quite refreshing

Praying For...Sammy that she will gain a close relationship with Jesus Christ and learn the joy found in feasting upon the Word...that she and other children around the world will be blessed with freedom from evil influences, hunger, and danger during childhood...that leaders of nations will soften their hearts and embrace peace.

Ponderizations..."Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour," 1 Peter 5:8. It is so easy to slip away from the straight and narrow and fall into sin.

Yorkie Yarns...traveling up for tax season, Dash was a champ...except in the hotel...every time someone walked by the room, she barked like one possessed of a demon. Although I don't sleep with animals as a rule, I put the leash on her and brought her to bed. This settled her down so we could all sleep. She loves the cottage and park here.

Teaching Little Children...I miss my little friends very much. Maybe I can find a place to volunteer here.

I Write...I finally figured out a problem for the new book I'm writing. Because I'm the optimistic type and love my characters as if they were real, I have a terrible time giving them problems. Painting a picture of the characters and setting is no problem. I love researching each little piece to the puzzle, which always has something to do with teaching children, planting a garden, and raising dogs in some exotic location.

Cucina Fresca...you've heard of i-pads and i-phones, but I bet i-pots boggle a bit. Since this place only has a hot plate, I decided to try out the instant pot: rice cooker, slow cooker, pressure cooker, saute pan, yogurt maker, warmer, and steamer. Apparently, it will cook dry pintos in 30 minutes or soaked ones in 10. There will be no more scrambling to come up with dinner when the pintos are still hard in the slow cooker. I can't wait to steam some fat-free, plant-perfect, blue corn calabacitas y frijoles negros tamales, mmmm.

Bibliophilia...sent Sammy Blue Willow by Doris Gates, a Newbery honor book. Since I haven't read it yet, a used copy is coming here, too. I also got her and some of the other grands Scripture Power! Book of Mormon Journal for Children by Elizabeth Dorathy. It's a great journal that I tried out last fall. Although it is a bit too juvenile for me, it had some thought provoking questions. It will be great for Sammy, Cole, Gayle, and Oakley if they choose to utilize it. I hope to be some sort of example for good with my grands, which is why I send them letters, great literature, art books, science kits, and now scripture journals.

Sound of Music...I also sent Sammy the first DVDs in the Piano for Life series by Mark Almond. It's a great way to learn to play the piano, because they gain an understanding of the basic structures of harmony before learning to read music. With traditional (and very expensive methods), many people give up out of exasperation and frustration. With Mark Almond's method, people can play beautiful music and improvisation on their journey to reading music. No more Hot Cross Buns for months on end. Two of my children learned the harmony method intuitively. In fact it was hard to get S to focus on his lesson material each week as he improvised chord structure to Nintendo tunes. I enjoyed the method immensely until access to a piano stopped. Finally, my arthritis pain is gone, which will allow me to play my uke again. However, the frozen shoulder prevents violin at all. It seems every time I pick up my violin, something forces me to lay it down again. Maybe, that pastime will need to remain a lovely memory.

Needle News...I have come up with a design for a new crossover bag. I bought one that is almost right, but now I know exactly what I want. Also, the skirt I'm working on is almost perfect. I have a cheap skirt from Walmart with a great fit. I'm using it as the basic pattern but adding a front kick pleat instead of the back slit--plus I might put in a couple, concealed, zipper pockets. Sewing by hand is slow process but more rewarding.

Movement...the park a couple doors down is right on the river. It's a nice walk but only feels safe in the afternoons, when it's filled with mothers and their small children. I'm such a scaredy cat. There is another park the other direction with a dog park. I haven't tried that one, since I didn't have a dog last year. Essentrics is still a wonder for me. Each hour I like to take ten minute stretch breaks, which I plan to use to reintroduce yoga poses alternating with outdoor mini walks. I'm also going to incorporate Dr. Kim's shoulder exercises, as his foam rolling completely healed my back and hip pain. Frozen shoulder is a bear.


Cottage Life...I have the best of both worlds. Up here I live in a tiny house and down home my home is spacious. Cottage living forces one to focus on needs vs wants. As I select items to include in a 350 square foot life, I focus on quality over quantity. It's quite refreshing.

new lessons to learn

Praying For...our Oakley this week that she can find joy in Jesus and safety in the world. We sent her Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes as well as Dover's Easy Origami. So why do I do this grandchild of the week thing? When my children were growing up, my step-mother, Jo, used to send parties in the mail on holidays. The children felt special. I loved that it made them happy. When my first grandchildren neared two-ish, I began doing it, too. Unfortunately, the other grandma copied the idea. It isn't special anymore, when it isn't unique. So, I thought and thought about a way to do something special for my grandchildren, who live so far away from me. I remembered a class at BYU Women's Conference, where the teacher did something interesting. She was a single woman, who made for her nieces and nephews, child of the week. Since my grandchildren's other grandparents don't do grandchild of the week, so it is special. Our daughters report that siblings sometimes have a difficult time when it isn't their week, but are beginning to understand patience and sharing. Anyway, I love my grandchildren and love doing this project.

Pen and Brush...I drew a very cute panda for Samantha last week but forgot to photograph it. Oh, well, at least I'm starting to paint again. I love to paint. Still writing a lot especially now that I'm reclining all day.

Mission Life...my tutoring program is doing very well. One little boy is making huge strides at school. Hurray. All the others are moving ahead nicely as well. No other things to report.

Teaching Little Children...I am sadly at home this week and hope my class will do ok without me. I love those little children. I've seen great progress in the ones with behavior issues. Love is the only way to a child's heart. Children respond better to someone who explains and reasons than they will with someone who hollers, scolds, or worse. Certainly, it takes more time and effort, but the results are amazing.

Cucina Fresca...Spaghetti Squash with Marinara, Veg Tikka Masala, Chana Masala, baked potatoes with chili, potato and kale soup, Mex pintos and rice, Miso/Veg soup, and fruity oatmeal crisp accompanied our green smoothies and carrot juice this week. Jesus' Word..."Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord," James 5:14. Herbs and doctoring and physical therapy are all good, but faith and priesthood blessings provide the catalyst that makes them work.

Dr. Ginger, Medicine Woman...recovery is speeded with herbs...I made a message oil with comfrey for general healing of injured tissues and use boswellia, arnica, peppermint, and ilix to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. As the days go by, relief is coming. It is sort of disheartening to sustain an injury just as I was beginning to feel normal again. Guess I didn't learn all I needed to learn from illness yet.

Movement...because I sustained a strange injury, my exercising has been extremely limited. On mostly bed rest, I am trying to keep fit with a foam roller. Sort of like an expensive and immodest message, the foam roller breaks downs knots that limit range of motion, increases blood flow to the soft tissue to help release muscle tightness, provides targeted, trigger point massage, helps speed post-injury recovery, and preps muscles for stretching. Afterward, I gingerly stretch affected muscles. Since it is best to do these with warm muscles, after shower time is best.

Writing Again

A couple years ago, I wrote a motivational book, Peter Pan Ponderings, for young adults teaching study skills, economics, and personal finance. Well received, many young people expressed a desire for a similar book teaching adult survival skills. Writing this book is funny, as I remember my own first experiences in adult responsibility. Because I was unprepared, I remember feeling I didn't want to be responsible anymore. One young man I mentored, who recently graduated and is at boot camp, echoes my old words. Lamenting his choice, he wishes he had stayed home and been a teenager a bit longer. With Wendy's Ways, I hope to help youngsters transition to independent adulthood a bit easier. While most young adults could benefit, I don't think it will ever ease the whole boot camp experience.

beautiful plants, fresh air, and pure water

“There are no incurable diseases, there are only incurable people...Well over 90% of disease comes from an unclean body, whose sewer is backed up."  Dr. John R. Christopher

I've learned a lot from Dr. Christopher and others he respected. Learning to understand, recognize, and use herbs has been life changing. I have an assignment to develop my own herbal formula, which is the ultimate fun.

That aside.....Now that people are beginning to know about my herbalist studies, they want to know how to cure thus and such disease. After I quote the above, and they are still listening, I ask about the food they put in their mouths. This is where the person usually gets upset and refuses to hear anything about changing their diet. It's sad to watch them carry on and refuse give up goodies. They think I'm nuts. These same people think its perfectly normal to poison their bodies with poisonous drugs. I wish I could make people see that food is the key to disease vs. wellness. If we eat junk, our bodies will be made of junk. Even more importantly, junk CANNOT make healthy new cells. There are so many wonderful, flavorful foods that can help us cure ourselves of every disease known to man. 

I call it my lifestyle of vibrant health, which loosely follows a chart found in Food for Life, modified below to include things I learned from the writings of Ann Wigmore, Victoria Butenko, Dr. John Christopher, and others. These new, healthier, fresher takes on old favorites have made me feel alive after several years of struggling with ill health, two of which I spent mostly in bed asleep.

Unlimited

fresh air and sunshine

distilled water, 1 gallon per day
1 lb. or more any raw veggies including all leafy greens, sprouts, summer squash, carrots, eggplant, mushrooms, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and so on per day
1 lb. or more cooked green veggies per day (or more raw)
Unlimited Beans, bean sprouts, tofu -try for 1 c. per day
Unlimited fresh or frozen fruit per day

Limited
Cooked starchy veggies and grains~-butternut squash, carrots, potatoes, brown rice, sweet potatoes, sprouted whole grain breads, and other whole grains (limit 1 c. per day total)
Raw nuts and seeds (1 oz. max per day)
Avocado (2 oz. max per day)
Ground flax (1 T. max per day)
Olive oil (1 T. max per day-less if you are overweight)
Animal Products (less than 10% of calories)

Pretty Much Left Out (except in emergency)
High-fat Meat, Dairy, and Eggs
Refined grain products and sugars
Fruit juice
Salt
Typical Western desserts, candy, chocolate, and pastries.
 

Cleanse. When I learned the benefits of cleansing the body, I was sick enough to try anything except poison. I jumped right on that band wagon. Cleansing prepares the body for natural healing. Congestion occurs in all parts of the body, starting in the colon. 3X per day is the minimum. Less than that and you are accumulating toxins. One good test is the breath test--poo breath means...well....you need colon cleansing. Skin problems...blood and liver cleansing. Sticky feet or BO...kidney cleansing. Head aches or ear aches...lymph cleanse. Stuffy, snuffy, snorty, coughy...lung cleansing. Chances are if you eat anything like the standard American diet, you should cleanse all your systems. Dr. Christopher said that the blood stream is the river of life. My river looked like the East River in New York. Muck..Filth...Slime...Putrescence to quote an old favorite movie have now been cleared out, and I'm clean at last. I love Dr. Christopher's Lower Bowel Formula, Blood Cleansing Formula, Liver and Gallbladder Formula, Kidney Formula, Lymph formula, and Lung Formula.

Nourish. Starting with green smoothies, I noticed a difference right away even before Roto Rooter went to work. Once my body was cleansed, I found it absorbed many more of the nutrients found in the veggies, fruits, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes I was eating. I wasn't eating like a log chipper anymore and was not hungry. I found herbal forms of iron, calcium, and phyto-nutrients are a good idea just in case. I began using specific herbs to nourish almost all the glands and organ systems of my body, because everything seemed to be so malnourished and out of whack-pancreas, adrenals, reproductive, heart, brain, eyes, thyroid, etc.

 
Heal. I thought a couple months ago that I was practically perfect in every way. Lately, it became apparent that healing happens at its own speed as the body continues to eliminate, build, and gain strength through proper nourishment--yes, I know you don't want to hear it, but the secret is in the veggies--truly. One of the signs of healing comes with occasional nausea and aches in the areas where the cleaning is most acute. With my latest instance of pneumonia, I learned that patience is required as little pockets of disease are uncovered and eliminated. God gave us the keys to heal our own bodies of supposedly incurable diseases with the proper nutrients. Hey, we don't need poison after all. But you don't have to take my work for it. Read this free e-book Herbal Legacy as a guide to treating ill health. Even without any of the herbal formulas I mentioned, you can change your diet and get great results. The beautiful plants that God put on this earth, fresh air, and pure water are the key to great health-there is no other way.

curls and ocean walks don't mix

My daughter tells me I'm obsessed with hair. I admire lovely, long locks, wherever I see them. For years I kept mine short or permed, until I realized that I am not too old to enjoy long hair at any age. I saw a gray haired woman in a magazine with long hair that was very nice. Sadly, I cut mine off at 12 to look like Dorthy Hamill. It wasn't becoming, and I tried time and again to grow it.

Naturally, it is what you might call wavy with very shallow waves. When short it has no body at all without a perm, because the first wave starts around chin level. So when I wear it around chin length, it flips all over the place in a million directions no matter how I blow or curl.

Now it's half way down my back or about 24 inches from the front hair line. But to get the cascading curls I love, I must use hot rollers. Back in the day, my mom used torturous brush rollers made with mesh, wire, and a round brush in the middle. They were held in place with bobby pins. In theory girls and women washed their hair, rolled it up, slept all night, and in the morning had lovely, bouncy curls. In reality girls and women washed their hair, rolled it up, endured a sleepless night, and in the morning had a head of the frizziest mess ever known to man. I avoided this process as much as possible and kept it straight and waist-length until the life-changing, winter Olympics debacle.

So after I take out my hot rollers, I have cascading, bouncy curls that generally stay in all day. But as I've discovered lately, my favorite walk on the boardwalk and my curls are mutually exclusive, flattening brown hair and frizzing the greys. I'm not sure what to do about my two loves~I'm not willing to live without either. I may be shallow but need suggestions desperately.

a woman's influence

Here I am again, writing for TravelinOma's School Days. It's been thought provoking and fun for me--maybe for you, too. One of the weekly themes is family matters, which many of you know is a soapbox of mine. Today we are supposed to take the following statements and write our opinions on them. Can you guess how I feel about them? By developing the God-given nature to nurture, women have a unique opportunity to change the world. The influence of a mother has no limit and no end. She can share every aspect of her education and experience in the atmosphere of love she fashions. Creating a home is a way of creating a world. Women have abilities beyond their wildest dreams to organize and create. Women are the soul of a family and a community.

I love homemaking, but it was not always so. In the 80s and 90s, I often listened to worldly feminist propaganda. Somehow I shut out what God and His prophets had to say and gave heed to small minded drivel. During those times, I failed to see the far reaching effects I could have on the world through my service. Now I know better.

By developing the God-given nature to nurture, women have a unique opportunity to change the world. Women as mothers shape the future of nations by teaching their children values. Of course the words we choose to say on a subject mean something, but the example of Christlike service we give is the real teaching tool. Mothers give children boundaries, because of love. Like grandma always says, "Children are happier with rules." Mothers nurture their bodies with lovingly and carefully prepared foods, their spirits through example and consistent attention to God's word, and their minds through home teaching and homework help. It shows in all mothers do for their children that they are important. If mothers are very careful in fulfilling the God-given duty to be nurturing to each soul entrusted to their care, they can make the world a more loving, less selfish place.

The influence of a mother has no limit and no end. For good or ill, mother shapes her children into who they become. A child left to its own devices, may become a drain on society. In turn this child may become the mother of yet another parasite. On the other hand, it is highly unlikely that a child with careful nurturing will choose to be rebellious for long. They may try their hand at breaking their mother's heart with poor behavioral choices. However, if they were trained up in the way they should go, when they are old, they will return to truth and goodness. In turn these children will attempt to raise their children within the bounds that the Lord has set.

She can share every aspect of her education and experience in the atmosphere of love she fashions. Some say that an educated woman wastes her time if she chooses to embrace the career of homemaker and SAHM. She could not succeed in the corporate world so she turned into a barefoot and pregnant loser. Not so! An educated woman brings a lot to the plate so to speak. Certainly, she is better prepared to educate her children--she knows how to find answers to any academic problem. Lawyers, doctors, engineers, and musicians have given up careers to devote crucial time to their children. Skills in organization, research, human interaction, and more help her be more effective. But what about the girl, who chose homemaking as her primary career? She may marry young and have little "education" beyond high school. She too can use her skills acquired by watching mother or by research to build a lovely castle.

Creating a home is a way of creating a world. Whatever her background, a woman can choose to be nurturing and create a place where her loved ones feel safe. She does not have to follow in the footsteps of false traditions of abuse or neglect. She can use her intelligence to build a world of peace and happiness. Contrary to the rhetoric of feminist propaganda, homemaking is an honorable profession. Women have abilities beyond their wildest dreams to organize and create. Instead of wasting years in pity parties and depression, women need to jump off the "I'm so tired" bandwagon and work at homemaking like she studied for tests at college. She can achieve so much if she only takes it seriously.

Women are the soul of a family and a community. Women tamed the Old West with barn raisings, quilting bees, Sunday schools, family dinners, and flowers planted in their gardens. Women today have the same opportunity to open their doors to their neighbors instead of hiding in their cages. They might just turn some of the decay in our communities around by building something wonderful in their little spheres of influence--first at home--then on their street--then beyond.

no longer in the dark and lost

I've been having all sorts of fun following the assignments of TravelinOma. Yesterday, when I read the poetry assignment, I was stumped. I decided to think about it. Then the workers came to dig up the front of the house to locate the leak. Then the plumber came to fix a broken pipe. Then..then....then. Well, I never did write about poetry. Now repentant, I'll write today about being lost.

"I didn't realize I was lost until______." Mr. Doyle asked me to take the missionary lessons. I'd attended church with the Doyles off and on for nearly ten years, and I was only 13.

My first meeting with the missionaries was wonderful on two counts. First, I heard the Joseph Smith story in its entirety and really listened for the first time. I gained a testimony of this visitation quickly. Since I'd always believed in a tangible God and the idea that God speaks to His children, I didn't need to overcome any doubts. I just knew from the burning feeling in my heart that this was truth.

To a thirteen-year-old boy-crazy girl, the cute missionaries were like sweet icing on my cake, especially Elder Stevens. My goodness he was handsome. With his puppy-dog eyes and his dark feathered hair (it was the 70s), he was my ideal of the perfect man. We met every week for a few months. Slowly, I came to realize that these missionaries had something to give me that led me out of the darkness.

What sort of darkness? I lived in a nice middle-class suburb, attended a large public school, played the violin and softball, sang in the chorus at school, had plenty of nice things and enough to eat. My parents were like most parents of my generation--they loved me as well as they knew how--they supported my interests--they provided very will. My extended family on both sides were a big part of my life. So where was the darkness? How was I lost?

Sunday was just another day. Surely we had fun going to hockey games, pistol matches, movies, visiting relatives, but there was no real interaction with God. Belief in Jesus Christ was an accepted fact, but we didn't pray or read scripture or associate with any believers--except when I decided on my own to go to church with a friend. If I begged, sometimes my mother took me to the old pioneer church that my great-grandparents built.

With the missionary's help I found Him; not just an intellectual knowledge of the possibility of His existence but a relationship with my Father and my friend. I learned that the rules of life or commandments weren't there to ruin my fun but to protect me and make me happy. I learned to overcome weakness and repent through the power of Christ's Atonement. I learned how to treat others and myself with charity. I learned to refuse to get offended. I learned that everyone on the earth is a Child of God. I learned that He listens to and answers my prayers. I learned to love His Word. I was no longer in the dark and lost.

now i just need a hat

I'm really having fun following the assignment from TravelinOma's School Days. The latest assignment is to make a list of ten little things that improved your happiness today. Since I always write in the wee small hours of the morning, I'll write ten little things that improved my happiness yesterday.

1. I slept great! Sleeping is my main hobby. Sometimes it is quite rewarding; other times it is not so great. When I wake ready to jump out of bed, I thank God for this awesome gift.

2. I went to the temple. Before I got sick a few years ago, we attended temple each Saturday. For a time, we didn't go; it was just too much for me to drive an hour and attend a long session. Now that I'm feeling a bit better, we hope to get back to our old routine. It is such a privilege to spend that time each week in deep meditation and prayer.

3. I walked to the library. My health has improved enough for me to attempt a bit of exercise again. My favorite walks are to the grocer to get greens for our smoothies and to the library for a new book or two. Neither is more than a few blocks away. This time of year the trees are so heavy with leaves.

4. The leaves are beginning to change. Populars have bright yellow patches here and there. Lilacs are turning red. I love fall colors and weather. Summer is my favorite followed by spring and fall. A fan of winter I'm not but plan to see it with open eyes this year.

5. My husband held my hand. It took us awhile to iron out our relationship. Newly married couples are at a great risk for divorce, but we were committed to family and marriage. So we stuck it out. Since we understand each other so well now, we enjoy each other much very much. Maybe we aren't as cut as we were at 18 and 26, but we are so happy.

6. I came up with a whole new outfit right out of my closet. I love Audry Hepburn's style. In the movie Funny Face she wore a jumper, while working in a bookstore. My new outfit is like that in shades of blue instead of brown and black. It is so comfy and cute. Now I just need a hat.

7. I came up with a new before bed routine that allows me more time during the day. Instead of washing my hair in the morning, which also requires using the blow drier and more, I do it at night. This allows it to air dry, saving me 30 minutes of primping time to apply to my writing. I'm almost done getting my new daily routines together to allow time to write my new novel.

8. I noticed that it has been ages, since we had any contention in our home. The calm peaceful atmosphere is a joy. Without contention stress is minimized; health and spirituality are increased.

9. I made a simple dinner--just braised chicken breasts in brown sauce, mashed potatoes, and peas. It was enjoyable, but the real treat was all the laughing and talking around the table. Did I tell you we're using only cloth napkins now--very elegant.

10. I had time to read a very interesting book, Sex, Lies, and Menopause. It deals with cyclical replacement of bioidentical hormones in women. I like to educate myself on health issues from every angle, before I see any doctor. This way I can speak knowledgeably instead of taking what they say as gospel truth. I can take my health into my own hands. Practicing medicine, a doctor participates in an educated guessing game. It is not an exact science, as many would leave us to believe.

am i a writer?

Recently, I learned of TravelinOma and her 12-week writing school from Emily. Of course I learned about it a few weeks in, but it sounds like a fun plan. I think I'll jump in with "Think of a writing project you want to do. Name it. Write down steps to begin. Write each step on a day or week in your planner (give yourself enough time to make it fun) and follow through."

Actually, I've been thinking of this project for some time. I went to a writer's seminar at BYU in 2008. The class thought my first chapter was awful, and I got deflated. I put the project away and haven't written anything but blogs and textbooks since. I sort of have a confidence problem that I need to overcome. So here goes:

The True Story of Billie Sutton--Billie was my grandmother's nickname as a child. The story is loosely based on all the stories she told me of her childhood. I loved the Anne of Green Gables books. Although I don't write as well as L.M. Montgomery, I want that sort of feel for this story. Grandma grew up around the time of the Dust Bowl in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Arizona.

1. Make a schedule. I think I'll commit to 1 hour per day.

2. Write down all the stories she told me.

3. Talk to Grandma on the phone to get more material. Visit in October.

4. Outline the material into chapters.

5. Begin.

It's so funny. I thought I would be done with schedules now that I'm retired from teaching. But I find I function much better with goals and accountability. So I guess it's time to dig out my homemaking journal and update it to include my new lifestyle. I don't want to fritter away my life by drifting through my days.

A few make-up assignments.

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After I went to BYUI with my son this summer, I felt differently about letting him transfer there. I think it will be a better fit for him than the BIG Y. For one thing, BYUI has more creative writing classes. He loves to write and wants that as a career. It's also smaller and has a more personal atmosphere. Traveling through Idaho with Spencer and his dad, I grew calm and happy. Peaceful and quiet, the small towns dotting the landscape seemed to smile and call out a friendly hello as we passed. Yes, this is the right place.

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Years ago our old copies of the Anne of Green Gables Series went the way of all the earth. The first time I spent time with her, I was a fifteen-year-old girl who marched to the beat of a her own drummer. Anne gave me hope that I could grow up and find true friendship and true love. I did. Each of my daughters and I spent hours reading and giggling though the books and loving Anne's world. She had so much to offer as she bungled her way though scrapes and read delicious poetry.

When I felt displaced this summer during our wide wanderings, I again looked to Anne. Currently, I'm in the fifth book Anne's House of Dreams. Thirty years after the first time, the books have taken on new meaning. I've related to Marilla's point of view. I see the shallowness of Anne's desire to do something more. I smile at her noble ideas of married life and raising children. I ache with Anne as she loses a child. Over the next few weeks as I visit Anne's new home and watch as she raises her children through early adulthood, I'm sure I'll understand her better than ever before.

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Ten Things I love About Being Me

1. I have great hair except for.... Oh, yeah, no negatives. I obsess about hair. Now that it's greying, I have something new and unique to love about it. I'll never dye it. I like it long, layered, and wavy. Even though my mother thinks I'm too old to wear it long and look awful this way, I think she's wrong. I love my very dark, long, greying, layered, wavy hair.

2. I'm short. Technically, a midget at 4' 11", I need footstools and custom clothing. I love being petite.

3. I'm a Daughter of God. He made me the way I am for a purpose. It's my job to accept and improve myself to be ready for my great mission, my purpose. I discover it as I go along. It changes as I grow from challenges.

4. I'm a homemaker. I have loved learning to organize, cook, sew, and decorate my home. I love to keep bees, garden, keep chickens, and grow my own food. Home, inside and out, is my sanctuary on earth.

5. I'm a reader. I read to learn. I read to escape. I read to participate in the great debate of the ages.

6. I'm a wife. I'm not ashamed to say I love my husband. I wouldn't take him any other way. He is next to perfect. I'm so glad he chose me.

7. I'm a mom. The most difficult job a girl could ever love is motherhood. Don't leave Earth without it. Don't shortchange it by moaning through it. It ends all too soon. But then you get to be grandma. It's delicious.

8. I was a teacher. From the birth of my first child 27 years ago until last April, I taught my children to read, to compute, to write, to clean, and to think for themselves. Now my nest is semi-empty. My teaching days are behind me except for those rare occasions when one of them calls for advice.

9. I'm an artist, musician, and writer. No, I'm no expert in any of these fields. I pursue them because they bring me joy. I have nothing to prove, nobody to compete with. I play, sing, draw, paint, and write, because I do.

10. I'm a nature lover. Walking on mountain trails, I find delight in every vista. Flowers, trees, streams, and waterfalls are a feast to my eyes. Plus walking keeps me fit.

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