Quote of the Day

Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes
too quickly and not saying no soon enough.
       ~Josh Billings

Quote of the Day!

The truth is that parents are not really interested in justice. They just want quiet.
       ~Bill Cosby

Angels Among Us

Life is a learning process. Everything we do and experience is there to teach us something and to guide us onto the path that will bring us the most fulfillment, the greatest joy, and bring us closer to God. At least, that's how I see life. Recently I learned something that I thought was truly worth sharing.

I was washing dishes and listening to the music on my phone when the song “Angels Among Us” came up. I've always loved this song. I think it's beautiful and I love the message it is sharing. That day, however, the song struck a different chord in me. I realized that there is another message, one that's very similar but is found on a slightly different level.

The chorus to the song is where the message is found. The lyrics go.... “Oh, I believe there are angels among us. Sent down to us, from somewhere up above. They come to you and me in our darkest hour. To show us how to live; to teach us how to give; to guide us with the light of love.”

The last part is what really hit me. To show us how to live; to teach us how to give; to guide us with the light of love.

The whole purpose of the song is to show that when you need help or are feeling low or know you just can't go on, there will be somebody, an angel already among us, who comes along to pick you up and help you get back to where you can move forward again. That's the message I've always gotten from it. But, I know now that there is so much more to that message... to show us how to live, teach us how to give, and guide us with the light of love. More maybe than even the author of the song realized.

The angels among us are not only those people who are there when we need help or who pop in to see how we're doing. These people are angels, absolutely. But the angels among us are those people in our daily lives who help shape who we are. The people that unknowingly open up opportunities for us to grow temporally and spiritually. And here's the biggest part about this. They aren't the people we're close to. They're the stranger down the street that makes everybody's life miserable. They're the brother or sister that just doesn't understand or agree with choices you've made and won't stop giving you grief for it. They're the acquaintance that has to cut you down every time they see you. And they're the person that we know we should love, that we want to love, but that we're afraid to love. These people, those we want to love but are afraid to do so, are the biggest angels. They've agreed to be in our lives as that person so we can have the growth we need, even though the experience will be challenging for them as well. All these people are angels opening up opportunities for us to grow and become a better, bigger people. If we allow it. Through these angels we learn how to live, to give, and we learn the true meaning of love, which we can then use as a guide for our lives.

Angels among us are people we're close to as well, to be sure, don't get me wrong. Every person we come in contact with gives us an opportunity for growth. It's our choice how we want to take the opportunity and whether or not we're going to allow ourselves to grow.

This realization was huge for me. It's something that I'm hoping will help me see others in a different light, and help me recognize them for the angels they are. Why do I share this? Because think how wonderful life on this earth could be if we were all able to view others as the angels that they are, regardless of what they've done. God does. What about us?
 
If this helps you or you know somebody that it would help, please share it. I believe it is a message worth sharing.

Quote of the Day!

Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny.
       ~David O. Mckay

Quote of the Day

Make sure you are doing what God wants you to do--then do it with all your strength.
          ~George Washington

Photoshop Fun

Happy Monday everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend.
I thought I'd start this week off by sharing some of what I've been doing in my little world. My sister recently got married and she asked me to be a backup photographer for her wedding. I have absolutely no photography skills, but I do have a really nice camera (which I bought used) so I agreed to do it. Here's the amazing thing about the whole situation. The pictures I took look exactly like... snapshots! Yae! No professionalism there. But, I have photoshop elements on my computer. Tell you what, it is an AMAZING program. My crappy little snapshots have been so easily transformed into something much, much better. Why am I sharing this, you ask? Well, because part of being a Wonder Woman is being good at everything (haha, just kidding), recording our children's lives, decorating our homes, saving money, and a million other things. I do all these things with my pictures... well, apart from saving money, which I'm working on. I'm a picture freak. Within the last year I've taken at least 2500 photos, possibly more. And I love, love, love the look of a good professional photograph. Of course, I'm not going to go pay a photographer every couple of months to take my kids' pictures, and I'm sorry, but I won't go to the department stores to get them done anyore unless I'm desperate. One to many quality issues there for me. So I'm trying to learn to take my own. I don't take the best pictures, but photoshop elements can do the rest! So, for all you Wonder Women who love pictures as much as I do, here's a sample of what you can do with your own photos.

Crappy Snapshot becomes...

Little studs!

Photo over-exposed and definitely needs to be cropped is turned into...

Absolutely darling!
Then, of course, after having so much fun photoshopping wedding pics I had to take a few of my superheroes-in-training... here's my favorite so far, since I haven't edited most of them yet...

Before... slightly over exposed, color seems a bit dull to me.... but he has a cute face!

After... brighter color, more clarity, and look at those eyes pop!
You know what the best part about this is? I really don't know what I'm doing. I'm a photoshop rookie in the truest sense of the word. But it's fun and I'm going to have the pictures I want without putting out the hundreds of dollars necessary to get them.

Quote of the Day!

Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option!
     ~Mark Twain

Quote of the Day

Thousands of candles can be lit by a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
          ~Buddha

Quote of the Day

You can't wait for inspiration, you have to go after it with a club.
    ~Jack London

What Every Woman Should Understand About Men

I've been married for almost seven years. I know I'm still a baby in terms of marital years, unless you count Hollywood years, in which case I've been married for nearly a hundred! Anyway, I am still young in the marriage institution, but I have spent a lot of my time over the last seven years watching people and their relationships, comparing them to mine, and trying to learn what works, what it is that makes a good relationship. I can't say that I have all the answers, not at all. In fact, some of my friends think my relationship leaves something to be desired. But here's the thing. I love the man I married. I understand the man I married. We fight, but they're not usually horrible, painful experiences. We've gotten to a point where they're closer to disagreements, and we usually work them out as rational adults. What's more, I know he loves me. I know he adores me. I know he would do anything for me, and it's not because I'm coercing him or going to make his life miserable if he doesn't do what I want. He wants to do stuff for me because he loves to see me happy and vice versa. I would consider those all signs of a good, healthy relationship. With that said, here are a few things I've learned over the years (and been taught by my mother, who knows what she's talking about). I thought they were worth sharing because they're so simple yet can be so difficult to grasp!

1. This is the most important thing I've learned. It is huge in ANY relationship, not just a marriage. The key to making a relationship work is respect. If you start a marriage without love but with respect, love will grow. It is inevitable. You love what you respect. On the other hand, if you start a marriage loving the person but you can't respect them, the love will eventually wane. Out of respect grows love, without respect love fades. Think about it. Who are the people you love most in your life? Chances are, a lot of them are those you have the highest respect for. Or, on the flip side, who are those people you really can't stand? They are the ones you don't respect, almost guaranteed.

2. Men are simple. This is a fact that I found very hard to grasp when I first got married. I'm complicated. I have a million hormones and emotions that I don't always understand. I thought men were the same way. They're not. They're simple. If a man is mad, he's mad. If he's happy, he's happy. Not so for me. Half the time when I'm mad I'm not sure why. Usually when I'm emotionally low I couldn't tell you the reason. Men are not that way! If a man says he's something, then he's exactly what he says. They don't hint and they don't beat around the bush. There's one description for any given thing. Even more, they have simple needs. They don't require tons of stuff from you to make them happy. They want to take care of you (work, hold a job, provide for you, that type of stuff), they want to protect you (that's why they're bigger than we are. They are the protectors), and they want to have children with you (The need to procreate is instinctual, as are the needs to provide and protect). Simple needs, simple answers to those needs.
With that in mind, you need to let them do those things. Even if you have a job, let them know you appreciate what they do to provide, help them feel like they are filling their role. Let them know you appreciate that they are your protector. Don't play damsel in distress, but show appreciation. Simple needs, simple answers. (Mostly simple. Intimacy is strictly on a per couple basis.)

3. When it comes to their spouse, men are reactive not proactive. What I mean by this is that they react to you. If you're upset, they're upset. If you're happy, they're happy. If you're discontent, they're discontent. They want you to be happy and if they can't achieve that, they'll be affected by it. If they're having a bad day and you're happy and you're content, usually they'll start feeling better within a few minutes. They react to your moods. There's a reason they say that the mood of the house is created by the woman. Everybody reacts to her moods.

4. Going in line with number three, a man's response to you will be determined by how you treat him. He's not only reacting to your moods, he's reacting to how you are with him. You've probably heard the saying "Treat a man like a king and he'll treat you like a queen." That saying is 100% true. Treat him as if he's the best thing that ever happened to you. Eventually he will treat you the same way. It won't even be a conscious decision. He'll just love you because you love and respect him and his natural response is to treat you the same way. I've had people get upset about this one, coming up with things like "Why should I treat him right first. Why shouldn't he make those changes?" He could, if he wanted to, but he's reacting to you. He's fully capable of changing the way he acts without you making the first step, but if you're looking for a change, if you want to be treated like a queen, you can't just tell him to change. He has to come to it on his own (which he won't do if he's constantly on the defensive), or he'll react to changes you make. So treat him like a king and more than likely he'll eventually treat you like a queen.

So here are the first four:
1. Respect him.
2. He is simple. Not complicated. Don't complicate everything he says and does.
3. He is reacting to you. Give him something positive to feed off of.
4. Treat him like a king. Eventually, he'll treat you like a queen.

This list is by no means complete, but it is a start. I'll be adding to it from time to time. Men are the greatest thing on this planet. Without them, we wouldn't have a species. But we have to live together and make things work, and that's a lot easier when you understand how men work. I hope this helps somebody. Heaven knows these eye openers have helped me!

Quote of the Day!

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined.
     ~Henry David Thoreau

Quote of the Day

Let go; Let God!
     ~ Dr Wayne Dyer

Easy Chicken Parmesan

Ingredients:                                                    
     1- 26oz. can prepared spaghetti sauce
     1/2 can prepared spaghetti sauce (optional) (set aside)
     6 large breaded chicken tenders (about the size of your hand)
     1 1/2 to 2 cups grated Mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese
     Parmesan Cheese
     8 oz. spaghetti noodles

Directions:
     1. Cook chicken tenders according to package directions
         (it is usually about 425 degrees for 30 min.)
     2. Place cooked chicken in a 9x13 baking pan
     3. Cover chicken with 1 full can of spaghetti sauce
     4. Cover with tin foil and bake for 25 min.
     5. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parmesan and grated cheese.
     6. Place in oven again for about 10 min. to melt cheese.
     7. (Optional) Heat 1/2 can of spaghetti sc. in a pan.  Sometimes the chicken soaks up a lot of the sauce, so I like to have a little extra sc. to pour over the food after it has been cooked.
Feeds 6
Can be served with bread sticks and vegetables

Quote of the Day

Our grand business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.
       ~ Carlyle
       ~ The Greatest Secret in the World; Og Mandino

Quote of the Day

I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.
         ~Ellen DeGeneres

My Very Special Gift

Since it is Father's day, I thought I would share a Father's Day poem I wrote for my dad many years ago. My dad has had a huge impact in my life.  He passed away a few years ago, so he is not here today to honor.  I am missing him!  I am posting this as a tribute to him, and to all of you other amazing dad's out there.  Thank you for your wonderful influence in our lives! 

My Very Special Gift

Before I was born

Our dear Father knew,

My decisions and trials

Wouldn't be few.

So he gave me a gift

To help me along.

To guide me and teach me

To choose right from wrong.

With this blessing to me,

I was sent on my way,

And was given to you

On a cold New Years Day.

All through my life

This gift I have cherished,

Without which I know

I soon would have perished.

My gift is a friend

So unselfish and kind.

When I asked for his help,

He never did mind.

I wrote this to thank you

For all that you do.

For this special gift, Dad,

Is none other but you.

                                                       ~ Elizabeth

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day. I was going to post a quote of the day specifically geared toward father's, but my mom beat me to it. She's more on top of things than I am. Good thing! But still, considering the role our father's play in our lives, I felt that they deserved to be honored on our site. So, with that in mind, here is my tribute to the Supermen that help shape us into Wonder Women.

                                              What is a Father?
When you're a baby, a father is a powerful force, protecting you from the world.
When you're a toddler, a father is a playground, a place you're guaranteed to find fun.
When you're a schoolgirl, a father is a teacher, nudging you on to the path of life.
When you're a teen, a father is a ruler, firmly but lovingly keeping you in line.
When you're grown, a father changes. He's still protecting you from the world; he's still a place to go for fun; and he's still a teacher. But he's no longer a ruler. Now, he's a friend. He's protecting you, loving you and guiding you, but mostly, he's there for you. He's a safe haven. He's strength when you think you have none; he's knowledge when you know you're without; he's everything you need, even though you may not know you need it.
To all father's out there, we love you. Thank you for the role you play in our lives.


*** I have to say, this tribute is for father's, but I feel mother's deserve the same. And since we weren't here for Mother's Day, this is my shoutout. Thank you mothers for molding us into the women we are today. For being Wonder Woman and giving us the strength to follow in your steps.****

~Julianne

Quote of the Day!

Minds are like parachutes.  They only function when they are open.
       ~James Dewar

Quote of the Day!

Wise words from an eleven year old boy.
"Never pretend you are choking when your mom has a nervous problem!"
        ~ Nathan ( Elizabeth's son)

Quote of the Day

Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions.
        ~Albert Einstein

Planking

Have any of you heard of planking, the latest craze? Apparently it's getting quite popular... following a similar pattern as Parkore a few years ago. Parkore required way more skill than planking, although planking does have the potential to considerably work your core, if you do it right. Still, if you want to join a fad that's taking the world by storm and you don't want to hop around like a jackrabbit or you don't have the ability to jump up walls or hop ten feet from building to building, than planking is for you. All you have to do is lie down on a horizontal surface, keep your head down, hold your arms tight to your side, and have somebody take a picture. Congratulations. Now you're planking. Some people plank on countertops (seriously, how hard is that? Go take a nap). Other people plank on flagpoles (very interesting. That would take some skill). Still others put their chest on one object and their ankles on another and suspend themselves a few feet off the ground (those are kind of neat as well, and they do take some skill. Kudos to them).
While making fun of the fad one day, I had my kids do some planking. Sure their bodies aren't exactly horizontal and their arms are airplaned out instead of glued to the side, but since I was making fun of it, I figured what they were doing was good enough to count. Besides, they're five and three. They did their best.

My kids.... planking.

Quote of the Day

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
          ~1 John 4:18

Quote of the Day

I want to be treated like a queen. Just not Marie Antionette.
        ~Maxine

Ultimate Revenge on a Telemarketer

We've all gotten a phone call from a telemarketer a time or two. Even telemarketers have probably gotten calls from telemarketers. It's inevitable. Now, I know that it's their job to nag you until you cave and buy the product, or until you hang up on them (which I have done. Really, she wouldn't take no for an answer!), but still, sometimes telemarketers just go too far (and I promise, the lady that I hung up on did). Do they remember that we're Wonder Women who really don't have time to repeat the answer ''no'' fifty times? Probably not. When you're in the middle of one of these neverending, nightmarish phone calls, don't you just wish that you could make them as miserable as they're currently making you? Well, the guy in this link did. He got the ultimate revenge on a telemarketer.
I have to say, if you're a telemarketer, I'm truly sorry. Despite the fact that I can't stand the calls, I do understand that everybody has to earn a living. If that is the option available to you, then I hope you're great at it! But please, don't call me.

~Small disclaimer: This audio clip gets a little crude and a little dirty near the end.


The Ultimate Revenge On A Telemarketer by SaveManny

Quote of the Day

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.
     ~Anne Frank

Wonder Women

I grew up watching the weekly Wonder Woman series on tv. It was fun to watch beautiful Lynda Carter be put in the most difficult circumstances and consistently come out on top!  With the help of her cool red, white and blue sexy outfit, fully equipped with a special belt, rope and wrist bands, she always accomplished her task.  Sometimes she would get to the point where it seemed the bad guy would win this time, but because of her perseverance, quick thinking, and seemingly super-human strength, she would get her man and the world would be a better place.

As an adult, there have been many times that I have considered myself to be Wonder Woman.  I never had a sexy outfit that came with special powers to help me, but I did have a desire to be the best  I could be.  My special powers and super-human strength came from saying a lot of prayers and never giving up.  I have amazed myself with how many things I could accomplish in a day!  I would juggle homeschool, a job, raising the children, housework, laundry, and making meals just to name a few.  Of course those were just the daily jobs, but then there were always extra things thrown in like pregnancy and childbirth, helping others, going grocery shopping etc.  I would do all of this and still try to make time to read my scriptures, exercise, have a good meal on the table and look perfectly refreshed by the time my husband would come home from work. (Whew!  It makes me tired just thinking of it!)

Now, I am not trying to say that I am all that and a bag of chips, but what I am saying is that this is typical behavior for a woman.  We are all trying to be the best we can be and accomplish more than is humanly possible. Sometimes it takes super-human strength to attack our Herculean tasks on a daily basis.

 I have one daughter who goes to public school which means I have to go to the bus stop twice a day.  I have spent a lot of time observing the other mom's who also come to the bus every day.  They are all Wonder Women!!! They all have their own stories and their own super-human strength. For example, There is one Wonder Woman who has two girls.  One of them is a special needs child.  She (and sometimes her Superman husband) carry this little girl on and off of the bus every day.  They are very tender and loving to her.   This Wonder Woman is also a room mother at school. She spends a lot of time helping and going on field trips.  She is also finding time in her busy schedule to make a scrapbook for the teacher for her end of the year gift.

We, at Boospire, believe you are all Wonder Women!  We want you to realize how AMAZING you are!  Each of you has your own story and your own set of circumstances.  We realize that, just like the fictional Wonder Woman, you have your own special powers and super-human strength that help you accomplish your tasks and overcome your challenges every day. Therefore, in the future we will refer to all of you as Wonder Women. Everyone of you is a super hero to us! Together, we will change the world one Wonder Woman at a time!

Elizabeth

Quote of the Day

A wise man will make more opportunities than he finds.
       ~Bacon
        From the book, The Greatest Secret in the world.
        Og Mandino

 

Summertime, Awesome Summertime!

Early morning walks, soaking up the warm rays of the sun, birds singing cheerfully, deer grazing in the fields, wildflowers in shades of purple, yellow and white, lawn mowers roaring, the smell of freshly cut grass, fishing, boating, barbecues, carnivals, fireworks, relaxing with family and friends.  Aaw, It doesn't get any better than this!  Thank heaven for summertime!

Quote of the Day

"You can only become truly accomplished at something you love. Don't make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off of you."
           ~Maya Angelou

Quote of the Day

Your life is an occasion; rise to it!
      ~Mr. Magorium of the wonder emporium.

Quote of the Day

You are the master of your fate!
          ~ Oprah Winfrey (Master class Series)

Kid Talk

This morning I was asking my 4 yr. old what she wanted for her birthday that is coming up in July. Giggling with joy, She rattled off a huge list of things that would cost at least $150.00.  After she was finished, she said " So will you get me all of that?"  I told her that I didn't know if she could have all of it because it would be a lot of money.  She said, "It's ok, Mommy, I am rich!  I have $2.00 and a box that has lots of quarters, dimes, and pennies in it.  I am rich!"  It was sooo cute.  I had to share it.  It is positive thinking at its best!

Elizabeth

Lots of Little Men and a little Lady

School was finally out and the fun summer season beginning. (Yea!) I told my teenage boys that they could invite a bunch of their friends to our house for a campout to start the season out right. (14 of them to be exact!)  Most of my friends thought I was insane. They couldn't believe I would even want to have that many teenagers around, especially boys.  I joked about needing to stop at the liquor store so I would be able to get through the weekend, but secretly, I was excited!

  These boys are awesome! (They treat me like a queen) I love having them get together with my boys.  They play basketball and football, video games, go on hikes and just hang out.  Their energy and their playful personalities are fun to have around.  I really enjoy getting to know all of them and being a part of their lives!

We decided to have a bbq on the second afternoon of their stay.  The boys were playing basketball and my little girls were busily blowing bubbles by the basketball court.  I called all of the kids over so we could ask a blessing on the food.  They all gathered around in a small group, quietly waiting.

My 8 year old daughter heard me call everyone over and quickly joined the group. My 4 year old daughter, who was dressed in a t-shirt and frilly skirt, was having so much fun blowing her bubbles that she was oblivious to everyone standing around her.  I kept trying to get her attention, which made everyone look at her, but to no avail.

 At this same time, some of the bubbles spilled on her leg.  Without even thinking about it, and much to the boys embarrassment, she pulled her skirt down to her knees, wiped her legs off and pulled it back up before we even knew what was happening. She did it so fast that I wan't even sure she had done it. The whole group started laughing. The look on the boys' faces was priceless!  It was a mixture of embarrassment, shock and humor.   Needless to say, it took a few minutes for the laughing to stop so that we could ask the blessing.

 My young daughter went on blowing her bubbles, She seemed a little surprised when she looked up and realized we had all been watching her.  Thank goodness that most of the boys have little sisters!  Everyone just laughed and went on with the bbq and the games. 

The rest of the weekend has gone off without a hitch! My daughter has kept her skirt up where it belongs. The boys have continued to come up with new things to do, which included turning my house into an arcade. They networked enough video games together to allow all of them to play video games at the same time. (They actually played video games til 5 in the morning.)

 They were supposed to go home today but, they have had so much fun that they made arrangements to stay for an extra day or two.  This is ok with me. I enjoy watching them!  I try to imagine what they will be like when they are adults.  They are well on their way.  They are considerate, helpful and kind (most of the time,)   I am sure they will have lots of stories to tell, when they are adults, about the time they camped out at my house. I feel so lucky to be a part of the lives of these little men and also the little ladies.

Elizabeth

In the Blinking of an Eye

When children are born, parents have the false impression that they have all kinds of time to enjoy these precious little souls that they love so much. There is plenty of time for rocking, reading and playing games. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Time flies by so quickly, that they are grown before they know it.

A few weeks ago, one of my daughters got married. Even though she is my fourth child to be married, it was an emotional time for me.  I just wasn't ready to let her go. I was also blessed, during that same week, with a new grandbaby. A beautiful baby girl.  These two events took me on a trip down memory lane.  I wrote this poem while I was reflecting on my children, wondering how the time had passed so quickly.  I hope it gives all parents who read it, the boost they need to remember to hug your children a little tighter, play with them a little longer, and enjoy them while they are still at home.


In the Blinking of an Eye


In the blinking of an eye, nine months have passed.
My precious baby girl is here at last.
I'm happy to put away my maternity clothes
And replace them with dresses, booties and bows.
As I feed her, bathe her and snuggle her near,
I wonder what she'll be like in the coming years.

In the blinking of an eye, she has grown to a girl.
She loves to wear dresses with skirts that will twirl.
The music turns on, she dances with her friends.
They giggle and laugh even after the song ends.
Playing dress up and barbies also adds to the fun.
The joy she brings me is like the warmth of the sun.

In the blinking of an eye, my daughter is a teen.
Her dresses are replaced with stilettos and jeans.
She loves to wear make up in colors galore
and hang pictures of friends on her bedroom door.
I'm delighted to see how beautiful she's grown,
But I dread the day she moves out on her own.

In the blinking of an eye, there's a handsome young man.
He comes to my house every chance that he can.
Before I know it, the big question he's popped.
Their love for each other just couldn't be stopped.
I want to hug her tightly and always keep her near.
Helping her start a new life makes me shed a few tears.

In the blinking of an eye, nine months have past.
My precious grand daughter is here at last,
This gift is so priceless, I think with a smile.
Seeing her tiny face made my tears worthwhile.
I hug my daughter and help out where I can,
Then thank my dear Lord for His all perfect plan!

Elizabeth