..Dreaming in Shades of "True"..

How much do our dreams correlate with our lives and what do they really mean?

I've been dreaming some very vivid dreams lately.  And I gotta say, I am not liking them!

How much should I read into them?

..SNOW..

We don't get snow in Missouri very often. When we do it's not usually very much and it never lasts more than a day or two.  Twice this winter we have gotten 6+ inches.  99% of Missourians will complain about this type of weather, but being from the west, I love it! In fact, I miss it! And it's so much more fun than the typical ice storms we get instead of snow.  Don't get me wrong, the ice storms have an undeniable beauty, but you can't PLAY in an ice storm.

This time we took advantage of the snow and went tubing down our driveway.  Anyone who has ever been UP our driveway can probably imagine how much fun it could be to tube DOWN it.  It takes a pretty hefty vehicle to brave our driveway on any given day, but in the snow, you pretty much have to have 4-wheel drive or it's a definite no-go.

Grandpa Mangum let us borrow his 4-wheeler.  Ryland LOVED riding.  Even freezing cold and complaining he wanted to "GO!" one more time.  He couldn't get enough. Ronnie is not such a thrill seeker, and once he was cold, that was it, he was done.  All in all, we had a great time and I love when we actually have time to do things as a family like this.

Building a snow man. 

In the road of course, 'cause he's a boy, and he loves watching things get destroyed!

"GO!"

 You can see Ginger grabbing hold of Nelson's arm.  We really stressed her out!  Every time we would tube down she would frantically chase after us, trying to grab at our clothes to stop us.  It was quite funny! What a good dog she is.

..Love Notes..

I recieved an unexpected care package today from a very dear friend.  I haven't spoken to this friend in atleast 12 years; I'm quite certain it's been longer than that.  We reconnected via Facebook (which is why I love that modern age netowrking tool), but still hadn't really said much to one another. I don't know that I've ever had a chance to tell her what an impact she had on my childhood.  She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing! Her beauty is so much more than her outward appearance.  She truly has a divine countenance, and the sweetest spirit you could ever dream of.

 Our friendship began when I was just 8 years old.  She was my piano teacher.  Her name is Melanie.  What began as a simple student/teacher relationship soon blossomed into a friendship I can only explain as kindred.  I'm not even sure how many years seperate us, but there are a few. Of course, we never went to school together, we didn't hang out on Friday nights, and I didn't tell her all my deepest darkest secrets.  Age was never an issue because our friendship was so much more than that.  She made room in her heart for a shy, insecure young girl, and took me under her wing.  She believed in me! Each week at church, she would deliver a special "Love Note" she had made just for me.  These "Love Notes" were uplifting stories, with personal notes inscribed at the end of each one.  Sometimes they were spiritual, others were humorous, many were inspiriational, and each one taught me something of worth. I still have each and every one of them! She made it her mission to help me know and understand that I am a beautiful daughter of a loving Heavenly Father; that I am of infinite worth.  She made me feel important! She embodied that message with every fiber of her being.  I had long forgotten what she had tried so hard to etch into my heart, until today.

The contents, though cherished, are not nearly as dear to me as the message unwritten.  She reminded me that MY Heavenly Father loves me!  He knows me!  He thinks about me! He is mindful of me! I am not alone!  How powerful that a message so simple could be delivered by a friend from the past at such an inspired moment. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I read her letter and felt how much she cares for me.  My Heavenly Father knows exactly what I need and when I need it. 

Melanie, Thank You for reminding me who I am! Thank you for being the person you are! Thank You for believing in me still!  Thank You for your wisdom and encouragement! I feel refreshed and ready to press forward! I look forward to using the tools you have armed me with.

A gift for you, Melanie:

A Love Note
by: Morgan

True love and friendship, in it's purest and most honest of forms, is a bond that can never be broken.  It can stand the test of time, distance, and circumstance, and pick up right where it left off.  It etches itself on the soul of all those it touches.  It makes the hard times just a little bit more bearable, and the good times - memories that last a lifetime!

So to all the rest of my friends and loved ones out there, a challenge.  Reconnect with someone close to your heart!  Fill your life with true friends.  The kind that love you for who you are, no matter what.  The kind that uplift and encourage.  The kind that will still be your friend many years from now, even if you never see them again. The kind that make your life better just by knowing them. But most importantly, strive to be that friend to others.  Strive to make a difference in someone elses life.  You'll be a better person for it!

..Intentions..

I have all sorts of great goals for a better me this year.  In general, I have done quite well so far.

...

Lord forgive me, today is just NOT one of those days!

..Smile..

Music is such an integral part of my soul. 

I never mastered the piano, and I don't sing like a madrigal,

but I am passionate about what music adds to my life.

It reminds of fond memories or loved ones.

It brightens the worst of days.

It relays messages there aren't words to speak.

It touches the heart to the very core.

It inspires imagination.

It invites the spirit.

It provides fun and entertainment, or rest and relaxation.

It evokes emotion.

There's no end to what music can do.

And this year, it's my motto!

Here are the lyrics to the song I am choosing to live each day by.

My personal ballad...even though it's not technically a ballad.  Oh, well!

SMILE

by: Charlie Chaplin

Smile though your heart is aching

Smile even though it's breaking

When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by

If you smile through your fear and sorrow

Smile and maybe tomorrow

You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness

Hide every trace of sadness

Although a tear may be ever so near

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

That's the time you must keep on trying

Smile, what's the use of crying?

You'll find that life is still worthwhile

If you just smile

My perfect little family makes me smile!

So tell me! What makes you smile?

..Getting with the "Program"..

I know. It's been way too long since my last post. 

The thing is, it was one of those months, and when I blog when I'm having those types of moods, people tend to want to medicate me.  So I opted to wait for better days.  Days when I could blog about the good times.  Days when I didn't have to put up pretenses about how I was feeling to ward of concern.

Well, that day is nigh at hand.  I'm coming back.

The Holidays were hard this year.  I really wanted to be with family!  It has been way too long and the distance is really starting to wear giant holes in my little bitty heart.  We did have a great, quiet Christmas though.  It was a good time to reflect on how much I love my little family of four. I truly am blessed!

I have set some very achievable goals for the New Year.  I hope you all have too.  As cliche as that New Year tradition is, it's always great to have a good excuse to start anew.  We just have to be realistic!

So, here's to hoping 2010 will bring much happiness, success, and positive changes!



Just as a side note...

I started the New Year off with a wedding cake! 
(Someday, this talent will make me loads of money!)

..Blogger Frustration..

This post will be meaningless to all those who don't blog. (Blogger, are you reading this?  YOU SHOULD!)

I HATE the new picture adding process!  Does anyone else?

It's almost IMPOSSIBLE to use!  Or is it just the user?

I can't get my pictures where I want them.  It's very difficult to re-select a picture after you have added multiple photos.  I can't place smaller photos side by side.

GRRRRR!

If it's just me...can someone please tell me what I'm doing wrong?  Otherwise, I may stop posting photos, which will make Grandmas and Grandpas, Aunts and Uncles, Cousins and Friends very sad.

Won't it?

P.S.  Where did the spell check go? I nead mi spel chek!

..All by myself..

Ryland is at that stage where EVERYTHING has to be done all by himself. 

The most recent was putting on his coat and hat. 

Upside down!

But oh, so proud!

He wanted it zipped up, but it didn't feel right, so it would make him upset.  We would unzip and try to take it off, so we could put it on correctly, but that wasn't flyin' either.

Eventually, we just muscled the coat off, which resulted in a major tantrum.  That clearly was more trauma than he could take, he wouldn't take his coat off for several hours.

These days, it's his idea or it's not a good idea!

..Seven..

Boy do I feel old.  Ronnie turned 7 last Friday. Where did the time go?

He had a great birthday.  We had a small celebration Friday night and he had a friend to spend the night.  Then Saturday was the big fun.  Cake and ice cream, homemade pizza (of course that came before cake), and Jump Mania.  All in all I think he had a good day.

Yes! Just what I wanted.

A big boy deserves a big boy bike.

Trying out borthers new bike.

Due to previous trauma regarding the coat, he wouldn't take it off.

Masen playing with the baby blow up toys.

Jump mania was a blast!

..Dishwasher Drama..

It's Ronnie's daily chore to unload the dishwasher. This he knows.

Driving home from the store, I remind him that when we get home, he needs to quickly unload the dishwasher so I can do the dishes. I emphasize quickly because typically, it takes a good half hour and multiple reminders for him to stay on task.

5 minutes into the process this conversation ensues...

Ronnie, finish unloading the dishwasher please.

I don't want to.  I'm tired.

Okay, would you like to go to bed then?  (It's only 6:00pm)

Yes.

Are you sure? That means you are in trouble.

Yes. I'm tired.

Okay.  Go on up to bed, I'll see you in the morning.

I do the dishes.

Several minutes after completing the chore I hear...

Mom, I changed my mind.  I don't want to go to bed.  Can I do the dishes?  (Gee, how'd I know he wasn't really tired?)

The dishes are done.

Can I load the dishes?

Already loaded.

Can I switch the laundry?

There's no laundry to switch.

Can I fold the laundry?

(Where is this coming from? I'm totally floored! Maybe he needs to go to bed early more often.) 

Nothing to fold.

But Ryland doesn't have to go to bed yet!

Ryland wasn't asked to do the dishes.  You chose to go to bed.

NO FAIR! Dramatic pouting and face pulling.

I know.  Bummer! Go back to bed.

Peace and quiet 2 hours earlier than normal!

Now the question is...

What time will he wake up?

Bummer!