Loving Others; Loving YOU!

Amazing cancer-survivor and Survivor friend/fan: Katherine.
She contacted me on Twitter when I played Survivor and we began a 140 character friendship--with exchanges that have been truly kind and uplifting.
She runs races in support of cancer research and she wears her own Immunity Necklace with the names of those she's running for, and praying for. And she's been kind enough to put my friends' names on her necklace.
I love people who LOVE people.
XO Katherine!

I thought I would keep today's preamble short.

But here's what's been on my mind lately:

Why is it so difficult (at times) to just simply LOVE ALL PEOPLE, INCLUDING OURSELVES?

Why do we/I find it easier to see faults vs. talents; negative vs. positive; disappointments vs. successes?

I know for a fact that every person's goal on Planet Earth is to feel and find joy. I know our ultimate goal is happiness (non-suffering).

And I know that finding fault with myself and others really does cause pain. It robs me of my joy/peace.

So why WHY WHY would I/others spend so much time seeing the yucky when there truly is so much GOOD in people (and dare I say, in ME!)?

It's something I really want to work on. I want my default to be SEEING the GOOD and loving all people.

No matter what.

PS: My disclaimer, there are definitely reasons to find fault in the world. Times when it would be negligent to look the other way. I'm speaking today about the times we are just lazy with our brains and chasing the metaphorical tennis ball of negativity just because we are bored and not being thoughtful.

Now, onto the positive! Here are this week's photos from our family's week.

PPS: To our kids, I think you do a much better job of seeing positive in life/others/yourselves than I ever did as a kiddo. Keep it up and I promise life will continue to be a joy. No matter what challenges you face.

Have a beautiful weekend. XOXO, Dawn

Papaya as Aretha Franklin at her school's "History Night."
(Jr. was an usher.)

Bam and I on a walk with Harriet.

Still a walk . Until ... well, see video clip below:

Zu and Lu at the lake.

Our local pool opened. YAY Summer! Bring on the Vitamin D.

Dave, his brother Pat, and his mom at a family wedding in New York City.
I love this picture.

Dave, Mary, and Pat. (The wedding was ocean-side and beautiful.)

Cousins.

Bride and Groom.

An amazing day (it had rained the days leading up to the wedding day, but not today!).

Handsome Dave--in a suit that is now huge on him--he's so healthy. LOL.

Dave, his mom, Rory (her husband--who does teach kids about Lincoln!), and Pat.

Dave's visit to the 9/11 Memorial.

I have never been, but Dave said it was remarkable. (See video below.)

We sent Elder Meehan some homemade marshmallows and S'more stuff. 8)

Elder Meehan's missionary tan.

Elder Meehan doing his favorite thing: service on a lawnmower!

This is heaven for him. Truly.

We began a notebook when Elder Meehan left on his mission--to hold all of the mail we hoped to get from him.
He's done a good job filling it! 

Almost to the year-mark with his service. So incredible. We are so thankful for this time.

A friend in my ward, Julie who is a nurse, is in India right now--opening a pediatric clinic in a hospital.
The photos are incredible.

I learned to make ketchup this week. Woo hoo!

I'm not sure we are used to homemade, but it was awesome to make.

I also made up my own carnitas recipe for the slow cooker (because the slowcooker is my jam), and it was awesome!
I will definitely make again.

Oh, and the recipe--for my friend Anne Marie:

EASY Slow Cooker Carnitas:

1. Get a "Carnitas Pork Roast" at our local Harmons. (It is pre-seasoned and awesome.)

2. Put roast in the crockpot on low for 4 hours with 1 cup water and 1 beef bouillon cube

3. After 4 hours, shred roast, add 1/4 cup cold water, mixed w 2
TBS cornstarch; stir. Do this IN CROCKPOT.

4. Continue to let mixture cook on low for one more hour (5 total)

**Serve with taco fixings

It an awesome easy dinner ... if you like pork tacos!

And I learned how to make this Moroccan preserved lemon thingy. I have no idea what it will be used for, but I had a lot of extra lemons and I didn't want them to go to waste.

And Lu took this photo of a zinia on our porch (which we planted in some tomato cans).

And in my new "Keepin' it Real" journal notes: I got an iron!
And it has a retractable cord. Woo hoo!
(I had been borrowing my neighbor's. And this is hilarious, but her iron was in the box when I borrowed it. Brand new from the her wedding day. A gift ... 10 years ago! She hadn't used it. LOL!)

Keepin' it Real note: I made out-of-the-box macc-and-cheese FOR BREAKFAST this week.
Because who doesn't love that?

(So it's not all aprons and lake days here. Promise.)