Facebook

Ok, so really, I never anticipated this day would come, but it did. On saturday I did something I am not sure I can reverse(well actually, I suppose I can). I joined Facebook. After years of singlehood, I had decided that I simple did not want to be a part of social networking internet sites. I swore them off even if they were not linked to dating. I don't regret this decision, as it was a keen part of the transformational changes that came while discovering and deepening my yoga practice. One of my desires was to lead a life of simplicity. In NYC with the chaos of daily living and interacting with many people this worked out well.

Then I moved to Utah. Life is slightly more isolating the NYC, you don't walk out on the subway every day and see thousands of people before you

 even get to work, you don't run into neighbors walking home, or at the yoga studio. I am still blessed to see many people each week through teaching, farmers market, etc, but I have realized that Facebook and/or Blogging is a connection to those that have shaped who I am today, my dear friends. On Saturday I set up the account with the motivation to become a fan of Connie's Cookies ( a page my husband set up). Once I did that, I suppose it makes sense to reconnect with all those friends from NYC and all over I haven't seen for some time. I am content for now, but I know I must place controls on it to not become a time sucker!

Check out Connie's Cookies on Facebook, become a fan! For the love of cookies, please!

Hearing what isn't being said...

I have been thinking lately about how the best gifts in life are unseen.  One of my favorite quotes I love to share in Yoga class is "The best part of communication is hearing what isn't being said".

Stop

Listen

and then stop and listen again.

What do you hear?

Really, the most important communication in this life isn't heard, and the greatest gifts from a heavenly father are unseen. The promises from God are not visible; his son, his spirit, his love; not perceived by the human eye, yet have full sway in my heart, and in the end they are the gifts which matters the most. 

Hear what isn't being said. There is a distinct connection between "what I ask for" being answered, and listening.  The power of the all wise creator is in my life as much as I permit him to be.

As you are going about your day today... I invite you to...

Stop

Then, Listen

Box Elder Bug Infestation

Here is the proof, in case you don't believe me, when I say we have a mild problem with Box Elder bugs in our home.  I feel as thought I have been placed with the Box Elder curse my days of living in Utah, just about every home I have lived in within the Greater Salt Lake Area has been infested with Box Elder bugs.  The charming house in the avenues on 5th ave had them all through the winter, finding them in our sheeplike carpet.  The house on 1st ave had them in the shower, and my condo on 9th East and 40th south suffered greatly in the kitchen area as they shoved themselves in the crack of the back door.  Certainly summer they are at their peak, but they have no problem hibernating in your home in the winter and fall as well.

Much to my dismay our home in Bountiful is no exception to the Box Elder invasions, except, that it might be the worse than the other three homes combined. No joke! Really!!! In fact the picture from above is Box elders collected on the front porch after just 3 days of sweeping.

 Micah mentioned it was bad when we got married, but I didn't trust they could be as insidious as I have previously experienced. 

He proved me wrong.

 In fact it has gotten so ridiculous, at one point I began to make a list of all the locations I have found Box Elder bugs in our home (dead and alive) where they absolutely have no right to be. These bugs, I ensure you, have NOOOOO BOUNDARIES!

Top 10 List of where we have found Box Elder Bugs where they shouldn't be:

10. Couch 

(How dare you try to ruin my episode of watching 'The Office'!)

9. Rug 

(not such a biggie except when you bury your body into the carpet fibers and my toes touch you as I walk)

8. Window 

(this also isn't so gross, except the fact it isn't ONE but TWO bugs, and even worse, MATING!, Ewww, using my home to be an exhibitionist)

7. Yoga Mat 

(you have now entered sacred territory, how dare you?)

6. Bathroom 

(everywhere, floor, sink, toilet, ceiling, apparently your favorite hang out)

5. Mailbox 

(ok, so it has gone to far when you leave your mating babies and poo on my mail)

4. Bed 

(an even more sacred territory than the yoga mat)

3. Shower 

(the entire reason for showering is to cleanse myself of you little dirty pests)

2. Lint Dryer 

(don't ask me how this is even possible, now its gone beyond too far)

1. Toothbrush 

(not just anywhere, but on the bristles that clean my teeth)

This means war! The box elder's will not win against man.  Micah has shown his wonderful extermination skills thus far in controlling your population as you can see from the dead carcasses on the front porch. But after finding bugs in the above areas, and others unmentioned, Micah has decided to eliminate the source of these pesky creatures. In the month of September he will be chopping down our Box Elder tree in the front yard, no longer will these little pests cross boundaries they are not entitled to cross!!!

My very first review...

Wow, it's true, my very first review of Connie's Cookies came by the lovely Jessica I met at the Summerfest 08. She was helping out with the Oak Pitt BBQ, and was delighted to stumble across the Gluten Free Cookies. Have a read and tell me what you think! Her review http://wasatchfronteatsout.blogspot.com/2009/08/connies-cookies.html.

"This too shall pass"

So, I admit it, I have become a radio talk show junkie! I love to listen to Dr. Laura and Glenn Beck, because they focus on what is real and standing up for our values in this chaotic world.  Dr. Laura is on as I prepare and bake cookies in the afternoon for the Farmers Market. Today, while baking and listening intently she read the email of the day, I can't quote it verbatim, but the theme of it was based on the biblical quote "This too shall pass..."

The writer of the email and Dr. Laura expressed how we often use that phrase "This too shall pass", when life is bad, or trials are abundant.  It's a comforting thing to know that hard times will pass. But what they brought to my attention that I hadn't considered is that "This too shall pass" applies to not just BAD times but GOOD times as well. Do we cherish the good, because it too shall pass? We never know what tomorrow holds, are we grateful for what today is? As I consider that, I started to realize all of the wonderful, amazing experiences in life that I take for granted. It is hard to be grateful for them when thoughts are crowded with worrying about the past or future, that which you cannot control.   I realized yet again, another reason why I love to practice yoga! It helps me to live more in the present moment.  I am so grateful for every moment I have on this earth, to experience the good and the bad, it makes me who I am, it shapes me, and molds me, it infuses my soul with the fragrance of eternity.