Words of Wisdom?

The early bird gets the worm
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
First come-first served
It’s just a passing fancy
A penny saved is a penny earned
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket



It's raining cats and dogs
Quiet as a mouse
Barking dogs seldom bite
Every dog has its day
Better late than never
A man is as old as he feels
Every cloud has a silver lining

What's your favorite saying, tell us in a comment.

Writer's WORDshop

I meet twice a month with this fun group of talented women who are trying to become better writers. This next week's lesson (Caryn-Writing the Natural Way, p. 162) is on metaphors in our writing. A metaphor is an image connected to something that literally cannot be. See if you can figure out my metaphor in this free verse. Send me your metaphors and I'll post them or put them in a comment.

What am I?

Wanting to fly freely

Yet grounded by fears

Wary, watchful, wondering

What will happen next

Do I dare venture out

Sitting here on my high perch

Is it safe or will you

Try to capture me

Want me to be your prisoner

Or will you free me to

Fly away to new places

And exciting experiences 

Will we create a nest together

Mate and raise our young ones

Teaching them to fly freely

Of will I just sit here…wanting to fly

Earth Day Poem

God is there, even in small things
The curve of a sea shell, a starfish,

The patterns of waves reclaiming the beach
While depositing sand to rebuild the shore



Will I ever know Him and
Feel His love for me His child

Every day I feel His loving care
As I live with beauty all around me

Newlywed smiles

Their smiles tell it all...



Happy parents too.

They are married!

Arriving at the Las Vegas temple, ready to get married

















Wedding rings and vows have been exchanged





















Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Karlsson begin married life together forever

Blog Commenter Award

And the winner is my dear friend Caryn who lives about 3 hours away from me but who visits and comments on my blog almost every day (19 out of the last 20 blogs this month.) Caryn's comments are so cool-she wins a copy of the book Writing the Natural Way by Gabriele Rico. I will send it to you today. Way to go Caryn!

For those of you who read my blog but don't comment, would love to have your comments-just register, click where it says "sign in" to register with Google or if you are already registered with them-just sign in. That's what make blogging fun is the comments. Check out the new blogger Leah on my blogging buddies. Congrats Leah-she was in my blogging class I taught locally.

Negative Self Talk

I quickly glanced through the recent issue of the Sr. Sampler just out today and couldn't find my second article. Oh no, I thought they've decided to stop my column after just one time. Interesting self talk, so then I had to listen to a whole conversation with myself that went something like this...

Q: So, can you survive that kind of rejection?
A: Well, let's not jump to conclusions so quickly.
Q: What do you mean?
A: Well, maybe you just missed it, maybe it's in the other section.
Q: OK, I'll look again but what if it's not there?
A: Well, you'll survive. You'll just have to find another place to publish your articles. It doesn't mean they aren't any good or that you are any less of a person or a writer if you're aren't published.
Q: What if they just didn't have any space?
A: Good thought, that does happen.
Q: So look again in section #2
A: Whew I found my photo and my article on p. 22 of the second section. Hurrah!

Don't we waste a lot of our good time with negative self-talk?

Article #2 When I Grow UP

LOOKING BACK...(Second article in the Senior Sampler)

At age 10 (see my photo then), I decided that when I grew up, I wanted to be either a “movie star or a telephone operator.” We had just moved from rural Utah to Los Angeles, California where my widowed mom had a new job as a telephone operator. We also lived very close to Hollywood where all the movies in those days were made. Details of the exciting lives of the famous movie stars filled the local news. 

The movies were the big entertainment in those days as television was just being developed and few people could afford to buy a black and white TV set for their homes. Besides which, there wasn’t much to watch on TV, the programs started at 6 pm and ended at 9 pm with only three channels. So, movies were our main entertainment.

The first movie other than the Disney cartoon classics that I remember going to was in Eureka, Utah, a small mining community when “Gone with the Wind” came to our little town’s theatre. As a child, I was able to get a movie ticket for 14 cents and popcorn for 10 cents and still have a penny left over from my quarter. Those were the days! Sitting in the darkened theatre watching Scarlet O’Hara played by Vivian Leigh fall in love with Rhett Butler played by Clark Cable was much more fascinating than the public library’s fairy tale books that I loved to read.

To be beautiful and talented like the movie stars portrayed was so glamorous especially to a young impressionable child new to the big city life. I remember reading religiously the movie magazine PhotoPlay, and the daily gossip columns in the newspapers for the latest rumors about which movie stars were in love or dating. My favorite movie stars were: Tony Curtis, Piper Laurie, Janet Leigh and Esther Williams. I dreamed of being part of that world. If I could just become a movie star, life would be so exciting. 

New movie stars were always being discovered in California in those days. Just working as a soda jerk at the local drug store or as a waitress at the Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood could lead to a movie career and an exciting life of fame, fortune and happiness. I loved to ride with my mom to Hollywood to look for movie stars and see the big city sights.

Images-Snakes

Here's some free verses I wrote for my Writer's WORDshop:

Rattle snakes and garter snakes
Look different but to me
They are both scary,
Wiggly slimy creatures
To avoid at all costs
Though I was a tomboy
And loved polliwogs and frogs

Snakes were not on my list
Of pets to acquire
Put in a cage and feed
Avoid them at all costs
Was my philosophy
Better safe than sorry

I saw enough rattlers
Growing up in rural utah
To know what they could do
And the mere mention of snakes
Made the hair on my neck rise
I can’t imagine being a pioneer
And having snakes live in my house


Or sleep in my bed, but they did
Many early settlers lived in dugouts
Which were no better than snake pits
Made of mud and weeds carved in a hillside
I can imagine snakes were frequent visitors
Though unwelcome, it was their home too

WATCH OUT––SNAKES

We all have snakes in our lives
That creep in unnoticed
Quietly, calmly getting closer
Gaining our trust until it is
Too late to avoid
The attack…suddenly
Unexpectedly we are bitten


Pain shoots through our soul
Throbbing intensely
Blindsided, we should have
Seen it coming but didn’t
Trusting too much
Our naivety betrayed us


Do we want to live
Worried, anxious
Afraid of being hurt
No, the snakes are few
And far between and
It's not worth becoming
A victim of our own fears

This Is...

Is this my last day
No? I have another
New day, this day
This is my life
My time on earth
To find me
To be happy
To reach out
Connect with others
Learn from them


Another blank page
To fill with thoughts
My thoughts, my life
Never to be repeated
Exactly the same
Quickly over if
Not relished or appreciated
This is my life

Yellow Thoughts

Sunlight brightens my world

Greets another new day

Warmth, growth and possibilities

Abound just outside

Come and play with me

Give thanks for little things

Become all you can be

Article #1 Dumb Things I did as a Kid

Amazing, I'm published! See it at Senior Sampler, section 2, p. 26. It's downloadable-will come out every Thursday. The column is called Looking Back and this week's article is Dumb Things I Did as a Kid by Lin Floyd  (copyright 2008)

Ever thought about some of the dumb things you did as a kid and lived to tell about later? Growing up in the wild west (rural Utah in the 1940s), I was fascinated by playing “Cowboys and Indians” with my cousins. I took pride in being a “cowgirl,” and even had a special outfit to wear just like Dale Evans, Roy Rogers’ wife.

I remember one hot lazy summer afternoon sitting on my Grandma’s cement porch with my cousin Bill who was my age. He turned out to be a real cowboy when he grew up. Well, he had found some live bullets somewhere. We decided to pound on the cartridges with a big rock to see if they would explode! Fortunately, we couldn’t get any of them to explode—imagine what would have happened if we had been able to get even one of them to explode. I’d rather not entertain that thought too long. Busy Grandma was our babysitter while our moms worked at the local telephone office during the daytime.

Seems there was always something dangerous around to explore in those days, as we spent all of our time outdoors: making forts, and hiking around old boarded up mine shafts. My favorite activity was in the early summer, gathering some small, very green apples from a tree located near a deserted shack in the mining town of Eureka, Utah. It was so much fun to climb the old apple tree, and see how many of its bitter green missiles we could sneak away with. Of course, we didn’t eat them because we knew from prior experience what the results of that was. But it was fun to throw those hard green apples at each other or to throw them down old mine shafts and listen for the sound below when or if they hit the bottom.

After moving to California later, my younger cousin Marion and I decided to become “Indians” so we laid out on an old army camp cot in her backyard in our swim suits and became literally “red skins.” Our career was short lived as Indians as we ended up with such severe sunburns that our mothers, who were sisters, treated us with evaporated milk treatments for days. We were admonished to stay out of the sun and out of trouble. It was easier to stay out of the sun than out of trouble.

Friendly Feedback

We all need positive feedback from our friends. It helps stabilize us in times of need either as we try to meet problems or celebrate joyous occasions. I'm thankful for the special friends I'm able to interact with both on the Internet blogging and emailing, and in person. That includes family who can be our best-est most loyal friends forever.

Thanks for all the support, concern, prayers and love from my friends and family. I'm almost back to normal health. My appetite has returned and some of my energy. This month will be an exciting one with Rachel joining our family as she and Jeff are married. Life is good!

Juxtaposition

Today in our Writer's WORDshop, we were trying to understand and write with "juxtaposition." I've heard the term in the past but am not really clear on what it means. Wikipedia says..."it is to place side by side, especially for contrast/comparison the two, to show similarities or differences". Then it gives this example... "In juxtaposing the athletes of our grandparent's day with modern day athletes, it is similar to comparing a volkwagon beetle and a hummer." So our assignment for next time is to write something using juxtaposition. So here's my try:

Sick or Healthy?

There is weakness in sickness
Strength in health
Although it is possible
To be weak while healthy
And strong when sick

The difference is in our attitude
Or acceptance of what is
We can fight and resist
Or we can relax and endure

Guess what I'm almost not sick anymore but very very tired. Here's a photo of me that will go with my new column LOOKING BACK...various topics-humorous reflections of growing up in Utah and California. Coming in the Sr. Sampler starting next Friday.

Happy Birthday Allen

Today is my husband's birthday. We've been married almost 15 years and I truly appreciate the blessing he's been in my life. We've enjoyed lots of fun vacations and different experiences together. I can count on him for his love and support daily. Here he is in Hawaii in Jan when we vacationed there looking at boats. Happy Birthday, honey.

Focus

What is it that grabs our attention and influences each day's activities? Having just returned from a writer's workshop all morning, my head is buzzing with ideas for writing. I'm pondering how to use the many ideas that come to me with each day's various activities, from what I read and the interactions I have with others. I somehow need to have a priority for my thoughts. How do I align with the purposes that I am here for? What is my mission here? I know years ago I made a mission statement to focus on and at various times I have had different themes. One memorable one was "act don't react" and the wooden letters "HARMONY" still reside on a shelf in my house to remind of that theme. Right now I'm wanting to be a VOICE or influence for good in my family and community, thus the need to write and publish my thoughts. I am appreciating my returning health. What is your focus?

It's Official

Fighting Pneumonia

Well, time for a progress report...the germs I picked up from my grandson Nathan at Eastertime are working their way around. That's the way germs are...I finally went to the doctor after trying to get better with prayer, sheer will, rest and good food. He had an x-ray taken of my lungs, and found out that I have pneumonia in my left lung, so he started me on antibiotics. I don't take them very often but I know from prior experience that some illnesses that seem like colds can't be overcome without stronger medicines. I found that out years ago with a lingering sore throat that ended up being a strep throat.

So I am improving and feeling better each day. Thankful for Allen, who also got my cold but overcame it faster than I have, for his loving care, occasional cooking and picking up take out food. Sorry that my friends from Sweden also caught the same germs. Gittan is better but her husband Bo now has pneumonia and is following the same treatment I'm on. We certainly take our good health for granted. How many of us jump out of bed in the morning and exclaim joyfully "I'm not sick!" Probably more of us should do that....daily. I plan too, soon.

Happy Birthday Brook

Brook or Slim as called by great uncle Les
A sweet little boy, the third of my four sons
I would bear and give my life energies for
Nurturing, watching, teaching and loving
Then letting go when it came that time

Trying to keep a string of communication
Going between us hasn’t been easy but
Necessary to fill my empty spaces and nest
Brookula is more unique than his nature name
Ever bubbling and babbling he's always creative

Finding Humor?

Good advice by Pres. James Faust from an article in Ensign Mar 2000 entitled "Finding Balance in Our Lives"...

“Cultivating good humor may be helpful in finding our own identity. Young people who are trying to find out who they really are often have concerns as to their ability to meet and cope with the challenges that confront them and that lie ahead. They will find that it is easier to ride over the bumps and come quickly to their own identity if they cultivate the good humor that comes naturally. It is important that we all learn to laugh at ourselves.” 

I think what he is saying is to not take ourselves so seriously that we can’t step aside and look at any situation and find the humor in it and the real life lessons that can be learned. There is however, humor in the world that is borderline and sometimes negative or sick, that tears down and doesn’t build others. Under this category, I would put those remarks others make to tease, label, criticize or put down others for their own amusement. You know what I am talking about as you have probably been labeled once or twice in your life by some insensitive person. Hopefully, you haven’t been the one guilty of putting others down just to be entertaining. What do you think?

PEACE

For some reason this quote struck me this morning as I was studying my "Writing the Natural Way" book by Gabriele Rico...p.121

Peace is not something you wish for, it's something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away. (Robert Fulghum)

Tell me about peace in your life.

More Gratitude needed

in our world. It's so seldom we take the time to appreciate what others do for us and use our ability with words to build up or reaffirm someone else's contributions to our lives. I just received a beautiful thank you letter from a new member that joined our writer's WORDshop, It was so unexpected and came with some lovely cinnamon rolls that I have been craving after being sick so long and drooling over Dawn's rolls she posted on her blog not once but twice. Here's the letter I received:

Dear Lin,

A hurried thank you as we left the Writers Wordshop at your home wasn't enough to tell you what meeting you has meant to me during these past two months. You have thrown me a lifeline and shown me how to live that life more fully. You have shown me that I can write something of value. And I am grateful beyond the telling. Please enjoy these sweet rolls...along with my fondest wishes for you that your life will produce all the great things of which you are capable...and we will see your work in print 'ere long. 

Fondly a friend, Marilyn C

How sweet of Marilyn who is very busy caring for her husband who has health problems to thank me as her teacher/faciliator. I hope she'll continue her self discovery through writing that we all need for our own health and growth. Let's continue to support each other in living our lives to the fullest in what ever media or way that requires...I appreciate my writing group and all we are learning together and the friendships that have developed. We will publish a book at the end of this year of our works called "Voices from the Desert."

In our daily lives

Thanks Susi Q for sharing again the message below in your blog.

Tis the Easter Season

REFLECTIONS  is a beautiful slide show of the Savior...thanks Chandee for putting this on your blog. Statue of Christus from LDS Church website www.lds.org 

Let our voices be heard. As my friend Caryn said today in her blog, there are a lot of crazies out there…so we need to let our voices be heard for balance. Then I came across this posted by another LDS blogger friend Susi Q: 

“May I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet, particularly the new media, to share the gospel and to explain in simple clear terms the message of the Restoration. Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true.” Elder M. Russell Ballard, Quorum of the Twelve.

So, we can be missionaries to the world without leaving our homes by blogging and sharing our beliefs of the Savior. Strengthening each other and witnessing to the world of the truths of the restored gospel and the hope it brings because of Jesus Christ, his life, death and resurrection.

An angel visitor

Talked with my friend Mary today on the phone and after finding out that I've been sick for over a week. She told me she was bringing over some homemade chicken soup,

How nice is that? Especially when you don't feel like cooking, Here's a photo of my welcome visitor and dear friend. Thanks Mary, you're an angel!

April Fools came and left

Without any tricks being played on me which is how I prefer to live my life. I am still sick with a nasty head cold that doesn't want to leave. Did get some good news yesterday with some tentative bites on columns and articles I'm trying to publish in local newspapers. Have sent in a humorous look back at my life called "LOOKING BACK" on Dating, Old Maids and Dear John letters. It's been refreshing to write from a humorous viewpoint rather than a therapeutic one and much more healthy. I'm also working on an article for the Ensign on "Internet, Its Beneficial Uses," and a genealogy self help column called "Finding Your Roots On-line. So I'm keeping busy while fighting my cold. Let you know when and where I get published.