Questions to Think About, Azaleas, and Waiting

I love these azaleas in our yard- they're always the first of their friends to bloom, and they smell like lilies if you get in nice and close.

You all have been so kind about me getting back into singing regularly, and I want to tell you:  I've tried.  I really have!  I auditioned two weeks ago for a church show- I have no idea how it went.  During my 3 minutes and 30 seconds of singing (I timed it at home) Ernie poked her head in twice to try and get me to come see her chalk drawing in the next room, Mimi played a nice little piece on the piano before I scooped her up into my arms, and I started my piece 4 whole tones higher than I'd practiced it at home.  Because that's where it was written, that's why!  Did you know that singing a song 4 steps higher than you practiced, while holding a 22 pound toddler, makes for difficult singing?  The ladies were nice and had big smiles afterwards "What's your background?  Were you a music major?"  No, I was a music minor...and I'm trying to sing more often than I have been for the past few years.  And the moral of this story?  Momma shouldn't go to auditions during Tax Season, when Daddy is busy!  It's been two weeks and I haven't heard anything- the show is March 20th.

I wrote to my old high school choir director- I ran into him at a high school vocal competition last year that I was accompanying at.  He invited me to join his adult jazz group, and I took a rain check until the kids could both go to bed without me.  I wrote a few days ago, and haven't heard from him either....

but I'll keep trying!  Have I sung "Amazing Grace" for you guys yet?  I should record that one- it's such a pretty piece.

My friend came to visit last night, and we sat for hours just chatting and doodling with thread.  OK, I chatted more than I doodled, but here's what I made.





I found another towel in my embroidery box too.





I think it was supposed to be an apple :)

I'm so excited at the response to yesterday's post!  We have 3, possibly 4, lovely people putting their thinking caps on about what they want to say so far.  It is, admittably, a GINORMOUS topic to cover, and a daunting task trying to distill your entire religion into one written piece.

I thought I'd make it easier- I'll list some questions you could send in answers for, or just use them as jumping off points for what you want to say.

• Name of religion
• Current religious leader 
• Structure- do you attend a local congregation?  What is it called, and who leads it?  Who does that person "report" to? And that person? etc.  
• Unique terms- what do you call your leaders, your congregation, your services, the components of your service?  Can you define them and describe them?
• What are the main beliefs of your church?  (Please don't say "Unlike _____, we believe ____.)  Where do you think we were before Earth?  Where will we go after earth?  What are the things your religion encourages you to do?  What should we accomplish while on this earth, and why are we here?
• What is the "authority" behind your religion?  Is it ancient?  Is it inspired?  Is it based on the teachings of one person, whose works you try and emulate?
• Does your religion believe in change?  If your religion were to change its official stance on an issue, who would decide that and how would it be decided?
• What written works do you believe to be scripture and true?
• Who do you worship?  Do you worship any one deity? Or multiple?
• If you'd like to talk about it, why do you attend this church?

Chime in in the comments if you have any others you'd like to see answered, or if you want to participate!

--Myrnie

How are you doing?

Hello to Melissa's Mr. Linky buddies! Welcome to my space, and thanks for stopping by! I'm happy to participate in her "Beautiful Life" series again this week.
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Honestly, I haven't forgotten you guys. I have a great post written, that I'm really excited to share with everyone (new tutorial!) and I just can't get the pictures right.

So.

Mimi's pediatrician asked me yesterday "How are you doing with post-partum depression? I mean...you look like you're doing just FINE."

How do you explain the stream of wants and needs that seem to swirl and eddy around your ankles, and get tangled up in your ears and hair like so much seaweed. The never-ending parade of dirty dishes, dirty diapers, dirty floors and faces. The vague nagging sense that at one time, you had a clear head and clean windows.

The days you just want to crawl back under the covers and the days that you do. To say nothing of the unquenchable fear clawing at your heart: I am not enough.

We're like Molly Brown, the unsinkable heroine. "I ain't down yet!"



For every dirty diaper, there's a chubby-thighed wriggle, a hoarse chuckle as she grabs her ankles and swooshes over to her belly and you're standing there realizing that your child is mooning you. Again.

For every dirty dish, there's a life that you've nurtured with good food.



For every dirty window, there's a tiny nose pressed against the glass, counting the squirrels, counting the birds, counting the seconds until Daddy gets home.


"We need to remember that the full commitment of motherhood and of putting children first can be difficult. Through my own four-generation experience in our family, and through discussions with mothers of young children throughout the Church, I know something of a mother's emotions that accompany her commitment to be at home with young children. There are moments of great joy and incredible fulfillment, but there are also moments of a sense of inadequacy, monotony, and frustration. Mothers may feel they receive little or no appreciation for the choice they have made. Sometimes even husbands seem to have no idea of the demands upon their wives. "...[W]e have enormous respect and gratitude to you mothers of young children. We want you to be happy and successful in your families and to have the validation and support you need and deserve." (M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 109 )

Am I doing fine? Are you doing fine? Perhaps not right now, but by golly we're GOING to be!



Life's just too good to miss.