A Worthy (?) Addiction

I am addicted to reading! I, seriously, could spend HOURS just reading! Obviously, the material needs to be good . . . to keep my attention for so long!

But, I love that reading makes me use my imagination and also excersizes my brain cells. Maybe I will get lucky, and reading may actually replace brain cells that I have frittered away in front of the television?!?!?! (Humor me, here, I can always hope!)

My latest obsession, in book form, is this little number:
I am so addicted to this series, (The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer: www.stepheniemeyer.com/twilightseries.html) that I had to leave the first book, Twilight, at work, last week, so that I would stick to my task of making a cute scrappy project for my neice, MaiCee, for her birthday!

But, the minute I was done with that project, (about 12:15 am, Saturday!) I was in my bedroom, reading, okay devouring, what was left of it!

Then, just so I would have some company in my addiction, I called my sister, DeAwna, in Colorado, and told her about this series. She started reading Twilight, and then, before she finished reading it, went out and bought the next 2, yes 2, volumes of the series! She said, "When I finish Twilight, I will want to go right to the next one, so I bought them both!" It's cool, we are doing a little book club, long-distance, over the phone! This is my first book club experience, so why not make it completely unique, right??

I hate to say it, but, if the reading material is good enough, it could just about distract me from life in general, but even scrapbooking! I know, I can't believe that I just said that, but there it is, out there on the 'net, for anyone and everyone to read! And, not without a little shame! (picture a sheepish grimace here!) But, I maintain that reading is like a mental gymnasium, and it is good to get excersize!

The only downer, here, is that I am almost done with New Moon, and will start Eclipse . . . but the 4th and final volume in this series doesn't come out until August!! AAAAAAAAY -- Give me patience!!!!!!!!!

More of a life lesson, really!

Michelle invited me over, this past weekend, to watch "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium". I had been wanting to see it, but had heard mixed reviews about it. Now, having seen it, I know why!
When I saw the previews, I thought that it was a kid pleaser. While it can be interpreted as such, for the little kid in all of us, it is not the entertaining, action-packed film that I would've expected from the previews.

But, that doesn't mean that I didn't like it - in fact, I LOVED it! To me, it was a lesson in staying young at heart, keeping your dreams alive and living life to its fullest. And, understanding that all stages of being - premortal, mortal and immortal - are part of a plan, and we all have to follow that plan. Accepting the path of that plan can be the hardest part. But, living each moment to the fullest is the important part of this mortal life - not letting any moment or opportunity slip by. And, doing our best to make dreams come true is part of the point.

One of my favorite quotes from this movie is this; "Life is an occasion - rise to it!" I believe that and want to do my best to live that way. In fact, I thought of my Grandma, when I heard that quote -- she was a great example of rising to the occasion of life.

Anyway, if you want a movie to remind you how important it can be to view life from the eyes of your own inner child, this is it!

Happy Birthday, Dear Grandma!

Today would've been my Grandma's 90th birthday. Instead of the potluck picnic that was planned at the park, she gets to spend it with her friends and loved ones in heaven.

The funeral services went well. Except for crying through the singing of EVERY hymn . . . we decided that there was only one of her top 5 favorites that we didn't cover! The great-grandchildren (those who were in attendance) sang "I Know That My Redeemer Lives", while the grandkids sang "How Great Thou Art".

Life goes on, however sadly at times. My uncle, as he finished his remarks, at the funeral, said, "I'm gonna miss you, Mama. Bye bye!" What a tender farewell.

A couple of my cousins and I were talking about how weddings and funerals really are the only events that bring all the family together. Sad, but true! But, I want to change that, and plan a family reunion, so that we can all gather and spend time laughing and talking and reminiscing.

One good thing about the gathering -- my siblings and I all got to pose, with my parents, for a family photo. Who knows what occasion will bring us all together like this, again! My sister and her family, as well as my brother and his son, all came from California, and my sister who lives in Denver flew down, as well. My friend, Tina, brought her great camera over to the church, and took some photos. (I'll post them later!)

An End of an Era

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 marked the passing of my last biological grandparent -- my mother's mother passed on to the other side of the veil.

Wilma McCain Shape outlived 2, count 'em, 2 spouses. And she has had Alzheimer's for the last 7 1/2 years. She is in a better place now, but we will miss her.

To look at photos and hear stories and reminiscings about my Grandma, I know that she was a great example of faith, hard work and caring. Her legacy of 33 grandchildren, and LOTS of great-grandchildren, as well as those whose lives she has touched for good, will live on until we can all be together again.

I love you, Grandma.

Top 10 List

Top ten reasons why I think Shanna is a BRAT!!!

10. She's 16 1/2 months pregnant (okay, only 8, but she feels like 16 1/2!@) . . . and she moved to Mississippi!
9. She makes snickerdoodles that make Maddy (okay, and others!) crazy! (and she moved to Mississippi!!!)
8. She is this amazingly talented scrapbooker . . . and she moved to Mississippi!
7. She has GREAT stories about her offspring and school bathroom antics . . . and she moved to Mississippi!
6. She makes a mean batch of 7-layer dip . . . and she moved to Mississippi!
5. She keeps us posted and up to date on American Idol happenings . . . and she moved to Mississippi!
4. She has the one of the best blogsites WEST of the Mississippi . . . but, she moved to Mississippi!

3. She always has fun contests for scrappy giveaways . . . and she moved to Mississippi

2. She gives really cute going away gifts, and she was the one going away . . . when she moved to Mississippi!

1. The MAS girls 7 has now become 6 again, . . . because she moved to Mississippi!

We miss you already, punk!! ♥ ya!

I've been tagged, YET AGAIN!

My DARLING cousin, Brooke, tagged me! So, the following are 7 things that people may not know about me:
1) I have a teddy bear collection -- I started collecting them when I was in Jr. High. Our mascot was bears, so that made it easy! At one point, in my collecting career, I had over 200 teddy bears. But, in all my moving around, in Utah, I ended up giving a lot of them to the Sheriff's Dept, to give to children who are victims or traumatized by some drama in their homes.
2) I would LOVE to be a world traveler, but the only places that I have visited, outside of the United States are Tijuana, Mexico, and Nogales, Mexico! Don't worry, soon I will be able to add Medellin, Colombia to that list!
3) I love to color -- colored pencils, crayons, markers, watercolor pencils, whatever! I love to color, especially with the nieces and nephews! Coloring makes me happy!
4) Although I have DVR, and absolutely LOVE that I can skip over commercials, I really love to watch good commercials! Please notice the word "good"! While some may be funny, or thought-provoking, or entertaining, what makes them "good" is making the viewer remember not only the content of the commercial, but what exactly they are advertising!
Right now my favorite is the guy who goes to FedExKinkos, and wants color copies of his B & W original . . . I have, in my work experience at Kinko's, had that exact conversation! :)
5) Once upon a time, I wanted to be a high school English teacher -- thank goodness that INSANITY passed! No, seriously, I had some excellent English teachers in high school, and had a great desire to pass on their knowledge. Now, though, I would love to teach, but give me the cute little first graders, instead!
6) Someday I will write a song. The lyrics aren't a problem, but the composition of the music will be the challenge! Even if I do nothing but come up with the melody, maybe somebody else will compose the rest of the music for me.
7) I have NO desire, EVER, to have plastic surgery! This includes augmentation of any upper body parts! I think that one of my challenges in this earthly life is to learn to accept UNCONDITIONALLY the body that Heavenly Father has given me. Although far from perfect in appearance, it functions quite nicely!
Whew, I actually finished that! Good thing! Now, I would love to tag:
Annette
Michelle
Beth
Kerry
Lisa
(Maddy, I know you hate these, so I won't impose!)
Shanna -- but only when/if you have time, after moving to another state and unpacking your life!
Angie