Ladybug and Wishes

This little girl of mine has to have oral surgery today.  Ouch!  It's never easy with her, she went through a brain tumor scare when she was 7, then had to have eye surgery when she was 8.  This is my only child without perfect teeth, hence the braces.  She has a stubborn adult tooth that is just happy to hang out in her gums.  Today they are "Fishing for a Tooth" as the orthodontist put it.  The surgeon will be pulling back her gums to attach a bracket and chain to her tooth, then it will be hooked to her braces and slowly pulled down over time into place.  Sounds painful to me...These challenges will make her stronger in the long run.  Pssshhh, surgery?  Easy peasy no problem...

Please send Ladybug some well wishes today?  

 

My Quest

I recently embarked on this tithing quest giving 24 minutes out of my day in study of the Word of God.  It is a quest in continuing to keep my light and lamp filled.  I've not hidden the fact on my blog that I am a member of the Church   of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or often referred to as Mormons.  It is what it is, and that is who I am.  A few months ago I decided to reread the Book of Mormon along with my study of the Bible.  I started approximately six months ago and read two chapters a day give or take and finished up just a few days ago.

There is a promise at the end of the Book of Mormon that says basically if you ask God if these things are true he will manifest it unto you.  I've heard many stories over the years of investigators having overwhelming epiphanies confirming it to them.  Feeling the Holy Spirit so strongly that it is almost like speaking to them. I have never had this kind of experience.  I'm not a miracle seeking person to keep my faith strong, but in all honesty, it would be nice.  So the other day when I finished reading, I prayed as if I were an investigator.  I thought and pondered on it.  But nothing...No Holy visitation, no booming message from God.  Then, ever so slowly this incredible sense of peace came over me and a thought entered my mind.  It was as if God were saying to me, "You don't need this, you already know."  And then I knew...

My next scripture goal to fill my 24 minutes will include the study of the life of Christ in the New Testament...

I have a special offer here on my blog.  If you are interested, check it out.

A National Treasure

I recently held in my hands a National Treasure.  Working at a school, often affords me opportunities that I might not have had otherwise.  Our Science teacher, who is a National Treasure unto himself, (don't tell him I said that...he's retiring this year), requested Lunar samples from NASA.

I held in my little hands samples of dirt and rock from the moon.  Although they were well encased in a protective cover, it was still pretty cool.  It is unfathomable to me to think that I held something from our moon.  I know we look out at it every night, but someone actually went there, collected samples and brought them back for me to hold in my hand.

When I was in elementary school, I had it in my head that I wanted to be an Astronomer when I grew up.  Even though I grew up and did not become an Astronomer, I still find it quite fascinating.

A Confession and a Review

I must confess to feeling old these days.  You know you are old when you begin to hold things out and away from your face because you can't see them up close.  Yes, you guessed it...my confession is I'm old enough to need reading glasses.  I spend a lot of time on the computer and reading, and without glasses, this close up work can give me whopper headaches. I was approached by Firmoo, an online prescription and non prescription eye glass retailer about doing a review.  They must have had some sort of ESP to know about my need for reading glasses and such.

Firmoo.com offers regular, reading and sunglasses with prescription or without.  The kind people at Firmoo were very helpful with any questions I had, and the website was easy to maneuver and use.  The glasses arrived in a timely fashion and the product is well made.  The frames seem sturdy and the lenses are spot on with my prescription.

I love that their glasses came with not one but two cases depending on your preference   I received a hard case AND a soft case as well as a couple of little extras.  The cleaning cloth is a coveted item at my house, and I have to keep a close eye on it so it doesn't disappear.  The glasses also came with a handy screw driver on a key chain for those tiny screws that come loose from time to time AND several screws in case you lose one.  This is a company that cares about going the extra mile.

I'll tell you, I recently bought a name brand pair through my Optometrist using my insurance.  While they are of fantastic quality and bear that brand name, I must confess that the Firmoo glasses rival the quality of my name brand glasses for less than I paid with my insurance.

If you haven't visited or purchased from Firmoo.com before, you may want to go ahead and take a look.  They offer your first pair free to new customers.  All you pay is shipping.  It just may be worth your while

KT says this is my librarian look.  

**I did receive a pair of glasses for my honest review.  

You can receive a free pair, too, through their new customer program**

Oh the Horror

I do not like change.  Change strikes fear in my heart.  It means I need to be adaptable, and adaptable means work and compromise and learning knew things.  Needless to say, I am not too excited about the google changes.  It isn't something new...I've been reading it all over the blog universe about people changing over to different readers and such so as not to lose touch with their favorite blogs.

After some thought, because change requires thought and contemplation on my part, I have accepted that google is canning google reader effecting July 2013.  I have come to terms with the change and am now embracing a new venue and place to follow my blogs.

I have now joined and am a member of Bloglovin'.  I like that I can follow everyone in one place, AND they have a free app for my phone so I don't have to sit at the computer to catch up.  Live in the now...please follow me on bloglovin' so we don't lose track of each other.

Don't Miss Out

If you have been reading my blog for a bit, then you know that there was a lovely coupon named for me (LISAHAMER) for use over at eShakti.  Their dresses are feminine, fun and customize-able.  The coupon deal is only good through tomorrow, March 20th.  Don't let this deal slip you by...



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Broken

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I am broken because an extension of myself has broken.  I am a reader, I love it, I live it.  Words fill up my soul like bright rays of sunshine.  They bring me happiness.  I'd far prefer to curl up with good words and good books than a movie.  I know...SHOCKER.  But it's true.  It must be the introvert in me.  The other day, there was a perfect storm of events that led to my brokenness.

I had just sat down in a chair with my beloved Kindle and a diet cherry coke.  My lovely cat chose that moment to jump on my lap for some much needed snuggling.  Who am I to turn away the affections of Milo the cat?  So, I carefully laid my Kindle on the arm of the chair.  When Milo was through with me he stepped onto the arm of the chair to peer out the window, and as he did, he knocked the Kindle to the floor, quite accidentally I assure you.  He lazily looked at me then jumped down to the the floor and left.  He does nothing mean and intentional except for trying to eat my hair while I'm sleeping, but that's beside the point.

I bent to pick up my Kindle, which, by the way was still in its case, and this is what I found.

Quickly I remembered the extended warranty I purchased for just such occasions   Locating the receipt and warranty, I discovered it had expired just two days prior.  TWO DAYS!  And, in that moment, my heart shattered like the inside of that little Kindle screen.

I was attached to that little thing you see.  It easily slipped into my purse, sat on my nightstand or regaled me with tales while soaking in a warm bubble bath.  As it shattered, so did I.

I need to go shopping!

A Coupon Named for Moi and a Review

A couple of weeks ago I told you about the fabulous coupon named for moi from eShakti.  (Coupon code is:  LISAHAMER)  It's a killer good deal of 20% off until March 20th.  You can combine this coupon with a current promo they have going on where you buy one item and get 50% off the next item.  The only stipulation is that it can't be something that is already marked down.  I know it works, I tried it, and I am the kind of person who looks for ways to combine deals and coupons.  Just call me an expert ;)

What I am not an expert at is modeling.  This was very uncomfortable for me, I am more comfortable behind the lens, but Ladybug had fun with it....For my time and efforts in promoting their products and website, I was sent an item of my choice.  I chose a skirt because skirts can be so versatile.

This is the Tiered Denim Chambray Skirt.  It is light and comfortable and the fitting was just perfect.  The quality is amazing and the shipping was timely.

Like I mentioned when I first posted about the coupon, I already have a dress of theirs, so I was already sold on the company.  If you are interested in checking out their other products and taking advantage of these great incentives to buy, you can go to www.eShakti.com.

And just for fun...

Easter Advent

I feel all spiritual these days...with the onset of Spring soon, Easter is fast approaching.  It has me thinking, again of Advent traditions.  When my children were young, I really despised the Easter Bunny.  The whole practice of it seemed to take away from sacredness of what this Holy Day is really all about:  celebrating Christ's resurrection.  Don't get me wrong, we still had treats.  No one in our house can resist those delicious Cadbury Eggs.

I came across this Easter Advent years ago.  Each egg is numbered 1-12 and filled with a KJV scripture and a small trinket that represents the scripture.  I probably numbered mine backwards...I open #12 on Easter.  My children enjoyed having this daily reminders and countdown (or count up) to Easter.  Ladybug, at fifteen, still enjoys these kinds of things.  (She is all about tradition, you know).  Since I shared with you my Christmas Advent (the one that was mentioned in Deseret News), I thought I would share my Easter Advent, as well.

You can download it here.

Now all my secrets are out!  

 

Accomplishments

I figure I had better report on my Weekend Unplugged.  It was not as easy as I had hoped it would be.  I did find myself checking e-mail on my phone.  Shame on me!  However, I deleted the Facebook app.  No need to see what people are doing online when I should be DOING in real life.  You know?

For the most part I was able to get some things accomplished that I might not have had the time for if I had not unplugged.  We went to the gym on Saturday morning, went with Ladybug to a school play (Into the Woods), attended Church and began scrap booking my wedding (which was in 1989!)  into a Project Life Album.  I bought the Olive Edition recently when it was on sale.  I had those horrid sticky albums that come to find out years later are not acid free.  The pictures were hard to peel up...another 20 years and they would have been cemented in there.

I feel quite accomplished and liberated, if I do say so myself.  It is amazing how much can get done when I decide to focus outside the internet world.  I also watched Pretty in Pink while working on my Album because it celebrated it's 27th anniversary this past week.  Twenty-Seven years!!!  Dang, I'm old...

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Weekends Unplugged

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I've been thinking a lot about how much time I spend online or on my phone.  Technology is just so prevalent and such a way of life.  Amazing and cumbersome can be whispered in the same breath.  Last weekend was National Unplug Day or something of the sort and it got me thinking...only one day?

In needing to embrace the time I have with my family on Saturday and my Heavenly Father on Sunday, I will no longer be posting or reading blogs or news on the weekend.  I'll try to catch up on Monday, but weekends are going to be treated with more respect and reverence.  I will basically be suspending internet time and smart phone time where possible.  I'll certainly answer the phone and texts, but you know what I mean...Therefore, my series about my son on his mission, Miguel's Missionary Moment, will be moved to Mondays here on out.

For you weekend, I hope you are able to spend some time with God, loved ones and an engrossing book...See you on Monday...

What do you do to see that you don't get sucked in for hours?

A Grievous Error

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Just yesterday I remarked on my tithe of 24 minutes in relation to a 24 hour day.  It sounded good...and though I claimed I had thought it through, I had not thought it through as well as I should.  In relation to mathematics,  I am not even close in reaching my goal of a tenth of my day to the Lord.  Exactly one tenth of a 24 hour day is 144  minutes...Over two hours.  But assuming God knows I have to sleep, and sleeping an average of 8 hours per night, that leaves my tithing of time to the Lord at about 96 minutes per day.  You can see my grievous mathematical error here where I am only giving 24 minutes.

My kind reader pointed out my error.  She is a lovely blogger with great messages and had no mean intent.  But, I couldn't help but feel as if I came up lacking with the Lord.  So, I thought and thought some more...after much consideration, I am amending my time with the Lord to include service to others and family.  Because when you are serving others, you ARE serving Him.  Conveniently I know I will be well over the 144 minutes OR the 96 minutes each one making me feel  much better about myself and my commitment to Him.  I will continue to give what I can in my study hours, 24 minutes...30 minutes...whatever it may be, but as long as I am pondering on Him and helping others, then I do believe I can achieve that goal quite easily.  I wanted to clarify this in the event you though my ideas enlightening and awesome and eye opening...I was wrong, wrong, wrong and stand corrected.  I am grateful for followers like YOU who love me despite my faults, short comings and mathematical errors.

And let me just say, 
it's a darn good thing I'm not a math teacher or banker!  

I've Been Thinking

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I've been thinking a lot lately about the word TITHING.  Tithes or tithing is a practice that goes back to Old Testament times.  I believe it was first mentioned in the book of Deuteronomy.  Tithing is a word that means ten or tenth.  People used to give of their flocks and fields.  Now, tithing has become more monetary.  We give often times over 10% of our income to various Charitable and Religious organizations that do much good to help the poor and those in need.  But, there is always more...

I really have been putting a lot of thought into this.  There is more that I can give;  I can give of my time.  There are 24 hours in a day, one tenth of that is 24 minutes.  I've been trying to give the Lord 24 minutes, bare minimum, out of the day.  This means that I spend at least 24 minutes reading scripture, pondering and praying.  This doesn't count time spent in service to others, just spending time with Him.

In a world filled with entertainment...movies, books, tv, internet, BLOGS, putting Him first has become increasingly important in my life.  A little time in the morning sets the tone for the rest of the day.  If He only asks for a tenth, twenty-four minutes doesn't really seem that much to give.

Read an update to my post here.   

eShakti Coupon Error

Last week I told you about the fabulous coupon that eShakti named after me.  Unfortunately, many coupon codes did not work on March 1st, 2nd and 3rd.  The coupon code:  LISAHAMER for 20% off your total purchase should again be available.  eShakti has extended the usable date to March 20, 2013.

Grateful for Facebook

I'm grateful for Facebook.  There's that word again:  Grateful, Gratitude, Thankful, Thanksgiving.  I know you are wondering, what the heck?  Yes, I am grateful for Facebook and their gentle reminder that my Military Man's 21st birthday was yesterday and Ladybug's 15th birthday is today.  I am forgetful in my old age.  They say a mom might forget the pain of child birth, but what they don't tell you is that the mom's might forget the birthday's if it weren't for the kindness of the good people at Facebook.

Actually, I could never forget my kids birthday's.  I'm just being funny here.  Happy birthday to my TJ, it was just yesterday you looked like this..

And Ladybug...

I still remember when TJ asked if we could put you back, that he wanted a brother.  

Sibling rivalry!  Yeah, that stuff starts early!  

I'm grateful for the opportunity to be your mother.