Home for the Holidays...Yeah....

Everyone is home for the holidays....

Enter...My hero, and early Christmas present...

Very blessed...with the family that made the mess, and the wonderful husband who will clean it up for me!

Let's make some Men!!

My youngest came home the other day, and said, "Mom, I want to make some MEN!"

It was so much fun! And although we only technically made 2 men (their cut-out process was a little frustrating for a 5 year old!) our circle designs were just as cute! Plus, I have NEVER seen five jars worth of sprinkles on ONE gingerbread man...

Yes...I'm Fabulous!

Thanks to my beautiful niece (in-law ; ) ) Amanda, for finally stating the obvious...JUST KIDDING! I hang out with her and my other wonderful niece Stephanie, so I can pretend I'm young and cool....Is it working?

Five blogs that I adore, and look at every day, and who are truly worthy of the word FABULOUS:

1) Melissa: She is my blogging-world, new-best-friend, soul mate...We have always just "gotten" each other. She keeps it real, and someday, maybe on Dec. 27th?, we will meet?

2) CJane Run: Courtney, though I don't even know her, has given me a glimpse into an amazing family of love and support...Whenever I need a "lift," I read her blog. Her sister, Stephanie, or "NieNie," is traveling an inspirational road of recovery...you may have heard about it...

3) Carrie Ann: She is my Martha Stewart meets Project Runway guru...She is amazing!! She is one of the most creative people I know!

4) Kacy: She just makes me laugh! She's smart, sassy, and makes you think about things you normally wouldn't...like "When Chen Fei Screamed I Felt Weird"

5) Steph and Amanda: Yes.....trying to be cool by association...And they pretend that I am!! I love to see all their babies and kids growing up!

Five Fabulous Things:

1) SHOES..........enough said.....you've read the title of my blog.....

2) My Ballet and Pilates classes each Wednesday night...what a fun and FABULOUS escape each week!

3) Flexi-Fit lids....yes....you heard me....I HATE trying to find the right lid for the right tupperware bowl...This is an item I would actually buy from a late-night TV ad (just asked Andy how giddy I was when I saw it!)

4) My Blackberry....I just feel better, neater, and more "FABULOUS" with it...I love that I can text, talk, email, and photograph from it.

5) Books....Cannot read them fast enough.....

6?) And I must include my husband....who puts a pillow over his head while I'm reading all my books!!!

Alright ladies, here are the rules to receiving this award:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.
2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.
3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions:On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gadget. Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.Now get to it I can't wait to see your creativity in recreating your own blog awards!

I'm Trying to be like Jesus...

So...have you read the latest Ensign and New Era?

I believe the line has been drawn, and I've known for years which side I have been on...

I was browsing the New Era December edition, and there it was...A huge article on ENERGY drinks (not a problem) as well as CAFFINATED drinks (problem?). I told myself, "Yeah...the youth really shouldn't be drinking that stuff..." I kinda equated it with the "NoDoz" phase of my teen years. But then, I went to read the new Ensign...

BLAM!! Five full pages of "Laura, this one's for you!!" (the following is MY interpretation, and is how I AM reacting to its message...) I've known for years the gray line I've walked....I'm not one of those who have to have their 44 ounce mugs constantly full...but, I've attributed it to " I don't have many options, since I'm a diabetic...there is not a lot of diet Sprite on tap!!" to other self-appointed beliefs of "it helps settle my stomach....it helps with my migraines...." But, all the way, I've known it to be true...My yummy Diet Dr Pepper, or Diet Mountain Dew, or Sonic Diet Coke with Vanilla was just a marvelous and intoxicating mirage...The line has now definitely been drawn, and I have to choose a side...

I know I have plenty that I need to work on...So as I considered the articles, of course I thought the eloquent, "if this is the WORSE thing I do...." statement. Then my dear husband came home. I showed him the articles...and I waited. This would be my moral compass on the issue...which I thought would definitely fall on a pre-conceived side (my man works HARD for the money, and sometimes works 20 hour days...hence his delight in beverages that allow him to work HARD for the money for those 20 hour days...). I surely thought he'd say, "well...we aren't addicted....I do it for work, you do it for health choices..." or something like that....

"I'm done...I'm not drinking it (caffeine) any more..."

What?!

This was the clincher for my husband...and probably should have been for me...in the article it stated, "...the Word of Wisdom does not specifically prohibit caffeine. However, I believe that if we follow the spirit of the Word of Wisdom, we will be very careful about what we consume, particularly any substance that can have a negative impact on our bodes..."

Then, I thought of a recent talk I gave at a Stake Young Women Conference...and one of my favorite scripture references I had quoted...

"And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard fromt he hands of the destroyer." (D&C 101:54)

We DO have a watchman...Pres. Monson...He knows what's coming...We are simply down among the hedges, presuming our safety...Whether it's drinks, modesty issues, or morality, HE KNOWS what the adversary will strike at to make us less than what we are!

I figure, it's time to draw the line, and be on the right side! (At least I know this is one less thing to worry about!)

So...farewell my sweet elixirs...hello to Fresca and other mouth-watering liquid Meccas...

(We even made it a family statement...so now I KNOW I'm bound, because I have three extra pairs of eyes, ever-vigilant for the cause!!)

My Kind of Documentary!

I'll take one of each!!

Such Goodness

I just got off the phone with one of my closest friends...She lives far away in North Carolina...We use to live just a block away from each other...We served in Young Womens together...Our children played together...We would go to "Witches Night Out" at Gardiner Village each October...We would have game nights were the adults would play, and the kids would tear up the house...We would giggle and be silly at times...Cry and give hugs at other times...Try and live our lives to the best of our abilities...I would always call her (sometimes daily) with the question, "How do I say "this" (insert any trauma I needed to deal with), without offending the person?" She always gives great advice....

I miss our talks...

I saw this picture, and it reminded me of her...

Whenever we greet each other, it's always with, "Hello, my Friend!"

What a nice way to spend the afternoon.

Nightmare on Jefferson...

Do you ever have those nightmares where something so horrible...REALLY horrible...happens and you wake up wondering if in some sub-conscious area of your mind, you are psychotic? Evil?

Oh...no?

Neither do I...

Sick and Tired

I have been feeling "yucky" for the past week (I'm still trying to see how getting a flu shot is helpful, when it's the shot that made me sick?!!)

I need ANY home-grown, holistic, voodoo, over-the-counter remedies that might bring this body back to life!!!

Here's my list: Congestion, COUGHING, aches, fever, chills, COUGHING, monster-voice, cranky, COUGHING, slimey goop in the throat (tmi?) and of course, COUGHING...

Suggestions?

November 4th 2008

We vote tomorrow for the seat that has been the subject of all aspects of news from CNN to SNL...We vote for the person to hopefully lead this country to better days and better times...

It amazes me the names (good and bad) that I've heard these candidates called during the past two years...I believe each to be good men, who want nothing but the best for our country and its people...I do not believe either to be evil or the "devil-incarnate"...I believe each to be our brother, and each to be a child of God, regardless of the direction or path they would like to take to make the country a better place, in their eyes...I would think it makes our Father sad to know some of the things that have been said about both parties...for these are still His children, someone's son, someone's husband and someone's father...

I love our country, and the right we have to vote and participate...I love that I have friends who think exactly opposite of me in this election, yet we still love and respect each other...I don't call them "ridiculous," and they don't call me a "follower of Satan..."

I pray that we can still retain our individualism, but stay united as a country when all is said and done...

Are we ready?

FHE-our "Festive Halloween Evening"

We had our annual pre-Halloween FHE...

S had been waiting for this moment since we got our pumpkins!


It's always great when Dad shows you how to NOT play with the knives?!


Look at that face!! (And the pumpkin's not bad either!)


The pumpkin probably weighed more than K!


Dad helping make the sketch, a reality...


Always trying to gross out the crowd!


Pumpkin carving takes a talented hand...


E's pumpkin bread was the highlight of the evening...


YUM!

Finishing touches to the "purrfect" pumpkin!


Voila!

THIS is why you cover your table with garbage bags for easy clean-up!


Don't forget to roast the pumpkin seeds!!


Lighting our porch...

See...they're not that scary!

We had so much fun!!

Secret Wish

Many (many) years ago...I was "one of those girls," who dedicated 2-3 days a week to ballet...I was in the "advanced" class, with all the long and lean ballerinas and their pink pointe shoes...I used to fantasize about the day I would be like them...I used to dream about when my boobs would shrink and disappear (I was filling a nice B-cup very, VERY early!) and some of my curvy areas would melt away...Yes, there were the "weigh-ins," where you tried your hardest not to look at the teacher as you stepped onto the scale...BUT...I LOVED it (the ballet, not the weigh-ins)!! To this day one of my guilty pleasures is the movie "Center Stage," because it whisks me away to yesterday!

In Jr. High and High School, it was less ballet, and more JAZZ (look out Paula Abdul!) It wasn't until I was taking a Jazz class at BYU, that the instructor (who DID choreograph for Paula!) asked me if I had studied Ballet? The reason? My extension was obvious, and my instantly pointed toes were sure give aways of past training. I hadn't really thought about it, but at that moment, I MISSED ballet!

Then you get married...you work and finish school...work...have a kid...work...have a kid...become a SAHM...infertility...4 years...have a kid...and somewhere between being a wife, mom, "Sista!" in your church callings, and friend, you slowly lose parts of a former life...a former "you?"

So...A couple of weeks ago I signed up for a Pilates class at the facility where my daughter takes dance...I LOVE it!! Last week, I went early and noticed they had an Adult Ballet class going on the hour before my Pilates class...Instinctively, I knew what I would do...

After talking to the instructor, who is also my Pilates instructor, I was on a high! I found out that since I have background in the fundamentals, and since adult training can be different than that of your adolescents, that I might be able to find myself in POINTE SHOES in the near future!!!

Last week I timidly went to the "dance store?" I was instantly mesmorized by leotards, skirts, ballet slippers, pointe shoes, leg warmers, and everything "ballet!" Now, I was LESS mesmorized by myself in those items in the dressing room...but none the less, still very excited and elated to begin this journey!

So...In a little over an hour...I will go to my first class, followed by my always-a-delight Pilates class...

The Nutcracker will be even better this year!!

Not seeing it...

The debate was last night...

One part I was very focused on was the health-care portion...

I am a diabetic...

My husband is self-employed...

We are "covered" (if you can call it that!) by insurance...

We pay $1600 A MONTH six months out of the year for my medical needs/supplies (I have a prescription ceiling in my coverage, which I'm lucky to have at all, because most private, or small company health plans make it very hard, or next to impossible to cover people with pre-existing conditions--We can't qualify for "HIP", because our income is too high, and you must be denied coverage to qualify, which I can't allow to happen because if I did allow for a gap in my medical coverage, I would NEVER be able to get health-care coverage in the future, because there can be no gaps in coverage when changing from one plan to another...) This yearly amount, NOT INCLUDING the new pump I paid a $3700 co-pay on, is $9600...This is like paying TWO mortgages each month!!!!

Now...McCain suggests a $5000 incentive to "help" cover insurance costs...That is laughable to me, and to every other American out there who are paying ridiculous amounts not only for their premiums, but out-of-pocket expenses not "covered" by one's "coverage."

Insurance companies are getting RICH...They are collecting on the fact that people like me need coverage to survive...Don't even get me started on the manufacturers of diabetic supplies and medicine, and how much money they pocket from the diseases that WE live with...I did NOT ask to be a diabetic...I did not do something in my lifestyle, other than have a genetic factor, which manifested itself when I was 20...My mother did NOT ask for Breast Cancer...so why does she have to spend $350 (which is her CO-PAY price!) for THREE pills EVERY WEEK to help her with the pain and sickness of CHEMO to fight the ravishes of cancer?!! How is this "helping" the American people?

This is a quote from last night's debate:

Schieffer: All right, let's go to a new topic, health care. Given the current economic situation, would either of you now favor controlling health care costs over expanding health care coverage? The question is first to Sen. Obama.

Obama: We've got to do both, and that's exactly what my plan does.

Look, as I travel around the country, this is the issue that will break your heart over and over again. Just yesterday, I was in Toledo shaking some hands in a line. Two women, both of them probably in their mid- to late-50s, had just been laid off of their plant. Neither of them have health insurance.

And they were desperate for some way of getting coverage, because, understandably, they're worried that, if they get sick, they could go bankrupt.

So here's what my plan does. If you have health insurance, then you don't have to do anything. If you've got health insurance through your employer, you can keep your health insurance, keep your choice of doctor, keep your plan.

The only thing we're going to try to do is lower costs so that those cost savings are passed onto you. And we estimate we can cut the average family's premium by about $2,500 per year.

If you don't have health insurance, then what we're going to do is to provide you the option of buying into the same kind of federal pool that both Sen. McCain and I enjoy as federal employees, which will give you high-quality care, choice of doctors, at lower costs, because so many people are part of this insured group.

We're going to make sure that insurance companies can't discriminate on the basis of pre-existing conditions. We'll negotiate with the drug companies for the cheapest available price on drugs.

We are going to invest in information technology to eliminate bureaucracy and make the system more efficient.

And we are going to make sure that we manage chronic illnesses, like diabetes and heart disease, that cost a huge amount, but could be prevented. We've got to put more money into preventive care.

This will cost some money on the front end, but over the long term this is the only way that not only are we going to make families healthy, but it's also how we're going to save the federal budget, because we can't afford these escalating costs.

Schieffer: All right.

I see OPTIONS...I don't see Socialism...No one is making anyone do anything they don't want...

I'm not seeing it...What's the problem?

Whazzz Up?!

Yes...I've been a blogger-slacker...But not a life-slacker...Here's some of what I've been up to...

Canning Freak: If I have it, I've canned it!! Home-grown tomatoes w/ home-grown basil, pear tomatoes with basil, fresh tomato salsa, fresh tomato salsa with jalapeno peppers, zucchini w/basil, and peaches....Wintertime will be SO NICE when I break these out!!



We've also been making veteran and military "thank you" stars for school...Isn't my dad handsome?!


I've been up to Heber Valley Camp, scoping out our campsite for next year for our Stake Girls Camp...


Still laughing at the BEST back-t0-school story...My youngest comes home with a huge smile...

And then he turns around...

here's a close-up...
I say, "So S....What happened to your shirt?""
s: "What?"
me: "What happened to your shirt?"
s: (looking at the back of his shirt) "Oh...I was trying to pet the dog..."
me: (my turn) "What?!"
s: "I was trying to pet the dog...but there was a fence..."
me: "Whose dog was it? What fence?"
s: "I got caught on the fence, when I tried to pet the dog..."

I STILL do not know whose dog it was, or how my son got hooked into that fence....but the pictures pretty much speak for themselves!

I have book club tomorrow with some dear friends...there are seven of us...each time a different person chooses the book, and hosts the evening...the author of the book is going to be there...I'm on page 13 of the book...I've had it for over a month...I just cannot get into it!! I'm trying to think of a way to stall, so that I arrive AFTER the author has gone ( I don't want to sit there and "act" like I enjoyed it...I'm not very good at that!) Perhaps I'll have a miracle tonight, and somehow read 300+ pages...?

Things have been tight around the homestead lately...But I'm lucky in that I have a "Gwen-mart" card....What?...You don't have a "Gwen-mart" card? They are delightful!! This is how they work...

You have an AWFUL week...we are talking a "no good, VERY bad" week! (TOO MANY details to tell...plus it just gets me all worked up and ugly...I had to get my Bishop to give me a blessing to aid in curbing my anger...I basically joined the Navy last week, with the language I was using!) You feel overwhelmed, angry, anxious, and have no food in the fridge...Step in, "Gwen-mart!" I got to go shopping in my sis' luxury pantry--we are talking a pantry as big as a small store!! Not only did she fill my fridge, she let me vent (swear!) and filled my calloused heart with some needed TLC.

Now you know the beauty that is "Gwen-mart!!"
(Yes---she IS as wonderful as she sounds!!)

I've been watching the debates...the bailout...the View...CNN...the Office...(the TRULY important one ; ) ) Obama or McCain? Another "monetary plan?" Elisabeth vs. Joy? Will Michael ever hook up with Holly? Such a plethora of issues!

But luckily, life still has its moments...This is how I found my son the other day...I wish life could always be like this...


Peace out!!

Still

The memory still takes me back to that day...when time truly stood "still..."

Today on Today

Injured blogger inspires support...

Sept. 9: People around the world are coming together to support a blogger who, along with her husband, was seriously injured in a plane crash. Her siblings discuss the tragedy and the power of the blog.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/26621202#26621202

My Salty Path from Martin's Cove to Rock Creek Hollow

Oh boy...This post is big for me...I want to do it justice...I want to try and convey my thoughts in a way that will express what I felt...

At Youth Conference this year, it was amazing how many kids who shared their testimony at its conclusion, started with the phrase..."I didn't want to go..." and then shared how the experience changed their lives...

That was me in regards to this trip.

It was the last week before school was to start. My eldest son needed to register for his classes for his first year of Junior High, and my other children all needed to meet their teachers, etc. at Back to School night...All of which are expertise areas of "Mom." The adversary was indeed working very hard on me...Giving me HUGE amounts of guilt ("You are a bad Mom--putting your calling ahead of your kids--"). It was awful. But thanks to my wonderful husband, who promised me that he would take care of "everything," I packed my bags, and got up at 5am the next morning...

(By the way--there is nothing funnier than 9 adults in a HUGE 10 passenger van...You learn A LOT about everyone!!)

We arrived at Martin's Cove that afternoon...

It was vivid, yet quiet and peaceful. It was overcast, with clouds threatening to dump their contents out upon us...but they never did, which made the paths gentle, and cool. As I began to walk along the 5 mile loop of the cove, I was nervous and anxious as I waited for some type of emotion to overtake me.

And I kept waiting...

And waiting...

As I wound around the last bend before the actual cove, I heard whispers from behind me. I looked back to see what the Stake President was saying...only to find that I was all alone...

I wept.
Ugly, shuddering, messy sobs that came from the deepest niches of my soul.

As we came to the top of the cove, there was an area to sit and overlook the site. I had to sit a few rows back from my group, until I felt I could compose myself...I then took my place by my fellow YW presidency, and began to listen to the cute missionary couple.

"A young couple fell in love on their journey to Salt Lake. So in love were they, that instead of getting married along the trail, which many did, they were vigilant in their desire to only be married under the sealing ordinances of God, through the prophet...So they had decided to postpone their marriage until reaching Salt Lake..."

"The young man was a help to many...always called upon to help those who had lost loved ones, stoke the lingering fires, bury those who had died, and provide whatever he was called upon to do..."

"When the group reached the cove to find shelter from the icy snow and frigid winds, the young man died from exposure...leaving behind the love of his life and their dream of eternal covenants..."

"It was widely known that the ground would be too frozen to allow for a proper burial, and thus the bodies were generally left to the elements...around the next bend in the cove...and in the pitch of the night, one could hear the howling and fighting of the wolves as they came upon the freshly laid bodies of those dear loved ones..."
"As the men came to take the young man to his final resting place, his dear love, removing the bright red shawl she had worn throughout her journey, wrapped him inside it's warmth, and told the men to please hang his body wrapped in this cover, from the tops of the trees, as to avoid the certain predators of the night..."

"As she left the cove, she looked back upon the bright red shawl, hanging in the trees..."

"Several months after arriving in Salt Lake, she inquired about her dearly departed, and if recent travelers had seen him amongst the trees...Quietly they told her that they only saw the red shawl, as it blew in the breeze..."

Sobbing...uncontrollably...with the ugly sounds that accompany it...

As we walked back with our cart, I was able to recover a bit, through casual conversation and taking in the imagery of my surroundings. Even the animals (and we saw and came close to so many deer, birds, rabbits, (snakes!) all seemed to know the reverent and sacred nature of their habitat, for it was silent, and sweet...

The next day we went to Sixth Crossing, which is one of the nine crossings made over the river in this area...We sat for two hours in the van to get to this next point...The pioneers walked...

We arrived and walked along the river paths...I took home rocks and pebbles from the paths for my children...Then the rain came and cut our visit short...After the rain seemed to clear, we headed for Rock Creek Hollow, where the second rescue happened...where thirteen died the night they arrived, with two more deaths by morning...Ages from small little children, to those my age and a little older...

In a fenced area, there is a monument laid over the circle grave where these individuals were buried...When President Hinckley instructed the position of this monument, they found in that place a child's bonnet, and an adult boot...The names of those who died are engraved on this monument, as well as a small grave beside it...Each person has a story...One child had a younger brother who had just walked up the hill known as Rocky Ridge, and told his older brother he could go no further...The older brother took his young sibling upon his back, and walked and tredged in the elements to Rock Creek Hollow, where he sat his brother down, and then laid down, and passed on...Another story of a girl who was 9 named Bodil Mortensen, who was sent to go get sagebrush to keep her family's fire going...She was found the next morning leaning against the wheel of their cart, with the sagebrush still clasped in her hands...We then went by the huge amphitheater where devotionals can be held, where there are two more fenced areas of unknown graves along the hill...There is a fence just beyond this area, which leads to a beautiful glen, along the river...As we entered this area, the Missionary couple told us the following story:

"A few weeks ago, a youth group came here for their Trek...Among them was a leader who had recently lost a young son. He and his son had been horse-back riding, and during that time, the father had asked his son to hold onto the reins of the horse while he attended to something...The young boy wrapped his hand in the leather strap as he waited...Something then spooked the horse, and all this father could do was watch as his son was dragged to his death..."

"This leader was among the group at the amphitheater, during a devotional happening at the time. As he looked over to the gate beyond this area, he saw a young girl...even making eye contact with her...When he later looked for her, she was gone...""He awoke the next morning, still wondering why he had seen this girl, and for what purpose. He went to the gated area, and knelt in prayer...She came to him as she had before...She said that she had been the same age as his son when she had died...She said that they were friends, and that he wanted his father to know that it was not his fault, that he was fine, and that he loved him...and then she was gone..."

My tissues were globs of mucus...my sobs were unrelenting...my heart was pounding...It was another testament of how thin and transparent the veil had been during this trip...

We hear all of the time "Why did they have to go through this?" or "Why did God not bend the winds and storms?" and I feel I have an answer...This was a lesson not for ANY of them...for their testimonies were sure and solid before these trials, in that they all went where the Lord told them to go, despite grave and harrowing circumstances...This lesson was for US...

Sister Elaine S. Dalton:

"A little over a year ago, my husband and I visited Nauvoo. As we walked through the Old Pioneer Cemetery searching for the grave of an ancestor, Zina Baker Huntington, I was touched by the peaceful solitude and spirit I felt. I walked through the trees and read the names on the gravestones, many of them children and families. I wept as my heart was turned to our forefathers, many of whom had joined the Church and come to Nauvoo. In my mind I asked many questions: Why did they leave their comfortable homes and families? Why did they suffer persecution, sickness, even death? Why did they sacrifice all that they had to come to this place and build a temple? They hardly had shelter, and yet they were building a temple! Why did they do it? And when the temple was nearly completed, how could they leave it behind? As I sat silently contemplating this scene, the answer came forcefully yet softly to my mind and heart: “We did this for you.”

Those words, “We did this for you,” reminded me that our ancestors, along with many other faithful Saints, sacrificed everything because of their testimonies and faith in Jesus Christ. They knew that the gospel had been restored to the earth once more and that they were led by a prophet of God. They knew that the Book of Mormon was true and understood its message and witness. They knew that through the restoration of priesthood keys, families could be sealed together for eternity through holy priesthood ordinances available only in a temple. They knew that temple work was the key to the salvation and exaltation of the human family. They knew the importance of this work, and they were willing to give all that they had in order to provide a house acceptable to the Lord wherein this holy work could be performed. They sacrificed everything so that past and future generations would have access to the eternal blessings of the temple."

They did this for our generation...They did this for all the young men who aren't sure about going on missions...They did this for people who question if it is worth waiting for a temple marriage...They did this as an example of the faith necessary to return to our Father in Heaven...

They did this, for ME...

STILL Together.....

We celebrated our
17th Wedding Anniversary yesterday...Where has the time gone? If we were to list all that has happened during that time, I'm sure that we could have several books published, as well as have a really good shot at winning the "Last Comic Standing!"

The great thing? I'm more in love with him now, than I ever thought possible!!

Here's to the next seventeen...

Wyoming

I am off to Wyoming early tomorrow morning...The Stake Presidency and YW and YM Presidencies are going on a pre-pre-pre-Trek visit (I say "pre" because we don't have trek until August of 2010!) I have never been to Martin's Cove, Sixth Crossing, and other sites...but I am planning on stopping by Costco to get an ample supply of toilet paper, for what I'm sure will be an emotional and very spiritual experience!

I am a direct descendant of George Q. Cannon...he was among those who traveled with Brigham Young...and when they reached the Salt Lake Valley, he was asked to keep going, and founded what we know as St. George...Can you imagine thinking "Wow, we finally got here!!" only to be told to continue on?! The amazing amount of faith and love our pioneers had!!

At first I was less than happy that I had to go...with school starting, my oldest in Jr. High, my youngest in Kindergarten, I felt very torn...But I had a session in the temple that told me in very unmistakable terms that I needed to go...(dang!! When the Lord lays it out for you, that you cannot deny something, you go!)

So I'm off at 6am (which might as well be 4am for me!!) in a 10 passenger van with my fellow Stake cohorts...it should be a very colorful, hilarious, spiritual, and overwhelming trip!

"Come, Come ye Saints...No toil nor labor fear... But with joy...wend your way..."

Old Times!

My DEAR friend Kim and I hooked up today...SO MUCH FUN!!! I really miss the talks we'd have on our front porches together...the callings we had together (the red koolaid in our hair, the sumo costumes we put on!)...the gossip we shared togeher?..So here we are....Admire the beauty! It was a lovely afternoon, even though our children were mad that we didn't make it to the pool!? I LOVE YOU, KIM!!

I'm Hoarse cuz I'm a ROCKSTAR!!

Today was my husband's birthday...We bought him "Rock Band" for the Wii...I finally know what I'm destined to be...A ROCKSTAR!! With a 97% on the expert level, I need to venture out with my "band" in tow...my sister laying into the drums, my brother-in-law wailing on the guitar, and my sexy rocker-chick-voice ala Ann Wilson from "Heart" booming through a sold-out show...

Get your lighters ready...

Oh--My dear friend Kim is visiting me tomorrow while she is on vacation here in the beehive state...I wonder if she will recognize me, in all my splendor and illustriousness...?