Are we REQUIRED to get OLD?

I can understand having to be mature when your a parent, I mean your the parent, someone has to be. But why do we have to get old mentally? When did it become prerequiste that we forget what it was like to be teenagers, what its like to play as a child, what it's like to be newlyweds?

My kids friends talk to me and I have young friends online. . . why does it have to be that there is such an age gap? Shouldn't we all just get along and accept each other who we are no matter the age or circumstance? I hate it when I'm put back in my place as the "old" friend, the mom, or the conscience - why can't I just be a friend? Lol prolly because I act to much like the list above, shame on me.

Where do we draw the lines in life? Why is everything black and white? Why does it have to be young or old? Why prideful or humble? Enemy or Friend to my kids? Friends or nothing to supposed friends? I do love you or I lied? Accepting yourself or not? and why can't I find the happy medium inbetween? Not everything has to be black and white, many things if placed in that category lead you to self destruction or pity. How do we keep that day when all seems right in life with everything and everyone? Hmm, I hope one day we all can find the answers, I think world would be a much better place.

♫Do dah do... la la la ♫

=] Hey, notice the time? It's not 2am, ok it is 12:30 but that's better! Went to the doctor today because of my insomnia, not going to bed until 5am kinda drew the limit. While he was there he listened to my lovely little "wheezy" sound when I exert, laugh, or try to sleep. Therefore, I came home with an antibiotic cuz my "cold" is no longer a cold it is now an infection sinus & lung =P, a new anti-depressant sleeping pill, and got my inhaler refilled (so I don't have to listen to the "wheeze"). SO, forgot and took a WHOLE pill (was supposed to start with 1/2 - oops, what can I say, I'm TIRED!)at 9:00 tonight and here I am - AWAKE! Hmm, I'm supposed to play around with it, times and dosage and go back in 3 weeks; hopefully sleeping. *Cross your fingers =]*
All of you know I'm "weird" or "strange", I wear that badge with honor thank you! LOL. Haven't we been told we are to be a "unique" people? He he he (yes I get more strange the more tired =P deal with it) Anyways, I listen to Christmas music - WHENEVER I want to. I have a playlist on my computer. Three radio stations in Utah started last year playing Christmas songs on Nov 1st. WAHOO! (for me that is) Yes, it seems that Christmas comes earlier and earlier each year. Yes for those of you who have to put up all the christmas and sell the christmas - you are SICK of it already. BUT when you get home, have a chance to unwind, relax, isn't it wonderful to just sit and listen to the beautiful songs with the powerful words that bring back great childhood memories? Or even memories you've created with your own children?
Growing up I remember that my dad wouldn't let us TOUCH a Christmas record (yes, I said RECORD)until the day AFTER Thanksgiving. I've kept my mom's tradition that as the "mom" I don't have to cook on Christmas day =], my day off too. So we have a BIG Christmas Eve dinner and than eat leftovers, presents, and stocking stuff all day - it's great! No dishes either! There was one tradition my mom kept up after we'd all grown up and moved away. I would always, up until she died, find a present or two from Santa for me and one for Dean, under my tree. She would mix it in with other presents she was delivering but it would find it's way there. Santa never forgot me, what a wonderful spirit of Christmas, I want to do that with my children after they leave. We've kept up with my father's tradition of dropping of an anonymous sub-for-santa box of goodies to a less-fortunate family in our neighborhood, opening 1 gift on Christmas eve and have added sharing the Christmas story from the Bible and Book of Mormon, having children play us wonderful songs on the piano, and leaving our Christmas lights on the house on all day Christmas Eve, night, and Christmas day - to symbolize the day, night, and day without night that marked the Saviors birth to those here in America.
Traditions are wonderful expressions of love passed on from generation to generation. But what I truely love about this time of year is the peace it brings to me. The happiness, the love, the kindness, and joy it brings when I am "serving" others, listening to music, baking with my kids or delivering goodies with my hubby. It's a wonderful feeling that helps calm a troubled, self incriminating soul and brings peace to the world around "me". May we all feel this peace not only now, but throughout the whole year.

Veteran's Day

Proud to be an American..... Yes, I am. My father, having served in the US Military for 25 yrs, his father before him being a Police Officer, instilled in his 8 children a love of country, citizenship, and pride. Do your best, give it your all, be proud of what you've accomplished (but not overly so), than press on.

My father retired from the military when I was 2 yrs old - the end of the Vietnam War. I never had to move as often as my siblings, but only because he was never home to get tired of somewhere that fast. We did go monthly to the Air Force Base here in Utah to grocery shop, renew ID's, regular shop, etc. I grew up loving the sight of a man in uniform. =] Their proud stance, the nobleness it entails, and the unconditional loyalty from whatever is asked of them. Yes I can hear some of you now, not all soldiers are that way - if they are true soldiers, they are and on this Veteran's day, these are the men and women we honor. The men and women who leave their families and country that they serve to live in another foreign land for untold number of months. Never sure if they will return, always hoping for peace, willing to fight for freedom, lacking the comforts of home and family, all so that I can go on my daily routine and not even have to acknowledge (if I don't want) that there is war going on or that there are people who would take away my freedom in the blink of an eye.

Our world is unsettled, in chaos, and turmoil. People fighting other people's rights, not listening to the voice of the people, much is going on. On this day, whether American, Canadian, Australian, whichever country - please take a moment of silence and offer a thanksgiving prayer for those that have fought for you, so that you didn't have to.