roundandround

i have horrid sleep issues. have for years. if i can fall asleep at a half normal hour, i toss and turn all night long. usually i find myself staying up late just so i can fall asleep and STAY asleep. there have been times when i've turned to things like tylenolPM, or in desperation cough medicine. i don't want anything that creates dependency. but there are points where after a week of sleepless nights one is just desperate for sleep. i've tried the whole dark quiet room, and the sound machine, TV, etc. if your wife needs to stay up and watch something or have something running, i like the ipod/ netflix and headphones idea. she gets her way, and you get the TV off.

i sort of do it like the video, but, i fold the bottom up to meet the top first. tucking the corners together. then i take the corners in my right hand and tuck them in the corners in my left hand. lay it on the bed, and fold like she did the side and top ( where the corner now is) making a rectangle. i actually taught my grandma how to fold a fitted sheet because she could never get it. hahah! i wouldn't be able to handle them tossed in the linen closet. i did read a neat tip on where to put your sheets if you don't have a linen closet, or are low on space for things like sheets. put them between your mattresses! i haven't tried it, but it sounds like a good idea to me!

there are women out there that understand. believe me! i've heard nothing but good things about the church run 12 step program. i was going to check it out myself. my bishop told me that it's helpful in many different aspect of our lives, and he's sent people for other reasons than things like drugs or sexual sins. i'm about your age and my marriage is over. i actually had a very good heart to heart with my bishop about such things. my sex life wasn't the best while married, but i wasn't sure what to do with myself when all was said and done. it took awhile to actually accept the idea of no more physical releases...... maybe forever. so, you're not alone in your plight. i believe for some people it's easier than others to not want that release. it definitely becomes mind over matter. my advice would be what you're currently doing. pray, read scriptures, stay active. maybe as the nights get worse, try a unisom or tylenol PM? and i think the advice of meeting someone who is a member but understands where you are, is not such bad advice. a civil ceremony and then work together towards a temple sealing.... it's not such a bad idea really. i do have to say, if you're able to resist those urges for months upon months, you're doing better than most men out there. AND if you aren't looking at ANY porn at all. you're doing great in my book. i have learned that way too many men in this world look at porn. it really has me on edge when it comes to trusting men at all. it's a sore spot for me..... good luck!!

a couple things i can think of off the top of my head. -- if you can, garden or go to places you can do you pick, and can what you grow or pick. --get those big plastic rain barrel type things for water storage. i got 2 for like 70.00 or so?? i forget. or old juice containers. --multi gallon plastic containers from "industrial" type places. call around and see if there is a place that sells their old containers. my friends and i found a place that sold their jam containers for 5.00 a piece. really nice for rice, wheat, flour, oat type storage. as well, as things like homemade laundry detergent, and pet food. one site that i'm using for food storage is shelf reliance. what i like about them is that they make it super easy to do your food storage. you type in how many in your family, and how much food you need for a specific amount of time, and they work it all out and then tell you what you need. you also decide how much to spend each month and they send it to you and bill you. it's actually very cool!! i just got my shipment today. the "red" book, or "black" book is another good idea. keep all important documents in one central location. OH and of course, do not forget your 72 hrs kits. believe me, even if there is not an national emergency you never know when you'll need to bust out these kits! and when you do, you'll be so grateful that you actually spent the time to put them together. you'll have money, food and clothes for your whole family and won't have to worry about what's going to happen in the next 24 hrs or more! so, spend some time and money on that as well as the longer term food storage! forgot about things like toiletries, medicine, first aid, detergent type stuff ( laundry/ soap). things for babies, if you have them. diapers, wipes, food, bottles. TP, paper towels, sponges. our ward has done several "what would you do" scenarios and the picture is just never pretty. one of my faves to think about is if an EMP went off and there was nothing "electrical" working. that would seriously impact the way we live. not only living our normal lives and doing things like getting money out of that bank, but even being able to drive a care, buy gas, or go grocery shopping. now, not the most likely of scenarios of course!!!! BUT one that makes you THINK, A LOT, about being REALLY ready!!

i just learned about these on sunday from another sister. she had the top on and was talking it up big time. sounds very comfortable and better fitting than some of the other styles of tops. i liked the sleeves on it too. better than the ones that get all stretched out. i know i love the bottoms, so my guess is i'd love the tops as well!

oh i loved it when my VTs had kids and brought them with to play with mine. meant i could actually talk to other adults for a bit without my own kids needing to know what was going on. it was nice. but, i can understand why it's not for everyone. completely understand! i've had some wonderful VTs, and some not so great. i like that list, made me smile :-) and made me feel grateful that my current VTs are nothing like that! one has become such an amazing friend. i am extremely blessed to have her in my life. if she had she not been assigned as my VT we probably never would've become such close friends!! i have a friend in another ward, and she started organizing monthly playdates with the sisters that VT her, and the sisters she VTs. i thought that was a good idea too. that way, she gets hers done and her teachers get theirs done, so forth and so on. i think it's about 4-5 moms and their kids. it sounded like a lot of fun to me.

i don't think you're alone in this. i'm in a bit of a similar, yet different, situation. there are no members of the church looking to marry, in my age bracket, where i live either. maybe be willing to increase your distance out a bit, before taking off for the other coast. there was a woman in my ward that got a divorce, and she went right back to utah afterwards. we all figured it was to find a male member of the church to marry. i'm guessing we were at least partially right because she got remarried pretty quickly after the move. i don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with that. but, make sure you know WHY you're moving before you do it. my friend had left utah and was going back. i'm on the east coast too, and there just are not as many older single members of the church. but, moving your whole life in hopes of meeting someone.... might not be the right answer either. pray about it. expand your current scope..... and give yourself some time :-).