the "network".

Well, the first real catastrophe at Mom and Dad's has occurred!!! Last Friday, as I was driving home from work, I got a call from Mack in a bit of a panic....a water pipe in the basement was broken! Water was everywhere! For those of you who don't know this-our basement has dirt walls! Water + dirt = MUD! And we didn't know how to turn the water off! I have never felt so helpless. Alas....Thanks to a quick-thinking (and incredibly handsome) friend, help was on the way!

Now, I have never had the need to call on the members of my church. But what is a gal to do when there is no husband and her dad is millions of miles away (love ya but miss ya Dad!)? Incredibly, as the bishop of my ward pulled up in front of the house I realized that everything would be okay. As soon as the water was turned off and the damage was surveyed, the troops were called in! I can only hope that the military has the same efficiency as the "Mormons" do! In a matter of minutes there were a dozen plus people in the house. Plastic was laid on the carpet-boxes from the basement were quickly moved up-a shop vac was soaking up the water-men were cutting pipe, replacing pipe, soldering pipe, checking pipe for leaks.....All of the wet clothes were hung on the line-wet papers and other items were laid out on the counter to dry.

As all of this was happening, there I am, watching the work happen with my mouth wide open! I had no idea what to do! With one phone call, people I don't really know very well dropped what they were doing and came to my aid! How does one express thanks for such a kind deed? I am so lucky to live among people who help others-no matter what!!!!

There are still things to be done! The clean up is moving forward! But, nothing of consequence was damaged! And don't think there weren't offers to take things home to wash! I am so grateful to those who helped! Thankful for those who let their husbands and sons leave the dinner table to come help some chick down the street! I am not sure how you thank someone for such kindness! But now I have one more thing to add to my list of things to be thankful for.....the "Network!" I am truly blessed!

"How beautiful a day can be - When kindness touches it"

-george elliston

Graduation...

Saturday marked the end of my quest for higher education. Although classes ended in December and my diploma is already framed, commencement took place on April 19, 2008. At first I thought it was just silly to take the walk. But the need to mark the end of this particular journey seemed in order. As commencement ended, my brother gave me a hug and said, "Welcome to the Club." What a great club to belong to...the college graduates! A goal I have always wanted to reach but little things kept me from attaining that elusive degree. But with the support of my family, friends, and other loved ones, I was finally able to complete my Bachelors of Science from Utah State University [Go Aggies, Go Aggies, hey-hey-hey!]

Thank you Mallory, Mackay and Duane for supporting my every move. Thanks for putting up with hours of classes, studying, and writing papers. For helping each other with dinner, homework and housework. Thank you for being strong and independent! I love you!

Thanks to all of you "Club" members, for setting the example for your daughter, sister, and friend. Thank you for encouraging me to just go for it! For reminding me that I could actually do it! Thank you for listening to all of my educational stories. Thanks for your love and support!

Thanks to my employees, my boss, and everyone I work with on a daily basis. You are my second family and I will never forget your help and support! Thank you for helping me proofread papers, explaining statistics formulas that I just didn't get, and putting up with leaving early and studying every spare second I could squeeze in.

I thank my professors who paved the road for me to follow. I have learned not only the course material but who I am and who I want to become! Thank you for helping me to stretch my mind and let in new ideas about the world me! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with me. I will never forget the life lessons I have learned from you!

I was never alone during my quest! Thank you all for pulling me along, pushing me forward, and letting me lean on you!! It may be my name on that beautiful piece of paper but your names will always be in my heart every time I see it! Thank you for helping me reach my goal! I love you all!

I want to be like the lotus flower

...from the depths of the muddy bottom of a pond, it emerges. It flourishes in clear ponds and muddy lakes. With roots buried deep in the dark soil-its stalk emerges and aims for the heavens-as it shoots through the water-to ultimately unfold a beautiful blossom! A flower that appears to be lazily floating on the water's surface. One petal at a time, the lotus begins to bloom with the first rays of sunshine. A symbol of renewal, transformation, and new beginnings- - the embodiment of unlimited potential...

I want to be like the lotus...No matter where my roots are planted-Whether life is clear or murky-I aspire to bloom with the morning sun! I long to become something beautiful. To take the daily struggles of life and and turn them into opportunities to grow strong and straight, with my sights set on the surface. To reach the morning when my soul can bloom! Petal by petal-each joy, each pain, each smile, each tear, each triumph, each trial....each experience sculpting the beauty of the blossom waiting to burst with the warmth of the sun!

How easy it would be to get stuck in the muck of life instead of pushing ourselves toward the surface where we are free to become what we are meant to be....more beautiful with each moment in the sun!

Throughout our lives, there are times when we are given a gift....a chance for a new beginning. These times of transformation may not always be what we planned for our lives. But-If we perservere, our stalks will become thicker and stronger on our journey to the surface. Making the morning bloom sweeter than we imagined.

Let us be like the lotus....constantly pushing ourselves out of the muck-stretching with all of our strength toward the surface-where the suns rays give us the opportunity to show the world our beauty!

A New Beginning

I have decided to jump on the band wagon and start a new blog. I have blogged before and have added some of my previous entries to this blog. I am ready to take the opportunity to share the life I have with my children with those I love. Right now it is just the three of us! Me-Mack and Mals! Em and the M's (do you get it now?) But there are so many we look to for love and support. Together we are on a new adventure, learning new things and working together to make our family successful. We are just getting started. But I am excited for our chance at a new beginning. And it is a good way to share fun times with each other across the miles.