Therapy 101- Communication Problem? :)

A husband and wife came for counseling after 15 years of marriage. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a passionate, painful tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the 15 years they had been married. She went on and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable, and entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured over the course of their marriage. Finally, after allowing this to go on for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and, after asking the wife to stand, embraced and kissed her passionately as her husband watched with a raised eyebrow. The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze. The therapist turned to the husband and said, "This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?" The husband thought for a moment and replied, "Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish."

I Once Was Lost, But Now I'm Found!

Greetings! It's been a long time since I've written and I can't even begin to explain the roller coaster ride I've been on. Since I've started the Master's program, I've cried more than I have in a long time. Sometimes because of subject matter, sometimes because in the process of self awareness you find that you aren't exactly the person you want to be, and always because of the intense pressure. I have felt like there isn't enough of me to go around and my life has become so one sided(school). It's been a process of intensive study, intensive self evaluation and a time of total reliance on the Lord to get me through. And it has been a time of extreme painful growth for me. I have prayed to be able to become the person the Lord wants me to be so I can be an instrument in His hands as I continue on in my field of study. Sometimes the answers are very painful to hear when you think you are doing the best you can and the answer is that I can do more. Working smarter hasn't always been my forte', but I'm getting there. Last semester was a time of drowning from my point of view. A time for "Ulcer's Are Us". I didn't know if I was going to make it, but I survived. This semester is just as intensive if not more so. We have clients at the clinic and are learning at a feverish pace to prepare for our internships at the end of this month. But I have a different attitude this semester and it has made all the difference. I was given a blessing by my wonderful home teacher before the semester began, and I have referred to it over an over. It has been a guide map in helping me get through the emotional, physical, and spiritual experiences that I have had. It is another tender mercy of the Lord to let me know that He is here and aware of what I am going through. And more important, He is here to help me get though it. There are several things that I'm not sure of the route I'm to take, but I know that it is the timing of the Lord that is important and I need to be patient.(Wow, for those of you who know the Nielsen clan, you know that's NOT our forte?!):) I am headed up to Addiction Resource Center for Healing(ARCH) in South Jordon to do my internship starting the last week in April. They do all kinds of therapy for individuals, couples, families, addictions of all kinds, court ordered psycho-educational groups, etc. I'm very excited about working there over the Spring and Summer. I'm very blessed and so grateful for the love and support of my family! I haven't been able to be around much as a mom and grandma. I'm trying the best I can, but I am so blessed to have such a great support system. I'm so proud of Cory and Elisha, Kelly and Jen, Chris and Jamie, Jake and Megan, and Mike and Jessica and their families! And I appreciate having the CUTEST grandchildren in the world! (I do NOT ever exaggerate!) :) I also am so grateful for the love and support of wonderful people who have been put in my life to make it so much richer and fuller and that I have learned a great deal from. Thank-you! Not trying to make this a testimony meeting on paper, but I am so grateful for everything I have been blessed with and sorry for the times I have been so overwhelmed I have temporarily forgotten this. Lot's of fun things to look forward to in the future and wishing you all a happy day! Love to you all! Thought for the Day: You don't have to be crazy to work here. We'll train you! :)

Reflections

A lot has happened since Nov.5th, the date of my last blog. Obviously I have survived, but it has been a little rough. Some high and low lights are the following:

1. Brooklyn was baptised and it was wonderful! I love you and am so proud of you Brooklyn!


2. Kelly and Megan's birthday=Tacanno's (not sure of spelling) Yea!


3. Best friend, Kolleen and I, overnight in Park City for our birthdays! You're the best Kolleen!


4. Transiberian Orchestra on the 18th! It was fabulous! A must see for the holidays!


5. Annual Red Lobster Christmas dinner with adult children. Saw Plaid Tidings afterwards. As usual we all had a blast! I love you guys!


6. Ken took me up to Salt Lake to go on my "perfect date." We were going to see the Joseph Smith movie at the Memorial building, then go up to the Sky Room for dinner, then on a carriage ride, and then walk around and see the lights. So----does anyone remember the day that there was an accident on the freeway and it shut it down? Well that was the day of my perfect date and we ended up in the standstill for 3 hours and 15 minutes! We had left in plenty of time and ended up getting there just in time for dinner at 5:30. It was still a wonderful time.


7. Dr Stone (dermatologist) called and said he wanted me to see a specialist because a biopsy of my bottom eyelid showed a cancer that needed to be taken care of asap.


8. Saw Dr. Cook and wanted to do surgery the next week but I had finals. Had surgery done on Dec.20th. Dr Peterson took out the cancer and then went over to surgery center and Dr Cook reconstructed my bottom eyelid. They feel they got it all. Took the stitches out on Dec.29th. I looked like a before and after picture because I couldn't wear make up on my left eye. Awesome! :) It wasn't pretty!:)


9. Finals week was the 13th through 17th. That also wasn't pretty! :)


10. Christmas was pretty quiet since it wasn't my turn to have all the kids. We did all get together( except for Mike and Jess who were in Salt Lake)on Christmas night and had a great time!


11. Went to Kaylee's 1st birthday on the 31st. What a doll!

That takes me to the end of the year. In between all of those things were assignments due, tests to take and study for, papers to write----all the things that go with school. All I can say is INTENSE! I'm grateful for all of the students that are in my MSW cohort and how wonderful they are! They are so helpful and supportive! I am very blessed!

Happy day and I shall update what has happened since the first of the year soon!

Thought for the day: Storms make trees have deeper roots.

LOVE THE FALL!

So much has happened since I last blogged. BYU won their Homecoming game since Ken and I went! (of course that's why :)!) Life is still really crazy but I'm learning to deal with being in "panic" mode! :) I'm so excited for the holidays but that means that when they come EVERYTHING is also due for school! Ahhhhhhh! ok, ok, ---deep breaths---in-out-in-out--
See? Panic mode but I handled it soooo well! :)-------------------------------
Jamie, Jess, and I put on the 1st Annual Nielsen Halloween Party on the 29th of October. It was really fun but didn't go quite as we had planned. (whatever does?) With our family it doesn't really matter, we always have a great time. I think Jamie will blog some pictures so check out her site. I dressed as a pirate. Ken came as a pirate as well and looked great! Long flowing black locks a knife between his teeth, and a gold earring. Lookin good! He's such a good sport and it was his birthday too! We celebrated afterwards with cake and sang him Happy Birthday! Cory and Elisha's family came as The Incredibles and looked----incredible! Elisha did a great job with their masks painted on and Sadie had black hair! Kelly and Jen's family came as vampires and looked awesome! (When is the next Twilight movie coming out?) Jess and Mike came as Robin Hood and Maid Marion and totally nailed the look. Jake, Megan and Kaylee came as the Flintstones and looked so perfect! Complete with a bone in Kaylee's hair! How cute is that? Jamie and Chris were the Wizard of Oz characters. Dorothy's ruby red slipper was missing and we didn't find it til after the party! Mom and Danny came as entertainers and were dressed alike. They looked great! Good job everyone and thanks for making it so fun! On to Thanksgiving and Christmas! LOVE IT!!!!! I have the best family in the world and the Lord continues to bless me so much. Ken is wonderful to me and spoils me sooo much! NOT A PROBLEM! ha ha Love to ya'll and hope this season finds you happy and healthy!! We have so much to be grateful for! Happy day!!!
Thought for the day: You don't have to be crazy to work here. We'll train you! :)

78 Days to Christmas! :)

Well, that got your attention! ha ha I have been a slacker on posting and I shall repent again and try to do better. (I now totally understand the scripture 70x7) I want to try and hit some of the things that have happened since my last post.
Ken and I met Kiara and her husband and their friends in Salt Lake to see Lion King. All I can say is WOW it was awesome!
Had the chance to work in the Baptistery at the Provo Temple for my neighbor last Friday from 5:15am to 11:00am. It was a great experience!
We went over to Cory and Elisha's house for dinner and to play games on Oct 1st, the Friday before general conference. It was really fun.
Ken invited us( Jamie,Chris and the kids) over to his house for a great breakfast before General Conference on Saturday morning. I was stuffed between the eggs, bacon and pancakes, but what a way to start Conference! Thanks Ken!
AND CONFERENCE WAS WONDERFUL! If you want to know why, the Ensign will be coming out soon! :)
As far as school goes, I'm still very overwhelmed, but I have figured out that's what the MSW program is all about. Survival! I pray alot and appreciate those of you who are praying for me too!
Ken and I are going to the BYU Homecoming Spectacular tonight and to the Football game tomorrow! Talk about needing our prayers---I hope the game is at least CLOSE! :)
I hope everyone is doing well and I love ya'll! Happy Day!

Thought for the day: When you come to the edge of everything you know and are about to step into darkness, Faith is knowing that one of two things will happen: there will be something solid for you to stand on, or you will be taught to fly.

WHO THE HECK IS MURPHY????

I don't know if I want Murphy shot or if I should feel sorry for him. After all, he gets blamed for everything---
Why is it that.....

1. People don't tell you that the delicious salad you had for lunch, now resides as a hanging orniment on your front tooth?
2. There is no toilet paper in the only stall you choose, and you find out too late?
3. You always get asked a question just when you put food in your mouth?
4. Nobody tells you that your skirt is tucked in your wasteband, and you went to the bathroom over 2 hours ago!?
5. When your nose starts to run, there is never anything around to wipe it with but the sleeve of your clean shirt?
6. The root beer you drink makes you burp and since you "don't do that kind of thing", you look curiously at the person sitting next to you so everyone will think they did it?
7. Your hair only looks great when there is no place to go?
8. Your mind goes blank when you go to introduce your really good friend to someone?
9. The guy pulls out in front of you and goes really slow?
10. They are always out of the only thing you want on the menu?
11. The grocery line is always faster in the other lane and when you finally decide to switch lines, the lady in front of you needs a price check?
12. You have the time but no money or the money and no time?
13. When you go on vacation, your bowels do to!?
14. You finally decide to throw something away that you have kept around for years only to find that you need it within the week?
15. You can never find your cell phone until after it's stopped ringing?

IT'S CALLED MURPHY'S LAW! And he has a twisted sense of humor! Ahhhhh!

I'm glad I got that straightened out. I feel much better!! Happy Day!

Thought of the day: Women are angels. And when someone breaks our wings, we simply continue to fly. On a broomstick. We are flexible like that! :)

•Out of my mind. Back in five minutes !

School is---well, let me put it this way; suppose you were a dump truck and a bunch of front end loaders were all line up waiting to dump their loads in the bed of your truck? Hmmm sounding familiar? (Yes, a vision of 1-15 just came to mind...), anyway, they start to dump their loads. No problem right? Ummm, right if they give you a chance to take your load and dump it in the appropriate location before giving you another load. So the problem is that you have all these loads of dirt dumped in your bed, it starts to overflow and soon there is a HUGE pile of dirt where your little dump truck used to be. Poor,poor little dump truck! He is still there but, alas, you cannot see him under all that dirt! Ha Ha Ha I love that story! It is soooooo my life right now! :)
Last Saturday Chris and I went with Cory and his Scout group to hike up Timpanogos to the very top. I got to glacier lake and watched as Cory, Chris and Jeff (Cory's bishop) hiked to the top of the cliff up the glacier. It was a beautiful day! We started hiking at 7:30am and Cory, Chris and I got off the mountain at about 6:00pm. (The rest of the group was off by 7:30pm) Let's just say that I was dying on the way down. And of course Cory had a brilliant idea to shave off some time by going down a ravine that ended up having a cliff at the bottom. We were sure praying on the way out of that one. It's Cory! Why didn't I know better? :) We did survive without any broken bones, twisted ankles or DEATH! It was still a blast! Thanks for letting us go Cory!
Stake conference was this weekend and it was great! Jagger's blessing was at our house on Sunday and it was really nice. It was great to see everyone! I have THE cutest grand kids on the planet(and probably the ones with the most energy!)
I'm going to" LION KING" tomorrow and am so excited! I love the music and my dear friend Kiara and her wonderful husband stood in line months ago to get tickets. I had her get me a couple of tickets and I can't believe it's finally here! yay! Thanks Darwin and Kiara!
Happy day to ya'll and I hope all is going well! Look around you at the gorgeous place we live and enjoy the FALL!
Thought for the day: A bargain: something you cannot use at a price you cannot resist.