The Fair Is Coming!

Tell all of your friends The Clark County Fair & Rodeo is coming April 9-12. Tickets are on sale at the Fair Office or online at

www.ccfair.com.

The concert this year is going to be Heidi Newfield,

www.heidinewfield.com

and opening for Heidi will be Lee Brice

www.leebrice.com

If you would like to volunteer (and get free passes) give us a call at

702-398-3247 or 888-876-FAIR (3247)

IM SORRY!!

While doing my usual blog stalking, I came a cross a friends blog titled "apologies". It got me thinking, Im sure there are apologies that I have failed to make that are long overdue. So here goes........

First- I realize that lots of times my sarcastic nature gets me in trouble. I have made comments without thinking first and then when I realized that I had indeed offended someone or hurt someones feelings, the damage is done. When it is pointed out to me, or on those rare occasions that I catch myself, Im devastated by it. I hope that anyone reading my blog knows me well enough to know that I never would do anything like this on purpose.

Second - I apologize to my kids for not always being there for them. My greatest desire in the whole world is to have a close relationship with them. I know that sometimes I overstep my bounds and as tempted as I am to add that "thats just what mothers do!" I won't. I need them all to know that there is nothing, NOTHING I WOULDN'T DO FOR THEM and that I LOVE THEM. I hope that they each will continue to have patience with me, I am very far from perfect, but know that I am striving daily to be the best Mom (and Grandma) that I can be.

Third- I apologize to my many, many wonderful friends that are always there for me, I must apologize for not always doing the same. I have one friend in particular that has been so diligent in phone calls, cards, offers for lunchs and just about anything else I can think of. I truly know she would be there for me through thick and thin. I have many friends that are this same way and would do just about anything for me. For this I am greatful. Thank you for accepting me with my shortcomings and choosing to be my friends anyway.

Fourth (and most importantly) - I apologize to my very best friend Kevin. I am overly involved in both of my jobs and this takes me away from home WAY TO MUCH! I need him to know that he is my life, he is my inspiration, my rock in times of trials and sorrow. He is who I speak of when I place quotes on my headers. The most recent one being "My Best Friend is the one that brings out the best in me!" He most definately brings out the best in me. He is my example of patience, love, kindness and most importantly SERVICE! Kevin would do anything for anyone but mostly for me. Just sitting here tonight I realized that I do most of the talking (imagine that, LOL :) I ramble on about what a rough day I've had and he is patient enough just to sit an listen, never complains, never critisizes me, just encourages me to be the best I can be. I apologize for not showing more of the quailities that he has. KEVIN I LOVE YOU!!!!!

This hopefully will serve as my public attempt to right some of my many, many wrongs. I truly am sorry from the bottom of my heart if I have offended anyone or hurt anyones feelings. My goal is to be the very best Wife, Mother, Grandma and friend that I can be.

Thank you all once more for accepting me as I am and choosing to be my HUSBAND, KIDS, FRIENDS and ASSOCIATES anyway.

Attitude Is Everything

Yesterday in Sacrament Meeting the talks were on having missionary experiences. As I listened to the speakers I remember thinking to myself, "I have heard this before, but its just not that easy to bear my testimony to someone that I have (wrongly) pre-determined is not ready to listen". I can honestly say that I never gave it another thought after that. But oh boy the Lord has an amazing way of utilizing us when we least expect it.

I had a friend text me early this morning. This happened to be a friend who has had a couple of tough years. There was definately a sense of urgency to her situation this morning. After giving her the information she was inquiring about she commented that she felt that God had forgotten her, when he said that he will not give a person more than they can bear. She went on to say that somehow he had passed her by when it was her turn to have her burdens lightened.

I tried to explain back to her that he indeed WILL NOT give anyone more than they can bear, that he knew how strong of a person she was and that he knows what she is capable of bearing. I went on to tell her that everything happens for a reason (my ever famous motto!) and that there are lessons to be learned in every test we are given.

With that she texted back with a "Im sorry but, WHATEVER!!! My faith is drowning. Now I know this friend well enough to know when she texts WHATEVER she is MAD! "OH OH!", I thought, "Ive really upset her now. " But you know what, at that point I made a quick decision. I could either play into her "woe is me" attitude or I could try to say something to change her attitude. Keep in mind that this happens to be a friend that Im a little bit scared of. I have caught myself many a times agreeing with her just to keep from having a confrontation.

In true LORI style I texted back "Im sorry if I made you mad but that is one area I WILL NOT BACK DOWN IN!!!" I too have had a couple of really tough years, but I have tried to learn the lessons that go along with those trials. Sure I have found myself getting down, but not for long. I really thought that she was going to march right into my office today and let me have it, so I was prepared for that too. I decided that had she indeed come to my office that I was going to sit her down and give her an ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT! We could compare our tough situations, only to find out that they are probably very similar. I would explain to her that the difference between her bad years and her feelings of hopelesness, and my bad years and still being able to carry a smile is all about attitude. I believe in times of trial we have two choices. We can either have the "I have been passed by attitude", or the "Alright Lord, what lesson am I supposed to be learning from this attitude"?

(Of course I talk BIG, but keep in mind had she really come to my office I probably would have ran an hid!) LOL :)

My last text of the day to her was to let her know that I LOVE HER and that my hand will always reach into that water of despair and lift her up, I would never let her drown. I guess in a sense I shared a little bit of the Gospel with her. Have you ever had a moment when you felt the person on the other end of the text was crying? That is exactly what I was feeling at that moment, whether that is actually what was happening, I will never know) but I do know that several long minutes later I received a final text from her saying "THANK YOU!"

To My Best Friend

This post is to my very best friend, Kevin on Valentines Day!

Your best friend is the one that you think of before you think of anyone else.

The one you long to be with every minute of the day.

The one you can argue with and they still love you anyway.

Your best friend is the one who knows all about you and loves you anyway.

A best friend is the one you could sit with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've ever had.

Kevin, you are TRULY my very best friend.

Thank you for accepting me as I am.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!

A love that has not friendship for its base, is like a mansion built upon the sand.

That "OH NO' feeling in my stomache

I had a really good talk with a great friend today about the fact that I don't like to prepare talks. I would rather a talk come from my heart. I kind of feel the same way with my blog. When I set it up, it was with the intent of using it as an online Journal. Many a nights I will sit and just wait for some type of inspiration to come for a topic to post. Well here is tonights inspirational thoughts; have you ever been "Blog Stalking" and commented on someones site only to go back and read it and find that you have misspelled a word? Once your comment goes "live" you read it and feel that "OH NO" feeling through your stomache?

That is exactly what happened to me tonight. I was congratulating a friend on a great decision. I don't know about you but for some reason as I comment or post, I feel like Im back in High School typing class and the race is on to be the fastest typer in the class. Most of the time I fail to take the time to reread what my comments say, therefore sometimes my spelling is very, very bad.

My final line to her was "CONGULATIONS on your decision!" Now at first glance you might think that said congratulations, so did I! But as I read my post out loud to Kevin I read it exactly how it was spelled (now instead of the feeling of being in High School typing class, I feel as if Im in kindergarten learning how to "sound out a word".) Theres that "OH NO" feeling hitting my stomache. The first thought that crosses my mind is " Oh No what if CONGULATIONS means something bad?" So I do what any after hours blogger would do, I post another comment to giggle at myself and explain that I really meant CONGRATULATIONS and not CONGULATIONS.

WHEWWWWW Wipe the sweat off my brow and proceed to my Yahoo home page where I immediately type in CONGULATIONS to assure myself that I hadn't offended my friend. Turns out Im definately not the only "Speed Typer" in the internet world. CONGRATULATIONS is spelled CONGULATIONS over and over again. Cracked me up!!!!!! and hopefully taught me a lesson on re-reading my words before hitting the button. Aren't we taught that in first or second grade? LOL :)

Two New Goals

I have been trying really hard to practice two things,

First - To have a positive attitude all day long (not an easy task)

Second - To always try to look out the windshield of lifes vehicle

and act as if theres no rear view mirrors.

You now if your really being conscious of these two things, its amazing how much you can change your attitude. Im trying to work on the fact that what is in the past is truly in the past, that I can't change it. I am also trying to find the good (or the lesson) in everything. If theres one thing that I would like to be remembered as saying repetitiously, its

"Everything in life happens for a reason."

You've heard me say it before and you will probably hear me say it again....and again.....and again!!

Another one of my favorite sayings is

"When one door closes, another one opens."

I remember the first time I heard that saying. I remember thinking

"OK, I understand that something just happened that I wasn't happy about and wasn't sure why, but something better will come along, right?" The only problem is that by nature I am a very impatient person and if that other door didn't open real quick I was second guessing the saying. And then BOOM it happens, the other door opens and you realize that yes indeed, had the first incident taken place the second (and much better incident) would not have happened. Please don't get me wrong, I still have a negative attitude far more than I would like and I still look in that rearview mirror way more than I wish I did. But my whole goal is to TRY to be a little better in both areas each day, with the hope that after a time

I will be able to do them with little effort.

Here are a couple of quotes I found that brought a smile to my face

and I hope they do the same for each of you!

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."

Erma Bombeck

"Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished.

If you're alive, it isn't."~

Richard Bach

"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."~

Sir Winston Churchill

And finally my favorite;

"Life is something that happens when you can't get to sleep."

Fran Lebowitz

"God's Cake"

I just read this and I loved it!

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation! A Daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.

Meanwhile her Mother is baking a cake and asks her Daughter if she would like a snack, and her Daughter says "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake!"

"Here, have some cooking oil", her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her Daughter.

How about a couple of raw eggs?" "Gross Mom!"

"Would you like some flour then?" "Or maybe some baking soda?" "Mom those are all yucky!"

To which the Mother replies, "Yes, all those things seem bad by themselves, but when they are all put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why he would let us go through such bad and difficult times, but God knows that when he puts these things in His order they always work for good. We just have to trust Him and eventually they will all make something wonderful!

God is crazy about you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.

Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the Universe, and He chose your heart.

I HOPE YOUR DAY IS "A PIECE OF CAKE!"