The Clicker and the Importance of Getting Unplugged

October 20, 2011 By

Sometimes you just need to get unplugged.

This is opposed to unhinged, which is what I have felt the last several weeks.

I hit my limit after a compendium of stress, work and more stress a couple of weeks ago. I woke up feeling…not depressed…but burned out and in dire need of a reboot after my family’s onslaught of medical and financial trials this year.

I attended Time Out For Women a couple of weekends ago and it was a much-needed spiritual boost. One of my favorite speakers (and inspiring musical artist) Hilary Weeks spoke about a statistic she had heard: that the average person has 300 negative thoughts a day. Thinking this was a staggering number, she decided to put it to the test. She bought herself a clicker and every time she had a negative thought, she counted it.

The final number wasn’t important but what resonated with me was how she felt after almost a week of doing it. For no reason at all, she woke up feeling depressed and absolutely hopeless about her life.

Recognizing the source, she turned the experiment around and documented every positive thought she had. The number of clicks skyrocketed as it became a practice in gratitude–from her family to God’s creations to the many little miracles that surrounded her. (Read her blog posts about it here).

Lesson learned: When you focus on the negatives, all your energy and psyche will give way to that energy. Conversely, thinking positive thoughts makes you happy.

I’ve never been a negative person but when you’re drowning in negative influences and aren’t filling it with as much positivity as possible, something’s gotta give and that’s exactly how I felt. So last week, I refused to let the uncertainty and stress take hold of me. I stepped away from my computer and filled my life with positive energy. I recommitted myself spiritually and spent every spare second in the outdoors marveling at the fall colors.

We picked crab apples and made applesauce.

We climbed trees.
I hiked.

And hiked some more.
And biked almost daily.
There is something so special about fall–life in all its summer pastels becomes golden. And somehow through imersing myself in it, each day I grew stronger, more at peace and connected. While our future may be uncertain, for these past weeks we’ve been living in the brevity of the moment and it has been magic.

One of my favorite passages of scripture in Mosiah 24: 13-15 has resonated with me. Alma and his people are doing what’s right and are living their lives when they are faced with a huge trial: wicked Amulon is sent to rule over them and places horrible burdens on their back. They even try to pray and risk the treat of being put to death.

Human instinct is to pray all the bad things away. I know I have and continue to do so. But the answer they received is so much more inspired.

13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

Another lesson learned: Don’t pray for a lighter burden, pray for a stronger back.


Our situation has not changed but my capacity to handle it has. And for that, I am grateful.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: issues, LDS

At long last: the sordid details of my joyride to Paris

August 29, 2011 By

On Friday, my 7-year-old daughter did not come home on the bus as expected.

In a frenzy, I tore over to her school and was terrified when the staff was unable to locate her. “Haddie’s teacher said she got on a bus but we’re not sure which one,” they assured me.

As I was conjuring up every worse-case scenario in the book, they located her on the same bus she rides in the morning, which is different than her afternoon bus. Call me crazy but switching up the route…and bus number…is confusing for young kids.

And mortified parents.

I posted my angst to my friends on Facebook and while most were sympathetic, some of my closer friends blamed me, citing “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Amber.” And exactly are they referring to? My accidental joy ride in Europe.

When I was 21, CLICK HERE TO READ ON AT MILEHIGHMAMAS.COM

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Humor, LDS

Birthday wishes to a prophet and a tribute to the family

August 21, 2011 By

When we have sampled much and have wandered far and have seen how fleeting and sometimes superficial a lot of the world is, our gratitude grows for the privilege of being part of something we can count on–home and family and the loyalty of loved ones. We come to know what is means to be bonded together by duty, by respect, by belonging. We learn that nothing can fully take the place of the blessed relationship of family life.

-President Thomas S. Monson, “A Sanctuary From the World, 2008. Born August 21, 1927.

Calgary Zoo with Aunt Sue, Mom & Dad.Niece Ashton’s darlings in Calgary.
My amazing sister-in-law Jane and niece Emily in Calgary.Dear Aunt Sue aboard Calgary’s only paddlewheeler at Heritage Park.Aunt Lisa in Crested Butte, Colorado.
Grandma and Grandpa Johnson in Utah.
Uncle Jer, Aunt Tammy and our darling, prayed-for nieces.
Great Grandpa Smith, our only living grandpa (Bode taught him to play Angry Birds.)
Uncle Chris, Scofield Lake, Utah.

My niece Ashton’s temple sealing for time and eternity with her husband Fred in Cardston, AB.
Darling nieces at Wheeler Farm, Utah.The Borowski clan in the Outer Banks.Crab stalking in the Outer Banks with my brothers Pat, Jade and Dad.
Lazy summer days with Grandma Johnson in Utah.The man with whom I’ve started my own family atop Bear’s Hump in Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada.Mom and Dad on a walk in Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary.

Everywhere, with everyone, is a little cut of home.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Family, LDS

Zambia’s Virtues and Vices (and why I want in)

July 29, 2011 By

In addition to hanging out with my family, one of the best parts of my trip to Canada has been reconnecting with a couple of dear friends. My neighbor Stacey B. met us at Lake Sikome for an afternoon of fun and Stacey S. was a fixture at my house for a couple of days.

Basically, if your name wasn’t Stacey, I didn’t hang out with you.

Many people are familiar with young men and women who serve as Mormon missionaries but most don’t know that retired couples are encouraged to go as well. Stacey S.’s dad and step-mom will be serving in Zambia, Africa starting this fall. “Senior missionaries” usually assist as local leadership, provide service and in the case of Stacey’s parents, coordinate the C.E.S. (Church Educational System). When Jamie and I are older, I would love to serve a mission together.

Just think of the many remote villages who could have sustenance for months if Jamie grew giant pumpkins there.

We all have our ways of contributing.

One night, I set-up a blogfor Stacey’s parents so family and friends can follow their adventures in Africa. I wasn’t too keen on Zambia until Stacey told me it is one of the best places to do a safari and is the home of world-famous Victoria Falls.

Photo

I fell in love with the area when Matt Lauer went there for the Today Show in 2004. I’ve since been keen on bungee jumping off the 152-meter Victoria Falls Bridge.

Stacey also told me about the crazies who soak in Devil’s Pool, a natural rock pool at the very top of Victoria Falls (check-out the insanity here).


I’ll stick with bungee jumping, thanks.

Stacey hopes to visit her parents and I’ve generously invited myself along (with a $2,000+ plane ticket, we can all dream, right?) Though there are many wonderful facets to Zambia, this country in southern African has one of the world’s most devastating HIV and AID epidemics.

Stacey: “Did you know a Zambian woman’s life expectancy at birth is just 39 years old?:”
Me: “How sad.”
Stacey: “So, basically if that was us we’d be dead by now.”

Or we could just hang out at Devil’s Pool to speed up the process.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Humor, LDS, travel

Sweet Sabbath Day Solutions

June 5, 2011 By

It’s hot in Denver. Really hot. 95-degree weather is something I’d anticipate in July but not early-June.

Hence the reason why the kids and I will be spending most of next month in gloriously cooler Canada.

In this kind of weather, I make myself scarce. I wake up early to play outside and hunker down with my air-conditioner in the sweltering afternoon. Today is one of those days but it’s also Sunday. As a family rule and part of our faith, we try our darnedest to “keep the Sabbath day holy.” This is a matter of interpretation but for us, we try to spend time as a family. We avoid sporting events, uproarious activities and shopping and instead focus on bettering ourselves and those around us.

And napping. I luuuuuuv my Sunday nap.

We look forward to this “day off from our labors” and it truly is a wonderful time to rejuvenate and refocus our attentions on our family.

Unless it’s really hot and your husband turns on the sprinklers to water the lawn. Moments later, I heard Hadley bolt up the stairs. Now, let me preface this by saying what Haddie requested is in that gray area of Sabbath worship but I knew it would ultimately lead to other requests not in line with how we spend our day.

“Mommy, can we change into our swimsuits and race around in the sprinklers?”

“I don’t know, Hadley. Do you think that’s a very appropriate activity for the Sabbath?”

“I have an idea! We can sing church songs as we do it!”

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Hadley, Humor, LDS

I’m Not the Only One With a Brilliant Sense of Humor

May 13, 2011 By

As I’ve already established on this blog, I’ve been sick a lot lately and my absence has not gone unrecognized at church. A couple of weeks ago, I was getting some reimbursement slips from our clerk’s office when I had a rather enlightening conversation with two of our ward members, Brother Allred and Brother Conley.

Side note: Just writing that we often refer to each other (particularly the older generation) as “brother” and “sister” sounds a bit strange but I assure you it’s the most natural thing in the world.

Especially considering other names people could call you.

Our conversation:

Brother Allred: “So, Sister Johnson. Are you feeling better?”

Me: “Finally. It’s been a rough few months. I have a really low white-blood cell count, which I suspect is the reason why I keep getting sick.”

Brother Conley (who was listening in): “Low white blood cell count? Did you know that Brother Allred doesn’t have any white blood cells?”

Brother Allred: “You’re correct. Mine are ‘all-red.’”

Just one more reason why I’m glad to be back at church.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Humor, LDS

A Mormon Wedding Reception Intervention

March 24, 2011 By

An important facet of Mormonism is we believe marriages are eternal. Yep, that’s right, people. That dude you wake up to every morning with the rock-star hair? You’d better make sure he’s “the one” because you’ll be with him for this life and the next.

Though for Jamie, his decision was put in question when I woke up looking like this on a backpacking trip shortly after we got married.

Mormons do a great job at marriage because family is at the very core of our beliefs. Husband and wife are “sealed” together in the temple and children are born “in the covenant,” meaning our bond is not “‘Til death do you part.” It’s a cherished doctrine, one that gives me resolve to build the very best relationship possible and perspective that when a loved one dies, it is not the end.

What Mormons don’t do well? Throw weddings.

If you’ve never been to an LDS wedding, you’re not missing much. I’m not here to get anyone’s knickers in a twist but honestly, Mormon weddings are lame. The temple part, is of course, glorious, but what unfolds thereafter? Lame.

I’m not sure why, as a culture, we fail in this particular area. Maybe it’s because LDS couples marry young and weddings are expensive? Or is it that we’re so entrenched in tradition that we just can’t think outside of the box?

I’m certainly not here to condone spending thousands of dollars on a wedding. But here’s the simple fact: the majority of LDS celebrations are held in our church’s cultural hall. As in the gymnasium. I don’t care what an amazing decorator you are: basketball hoops can only look so good in crepe paper.

The evening generally consists of going through the line to small-talk with Uncle What’s-his-face, congratulating the happy couple, eating some finger foods and finishing it off with the cake. If you’re (not) lucky, the extended family will perform a talent show of some kind.

Believe me, not all Mormons perform like them thar Osmonds.

See what I’m saying?

Even if you have a tight budget, there are ways to pull together a great wedding. My husband’s sister had her reception in the grove of trees behind our local church and it was glorious–white lights, glowing lanterns, delicious food. All very her, classy and on a tight budget.

But I have simply fallen in love with this glorious LDS bike wedding:

Derek and Rebecca said in the invitations that there would be physical exercise and to wear comfortable clothing. But they didn’t tell everyone that they would be going on a progressive party around downtown LA on bikes! After the temple ceremony everybody walked around the corner and saw that there were rows and rows of rented bicycles. It was so exciting! Everyone spent some time decorating their bicycles, then we took off. The first stop was a picnic lunch at a park, the second was a stop in at the LA institution, Diddy Reese and the last stop was for toasts at a botanical garden.-Jordan Ferney



This wedding was so charming it was featured on Martha Stewart Weddings (seriously, you need to go see the entire slide show).

So, I’ve put it out there and will assuredly get a fair share of hate mail from angry brides professing their cultural hall wedding “was the very best day of my life!” I don’t dispute that in the least and to each their own.

I just wish I’d thought to do skis instead of bikes.

Note: After posting this, I have received an exorbitant amount of emails with LDS-related questions. Be sure to check out the fun feature I did a few years ago, LDS-Palooza, that answers every question you never thought to ask your friends, The Mormons.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Humor, LDS

Revealed: A Picky Eater’s Innermost Thoughts

October 6, 2010 By

An important General Conference tradition (in addition to listening to our church leaders via sattelite) is the food that accompanies it.

At least that was the case until Jamie’s parents moved to Utah and our Sunday-morning breakfast tradition of blueberry muffins, sausage and eggs was dead.

That is why I was thrilled when my friend Eva asked if her family of eight could watch at our place. In return for offering up our TV, she brought fruit, cinnamon buns, sausage, bacon and juice.

Can you say no-brainer?

I threw in some homemade caramel applesauce, an apple tart, eggs and pumpkin oatmeal chocolate chip cookies so we had quite the feast.

Jamie, the kids and I snacked all day. By dinnertime, I desperately wanted something light and healthy so opted to serve yogurt parfaits. I made granola for the first time, chopped strawberries and blueberries and let the children build their parfaits with their favorite yogurt.

They both loved it and couldn’t believe *this* was dinner.

As Hadley was polishing off her final bites, she exclaimed:

“Huh.”
“What, Hadley?” I queried.
“I just thought it was your job to make dinner I don’t like.”

Sad thing is she meant it as a compliment.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Hadley, Humor, LDS

Bode’s public speaking debut

May 18, 2010 By

Life is going full-throttle and will continue at warp speed until summer vacation begins in a couple of weeks. Haddie’s birthday bash is this weekend, followed by her actual birthday next Tuesday. We recently returned from a fabulous weekend in Glenwood Springs and did I mention the big Mile High Mamas event I’m in charge of at the Children’s Musem of Denver tomorrow night?

Whew. Venting does have its therapeutic advantages.

One highlight of my week was when Bode gave his first talk in church on Sunday. When children are 3 they enter Primary, a children’s organization where they have lessons, a community sharing time and fun singing hour. And then there are talks. Every child is asked to present a talk to his peers at least once a year and speaking for the first time is a big rite-of-passage.

I would like to say we prepped Bode for weeks leading up to his first talk but that would be a lie.

The truth? I remembered after we put him to bed on Saturday night. I raced down to the computer, cranked out his talk on baptism and Jamie woke him up to run through it.

And yes, we usually live life on the fly like this. If you had any question, you must be a newbie to this mommy blog.

Bode groggily repeated the talk and fell back asleep. He is not one who enjoys getting up in front of a crowd (as opposed to his spotlight-craving sister’s first talk). So, the next morning, I prepped him.

“Be sure to talk directly into the microphone.”
“Speak clearly and slowly so people can hear you.”
“Be sure to remember to smile!”

I thought we had our bases covered and I promised to bring his beloved orange Webkinz cat Tabby to watch.

Bode didn’t even look nervous when he went to the podium. The microphone wasn’t working so Jamie crouched behind him and told him to speak loudly. Bode took one look at me and then proceeded to fold his arms, close his eyes, bow his head and give his talk. My first thought was “What is he doing?” And then I realized the poor kid thought he was saying a prayer.

Jamie was so intent on helping him that he didn’t realize Bode’s eyes were closed. By the time Jamie had him correct course, the adults at the back of the room were doubled over trying to stifle their laughter. But the damage was done. For the rest of the talk, Bode shied away and refused to look at the audience. All my public-speaking tips were thrown to the wayside.

Not that I can blame the kid. He is, after all, only 3 and speaking to a room full of people would be pretty darn intimidating.

Maybe for my next public speaking tutorial, I’ll just tell him to keep his eyes closed.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Bode, Humor, LDS

No longer just The Pumpkin Widow

April 14, 2010 By

Jamie just got called to the Bishopric in our ward.

For the non-Mormon readers of this blog, roughly translated this means I am now a widow.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have non-paid clergy. A Bishop is called to preside over our congregation of roughly 200-400 members. Two counselors are called to the Bishopric and various responsibilities are delegated to them as they assist in the spiritual and temporal welfare of our ward.

Between time-consuming Sunday meetings, the Bishopric attends various activities and events during the week. Jamie will be heavily involved in Scouting. This would have been a dream come true when I was a wee lassie and in love with all the Scouts in my ward.

It’s a bummer Hadley is too young to reap the benefits.

We have known about Jamie’s new assignment for a couple of weeks but it was not made public until Sunday. A counselor from the stake presidency made the announcement and told him to “say good-bye to your wife and children and come join us here on the stand.”

The counselor later joked he meant for the duration of the meeting (and all subsequent meetings) but not indefinitely.

At least I think he was joking.

There was one thing that troubled Jamie about the assignment and I knew exactly what it was: time. He’s already been putting in long hours growing his web development business. Add to that the start of pumpkin season and a nagging wife who gently reminds him of his family responsibilities and he’s already been feeling overwhelmed.

Something’s gotta give.

And I was kinda maybe hoping it would be large and orange.

“We’re going to have to tighten up our budget,” he proclaimed.

His solution is to work less.

And not in the pumpkin patch.

It was my first test as The Good Wife and I passed. I smiled, nodded and thought I could surely only visit Target once a week instead of daily.

And then there is the issue of my behavior. After Stake President Jones asked Jamie if he would accept this new assignment and he agreed, I queried,

“Does this mean I have to be good now?”

I, of course, didn’t listen to the answer.

© Crazy Bloggin’ Canuck–A Denver Mom’s Blog
Filed Under: Humor, Jamie, LDS
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