Today's Blessings

Snowflake Arizona Temple



When I was a very young girl, as early as about 3 years of age, all I ever wanted was to be married and have children. I remember wishing someone would leave a cute bundle on our doorstep. The note left would always read: "This baby is for Debbie." I wanted to make sure there was NO mistake. It would not be a baby left to my mother but a baby left to me.

I also dreamed of the day that the love of my life took me inside the temple doors to be married and sealed for time and all eternity. Well I actually got it a little backwards but eventually everything panned out.

I got married, had children, divorced and then met my soul mate. So in 2004, I finally was married in the Snowflake Arizona Temple. It was beautiful. It was all I had ever imagined and more. It was not until that time that I gained a love and appreciation for the Temple.

Until recently we drove over 5 hours one way to attend the temple assigned to our district. Even the long drive was worth it. The days spent in the temple were rejuvenating and inspiring and I have grown to love my time there.

When I need to feel close to my Heavenly Father, I need only spend some time in the Celestial Room pondering. I need only feel the peace and serenity that fill the temple walls. I need only quietly meditate on who I am and why I am here and life once again makes sense.

In April 2008 a temple was announced in the Gila Valley. It was dedicated on February 14, 2009. It is located in Thatcher, Arizona and only takes me an hour and a half to get there. It is such a blessing. I never imagined the incredible blessings and miracles I would witness as I watched a Temple built in such close proximity to my community.

Now I have the opportunity to go any time. I can attend over and over again. I can find answers to life's deepest questions. I can renew my spirit when it is lagging. I can set example to my children by attending the temple frequently. I can seek the Lord and I can find Him. In this month of Thanksgiving, I am so very thankful for the blessings of the temple in my life.












Gila Valley Arizona Temple

Increasing the barnyard...

I hope no one has missed me too much. :-)
Actually I have found myself insanely busy... that happens when your husband gets laid off and is home all the time. I find that I am chasing him around everywhere. Can't hardly stand to be away from him. We work outside, garden, do odd jobs for neighbors, go places and life is good!And in the meantime, we have started raising chickens, bought a goat and increased our dog litter by one. For a very long time, Casey was our only pet. She is having a hard time adjusting. How dare we ration out our attentions to others!! Casey is a 9 year old boxer that I got for Valentine's day from my children in 2001. She has truly been a part of our family and thinks she is human at times.Poor Casey is really not sure how to take all the new family members.
First came the chickens. They have been great fun. An experiment in trial and error if there ever was one! Casey never even looks their way...
unless we go inside! Twice I have caught her with tail feathers in her mouth. Darn Chicken Eater! We learned. Never trust a born predator. Since she and I have come to an understanding, things are better. She is only allowed out and off her chain if I am outside with her.That's when we decide a goat might be fun. Meet Beelzebub! The king of annoyance. We love him. He is constantly in the way, chewing on our jeans (sometimes catching a piece of leg as well), butting when he doesn't get is way and generally just a feeding nuisance!
Surely this would provide company for Casey, a playmate for our 9 year old son and entertainment in life. He has definitely done all that and more.
We tried taking in an adult black lab that my father had but that was a disaster. Doyle needed a "man's" dog! Casey is too sissy for him. She hates to ride in the truck. She can't be persuaded to fetch or play anymore because her arthritis is getting too severe. But bringing in another adult dog was disaster. Casey fought tooth and nail to protect her territory. She has always been as docile as you could imagine... Not when Riddick wanted to eat dog food out of the same bag! Heaven forbid. Riddick went back to live with Dad. He headed for the hills and turned up at the folks house a few hours later.
And so for father's day, Gavin and I decided to find the perfect dog. I think we may have done it! A gorgeous Lab mix adopted from the pound. He is only 4-5 months old. Casey loves him. Beelzebub thinks he's just another goat. And Doyle's not sure one way or 'tother. So... maybe father's day isn't about fathers afterall!

Fresh new start in 2010

When Doyle and I got married in 2004, I was happy with myself for the most part.

I weighed around 145 and looked and felt great. I did, however, have a smoking habit. Being a single working mom, I spent days living on cigarettes and Dr. Pepper.

I had a few lower back problems but nothing serious. I was confident with myself, secure in my health, and comfortable in my body.

Well...
I quit smoking. Suddenly I ballooned. I gained over 40 pounds! and quickly!

Saying gooodbye to cigarettes was one of my proudest moments but the weight gain was certainly NOT! Along with the extra pounds came some serious back problems. I spent close to 5 months almost entirely laid up; using a cane and barely moving from the bed to the living room. This was our 2nd year of marriage.

Piano playing, which I have done my entire life, became very, very painful. I could not sit at the bench for more than five minutes.

At the time of my marriage I had a 3 year old, Gavin. He is the love of my life. Now at 8 years of age I know it frustrates him that his mother cannot participate in all the fun things he wants to do. When we play basketball, it is h-o-r-s-e and he has to bend down and retrieve the ball off the ground for me. The act of repetitive bending is absolute posterior~suicide! Too much of that leaves me unable to do even the smallest things; like walking!!

Gavin is incredible. He knows that there are things I must be very careful about and he never complains. He just jumps in and helps me.

But for 2010 I have made up my mind! Enough! I am determined to get back into shape. I want to be healthy. I want to feel good. I am tired of putting on 3 or 4 outfits
before deciding on the one I think looks the "least fat". Tired of the muffin top on my jeans. Want to be able to run again.

I got a new start when I dumped the smoking habit. I traded it in for obesity. Now I want to start new once again. The next time you see me, I will not look like this:

For support and tips I have started a facebook group to get fit and thin in 2010. To join go to

http://www.facebook.com/dlsully?v=info&ref=profile#/group.php?gid=428102365485&ref=mf