Lisa Heuer

OK, this needs to stay between me, myself and I. 

We had painters come the other day to fix all the walls that had patches of undecided colors, holes from previous decor, staples, markers, putty, etc.  When they were here I was thinking how wonderful it was to have such a detail oriented crew-moving everything out of the way, covering everything with plastic, and taking all things off the wall UNTIL I saw this…

I suddenly was feeling gross.  I couldn’t believe that the back of my refrigerator looked like THIS.  HOW could it be?  I am a pretty clean person.  I was wishing they weren’t so thorough because not only do I now know (and might have to throw up) but now THEY know too.  This is not good.  Not good at all.  What is worse is the amount of time it took to clean this.  I have no idea what it was but it wanted to stay there for good.  I scraped, rubbed, scrubbed, and wiped until this section of my floor looked like the rest (which may been just as messy-but that is neither here nor there).  When is the last time you cleaned behind your refrigerator?  Am I the only one that has completely forgotten that a floor exists back there? 

The good news… I found my Costa Vida magnet.  : )

You’ve seen the little blue square with a “t” in it, right?  I remember hearing the term “Twitter” and wondering what it meant to tweet, and to who, and WHY?  Then, I was sent this Twitter explanation on YouTube.  Ah-hah.  I loved the idea and was excited to use it.  I linked it up to Facebook and started playing-like talking when no one is listening.  Just thought I would take note of Twitter.  Certainly, one day it will be replaced by something else and I will be telling my great grandchildren about how cool it was while being driven around in their flying cars…

I could write so much every Thursday night but it would always say the same thing… it was amazing, the Spirit is so strong, my testimony was strengthened, I love to sing, the talent is fabulous, etc.  BUT tonight we sang with the full orchestra and WOW.  I almost couldn’t sing because I was holding back my tears-tears that spoke the truthfulness of the words we are singing, tears that couldn’t express what this music is doing for me, tears that testified of the Savior and the Atonement, tears that just meant I was so incredibly touched and moved.

If I could sit in a corner and observe I would feel blessed.  The fact that I am a part of this is more than a blessing!  I’m so excited to be a part of this choir.

And, I will say that every time I take on something new, something else gets put to the back burner in my life.  I can only keep so many balls up in the air.  We all come to a point in our life-several times in our lives-when you determine what to keep and what to let go.  It is a process of molding, changing, learning, growing and understanding.  Sometimes things will be important, sometimes they won’t.  Seasons come and seasons go.  I love that about my life-I don’t have to be doing the same thing and thinking the same thing with the same route forever.  Change is good and it is the only thing constant in life!

I watched Julie & Julia yesterday.  Let me tell you what a treat it was to sit on the couch, socks keeping my feet warm, house quiet.  It was an indulgence that I was truly enjoying.  I was reminded that I rarely take time to sit.  Anyhow, the movie was wonderful-about food and writing.  A great combination.  I realized that I think like Julie.  She was always so anxious to write.  She wanted to appease her people (except I don’t have people).  She loved to write.  She loved to document.  She loved to have commitments and stick to them.  Her husband referred to her as narcissistic-Tim hasn’t said that yet but he did tell me that I needed to stop thinking the world wouldn’t go around if I didn’t pay attention to QCF or the blog.  WHAT?  People don’t need me?  I could melt into the woodwork and nobody would notice? I don’t write for people, I write for me but in a weird sense that somebody is waiting to hear what I have to say… like my kids are sitting by the fire in their old age reading my stories and anxious to get to the next.  It is a good feeling to be needed (even if you make it up yourself) and not a good feeling to NOT be needed.  I try to write often, not to get far behind.  Some months are better than others and some seasons are better than others.  Sometimes I can’t stop talking and others I can’t think of what to say.  This season and month happens to be a “not so much to say” type of month.  I am busy and trying to juggle it all.  I am always trying to find ways to cut back.  But for now even though I am allowed to think that people need this-my writing- I know it isn’t true and so sitting back for a bit is fine.  It doesn’t need to be on the to do list.  It doesn’t need to be something that I am concerned about getting done.

I do want to take time to read, to walk, to listen and write when I can…  : )

Family and Friends,
Most of you now know that Zoe and I belong to the East Valley Mormon Choral Organization – or EVMCO.  They held their inaugural concert in December and received very enthusiastic praise, I attended and it was amazing.  They received feedback that speaks for itself, like "I had no idea!", "I’ll never miss another concert.", and "This really isn’t just another Mormon choir".  After hearing the concert myself, I was determined to be part of something so amazing.

Our organization includes over 330 members, including an adult choir, a full symphony orchestra, and professional children’s and youth choruses.  It is no exaggeration when I tell you that this is a serious professional organization, and perhaps, like nothing you’ve ever experienced before.
I would like to invite you to join us for our first concert of 2010, titled "That Easter Morn".  The music is absolutely beautiful, and I know that you will want to make this concert a tradition during the Easter season.
Ticket prices range from $15 to $39 at the box office, and worth every dime.  If you order online or by phone there are additional fees. 
Please consider supporting this wonderful organization.
Tickets can be purchased by clicking this link:
http://www.mesaartscenter.com/index.php/performances/music/thateastermorn

Lisa

I got a note today from a fellow sufferer on the HCG, glad to know we suffer together.  Tonight, it was comical…  I ate crushed tomatoes, pureed with garlic and other seasons and added some ground turkey.  I got the recipe from a friend who has completed HCG and she loved it-I did too.

I made macaroni and cheese for the kids.  On HCG, one Melba Toast per meal (2 times a day) is permitted.  I felt like I wanted to eat the whole box, like it was the most delicious thing until I finished making the mac n cheese.  I REALLY wanted some of that!

Just like the 4 rolls and a blizzard, it is nothing I typically crave or want but see what happens when you deprive?  I am hanging tight on my 10 pound loss-nothing more yet.  I’m finished with the second phase on Sunday then I maintain.  I will be back on dairy and more vegetables but still sticking away from breads, pastas and grains.  I suppose having nuts, beans and diary in my diet will seem like a treat!

I just have to share it, write it, note it, keep it, remember it, love it, bottle it, and cherish it…  I just got back from night 2 of my choir practice.  It is the most amazing experience a mother of two, stay at home mom, not a master of fine arts, unaccomplished musician could hope for.  The director is incredible and has a huge vision.  I feel so blessed to be part of this choir.  When I thought it wasn’t going to work out (getting an audition), I put it in the Lord’s hands and figured if it was meant to be, it would work.  It worked at the very last millisecond of the moment-but I wasn’t surprised now that I know what this is going to be.  I am right where I need to be.  I need this probably more than I have needed something in a long while.  I am completely filled with the Holy Spirit when we sing, the music moves me, the words are prayerful and I am many times overcome at what I feel at our rehearsal.  We are about 120 strong and when he asks us to give it all we’ve got, we sound like gazillions strong.  These talented men running the show have skill, talent and gifts like no other music director/program that I have ever been part of.  The people are wonderful, the girls that sit next to me are awesome, funny and so kind.  We are listening to one another, sharing what we have with one another, working hard to blend with one another and the work that goes into the performance will be well worth it.

Our performance is on March 5th at the Mesa Arts Center and the tickets go on sale February 1st.  I am going to tell everyone I know about it.  If others are as inspired as I was at the Christmas concert then it will be a worthwhile experience. 

I acknowledge His hand in this, He lives.  I truly am humbled and blessed beyond measure to have music in my life-now weekly, at a level that I never thought I would have at this point in my life…

We learn best to listen to our own voices if we are listening at the same time to other women-whose stories, for all our differences, turn out, if we listen well, to be our stories also. ~Barbara Deming

When one’s own problems are unsolvable and all best efforts are frustrated, it is lifesaving to listen to other people’s problems.  ~Suzanne Massie

You can never be totally settled as an actor or artist or musician.  You have to keep the fire under you because that’s what makes you better.  ~Reese Withersppon

Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come; you have to get up and make them.                      ~Madam C. J. Walker

P.S. one more great reason to be at choir… : ) I have had 4 compliments on this Monchichi hair.  What is happening?  Seriously, what is happening?  Here I am, so self conscious of my mangled head of hair and people are reaching out and sharing such kind words.  Tonight was the best one yet, “you have great hair!  It matches who you are, so sparkly (yep, he used that word), and your face…”  I turned red-how do you reply to that?  So embarrassed I said simply,  “thank you so much-I am struggling with growing it out and I’m not loving it so thanks for the boost.”  He said, “well, it is a great hair style.”  Last week when I sat down, the 3 girls in front of me one by one turned around and told me how they love my hair. (I am putting this small, like I am whispering (is it working?) because I am embarrassed but so ecstatic at the same time.  Who doesn’t love a compliment?  Maybe it was every member’s assignment to say something nice to a new member but I will take it any way and it definitely made my day!)  Needless to say, I was beaming from ear to ear.  I thought (for a brief moment) that maybe it wasn’t so bad afterall?  : )

I am completely baffled.  COMPLETELY BAFFLED.  Not only is choir a wonderful place to be, but it helps one who is growing out their hair do!  : ) See, I needed this (obviously in more ways than one) more than they will ever need me and my little voice. 

I am beginning to think that blogs may have similarities to soap operas (or reality shows) Let’s see:

• both are addicting
• both are stories (truth or not)
• both are on-going
• both can be dramatic
• both have characters
• both bring you in daily for more

I’m sure the list could go on.  Ya know, it’s funny because I don’t have time to watch TV.  There aren’t any shows that I get excited about watching (but sometimes I wish there were so I could escape and veg out when needed).  What I somehow do find time for is my favorite blogs.  How different is a family blog from The Young and the Restless?  I bet the show even has a blog just incase you are online instead on on the couch.  Ok, I know that family blogs don’t talk much about the same type of drama but just as TV makes money on commercials, blogs make money on advertisements.  I love to see the new stuff on my favorite blogs, just as some love to see a new episode. 

What have I gotten myself in to?  : )

What will be the next “distraction?”

Do you think that I would be able to watch some TV if I chose that over catching up on blogs (or the oodles of research I always seem to find myself doing)?  One distraction or another, its all the same.  Unfortunately, I am prey and I have fallen right in the trap (and look, here I am with this blog here and this blog as ways to reach out and stay connected or keep track of my ramblings).  Needless to say, I don’t watch soap operas but I do read blogs.  I feel, it’s all the same…

While watching Zane do the potty jig, I asked him, “Zane, do you need to go potty?”  He responds, “No, my feet are just dancing.”  I hear this at least every other day!  How old do you need to be to stop for a potty break before the holding it in gets painful and causes a dance?

Who doesn’t need to start their day off with something funny?  If you add  The Meanest Mom to your daily dose of blog reading, you will laugh and totally relate in some way, shape or form.  I love her stories!  It is good to laugh at someone else’s story since it is not your own.  I think I laugh because I can totally relate or maybe I have been there myself. 

Think of all the things we say that will never happen or we will never do… then you live life and you do all the things that you said you never would do.  Humbling…  and funny!