Valentine's day

The day started out really nice. I wrote some romantic stuff for my dh on our bathroom mirror and attached a card. My 5 yo thought that was the coolest. Went to class, then came home 2 hrs. later to go to lunch with dh. (he got off work for me) Best way to avoid the holiday crowd, and still enjoy eating out. We hung out the rest of the day and into the night. After we put the children to bed, we settled in for a nice evening together.:o) When, from out of nowhere, my 14 yo son yells, "W, said 5 yo,just threw up!!" OMHeck! It was everywhere, including all over my 14 yo's trombone case and bed. It took us an hour to clean it up. You can bet the romance was gone after that! So, here's a tip: Don't let your kid eat all his valentine treats in one evening. Vomit and romance don't mix. BTW, he was fine the next day.

What is a super taster?

If you google the word "super taster" there is plenty of info regarding this phenomenon. I have always wondered why I didn't like some vegetables, and finding out about the super tasters' tongue made the light come on in my head. So, I have forbidden my dh from calling me a picky eater anymore.

Here's what one website had to say:

Super taster
When your child, patient or co-worker balks at eating spinach or broccoli, put it down to bad taste. You may be dealing with a "super taster" whose taste buds are highly tuned into - and turned off by - bitter compounds found in foods such as pungent vegetables, grapefruit juice, wine, green tea and strong coffee.

"About 25 percent of the population are genetically programmed to be super tasters who sharply detect bitter compounds in food," said Dr Adam Drewnowski, Director of the Nutritional Sciences Program at the University of Washington, Seattle, USA, and an expert on taste and food choices. "Half of the population detects these compounds to some degree and another 25 percent don't detect them at all."

What makes super tasters so bitterly sensitive to foods? Compared to their less discriminating colleagues, super tasters' tongues are packed with many more fungiform papillae, the little bumps on the tongue that house the taste buds. About two-thirds of super tasters are female and the sensitivity often fades with age. One theory is that, in years gone by, super tasting served as a survival mechanism. "Perhaps the characteristic discouraged pregnant women from eating poisonous plants or berries, which tend to taste bitter," said Drewnowski.

Ironically, many of these bitter substances are disease-fighting phytochemicals that may be beneficial to health. Super tasters can help the vegetables go down and optimise nutrient intake by adding a little oil or margarine to their dish. According to Drewnowski, fat improves the flavour of vegetables by masking the bitter taste.

Are You a Super Taster?

Try this test to see whether you're a super taster.

Using a hole punch, punch a hole in the middle of a 5-cm square of waxed paper (lunch wrap). Place the hole on the tip of your tongue. Swab some blue food colouring on the exposed part of the tongue and, using a magnifying glass and a flashlight, count the number of fungiform papillae (the pinkish circles). Super tasters will have dozens of papillae; non-tasters will have only five or six.

That's what I get

For reading Denise's blog. Now I have been tagged. And the same rules apply for my blog...if you have not been tagged yet, and you are reading this, you have now, officially been tagged. Return and report!

So, six unusual things about me:

1. I had more adult friends in my childhood than friends around my age.

2. I have 7 children. In this world today, that is certainly unusual.

3. I am an "on the side" type of person when it comes to going out to eat. I like to control how much stuff goes on stuff, like spaghetti sauce, or how much condiments go on a sandwich, or dressing on salad.

4. I am a very physical person. Meaning I like to hug and also give physical contact when I am talking to someone. Like a touch on the shoulder, arm, or shake a hand. But I will not do it if I know someone is uncomfortable with it. I am also a cuddler. I love to cuddle with my dh, babies, and kids.

5. I am a super taster. No, not a picky eater...a Super Taster!

6. I love calendaring. I have a big calendar, I have a PDA, and I have my PDA calendar on my computer. I love looking over what's coming up.

I dreamed a dream...

I had a dream last night in which I was going to teach a short lesson at a preschool and be graded on it. As I got there, there were other students doing the same thing. As my turn came up, they all of the sudden decided they needed lunch and I could do my thing after. Throughout the whole dream I was waiting for my turn and never got it.

Now, this would not be signigicant if I wasn't trying to figure out what to do with my schooling and my future. It has been on my mind a lot lately.

Let's rewind about 25 yrs. All I ever wanted to do was be a teacher. Either Preschool or Elementary Education. I love teacing! Easy.

When I was preparing to go back to school last Spring I was ready to start in Elementary Ed., with an emphasis in Early Childhood. Except, I couldn't get my schedule going. Nothing seemed right. I was not at peace. Stupor of thought. I was so frustrated. Then, one Sunday morning, as I was fasting, my stupor of thought left me. I was listening to some church music and feeling way overwhelmed at the prospect of even going to school, and it hit me. Like a ton of bricks. I needed to major in music. Why? I don't know! I still don't know! All I do know is that what I am doing right now is right! Peace, no stupor, no frustration. Everything is flowing.

So, back to the dream. Is this just another reminder that I am doing the right thing for right now? That teaching school will not be my destiny? I still have the thought every now and then to finish my associates in Music and then go into Elementary Ed. But I can't find any peace in that thought. At least not right now.

I have always been a preparer. And, I like knowing the outcome. In this case, I am being humbled into trusting in the Lord's will. Doing what he asks of me and trusting that I will be lead to do the right thing. All I have really ever wanted to do is to serve the Lord and his people, and build up his kindgom here on earth.

I have a friend who is a Psychologist (Dr. Paul) and he sends out a weekly ezine in my email. I love everything he has to say, but some things hit me like a ton of bricks. Like today. This is what he sent:

"Robert Kiyosaki in his book, Before You Quit Your Job, gave this advice regarding mistakes: So every time you make a mistake, stop, and take the opportunity to learn something new, something you obviously need to learn. When something does not go your way, or something goes wrong, or you fail, take the time to think. Once you find the hidden lesson you will be thankful for the mistake. If you are upset, angry, ashamed, blaming someone else for the mistake, or pretending you haven't made a mistake, you haven't been thinking hard enough. Your mental capacity hasn't expanded enough. you haven't learned the lesson. So keep thinking. (p. 37)"

This goes along with what my therapist said: "Our trials are the schoolmasters of our lives. Let them teach you."

Since going back to school I have had to learn this important lesson even more than ever. It has really helped me understand that nothing is perfect in this life. I can't make every assignment perfect. I will make mistakes. And instead of downing myself, I can look upward to my Heavenly Father for help and understanding as to how my failures, and trials for that matter, can make "weak things become strong." (Ether 12:27)

There is a lesson to be learned around every corner of life and I am determined to graduate this life with plenty of knowledge and a "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

My opposite birthday

Yesterday I turned 42. I thought about the things that were happening when I was 24 and here is what I came up with:

The year was 1989
I was much younger
No grey hairs on my head
Not a wrinkle in sight
I was a mother of 1
I was 6 mos. pregnant with #2
I had been married for 2 1/2 yrs to the love of my life
I lived in a 2 bedroom apartment that cost $250 a month rent
We owned a brown Toyota Celica
I was a stay at home mom
My dh was a recent graduate of BYU and working as a Produce manager

Best song that won the Grammy was "Wind Beneath my Wings"
"Rain Man" won the Oscar
CMA's entertainer of the year was George Strait
LA Law was the outstanding television drama series

The Berlin wall was open to the west after 28 yrs.
George Bush was inaugurated the 41st president of the US
cost of a first class stamp was 25 cents.

Now in the year 2007:
I am much older
Plenty of grey hairs on my head, but I haven't broken down YET to color my hair
Plenty of wrinkles
Mother of 7
No more pregnancies for me
Married for 20 1/2 years to the same love of my life
I live in a 4 bedroom, 18oo sf home, that cost more than 3X's the rent I use to pay
We drive a 1990 Chevy 9 pass. Suburban
I am a stay at home mom still and going back to school to get my degree. Wow!
My dh changed careers and now works for the state. But, still works in the produce dept., at the same grocery store, as a part timer.

I don't watch and keep up with entertainment much anymore, but George Bush Jr. is now president and a first class stamp now costs 39 cents.

As I look in the mirror I see plenty of change.

As I look at the world, I see even more change. Computers, cell phones, internet, Credit cards galore, more wickedness and despair than I even thought possible 18 yrs. ago.

As I look at my growth I see the biggest change of all. I have more faith, more hope, more love, more blessings, more friends, more knowledge, and more to look forward to.

So, here's to another year of growth and change.

The Book of Mormon

This year one of my goals is to read the BOM. I am reading it with my dh. Every time I read it I get more and more out of it. This is the beauty of repetition. We go to the temple and do the same things over and over, yet I get more understanding.
I love the BOM and I am excited to see what I can gain from it yet again. The gospel is such a blessing to me.

I know from experience that my life is meant to be challenging. Look at all the events in the BOM. It is really teaching me so much right now.
I had a bishop once tell me that no matter how bad I feel about what is happening to me, that there will always be someone else who has it worse.
Take this family for example:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=830228

The pain and suffering is unimaginable, but I know they will get through, because this is part of life. So, this must mean that I will get through. "The Sun will come out tomorrow" as "Annie" would say. No matter how corny it sounds, it's TRUE! Heavenly Father gives us hope. The BOM gives us hope. The gospel of Jesus Christ gives us hope. That is what I need to hang on to right now. I just need to be patient.

When it rains it pours!

What is it with this saying? I'd appreciate a sprinkle now and then. Forget the black cloud that hangs over our home way too much. At least way too much for our bank account. Between the regular stuff to budget, we need a car...our washer fixed...braces...glasses...wisdom teeth out...school fees paid off...etc...etc. So, I prioritized our needs and I continue to pray that maybe braces and glasses can get to the top of the list. If everything else would stop coming up, or breaking, then maybe there would be a chance in heaven. I don't see it. I'm pessimistic today.

No wise words of wisdom to ponder. Only juggling. Juggling an armload of stuff with an umbrella that is too small, and I'm getting soaked!