate program is a network of people independently working together.

• Short commute:  It is possible to build a business right from home! This industry gives you that added benefit, to be in business without employee concerns, yet having a network of independent business owners working together towards a common goal.

• No (or low) inventory:  Traditionally Network Marketing companies would have distributors stack up on inventory. This concept alone has given the industry a bad wrap for years.  This is something that has changed.  There are many companies that don't require any inventory - just a small portion each month that you use personally.  I think that is a fair requirement, given the fact that you are paid a portion of the company profit for every time you refer someone as a customer and the fact that you are telling someone these products are worth consuming.  Shouldn't you be the first example of that?

• Modern technology can be used to operate your business, such as with:

· The Internet
· Drop Shipping Ability
· Consumer Leads
· Conference Lines
· Web Conference
· High Speed Internet Access

• Low operating Costs:   The network marketing model makes it possible to run a business at low costs compared to any other business model. With the advent of technology, we can do today what distributors 15 years ago could not do and that's to make our business portable.

With the advent of the cell phone, you can take your business and move it anywhere you like, at your convenience. So technically, you can be, for instance, watching your kid's soccer game, and be operating your business at full tilt!  That would be multi-tasking to the max!

As long as you have access to the Internet via DSL or Cable, you can take your computer, your phone, and continue doing business while you are on the road, on vacation, or visiting relatives whether that be in another city or another country!  It is not just the money, but the fulfillment of a lifestyle that makes an MLM Affiliate Program the best business to get in and your individual skills is what makes it happen, period!
As you can see, network marketing has many benefits. It  frees up a lot of capital, because we eliminate retailers, wholesalers, warehouses, and the big advertising budget that business and industries normally spend thousand of dollars on.  Money that is wasted in the traditional business can now be channeled into 2 main areas - the distributors of network marketing business and to product development and research.  In other words, the little guy has a chance!

• Tax Advantages:  There are many tax benefits to operating a small business within your home, such as working as an independent distributor for an MLM Company.  You are able to deduct many expenses that you have through operation of your business from your total income.  For instance, you can in many instances deduct office space square footage, office equipment such as computer, phone, fax, copying, etc., business expenses such as lunch dates, gas mileage for trips, hotel expenses, gifts, etc.  Even the cost of the personal products you purchase can be deducted if you can show that the purchase of these items is required for you to operate your business!  (Consult your own tax specialist for verification!)

When someone comes to me and presents an idea or opportunity that is MLM in nature, I don't immediately turn on the red light, throw up the 'Do Not Solicit' Sign, and say 'not interested'.  I give it at least 10 minutes before I decide that this may or may not be something I could use in my life.  As a matter of fact, I'll go so far by saying MLM is as American as apple pie.  This type of marketing works very well in the free enterprise system, and gives everyone a chance to benefit and succeed based on their needs, wants, and abilities, and of course, a little good old-fashioned luck!

So next time a friend of yours comes to you and says "Hey, I've got a great business with great products/services that you need to look at!"  Give them a chance before you walk away!

Feckless and Vapid - words I don't hear a lot!

The two words above are words that are seldom used, but I think they sound so interesting.  I am going to attempt to use them in this post.  I have no idea what I will post about.

Let's see, today was the Super Bowl.  I really was against the majority in that I wanted to see Payton Manning and The Colts win.  I just kind of like him.  I'm sure I'll have plenty of time to get to like Drew Breese.  I also like Austin Collie, who is a first year Colts receiver, just over from BYU, my hometown college team! The first quarter looked really promising for the Colts.  A touchdown and no answer from The Saints except a field goal.  But then the momentum changed and I felt it.  That is something I'm good at.  I can feel which team has got the momentum going for it at about the middle of the 2nd quarter.  I tend to lose interest after that if my team doesn't have it going on by then.  Of course, there are always the rare surprises, so in the important games, I'll hang around for the whole thing.  I pretty much watched the whole thing this evening, if only for the commercials and the food that was prepared, mainly by moi!

I think that the E*Trade Commercials are hands-down the best ones, making a lot of those $2 million commercials look dull and vapid in comparison.  Those little man babies are adorable!  I seriously think my husband should look like one of those babies, because he acts so much like a baby sometimes, (especially when he has a widdle cowd or needs praise or sympathy). You know I love you, honey, and I have plenty of both praise and sympathy to give you (along with my most welcome constructive comments that you love so much)!

Yes, unfortunately, the mighty Colts offense turned into a feckless attempt to turn around a hungry and focused New Orleans Saints team.  Drew Breese, who some felt was another gun-slingin' (think Brett Favre), quarterback who makes sometimes desperate pass attempts that are at times intercepted, turned out to tie a super bowl record, making 32 pass completions, the same as the Patriot's Tom Brady in Super Bowl 2003 against the Carolina Panthers. Not too shabby!

Well there you have it.  My attempt to use within my post two interesting words that I don't hear too often!  Try it sometime!  Pick a couple of words that you think are unusual and then just start writing.  It can be a real shake-up to your writing style!  It's also quite fun!  Let me know if you get some interesting results!