One of the Hardest Things

I am sorry it has taken me so long to post, but life here has been real crazy.

Since I arrived home on Thursday night, we have had a party here Friday night, I went to a party in St. George for a friend's daughter, came home and went to the YW General Broadcast of the Church of Latterday Saints, went back to school, took AJ to a missionary physical, went to an all day teacher conference and many other crazy things.

As I have been reading many of my friends blogs I have noticed that many of you are on diets like I am. It is HARD. One of the hardest things I have done this week is on Saturday night I went to set up for the YW General Broadcast. I had to help cut treats, and put them out on the tables. I had to bring a relish tray which wasn't too bad, but one of the other counselors brought mint chocolate brownies. They asked me to cut them. They smelt so so GOOD!!!

I really didn't know if I could do it and not try them. They were giving everyone a sample to try and I said "No Thanks". Do you know how hard that was?? I love chocolate and I love mint and I had never tried these before. I almost couldn't do it, but I succeeded.

Why can't it just be easy??? I was thinking today, probably because I am dieting...

What would be your last dinner if you had to choose a dinner to be your very last? I am going to have to think on that one for me, what would be yours???

Are you glad I'm home??

I'm home. Did you miss me??? This week I have spent in Mesquite, Nevada for school. We were assigned to a certain elementary school and a grade and we went in and spent the week with the kids in a certain class. We observed and even had some chances to teach.

Even though we were going for school, it was a great break and a lot of fun. One of my friends booked us a room at Casablanca. Our room was great. We had a kitchen, two bedrooms and three bathrooms. Here is a picture of part of our room that four of us shared. I must say I was spoiled to have my own bedroom. It was so nice to not have to share a bed. I am so used to snuggling with my husband I was glad that I didn't have to share because I might accidentally during the night start snuggling with one of them. That wouldn't be good.

The weather in Mesquite was so nice. I thought we would be roasting but it was pleasant.


We had so much fun in the evenings. We had a party at the park one night and the second night we went to Virgin River for their buffet. Here are the girls that were my roommates for the week.

We all met at the buffet and visited and visited. There is quite a group of us. A lady that was at the buffet offered to take our pictures. Her husband decided that he wasn't going to give up a chance to be in a picture with a couple of cute girls. There is quite a big group of us. You can tell we are having a great time. It has been so fun to get to know all of the other students in the block. We are almost family because we are in all of our classes together.

I really enjoyed my chance to learn at this school. The kids were awesome. I was assigned fifth grade. The teacher that I had to work with was great and gave me a lot of information and ideas for my own classroom. This is a picture of me actually teaching one of the days that we were there. The kids were so sad to see me leave. I was also sad to say good bye.

Yesterday, when I was finished with school I was so anxious to get home. I hopped in my car and off we went. I had a great time but I am SO GLAD to be home with my family.

The house is actually still standing but everyone missed me immensely. I think it gave them all a new perspective of what I do in every day life.

I really missed my blogging friends. Thanks to all of you that comment and thanks to my followers!!!

Week in Mesquite

This week is Spring Break for me. It has been full of many fun things, but I sure need a day to just rest.

This week started out by Mike and I going to SLC and staying overnight and just spending time together. We also had a chance to go and see my family and his parents. It was nice to just visit and also to spend time away for a day or two.

I spent Friday all day shopping in St. George with Karrilyn. It was nice. She also really needed a break and there is no place to shop here that is for sure. In the evening we had some friends over for homemade ice cream. It was very delicious. Mike makes the best homemade ice cream and carmel.

Today we have spent the entire day going to Manti. It was a long day but well worth it. We were able to go and do a session at the Manti LDS temple. It is so gorgeous not just on the outside but inside too. I always gain so much by taking time to go to the temple. The only bad part was spending the entire day in the car.


Tomorrow, is Sunday. Yeah, I just wish that I could just take it easy all day. Tomorrow night we will be going to the Draper Temple dedication that is being put on at our stake center. I am excited because all of our kids will be going except for our youngest.

On Monday morning I will be driving to Mesquite. What is there to do there???? I will be spending four days there with everyone that is in the block at SUU with me. We have rented a condo and will be observing at some of the schools there. It is part of our curriculum.

How do you think my family will do without me?? I have never been gone this long without my husband going on a trip with me. It will be interesting.

Have any of you been to Mesquite and if so is there anything fun to do besides gambling? I hope that I will end up having an ok time. It is going to be strange being with all 20 year olds. I hope that I fit in ok and that we can find something fun to do.

I will be back Thursday night so don't panic if I don't post until then. Wish me luck.

Do you have bunnies at your house??

Through the years my kids have done and said some real funny things. I am sure that you all of you have had similar experiences.

I remember the year when Karrilyn was about three and we lived in a small home in Riverton. One day she was playing in the kitchen and she said, " Mom there is a cute little bunny under our stove." She insisted that there was and to come and look. I looked under the kitchen stove and there was a mouse. It ran out and we all screamed. Well, that was our cute little bunny. We all laughed and laughed. It was so funny.



Another time we were going to California to Disneyland and we also went to Universal Studios with the kids. When we finally got to Universal Studios I think everyone was tired. We found a ride that was supposed to be real fun and exciting. It was called the Jurassic Park Ride. We decided that the kids would love this ride. As we went down to get on it and stand in line, two of our kids started crying and whining. It looked to scary for them and they did not want to go on it. It was a long hour and a half wait with two girls whining and crying about how scared they were to go on it. We did however finally all go on this ride, and after we got off the ride our girls said," Can we go again, that was fun." That is just how it is. You would have thought we were abusing them or something but they were sure excited and wanted to go again afterwards.

One other time, my husband and I decided to take the kids to see Stuart Little when it came out to the movie theater. We had heard that the kids would love it. We thought it would be a great Family Home Evening activity. We pulled into the movie theater and our son Todd who was probably about 5 or 6 at the time said that he didn't want to go. He said that he heard from the other kids at school that the cat in it swears. We told him that we had heard that it was fine and that we were going to go and enjoy it. You would have thought that we were abusing him because he was whaling and crying. Mike had to forcefully pick him up and drag him into the theater.

The kids ended up thoroughly enjoying the movie and wanted to buy it for ours to keep. What our kids put us through some times. All we wanted was to have a fun activity and he had decided that it was not going to be fun. KIDS.

I am sure that all of you have experiences or things that your kids have said that you still laugh at today. I am glad for these great memories to look back on. Share some of yours.

When it rains it pours

This last week, my husband has been out of town and you would think as much as he has been gone through the years that I would get used to it. I must say that I don't. Many of you know how it is when your husband leaves it is not only lonely without them but everything that could go wrong usually does. This week it hasn't been too bad but I guess it just wouldn't be right if I didn't have some trouble.

When we went outside to go to a movie while he was gone, we noticed we had a flat tire. Of course it was Saturday and the place we go to get tires fixed was closed. This wasn't too bad because we had a different car that we were able to use but it just made things kind of interesting, but this did remind me of a couple of trips when my husband did leave and the rain really did pour.

We were living in Herriman in our dream house. He was gone for a week long camp with the scouts. At the time our home was down a long dirt driveway and down a hill below some other houses. Yes, it was our dream house. We had 150 trees all around it with a huge ravine and grass every where. We also had a big wrap around porch that we were able to go out on and see deer in the fields by our home.

Back to the story, I think it was the second night after he left. It began to rain. No big deal right. Well, it began to be a big deal. It kept raining and raining and raining. I started to worry because we had a basement and I didn't know how the basement windows would do, if they would be able to hold all of the rain. (with us down below the road and other houses, we often would get all of the rain that would drain down by our home) I started to notice the window wells were filling up. I kept checking them and they were getting fuller and fuller.

I started getting buckets and bucketing out the water. All we needed was a flood while he was gone. The rain kept filling up just as fast as I was bucketing. I finally gave in and called some of my great friends and neighbors to come and help.

Before long I had a party going on in my backyard. Ok, I guess it wasn't the greatest kind of party. We had water filling up faster and faster. I even had one friend bring his kubota down to help try to trap the water away from the house. We just couldn't keep the water, it started to seep in. We were able to keep it to a minimal damage but the two bedrooms downstairs were definitely damaged somewhat. We had to pull the carpet back and put fans in our basement to try to air them out. It finally did stop raining but by then the damage had been done, but it could have been a lot worse, I guess.

I was amazed at how many great friends came to help us out. I have to say even though it was stressful, it was fun working together for a common effort. I am so thankful for those great friends that were there to help out on that day.

It soon became a joke in Herriman. Every time it started to rain, I would get all kinds of phone calls. " Are you ok down there?" " Are you flooding out down there?" I soon began to stress even when clouds started forming in the sky. We did finally fix the problem and put in pipes under the ground to help funnel rain out when it stormed, but my husband really never did experience any great storms because the storms only came when he was away.

I am glad that I have not had those kind of problems this week. I must say that even though my husband was only gone for part of the week. Absence does make the heart grow fonder. I always tell my husband it wouldn't be so bad when he was gone if I didn't like him so much.

Has it ever flooded at your house, or do things always go wrong when your hubby is away???? If not you are luckier than me. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Most of us are

I love this quote that I have because even though I am GOING to become a teacher, most of us are teachers in one way or another to someone else.

In a completely rational society, the best

of us would be teachers and the rest of us

would have to settle for something less,

because passing civilization along from one

generation to the next ought to be the

highest honor and the highest responsibility

anyone could have


Lee Iacocca

Spring Break

The weeks have just flown by lately, I can't believe it is finally Spring Break. In the last two weeks I have sang songs in Language Arts, made a new invention with a 2 liter pop bottle, given a biography report on Helen Keller, played in oobleck, had Potato Day in Social Studies, and taken a states and capitals test for all of the United States, and also a midterm for Science. I also spent Tuesday studying for the PLT, which is a test that I have to pass to graduate. I also went to sixth grade and helped on Tuesday and Fridays. Time flies.

I was so thrilled I passed my states and capitals test. I only passed because I have been studying and studying.

How well would you do if you were given a test on states and capitals??? If you are interested in finding out how well you know them or brushing up on them go to here. There are many games that you can play that test your abilities.

I should do homework while on Spring Break but I hope that I have better plans than that.

This is where I wish I was spending Spring Break, but I guess I will only be spending time there in my dreams.
Enjoy Spring!!!

Service

I have to keep reminding myself that I am keeping this blog as a journal and sometimes when I want to write something it is not always what you all want to read about or hear about. This is one of those topics, even though I truly hope you will enjoy it.

I have found that any time that I truly serve others and also serve in my church I am blessed immensely. I think we often serve to help others, but how is it that as we serve others we get blessed ten times.

It has been a little over a year since I have been released from my calling in my ward in my church. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. The calling that I had for three years was Relief Society President which is a calling that puts me over all of the women in our ward and anything that they might need. Those of you that are members know a little of what this entails. It was the hardest calling that I have ever had and there were so many times that I just wanted to give up or throw in the towel. It was so overwhelming to have that much responsibility and hope that you are doing your very best and helping influence lives for good.
This calling was such a great part of my life for three years that when I was released from my calling last year, it was very very hard on me. I truly loved all of the sisters and all of a sudden it was gone and I missed the relationships that I had developed.

I have had some great callings and opportunities to serve in the last year. I have an opportunity to work with the little nursery age children and I have loved every minute of it and right now I am music coordinator for our ward and also in the YW stake presidency. There is always a way to serve and grow.

As I was saying about my service as RS president, I am continually in awe in how much I have been blessed in my life because of this service. It has changed me, it has made me a stronger person. I am not afraid to talk to people. I am so thankful now for this great chance that I had. I have learned so many things about life and about who I am.

Lately it seems like at least three times a week, I run into someone that I was able to become friends with or get to know because of serving. Usually these are people that I would never have known if it wasn't for me going out of my way to get to know them and let them know they are important. Many times these are people that don't usually talk to anyone, but have just been able to feel like they can talk to me and we have become friends.

Each time I serve others and try to make a difference and do what I am asked to do, I am blessed so much in return. I am so thankful for these great opportunities in life to help others out. I just hope that I can teach my children how important it is to reach out to others and care about them.

It's about time

A couple of weeks ago I received The Premios Daro Award from my great friend Carolyn.
It has taken me forever to finally finish the tagging of this award.
Here it is..
STEP 1: Respond and rework.
Answer the following questions on my blog, replacing one question that I dislike with a question of my own invention.

STEP 2: Add one more question of my own.

STEP 3: Tag eight other bloggers.

So...
1) What is your favorite day of the week? My favorite day of the week is probably Friday, because it is the end of the week for school and usually my husband gets off of work early and we go to lunch or dinner or the temple or something fun.

2) What is your biggest fear? Loosing a family member.

3) What was your worst subject in school? Probably PE.

4) Who did you hug last? My husband when I came home from VT.

5) What websites do you visit when you go online? news sites, facebook, other blogs, department stores online to shop.

6) What was the last item that you bought? milk and pretzels.

7) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? on a cruise with my husband, it doesn't really matter where or to Hawaii with the whole family.

8) Has a celebrity's hair cut ever influenced your own hairstyle? no not really.

9) What was the longest car ride you ever took? Cross country from Salt Lake to Atlanta.( funny that was the same as Carolyn's response)

10) What was the last movie you watched? We watched Inkheart at the movie theater.

12) If you had a whole day to yourself with no work, commitments, or interruptions, what would you do? I would spend it with my family going to a movie or going with my girls shopping or out to dinner. It would also be great to just sit and watch movies with my husband.

13) If you were to win the Powerball, what would you do with the money (besides invest it)? Go on some great vacations with my family, get braces for my teeth, buy a house with some land and pay it completely off, put money away for my children's college.

14) In your opinion, who is the most significant person in history and why? Jesus Christ. Because he made it all possible.

15) If you had a choice of places to live, where would it be? Herriman.

16)What's a item on your property you can't live without? I can't live without my family but I guess that doesn't count, I guess it would have to be my wonderful comfy couches.


I am also doing another tag by Melissa.

8 Things Tag

8 Favorite TV Shows
1. food network.
2. Heroes
3. 24
4. I can't think of any more, I am usually doing homework.

8 Favorite Restaurants
1. Olive Garden
2. Pizza Factory
3. Texas Roadhouse
4. Godfather's
5. Rusty's
6. Red Lobster
7. The Garden House
8. Pastry Pub

8 Books I recommend
1. The Peacegiver
2. Harry Potter books
3. The Tennis Shoes of the Nephites series
4. Twilight books
5. Book of Mormon
6. The Hiding Place
7. Christmas Jars
8. Eragon series

8 Things that happened yesterday
1. Went to school.
2. Went for a walk at the gym.
3. Made brownies from a box, I don't do that often usually they are scratch
4. Checked my blog, read blogs, checked email.
5. Had Family Home Evening with my kids.
6. Made Spaghetti, breadsticks and salad for dinner.
7. Worked on homework.
8. kissed my kids goodnight.

8 Things I look forward to
1. graduating from school in the Fall.
2. My son going on a mission.
3. Spring Break.
4. A two day mini vacation with my husband next week.
5. Going to New York this Summer.
6. Going on a vacation with my family to Disneyland.
7. Visiting with my family that I miss and friends too.
8. To some day be skinny.

I now Tag anyone that is game for either of these tags. I would love to hear more about you.

Are you ready for a laugh?

The other day as I was waiting for my Physical Therapy to be finished, I was reminded of a very funny story about me. Everyone that I tell this story to usually laugh and laugh. SO here it is.

A couple of years ago, I was out working out and all of a sudden my heart rate went up over 220. I was very nervous and knew that wasn't normal. It took a while for it to come back down, and so I called the doctor's office and they said I should probably come in and have an EKG. It ended up that they didn't find any problems but what happened during the doctor visit is what I think I will never forget.

The nurse brought me into a room and told me that they had to hook me up with the EKG. She proceeded to close all of the blinds and I had to take my shirt off as she put all of the wires and hooked them up. As she was hooking me up, all of a sudden I heard a sound that sounded like a " cat call" a whistle when a guy is whistling at a girl he likes. You should have seen the look on the nurses face. She look horrified, she was looking at the blinds and the door to see if some guy had just looked in. She was so worried that someone had just looked in at me when she was supposed to be making this private.

I finally told her that it was just my cell phone and that was the ring that it rings when someone is calling. It really sounds like a whistle. She couldn't believe it. She laughed and laughed and laughed. The funny thing is that like I told her it was probably my husband because he would definitely know right when to call....... It was my hubby. ( I have since removed that ring, because I had a different experience that also happened and I just decided it was probably safer with a different ring.)

I know, Very Funny!!!!!!

What a day and what a funny story.

My version

Some of you have asked how my talk was coming along. It was last night. I felt pretty good about it and I don't often say that about my own talk, it is amazing what the spirit can do if you have done your part. I just want to thank all of you that helped me with ideas for my talk. I used many of them. I had many many compliments. That always makes you feel good when you feel like you might be rambling.

For refreshments we had a sherbet, fruit slushy and then we had my recipe for Chocolate mint cookies that is here on my blog. It was a hit. I had many people say it was the best thing they have ever eaten, so you should try them.

So here it is my version of GOOD, BETTER AND BEST!!!

GOOD - You Read my Blog

BETTER- You Read my Blog Often and Enjoy

BEST- YOU COMMENT ON MY BLOG!!!!! Thanks to all who read and comment on my blog!!! It always makes my day!

The sounds I hear

Today in our Language Arts we talked about listening and we wrote down the top ten of our favorite sounds. I thought it was very interesting.

Here are my TOP TEN SOUNDS

1. My children laughing.

2. The sound of the garage door opening and closing, because that means my hubby is home.

3. The chirping of birds in the early morning in the Spring.

4. The sound of my mother singing to me.

5. My children playing the piano.

6. The sound of waves rushing up on the beach.

7. The sound of a new mother talking to her brand new baby.

8. The sound of a new baby crying.

9. The sound of wood crackling in a fireplace.

10. The sound of my children saying " Mom I LOVE YOU!"

What are your favorite sounds in the world around you?

Stress!

I am not sure exactly how this works, but this is amazingly accurate.

The picture below has 2 identical dolphins in it. It was used in a case study on stress levels at the Mayo Clinic and later at Fletcher Medical Center in Burlington

Look at both dolphins jumping out of the water. The dolphins are identical. A closely monitored, scientific study revealed that , in spite of the fact that the dolphins are identical, a person un der stress will find many differences between the two dolphins .

The more differences a person finds, the more stress that person is experiencing.

Look at the photograph and if you find more than one or two differences you may need to take a vacation.

No Need to Reply, I'll be on Vacation

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out of it alive anyway!!!!











I hope you all enjoy this as much as I did. I just want you all to know that I LOVE my life. I wouldn't give it up for anything. Just remember LIFE happens and just keep smiling. It is going to be a great journey.

Do you have any ideas?

This week, I am speaking at our YW Stake Leadership Meeting and I am supposed to speak about Good, Better, and Best. How do you speak about this without just wanting to use Dallin Oakes' talk on Good, Better and Best???

If any of you have any great ideas of an object lesson or a story that I could use or add to this talk, please comment and let me know. I always try to make my talks something that they can remember or that they will feel like they have been uplifted.

I could use some of your help if you have any ideas. It is always stressful to talk, especially when your week is already full with many other things, but hey we are having my Chocolate Mint Cookies that I have posted, so that will be great.

Isn't Blogging Just Great

The last few days has been quite stressful for me and I don't know how my blogging friends knew that but, they did. Yesterday, I posted a recipe for Wheat Chocolate Chip Bars and then a little while later I ended up having one of my blogging friends email me and say that she had made some and was going to bring me some.

How Great is that!!! Thanks Erin!!! It was so awesome to actually see her in person. The great thing is that she didn't know that I was having a stressful week. She made my day. The Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Bars are yummy, they do taste healthy but they are also yummy, so give them a try.

I know I'm a little crazy but I had my husband take a picture, because I don't very often get to go and meet other bloggers. It was great. Erin is definitely taller than I thought but the cool thing is she lives in the same city as me. Thanks again.

I also have another new blogging friend that is awesome that told me she is sending me something great in the mail. Her and I have a lot in common and she just seems to know when I need a little pick me up. Thanks Carolyn.


Lately, I have just needed a listening ear, someone that really cares to hear about me. I appreciate all of you that truly care about me and my life. If I don't blog for a couple of days in a row, I hope you don't give up on me but know that my life is quite stressful right now and I am trying to deal with it. I appreciate all of you.