What is your FORTE?

A few nights ago I had an conversation with some of my brothers.  The conversation wasn't NEW ... well the subject was but the outcome wasn't.

The conversation was based on the luncheon we would have for my parents before they left for their mission.  To make a long story short ... we couldn't decide on the MENU.  I wanted easy and my brother wanted nice and my other brothers told us to call them and let them know what we decided.

When we got in the car, the Lifeguard looked at me in disbelief and said,
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?  Did a simple menu really require that long discussion?"

I laughed because I knew exactly what he was talking about!  For he has seen this very scenario play out over and over and over in my family.  We have six brothers and one sister (me) ... for a total seven people who think their way is the best way ... and that's without our spouses!  

It isn't that we are not willing to bend, it's just that we want our experience and opinion to be heard!

A little over a year ago we were all "assistants" to my dad as he ran a campaign for public office.  Can you imagine if we can't easily plan a simple menu together ... how "easy" it was to agree on campaign signs and where to put them?

Yeah, that's why some of my brothers picked up and left the other night.  They had kids to get to bed and they knew this conversation we were having wouldn't end for a couple hours.  They've been there before ... and they participate with their opinions most of the time.  Luckily it was a school night!

But you know the wonderful thing about it all?  We would step in front of a speeding train for each other any hour of any day and we all share the same ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE, which allows us to each take turns backing down when we realize we are voicing an opinion about something that is NOT our "forte".

I love that word "forte" ... it's fun to say and it also uplifts, for each one of us process it!

I can tell you right now that my forte is NOT food!  It is a challenge for me and I don't enjoy spending time making it or planning it ... hence why I always default to "easy" when it is required.

That's okay though, because it is the forte of lots of people I spend time with and I'm really glad because as much as much as I don't like to MAKE food, I really like to EAT it.

I have a friend named Elise.  I included this pic of us because it's so typical ... me worrying and her smiling.  Isn't is awesome?!

She gets a kick out of one of my forte's.  She has mentioned that it might be border-line obsessive.  Hence, she sometimes messes with me for her own enjoyment and laughter.

One night we were setting up for a big event.  She had some other people helping her put cloths on some big display tables.  She decided she would INTENTIONALLY put the table cloth on crooked ... you know, just for FUN!

Then she said to the others around her,
"Watch!  This table cloth is going to drive Krista crazy!  As soon as she spots it she will run over to straighten it!"

The other ladies assured her this would not happen. They told her I would never notice a crooked table cloth among-st all the other decorations. Elise told them to "just watch" ... and then they sat back and watched the obsession unfold.

I surly did notice the table cloth ... in about 5 seconds flat, along with my other pals who share the same obsessive forte I do.  As a trio we ran over to straighten the cloth.

Oh how Elise 
and the people around her
laughed!

That is Elise's forte.  She can make me laugh harder than anyone else I know!  Her forte is a blessing to my life because it's something I don't naturally possess!

All forte's are needed for this world to run!  Can you imagine if everyone had the same forte I do?  Good heavens!!!  We would all starve to death!!

Can you imagine if everyone had the same forte as Elise?  Goodness gracious!!  We would be peeing our pants and have aching guts from laughing so hard!!

(There may or may not be a story behind that but my lips are sealed!)

I am so blessed by the
    FORTE    
of those who surround me!

The forte of my mother-in-law ... if you want to feel good about yourself, go visit her.  She has a way of making you feel like you are the most wonderful person on the face of the earth! And her music ... well, I can't even go there!  It's such a gift to all of us!

The forte of my father-in-law ... patience ... patience ... patience ... I really can't type that enough to describe him!  And some of you might not know this, but he's dang funny!!! This is him with his sister. Aren't they cute?!

The forte of my mother ... you ought to see inside of my mother's home!  Well, you can't now because she has packed it up but oh my goodness, my mother can make any space completely beautiful and wonderful and magical!  What a blessing that has been to me all my life!  And her food ... awe her food!!!  Well, I didn't inherit her cooking skills.  Let's just leave it at that.

The forte of my dear old dad ... peace ... peace at any price!  And ... wisdom ... and I could go on and on!  I adore him!

The forte of my new daughter-in-law ... genuine sweetness!  Really she is so sweet you could get a cavity by just sitting next to her!  And grateful!!  She is so very grateful for the smallest deed you do for her!  And her hair feels so soft, like a little baby chick!

The forte of our oldest son ... he is a leader, a natural leader.  He's unafraid (like a New Yorker) and he is smart!  I won't lie, he's my son but I ask for his advice almost every day!

The forte of my baby boy ... he's like Elise and could make you smile even if you were in front of a firing squad!  I always call him our little ray of sunshine!  You're laughing just looking at him in that picture aren't you?  See!  I told you he was funny!

The forte of the Lifeguard ... he's a natural caregiver, through and through.  I won't go on because I wouldn't be able to stop with him!  But I will say it's interesting that I have this pic of him with these 2 cousins of his because they are a lot like him.  I love all three of them!

I wish I could write the forte's of all of

But since I can't, I want you to know that YOUR FORTE blesses MY life!

You might be saying, 

"Oh Krista!  You don't even know me!"

I would respond to that by saying

The fact that YOU are reading this right now, strengthens

and I appreciate YOU!

May we all appreciate the forte of others and 

LET THEM KNOW!

May we all love our own forte.  And if you can't see what yours is, ASK Heavenly Father to show you.  I promise, He will.

And once you see it ...

(P.S. Text me a joke Elise!)

Do not pass up the chance to watch this video!  WOW!

It's just hair!

So I just got home from the Beauty Shop!

Do we use that phrase anymore?

If not, then we should!!

It suggests that everyone is beautiful ... which is absolutely the truth!!

Men still call their "place" the Barber Shop ... that's a favorite hang out in the Village!  I'm certain I blogged about that once!

With that said, I'm sticking with the Beauty Shop for my "place"!  

At the Beauty Shop I got a fabulous hair wash ... OH SO FABULOUS!!  

Seriously, I would go to the Beauty Shop JUST to have my hair washed, if I could justify it, which I can't!  So my visits usually consist of other activities.  Like today, beyond the wash, I enjoyed great conversation and left with a spiffy cut and clean up of my locks.

What I did NOT leave with was a new hair ...

That does not happen at the Beauty Shop ... that happens in my very own living room ... by way of the Lifeguard!

Yes, the LIFEGUARD colors my hair!

I am often stopped by perfect strangers wondering where I get my hair colored.  My answer always disappoints them as I explain the Lifeguard is not available to the general public.

Some of my sisters-in-law and a few nieces have asked the Lifeguard to consider being their hair color-ist.  It's a nice compliment for him but he always assures them he is not looking for new clients!

It's a job he volunteered for many years ago and it almost always turns out exactly as expected!  

"It ALMOST always

turns out exactly as expected!"

We use the word "almost" because there have been a couple times when things have turned out a little wacky ... by wacky I mean ... BLONDE ... very, very, very ...

Be assured though, it has NOT EVER been the Lifeguard's fault.  He always reads and re-reads the instructions, even though he knows the drill better than a seasoned, licensed beautician!  

So ... whose fault is it?

We think it is the kit's fault!  

and we've had a "faulty kit" ... twice.

The first time happened in 2007 and I FREAKED!!  

Can you tell?  

I then paid A LOT of money to have it fixed in the "official" Beauty Shop.  I was younger then. Living in my Empty Nest has blessed me with greater  perspective. So when it happened the second time my reaction was much different.

That "2nd time reaction" came last week.  

The Lifeguard had followed all the directions, after he read and re-read them.  But alas we had another "faulty kit" and in the mirror, BLONDE ... very, very, very BLONDE hair was looking back at me.

You know what I did?

I DID

NOTHING!

You know why?

because...

Life has taught me that the blonde will fade, the hair will grow and it will be fine ... and ... I'm not firing the Lifeguard!  He will indeed continue to be my color-ist in our living room!

Things in life WILL go wrong!

Dinner is burned on occasion ... or a lot ... either way it doesn't really matter.  Just keep cold cereal in the cupboard.  Cold cereal can fix most woes, in case you didn't know!

You'll most likely be sick on Christmas Day sometime in your life ... or have pink eye and have to wear sunglasses all day.  But hey!  It makes for super fun pics!

People will drop in when your house is a disaster.  You know what I used to say to that?  "Don't mind the mess, this is not a museum.  We love to LIVE here!"  It's true!

If you have kiddos who kick, catch and run with balls, the chances are pretty great that you will forget to wash a uniform before a game at some point ... SO WHAT?  It's okay, I promise you!

You know what also might happen?  You might forget to DRY that same uniform sometime!  Yeah, your child might go to a game with their jersey hanging out the window, hoping the 55 mile per hour wind will work as a make-shift clothes dryer.  

They also might someday play in a WET uniform. It's okay!  I personally think it makes them run faster, in hopes the brisk movement might speed up the drying time. Hey, don't be horrified.  It happens.

Speaking of horrified ... sometime you might be eating at IN-N-OUT Burger and you might just fall out your chair for no reason at all.  Your husband might look over to see you and you're not there ... because you are flat on the ground.  Just go with it, just laugh, even if your lifeguard is extremely confused at how you got there ... I mean after all, you're most likely confused as well.

And ... you might ... just might ... have unplanned blonde hair sometime! And you know what, it's okay...

it's just hair!

Most things that cause us grief in this life ... Most things we beat ourselves up about ...

And you know what else...

When we find fault with others ... and perhaps whisper about them behind their backs ... the things we are passing judgement on usually don't really matter either.

You know what things really matter?

The things of...

It's our RELATIONSHIPS with family, friends, even strangers and most especially, our Heavenly Father.

It's keeping COVENANTS and promises.

It's trying to be Christ-like in all circumstances.

It's about BECOMING the best 

So I think it is safe to say that if what you're worried about is not of Eternity, well then ...

(in a manner of speaking)

And I also think it's safe to say ... 

the Lifeguard is still the best hair color-ist EVER!

He's pretty irreplaceable!

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