A little inspiration.

I do a lot at the computer.

(Page credits here.  You can download FREE template here.)

Edit pictures, digi scrapbook, blog, create other things digitally..  basically I spend a lot of time in Photoshop.

I have a few choices as to what I can do while I am doing that.  I can listen to music.  I can listen to the girls play.  I can sit in silence.  I can sing to myself.  Before the teenaged DVD player decided to be a grumpy teenager, I could listen to whatever movie (or “ooive” if you are three) the girls were watching, or I can talk on the phone..

I would rather not hear myself sing.  Really.  So that leaves  a few other options.

Around Christmas time, my mom shared a link on her Facebook page to a program on the Mormon Channel. 

Yup.  I am a LDS (aka “Mormon”) and quite happy with my life…

It was an interview with Ed and Lois Smart.  If you don’t remember, or just don’t know, their daughter was kidnapped from their Salt Lake City home in the middle of the night in May of 2000.  I was pregnant with Lynn, and my days were spent watching all the news I could about this horrible situation.  She was found, March of the next year.  Alive.

This interview was one of the first of the series “Enduring it Well”.  It was what got me hooked.

To listen to their story, what life was like while Elizabeth was missing all of those months was awe-inspiring.  I have listened to many of the interviews on that program since, have some to catch up on, and love what it does for me personally.

It gives me strength.  It gives me a positive way to spend my time here.

I have since become addicted (nearly) to another program “Conversations”.  LOVE the stories that are shared by so many. 

My favorite of all time (so far) is with Herbert Klopfer. He grew up in Nazi Germany.  His story gives me chills!!  His life was full of miracles throughout that time.  I dare you to listen to his interview and not cry..

Member or not, these stories will uplift and inspire.  They truly testify that there is a God, and He loves us all.

The coolest part, you can listen to them on your computer, or download them and listen to them wherever you want!  Makes other chores so much more enjoyable..

So while I try to fill my time doing good things, I also try to find ways to edify myself in the process.

Hopefully the music doesn't start playing...

Really, there are so many people to thank!
Well, first, Heavenly Father who has given me all of my gifts and talents...
Then next would be Cutie Pie Hair Creations, for the nod...
My mom, for teaching me my skillz...
My Grandmother's, well, for the genetics, but for teaching my mom, and me...
My Great-Grandmothers... for starting it all...
My mother-in-law, for bestowing upon me cool new gadgetry of various mediums.. and most recently, her Cricut ;)
JoAnn's, Robert's, Michael's, Ben Franklin's, many inspiring web sites... Creating Keepsakes...
Sleepless nights...
My shower, for it is the best thinking place EVER!!!
Other talented people who often plant the seed of an idea... until it rolls like a snowball down a mountainside...
Oh, and my hard-working husband, who funds all of my exploratory crafting efforts!
Okay... I'll get on with it...
Here's the rules:
Nominate at least 3 more blogs (It used to be 10, but come on, lets save some for the others... and notice I said AT LEAST 3... feel free to do more!) of any kind that you love to read. Write a post about the blogs you picked, linking back to me and to them. Once you’ve posted, return here to let me know your post is done and be sure to let them know, too!! So here are my picks for the award - no particular favorite listed first, or last...
1- Babbling Blather... because sometimes, you just need it... okay, more than just sometimes... A LOT OF THE TIME!!! I just wish the posts were in conjunction with my daily struggles and the exact time they take place... and a little alarm would "ding!" to let me know there was some comic relief.... plus this guy is just plain cute!
2- Mr. & Mrs. Pockets... because I love to hear about how awesome and loved my little bro is... yes, he is the superhero in just about every tale told... and she's a girl after my own heart! Crafty, all mom-ish... that's why I am leaving my kiddos to her in case anything tragic should befall me... and no, there is no family style favoritism going on here...
3- Just Us... or as I like to call her, "E-Kartch"... now she knows! Eeekk!... but I love the woman! She is incredibly talented... she has two girls, I have two girls (+1 ;)...). She loves to scrap, I love to scrap! She is witty and fun, I try to be... She's always trying something new, and I wanna too. She bears her testimony like it's nothin', and I love that! She loves give aways, as do I! Basically I love to read her blog and I try not to constantly leave comments like I am stalking her...
So there it is.. I feel kinda naked now:-0... and I hear the strings beginning to play.. here comes that girl to escort me off of the stage...