Happiness is a choice!

TEDxRexburg: My Message to the World

I woke up one morning and said,  “I believe that God is telling me that I need to work on my speaking skills.” It has been quite the journey, 3 years later, here we go! Just had dress rehearsal. January 12, 2019 When I woke up that morning I knew it was time to sharpen my speaking skills. I wasn’t sure why, I had an idea that it was so that I could share my experience and ideas about how I got through and continue to get through life. So here I am. On the stage at the Romance Theater in Rexburg, Idaho running through “MY” TEDx talk.  I am doing this because I do my best to be obedient to my God. Here is the interview that was played today. Here is the video of my TEDx Rexburg talk, from the TED YouTube Channel. https://youtu.be/7nV54vKhavg

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2 years later, still learning from “Bald headed moments”

-a bald-headed moment is when you are suddenly vulnerable or taken by surprise and you turn it around into bettering yourself. https://youtu.be/u3JkAB53vc8 From the age of 10 years old, I knew I was a strong swimmer. I could jump off a high dive, bridge and be confident that I could swim to the side. It was a humbling experience and hard to believe that I was no longer that girl. This was a new normal for me. I could walk, talk and take care of myself. But I was unable to hike, swim and be the active person I have been my entire life. Because of this I started putting limitations on myself and felt like this was a reasonable limitation, even after 2 years of recovery. Here is an example; I have been a piano teacher for 20 years and played throughout my childhood. After chemo and radiation, my fingers started locking up. My right hand is swollen and sore. When I was asked if I could accompaniment a musical number in sacrament meeting  I replied that I had retired. I have played simple songs with my grandchildren, though I have to admit that put that talent on the

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The Shame of Cancer & How Being Impetuous Saved My Life

Really? Stage 4+ lymphoma, one week to live? I am the healthy one, I actually prided myself in my poverty.  Yes, I was prideful that I was poor,  and I grew my own herbs and bought in bulk, capsuled them, and made my own vitamins. I had my children at home to save money and live naturally. We raised our beef and chickens, fresh eggs and organic beef and potatoes out of the field. Big garden and a variety of vegetables. I would process a whole deer right off the foothills into bottles.  We lived off the land, I was a hippy kind of farm girl. Pillar of health.  I swore that I would NEVER allow chemo in my body. If I could have a 10 lb baby at home and live off the land, I could beat cancer with natural remedies! Oh, the shame of “How can I face the world and admit that I have cancer? ” Just pure embarrassment. I started using oils and herbs that would fight cancer. I am confident that this prolonged my life by a few weeks. But it was no match for this fast-growing cancer. My first thoughts were that I would just die

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What is “Real” at Christmas?

I felt so numb. My legs felt like wood. I am Christmas Carol. That is what my mom called me! But she is an angel in heaven and I think she is pretty busy. ( my mom painted these figuriness and notice the book says Christmas Carols, Yes that is about me:)               I would take pictures of off the kids in front of the Christmas tree. Yes, Tex is an angel in heaven and he wasn’t feeling the Christmas spirit that during this picture, maybe because the lump of coal in his stocking was mentioned 100 times a day!   Then I remember the Christmas I was exhausted and drank hot cocoa and watched movies as my children visited their father and we started a “new normal” Divorced parents after 25 years of marriage. Ya, that was a memorable Christmas.   Just 2 years ago I was pretty sure it was my last Christmas because of a life-changing cancer experience.    But now I am here to face these memories, and my heart, legs and mind just wasn’t sure what to do. This is the 1st time in a very long time that I was

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So Shall We be Like a Tree

I planted a tree A tree that will last It will last my lifetime My children’s children will watch it grow It will see changes Changes in our home Changes in me Changes in our community It sees the big picture It will watch the  circle of life Death, birth, the storms of life It will stand through many seasons of life Spring-Fall, summer winter Stormes of life that will be unnoticed by the self-absorbed But the tree will see It will clean the air Clean the soul It will only give It will give protection to the home from the elements of snow, wind, and will give shade. It will bring the smell of pine from a wreath during the Holidays and welcome visitors It will give pine tea to the sick This tree will only give So shall we be like a tree Give new life Give new breath Give new perspective and stand strong and beautiful when the storms of life engulf us Stand firm and strong Bend in the wind Drink  up the rain and welcome the new day Look up Notice the sunshine  

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