just so weird to me...

twitterpated... and in your facebook

ok something is seriously weird lately.

Does anyone else think this whole techy social networking boom is just weird?

So after many friends and family members prodded me to join facebook, I finally did.

I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into. I thought to myself, "well this will be neat to see what old friends from the past are doing and such-"

so I joined, posted some family pictures, and surfed around on people's profiles for a couple weeks and found myself thinking, "oh wow, she has 4 kids now? Oh she actually graduated from college? That is his wife now? They live in Kansas of all places?" Basically I became like this private investigator as I read about everyone's lives...it was kind of fun- although nothing was private about it...

and then Joette showed me one day how I can click on a link on facebook and it will show you what everyone is doing everyday.

our conversation:

April "Everyday? What do you mean everyday?"
Joette: "well some people comment what they are doing during the day...some comment every hour of the day...or minute for that matter."
April: "What do you mean?"
Joette: "Here, I will show you (click click)... So in So ("So in So" to protect names) is playing ping pong and wants to beat her brother at ping pong...and So in So is hanging out with her boyfriend...and So in So is tackling new vocab words for self improvement...and So in So is getting ready to go to work..."
April: "Stop...I don't get it, if they are playing ping pong then how could they be writing on facebook?...Do they play a game of ping pong and then pause for a moment and go type something on the computer??? They take time away from their game to write on the computer???"
Joette: "I guess"
April: "Why?"
Joette: "I don't know, they just do"
April: "Who really cares if someone is playing ping pong?"
Joette: "Someone must care...it is interesting to see what your friends are doing."
April: "I think the person playing ping pong is hoping someone really cares"
Joette: "No, I am sure others care"
April: "Well I could see myself caring if I was stalking the person or had a major crush on the person."
Joette: "See, you would care"
April: "I have like 100+ friends on facebook, a majority of them I don't even know that well...they don't care if I am playing ping pong or not...this is so weird, I don't want to tell people what I am doing everyday."
Joette: "You don't have to"

A couple weeks later and some 100 new people have found me and added me as their friend...I too found some friends I wanted to add...and hey even an old boyfriend from college and I are friends now -never corresponded once...but we are friends on facebook...I guess it is only worth it so I can call Emily and tell her that I am friends with my old boyfriend...this is so weird.

conversation with Joette continued:

April: "I keep getting invited to do all these quizzes on facebook from friends I haven't spoken to in years...like 'What celebrity are you most like?' or 'Do you parent like Angelina Jolie or Madonna?' and I get "winked" or "snowballed" or "hugged" by friends...what does that mean? Do I wink them back? and why would I do that?"
Joette: "April, you're not supposed to think so much about it...I don't think facebook is for you...it is just a way to talk to your friends"
April: "Well I would rather talk to them in person...than just send a "wink" or a picture icon of flowers for Mother's day...this is so weird...so if I don't send a Mother's day flower icon back to my friends....is that like poor facebook etiquette?"

Joette: "Oh, I hope not...by the way, have you joined So in So's "Live off the Land for a Year" group on facebook?"
April: "AHHHHHH!"
Joette: "I don't think you get facebook April."

And then there is Twitter. When I found out about this I thought, "You have got to be kidding me" I can see its importance for some things...but why do people have to take the time to text or write: "I am going to bed." for 300 people to read. This is so weird to me.

Are we all in a some state of needing validation?...Like Emily once said, "Everyone wants their celebrity moment in a sense" Trust me, I blog, I understand- but I try to blog mostly for me and maybe posterity (making a blog book)...so what do you think about all this? Why do people feel the need to tell the world they are hungry or going to bed? Or shopping for ice cream or going to the library?? Isn't this all kind of bizarre?...how bizarre how bizarre....I think the world must be really really lonely...really busy yet really lonely to feel connected somehow with people inside a computer screen...

whatever happen to the good old fashion phone call or talking to the neighbor over the fence type stuff???

ok, I am totally cool with twitter if you are really funny...because then it is like watching Seinfeld all day long...only if you are funny...I would follow Chay on twitter...nothing would be more entertaining.



oh but I just found out an old high school crush just added me as a friend on facebook...oh I can't wait to see his profile....LOL- it's all got to be good for something right? A little afternoon entertainment?

none more inspiring

"Of all the creations of the Almighty, there is none more beautiful, none more inspiring than a lovely daughter of God who walks in virtue with an understanding of why she should do so, who honors and respects her body as a thing sacred and divine, who cultivates her mind and constantly enlarges the horizon of her understanding, who nurtures her spirit with everlasting truth." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Our Responsibility to Our Young Women," Ensign, Sept. 1988, 11)

ffff

fight for freedom friday....

maybe you can see why I am a strong supporter of the 2nd amendment:



Don't you just love this photo of my family????

knowing my family, my dad was probably complaining and tired from a long vacation with the rowdy kids and Mom was probably all excited to get this picture taken...how did they get us to be so serious??? I was probably what? 5? Man, we are gooood. Trust me, my family is really good at being dramatic. We look so sad! This picture makes me giggle.

I love how Joette and I are holding books and dolls...



and Mom is holding a 12 inch barrel revolver...



And if I'm not mistaken, isn't that style of wallpaper kind of the "in" thing again?

and of course- beverage of choice: Jack Daniels



Happy Birthday Daddy! 66 years old today! I thought you would enjoy the picture!

makeover may

Someone asked me why I'm not blogging more about my Makeover May. Well you see, that is all apart of the makeover- 'Stay off the computer as much as possible!' I sat down one day and thought about all the time I waste sitting in front of my laptop surfing the internet, reading every news article, online deal shopping, youtube, blogs, blogging, social networks, emails...and it is all good and neat stuff- but just too much. Plus I just want to be outside! Holy smokes the weather is BEAUTIFUL.

Makeover May.


The other day Kenzie drew me a picture of a cow with a million dots all over it. She came up to me with the picture and said, "Look Mom, it's you...I make a picture of you...a cow with lots of moles." oh lovely...

so with that self esteem booster, I still carry on.

I went to the temple last week and felt my divinity.

I've been a really patient mom lately, thanks to prayer.

I've been running and I feel like I'm going to puke every time I do. I am running my first 5K since who knows how long ago on June 6th. I am more excited that the run follows the river the whole race...oh and I better get a t-shirt...

I have done some yoga- I will never underestimate that form of exercise ever again- it was so hard and every muscle in my body ached for 5 days.

My MS symptoms have resurfaced. No it's not from eating junk food, stress from Mom dying, or lack of sleep from paper route- it is exercise that put my body into overload acute weakness and tingles- this is what makes me mad. I hate you MS. It makes me cry because I don't want to accept that my strong endurance body from the past has been replaced with this sensitive fragile don't work too hard body. I slowed down for a bit and took it easy and I feel somewhat strong again...

I am not going to let this get me down. I will live a long and healthy life. Yes I will. You're going down multiple sclerosis.

I have cavities again. But at least I get a free teeth whitening kit from it all.

I visit the stirrup lady tomorrow. "spread 'em" (OBGYN)

I can't get a mammogram for at least another 4 months...I guess milk sticks around for a good 6 months after you quit breastfeeding....who knew?

Funny enough, Saturday Chay and I went to the "Money Makeover" seminar with Dave Ramsey. It was FANTASTIC! Money "makeover" in May? Perfect. It was so inspiring. More to come on that soon.

so I continue to fight the good fight...with a Wendy's frosty every now and then to keep me sane.

can't believe it update

it was Scott, my neighbor, who played the prank on me...and yes I have had at least 4 people ask me if I just got my GED.

It all started when Chay decided to let off a round of fire crackers on our neighbors front porch late at night. Chay lit the match and then jumped a fence and hid beneath their camper...it was pretty funny I will admit, but I am not sure how I got involved with this. I am just the wife watching through the blinds laughing uncontrollably...I have never seen people come to the door so quickly.

Our neighbors, a single Dad and 2 boys (one being Scott, Chay's secretary in Elder's Quorum)...the funnest people alive...They did mention there was a comeback coming...and guess what, now it is war.

Any ideas?

I think I will put an add for Scott in the singles classifieds in the local newspaper...the men seeking men section...oh that is bad...that would be so funny...hmmmmmmm

can't believe it

I'm sure there are a lot of April Clarks out there who are finally getting their GED...but this sign belongs to a convenient store that so happens to be about a quarter mile or less from my house- and is at the central of our ward boundaries. The store is basically at the crossroads, the point of reference, mile marker, landmark whatever of the little city/town I live in. You have to pass the Terrace Depot at least twice a day if you live here...

I think they rent out the sign or let people put random messages up there- because I have seen a bunch of "Welcome Home Elder so in so" or "So in So is the best visiting teacher" (Definitely a 'You know you're in Utah when...' moment)- I have seen "congrats to graduates" or "welcome the new baby"- the Terrace Depot sign usually always says something kind of off beat, nothing related to the store, but mostly community announcement type stuff. Today however I wished the sign would say "Bean Burritos $.49 each"

-and for the record Scott, I have my bachelors. almost 30 years old and just getting my GED...this is funny...too funny. If you did this...oh just wait...

i have a dream

Nothing could make Martin Luther King more happy...than the Red House Furniture store...Thanks Chay for finding this for me.

I will give a prize away to anyone who can watch this without laughing...(I don't really have a prize, but you get my point.)



"Can't we all just get along?"

"I like pumping iron and pumping furniture into people's homes."

maybe she's right

quotes from the mommies in my life: Some of these quotes are not specifically "their" quotes, but they can definitely claim them as part of their legacy...

These quotes I seem to always remember...and seem to be right at the tip of my tongue when certain life's situations find me:

"Never expect anything and you'll always be pleasantly surprised." ~Mom

"The best way is right away" Bev, mother in law

"The only way a girl can get clean in the shower is to have her stand on her head." ~ Grandma Tomblin

"If you are prepared, ye shall not fear." Bev, mother in law

"You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." ~Mom

"The only way to get through life is to laugh your way through it. You either have to laugh or cry. I prefer to laugh." Marjorie Hinckley (a huge mother figure in my mind)

"If a woman would only learn to give her husband 5 minutes every night, she would find herself very happily married." Grandma Clark (Chay's Grandma)

"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take...but by the moments that take our breath away." ~other Mother in Law (Chay's step mom) Luanne

"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much." Mother Theresa

"The squeaky wheel gets the grease." Bev, mother in law

"I choose to live. Life is short...fill your days with family and service." ~Mom's words from blog- 8 months before she passed away.


Happy Mother's Day yesterday.

ffff

policies vs. principles

doesn't make sense to me...how people don't know the difference anymore

the whole "save the polar bears" yet killing babies is a choice- this type of stuff is just really confusing to me...

Someone just told me last weekend that I should never vote morally. "Never vote morally? What in the heck does that mean? Do you mean emotionally? Who I am is who I am, what I believe is what I believe, who I choose to represent me better represent what I believe."

Priorities= I will vote against any candidate that is pro-choice. No matter what. It is that important. Before any research program, global warming blah, economic philosophy, "Change"...or whatever is the newest thing

morals, principles, commandments, God- first- first in my life.

If you believe the Constitution to be inspired from God, than this country was founded by the hand of God, which means this is His country. His plan, His purpose is far greater than any idea of man...and I truly believe the promise if we "keep the commandments, we shall prosper in the land."

I have heard someone say: "(So in So) candidate is pro-choice, which I don't really agree with, but he promises to provide funding for Art programs to inner city schools- which is very important to me." Are you being serious?

ok so are you ready for this???? Guess what???? I like Sarah Palin. Oh my gosh I am CRAZY. Sarah Palin? She's a nut job inexperienced politician from a town of 5 people that doesn't read magazines. The media treated her so wonderful didn't they?

I really like Sarah Palin. I like her because she understands true government. The true government that was designed by the forefathers so many years ago. Argue if you want. That is ok. She spoke at a pro-life banquet last month and I decided to share some quotes from that speech. I am not a republican and I did not like John McCain, but I really like how this woman is not afraid to speak with her moral belief system as her guide:

"Let me in invite you to Alaska, God’s country, because this is what inspires me. And I want to tell you a little bit about Alaska, because if you go there you cannot deny the hand of the Creator in that state…and it seems that God just dumped his stores of oil and gas up there, billions and billions of barrels of oil and trillions of trillions cubic feet of natural gas, that I believe He intended for us to develop and use to better our world…"

"I truly believe that our families and our small businesses can spend the money they earn better than the government will ever be able to spend it."

(Talking about her baby Trigg, who has Down syndrome) "He turns one on Saturday and He is our gift from God. He’s proven to me beyond a shadow of doubt that every innocent life does have purpose and there is no accident. And I am going to choose the Creator’s idea of perfection over our society’s definition of perfection any day."

"Oh my goodness, it has been an interesting year and one day I may sit down and write all about it…I have learned some things, things now I know for sure, not the least of which is the need to identify who we are, why we are so confident that America can embrace a culture of life- knowing there is purpose and good destiny for EVERY child. No matter your party, your background, your race or religion; protecting and promoting the sanctity of life trumps all of that."

"Some things we can all know for sure, America’s forefathers, founded this great nation with powerful words in America’s Declaration of Independence- they read in part like a Holy Text, “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
Providentially and with so much wisdom our founding fathers wrote that life is valuable because it is ordained and not because it is utilitarian- that life is precious whether in the form of a helpless baby or dependent senior citizen, or a special special needs kid, I know for sure, that my son is perfect just as he is, and I do believe he is made in the image of God…life is valuable because it is ordained."

"A baby is God’s opinion that the world should go on and I know for sure what you are doing here tonight (at the banquet) is powerful. You are a testament to the force and will of people who believe in truth- and truth has a way of barging through the doors of our lives whether we are prepared for it or not." ~Sarah Palin, Alaska Governor

so no matter how much you don't like her- you have to admit Sarah Palin is a very moral and faithful person...who puts her trust in a higher source...who defends life- but who wants a moral and faithful person in office anyway?

fight for freedom friday

proud of my poopy odd children

Ju Ju, can you please stop pooping in the bathtub?

This is the 5th time we have had to get out the bleach, disinfect all the toys, and give a little no no pat on the bottom. It is like she waits all day to get into the warm friendly water to release her stinky chunks.






And Kenzie is suddenly in this, "I am going to hide half or all my face when Mom takes pictures of me" phase...oh well, it still beats the "cheesy fake grin for the camera" smile she usually pulls.


Love love love my girls.

makeover may

body beautiful

so I've decided it was time to take care of myself dang it!

no more self loathing...it is time to do what I've been afraid of doing for a long time:

CHANGE.

Don't ask me why I fear change- I have convinced myself that I am the most familiar with the world around me when I am feeling sorry for myself... but like I said earlier, sometimes we don't want to give up our weaknesses because without them we aren't exactly sure who we would be without them.

So kind of like a run down house needing renovation: Here I go.

First thing: the headaches and back aches- CHIROPRACTOR I love you. I have decided to solve my problems instead of just dealing with my problems. I have already gone twice to Mr. Strange Chiropractic Man Who Talks Too Much, and I already feel so much better. I even got myself a water pillow. I filled it up wrong and water was going everywhere last night- but after I figured it out...wow...what a good night's sleep.

Next week: Mr. Dentist.
Week after that: Mrs. OBGYN and Mrs. Mammogram Machine

I went to the store yesterday and I bought a pair of these:



Chay pulled the girls in the bike trailer with his bike while I attempted my first big run since who knows when. (I ended up running about a mile LOL) I am a runner I'd say. I did cross country back in the day. I remember the 8 mile runs on Thursday afternoons. I even ran a triathlon the summer before I was married. The swimming part about killed me. Anyway, I don't hate running. I actually think it is very empowering...I am just afraid of it at the moment...because my lungs feel like they are ready to explode...and I just feel awkward.

*note to self: never go running on Monday nights after family home evening in your neighborhood: we stopped 4 times to talk to friends and families in the ward (it was actually kind of fun. I LOVE MY WARD!)

Tonight I start Yoga. I have never done yoga. Only once with Joette- a DVD, and the instructor looked liked Jackie Chan, so we quoted Shanghai Noon the whole time--wasn't a successful yoga effort but seriously funny-

I have been living off Costco and their wonderful supply of big veggie packs, their brown rice crackers, almonds, soy milk, hummus, organic brown rice, red potatoes, cheap salsa...I don't know what I would do without Costco. Heaven Bless that place...



and of course about 2 of these a day:



When I pray at night, I beg for the Lord's strength. I pray for a peaceful mind, faith to become stronger from Mom's death, to become more aware of those around me, to let go and let God take over.... to keep me motivated to take better care of my body, to remind me how important it is to my well being, but keep it in check and not get addicted or compulsive about exercising, but to surrender to it.

I will have to tell you about the summer I became addicted to running- well I will just say real quick: one summer I ran about 5-6 miles every morning before work. If I wasn't able to go running, I was so mean and rude. I was addicted. I would have withdrawals and nothing was more important to me than my morning run. I remember one time my mom needed me to help her do something at 6 in the morning and I was just livid. She reminded me nicely that my running is defeating its purpose and that it was turning me into a selfish brat. (my mom was VERY honest and blunt) I didn't learn until after some time that she was exactly right. She maybe could have used a different approach but still...

Anyway...

so here I go...

the chaco update

My Chacos broke. I kid you not. It appears that the blog post about my love affair with these shoes jinxed me...I swear only 2 days after posting that post, Kenzie stepped down on the back of the shoe while I was lifting up and "rip".

Chay didn't seem to be too disappointed for some reason...until I insisted I get a new pair.

so now what?...what on earth am I going to do? They are still wearable...I think I am going to write to Chacos Incorporated and tell them how loyal I am to their shoes and how I voluntarily advertise for them all the time- which has lead quite a few folks to the purchasing of their shoes...hmmm....maybe I could get a free pair??? Their soles have a lifetime warranty but the straps don't...

so while I was mourning the breakage of my beloved shoe...Kenzie cheered me up when she noticed this picture and said, "Look Mommy, Jesus has Chacos too!"



"yes, Kenzie, Jesus has Chacos too." It was the greatest thing I had heard all day.