Pushing Daisies

My friend Veronica recently introduced me to this show. Touted as a "forensic fairy tale", the series is known for its unique visual style, quirky characters, and fast-paced dialogue.(Wiki) The story follows Ned, a pie shop owner who can bring the dead back to life. It is also about his romance with his childhood sweetheart- who he cannot touch, or she will be dead, again. I know, sounds weird, and it is. But, it is quite clean, and funny, and has some charming, though very odd characters, and some great quotes.

Here are a few of my favs:

Olive: Wouldn't it just be rock 'n roll if liking someone meant they had to like you back? 'Course that would be a different universe and something else would probably suck.

Chuck: I can’t even hug you? What if you need a hug? A hug can turn your day around.
Ned: I’m not a big fan of the hug,
Chuck: Then you haven’t been hugged properly. It’s like an emotional Heimlich.

Ned: Everything we do is a choice. Oatmeal or cereal. Highway or side streets. Kiss her or keep her. We make choices and we live with the consequences. If someone gets hurt along the way we ask for forgiveness. It’s the best anyone can do.

My Mommy

She loves me more than anyone in the whole world. My brothers could tell you the same thing. Sometimes she might drive us a little crazy with worrying over us. But ,we know it's just because she loves us sooooo much, and wants us to be happy. No matter what, she is always there for me. She thinks I am the most wonderful, amazing, talented, beautiful young woman she knows. She loves Heavenly Father and has a strong testimony of the gospel. Because of her, I have always known that I am daughter of God. She works hard to achieve her goals. At the time in life when some people are planning for retirement, she went back to school and earned a Master's degree. My Mommy is smart, passionate, and a whole lot of fun.

Here are a few quotes that made me think of her:

A mother's yearning feels the presence of the cherished child even in the degraded man. George Eliot

Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother's secret hope outlives them all. ~Oliver Wendell Holmes ( Like I said, no matter what.)

If you have a mom, there is nowhere you are likely to go where a prayer has not already been. ~Robert Brault

"Making a decision to have a child -- it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."- Elizabeth Stone (I thought this one was kind of funny, and that mom could probably relate.)

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts. ~Washington Irving

Mom,

You are my truest friend. Thanks for always being there, and for teaching me the most important things.

Love Always and Forever,

Azure

Monkey Trap

From Urban Dictionary:
a trap designed to catch animals too smart to fall for an ordinary trap i.e. monkeys and people.
The original monkey trap involves a hollow coconut chained to a stake and baited with food. It has a hole large enough for the monkey to put its hand into, but too small to remove its hand while holding the bait. The monkey needs only to let go to escape, but gets caught because it refuses to let go in its panic to keep its precious find.

Our Sunday School teacher this week used the monkey trap to illustrate the parable of the rich young man. He ran to the Savior to ask what he should do to inherit eternal life. But, went away grieved because the answer- the one thing he lacked- was also the one thing he felt he could not do. The lesson made me think of the things that keep me back, slowing my progression and perhaps my access to greater blessings. Bad habits, negative thoughts, fears, misguided wants...

More on Unexpected Blessings

I was running late this morning, and then couldn't find my keys. After checking under all the couch cushions, and dumping out my purse just to be sure, I did a quick sweep under my bed. Then, I knelt by my bed and said a quick prayer. As soon as I finished, I put my hand down next to my bedside table, and there they were. This has happened multiple times. I wonder why I don't just start there, on my knees, every day. So, I guess, that one I kind of expected. It seems somehow wrong to say that- kind of presumptuous, or demanding. But, I guess sometimes faith does work that way.

The real reason I am writing though is because of what happened at work later today. A couple came in to apply for assistance. They brought with them their sweet 10-week-old baby. Their son, born more than 15 years after their other two children, has Down's Syndrome. Shortly after he was born, the father lost his job and the family's health insurance was terminated.

I was so impressed with this couple. They spoke to each other with respect and kindness. Dad held the baby while mom filled out the paperwork. The dad cooed and played with his baby and seemed to be full of pride and awe of his little boy. They worked as a team, and they had a spirit of true joy about them. They talked about the unexpected hardships of the past few months with acceptance, even ironic humor, but not with bitterness or resentment. Mom said, "We are excited for our new adventure. We know that he(the baby) will bring many blessings and wonderful people into our lives."

I want to be more like them, facing changes and challenges with faithfulness and gratitude.