Thoughts of Kim Beckstead

This is one of my all-time favorite movies. Richard Dreyfuss dies while fighting forest fires by airplane. The other characters spend the rest of the movie trying to cope with the situation. (I can relate!) Trying to find some sense of normalcy in my life has been my knight's  quest lately. Today I went to my home ward and had Easter. We tried so hard to make it fun and exciting like it used to be. (Even though it was hard work!) It was a great day with family! I know this stroke has been a life changing, teaching experience. But enough already! (Calgon, take me away!) I had dreams of walking upstairs just like nothing had ever happened. (I wish I could do something that normal!) But I must accept my new normal, and I can't let it suck me down into depression. I will strive to make my new normal better. Life has a way of working things out, although you can't wait around for it. You must go out and get it. Just like in the movie. Get off your duff and make a positive change...

  I picked this quote, because I love Elder Eyring, and it hits close to home. Strokes leave you with major weakness! I need to keep up a poitive attitude and have faith to get better and keep advancing forward. There is guy here that suffered a stroke similar to me. He has been here for three years! He sleeps a lot, and is onery and pessimistic. He never leaves his room. (Mainly gave up!) This stroke ain't gonna beat me! I will be happy, kind, and will try my hardest everyday. I know my body is pretty weak right now, but through the power of the Lord I have grown stronger and will grow stronger. The other way to look at this quote is that we must be humble to progress through Christ. We must know that we are not the end all-be all and are weak, but through the Lord we can become stronger than we currently are. Just admitting that, means we are meek and humble. Having humility means we are free of pride and puffed-upedness.  (Not what I once pictured, as being a weakling.)...

  There are times in our lives that we so get so hair-pulling, eye-rolling, screaming mad. It can happen because of irresponsible kids, stupid drivers, or annoying operators. (Just to name a few.) I will leave out the expletives. Before we loss it, we need to count to ten while thinking about what their situation might be. Look at these precious (yet annoying) children of God and think about how they are loved, too. It's kind of like the old wisdom "pray for those who persecute and despitefully use you." (Something like that.) What is their story? We don't know. But it is on us if we raise our stress level and blood pressure over their actions. Are we going to let others control our feelings? I feel frustration everyday. My right hand and foot won't do what it tell them! (My left hand is pretty nimble, but I can only do so much.) Aides are slow to help when I call. Food is not what I ordered. I could go on. But I try to look on the bright side. I understand that I...

  Seven years ago, (could it be that long?) we decided to take the kids to Lagoon for two days and get a hotel. We bought season passes, since two days is about the same amount! It was practically empty so we had the place to ourselves. It was a fun little stay-cation. The kids bonded, and we figured out who likes and dislikes which ride! We decided to take pictures at Pioneer Village since we hadn't had a family picture in awhile! (That was a hoot.) Michelle didn't understand do a silly face.We hit the hotel pool at night. I'm happy we had our little adventure! Yee-hah!  

    I never imagined that standing could be such an exhausting task! Today I stood from the wheelchair, holding onto a bar, and with someone to balance me. I did this about 15 (or more) times in rapid succession. I did not know your knees and other leg muscles work so incredibly hard to get you vertical. (I took standing for granted.) The physical therapist did not help me stand, he just held my arm in case I fell. I use momentum by swinging my body, but there's a window in front of me. So I can't swing a lot! (No glass inflicted head wounds right now!) Then I stand while leaning forward over my feet. The very first action is the hardest. Once I can push through that, I'm home free. But it's dang hard. ("What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.") This action is a lot like squats! I take well deserved rests after every five. Sound effects are necessary to complete. The therapist said I sounded like Arnold Schwarzenegger so the next one I did I grunted, ...

  Pot Roast, to me, is what Sunday tastes like. Sometimes the kids complain, but they always want it on Sunday for dinner. I know everyone makes pot roast, however I thought I'd share how we do it. You get one of those bags that you cook meat in. (This is usually done as you're running out the door on Sunday morning.) We throw the frozen roast (beef or pork,) 2 lbs. mini carrots, a few sliced onions and your preference of small potatoes inside with a package of onion mix sprinkled all over. (Soup or dip, pretty much the same thing!) I buy the generic white package of onion soup mix that is cheap. You find it by the soups, it usually hidden. (Mushrooms or another vegetable would be good, but I have picky complainers at my house!) Take a steak knife and punch 3-4 holes in the plastic bag. It requires about 3 hours cooking at around 375 degrees. It depends on your stove. (I don't usually wait for a pre-heat, since I'm running out the door. ) When it's done cooking, tea...

              This movie is a staple at our house. It is always being quoted, but it has to be done in a slow, southern drawl (or its just not right!) Forrest was a simple, slow man (who loved Dr. Pepper,) but some things he said were extemely wise. The best quote was "Life is like a box of choc-o-lates, you never know what you're gonna get." Isn't that the truth? Life is always throwing us curveballs. (Take my life as a prime example!) We need to be adaptive, and take change well as it comes at us. Also, a good attitude will serve you well as you take on the ups and downs.      "I don't know if we have a destiny, or if we're floating accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think it's both. Maybe they're happening at the same time." (I wish there was a sequel, where he meets the missionaries and learns the gospel.) Forrest needs to know there are no accidents. God puts us in the right place at the right time. We can affect other's liv...

  "Genuine discipleship is a state of being." Robert D. Hales told us in the October 2012 conference. I found this very insightful. It means to have the true light of Christ as shown in your countenance and acts. (We don't just talk the talk, but we walk the walk.) You know those people who are so down to earth. They are amazingly true to their beliefs and convictions through word and deed. You  love to give them presents, because they will be so thankful and happy . They shine with the light of Christ. Do you want to be like them? (You can, you know?) You can follow His commandments. You can eminate the light of Christ by learning and following His example. He set the greatest of examples while He walked the earth. You can follow the Beatitudes that were taught by Christ to His disciples and many others. You can serve another, when prompted to do so. You can speak kind words. You can avoid harsh criticism. You can do anything kind, virtuous, of good report, or praisewort...

     "Have an Attitude of Gratitude" President Monson tells us. I might have had a stroke, and my life is "flip turned upside down." But I still have heaps of things to be grateful for.  I was waiting my turn at the Aquaworks swimming pool the other day, and I watched the lady before me. She was so affected by a disease (not sure which one) she was pretty much unable to move! Her muscles were so tight, and her body was heavily contracted. Her feet were twisted and unable to bear weight. She seemed a little out of it. Her husband was right by her side.  He helped her move. (Go husbands!) But I felt so bad for her. Then I started to think about where she was compared to me. I could be in her position. I have been given such good care by medical people and family. My tender mercies are that I am able to think, to move, to feed myself (real food,) to shop, and to interact with my family and friends. I blow everyone out of the water when I play brain games like trivi...

  Ahh, the Magic Kingdom! The excitement and thrills of it all. We took our kids in 2000 and 2005. The first time we flew, because we didn't want to hear "Are we there yet?" (But I think we still did!) The anticipation was real. When we got there the fist day, it had just finished raining, so the park was practically empty! We rode all the rides that are usually very popular, thus long, agonizing lines. But not this time. We rode Splash Mountain about  fifteen times. We just ran around and through the imaginary lines over and over. It was great, although the song got incredibly old. (Zip-a-Dee-Do-Dah Zip-a-Dee-Ay, your welcome, now it's stuck in your mind.) We hit a bunch of other rides, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves with the uncommonly short lines. The kids got signature books so we were always stalking characters! We did get almost all, and every time they got a autograph we took a picture. Then I put the photos next to the hard earned signatures. (I'm such a...

  The first few time I got in the water, I was quite emotional. When I had the stroke it was mid-August. Summer was in full swing, and we were still boating. I really loved the water and all you could do in it. When I was in the water after seven months of being in bed, that experience brought a flood of memories of the past when I was whole.    I first transfer (where they help me standup and pivot) to a water chair.  Then they lower me and a therapist into the water. (He is there to make sure I don't drown, and makes me laugh.) I thoroughly enjoy that part, because the hot bath water is a wonderful 94 degrees! There is a camera with a monitor I can watch. They are always telling me not to look down at my feet. (I learned my lesson when I sneezed my face into the water!) I execute knee lifts first. Since my hip is partially "thawed" out, I can use my momentum to swing it up. (The therapist says I thrust so hard, one of these times I'm going to hit my head on the bar...

  Everything I love has this ingredient: cream.  I might be a little biased (sorry can't avoid it,) but having a dairy farm (even though I'm a silent partner and write a lot of checks) for 23 years makes me pro-milk products. My all-time favorite is New England Clam Chowder. When I went on a New England/Canada fall cruise with my mother in-law and sister in-law in 2014, I tried clam chowder at every port! Bar Harbor, Maine won. (If you wanted to know!) If it is not made with heavy cream, someone did something terribly wrong. The definition of comfort food in my dictionary is thick and creamy clam chowder. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! It is  always happy dance time when I see that they have clam chowder on the menu that day!       My second close favorite is Chicken Fetticine Alfredo. The white sauce is divine. (And a little fattening, but butter and cream will do that.) Usually at a restaurant Darin can automatically order for me: clam ...

       It's more than it looks like. Okay, I have to start out by saying, I love disaster movies. (I know, weird) There is something about people beating the odds while the world falls apart, it is my guilty pleasure. Some are better than others. This epic Hollywood production, with major special effects,  begins with a man who is disenchanted with his life. How hard is it everyday to stay fully motivated? I know I was going through the motions until I had a major wake up call! (A stroke can sure make you slow down and smell the roses.) I am not saying I needed the stroke to appreciate life, but I know I am truly blessed in spite of it. It has enabled me to see the reasons why I should appreciate all things. Skip the stroke and use me as your wake up call.      He meets all the right people so he is deep into the plot and the main characters make a big difference in his story. Its no coincidence that we cross paths with influencing people in ...