Just Kidding

I've decided to keep this family blog going a little longer. Let me know if you'd like an invite to my private blog.

New Private Blogs

I've decided to retire this blog. Long story. So...I am going to be starting two new blogs. One will be a family blog and the other a personal (Yes, I'm copying you Andrea) blog. Both will be private. If you'd like an invite, please leave your name and e-mail address in the comment section or e-mail me at christinaoverton@hotmail.com

Patience

I used to be an avid journal writer. In fact my storage area contains a journal for almost every year of my life. Several years ago I came upon a saying that subsequently became my first entry in any new journal. Here it is:
Every New Beginning
Is a Door to Adventure-
A Threshold of Discovery......

I've always loved that saying, but it seems particularly poignant to me at this time. Those of you who know me well, know that over the last few years my life has taken some suprising and unexpected turns. And now I'm faced with many difficult decisions....

Looking back, I realize that I haven't had a lot of tough choices to make. Although I am cautious and indecisive by nature, most of my "big" decisions weren't very difficult ones. Usually I just knew in my heart what the right choice was and made it. Problem solved!

The decisions I'm now facing are much harder and more complicated than ones I've faced before. There are no perfect solutions, at least none that I can come up with. And as I've prayed over the most significant choice, the answer that keeps coming to me is to, "just wait." I hate that answer! I am eager to move forward, eager for closure, eager for change, eager for a "New Beginning." But there are certain choices that I simply CANNOT make unless I KNOW with 100 % certainty that they are right.

I don't know what the future holds for me. I wish I did. In the midst of one recent crisis I counselled with my dad, who said, "I wonder, when you look back at this point in your life will you see it as the end of a good stage of life or as the beginning of one?" His statement gave me pause. Although some windows are closing, others are opening. I am beginning to see cracks of light through doors I thought would be forever closed to me. And that gives me hope. I don't know what tomorrow will bring or even what choices I will make, but I do know that it will all work for my good and that for now I just need to exercise patience.

Christina, The Fix-It Woman

I am horribly behind on my blogging, but before playing catch up I need to brag about my most recent accomplishment.

I was having trouble with my washing machine, but hated the idea of paying a plumber to fix it. The hot water setting seemed to work just fine, but when I switched to the cold water setting the water barely drizzled into the washer. So...I did some googling and concluded that the cold water pipe must be clogged right at the point at which the water entered the machine. The plumber had recently cleaned out the hot water heater, so I surmised that some of the loose debris had clogged the cold water pipe.

I was anxious to get to work, but decided I'd better call my dad to come over and supervise just to make sure that I didn't electrocute myself or flood the house or anything like that. However, I must emphasize that I did ALL the actual work myself.

I don't want to brag or anything (yea right!), but I am proud to say that I now have a working washing machine. Am I good or what? Maybe I should forget applying to an MSW program and go to plumbing school (is there such a thing?) instead. What do you think???? Could I pull off the frighteningly low hanging jeans with the old grubby shirt plumber's uniform?

There was only one downside to the whole experience. Unfortunately in my zeal to test my efforts, I almost electrocuted myself by plugging in the washer with wet hands. My arm still hurts. :-( Still...since I am still alive, I am counting the whole experience as a great success story.

Gratitude

Life has presented many challenges for me lately. It's funny how our greatest challenges sometimes bring to light our greatest blessings. Here are some of the things I am grateful for:

1. A loving Savior who is always there for me.

2. Wonderful parents, siblings, and sister-in-law who love and support me.

3. Four amazing and loveable children.

4. A loving ward family.

5. Fabulous friends.

6. Inspired priesthood leaders.

7. Anti-depressants-I'm not even joking. :-)

8. Greater self-confidence than I have ever experienced before. Ironic, but true.

9. Hugs

10. Knowing that my best days are still ahead of me. Sometimes I have to keep reminding myself of this, but I know it's true.

Looking On The Bright Side

One very constipated four-year-old=various remedies (I'll spare you the details)=one little boy freaking out and running around the house naked=finally having an excuse to purchase a carpet cleaner.

My Latest Obsessions

THE CONFERENCE ENSIGN: This last conference was especially amazing. So many of the talks seemed to be aimed right at me


READING: My latest obsession? Who am I kidding. I have always loved to read. I just wouldn't be me if I wasn't in the middle of reading something. I am just about to start on A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I love the various movie versions, but have never read the book.

COOKING: Sometimes I love it. Sometimes I can barely stand it. Lately I've been obsessed with it. I have been experimenting with lots of new recipes, the best of which were these banana muffins. Super yummy!

Unfortunately, not all of my cooking attempts turned out so well. At least someone enjoyed this sausage and mushroom quiche.


CLEANING: I have been super obsessed with cleaning lately and am proud to report that I spent 24 hours lastweek cleaning/doing laundry. My obsessive compulsive side requires :) me to log all my cleaning hours. I should add a disclaimer though that the cleanliness level of my house doesn't always reflect my hard work. My kids are awfully good at undoing my cleaning efforts.

SOAPMAKING:Makenna and I have had a great time making melt and pour glycerin soap lately. Hopefully, we will advance to cold process soapmaking someday. Soapmaking has been a fun mother/daughter activity. We are giving them away as Christmas presents. The pictures are not actually of the soaps we made. Stay tuned for those later. I'm sure you're all on the edge of your seats, right?