Daniel's Math Project

Daniel had a math project that he needed to do for class.  Ok, so I really don't understand the math involved, however I love his project.  It is so cool.  To see it, click on or copy and paste the link.

http://prezi.com/4_vcafobimmf/math-project/

In the dark. . .

Five days in the dark.  I so need this migraine to go away.  Doing school work with my head hurting is not so good.  Thankfully I am caught up.  The picture is pretty descriptive, however mine feels as though someone has used a can opener on the top of my head and is pushing the lid portion down.  I haven't had one hold on this long for almost a year.  Wish I knew what caused them to come and what is the difference between the ones that are here just for a day and the ones that stay day after day.  My children are being oh so quiet.  I am blessed, but oh how I hurt. 

A Powerful Experience

I had an unusual experience a bit over a week ago that lead to peace of mind. I wanted to share it with you. I have been struggling to get all my homework finished. It has involved many late nights and early mornings, which resulted in me not really feeling well. So I prayed to our gracious Heavenly Father for his help. The answere came from a really unusal source. I was sitting in Biology 101, listening to my professor, Dr Hartman. Dr. Hartman is a man the believes in only science and not in God. It is difficult some days to be in his class. On this particular day, as class was coming to and end, he was talking of an upcoming test. He went over the rules and how the test would proceed, and cautioned the class members not to cheat. He then said, "If you do what you are supposed to do, I will take care of you." At that point I really was not sure as to the final 10 minutes of the class. Into my mind came our Savior's promise--I the Lord am bound when ye do as I say, if ye do not as I say, you have no promise. When I went over these words in my mind, I thought of my habits of scripture study--pretty much put aside these past weeks, while trying to do my homework. There didn't seem to be enough time to do both. Yet I knew that this was the very message that our Heavenly Father had for me. The next day, when I got up and sat down to my desk, I pulled my scriptures out and began where I had left off, Jacob 1. I studied as is the normal time for me and then, took out my homework. This became the pattern for me for the rest of that week and for this past week. It came time for my date with Bill, and I looked to see what I would need to do on Saturday between conference to be ready for Monday. I was amazed to find that I was completely caught up in all my classes. This was not a light week in homework, if anything it had more in it that in prior weeks, and yet it was finished for the first time since I began school. I don't really know how it all worked, I just know that it did--sort of like tithing, you do it and while it works out, it doesn't always add up on paper. I am thankful that our Heavenly Father answered my question is such a manner that I could understand what was wanted. I wonder though what Dr. Hartman would say if he knew that his words, brought Heavenly Fathers words to my mind :)

Sisters

I have been blessed with several sisters.  We are rather spread out, a couple of us living on one side of the country and a couple here in the middle, one even farther south, on the west coast.  Even though we are spread far, I think of them each day.  I wonder how they are doing, what challenges they are having, and what specific thing I should pray for them on any particular day.  I do pray for each of them each day. 

As I sat in the chapel tonight with two of my daughters, I began thinking.  It came to me that at that very moment, my sisters, my other daughter and I were united in what we were doing at that very moment.  We were preparing to listen to the women's conference and hear our Prophet speak.  Some were in Stake Centers like I was, some watched from home on the television and some watched on the Internet, but at that moment we were doing the same thing. 

Then the music began and we all sang "Count Your Many Blessings".  As I sang, I felt surrounded by many voices, all singing the same song.  At that moment it came to me that I had other sisters, who were all around the world, that were at that moment singing with me.  Many languages, all singing praises to our Heavenly Father with one voice.  I was staggered at the thought.  My sisters, all of us from around the world were uplifted by the music and speakers.  I laughed with President Monson, when he told of the woman who complained each week that her neighbor didn't know how to properly wash the laundry, only to find out that it was her own windows that were dirty.  I cried as we were admonished not to judge others, with President Monson quoting  "Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” I ask: Can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa—“No; we cannot.” I rejoiced to hear Sister Beck, Sister Allred and Sister Thompson recounted some of our rich history as a Relief Society organization while at the same time reminding us of responsibilities that we all share.

I know that I am a daughter of God.  Knowing that has helped me in my role as a wife and mother to truly value myself, knowing that as I stayed home to care for my children, I was doing something noble, something that was of great importance to my children's future.  I feel greatly blessed that I have had the privilege to stay home and raise my children.  Heavenly Father has greatly blessed me with really amazing children, each one unique not only in talents, but disposition, and personality.  I have learned much from all of them.  I am blessed to have two brothers and four sisters, some of whom don't even know each other as they come to me from both of my parents separately.  They are all important to me and have blessed my life.  I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us and that if we trust in that plan, He will guide and bless our lives.  For this and so many other things I am grateful for, I know my life is truly blessed. 

So as I think of all of these things, I just wanted to share how I felt. 

The New 'Do

Due to my weird medical condition and the meds that go with it, my hair has been falling out by the handfuls.  So this past Friday I got it all cut off--well at least 14 inches of it cut off.

This tiny, thin pony tail is all there was left to cut off.  It itsn't much, but I will donate it to Locks of Love.  It is funny, I got 14 inches cut off and only 2 people at church noticed it was short.  Weird!!  So I am pretty content with the new 'do.  At least I have been blessed to still have a little bit of hair left.  That and the talent of a great hairdresser who was born with thin hair, I don't have to look bald even though I feel bald.  So here is the current me.  Shocking!!

Mandy told me to make a face, so I did.  Since I really didn't want any type of a bob hair cut, we are calling it the Roy hair cut.

Youth

A few weeks ago a friend Gabe Murphy spoke in church.  Gabe and his wife Cora are amazing with youth.  They inspire me.  Anyway he read this poem as part of his talk.  It really made me think about role as a parent and I wanted to share it with all of you.

‘Twas a sheep, not a lamb, that strayed away

In the parable Jesus told,

A grown-up sheep that had gone astray

From the ninety and nine in the fold.

And out in the meadows, and out in the cold,

‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd sought.

And back to the flock and safe into the fold,

‘Twas a sheep the Good Shepherd brought.

Why, for the sheep, should we earnestly long

And so earnestly hope and pray?

Because there is danger, if they go wrong,

They will lead the young lambs astray.

For the lambs will follow the sheep, you know,

Wherever the sheep may stray;

If the sheep go wrong, it will not be long

‘Til the lambs are as wrong as they.

So, with the sheep we earnestly plead

For the sake of the lambs today,

If sheep are lost, what a terrible cost

Some lambs will have to pay!

Operation Keep Cheryl Healthy

As I have spent the past few days going through Kleenex as such a speed as to fill my very own landfill to overflowing, it has occured to me that I didn't think some things through about school.  I have a compromised immune system.  I pretty much catch everything that I come in contact with.  So I am related to and am friends with many medical personnel as well as many vitamin and herbal people.  I am thinking that perhaps you may have ideas on how I can keep from catching every pesky virus that comes along.  My answer in the past (stay home and don't interact with anybody who may or may not be carrying some dreaded virus)just won't work.  I don't think it will help my grades to stay home.  Besides, I am enjoying the lectures and don't want to stay home.  So I'm asking--any ideas on how to keep me healthy?