Inexplicable

Here are some things that have made me smile over the past few weeks.

I can't get a normal song stuck in my head. Its always something like "My Favorite Things" from Sound of Music or the Hawaii Five-0 theme. Seriously? That one doesn't even have any words.

Jack, just plain Jack. Since I sent my sister Glee: The Music Volume1, Jack has picked a favorite song from the CD. Gold Digger by Kanye West. Jack is also a Lady Gaga Fan. .and he's 3.

I am remembering how much of a dork I am. I still love those books with the collection of 5 minute mysteries that test your reasoning, logic, and observation skills.

I also really enjoy learning new words. My roommate and I decided it would be fun to learn a new word everyday. Today's word: Lucifugous-avoidng light.

Paying it forward. I love to see people being nice and kind to one another. I was at Walmart picking up groceries for my mom. I got into line. There was a lady having her groceries scanned, a man with 2 items, one of which was a loaf of bread, and then me. As the cashier finished ringing up this lady's groceries, she said hi to the man behind her and told the cashier that she wanted to put the man's items on her bill. The man protested a little but she said "No, let me do it. I had somebody kind do it for me once, and i'm sure you'll have the chance to do it for somebody else someday". So Great. Everybody should find a way to help somebody you know this weekend.

And of course, who doesn't want to see Michael Buble dressed up like Justin Beiber, and he even has the hair.

More Lessons Learned. .

LESSON 1 Like my mom said I am like a bull in a china Closet, or plain and simple I am an idiot Either Way You Have To Laugh

First a little Background. I bought the first half of Glee, season 1 on DVD, and I just bought the second half of the season when it came out last week. My sister Adrienne won the first 2 volumes of Glee Music through some contest on the Internet. She had never seen the show, so she told me I could have the CDs when they came in the mail. True to her word she sent them to me.

Now, While she was here visiting this summer, she stole my DVDs and took them home to Colorado to watch them. 2 days ago, she called me and told me she had finished all of the episodes that she pilfered, she really liked the show, and wanted me to mail her the second half. She also texted me and asked me to send the CDs back so she could get the music as well. So, being the nice sister that I am, I obliged and set off for the post office that afternoon. As I was leaving, I called Adrienne and told her I had sent the DVDs and CDs back to her. She was understandably excited. Then as we continued talking, I had a horrifying thought. I had just grabbed the CD cases out of my car and put them in the envelope. I had a sickening feeling that one of the CDs was still in my car. So I immediately checked and confirmed my suspicion. There was Glee, Vol 2, sitting safe in the CD player in my car. I had sent an empty case to Adrienne.

LESSON 2 Recipe for a better Day, whether you are having a horrible day, or your day has already been great.

Christmas Music and Michael Buble my friends. That is all you need. I like to listen to Christmas music before the Holiday chaos starts. I appreciate more before those hectic few months when all you hear about is Christmas, all you see are gifts and decorations, and you are just inundated with Christmas. Plus who doesn't love Michael Buble.

The bright side: you can listen while you are driving or while you study or while you go for a run. You don't have to waste time or feel guilty about doing it. Its win win.

Now, I am talking anything goes. Hymns like 'Angels We Have Heard on High" or "Joy To the World". Fun songs like "Let it Snow Let It Snow, Let it Snow." Classics like "White Christmas", "The Christmas Song", and my personal favorite "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas".

While I love the song "o Holy Night" and I am not trying to disrespect the message, this

version is sure to bring a smile to anybody's face.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnCB4K-bM5A

What do you think? What sort of things make you smile?

Cry Me A River

Life is such a rollercoaster ride. At times we are at the top of the tallest hill, feeling good. Other times we are hurdling toward the ground feeling completely out of control. I think this emotion we are able to feel is amazing and I am grateful for it. Its incredible the range of different emotions we can feel in just one day.
There are definitely things that make us feel warm, and that make us want to smile. For example, my nephew Jack just turned 3. I called to tell him I loved him and to wish him Happy Birthday. He ran away from the phone to get one of his presents. It was completely adorable that Jack thought he could show me his new truck through the phone.

But, what about times when we feel discouraged and sad, and we get so overwhelmed there is nothing left to do but cry. I am not a particularly weepy l person but I've been thinking lately, Why is crying considered such a bad thing? why do people try to hide when they get emotional? Is it embarrassing for them?

Crying is a natural way of releasing emotions from our bodies. Those, for whom crying comes easily, often remark about how much better they feel after a good cry.
But for many, there is much fear associated with appearing vulnerable and letting go.
Shame about being seen to cry.

Or maybe a life time of suppressed tears that just will not come.

Let's face it - babies cry.

Our toddlers howl, storm, rage and tantrum.

Our children weep, sob or wail.

But are we, as parents, as adults, able to avail ourselves of this amazing, natural, available system of stress relief or has it been conditioned out of us?

Can you, and do you cry?

You Have ID? Not Really

So My nephew Jake is almost 10 years old. A little while ago, he told me Germany was his favorite country. Jake loves learning about Germany and he even started taking German lessons from some lady in his ward. I'm pretty sure he is still taking them I'm not sure. So imagine my surprise when on Sunday he said "Billary, guess what I got. An Italian English dictionary". I said "Jake, what the heck? I thought you were learning German".

His reaction was priceless

He gave me that look only Jake can give, He said "Hilly, I'm on the Jason Bourne Schedule, the Jason Bourne Plan". Then His eyes got big and intense, and his hands started waving in the air above his head and he said totally seriously "I don't even know who I am!"

Ha Ha. I love that kid.

I love to see the temple.

This past week one of my friends got married and I played in a quartet at the ceremony.

My friend who got married is not LDS. The wedding was at Thanksgiving point in a garden area with a humongous waterfall. The garden was beautiful and the tables with covered with pretty purple tableclothes and candles. The actual ceremony was very nice and very sweet. The bride and groom recited or shared their own vows. I've never seen my friend so emotional, and it was so touching. You could tell, without a doubt, that these two loved each other and care about each other more than anything else. While the wedding was nice, it got me thinking how grateful I am that we have the temple to be sealed in for eternity. If two people care about each other as much as my friend and her husband, i'd want them to be together forever not just for this lifetime.