"Could it be...Satan?" the Church Lady, SNL

Someone posted an article a short while ago about energy work and in essence the article spelled out how it was from the adversary. That particular post has been weighing on my mind ever since. I feel that it couldn't have come at a better time as I have been contemplating and praying for answers regarding energy work and how it fits in with the gospel or not. About three years ago I was in a place similar to what a woman on FB (Nicole Crapo) described in a recent post on depression. I was crying all day long--daily and couldn't seem to pull out of it. My husband was worried. I had seen Doctors and tried just about every conventional medical treatment there was. I had seen specialists, I had prayed and fasted, I was listening to conference talks daily, but still couldn't shake the thoughts that plagued me--that my children would be better off without me, I was a failure as a mother, I couldn't handle all I had to do, etc. A lady at our church could see my pain and approached me. She said she knew I wasn't into alternative healing, but knew someone that might be able to help. I thought "energy work" was utter nonsense and even made fun of it on occasion with my husband. My friend referred me to a woman named Sheridan Ripley. I was desperate and called her up and asked if it would work if I didn't believe in it ONE IOTA. She said it would, told me she charged a nominal fee and off I went. After three days of having a session with her it felt like a physical weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I felt lighter than air, happy, and a lot like the girl I was in my 20's. Now being in my 40's I was amazed. I no longer had any negative thoughts about myself, my parenting or my life, Could this be of the adversary? What does he have to gain by my no longer being plagued with negative thoughts? And no longer feeling like my kids would be better off without me? How could this be a plot to lead me astray when for the first time I felt hopeful?

In the article the author claimed that using Christ's name in healing was wrong. But everything we ask for and pray for is in Saviors name, is it not? Someone posted how christ centered energy work made them cringe. But one of the homework assignments I was given by Sheridan had me state daily, "I am surrounded by Angels, Gods love, and a loving family". Conventional therapy would NOT have given me that statement to say. And aren't we taught that the only way to cast out devils is with Christ's name? There are many examples of casting out devils in the scriptures, curses mentioned too. So couldn't they be just as relevant today? I feel like I was plagued by thoughts from the adversary prior to doing that energy work. Did it fix everything that's wrong with me? No, but it did change my life for the better.

The article said muscle testing is of the devil. My first experience with muscle testing was actually 16 years ago when I went to see a specialist to fix my pelvis. After giving birth I had so many complications that my hips were deformed and I had chronic pain. You could physically see it through my clothes. After seeing 5 doctors who didn't know anything about my problem or how to help I found one Doctor that did. The Doctor (an osteopath & internal medicine doc) muscle tested me and used acupressure techniques to help fix me and voila my hips went back to normal. Again was that healing of the devil? I've been pondering this...If our very DNA has a record of all that we do--our choices, etc....(aren't we taught that when we get to heaven our book will be written in our bodies?) If that is true then couldn't our bodies, our DNA much like God knows about the decisions we will make in advance--couldn't our bodies have a clue deep down inside as to what is best for us? Not saying that it should ever take the place of prayer, but couldn't it be a useful tool? I have found that it isn't always accurate as well. But for the most part it has been helpful in finding many things. 

After my exposure to energy work being so successful I had to find out more about it, why it worked, how it worked, etc. i have since attended workshops, classes, conferences, etc. to find answers. While I have learned how to do it I still have no desire to go into it as a profession. The money exchange still doesn't sit well with me as I feel that it is a spiritual gift. And have also felt that many who practice are led astray by the desire to put their worth above others in terms of monetary gain.

Regardless, these are my thoughts. I have no desire to be led astray by the adversary. I do not wish to follow him. I only desire to follow my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate healer. I truly believe I was led to the healing I have found in my life by God. It was what I needed at the time. I still have many questions, but that article does not sit well with me and I see many more ways in which she was wrong in her conclusions. So in a lot of ways it helped me. 

Finally, I made an appointment to speak with our Stake President (high official in our local clergy), President Clark.  I told him my experience, what I had learned, and asked him what he thought.  He told me the adversary does not bring about good, cannot heal or uplift.  He called the work I was doing "Principle based therapy" and said research showed it was far more effective than conventional treatments.  He said what I had been given was a gift and should be used to bless the lives of others.  He counseled me to always seek God's counsel when using this gift and to be grateful for such a gift.  Amen! 

Weeks, um, lots....almost done

A few rooms are almost completed.  The most exciting is the pantry!!!

Weeks 3,4,5 construction

  Whenever the rains come they cover it up with plastic.  Some nights we woke up to water streaming through our ceiling downstairs.  :)

 The giant pile of wood has dwindled.

Old attic space gone

 Where attic used to be

 Floor of attic

 Pipes gotta go somewhere.  Out with the old bathroom!  Going to make a smaller closet with shower and toilet in this area.  

 Old bathroom space will become our new pantry.  Yeah!

 Framing begins

Week 1 & 2 Construction

Our home renovations - pre-construction

Pre-construction

proposals

OK, so yesterday after school a darling little boy came up to me and asked if we could follow him home so Vivian could come over for a playdate. After speaking with the child's father we agreed upon a playdate for today. As we were leaving from the playdate Samson said "I love you!" to Vivian. Then as we were walking away Viv said that Samson had asked her to marry him and she asked me if she could. I said when she grew up she could make that decision and if she still wanted to when she grew up she could. She turned around and said, "Samson! Guess what? My mom said I could marry you! She said it's my decision and that I can make that decision so I can marry you!" His father chimed in, "We'll see. A lot can change between now and then. Sometimes when we grow up we want different things." I had to chuckle under my breath. He probably didn't like my answer! :)

Then on the car ride home Emmy asked me what the heck Adelaide's song was about from Guys and Dolls the musical. I've been singing it a lot in preparation for an audition. After explaining it she says, "Why doesn't she just propose to her boyfriend?"
Me, "it wasn't proper in her day--they just didn't do that". Emmy, "Well, what about our day?" Me, "Yes, you can do it in our day. In fact, my friend Julie proposed to her husband". Emmy, "I am So doing that! Boy's are so clueless. I'm not waiting around til he figures out he should ask."

Ah.....

Our 2 kitties

I have to admit the addition of these kitties to our home has been one of the greatest blessings of this past year. We LOVE them. They are little Siberians, have low allergen levels, and are the sweetest kittens ever! This definitely was one of Nate's better ideas! On their first night we didn't have their cage yet so we put them in the bathroom and this is how we found them when we woke up.

boy genius

OK, so both my husband and I agree-- we don't know where this kid came from. As a high school freshman (according to the PSAT) jake just scored better than 99% of juniors taking the same exam. He, also, scored between 29-33 on the PLAN (which is the pre-ACT). What the wha?

The 3 foot chicken

Me, "I would like to know who drew the 3 foot chicken on my bathroom wall?"
Abby, Vivian..."Not me! Not me!"
Jake, "I want to see this 3 foot chicken"
Emmy, "me too!"
Everyone follows into the bathroom.

Me again, "which one of you did this?"
Abby and Vivian again, "not me! not me!"
Jake, "it couldn't have been Vivian--it's too good. Abby had to have done it"
Emmy, "yeah, Abby had to have done it"
Abby, "no I didn't!!@!"

As everyone exits my bathroom Vivian falls behind to whisper to me, "It's a really good chicken, huh momma?"
Me, "yes, Vivian, it's a really good drawing of a chicken"
Vivian replies beaming, "I did it."

2 favorite quotes from today

Em, 11 yrs, when speaking of two of her friends, "they get along great they know everything about all kinds of inappropriate stuff".
Viv, 5 yrs, "Abby, you wanna come see my catepillar poop!?!"

I love summer. When else can I be around to hear all the fun things my kids say. Lots more to tell, but I'm busy packing, packing, packing, again......

Peer pressure

We've been studying Christ's ministry and crucifixion in Matthew as a family over the past month. I've been baffled by how when Pilate brought Jesus before the crowd they all shouted "crucify him". I thought where were the 5,000 that followed him to listen to his teachings? Where were all those he healed to shout "set him free"? Where were they??!! And how could Peter deny him 3 times! I've always been someone who marches to their own tune and didn't mind standing out or apart from the rest--choosing my way even if it departed from the rest. When I was in college I thrived on that fact. I've often thought I wouldn't be able to deny him, but would I have had the strength to speak apart from the rest? If I did I probably would have been stoned or spat upon or who knows as the people back then were brutal.

This past Sunday I got a better understanding of what it must have been like. I direct the children's choir at my church. I am always looking for creative ways to teach the music so that the kids will enjoy singing. This past Sunday I borrowed someone's idea to play tic-tac-toe. I made a giant board with different song titles in each square. I divided the two halves of the room into x -team and O-team and let the game commence. Near the end of one round one child chose not to block the other team to prevent them from winning so that they could sing a particular song. I asked him if he knew how to play and what the object of the game was and he said "yes". There immediately was an uproar from his teammates to change the square. He was holding his ground and starting to turn red in the process. Again the crowd swelled with "NO! CHANGE IT!!!!" The boy about burst into tears and at the last second changed it despite his original desire, sat down and cried while attempting to sing the new song--not of his choosing. My first thought was, "boy, was this a STUPID idea!". My second thought was, "Wow...this is what it must have been like". You could see the shame in his face as he tried to hold his ground and go against what everyone was telling him. The pressure was too great.

As our society grows further and further away from Christianity I wonder if it will again get to that point. In all the films I see whenever there is someone religious they are always painted in a poor light. As someone who is judgemental and self-righteous--imposing their "crazy" beliefs on everyone else. Joseph smith believed in Christ and that He visited him and what happened to him? He couldn't deny what he saw--what he believed and as a result was teased, beaten, thrown in jail for no good reason and eventually murdered. What did he have to gain by sticking to his story? Nothing. When he heard the crowd and how adversely they reacted to what he saw and heard he could have easily caved and denied it all. But, he didn't. Believing and following Christ has never been a "popular" idea and I don't know that it ever will be. I hope I am never put to that test and have to choose like that.

OK, so this is quite a lengthy post so I'd better quit. Don't know if it led anywhere, but there's my food for thought for the day..... This morning we'll be reading about Christ's resurrection. At least, there is always a happy ending to the story of Christ's life. I think that's why I like happy endings. I believe in Christ and that we all will be resurrected someday and that is good news!

New Things

Some new things for me this week:

I've finally joined the new age and am now texting....Or rather, Nate bought me a phone that I have the capability to send and receive texts on. Haven't figured out how yet, but I will.

Mom, jeans. They're called "not my daughter's jeans" and they go ALL the way up to my belly button and I LOVE THEM!!! I am SO sick of trying to find clothes to fit that won't shrink up when I sit down or feel like I'm spilling out the top of them. Goodbye fashion--I'm done with you and moving on to a happier simpler life :)

Vegan Chocolate cake. Viv wanted to make a chocolate cake with yellow frosting tonight for Family Night. We had run out of eggs so while looking for an egg substitute online I found a Vegan chocolate cake recipe that was actually quite good. Halfway through I realized we were out of cocoa so I subbed hot chocolate. Used blood oranges for the orange juice it called for and it turned out great. It was spongy, moist and chewy. I'll have to post it on the Bird Food blog.

New use for a food scraper. If you lock yourself out of a room without the keys a food scraper will work as a shimy to open the door without damaging the door. Nate actually discovered this one, but I thought it was useful information.

The number 1 ladies detective agency and Doc Martin. Two new TV shows the family and I like to watch from netflix.

Posting within a month of my last post.

Good times

I've been thinking of renaming our blog to "the rantings and ravings of a middle-aged house wife". Sounds good, doesn't it? All I can think of posting, of late, are whinings and unhappy tales. So...if you don't feel like listening, move on!

I seem to have acquired a "bulging disc". I really don't care how many times Nate explains to me what that means, it's a terrible nuisance and I want it to go away! Imagine not being able to sit down or bend over and pick-up anything on the ground. Now imagine 4 children who do nothing but put things on the ground. We are slowly being buried in our own home. Today I actually stepped over a large grape twig--you know the stick-like things that are left after the grapes are gone? Yep, and I left it there too. It's already dried out and in stick form--what's another week. Sorry, "sidetracked home-executives", I will not be reaching my goals this month.

On top of that we are on DAY 3 of Abby's house arrest. I took her to the Doctor yesterday after my sons carpool informed me that she and her children all had H1N1. Abby started out with high fever, flushed cheeks, lethargy DAY 1. DAY 2, lower fever writhing in pain stating her tummy hurt--THAT and the H1N1 news sent me in to the Pediatrician. Turns out she doesn't have H1N1 she has Influenza B! Who knew? Am I kicking myself for not getting the kids flu shots this year? YES!!! Not to complain, but they were only offered the 3rd Thursday of the month, at a clinic 1/2 hour away, AND, ONLY on Thursdays. OK, so if I wanted to do that I would have to skip swimming, piano lessons, soccer and dance--not to mention someone to take my carpools for preschool and Jr. High. If you add all that up (because you can't reschedule classes you've paid for) it comes to a whopping $75 bucks. Could they make it any less inconvenient? Next year--we will make it! OK, so back to DAY 3 of Influenza B. Today is vomiting day. Oh, JOY!!! Doctor ordered her home for 5 days. Oh, and did I mention, my husband, left her $100 Tamiflu prescription out all night when it says to refrigerate?

Yeah. The rantings and ravings of a middle-aged house wife. I think it fits :)

help and high school stuff

OK, so does ANYONE know how to post an upright picture on your blog without it looking retarded? Yes, I said retarded. Whatever, I give up.

Nate and I went with our oldest tonight to visit a potential HS. Oh. MY. Goodness!! Holy Cow--it was like a private university. Their language program from day 1 is an immersion program. They're on a 4X4 schedule so they can complete a language in a couple years--including taking the AP exam and then take another. What do they offer, you ask? Oh....Japanese, Spanish, French, and ASL. Their performing arts program offers chamber choir, Vocal Performance--complete with private voice lessons, Gamelan, Samba Corvo, Rock band--they were awesome by the way....many performed for us tonight. Graphic artists was amazing--they pair up with local professionals, have mentor programs. What on earth?!? I WANT to GO THERE! OK, so this doesn't even scratch the surface of what they covered tonight.

The downside--this particular school will mean A LOT of extra driving pour moi. What a brilliant and novel idea--letting the students choose where they want to go for high school. That way the schools have to compete to want to get your child to go there. This is the way ALL education should be based. Nate and I were floored. I hope the other schools are as amazing--especially the one 2 miles from our house. Let's keep our fingers crossed!

Signing out...Oh,and I'm serious if anyone can help me make the first page look normal with an upright photo I would be so grateful.

Jeni

Ah....the sweet life

So, Nate and I have been married 17 years to the day today! Things are going great. I don't know how we got to suddenly be SO lucky. The beginning of this month was SO stressful and today we're feeling so blessed. We LOVE our new place. Our neighbors on one side said we can pick all the avocados (they're Haas, by the way), blood oranges and lemons we want. On the other side we took a peace offering of choc chip cookies for all the fruit the girls have been stealing and they said we're welcome to come pick anytime!!! All their trees drape over our fenceline....Grapefruit, plums, apples, oranges, and the sweetest apricots I've EVER tasted! Mmmmmm.....You know what kind of freaky foodies we are so we are lovin' life.

Oh, and did I mention it is QUIET here? Who knew I could sleep ALL night...Yes, ALL NIGHT! I had no idea how much a quiet neighborhood would mean. Thank you, God, for all we went through to be here today. I LOVE it here!!!!!

Now let's see if those 15 lbs come back now that I'm happy :)

How to lose 15 lbs in 2 weeks! It really works!!!

OK, so you may not want to try this, but it really worked for me.....

First, you want to have your landlord send you an email telling you he'd like to raise your rent $700 per month. Then you frantically look for another place to live while knocking on everyone's doors in the neighborhood to ask if they are renters and if so if they would divulge how much they are paying. Argue with your landlord (actually my good friend did most of the negotiating for us--but we did have to do the grunt work)

Second, find out you actually qualify to buy a house and start trying to find one. Make an offer--a LOW offer--have them refuse your offer, then accept.

Third, stop sleeping because you're so stressed out.

Fourth, ask your landlord if you can rent month to month until you can buy a home and have him say "no" because he believes in only renting in the summertime for one year periods at a time.

Fifth, spend a lot of money on a home inspection, mold inspection, and I can't remember the other inspection we paid for, but we did!

Sixth, find out you have to move in 2 1/2 weeks because your landlord won't let you stay even 6 more weeks past your lease date expiring. SO in between everything else you're trying to do with 4 kids you have to add packing up the entire house to the mix--and find a place to stay until you can move into the new house. You'll have to put your stuff in storage and move twice.

Seventh, find out there's lots of mold in your proposed new (OLD) house. 300,000th's range in 4 rooms--and sellers are unwilling to clean it up properly because you made a low offer. Cancel offer then...

Last, but not least, you find a new rental and sign all the paperwork to move in in 2 weeks.

Haven't finished the last step yet. I know, I know, there are a lot of steps, but it really worked for me! Boy, somewhere deep down I must like a lot of DRAMA in my life! Yep.

Oh, and did I mention I was planning on auditioning for the San Diego opera in June?--I had to give up that goal midway through this whole fiasco--no time to practice! I did manage to get up my own website for voice amidst this crisis, though :)

The perfect day

The perfect end to a perfect day. Everyone woke up early to find their easter baskets. After the hunt we ate belgian waffles with fresh strawberries and whip cream. Then we watched conference, practically uninterrupted as the girls ran inside and outside of the house--playing with their new house made from my new dryer box and getting ready for an easter egg hunt outback. After the first session we ate lunch and had 4 egg hunts in the back yard. For the second session I painted all the girls nails and they helped me laminate some things for Joy School.

After conference I took the girls swimming while Nate and Jake went on a practice run with 40 lbs packs for Jake's scout Havasupai trip next week. After dinner we snuggled and watched a movie before putting the girls to bed.

I LOVE conference weekend. I was touched deeply and was inspired by so many of the talks. It buoys me up and helps me feel like I can face anything. With the Lord NOTHING is impossible. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ and am so THANKFUL for conference weekend! I wish we could do it 4 times a year instead of two. I love getting to sit in my own home to watch it and not have to worry the entire time about keeping my kids quiet. They can do whatever they want by me and play all over the house or outside and they are happy as long as we are all together. The internet broadcast was amazing, too, on our giant plasma TV. We had no interruptions and it looked just like it would have on cable.

Allelujah!

Emmy's dress is DONE!!! It took a month and Aunt Janet's, Cheri's, my Mom's, and Mary Sutton's help. In fact, I'm not really sure what I contributed to the making of the dress--OK, maybe buying the supplies. Can someone remind me to NOT attempt something like this again unless I've had some sewing classes first. This took WAY TOO MANY hours to complete. But it is done and I feel like the Allelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah is playing in the background.

Emmy was so excited when she woke up this morning and got to try it on. It's not perfect, but I think it turned out beautifully.

I'm SO glad it's done and over :)

Redirecting

I've started taking a parenting class titled, "redirecting children's behavior" and I LOVE it! You see, THIS is what I've always wanted. What I didn't learn in college and why I always feel like I have NO clue whatsoever at being a Mom. People always shush me if I say that--but it's true. I know everything about singing a role on stage or developing a character or how to choreograph a show, etc....But never learned how to raise children. It's all by trial and error so far. I am learning so much and getting wonderful gems to use at home. I have also learned that Nate and I are doing a few things right. Woohoo!

Emmy and I were in a disagreement about something and Jake uttered, "this isn't a democracy Emmy it's a Matriarchy". I said, "What? That isn't true I don't rule the roost" He said, "it's not like I said it was a dictatorship. It is a Matriarchy." OK, so I'm going to have to work on that a little and let my kids make more decisions on their own.

Aunt Emily comes this week! Yeah! Goals: take down the Christmas tree upstairs before she gets here. Yes. I said the Christmas tree.

San Francisco

Nate and I went away for the weekend. The first in three years--that I can recall anyway. And, no I don't count when we had to go house-hunting last spring. That is NEVER a vacation. Anyway,... We had a wonderful time!!!! We met up Friday afternoon with my friend Juliet and husband, Pat for her 40th birthday dinner. We had a lovely time visiting with them and touring a bit of the city. We ate at the greatest places...mmm....went to the King tut exhibit on Saturday, waited in line to get Wicked tickets for $25 bucks (Danae your crumpling of the ticket theory failed me!)--we still got in, though. They gave all of us that waited discounted tickets (although, not for $25). The theatre had a ton of empty seats. Sunday we stopped in to hear a lively methodist choir singing Jesus' praises complete with live band and HUGE choir, walked around golden gate park (even though it's winter it was still beautiful!), raced back to our hotel, checked out and flew back home.

Oh, and I almost forgot--we got to see a guy peeing on the sidewalk...some woman yell at me "get away from me you f.... b...!" while standing at a bus stop not 5 feet from me...Oh, and one guy, high as a kite, broke into a conversation with Nate and proceeded to follow us for 15 minutes until we finally had to walk back to our hotel to shake him off. Pat and Juliet shared with us the cardinal rule up there, "Do NOT engage! Do NOT engage!" Woops! Didn't know that one. Ah... SF!

The kids were so excited to see us--as we were them. Three days is the perfect get away. I miss them too much after that.