Time Out!

The words "time out" don't always have to take on a negative meaning.  I had a time out this weekend that was rejuvenating, invigorating, strengthening, and inspiring.  I went to "Time Out For Women" in Salt Lake City.  The theme was "Infinite Hope". There were over 3,900 hopeful women in attendance!  
My daughter, Camille, and I had a wonderful time.   We were sad that my other daughters were unable to attend but maybe next year.

The speakers were inspiring and entertaining.  The songwriters were amazing!   And after looking at this picture, I realize that I really do need to get smaller pants.

We went to Blue Lemon by Deseret Book for lunch.  The Pear Gorgonzola Spinach Salad, that we split, was delicious!

The sweet potato fries with the dipping sauce were heavenly.  I think more people would eat sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving dinner if they were served fried!

After 2 days of being gone, I came home to a clean house, a cleaned out garage, and a hard-working husband!  What an unexpected, delightful surprise!  So, you see, my friends, a time out really is a good thing!

p.s. I met two more wonderful blogging friends this week.  Yvonne is here for her daughter's wedding.  Her daughter and I work at the same school!  Yvonne came to a bridal shower we had for Heidi and we were able to talk and get to know each other even better!  She's a beautiful lady, inside and out!

I met Wendy at her son's viewing. The occasion was much more solemn and heart wrenching.  Wendy, too, is absolutely beautiful!  My heart goes out to her and her family at this tragic time.

Feisty Fiesta - A Course in Self Defense

We had a Relief Society activity on Thursday called the Feisty Fiesta.  Feisty because we learned how to protect ourselves from attackers and Fiesta because we had nachos after our workout!
Richard and Jason Davis, who have  black belts in karate and  each run their own martial arts studio, were the instructors for the fun-filled, informative, exhausting, activity!

There are 5 Ts to be aware of:
1. Target - Someone could be watching our activity to see if we do the same thing day after day.  Others may just watch us for a minute to see if we're vulnerable.  We need to be aware of our surroundings, look confident, don't be distracted and change up our routine once in a while.

2. Test - That person may walk past us to see what we do, or may ask us a question to see how we respond.  Will we act weak and look away or will we look him in the eye to let him know we could identify him if necessary?

3. Threaten - If he comes toward us in a way that we feel threatened or feel he's in our space,  we need to put our hands up, with palms out, just below our face, take a bold step forward, and yell, "STOP!"  That breaks his cycle and he may turn and leave.

4. Touch - If, after yelling, "STOP", he only hesitates then proceeds to grab you, there are some things to remember:
♦Thumbs are weak - you can get out of his grip by pulling your arm either up or down depending on where his thumbs are located on your arm.
♦Circles work - If he grabs your shirt, step away from him at the same time bring your arm into a full circle to break his grip.
♦Don't just scream, but scream "FIRE" or something that would get the attention of others.
I found this video to show "thumbs are weak".  This is kind of wimpy because we were having to break out of both of the attacker's hands locked on our arm.  But you'll get the idea.



5.  Take-off - If he tries to take you with him, do everything in your power to get away. If he takes you away from the area, your chances of survival are slim.

We all practiced the techniques on each other.  We were grabbing, getting out of holds, kicking, and punching.  I felt like Jillian as I stood and held the pads on my hands while my partner punched the pads as hard as she could.  I have a new respect for Jillian! Today I feel like I've been run over by a truck! (I need some Ibuprofen!)

We did have a good time but we were dealing with a very serious subject.  We had 2 hours of instruction.  What we learned only scratches the surface and what little I have written here only scratches the surface of the surface! We can't be paranoid but we do need to be cautious and smart. 

The best part of this activity was being able to come home and try it out on my manly son and husband!  It really works! 

Taking Our Callings Seriously

Just a little background before I tell you the story.  I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon).  In our church the members serve in various postions to help the ward unit (parish) function.  These are "callings" because we are called by the Bishop (priest, minister) to serve.  We address each other as Brother and Sister.

Many years ago, Brother L, who is mentally handicapped but very active in the ward, was given a calling to take care of the hymn books.  It was a low-key, simple calling that the Bishop felt he could do.

Brother L was to make sure the hymbooks were back in the holders on the back of the benches at the end of the meetings. 

He went the extra mile. 

The next week was Fast and Testimony meeting, where the members of the congregation stand and bear testimony of Christ.  Brother L stood and chastized the members of the ward for leaving their hymn books on the benches and not taking care of them.  The next week there were notes on the inside cover of the hymn books.  The note read:

RULES:

Put the hymn book away

Do not let your children play with the hymn book

Do not write in the hymn book

Do not bend the pages of the hymn book

On the back cover was a note with rules for the rules.  It read:

DO NOT REMOVE THE RULES

DO NOT WRITE ON THE RULES

The members of the ward must not have given heed to the RULES because Brother L wasn't satisfied with their care of the hymn books.  A few weeks later, during the middle of the week, he took a wheelbarrow to the church, loaded up all the hymn books, and took them to his home.

The next Sunday was Fast and Testimony meeting.  Imagine the surprise to have all the hymn books gone!  Brother L stood and chastized the congregation again and told them he would get an attorney if necessary to make the people treat the hymn books with respect.  The Bishop stood and said, "Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all took our callings as seriously as Brother L.  Brother L, we promise that if you bring the hymnbooks back we will be very careful with them and follow the rules!" 

The books were returned and were never taken from the chapel again.  Either the members followed the rules or Brother L found out it was too expensive to hire an attorney!

I've told my bishop that I want that calling!  I have some great ideas!  He hasn't given it to me yet.

THE THRILL OF VICTORY!

Were you ever involved in a pinewood derby race? Did you help your son make that block of wood into a lean, mean, racing machine? Did you help him paint it with racing stripes and make sure it weighed just enough to qualify by using a glue gun and pennies or screws? Was it a last minute project that had the whole family rushing around to get it done and hoping the paint would dry before the first run down the track?
Or was it all Dad's job? Did he re-live his childhood with his son's race and want the car to be the best design, the fastest and the best paint?

We had a great opportunity in our ward, (our area for our church) to have a party with a chili cook-off AND a pinewood derby! One of the categories was the "unlimited" where anything goes - as long as it fit on the track. We had the old duffers talking smack for months about their fast cars. Andy, my husband was one of them.

Andy has a pinewood derby truck that he had bought over 10 years ago. He realized he had a secret weapon and wanted to keep it under wraps until the night of the race. He had everyone curious about his "car." Andy sent it to our son in Albuquerque, who is a custom airbrush artist, to have it painted.

The truck arrived, beautifully painted and ready to be revealed.

The night of the race, Andy happened to be fashionably late and placed his secret weapon on the table next to the other cars. The race began.

The truck, I mean, Andy, won every race he entered. He was awarded the Gold Award and a 100 Grand candy bar (the stakes were high).
He triumphantly carried the truck home, with a smile on his face and the satisfaction of knowing he beat all the other old duffers!
Saturday morning I noticed that everything had been rearranged on the mantle and the truck had taken it's "rightful place!"

Victory is sweet!

More Compassion

When we moved in to our home, 7 years ago, the first people to introduce themselves were the Lees; Carl and Sylvia. They lived across the street and showed up on our doorstep with warm cinnamon rolls, a friendly greeting and an invitation to join in the neighborhood activities.
We weren't the only recipients of their compassionate deeds. They befriended the friendless and took care of the sick. Carl and Sylvia were in their late 70s.

Sylvia had a heart disease that required surgery. During a visit, after she returned home from the hospital, she told me that what this neighborhood needs is "more compassion!" She said that when she got stronger, she and Carl would teach and show compassion to everyone. Imagine our dismay when Sylvia had a stroke and passed away a week later.

Carl lived alone for a year and a half. He became more feeble, but, each Sunday, he walked to church, using his cane. He was dignified, soft spoken and a genuine gentleman.
One evening, there was an ambulance at his home. I ran across the street and found paramedics taking care of Carl. He had fallen, hit his head and layed on the floor for over an hour until he could get to the phone. Even in that condition, he thanked me for coming, asked me to call his granddaughter to let her know he was going to the hospital and apologized for all the blood on the floor. He died 2 weeks later at his daughter's home.
Carl and Sylvia may not have carried out their ultimate goal to make the neighborhood more compassionate, but they left a great legacy for everyone to follow.

The house is for sale. I hope we get as good of neighbors as the Lees....no...on second thought, I hope I can be as good of a neighbor as the Lees.

What examples they were to everyone!