No whining allowed!

I really do not like hate whining.  Yes, hate.  It's a strong word, but it is the right word in this instance.  Yet, at times, I, too, feel the urge to whine.

This morning, I was awoken early by cats fighting right outside my window.  And a migraine.  And... it was Monday.  :S

I was grumpy.  I hurt.  I banged on the window to scare off the cats.  I got up and took way more meds than I like to take, just to make the pounding in my head go away.  I knew that much medication would make me feel shaky and sick for most of the rest of the day, and even though I hate migraines more, that yucky drugged up feeling is almost as bad.  ... Did I mention, I was grumpy?

I got onto FaceBook and was tempted to gripe about just how awful I felt... but then I had a sudden flash of inspiration and posted this instead:

I feel like whining... But instead, I will think of some of my blessings. I am so grateful for my faith, my family, my home, my friends, and my country. I am thankful that each day is full of new possibilities and that I have the choice of how I will act, how I will learn, and how I will grow each day. I am grateful for the sunshine we had this weekend, and I'm also grateful for the rain we have today because I love the sound of it on my rooftop and the smell of it in the air - and besides, this is what makes my part of the country such a gorgeous place to live. I am grateful that, already, I don't feel like whining much anymore. :)

I was also immediately reminded of something my friend said in church last week.  Whenever she realizes that she got up on the wrong side of the bed, she literally gets back into bed and then gets up on the other side!  It's just so silly that it makes her laugh out loud and already she feels better.  

I have to admit, I did not get back into bed to get up on the other side, but just thinking about it made me laugh, too.  That, adding to quick acting medication and my little change of heart FB post, has completely changed how I feel today.

Today is a great day!  It is great because I am choosing to make it great.

Happy Monday, everyone! :)

Pretty Hair

Rori and I tried a new hairdo today that I absolutely love!

Inspired by The Story of a Princess and Her Hair.

This is definitely more of a Sunday or special occasion hairdo, not one I'll be able to send her to school in.  I think if I want to do this on a school day, I'll have to stop at the flower, not continue braiding down the back.  But I really liked how it turned out and I'm sure we'll be doing it again!  :)

Spring Flowers from my Garden

 And those hyacinths smell DELICIOUS!!!  

Aurora had fun picking bouquets for her bus driver and school teacher today.  Even on Mondays, you just can't help but feel a little happiness from lovely, fresh-cut, flowers.  I wish I could share real flowers with all of my friends/family but at least I can share them virtually. :)

THIS is the reason.

Today I learned that my friend's 12 year-old daughter passed away suddenly after a sudden, freak accident while playing.

I have not met my friend, or her family.  We have been "blog friends" for a few years, and for most of that time, we lived relatively close to each other and talked a few times of getting the kids together to meet and play, but it just never seemed to happen, and then they moved away.

When I saw that Lizzy had passed away, I told Ryan and Acadia.

This morning, we had awoken to find the Easter bunny had come during the night.  The girls had fun as they looked through their baskets and found hidden eggs.  But afterwards, when I told Acadia about Lizzy, it kind of put a damper on the fun we were having.  Cadi said, "Today is a bad day."

"Today is not a bad day," I told her, "it is a sad day for her family and friends, but it's not a bad day.  Easter is not about bunnies, chocolate, and eggs.  THIS is the reason Christ died for us.  THIS is the very reason why we celebrate Easter."

I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I pray that my friend and her family will find comfort in their understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the promise that their family will be reunited after this life.  Please keep my friend, Julia and her family in your prayers.

T.H.I.N.K.

When we were at Acadia's Spring Orchestra Festival, which took place at the high school, I noticed this HUGE poster hanging in the gym.  It said:

Think before you speak!  Is it:

• True?
• Helpful?
• Inspiring?
• Necessary?
• Kind?

I loved this SO MUCH and I can't stop thinking about it.  How many situations/relationships would be much more pleasant if we all learned to follow this great counsel?

Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice

Spring Orchestra Festival

On Monday, several schools in our district gathered to have a combined performance for the Spring Orchestra Festival.  All of the 5th graders performed together, then all the 6th graders, and so on.  For the last number, the big finale, all grades played together.  That's a lot of strings playing at once!

It is fun to watch these performances that include the beginning 5th graders and really see how far the older kids have come.  And it's neat for the beginners (and their parents) to see just how far they'll be able to go if they stick with it.  I heard several parents gasp when they heard the 6th graders, right after the 5th graders had performed, and then say, "Wow, what a difference one year makes!"  It is true!

Here are the songs that the 7th graders performed, then the finale.  I apologize for my very poor viewing spot, we were running late getting there and had to sit in the upper section, which came with a rail that was right in my way. :S