Spring Fever

I love spring - which is why I chose to get married in the spring!!!:)  I have such fond memories of being in college and finally being able to study outside in the warm air, or grading papers outside when I was a teacher.  I remember having a picnic with DD when she was just a baby just because it was spring!!!:)  This year it hasn't hit me as hard.  Until this weekend!!!:)   I spent so much time outside on Friday and loved every minute of it!!!:)  The weather was gorgeous, I got a lot of yard work done, and I even went for a run Saturday morning!!:)  Oh how I love the spring!!!:)  I love the signs of rebirth, spring flowers (tulips and daffodils and blossoms)  I love being able to plant a garden and see the plants grow!!!:) Yep, spring is definitely my favorite time of the year!!!:)

Common Core

I don't know how much you know about common core, but from what I know it scares me.  I would really appreciate your help in getting it removed from Utah (if you live in other states there is a link at the bottom that will take you to your state page).  If you want more information, feel free to browse this website:www.utahnsagainstcommoncore.com there is also a petition on the webpage that I would really appreciate your signature. 

Here are some facts about Common Core:

 

·Common Core ignores your child’s uniqueness

 

·Common Core strips away local control of education, leaving you with no say in standards or curriculum

 

·Common Core puts your child in a national database for cradle to grave tracking

 

·Common Core will prepare your child for technical school, but not all colleges

 

·Common Core math standards are lower than our old standards

 

·Common Core English standards reduce great literature reading in high school English classes to less than 50% of reading, while over 50% is for “informational texts”

 

·Common Core was not “state led” or “internationally benchmarked”

 

·The players behind Common Core are large corporations aiming to massively grow profits by getting all students on the exact same new learning schedule. You could rename this Corporate Core.

Here are some more links if you are interested:
http://www.glennbeck.com/2013/03/14/exposing-common-core-kids-are-being-indoctrinated-with-extreme-leftist-ideology/
http://whatiscommoncore.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/which-states-aim-to-reclaim-educational-liberty/
http://www.utahnsagainstcommoncore.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/AlysonWilliamsFlowchart.png

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/12/27/why-all-cool-kids-are-reading-executive-order-13423/

Vision Boards

So in another post I told you I would blog about vision boards later, so here is that post!!:)  I recently learned about vision boards, mostly at the Celebration of Real Beauty event.  Rebecca Rush, the vendor presenting the vision boards talked to me about vision boards and I thought it was a really good idea, so much so that I did a little more research on them when I got back home.  She had the bagua layout for 9 region goals.  So I found that and wrote down each region and then put it off and decided to work on other things for the moment.  Then I found out that I would get a free consult with Rebecca, so I decided to make some goals for each of the regions.  So after all that background this is what I have learned about vision boards...
First of all the brain is amazing (okay I already knew that:).  Using vision boards is allowing the brain to function at it's highest level.  So this year my gift to Christ at Christmas was to be more healthy, and to make that more specific to be better at working out and eating more fruits and vegetables, so I've been working on that, not mastered it yet, but doing much better!!:)  Anyway, I found out that making multiple goals in the same category isn't a very effective way for your brain to work.  However, having goals in different categories is.  So I made my goals, things like making a list and only buying things on my list, and writing a personal blog every week and having a couple/family over for dinner and games once a month. I am very left brained and my dad taught me how to best make a goal, so my goals were achievable.  And I made them finite (for now all my goals are for 3 months, and then I'm going to have a lot of fun!!:)  However, the whole picture thing had me lost.  So for me the pictures have to bring out my feelings, how I want to feel when I have the goal accomplished.  That was a lot of fun working on that aspect, although a bit daunting.  Now I have my goals and pictures up matching their brain color (bagua layout -google it if you really want to know:) and I look at it throughout the day...mostly in the morning when I first wake up and at night before I go to bed. 
Okay, so now here is the really cool part.  You can make goals like have my backyard finished.  And just because you are thinking about it regularly and planning for it, people will help you to achieve that goal. Like maybe someone will have some extra sod and give it to you, or maybe someone will move and let you have their playset or give it to you for a discount.  How cool is that!!:)  It's like your brain tells other people's brains that you need help.  And even though you may not always be working really hard to achieve a goal, your brain is still thinking about it and giving you connections to get it done.  I love it!!:)  I am so excited to use my vision board and make things happen for me!!!:)
Oh and just a note, you do not have to have 9 goals to make a vision board work, you can start with just one - one thing that you can do that you haven't been doing.  Put a picture with it and put it up in your room, your creative spot, and look at it before bed and when you wake up!!!:)
So I know this blog has been all over the place, but I hope I have been able to convey my excitement of vision boards, they are AWESOME!!!:)

More thoughts about thinking

This blog originates from a conversation I had with my DH.  We were talking about 1984, by George Orwell, which led to thinking.  Previously I've written that everyone needs to be able to question and think for themselves, but as we were talking I came to the realization that everyone does this in different ways.  For example Brigham Young read the Book of Mormon, pondered, studied, questioned, prayed about it for 2 years before he was baptized, but Parley P. Pratt read it in one night and knew it was true.  Ultimately we all must learn how to think, because our goal is to become like Heavenly Father.  I came to realize though that it is a gift from Heavenly Father to be able to think things through, "To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby." (D&C 46:12) For some it comes really natural, while others it takes a long time to develop.  I love that we can all learn on different levels and in different ways and be so different, but all have the same reward!!!:)

Missions

So all my life I've been preparing for my mission...motherhood and now I am here and I love it!!!:)  But I've recently come to realize that my life is more than just being a mother...I know I'm a little slow, but at least I got here!!!!:)  I'm not sure exactly what my mission is, but I've recently been on a discovery to find out what it is.  I have been learning like crazy it feels like.
I read a post about having two missions...one is family and the other is organization (however you want to define that).  That is part of what made me realize that my mission is more than raising children.
Oh and then there is the idea that if you had an unlimited supply of money what would you do -- that is connected to your purpose.  And I decided what I would do...it sounds so crazy, but I want to create an organization to help homeless people get off the streets and have some job skills and have a home that they can put on their job applications.  In thinking about it more I decided that my base operation would be an organic farm, but with DH's engineering  skills and desire to take an idea and make it work who knows what we could morph into!!:)
 I went to the "Celebration of Real Beauty" event in March (btw, a plug for that, it is super awesome, every woman should go the next one is in September www.acelebrationofrealbeauty.com) and I connected with two awesome people there.  The first taught me about vision boards (a post for another day) and the second told me about a gift that I have.  I have an ability to connect emotionally with people. As I have thought about that, I see it all over my life. I've also been told to use my talents to bless the lives of others, so knowing that this connection I have is a gift (talent) I know somehow that plays into my mission. 
 Anyway, I've also been trying to study about missions in the scriptures.  Moses had a mission that he didn't expect nor want, so did Saul/Paul.  So I think that when we discover our mission we may not have planned on that mission, but I know the Lord will prepare us and make us equal to the tasks that he gives us!!:)