Is there such a thing as "papers anonymous?"

"Hello. My name is Carli and I am a paperaholic."

Okay. I will admit it. I have a serious addiction. I love 12x12 scrapbook paper! The beautiful colors, patterns, and textures make me go a little light headed. When I see a delicious collection of paper I literally salivate. It is so embarrassing to keep wiping my mouth as I walk up and down the rows of gorgeous paper.

Last night after the Relief Society broadcast I went to a crop at Keepsakes and Memories. (Thanks Sharon!) I could hardly contain myself! I know I have plenty of paper, but I could not stop myself. I have some new favorites: Cloud 9 Design, Heidi Grace designs, and Daisy Bucket designs. I think I showed remarkable restraint by not taking it ALL home.

When I did get home and finally got to sleep (not until 4:00 am - Rochelle I don't know how you do it?!?) I kept dreaming of paper. Yummy colors, beautiful patterns, and tantalizing textures were in my dreams. I was creating adorable layouts and classic cards like a scrapbooking machine! A crop at the store was the perfect inspiration to get my creative juices flowing! I am so excited for scrapaway next week!!!

Changes...

Well today marked a new phase for our family. Ken has been called to be the first counselor in the bishopric. Knowing him like I do, I was not surprised, but I was hoping it would be a few more years before it happened. I am sure he will do beautifully, despite his concerns. He has such a desire to do what is right and do it as well as he possibly can. His humble acceptance has made my love increase for him more than I anticipated. I will sustain and support him. I have ultimate confidence in his abilities, but I have many concerns about mine. With Ken sitting up on the stand, I am not quite sure how I am going to manage 3 small children (especially that three year old boy) by myself. (I apologize in advance to my ward.) He had lots of church meetings before, but now he will have MEETINGS! So many wives that I know seem totally at ease with changes like this and have total faith that their family will be blessed; I am not so sure I am one of those. Maybe one of the blessings that I will receive is my faith being increased. Like always, I will play the hand I have been dealt the best I can. I just hope I do it with the grace, patience, and long-suffering of the many, many who have done it before and are currently "church widows." I know this is want the Lord desires of us and I pray I won't disappoint Him. I will miss my husband though...

I got some complaints...

I heard from a few people that said I needed a new picture on my blog (and facebook). While the other picture was nice, it did not capture the me they know and love. (I thought it showed me "musing" and was therefore quite fitting.) So yesterday I took what I hope will be a more acceptable photo -- a self portrait if you will. Hopefully this will do until I can get Becky to take a real picture.

Other opinions and feedback?

What happened to my baby...

At this time, six years ago, I was in the hospital in the full throws of labor. After many hours of pain, two failed epidurals, and finding out I needed to have a c-section, Morgan Colleen finally arrived. That seems like a lifetime ago.

I am so grateful Morgan was born into our family! She is so much fun and we love her so much. I am constantly amazed at how quickly she is growing up. She is very mature and often is mistaken for a year or two older than she is. I am impressed by her easy going attitude, her quick, infectious laugh, and her ability to make friends. She really is a delight to be around. Even when the drama queen in her comes out -- I'm telling you, she gets that trait from her dad. :) Morgan is a great big sister: she lets Trevor tag a long with her and her friends and she is a wonderful help with Peyton. I truly can't imagine our family without her.

Unfortunately, she got sick and was not able to go to school today. A big disappointment because she was going to take cupcakes and Ken was going to be at school to be a "Watchdog" (a dads program). Oh well, there is always tomorrow. We are also looking forward to her horse birthday party on Saturday! Still trying to figure out how to do a horse cake!?!

Happy birthday my dear, sweet, beautiful girl!

Then... Six years ago

Now... Showing off that missing tooth!

Rain, rain...

I love the rain! Especially this cool rain that lets you know that autumn is in the air. I heard it start just as I was falling asleep about 1:00 last night. It was literally pounding at 6:00 am when I woke up. Of course, I rolled right over and went back to sleep. I find rainy mornings to be the perfect time to cuddle up with Ken and resist the temptation of getting out of bed until the last possible second.

I have many great rain memories. I remember having a picnic on our foyer floor in Scotland and having the doors wide open to watch the storm outside. I remember the gentle rain while swimming with friends at the Officers' pool (no lightening). I remember the torrents that would come down during the typhoons on Okinawa. I remember the rain and the mist that would totally envelop "Y" mountain while at BYU. So many memories...

I LOVE THE RAIN.

Scary thought...

This afternoon while in church Trevor leans over to me and starts rubbing his arms, tummy, and legs. He proceeds to say, "I wish I had a hundred mouths, then I could talk all over!" This from the boy who makes noise all day. (No kidding, he loves to hear himself talk!) This from the boy who could eat all day. This from the boy who loves to tease his sisters. One hundred mouths?!? Oh what a nightmare that would be!

The Rhapsody...

What could be better than a weekday date with my hottie of a husband? Not much, I dare say. Last night we attended the opening night of the Colorado Symphony Orchestra at Boettcher Concert Hall. One of my favorite pieces of all time, Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini was played by Van Cliburn winner Olga Kern (we saw her in a solo recital last spring and were completely impressed) and conducted by Jeffrey Kahane. It was an incredible performance!

This was my first time hearing the Rhapsody live and I was overwhelmed. The themes in the piece are so lush. There is a depth and range of emotions throughout that totally touches my soul. There is so much beauty in that piece it was hard to breathe. And what can I say about the 18th variation? There was such grace and sensitivity as Ms. Kern played it. I love Rachmaninoff's music!

Boettcher Hall is really fun to go to because it is set up in the round. We sat in my favorite seats at the back of the orchestra. I LOVE watching the conductor. I had never seen Jeffrey Kahane conduct before and he was amazing! Every movement was so clear and easy to follow. I think he is my new favorite conductor (Sorry Keith!). It was so interesting, during the Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony he even put down his baton for the 2nd and 3rd movements. I have never seen an orchestra conductor do that before! (I do think it was completely warranted by the music. I would had a difficult conducting that piece with a baton.) He was awesome!

I have been tagged...

Micaela has tagged me to answer some questions about me. So here it goes...

4 jobs I have had:
1. Voice teacher
2. Choir teacher (yes that counts as a separate thing)
3. Microfilmer
4. Singing janitor (I feel I must explain. For my first two years at BYU I was one of the custodians for the administration building. I had a tendency to sing while I worked, especially when I was on bathroom duty. You can't buy acoustics like that. :) In fact the university president, Rex E. Lee, once heard me and came in to tell me that I had a lovely voice. It was not long before I was known as the singing janitor.)

4 movies I could watch over and over: (really though, I love movies and would watch just about anything over and over again)
1. Pride and Prejudice (especially the new one. oh, I love that soundtrack!)
2. Willow (one of the best quoting movies of all time)
3. An Ideal Husband
4. Romantic comedies

Places I have lived: (a lot more than 4 and since this is my blog, I'm going to list them all)
1. Pensacola, FL
2. Twentynine Palms, CA
3. Reno, NV
4. Okinawa, Japan
5. Dunoon, Scotland
6. Reno (again)
7. Lawton, OK
8. Twentynine Palms (again)
9. Glen Ellyn, IL
10. Quantico, VA
11. Okinawa (again)
12. San Diego, CA
13. Provo, UT
14. Fallon, NV
15. Ft. Sill, OK
16. Longmont, CO
17. Firestone, CO

4 Favorite TV shows: (I am assuming this means current shows)
1. The Office
2. 24
3. Heroes
4. Lost

4 Favorite foods:
1. Cheesecake
2. Steak and potatoes
3. Fettuccini Alfredo
4. Ken's blueberry milkshakes

4 Websites I visit:
1. Mitt websites: My Man Mitt, Evangelicals for Mitt, and several others
2. Real Clear Politics
3. Facebook
4. Friends' blogs

4 Places I'd rather be:
1. Scrapaway!
2. In bed
3. On Broadway
4. Trotting the globe (does that count as one?)

4 old boyfriends you wonder "what in the world ever happened to ____" about:
1. Just four?!? :)
2.
3.
4.

4 people I tag next:
1. Rochelle
2. Ashley
3. Kacy
4. Karin

P.S. Check out Micaela's answers on her blog (link on right). She is much funnier than I am.

Another lesson...

Went to my second voice lesson with Mary Ann today. I really feel comfortable with her and feel I can learn a lot from her. Had an "a-ha" moment today. She was telling me about one of her experiences with Seth and while she was talking I was thinking, "oh boy, that is totally me." The gist was that when someone is intuitive about something it is easy to skip to the answer without doing all the the steps in between to actually get there. Guilty as charged.

One of my (many) problems is that the exercises feel great and fairly easy. Then I get to the song and blow it. I have always felt like my big voice has been a blessing and a curse. I am having a difficult time staying light enough in my chest and mix while in a "musical theater sound." I either make it too big or end up singing light classical.

I am still trying to wrap my head around this conundrum: on recordings it sounds like the performers have so much power in that mix area. I associate power with big. So how do they get they power, but keep it easy and light? To get that sound it seems like it should be a lot more work. So far I don't get it -- at least not consistently.

I have a lot more singing and listening to do.

A day in my crazy life...

Today was a totally crazy day. I have been in a sprint since I got up this morning. It started when the day was just barely pink and Trevor came and got in bed with us. He was still sick and his fever was raging. I got everyone dressed, fed, and got Morgan off to school. I was just finishing putting on my makeup so I could go to my hair appointment when there was a knock at the door. I had double booked a new student with my haircut. One of those moments when I am oblivious to the fact that the 18th and Tuesday are the same day. Luckily, Erica was able to squeeze me in later and I was able to teach my new student. She is a woman in her 40s that has never sung before. She is taking lessons to surprise her family and be able to jam with her son that plays guitar. So cool! Then lunch for kids. Haircut -- I am loving stepping outside of the "Carli bob." Then off to Costco. Then home at the speed of light to make dinner for us and the wonderful woman that I visit teach who just had a cute baby boy last week. Taught a bunch of lessons, then scarfed down my dinner before dropping off a baby gift, grabbing samples of the projects I am suggesting, and heading to a meeting to finalize Super Saturday. An hour and a half later, I swing by Dairy Queen for a banana cream pie blizzard to split with Ken. Yum. Then time at the computer to write emails and a quick blog update. Now the house is still a mess. (I swear, it started out clean this morning!) So off to put toys away (again), do dishes (again), sweep the floor (again), and put stuff away (AGAIN!). Only to get up for another busy day tomorrow... I barely had time to breathe today, but I want to finish up the day with thinking of some of the things I learned today and am grateful for.

1. It is so cool to see someone willing to step outside their comfort zone and take the risk of trying something new. I need to do that more.
2. Costco (need I say more?!?)
3. Kids that don't feel well like to cuddle and read stories. :)
4. New babies!!!
5. Great quote by President Hinckley that was shared at my meeting. "Try a little harder, to be a little better."

Great inspiration. Tomorrow I will try a little harder...

Seriously though...

Do they get much cuter than this? Peyton enjoying her morning snack (chocolate teddy grahams).

Girl Power...

Saturday night I was able to attend a fireside where the speaker was Sheri Dew. I helped to organize a great group of women to go all together. There were 13 fantastic women in our group that all headed to the church on Saturday to hear Sis. Dew. She was certainly worth the effort! Her remarks were insightful and I had several "a-ha" moments while I listened to her. I thought I would pass along some of the notes I took.

Righteous women are a crucial part Heavenly Father's plan of salvation and Satan is launching an all out attack on these women. Heavenly Father knows that we are up to the challenge. He saved us for these latter days and knows we can follow through and help build the Kingdom of God. After all, we know the end of the story; God wins and Satan loses.

She told her experience of driving in the middle of the night only to run over a street lamp (the light part) that had fallen and how it totally stopped the progress of her SUV. From this she learned two lessons which she dubs the parable of the street lamp... 1. Usually the things that stop our (spiritual) progress are or start out as small things. 2. Often the answer requires backing up. (repentance and trying again to do it better)

We want to learn to follow Jesus Christ without reservation! Moroni 7:48 talks about the gifts that Heaven Father will give us as we are true followers of His Son. She made it clear that that is what is necessary to receive those gifts, not being popular, baking your own bread, or being a size two. :) So how do we become TRUE followers? She had a list of five points (though she says there are many more).

A True Follower a Jesus Christ is...

1. Willing to walk away from the world. "Do I look to the Lord or the world for counsel?" She also had these words of advise as we try to decide who to follow "It is always dangerous to take counsel from someone trying to build their own kingdom." (A-HA!)
2. Absolutely believes that Jesus is the Christ. There is great power in Him as we learn to partake of the Atonement.
3. Obedient and repents.
4. A diligent seeker. (Here was a huge a-ha moment for me. She said that many of us know just enough about the gospel to feel guilty and not enough to know the joy. That is totally me. I know I need to work on this area and as I do so I am sure I will find more of the joy that I know is there. It is after all, "good news.")
5. Seeks to become more and more pure. "Purity is the single biggest step for us hearing the message the Lord has for us through the Holy Ghost."

She concluded with saying, "there is unlimited power and influence in a woman who is a TRUE FOLLOWER."

After the fireside we headed for dessert a Cheesecake Factory. I had the raspberry, lemon cream. It was very delicious, but almost a little too light. Most of all, I was so honored to rub shoulders with the amazing women around me. I am inspired by all they do and especially who they are. I feel very blessed to have them as my friends and have their influence in my life.

Debate tonight...

Be sure to tune in for the Republican Debate tonight! 9 pm EDT on Fox news channel.

(As a side note: Fred Thompson is a total coward for missing tonight's debate. Announcing his candidacy the day after. Puhlease! Jay Leno is more important that discussing the issues?!? Before now, I thought he just didn't have a lot of substance, but now I am officially insulted.)

Another first...

Trevor started his preschool career today. He was the first one up and came in reminding me that it was his first day of school. Just a little excited. :) He is in a class of six boys. I think that Jen will have her hands full, but will have a lot of fun. Trevor was almost as excited to be starting school as he was to take his new Batman backpack. It is good to be three!

With his new teacher, "Miss Jen."

I Stand All Amazed...

I have always loved how music helps facilitate the teaching of the spirit. On Sunday I was leading the music in church and I had one of those testimony building experiences. We were singing the hymn, I Stand All Amazed, when the force of the reality of those words hit me like a ton of bricks. I started sobbing (quite embarrassing since I was up in front of everyone) as I thought, with complete awe, how much The Savior loves me -- in spite of my many sins, shortcomings, and faults. I am a soul that is, at times, very rebellious and proud. Sometimes I want to do it my way, even if that is not the best way, or even His way. I continually make mistakes and in my pride, don't repent right away. And through it all, He continues to love me and hope that I will do better. In my brain, of course I know this, but my heart can sometimes forget. I am so grateful for music and these beautiful words I was able to sing on Sunday. They helped my heart to again focus on Jesus Christ and His atonement and the reality and truth of His love. I am truly grateful for little "a ha" moments like this to strengthen me, especially when the road is difficult.


I Stand All Amazed (hymn 193)

1. I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me,
Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.
I tremble to know that for me he was crucified,
That for me, a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died.

[Chorus]
Oh, it is wonderful that he should care for me Enough to die for me!
Oh, it is wonderful, wonderful to me!

2. I marvel that he would descend from his throne divine
To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine,
That he should extend his great love unto such as I,
Sufficient to own, to redeem, and to justify.

3. I think of his hands pierced and bleeding to pay the debt!
Such mercy, such love and devotion can I forget?
No, no, I will praise and adore at the mercy seat,
Until at the glorified throne I kneel at his feet.

Text and music: Charles H. Gabriel, 1856–1932