tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1180706263061447022024-03-05T06:17:03.827-05:00The QueendomTrying to make sense of our journeyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-40185814093434485062013-04-18T10:42:00.001-04:002013-04-18T10:42:56.858-04:00Boxes and Boxes and Boxes everywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The amount of pictures I have on iPhoto is a lot. But the amount of pictures of houses-inside and out-is more than I would like.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWH-pvXWGD0toWpMRMwbDZZQBrCfUOY2ni8yWC5sxCs8I2d-AMsQuVkIlMCfUx9G_KGzxP8n076sR5QF2DUIrgMQF9DAywjZQLyEXBJDXJZOiAj4Xoo3soNzhYAgYR4cT-zMdOE5LKQ8/s1600/IMG_0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWH-pvXWGD0toWpMRMwbDZZQBrCfUOY2ni8yWC5sxCs8I2d-AMsQuVkIlMCfUx9G_KGzxP8n076sR5QF2DUIrgMQF9DAywjZQLyEXBJDXJZOiAj4Xoo3soNzhYAgYR4cT-zMdOE5LKQ8/s320/IMG_0823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In the process of getting ready to move we've seen at least 15 houses and driven by at least 30 more.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrlm27ZNa-AhWeU9NdJn_L6JaO0D6cQdI0K2Bhqrjn3EA-79BdQ526WUa0chcEaFyFdbFJ6es4JZKX3JdXfszq942DJAR7s0DEkyOKh0l9FnQ_2b0X7-l7bNp_9gb_PmEfdXeXgl0NiQ/s1600/IMG_1470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilrlm27ZNa-AhWeU9NdJn_L6JaO0D6cQdI0K2Bhqrjn3EA-79BdQ526WUa0chcEaFyFdbFJ6es4JZKX3JdXfszq942DJAR7s0DEkyOKh0l9FnQ_2b0X7-l7bNp_9gb_PmEfdXeXgl0NiQ/s320/IMG_1470.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We aren't picky people, and we enjoy simplicity and modest space. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9I2jt_JjxXeCRY4J7odKjrO8wsBKmsA096rfNaBy7xnxyBwv2Y9CTnwmLqkfQfADz5KXPziQGu7OhiiWS6C54eBpPWsxid7Gpxxg76ZAq5RBKLq87BDjnjBIh4OppZhCcyFHha0RJmg/s1600/IMG_1521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9I2jt_JjxXeCRY4J7odKjrO8wsBKmsA096rfNaBy7xnxyBwv2Y9CTnwmLqkfQfADz5KXPziQGu7OhiiWS6C54eBpPWsxid7Gpxxg76ZAq5RBKLq87BDjnjBIh4OppZhCcyFHha0RJmg/s320/IMG_1521.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I loved seeing the different layouts of the houses and wondered what my furniture would look like if we moved in.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyp1qRCWcNKmLDooje6e9tnPG8Z_PTB__e23l_e6I4SjZEKZ0S_PVbz7Mf6H0_zsYxBSDV75WGi3g0c8vMSETE-ePBuBAVTcc8TLaBhFj90zuCvpn1gcbx2TNtzK-yeUyp9F9zHOYTR8/s1600/IMG_1577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyp1qRCWcNKmLDooje6e9tnPG8Z_PTB__e23l_e6I4SjZEKZ0S_PVbz7Mf6H0_zsYxBSDV75WGi3g0c8vMSETE-ePBuBAVTcc8TLaBhFj90zuCvpn1gcbx2TNtzK-yeUyp9F9zHOYTR8/s320/IMG_1577.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some houses had great curb appeal and others were more of an eye sore. Some houses we looked at for 40 minutes, others, well, we walked in and right back out the front door. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqUdi3eg0742H48FtkFl9O7B5Tb0u8niOPv86Jpd0eemQwTS869M1lpFXAYh6wcBzp8S9KNCDuHK3XQL-Y08i3zdsk-38z6Vz9M1nnYEbUNSB6oFKjGM355KqLS1XJ_h6vBEDUH_13w4/s1600/IMG_1597.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqUdi3eg0742H48FtkFl9O7B5Tb0u8niOPv86Jpd0eemQwTS869M1lpFXAYh6wcBzp8S9KNCDuHK3XQL-Y08i3zdsk-38z6Vz9M1nnYEbUNSB6oFKjGM355KqLS1XJ_h6vBEDUH_13w4/s320/IMG_1597.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The amount of time we spent looking is exhausting to think about.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcJWPs_KPOyKl7qjtuPns0Os0ALUGrHbW_xAccDSX0T2dUuZV9aYQangwdtuIIRBN25DClxaYoBkGtjQuLIRHBxxh4tpcsutNl8G7SGT_qWM4D1u0I0uUhE4lraqUxTXKYguHPsMtaSY/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcJWPs_KPOyKl7qjtuPns0Os0ALUGrHbW_xAccDSX0T2dUuZV9aYQangwdtuIIRBN25DClxaYoBkGtjQuLIRHBxxh4tpcsutNl8G7SGT_qWM4D1u0I0uUhE4lraqUxTXKYguHPsMtaSY/s320/IMG_1634.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some layouts were really weird and not very appealing to a family with young children.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H1Wgd0sUl1rvT2fRUCehay8P3c58C_TewuhIwN_UaXB_Vlx3Q6KRr2aF2aoxs1uRWYC73rv5ypCk9JqFomp-cmLwOe3-pGPj-DE90WGscI9RzFUmJ9tXOR31QxCdNKhGqqyFMJ8ixuw/s1600/IMG_1655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8H1Wgd0sUl1rvT2fRUCehay8P3c58C_TewuhIwN_UaXB_Vlx3Q6KRr2aF2aoxs1uRWYC73rv5ypCk9JqFomp-cmLwOe3-pGPj-DE90WGscI9RzFUmJ9tXOR31QxCdNKhGqqyFMJ8ixuw/s320/IMG_1655.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We created nicknames for a lot of the houses. One was the Pepto House. It was a pukey pink color. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjWCg1zYuAnpTRPvyJsiiP_uRaY9StUL3idr9utDP0LNK2EjOyZWt8JVZHdC1fOQnAsBOEVgOG4-sGLlRCnm1T0Cb7m9xKkquJlnEvXPF1unjJknnPx9wNwMPLmIeib33n_1lgIXusYc/s1600/IMG_1811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjWCg1zYuAnpTRPvyJsiiP_uRaY9StUL3idr9utDP0LNK2EjOyZWt8JVZHdC1fOQnAsBOEVgOG4-sGLlRCnm1T0Cb7m9xKkquJlnEvXPF1unjJknnPx9wNwMPLmIeib33n_1lgIXusYc/s320/IMG_1811.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The houses we thought would be home, clearly ended up not being right. So we pressed on. We kept looking and looking and feeling discouraged.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkuUBqVSD6EreVrql8Sx9ySTInoLNRzIjAJHAuTzzEoR4U6PNNnWO4mk5pVemxZkGdoK-GJ_cSb7PrJMpXfGRWNxdrjwAG2n7XY09uUi1On3SRv1YW3wT721FNfCYGjuSF0xPsl9iPiY/s1600/IMG_1890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkuUBqVSD6EreVrql8Sx9ySTInoLNRzIjAJHAuTzzEoR4U6PNNnWO4mk5pVemxZkGdoK-GJ_cSb7PrJMpXfGRWNxdrjwAG2n7XY09uUi1On3SRv1YW3wT721FNfCYGjuSF0xPsl9iPiY/s320/IMG_1890.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Encouragement was everywhere around us, though. Friends and family kept telling us that we would find something soon and it would be just right for our family.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fem1YFpWBZkbaqfP4LSysueAeFh4y2wO1ZVSHtQDdCMGqQ4ibCj4AjYyY1AACtL0ixPDr9SZIM4gb6mBZMBa-gI5CHuDVW9Sh7WC3hT0-Uwa6UNmZjATMOCOti7sewdat8i5rsPQG34/s1600/IMG_2117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fem1YFpWBZkbaqfP4LSysueAeFh4y2wO1ZVSHtQDdCMGqQ4ibCj4AjYyY1AACtL0ixPDr9SZIM4gb6mBZMBa-gI5CHuDVW9Sh7WC3hT0-Uwa6UNmZjATMOCOti7sewdat8i5rsPQG34/s320/IMG_2117.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We kept thinking about all the possibilities while we began preparing for a move, even though we had no idea what our new address would be.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVH5Sn6LrApNO3TquOLmBTQT_HvxB9TND5EGzCShnLMuAavmRQOPUBYsT_L7q5RtNgHEw4uvuPQZUrsR3P86iQ8vbG2jeTxgpg3erTjgLyeyE8fhdC6hJhGQaKTuHCl2pdJounKeVs4k/s1600/IMG_2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghVH5Sn6LrApNO3TquOLmBTQT_HvxB9TND5EGzCShnLMuAavmRQOPUBYsT_L7q5RtNgHEw4uvuPQZUrsR3P86iQ8vbG2jeTxgpg3erTjgLyeyE8fhdC6hJhGQaKTuHCl2pdJounKeVs4k/s320/IMG_2147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Like manna from heaven, the right place came along and was there when we most needed it. I was so exhausted, mentally and physically that once we found it and knew it was right I was able to let my guard down. I even got sick afterwards. You know how that is, right? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nk5pQLv7KZoLHueoMwooJH4Noe9f6TFPrqjUrPckN4C-NC8JnggMML2Z-j8ev6WJLOsoS8xVTDAkslIXUlqKyD5T6e7xVrRa_fuB9J2zNM_3iqp6-QTp-OlRD3979TcYtKL03gq1WV4/s1600/IMG_2310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nk5pQLv7KZoLHueoMwooJH4Noe9f6TFPrqjUrPckN4C-NC8JnggMML2Z-j8ev6WJLOsoS8xVTDAkslIXUlqKyD5T6e7xVrRa_fuB9J2zNM_3iqp6-QTp-OlRD3979TcYtKL03gq1WV4/s320/IMG_2310.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our apartment is full of boxes. It smells like cardboard in here. Blech. But it won't be long until we're tossing those boxes out. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIyILf1teb_L6uhaMbjXNFP82O2X06OJJBUgdm0BJS5ScAwAVTp_GTGgEnwx527pXDurlvscfzs6XmXopGxNdWKyiSRBBjIozryrRPD-m5IT2r6gDTnj0APM34qiVGwgVnImreo8sLBM/s1600/IMG_2320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVIyILf1teb_L6uhaMbjXNFP82O2X06OJJBUgdm0BJS5ScAwAVTp_GTGgEnwx527pXDurlvscfzs6XmXopGxNdWKyiSRBBjIozryrRPD-m5IT2r6gDTnj0APM34qiVGwgVnImreo8sLBM/s320/IMG_2320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our apartment is a mess. I'm putting off cleaning a lot of spaces because I'm going to be starting on some major deep cleaning really soon. There's too much to do and not enough time, therefore, I'm letting things go so I don't end up doing double the work.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ee98pitPTbmYtsm9-CXKnE_qth9woiSOXnPcIxgAwMPbgVeNsT67oHoON7m_j-XfkwhVvVQcfJgP9VmA0JyuCr-JYtN4vB1oI2A-6QIe_3We9gT_-MKZSw0Mrv0B0roSMiEfLlKVpSo/s1600/IMG_2372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ee98pitPTbmYtsm9-CXKnE_qth9woiSOXnPcIxgAwMPbgVeNsT67oHoON7m_j-XfkwhVvVQcfJgP9VmA0JyuCr-JYtN4vB1oI2A-6QIe_3We9gT_-MKZSw0Mrv0B0roSMiEfLlKVpSo/s320/IMG_2372.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We are so excited for these changes. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvtGD5cJS-NUeREQER-zBBErvE3h9TMux3laDMJPC5d_ak1Twefqla6zTNic0_U16PxahoNJE1RuzLqEKuRbWh3ywc8OWi6hDuDJxfbJJQh0eCb2DBUJoMiMSGnVnFGRCfvhtjp_iDLk/s1600/IMG_2440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCvtGD5cJS-NUeREQER-zBBErvE3h9TMux3laDMJPC5d_ak1Twefqla6zTNic0_U16PxahoNJE1RuzLqEKuRbWh3ywc8OWi6hDuDJxfbJJQh0eCb2DBUJoMiMSGnVnFGRCfvhtjp_iDLk/s320/IMG_2440.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
When I see the sun shine through the windows of our new home I'll think of the many blessings and miracles that Heavenly Father pours out upon us when we most need him. This experience reminds me that He doesn't abandon us. He stretches us and molds us into better people. He listens to our prayers and answers us the way we need to be answered. Sometimes, even if we don't have all the faith that we should. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-55479525785471945542013-04-08T11:54:00.000-04:002013-04-08T11:54:12.209-04:00In the meantime...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This weekend was fantastic! We had some friends over to watch General Conference with us, and we even had birthday cake. I had great laughs, great uplifting and great food! I always enjoy a break from the regular weekend. It was nice to sleep in on Sunday and stay in comfy clothes all day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirNYWnZIw8Vgx4aVZQ6w8YhERQoU8Eof1_BE0wNHL8M5PwXzhukSRbzmiVEWuIIdo-35eqUdETBgf0aWbHY9vBpQsaAkyURNOzitFx2GPBx06o7bL3FSiB7iX9NiFH-ZemZUgBX956wc/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjirNYWnZIw8Vgx4aVZQ6w8YhERQoU8Eof1_BE0wNHL8M5PwXzhukSRbzmiVEWuIIdo-35eqUdETBgf0aWbHY9vBpQsaAkyURNOzitFx2GPBx06o7bL3FSiB7iX9NiFH-ZemZUgBX956wc/s320/IMG_1705.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The weekend went by way too fast, though. It seems like yesterday was Friday. But today marks the beginning of a new work week. Today is Monday. Monday is laundry day. Hooray! <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Not really</span>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjwZ9L5gX24UFr9PeMCu8n9KnhRVvBZQ9eLtjGEvAo8WGYiSCi4sCND3DQnzVIASAdvXjE4lPX8bw5BNWQ0ttfr6Gwr9IvU69_5fHUFU9lwgvFyHkAxiI9BE3RBt6oZHj9DN8ik9ae4Y/s1600/IMG_1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjwZ9L5gX24UFr9PeMCu8n9KnhRVvBZQ9eLtjGEvAo8WGYiSCi4sCND3DQnzVIASAdvXjE4lPX8bw5BNWQ0ttfr6Gwr9IvU69_5fHUFU9lwgvFyHkAxiI9BE3RBt6oZHj9DN8ik9ae4Y/s320/IMG_1706.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been stressed out lately about some upcoming changes. We're in a time crunch, but we don't have all the answers we need yet. I've really been trying to have trust and faith that things are going to work out exactly as they should. This weekend helped me to have sweet insights about the decisions we're making right now and the answers that we're waiting for.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoO38MPdzGEgwGhoMVvQG4AWmbF0lrzB1EkapDVq4guWah-QRa80_qKoSAEBOrw_ucE5YorBDyxq7Nadswmq4X0dtc99XOKORVCST6h9KURnn1jCDhg-1SEgRyhjcfq7zfMTaGC0giPk/s1600/IMG_1709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhoO38MPdzGEgwGhoMVvQG4AWmbF0lrzB1EkapDVq4guWah-QRa80_qKoSAEBOrw_ucE5YorBDyxq7Nadswmq4X0dtc99XOKORVCST6h9KURnn1jCDhg-1SEgRyhjcfq7zfMTaGC0giPk/s320/IMG_1709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Miracles happen, right? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0hWE3J_pgg3ugVkFVWuGkAokqNc1YDI5QBZolPZEU_cQoFV9AnbZY0xpv2Wlde6mGyBfzl8npTtZPyjoF-UPtPxFDsZ8R1Xt0qTx5qNteqBbaaI_svshtg9SF2T3iJPuyN1a0iGF4KY/s1600/IMG_1708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0hWE3J_pgg3ugVkFVWuGkAokqNc1YDI5QBZolPZEU_cQoFV9AnbZY0xpv2Wlde6mGyBfzl8npTtZPyjoF-UPtPxFDsZ8R1Xt0qTx5qNteqBbaaI_svshtg9SF2T3iJPuyN1a0iGF4KY/s320/IMG_1708.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On the upside, the sun is shining bright and warm air is here. The school day has already begun and chores are underway. Lunch is ready to be warmed up and ingredients for dinner are stacked up. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZn4Wq_yVU0ExmWxZSMCd-P9SYmX9CCs1pMCpLhVNJJ6NRu8Gqd1CQx0FUYOm_-DHuT7kEBY_Q45ZqzNLbcypG7vNA5K7dyr2U0MIW5MjpjveftLqWo8O51tfHudWx1h3wJjtyhveZos/s1600/IMG_1710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZn4Wq_yVU0ExmWxZSMCd-P9SYmX9CCs1pMCpLhVNJJ6NRu8Gqd1CQx0FUYOm_-DHuT7kEBY_Q45ZqzNLbcypG7vNA5K7dyr2U0MIW5MjpjveftLqWo8O51tfHudWx1h3wJjtyhveZos/s320/IMG_1710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Things may not be exactly as I want them to be at this very moment, but we're rolling and moving steadily towards our destination. And with these faces, who could be anything but optimistic? These monkeys are proof that miracles happen. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy Monday!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-4116750549081540372013-04-04T13:13:00.001-04:002013-04-04T13:13:18.756-04:00Southern Living<div style="text-align: center;">
I never thought I would live in the South.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsct2Y0cmrqKKcfz6L9VAxQ2TDArrGIZB24aOIKVnaks1gD-zXgiQrCM3CVWBqYZ_1V3kgnNswUlIuLW1vkIcn_hqE3-_lx-caoWpCN1em0gR0xWXjDrZzakQ24knCrlQvwHzRRXKPhLc/s1600/DSC01122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsct2Y0cmrqKKcfz6L9VAxQ2TDArrGIZB24aOIKVnaks1gD-zXgiQrCM3CVWBqYZ_1V3kgnNswUlIuLW1vkIcn_hqE3-_lx-caoWpCN1em0gR0xWXjDrZzakQ24knCrlQvwHzRRXKPhLc/s320/DSC01122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Those palm trees still look surreal to me. Am I on vacation? I ask myself that question often.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaGmpA3p-HKbnOUDn4-1d8yBhvq9d2NtqZtFZLBsQABUGJQtVx4aaFMj3JtldkjOqS4LCsMgfJ7-VjUiaxQWaBoXyiz1Aha3ujLKxsNuR3xGfNIWqtEBsbbX0frN90GjOyIt3ayfgRYI/s1600/2012-09-28+14.46.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaGmpA3p-HKbnOUDn4-1d8yBhvq9d2NtqZtFZLBsQABUGJQtVx4aaFMj3JtldkjOqS4LCsMgfJ7-VjUiaxQWaBoXyiz1Aha3ujLKxsNuR3xGfNIWqtEBsbbX0frN90GjOyIt3ayfgRYI/s320/2012-09-28+14.46.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We see wildlife all the time. Even when I take my trash out, I'll see ducks and other birds waddling in front of the path, or even an eagle soaring over my head.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrn3pumvCtCJBgbZXWL9-UAVXSFkCVbuWeoJnfNCUq0P4odKselA72OnYHr3oQBTGmKnrdrsZ9sQPVSy8VTw0BvePkMvD1bW842Y2uHTq2T7T4E-Kpnsyz63HupVAvICb0XWwYB1WkFM/s1600/2012-04-20+19.48.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDrn3pumvCtCJBgbZXWL9-UAVXSFkCVbuWeoJnfNCUq0P4odKselA72OnYHr3oQBTGmKnrdrsZ9sQPVSy8VTw0BvePkMvD1bW842Y2uHTq2T7T4E-Kpnsyz63HupVAvICb0XWwYB1WkFM/s320/2012-04-20+19.48.22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love how close to the water we are and the beautiful scenery we can enjoy on a regular basis.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NWT-XT7rNnqXabWedC6dv4t_XcBxPdBQ9Ndw9KUnEf-rbuebVEoVYb9-0Ajw6lAhfOQHRNVVmAffh-WP4yffTFNf_wig0dPin7g1URIZkaqHYnoiHu21oAbiB7pvmFouROsd-yEhJIU/s1600/2012-04-20+19.53.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5NWT-XT7rNnqXabWedC6dv4t_XcBxPdBQ9Ndw9KUnEf-rbuebVEoVYb9-0Ajw6lAhfOQHRNVVmAffh-WP4yffTFNf_wig0dPin7g1URIZkaqHYnoiHu21oAbiB7pvmFouROsd-yEhJIU/s320/2012-04-20+19.53.54.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We try to go on hikes as often as we can.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S9cdq0MM5HT7y3_ILNnm8ryfKFwEv8aacIqZIHR0YrYkSgi4UxCGT__Ry3qdV-Ktm1uyD9V8i0kkFLa35zh9BZLwViqFPKelg6t3K2SydM89X34F148L0EIJ1mgGKOg5ao02NCLKY9w/s1600/2012-05-19+10.00.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7S9cdq0MM5HT7y3_ILNnm8ryfKFwEv8aacIqZIHR0YrYkSgi4UxCGT__Ry3qdV-Ktm1uyD9V8i0kkFLa35zh9BZLwViqFPKelg6t3K2SydM89X34F148L0EIJ1mgGKOg5ao02NCLKY9w/s320/2012-05-19+10.00.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And we can get pretty close to the animals we find.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBVKeZAbjdobMKlfz13nQZ8ob8tt-nLsJKG6kYQmVXTglSS7wEFDceSFAylreQ7elnIXX1SrV_oWvusENkHsomj36xR4bYfywTVnHXwtHF8JBmCYUpigiDZy_kSQLA5wEzOdvQZC4KsU/s1600/2012-09-04+20.27.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBVKeZAbjdobMKlfz13nQZ8ob8tt-nLsJKG6kYQmVXTglSS7wEFDceSFAylreQ7elnIXX1SrV_oWvusENkHsomj36xR4bYfywTVnHXwtHF8JBmCYUpigiDZy_kSQLA5wEzOdvQZC4KsU/s320/2012-09-04+20.27.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sometimes those animals are too close for comfort, like this little guy hanging out on our front door. This is not an isolated occasion.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeUYvZ8SzX4CguP0Ho-Af0tz8Pjl3WMk-lk97vKp42o2-VSVIJUx54WPltj597_JRjw221FISd-b4r-1C-DzwG93bk_oRgSgoyP0sC3njhXaJWEV7YOT4HL-HUmAN9MuBqorJ6MLZsno/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoeUYvZ8SzX4CguP0Ho-Af0tz8Pjl3WMk-lk97vKp42o2-VSVIJUx54WPltj597_JRjw221FISd-b4r-1C-DzwG93bk_oRgSgoyP0sC3njhXaJWEV7YOT4HL-HUmAN9MuBqorJ6MLZsno/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I love the trees we have down here, with the hanging moss.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2JRYXqcDSgHbITimHSpB3PvEBgXn7GJehIuZN9CnI00baYM5ENfurnHUz-h8-943te9dMSIJDrOMMwgIk-JsNGgbgvCFQRT8X0jKuDNQQzljFL0gLqOtdwDs57dCbLKwihLV1YiG74A/s1600/Photo0043%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD2JRYXqcDSgHbITimHSpB3PvEBgXn7GJehIuZN9CnI00baYM5ENfurnHUz-h8-943te9dMSIJDrOMMwgIk-JsNGgbgvCFQRT8X0jKuDNQQzljFL0gLqOtdwDs57dCbLKwihLV1YiG74A/s320/Photo0043%25231.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
AND THE BEACH! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cMCpqFlKJtEQgvaKtNhaI6rrtMPlR4fD64zF4XEo-OO6GhMor8F3KUppKd3QHHvALRHBOHMz9mDhB_xVgeyYfapScwexaQLSdkraCEGEgiGTpDwJrGQa2mslQxelLE8CRzLsHP33AcU/s1600/2012-09-29+01.12.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cMCpqFlKJtEQgvaKtNhaI6rrtMPlR4fD64zF4XEo-OO6GhMor8F3KUppKd3QHHvALRHBOHMz9mDhB_xVgeyYfapScwexaQLSdkraCEGEgiGTpDwJrGQa2mslQxelLE8CRzLsHP33AcU/s320/2012-09-29+01.12.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This however, is something I never, ever thought I would see in all my days. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This, I don't love. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It did make us laugh pretty hard, though.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ahhhh....living in the South...</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-91618377901153302502013-04-03T15:34:00.000-04:002013-04-03T15:34:09.985-04:00I did not fall off the face of the earth...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA6X_UGW7_knrlzLLXs5tHZ4f4ayVhz7NEit9SHEj79Y1EYnaI0KEVUbwwipvHMDBDIs4EsMhOkE731iYtaOl2MNoIlEgnRCVuvPGLepQxpVxYmMfBZajZ0rujQpOH32rkKXhr9z9upA/s1600/IMG_1464.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGA6X_UGW7_knrlzLLXs5tHZ4f4ayVhz7NEit9SHEj79Y1EYnaI0KEVUbwwipvHMDBDIs4EsMhOkE731iYtaOl2MNoIlEgnRCVuvPGLepQxpVxYmMfBZajZ0rujQpOH32rkKXhr9z9upA/s320/IMG_1464.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Periodically, throughout the last year I've thought about my sad little blog. And then I'd think of something else and move on.<br />
<br />
Today I thought I'd come on by, see the debris of my abandoned blog and try to clean up this place. Hopefully it is more inviting (to me and my typing fingers). <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvK9G-J41U96sMGrZD7_855oAmcmL1HxHdIcIOE1AbgPH7cpFcl3_k6GJWIbB-iQZ2ziC89pOQ8HwVghlL0nPRjWQ0s0_AtDRnO72WIGu4nIm_u-5l8KuMiO9LVC4ZV_txAt7bBwBQCUg/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvK9G-J41U96sMGrZD7_855oAmcmL1HxHdIcIOE1AbgPH7cpFcl3_k6GJWIbB-iQZ2ziC89pOQ8HwVghlL0nPRjWQ0s0_AtDRnO72WIGu4nIm_u-5l8KuMiO9LVC4ZV_txAt7bBwBQCUg/s320/IMG_1341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
One whole year has gone by since I last posted. More than a year. Where did time go?!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyR8GrAQeHaP2m1BOV1FeQofFy3kydkuBMzLyWrnB-CZWmFF0CYaS2horvUGnrMJmfOfu5J6soX3EA5zEgB6EomrAAkcQQAd-kP27gKAiJBZrjbzPYwIXQ9C3LKOZrE8G9E2xBTDOG_w/s1600/IMG_1714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyR8GrAQeHaP2m1BOV1FeQofFy3kydkuBMzLyWrnB-CZWmFF0CYaS2horvUGnrMJmfOfu5J6soX3EA5zEgB6EomrAAkcQQAd-kP27gKAiJBZrjbzPYwIXQ9C3LKOZrE8G9E2xBTDOG_w/s320/IMG_1714.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
Time to move forward now.<br />
Time to document more.<br />
I've emerged back to my blogging days.<br />
I hope.<br />
Heh.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-55465691686420499462011-10-08T12:57:00.008-04:002011-10-10T10:03:16.413-04:00Delve Right In<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5FPDQNGYgoSmTQaBnKyx0GHrEUxzkTW7bQ9k-lSdvdCQ1DdiVmcuhF3SvVfjxvH-2kjcdunSbpiEVnUUShGnT30umtTi8hJS23I7ptRKGl6ALwSLQEKoj5xnOI46216wRSr0C8R3vKM/s1600/DSC01265.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661172064301544642" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5FPDQNGYgoSmTQaBnKyx0GHrEUxzkTW7bQ9k-lSdvdCQ1DdiVmcuhF3SvVfjxvH-2kjcdunSbpiEVnUUShGnT30umtTi8hJS23I7ptRKGl6ALwSLQEKoj5xnOI46216wRSr0C8R3vKM/s320/DSC01265.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
I have been on a Scripture Marking Spree! <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I found some amazing scripture marking ideas from <a href="http://www.theredheadedhostess.com/">The Red Headed Hostess</a>. AMAZING! And I love personalizing my scriptures. They are full of personal notes and comments about things in my personal life. I hardly ever let anyone use my scriptures, because they have so many personal insights in them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I first got my <a href="http://store.lds.org/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category3_715839595_10557_23501_-1_N_image_0">Quad</a> (a set of Scriptures with all 4 Books of Scripture in one book: The Bible, The Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price) I decided that I would mark every reference from every hymn in the Hymnal in my scriptures. It was very enlightening to see how these scriptures could cross-reference with hymns. Hymns are a wonderful way to accompany your scripture study. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So now I found these <a href="http://www.theredheadedhostess.com/scripture-study-2/marking-suggestions/scripture-study-tip-page-titles/">"Page Titles"</a> to add to the Book of Mormon. Basically, every page has a title that you write in to your scriptures. This way, you always know what's happening on a particular page and it can help you find scriptures quickly and read in context if you are just randomly selecting a page to read. I thought it was a great idea. I have been staying up late every night this week working on this project. </div>
<div>
<br />
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5661172605671317042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7j7wyZLiDAmcY0nquKkoxxQgbiQcIMg1eLHgylpmo9w9ZZivbed3XGjZsBFNo-yh_bj4OW6NL_OUAajG2NYK3j7EOR9nnkfw4didFFltoZii_Pn2gxThf1UioNaoYh10eqWn33tBSWFc/s200/DSC01267.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 150px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 78%;">My workspace</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It has really strengthened my testimony of the Power of the Book of Mormon. It's truths are so apparent, even if you are just summarizing events (or pages, in this case). You can feel the Spirit as you read, and write these notes. It has been particularly uplifting to go through the whole story of the Book of Mormon all at once. I was able to make connections and insights that weren't so obvious to me before. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I encourage you to make your scriptures your own, and make notes in the margins that will help you remember the inspirations you receive as you read. This way we will truly "liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning." <a href="http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/19.23?lang=eng#22">1 Nephi 19:23</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 85%;">*Drop me a line if you'd like me to send you a free, non-committal copy of the Book of Mormon.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=111117" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-90190018401875631312011-10-05T15:11:00.003-04:002011-10-10T10:03:57.973-04:00Reading Every dayWhen I was expecting our first child, I was going through all of the "New Mommy" stages, where you begin to evaluate every single aspect of your life to make sure that you will be the best mother possible. I looked at the ordinary: child safety, proper bedding and vehicle restraints, etc. Then I began looking into the more personal and spiritual. How will I teach this child everything he needs to know so he can live a happy and good life?! So, I evaluated the basics. <div><br /></div><div>We were good people, from good families that went to church and lived good lives. We magnified our church assignments and always tried to take the high road. But we weren't perfect. There were things that needed improving and one of those things was reading the scriptures every day. This needed to change.</div><div><br /></div><div>So the hubs and I started reading at least one chapter of the Book of Mormon every day. We would read, and discuss what we learned. Every night I would have something new to ponder about and every night I felt strengthened by the Spirit that comes into your life when you read the scriptures. The Book of Mormon teaches you how to be a better parent. All throughout the book you read about how someone is teaching their child how to be better; how to follow the Savior; how to be closer to God. The Book of Mormon teaches what Christ taught here on earth. It expands on what we learn from His teachings in the Bible. </div><div><br /></div><div>Reading this book intensely changed our lives. We were happier, we were more sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we were closer to one another and we felt it's power. We went through the book almost twice before our little one arrived. We felt so strengthened, and I'm so grateful we began this endeavor to read every day.</div>
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=111117" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-7415077923672818572011-10-04T15:38:00.002-04:002011-10-10T10:04:10.654-04:00This is me.I have not been very open to my specific beliefs on my blog before, for fear of ridicule or judgement. But this is who I am. My religion is not just my church, it's not just something I believe or follow; but rather it is who I am. Everything in my life is based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't intend to make this a religious blog, or anything like that; but I do feel that I need to devote some time to sharing what I believe. This month I am participating in a month long forum about the Book of Mormon. This book is another testament of Jesus Christ. It backs up the Bible and teaches about Christ coming to the Americas. I will be posting about this book all month long. I've given it a lot of thought, and I know I need to do this. If you don't care to know about what I think on this subject, then you don't have to read. <div><br /></div><div>If you'd like to know about what other people think of this sacred book, then you can visit my friend <a href="http://beinglds.blogspot.com/">Jocelyn's blog</a> where she is spear-heading this forum. If you would like a copy of this book, let me know and I will mail you one, no charge, no obligation. I just ask that you read it. The Book of Mormon contains beautiful truths and teachings of Christ, and I don't know where my life would be without it. </div>
<script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=111117" type="text/javascript"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-34550937711612541482011-09-13T09:15:00.004-04:002011-09-13T09:44:02.690-04:00Blessings never cease<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNnj1ZnqPI6xlBmgayYI2th7k4QhfsfW8ug6UJreMRtZPbfu5Yn7-qFlwMyeLZwzXwiUBpQ71Ne6Xk1v8ryJCLwM2ly4ufRZWqRZ5P2OPJZKUKXuvZMitKwgWCy8aWZDQU29ruegr5UY/s1600/DSC00940.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNnj1ZnqPI6xlBmgayYI2th7k4QhfsfW8ug6UJreMRtZPbfu5Yn7-qFlwMyeLZwzXwiUBpQ71Ne6Xk1v8ryJCLwM2ly4ufRZWqRZ5P2OPJZKUKXuvZMitKwgWCy8aWZDQU29ruegr5UY/s320/DSC00940.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651833125758481058" /></a>Our baby had to be put to sleep on Saturday. It was gut wrenching. It was one of the most difficult moments of my life, if not the most. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Smoochie</span> was a few days short of being 15 years old. I got her from my parents the day I got back from my first Youth Conference. I was a freshman in High School. She brought much joy into my life, and into the lives of those around me. I remember the first time I was away from her. I had just moved to Indiana, and I would be away from her for about 5 months, until Ben and I would get married. I cried most nights because I missed her so much. I was so happy when we brought her back to Indiana with us after our honeymoon.<div><br /></div><div>She helped me get through a lot of hard times in my life. She was there, comforting me, when I had such a hard time getting pregnant. She wanted to play when I was sad and she loved to cuddle in bed with Ben. She loved to play catch! Her favorite treats were fruit; she loved mango, and bananas and she would beg to no end for some apple. She would also bark and bark and bark at you if you were having popcorn. She loved popcorn! Her loss for me has been pretty close to unbearable. I have cried to the point where my head is pounding and my eyes are swollen. This is a pain and emptiness I would not wish on my worst enemy. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Smoochie</span> was very sick, with an infection in her uterus, a severe heart murmur and some trouble with breathing. She had a very long, and good life. I am blessed to have had her in my life, to have shared her with my husband Ben, and to have her be such a big part in the lives of my children. I love her forever, and forever she will be my Baby Bear. </div><div><br /></div><div>As I searched the scriptures for comfort the night she passed on, I came across some verses in D&C section 77. It talked about the eternal felicity of animals after they've gone. I was so humbled at the fact that Heavenly Father helped me find specific comfort. In a world where there are bigger problems and more awful trials, He <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">cared</span> enough to lead me to read something that was specific to my pain. He knows and loves me; He listens to and answers my prayers. I will see my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Smoochie</span> Bear again. And I will continue to rejoice at the love and the blessings that are poured into my life by a Father whose love and care for me is Everlasting, despite the pain or trial I may experience. We are never alone.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-71139673055313758412011-05-03T15:13:00.011-04:002011-05-03T16:00:51.014-04:00ZOORIFFIC!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqzU2bMya2YFDwanCK2WoUJm0Atyxqx8cwlUBvsYyr4yTyltXB79eXfEiKN3xukn39mfZ2-6qty5ugsnnryZ6kMHUcdJttstTJfbpalPJbIJIg_NkPzG6MDs4Rkpke_5Xt_MKd5t8Uok/s1600/DSC00996.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfqzU2bMya2YFDwanCK2WoUJm0Atyxqx8cwlUBvsYyr4yTyltXB79eXfEiKN3xukn39mfZ2-6qty5ugsnnryZ6kMHUcdJttstTJfbpalPJbIJIg_NkPzG6MDs4Rkpke_5Xt_MKd5t8Uok/s320/DSC00996.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602577130897807730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We went to the zoo this weekend. We LOVE our zoo! It's one of the best we've been to. We are enjoying our yearly membership. So this weekend we decided on a whim to go to the zoo for a couple of hours. It was crazy hot, but we had a great time. The boys each got a fun little monkey at the end of the trip. They both love monkeys! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKHA3acCnrIrOO_vHhMZP-SzyPhZHe0E9dDTJKlHhxh4g2bwNPai3mK9MNS9XXheFm0g67un3pTWvXjcS0XzejxNVKNnkvHnfG2F8BsSiQl_qWomyPTsssjmDULDoYEYahmYvoKordFw/s1600/DSC00995.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKHA3acCnrIrOO_vHhMZP-SzyPhZHe0E9dDTJKlHhxh4g2bwNPai3mK9MNS9XXheFm0g67un3pTWvXjcS0XzejxNVKNnkvHnfG2F8BsSiQl_qWomyPTsssjmDULDoYEYahmYvoKordFw/s320/DSC00995.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602577128214194370" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpsuj6erCyi7YtdEjKqXFbbweqqeRg_Z0qQT0IwNflvIcUAO5kOt5c55Q23E6_v1Js_xQsDMN5nqGIMd-GW5D5L9w13TxVukvwoJnJWjjVKTrRegi9oMLtkQffMG74byO8ghsqS-PnPA/s1600/DSC00997.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJpsuj6erCyi7YtdEjKqXFbbweqqeRg_Z0qQT0IwNflvIcUAO5kOt5c55Q23E6_v1Js_xQsDMN5nqGIMd-GW5D5L9w13TxVukvwoJnJWjjVKTrRegi9oMLtkQffMG74byO8ghsqS-PnPA/s320/DSC00997.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602576895141927730" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This is one of my most favorite things about Florida. The beautiful Palm trees ! Every time I look at them it feels so surreal that we're here.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XrcJtBGxmlv1uEAJBcJtmTBsn8Co1LfBNbGRbuFRlIEUjp7y31Z6kT7bqZu-nm-kxf5OSrOSVnmlLqX-jCkW39BmgIrbLif_vp263W_aDcPY5AgvzI3oc_00XfF11R6japeKQRE5vIM/s1600/DSC01000.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XrcJtBGxmlv1uEAJBcJtmTBsn8Co1LfBNbGRbuFRlIEUjp7y31Z6kT7bqZu-nm-kxf5OSrOSVnmlLqX-jCkW39BmgIrbLif_vp263W_aDcPY5AgvzI3oc_00XfF11R6japeKQRE5vIM/s320/DSC01000.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602576891916799874" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ben was hurrying to the car-it was so hot and we were ready to cool down!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq6e5n40qYy_JAYim19OTX0lOJU7h_Q6NkXX0eMLHxPVFzgv3piSY5C4fZZb35pdW0EVoKsGsX2ZoJuTJ15O0CzL6sae0E1lEUVHh_56bkeVRfUBoqfUTaJRUAFOoF9_7kgrL8jk93SE/s1600/DSC00992.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZq6e5n40qYy_JAYim19OTX0lOJU7h_Q6NkXX0eMLHxPVFzgv3piSY5C4fZZb35pdW0EVoKsGsX2ZoJuTJ15O0CzL6sae0E1lEUVHh_56bkeVRfUBoqfUTaJRUAFOoF9_7kgrL8jk93SE/s320/DSC00992.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602576535471902546" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The zoo also has botanical gardens inside. The greenery in this zoo is just amazing! They have so many trees and flowers, and lots of pretty things to smell and look at! So I took pictures of some pretty flowers to use as desktops.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p_RvI8N2_2lnzEu04_KK_RlbzrokszaTUEV_nSW0iJTbGt9VjB_Ka8fbAtPP1H5gFei9r-OWYVV6LNpJRCS7jb72ZG4eG8wazGI-IqwqAGW0ej6RdE1HrtWh-4wUTNHo42Hu-7ecFfg/s1600/DSC00990.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8p_RvI8N2_2lnzEu04_KK_RlbzrokszaTUEV_nSW0iJTbGt9VjB_Ka8fbAtPP1H5gFei9r-OWYVV6LNpJRCS7jb72ZG4eG8wazGI-IqwqAGW0ej6RdE1HrtWh-4wUTNHo42Hu-7ecFfg/s320/DSC00990.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602576525795912706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">BAMBOO! </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvCiSJuYUiORkGLKd-l5KTQJqXgkC52Bjx1v3l11ipbkJhQLB4VXmAONJoplw29fFX8Bxs_8ELtMRIUqbENwKn4jo7VeCSAemUhvhkuD4vdjn9QbKbdcZDlU_SsaSzjZJPBAZDJvXR_Q/s1600/DSC00989.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvCiSJuYUiORkGLKd-l5KTQJqXgkC52Bjx1v3l11ipbkJhQLB4VXmAONJoplw29fFX8Bxs_8ELtMRIUqbENwKn4jo7VeCSAemUhvhkuD4vdjn9QbKbdcZDlU_SsaSzjZJPBAZDJvXR_Q/s320/DSC00989.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602576511500307154" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They were gorgeous to look at and smelled good too!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXg9Z93Eqr6nEG6mZW5_dzt1z8jrFtZ9WO3IIEZiyudRqXvCZIBYAwtKk9MWe0jMz5U3s_D6DGEv8guTC5oQsMLWrELasEwoAR5xOr_5xFVdZi46ImjbeSLSWi1oQQ4KkP5-f79crCCF8/s1600/DSC00988.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXg9Z93Eqr6nEG6mZW5_dzt1z8jrFtZ9WO3IIEZiyudRqXvCZIBYAwtKk9MWe0jMz5U3s_D6DGEv8guTC5oQsMLWrELasEwoAR5xOr_5xFVdZi46ImjbeSLSWi1oQQ4KkP5-f79crCCF8/s320/DSC00988.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602576181912238354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This was one of my favorite pictures of the trip.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE3mV0SGOtFJM6ybNyiUNo1gzW_KKV0hr9kRZYUYsg6KceF8Ss-hnf8f216CwZNX2Ouyw2Fau1v6Gr8idA4cNxAFVdsI-FGDgugwMHDDzEu4Tdh6udFLIBq28DtttR3G_6QlKWMc5LOE/s1600/DSC00987.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJE3mV0SGOtFJM6ybNyiUNo1gzW_KKV0hr9kRZYUYsg6KceF8Ss-hnf8f216CwZNX2Ouyw2Fau1v6Gr8idA4cNxAFVdsI-FGDgugwMHDDzEu4Tdh6udFLIBq28DtttR3G_6QlKWMc5LOE/s320/DSC00987.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602576178147263970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the dock at one end of the zoo.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94YExYmtyY6_A592a2bt_LmXE5lclZz5xQhPASkxIuZgtxhMUujxR176dpBYkutORltE0nmBCLWkW9vsYl96CqGv7ezb5amzQUy5ouPFzG7R7K0PoJ8OBM8JPtivE-c-8HYNlA009cI8/s1600/DSC00986.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj94YExYmtyY6_A592a2bt_LmXE5lclZz5xQhPASkxIuZgtxhMUujxR176dpBYkutORltE0nmBCLWkW9vsYl96CqGv7ezb5amzQUy5ouPFzG7R7K0PoJ8OBM8JPtivE-c-8HYNlA009cI8/s320/DSC00986.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602576168004756018" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And the view off to one side of the dock.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruOCKqHEnLGsk8U-l5PWpuvaAQV9bdmy3QnT4nYeWaTi5vMylOIXkf9eEgI-WqwP8PNwoiyr17EY2W0OB9Ntk3bEevYWyy6rKYvB1hVbvZhfaoxF5b-7Sr_9eqLQVqYnooZyhd-YyaoE/s1600/DSC00982.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjruOCKqHEnLGsk8U-l5PWpuvaAQV9bdmy3QnT4nYeWaTi5vMylOIXkf9eEgI-WqwP8PNwoiyr17EY2W0OB9Ntk3bEevYWyy6rKYvB1hVbvZhfaoxF5b-7Sr_9eqLQVqYnooZyhd-YyaoE/s320/DSC00982.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602575643794413922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here the boys are listening to some live music. It was Earth Day at the zoo, so they had live music and some booths around the zoo from different organizations promoting "Green" living and things of the sort.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVeKWny46TNcoU4J4LL8kS0mh61G175Ui6ZcFUGINcOjCP8-OxpC4-piT7J5mWK-y_itXXLq4snDr85d2F-Wa5dsnVHTrX-ARoUr_lK30mb3WwMIPd7OPrteEP7BXPP_mo8rcEhLHUvk/s1600/DSC00981.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVeKWny46TNcoU4J4LL8kS0mh61G175Ui6ZcFUGINcOjCP8-OxpC4-piT7J5mWK-y_itXXLq4snDr85d2F-Wa5dsnVHTrX-ARoUr_lK30mb3WwMIPd7OPrteEP7BXPP_mo8rcEhLHUvk/s320/DSC00981.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602575634899370258" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They're so cool. :-P</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGV-LfIJ0yvPv00TwD_vf3v0tQOuqkXSdCT14G5UNWUwDA0veCYksk8svDrrJrk0heWiMkNZFbD8TkqoKias03yeKQDNjoplcPSUoRiGgHxKdff2z3leGHlYX7DhuP961OKtwczP-PN8/s1600/DSC00975.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGV-LfIJ0yvPv00TwD_vf3v0tQOuqkXSdCT14G5UNWUwDA0veCYksk8svDrrJrk0heWiMkNZFbD8TkqoKias03yeKQDNjoplcPSUoRiGgHxKdff2z3leGHlYX7DhuP961OKtwczP-PN8/s320/DSC00975.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602575408920804946" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We got to pet goats,</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij03OzbwVTQZ2OzkPTdYwGR4coMB2Bs1u4BOuh7KIQvLjbi4la3PUkDRT_Q_BMt_xqk7pro4s6LzC8FrIGsVbVmlQgFz8bnucrA5xU0HPZupQOqodEvRwtk8671adekXurl2kzHSJRewc/s1600/DSC00972.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij03OzbwVTQZ2OzkPTdYwGR4coMB2Bs1u4BOuh7KIQvLjbi4la3PUkDRT_Q_BMt_xqk7pro4s6LzC8FrIGsVbVmlQgFz8bnucrA5xU0HPZupQOqodEvRwtk8671adekXurl2kzHSJRewc/s320/DSC00972.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602575404315529970" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">and even brush their fur. The boys REALLY enjoyed this!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWWO5FwhKP8WWvGOkr7JJx3rvOR5s_zPdWFJGLZtN5sRZ5DFRTbOWb9D43QJ0Qa-0EGe6q6v8WFpc6mEG_AiXo-Wtf3tdgZt13XIKV4FyBCj4-rIg6eE_ICLiRJhYqP1cvanicZ7w_FA/s1600/DSC00968.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWWO5FwhKP8WWvGOkr7JJx3rvOR5s_zPdWFJGLZtN5sRZ5DFRTbOWb9D43QJ0Qa-0EGe6q6v8WFpc6mEG_AiXo-Wtf3tdgZt13XIKV4FyBCj4-rIg6eE_ICLiRJhYqP1cvanicZ7w_FA/s320/DSC00968.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602574740866559394" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Because of the Earth Day celebrations, they also had this fun inflatable slide. This thing was huge! Ben had fun, but he said it was scary. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKvZm-_cENlvNFhTDMyuD0xDwNsCmrNg2EJOvqCqfpLwxbz0Tg3b9nH2TF7rrWo8VNhMx5EQ0Pn6Ct74JB0dh8V-LjS7DlDbI4q4GYouQKc1cdXpp44EXcuaV5eNLBmSBcpkBZo6zXzA/s1600/DSC00967.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaKvZm-_cENlvNFhTDMyuD0xDwNsCmrNg2EJOvqCqfpLwxbz0Tg3b9nH2TF7rrWo8VNhMx5EQ0Pn6Ct74JB0dh8V-LjS7DlDbI4q4GYouQKc1cdXpp44EXcuaV5eNLBmSBcpkBZo6zXzA/s320/DSC00967.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602574736616265298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ezra loved it. He tumbled at the very end of his sliding down and planted himself face first at the bottom. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWEgLH9XKLazjlOJbs-BLxzuw38RGSpBX-k7cXUYo_aWXj3UvA8wE4qMkYM5gW7TeZXGMXU-HS0bf0Zw8YWGwm1p0KgtN1N1-sXY6PSutNbYA6mYwv4O1MxnrOXsh6pzchv1rVdh-hKw/s1600/DSC00966.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWEgLH9XKLazjlOJbs-BLxzuw38RGSpBX-k7cXUYo_aWXj3UvA8wE4qMkYM5gW7TeZXGMXU-HS0bf0Zw8YWGwm1p0KgtN1N1-sXY6PSutNbYA6mYwv4O1MxnrOXsh6pzchv1rVdh-hKw/s320/DSC00966.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602574734562168850" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Ben, the Daddy, went on it with the boys and he loved it, too. I had a turn myself, with Ezra (Ben didn't want to go on it again) and I squealed on the way down! That slide was way tall and waaay steep! But it was a blast!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgusao7HXRog6pV4Qo5prZZZgQ5aDYeBxdddWX_EnYrZnmENLFdHLber48RMkuP_ksuiPoPr1KNVrKGWnLUl7ZLmBH9e0c6t_0u4oDfXiEuEpzwQ74juym6mkTPxp_xYrfpmNMv_EYe8/s1600/DSC00964.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgusao7HXRog6pV4Qo5prZZZgQ5aDYeBxdddWX_EnYrZnmENLFdHLber48RMkuP_ksuiPoPr1KNVrKGWnLUl7ZLmBH9e0c6t_0u4oDfXiEuEpzwQ74juym6mkTPxp_xYrfpmNMv_EYe8/s320/DSC00964.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602574405679998354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">There was a booth with Magnolia Tree Saplings. The boys got to plant one each and take it home.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFAjWrMNxi1vQJOWSpIW9flKeOaXCsudCvOQULt_osCYAA_LIXtr8IBrSTW7NkT_5WjL72ho5GTDekN3UsYICt7qrq2b0H3qhh9-A7SUoA29v3u-1xVnkK0uV3oleMJoC6XoIDDGqS6Y/s1600/DSC00963.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwFAjWrMNxi1vQJOWSpIW9flKeOaXCsudCvOQULt_osCYAA_LIXtr8IBrSTW7NkT_5WjL72ho5GTDekN3UsYICt7qrq2b0H3qhh9-A7SUoA29v3u-1xVnkK0uV3oleMJoC6XoIDDGqS6Y/s320/DSC00963.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602574392097831618" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They had a good time doing this. Ben did a great job putting dirt in his pot, but Ezra seemed to think it was yucky. They get into the dirt when you don't want them to, but when you want them to, they don't want to. Boys! Gotta love'em!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6KJO_IlMrqSNA7wRcg6I759YSuQOiuTsNpHdn-FuSZ1JUM_UMa-uaRsouxpXMTcsC-9AA__ULsEc4Ge-uq4ofOx0tX2yn6sNKxg5lKxnv45oXFOiS4k6hDtzuSoiISMoZM-fvq6_v6c/s1600/DSC00960.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN6KJO_IlMrqSNA7wRcg6I759YSuQOiuTsNpHdn-FuSZ1JUM_UMa-uaRsouxpXMTcsC-9AA__ULsEc4Ge-uq4ofOx0tX2yn6sNKxg5lKxnv45oXFOiS4k6hDtzuSoiISMoZM-fvq6_v6c/s320/DSC00960.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602572117858457170" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEGHl-74ORJaxpEkZUGTj16y0j55JJTKb6PZq8IJ-2jiY5dfjzBSaJZKZyQ3-C-2bTne_rG66lGZjFTvePkJNVzwh58rcyugQ_qP7ULmpEaWYbVOAYxehyphenhyphen4mOAB28ofIhLqjqj2IOpHA/s1600/DSC00957.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEGHl-74ORJaxpEkZUGTj16y0j55JJTKb6PZq8IJ-2jiY5dfjzBSaJZKZyQ3-C-2bTne_rG66lGZjFTvePkJNVzwh58rcyugQ_qP7ULmpEaWYbVOAYxehyphenhyphen4mOAB28ofIhLqjqj2IOpHA/s320/DSC00957.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602572113036758514" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">This is the best picture we got of the carousel ride. Ezra is looking away and I'm trying to peer over the moving alligator Benny was on. That carousel was PACKED!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpckt4z2i1vF06nkjYM9UiYHyo1X0pVF7lU8PdsLKENl-X8CteEcByQB9-_wkPP7Fpuqn2k2u68pzGVNU5cg5Q9NjB8obWkm7nZfROLlpDaUFcsleLBqX2dk5t84pRqptCx30OTe9uXdw/s1600/DSC00953.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpckt4z2i1vF06nkjYM9UiYHyo1X0pVF7lU8PdsLKENl-X8CteEcByQB9-_wkPP7Fpuqn2k2u68pzGVNU5cg5Q9NjB8obWkm7nZfROLlpDaUFcsleLBqX2dk5t84pRqptCx30OTe9uXdw/s320/DSC00953.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602572107643349074" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Isn't this flower beautiful? It looks much bigger than it really was. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxmSxBrQEKYe0u2JMp35NfDtIJxff2_4YWk7bAQS04On4kpPzNi-o36wD_H1lJ3dMLeS5An9GukaTr_HE7E_ijjVlr8Oim14BcltLN234W-WyMlhVisuxwJLnbh8lA0A3SYuv10XPjgc/s1600/DSC00952.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxmSxBrQEKYe0u2JMp35NfDtIJxff2_4YWk7bAQS04On4kpPzNi-o36wD_H1lJ3dMLeS5An9GukaTr_HE7E_ijjVlr8Oim14BcltLN234W-WyMlhVisuxwJLnbh8lA0A3SYuv10XPjgc/s320/DSC00952.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602571593333955362" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">And this picture looks 10 times better than I thought it would.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IEunQQMarZ1_-rv8tjtPRaYrVepY_pR_e-X1Vd8Gk9EZDV4kGHqjA96cfKkbaEOJ8WYhKHljA1KcNr5_xVVCdv1TIwzEFgcjh1N4XUBstossCVvW9GcBrnD07eTGR6kU_2T0xkyTwnc/s1600/DSC00951.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8IEunQQMarZ1_-rv8tjtPRaYrVepY_pR_e-X1Vd8Gk9EZDV4kGHqjA96cfKkbaEOJ8WYhKHljA1KcNr5_xVVCdv1TIwzEFgcjh1N4XUBstossCVvW9GcBrnD07eTGR6kU_2T0xkyTwnc/s320/DSC00951.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602571584421753538" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Flamingos! They were fun to watch.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYaDuk-TQ38HQV2CiOhMwFvgYazQ72LTSjeJA5RK8v_FxyOrmEDRYu46dDdM1llVMbx5-WjXBNoQeAImpOZ4kO6Iq21kpxC73lBJ14WFgqTKUW3PxZSX9X4CY3tT8k3PBYMyTOHJzyok/s1600/DSC00946.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYaDuk-TQ38HQV2CiOhMwFvgYazQ72LTSjeJA5RK8v_FxyOrmEDRYu46dDdM1llVMbx5-WjXBNoQeAImpOZ4kO6Iq21kpxC73lBJ14WFgqTKUW3PxZSX9X4CY3tT8k3PBYMyTOHJzyok/s320/DSC00946.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602571575322099058" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">We had a great time at the zoo. They boys quickly asked when we were coming back. We'll be back very soon.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-50976276849205079682011-04-27T16:49:00.004-04:002011-04-27T16:55:13.627-04:00High Adventure<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3DqwkGnLO8f7hAGLfm5Y4ZVlh21YC9oYAR7mWxbqRQLr6fdI40RYX-utAhtoVVP4WrvHt7mVeQ-amHJWO3PkhI6gagLR0bzuiAPPoO98yt3dgXw8TWAwYfZm7ITgmnFJkvDwwbT2Ic4/s1600/218396_1972841117283_1130697863_2365055_7078296_o.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY3DqwkGnLO8f7hAGLfm5Y4ZVlh21YC9oYAR7mWxbqRQLr6fdI40RYX-utAhtoVVP4WrvHt7mVeQ-amHJWO3PkhI6gagLR0bzuiAPPoO98yt3dgXw8TWAwYfZm7ITgmnFJkvDwwbT2Ic4/s400/218396_1972841117283_1130697863_2365055_7078296_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600369522357711554" /></a><br />The 4th year High Adventure for my Stake was this past weekend. You know I took my camera! But if you know me well, you know I forgot to use it.<div>It's quite frustrating, really. I want to take pictures, but I'd rather be hands free and enjoy myself. I need to do better about it. I'm working on it! </div><div>So this weekend I relied on my dear friend Kacey, who went on the camping trip, too. I told her she'd have to send me her pictures since I had a picture FAIL!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here is a group picture, with our fun Fabulous Flying Monkey t-shirts. I'm so excited for the actual week of camp! Can't wait!!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-82339825069224284882011-04-19T00:35:00.011-04:002011-04-19T01:04:44.782-04:00Whistle While You Work...<div style="text-align: center;">Time has flown and our little guys are big enough to help around the house. House work never ends and if Mommy can get help, she's gonna take it! The boys love being helpers and are really good about cleaning up. That convinced me that it was time for them to have a chore chart. We planned this about a month or two in advance. I searched for the materials I wanted and worked on a Family Home Evening lesson that would tie everything in, a chore chart, responsibilities, working, and an allowance with money jars. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhw5-06wa6sM0ZP_tdPhprilWcVVM-1lpL4U7rDnz-uG_hdQVDnauyhUEX1w8L59O5MzokCWHLgEgJLq5QScFhrtJsPeNgK1TR2LsaUpeJ7oIShCAvVFz6uzA7cH2XsHD6pADJ5Rv0RQ/s1600/DSC00865.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhw5-06wa6sM0ZP_tdPhprilWcVVM-1lpL4U7rDnz-uG_hdQVDnauyhUEX1w8L59O5MzokCWHLgEgJLq5QScFhrtJsPeNgK1TR2LsaUpeJ7oIShCAvVFz6uzA7cH2XsHD6pADJ5Rv0RQ/s320/DSC00865.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597151059474962130" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here is Ezra posing with his new money jars. Boy, was he excited to get to drop coins in his jars! We decided that we would start them off with a couple of dollar bills. We showed Ezra some dollar bills and asked him what they was. We expected him to say "money" but instead he very quickly and clearly said "Cash!" We thought it was so funny! Who knows where he got that from!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYJ5C0Npaf9jGaZi1eTaYLbkGBTe5_jv66lQOZ-JGzjEQiVVKzP57YJFJJgYs_dDz-slFId1qkGrpIk2eZtY-tkU09umKLjJHJxLutSGkm3o8XNBF8D3umGXLRr07q3YMJKcG48ycRnY/s1600/DSC00864.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikYJ5C0Npaf9jGaZi1eTaYLbkGBTe5_jv66lQOZ-JGzjEQiVVKzP57YJFJJgYs_dDz-slFId1qkGrpIk2eZtY-tkU09umKLjJHJxLutSGkm3o8XNBF8D3umGXLRr07q3YMJKcG48ycRnY/s320/DSC00864.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597150847038507810" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here is Ben with his money jars. He was so excited to get to separate the money and distribute it. He put a lot of his money into his Mission fund, because he can't wait to be 19 and go on a mission. He said he wants to go to Mexico on his mission.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5jEOp9JhGKhQFhYoPXmbMJ3gA20f2PQAYVdewn7TRrqFTouXiE4yZyDqjPP9HgBJwV0blmVnegtkwBjjrpeF_HrZR4o4ZnTghrDj6WEzZnt_LiW6_BMeJvZDqPeCVJGfqKive0JYBTE/s1600/DSC00872.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi5jEOp9JhGKhQFhYoPXmbMJ3gA20f2PQAYVdewn7TRrqFTouXiE4yZyDqjPP9HgBJwV0blmVnegtkwBjjrpeF_HrZR4o4ZnTghrDj6WEzZnt_LiW6_BMeJvZDqPeCVJGfqKive0JYBTE/s320/DSC00872.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597150693674018898" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I explained that the boys would have daily responsibilities that they needed to get gone. Once they did those, any other jobs they did would make them eligible to receive payment in form of money. I used clip-art to show what the jobs are, since they can't read yet. I also used some already made chore charts I got from Target dollar section to place the clip-art on. we put them on on a wall in our dining room, where they will see it multiple times a day, and be reminded that they too have to help.</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJXt0FqhrdN9UTWqBrukUEpaO-bUSFcDnY-yQac3v1tb_vRugicC_rwuqZ3l_Y-sLLj8cKwe2V2RPYHPNsJ_j7Nx32dV4O7fh0zI8SU95E4HtLBLylf6cei08ayQkrxiYNCiii6rEj4o/s1600/DSC00869.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAJXt0FqhrdN9UTWqBrukUEpaO-bUSFcDnY-yQac3v1tb_vRugicC_rwuqZ3l_Y-sLLj8cKwe2V2RPYHPNsJ_j7Nx32dV4O7fh0zI8SU95E4HtLBLylf6cei08ayQkrxiYNCiii6rEj4o/s320/DSC00869.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597150530488859922" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">On the back of each jar I used stick on letters to write their name so that we never confused which one belongs to whom.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVttSyN3a0o6agMLLaexS-HSemaLJX367GWiYDsWljM38dyCkW-gOfsec90ddsI2YsxUGg6DATMJgKtNRDZymznLGxmBXfac9OiPjduMSIr7KTi1G1T2abyjUBJ-JfdbVwSKEWGfdA3_0/s1600/DSC00868.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVttSyN3a0o6agMLLaexS-HSemaLJX367GWiYDsWljM38dyCkW-gOfsec90ddsI2YsxUGg6DATMJgKtNRDZymznLGxmBXfac9OiPjduMSIr7KTi1G1T2abyjUBJ-JfdbVwSKEWGfdA3_0/s320/DSC00868.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597150399845813042" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">The different jars are labeled "Mission" so they can save up for their missions; "Tithing" so they can put away the 10% of what they earn to pay in tithing; and "Savings" where we encourage them to save their money, and/or save up for something they really want.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vKWlyinwmobhWymjXtYZhyMClfPc1W2sd4t7f1ygxatSzuQ0M0ssEDxpiwTuQWqr9yBjnTbv3RPIsnPB-FpfX1ghqHc0Q1Wgf6ZaEigk5t6KVxyBf9huYt2VkMJu9CySuYyCK3Kb6F8/s1600/DSC00867.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vKWlyinwmobhWymjXtYZhyMClfPc1W2sd4t7f1ygxatSzuQ0M0ssEDxpiwTuQWqr9yBjnTbv3RPIsnPB-FpfX1ghqHc0Q1Wgf6ZaEigk5t6KVxyBf9huYt2VkMJu9CySuYyCK3Kb6F8/s320/DSC00867.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597150134342126162" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I keep them together in the little "box" that the jars originally came from. My goal is to cover it in paper or mod podge it or maybe even just paint it. But I haven't gotten there yet.</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dRBMCtZpGoDpcT88VKOzV7v5tLX1iwh7nyKr3mmPiKvDaXVDlihiD1R9BjW93k0uJe45gvAOT33NLFqh7fFgu7Dgw-tdmZt21fNaVlBXQGYmcQi5di4j-TBrgjCiDKBq4sZIEPHVmNg/s1600/DSC00866.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dRBMCtZpGoDpcT88VKOzV7v5tLX1iwh7nyKr3mmPiKvDaXVDlihiD1R9BjW93k0uJe45gvAOT33NLFqh7fFgu7Dgw-tdmZt21fNaVlBXQGYmcQi5di4j-TBrgjCiDKBq4sZIEPHVmNg/s320/DSC00866.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597149955197916530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the charts I made with so much love. I didn't have a laminator so I used clear packing tape to laminate each square of clip-art. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGwwdmeKQjupzxHhJf98wRUzBKQDR0zWD9M9xRGWBeoMUJh2Mr3c0BeT3rwQf_nLwbU-7yxpOSqaq3_oBGDErjIypByupIrKBbheVGf-8rXcZ6aLII1TQI9ez4Gt0lKAKYBhm78mKSz0/s1600/DSC00863.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGwwdmeKQjupzxHhJf98wRUzBKQDR0zWD9M9xRGWBeoMUJh2Mr3c0BeT3rwQf_nLwbU-7yxpOSqaq3_oBGDErjIypByupIrKBbheVGf-8rXcZ6aLII1TQI9ez4Gt0lKAKYBhm78mKSz0/s320/DSC00863.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597149758617435298" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6soQd_ffbLa1YOWS6VV6jwb7yS-o7DOZ1CD_I5VCQIvKo780bK7Ah6eFwPJM24NFXser06cSI-6Th9ZnCkLRyWKJtSfu_64XVblCFvVht454-v8gCKKsCQOmDWJGWP3tdDsOx9RxCM7c/s1600/DSC00862.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6soQd_ffbLa1YOWS6VV6jwb7yS-o7DOZ1CD_I5VCQIvKo780bK7Ah6eFwPJM24NFXser06cSI-6Th9ZnCkLRyWKJtSfu_64XVblCFvVht454-v8gCKKsCQOmDWJGWP3tdDsOx9RxCM7c/s320/DSC00862.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597149529470964322" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYiPfCPr-mKzAakaAW0NFM5P01uWLgRkoPkFaqtB_D-vRgBxsuWtBNVp952yEzT2uBQAZExY7WrWHExKbp2WdyzQ7QcHKRciFeOTGzBP34i4xWRA0vGXK6dxou4ABHhsIhrhbJWOtYHg/s1600/DSC00861.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYiPfCPr-mKzAakaAW0NFM5P01uWLgRkoPkFaqtB_D-vRgBxsuWtBNVp952yEzT2uBQAZExY7WrWHExKbp2WdyzQ7QcHKRciFeOTGzBP34i4xWRA0vGXK6dxou4ABHhsIhrhbJWOtYHg/s320/DSC00861.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5597149290229320034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It was a great FHE night. So far they've done pretty well. I hope this will allow them to be more responsible than I was while I was growing up. They had a blast with talking about all the different jobs they now had and with counting their money. </div><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-61077370989859271502011-04-10T20:38:00.008-04:002011-04-10T21:07:03.397-04:00General Conference Weekend<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuk1LHQnyZ21LADOB28UsPUnpPS6ajODHMPYTk3xjyCX7jyLkfDOaBKlGDmaxAkCfjd-PeQvt294F0PqAEbVkPqfOW0QQUqVLNXlOOorbE_uzL2kxceCBvWLQO91bmjT8GdacnhWyLwAE/s1600/DSC00860.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuk1LHQnyZ21LADOB28UsPUnpPS6ajODHMPYTk3xjyCX7jyLkfDOaBKlGDmaxAkCfjd-PeQvt294F0PqAEbVkPqfOW0QQUqVLNXlOOorbE_uzL2kxceCBvWLQO91bmjT8GdacnhWyLwAE/s320/DSC00860.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594124670393872274" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNzLZsbe492EFblz0nj67kbBnAaJ8bQmpSyjsG8XV4HzNXb3OYKU2S6h2dtFeTjAb6dpdqUv_7qdv8RiLGfZP-OLQZiWA3jSaCHlcI5ZmXP8M76BgpJ1oOS8j4NVPy4xsMBm73_ZqoEA/s320/DSC00858.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594124535767006834" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>This year's General Conference was fantastic! If you missed it, you can watch or listen <a href="http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/04?lang=eng">here</a>.<div>We set up a small folding table in the middle of the living room and prepared some fun snacks and lunch along with coloring and activity pages that were themed for Conference. The boys had a great time!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2GKARTAhEkOhsoTDqH7P04UkApkLMeW851ROLUKFXqA037_j_VGvYfo9cKmMd-KmLvnSgEvHVANRYeLQHEcE4g6YZ-mePlve6G2MMsV1vWKMzKpv4HoUvydmfYqWxV59YK7oUmTNwqY/s320/DSC00856.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594124319271623490" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_F11ATKq2Vf14kdFZ2gOOO9WbEqBdn68OrFhyphenhyphenOA175wf_Csl7kz7ePtcDTE49nnlWtAWCcC60J_1wEUWiSEJi58ljQMvkOe5FsXm2x1EGiE_piT1FP5ch2rbQSnzWd7YOMLT54oFQlQ/s320/DSC00854.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594124100466195746" /><div><br /></div><div>One of my favorite and uplifting talks of this years co</div><div>nference was Quentin L. Cook's. It was titled "LDS Women Are Incredible!" and one of the most amazing quotes (for me) was:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(47, 57, 58); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(47, 57, 58); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; ">Our women are not incredible because they have managed to avoid the difficulties of life—quite the opposite. They are incredible because of the way they face the trials of life. Despite the challenges and tests life has to offer—from marriage or lack of marriage, children’s choices, poor health, lack of opportunities, and many other problems—they remain remarkably strong and immovable and true to the faith. Our sisters throughout the Church consistently “succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.”</span><sup class="noteMarker" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: super; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; line-height: 1; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></sup></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(47, 57, 58); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD56S58hmnBgcMzB1VWbB3fRGyU988X6lwhLePCexqdDVULQEf1tB6s9WbGyBkswWnceZm6PEuxPxhMQ5lrlYS9eSzIUkgvet1JTeSi2y5EiCSnujX3q7_gPj-75Bs7mjnjkcqhN4R1t0/s320/DSC00853.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594123763846658050" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(47, 57, 58); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b>What a strengthening weekend it was! Here are</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(47, 57, 58); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><b>some pictures. Not many, I know, because we were too busy watching!</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(47, 57, 58); line-height: 18px; font-family:'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Sans', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKgOMDXR9LZj39LGFXcMLPgpAB079CZ4d1bejfwYRnO7lJ91eeHpxLIAigPt0XPYmLjzVkm382npuIbCOC-p_XSA08keKBXevrYCUrgiUdMaSknSPsKDe4B61bPaprDfvgDvKay6JinY/s320/DSC00852.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594123395945136178" /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-3039443893972125032011-02-28T11:32:00.006-05:002011-02-28T11:49:09.255-05:00Orlando Temple<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7zP0wNPQi5TCk5VTULIoXGhBzTymczTQEVkpbrkVOcbxFQ4myEGMk_7LB39jeQRWhG3wNWUlprchqI8zby_Hk4MIdEnbEvYe8eO5Zy21MmzXdLfIxRUlWDVATB2TEWBYxZ5GkCvI8uQ/s1600/DSC00533.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7zP0wNPQi5TCk5VTULIoXGhBzTymczTQEVkpbrkVOcbxFQ4myEGMk_7LB39jeQRWhG3wNWUlprchqI8zby_Hk4MIdEnbEvYe8eO5Zy21MmzXdLfIxRUlWDVATB2TEWBYxZ5GkCvI8uQ/s200/DSC00533.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578781681100093842" /></a><br />A few months ago we went to the Orlando Temple. We didnt go inside, but instead we hung out at the grounds and enjoyed soaking up the sun andtaking pictures. This was the first time the boys were at any temple, so it was neat to talk to them about it. Here are some pics.<div><br /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6rHIAh1R73MnIP356stivUyQB_M66UVRFza0A5ldHFCA2OP2bhQT6ELjAsCoee8WoDdmrUCS54y2hOIUOx9kKrb4D8JSsvDqfyN9SFNselBC8ewkP03U5hCuaMIFh88hM4N6Zbl2agg/s200/DSC00542.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578781866987648466" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidA9tuwOaNEMhrLNukGgLCEL-Yc7UqKtID6-eFuMH6APHqBiMAmtikyR5VLlP32e89yXzA04um5rixWU7k7E8JALkUnzKK5ZwbHMgWzuSp4tvaaxfc5nEB6NuSdfsvUwq5nL-rFCfZt9I/s200/DSC00573.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578782064930371890" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1fibd8lSPmxRQdFBdeVbgiP94XFE9pVIAKiKF4HaS7vtRCEhOiZdLDCpybzzju_F_jBvMDtH6l11GPVotQtSQ13QPRGqamoOqRGsqzGjYwf6SU64gbiKwkKzgkQh8q-l3l47mGmeYtac/s200/DSC00569.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578782397430261730" /><div><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-71905732656129438232011-01-19T15:26:00.002-05:002011-01-19T15:45:49.759-05:00Where are the Wintertime Blues?<div align="center">Usually by this time in the year I'm just deeply yearning (imagine me stretching and reaching far out into the distance with a real look of yearning in my face-almost to the point of desperation) for the Spring to arrive, with its beautiful buds, warm bright sunshine and the sound of birds chirping the day away. I even wish for the Summer to hurry and skip over Spring. The Wintertime Blues are very well known to me. I try to pretend they haven't arrived, when in fact they've already moved in and unpacked the suitcases. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">This year, however, is different. Very. I guess those Blues didn't get the address change and couldn't make it this year. Living in Florida has been phenomenal! I know its Winter; I get it. When we moved here people told us that we would love this season's Winter and that next year we would be more acclimated and freeze our little (or big) tushies off just like the rest of the Floridians. </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Not so!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I am already freezing my little (big, really) tushie off! I'm a wimp, I guess. But this 50's weather is COLD! And then I laugh about it when I talk with family elsewhere in the country. They are in ranges of the teens to the 40s. Disclaimer: I'm not complaining!! I've got it good, and I know it!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">So on a day where the temperature is 54degrees, I will wear my sweater, my scarf and my coat. And I feel kinda silly, because back in IN or NJ I would be celebrating that I only have to wear a jacket. But here, I can get away with it because lots of people do that. I like to be warm. I love to be warm.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The sky is still blue and the sun shines through, even if it is really cold out. Not so many gray, dark, cloudy, ugly days here. There aren't mountains of dirty snow that won't melt away, either. The trees aren't pretty (yet), but everything else makes up for it. I've been feeling pretty good! I'm still excited for the Spring, but I'm not desperately reaching for it.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Goodbye Wintertime Blues. </div><div align="center">Hello Florida! I am falling for you, fast! </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-74344026306450538612011-01-08T12:28:00.006-05:002011-01-08T13:10:30.764-05:00Papas RellenasLast week, on the first day of the new year, I decided I was going to make something really yummy and out of the ordinary for dinner. The problem was I had no idea what I was going to make. So as I stood in the kitchen thinking about things I enjoyed eating that I hadn't had in a long time I remembered the fabulous and delicious <a href="http://cubaninthemidwest.blogspot.com/">CubanInTheMidwest.</a> Ivonne's blog is pretty much the epitome of the food I ate throughout my childhood. Growing up in urban NJ we had a true melting pot of Latinos from everywhere and I had a lot of the things she posts about. She is fantastic, with great recipes and pictures and directions for making delicious Cuban or Cuban-inspired food.<br /><div><div><div>So I remembered that she made <a href="http://www.blogger.com/Papas%20Rellenas">PapasRellenas</a> or Meat Stuffed Potatoes. I already had garlic parmesan mashed potatoes made from scratch that had been leftover from dinner the other night. And I also had some picadillo (cooked ground beef) that would be enough for the potatoes. </div><div>I didn't follow her exact recipe since my "ingredients" were leftovers. And I used Panko bread crumbs, instead of regular. Here are a few pictures from my cooking.</div><div></div><div align="center">Potato Ball already stuffed</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559875310809667298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJ1ekWldcuekr-FPykwAxLt-u8au2PwkLs7tyt_1bXf5mi6SbqS-6Nkntg1TjjZoHkGvo9u_kq0CJDO7sMaHEJtKSGBiRwalqy6FBwGHVfEiyiXrQqmP0WIuhmhxnJeb9Kj9dipqzm8g/s200/DSC00787.JPG" /></div><div align="center">Already breaded potato balls</div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559875631440645042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8iRfdx2mlp26hgMg080iRjk-JukqSKXuaZU6q0vQfDJtVsUwdMHYtTZMqz7tKXJubqYd0a0jH5YlQ_C4I-enk8Jh_LRwcKhG0oSs4cHqKSWW8-e21Lo8mYlMs1u00eA0NVQqVeYEhd_8/s200/DSC00788.JPG" /></div></div></div><br /><p align="center">In the frying pan!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559876162713870354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBMHTSuLS3sJsAGBYwP0v0-bAAojz07KyKN8_Iprd9vz7dP2Fb9g2TmQxPrRVsSmMrIMJrKNlZyE33n4jyRV4zYiqBpkigCQ5gOp8YrbSg8k9HohQC2yJVzjv0ssd4IomK2fBQGbVZ3x8/s200/DSC00789.JPG" /></p><p>These were soooo good! We scarfed them down before I realized I never took photos of the finished product. We made a yummy dipping sauce with ketchup and hot sauce (Cholula brand hot sauce is the best!) Please visit <a href="http://cubaninthemidwest.blogspot.com/2010/03/papas-rellenas.html">Ivonne'sRecipe</a> to see how EASY this is and so worth the time! She says its quite messy, but my mess wasn't bad at all. Mmmm, so good! </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-78274818645511540512011-01-06T13:04:00.000-05:002011-01-06T13:04:06.167-05:00Thank Goodness for Insurance?Monday night, jammies are on and shortly it will be bed time.<br />Ezra cuts his left middle finger.<br />Lots of blood.<br />Inside "meat" is exposed. (thats what they called it while at Urgent Care. Yeah, real professional)<br />We bandage it and decide it's pretty bad we need to take him to said urgent care. They close in about 20 minutes.<br />We make it 5 minutes before closing time. We get told he needs to go to the emergency room at the hospital. Ben thinks they were brushing us off because they wanted to go home sooner than later.<br />We wait at the ER waiting room for almost 3 hours.<br />Come midnight thirty the nurse cleans the wound, adds a numbing cream, dressing, and gets the finger bandaged, pretty much the same way I bandaged it at home.<br />We get a couple extra of the above and are told we should change it daily.<br />We get discharged.<br /><br /><br />No X-rays, no stitches, no cast...<br /><br /><br />Our bill is over $2600.<br /><br /><br />Yeah, we've got insurance, but we still have to pay close to $500 out of pocket.<br /><br /><br />For pretty much a bandaid.<br /><br /><br />Awesome.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-52515770556899522052010-12-20T14:43:00.002-05:002010-12-20T15:03:12.004-05:00Kitchen-escapades (to come)It is wonderful to have all of my things back, especially my kitchen things. Now that we are totally unpacked and have everything is out of storage I can use my own things again. I don't have anything fancy or special, nor do I have special or expensive gadgets. But what I do have, I love!<br /><br />I have been wanting to start using my things again, but just haven't had the real motivation to get my things out and get cookin'. I have stuck to the regular pots and pans. Nothing fancy. On Sunday, at church, the lesson was about using our leisure time wisely. We should develop our talents and work on meaningful things instead of just constantly vegetating on the couch and watching mindless TV, for example. A list was made on the board about what sorts of things we spend our time doing, that aren't responsibilities (like work and school). I suggested adding to the list "baking" and my new dear friend <a href="http://thedillspiel.blogspot.com/">Katy</a> asked me if I enjoyed cooking. I immediately answered in the affirmative and then got to thinking: "Yes, I do like cooking. In fact, I love it. I love baking, too. I love creating things for my family and friends to enjoy. But I haven't done it a while. I haven't really developed this talent of mine the way I would like to."<br /><br />So, thanks <a href="http://thedillspiel.blogspot.com/">Katy</a> for reminding me of one of my passions that I had put on the back burner, no pun intended. :-)<br /><br />So today, I'm using my bread maker and my food processor. Both of which I've only used less than a handful of times. I'm also using my oven and my hands! Talent developing, here I come!<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;">sorry for the lack of photos. once we get our new computer this will be remedied. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"> it just takes way too long for me to upload. and i dont feel like using google images :-)</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-36268962796467332142010-12-12T20:10:00.002-05:002010-12-12T20:17:38.104-05:00I'm back!The kids are in bed (although totally not asleep!), Ben is keeping busy and I decided I was going to look at my blog again after months of neglect. I am determined to start blogging again! Things aren't as crazy anymore and I feel like naormality is creeping up on us again. Hooray!<br /><br />So I'll make my returning debut post simple and easy...<br /><br />Florida is wonderful! We LOVE it! We love the area we live in, we love our new home, we absolutely love our new ward and the new friends we are making.<br /><br />The boys are growing ever so quickly! Benny will be starting Primary in the sunbeams class in January and Ezra just turned 2!<br /><br />We are so excited for Christmas to come, too! It will be a great year with new memories and new traditions started. <br /><br />We miss our family in Indiana and New Jersey, but we feel like this is home now. We're so excited for this new chapter in our lives! Thanks for sticking around and reading! I'll be sure to keep my blog updated!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-25372371800014269832010-07-29T14:01:00.003-04:002010-07-29T14:34:33.699-04:00I heart $hopping<div><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Wngx2EMsLKcFKM:http://wilder.blogs.com/abbottwilder/images/2007/11/26/snoopy_happy_dance_2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 97px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Wngx2EMsLKcFKM:http://wilder.blogs.com/abbottwilder/images/2007/11/26/snoopy_happy_dance_2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>I LOVE to shop. Oh my goodness, it relieves stress better than a hot bath with candles and aroma therapy. It works better to cheer me up than chocolate cake and ice cream. Shopping causes euphoria in me and it makes me want to do the happy dance. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But my love of shopping does not mean that I have maxed credit cards, or that I spend money on anything just for the sake of buying something, even if its a great deal. Sometimes I "shop" without buying anything. When i do that, I feel most proud of myself; but it doesn't happen very often.</div><div> </div><div>I'm a deal seeker. Hard-core. Although I know many people who do get better deals than I do, for the most part I fare really well. I am most <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">successful</span> when I grocery shop. I usually walk out of the store with a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">receipt</span> that says I saved from 50-60% and my savings vary from $50 to $100. I use coupons, sales, and rebates. Yeah, its time consuming, but I LOVE it. It helps me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">de</span>-stress and gives me motivation to find better deals. I grocery shop at two different stores that i think have the best deals and are the most location-convenient to me. Sure, I don't do one stop shopping, but that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">isn't</span> fun to me. This is my hobby. I save my family money. And I'm good at it. I always try to out-do myself.</div><br /><div></div><div>Next come my two favorite places. Target and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Walmart</span>. Oh my goodness! The deals I have gotten are incredible. i try really hard not to pay full price for anything-ESPECIALLY clothing. I always go straight to the clearance racks/bins/aisles and I always find something <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">that's</span> a score. I usually pay under $4 a piece for clothes for all of us. And I think we dress pretty nice. We may not fit the cover of a fashion magazine, but we always looks clean and presentable. You would be surprised at how low things can be priced at these two stores when they are trying to liquidate their inventory for the season. </div><br /><div></div><div>I especially love Target because I believe they are higher quality than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Walmart</span> and they have their own store coupons which you can stack with manufacturer's coupons. last week I got a fantastic deal on some fruit cups with a Target coupon and a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">manufacturer's</span> coupon. I paid 24 cents for a four pack. I'm so awesome! I also enjoy some major stores at the mall. The clearance section is great, too!</div><div> </div><div><a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Wngx2EMsLKcFKM:http://wilder.blogs.com/abbottwilder/images/2007/11/26/snoopy_happy_dance_2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 97px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:Wngx2EMsLKcFKM:http://wilder.blogs.com/abbottwilder/images/2007/11/26/snoopy_happy_dance_2.jpg" border="0" /></a>Tonight I'm headed to Target where they have almost all their toys on clearance at 75% off! They have this "sale" every year and last year I scored big. Tonight I hope to find the items I want and that the selection isn't depleted by the time I get there! I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">soooo</span> excited! I'm totally doing the happy dance <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">right</span> now.</div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-14508093861506493272010-07-28T12:49:00.002-04:002010-07-28T12:54:07.428-04:00Today's "Happiness Is..." ListHappiness Is...<br /><br />Playing with my ipod<br />Knowing my husband submitted a new job resume! Wahoo!<br />Having my son call me on his pretend phone and having a whole conversation with me<br />Enjoying the quiet of the neighborhood<br />Having a freakishly awesome family....all meant in a good way!<br />Looking at our family vacation photos over and over and over-just loving them!<br />Day dreaming<br />Being healthy<br />Having gratitude<br /><br />Happiness is remembering. :-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-6893814522431561622010-07-19T13:04:00.003-04:002010-07-19T13:52:53.865-04:00Feeling That ConfirmationI usually try not to post anything religious, because I don't want to be criticized or bashed for my beliefs. Today I am making an exception.<br /><br />For the most part, I am a happy person. I consistently and genuinely show gratitude to my Heavenly Father for the very many blessings that I have. I know I am unbelievably blessed and, ultimately, successful. But lately there have been obstacles in our life that we haven't been over to overcome, even though we have been fervently trying to do so. We have no doubt that these things will end and the blessings will come, but the never-ending question for us is "when?" There is only so much one can take, you know? I feel that personally I am at a breaking point. But one way or another I feel confirmation from the Spirit that i, indeed, can go on a little longer. You know, one step at a time.<br /><br />Although I know these things and I have faith that we will be able to change the things we want to change, I personally, have been struggling to feel God's love for me. Specifically. Individually. It's just been a really hard personal, and emotional time for me. I have my ups and downs, and i think I can honestly say that I have more ups than downs. Nonetheless its been difficult for me to overcome these feelings of self-pity and to fully accept that i am a special daughter of God. Although, I have to preface all of this by saying that I have always known these beautiful truths, but in my moments of despair they seem to vanish and no matter how hard I try I can't feel them the way I once did. I've struggled to feel that "fire within" whether in my darkest moment or my happiest.<br /><br />We have been presented with a choice that we have never considered. We felt the need to seriously pray and think about it. We have been fasting every single Sunday since April. We decided to focus our fast yesterday on this new idea, rather that the one we had previously decided we should pursue. So I was determined to really put my all into this weekend, with thought and prayer, fasting and meditation on the matter.<br /><br />Sunday morning we went to church and did things just like every other Sunday. The meeting started and everything was just like every other Sunday. As the meeting continued we reached the Rest Hymn (you know, the one after the first speaker, before the second speaker). It was "I Believe In Christ" by Bruce R McConkie. We were standing to sing this one and I was really thinking about the words.<br /><br />1. I believe in Christ; he is my King!With all my heart to him I’ll sing;I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,In grand amens my tongue employ.I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.On earth to dwell his soul did come.He healed the sick; the dead he raised.Good works were his; his name be praised.<br />2. I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!As Mary’s Son he came to reign’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,To save them from the woes of sin.I believe in Christ, who marked the path,Who did gain all his Father hath,Who said to men: “Come, follow me,That ye, my friends, with God may be.”<br />3. I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!My feet he plants on gospel sod.I’ll worship him with all my might;He is the source of truth and light.I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,And I shall live with joy and love In his eternal courts above.<br />4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;And while I strive through grief and pain,His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”I believe in Christ; so come what may,With him I’ll stand in that great day When on this earth he comes again To rule among the sons of men.<br /><br />I cannot begin to describe the feelings of peace and powerful confirmation that He lives and He loves me. Me, individually, specifically. There was no denying it. This was the confirmation I had been seeking. Verses 3 and 4 were the most powerful for me. In a large congregation where we were all singing the same hymn, I still felt such a private moment of communication with my Father in Heaven through the Holy Spirit. It was so powerful and I am ever thankful for that sweet moment.<br /><br />We aren't alone. He loves us and He sent His Son to show us the way back to Them. Here is a video if you want to listen to this hymn. And if you would like to learn more about what I believe in, please visit this <a href="http://mormon.org/">website</a>.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5SIFwWNFccQ&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5SIFwWNFccQ&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-65730283997127631112010-05-28T08:41:00.007-04:002010-05-28T08:58:10.772-04:00Benny Bear<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMrO0egJsu9j45cqoIKhwqqj9r4yRprhNu-JyaZTFtQH3vV9ocXjRBN9YUWVQ4esczLJDnNyCPkf-V8cZHvj01x_xvE0fbW0fbyNenR_qdG3elCImK-vC-zH9qvuj0fe1QTAbeT3zrYI/s1600/DSC01999.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476301440050058194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNMrO0egJsu9j45cqoIKhwqqj9r4yRprhNu-JyaZTFtQH3vV9ocXjRBN9YUWVQ4esczLJDnNyCPkf-V8cZHvj01x_xvE0fbW0fbyNenR_qdG3elCImK-vC-zH9qvuj0fe1QTAbeT3zrYI/s320/DSC01999.JPG" border="0" /></a> Benny made me a Mommy. He arrived 3 years ago today. I still prefer his tantrums over the contractions. :-) He has grown so much, and he has turned out to be more than I could have imagined. He's perfect. He is so sweet, and so smart. He's a great big brother. He's my little guy!</div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476301835973353010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuFL8_GEAWlex5W5uz8hlROlEvZ1zCIfkQq1Cr7JYeJma0JUxOzZfO_T-0sMDyeC7hBAV3w8J6-Sz-qcKGtP8_wvEe_z2zTgwKAJ2Iuh0llvryOhTDmWVu0U2KBoGB7qc8M3o2dIpCw8/s320/DSC02224.JPG" border="0" />He was always the happiest baby around!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476302330133461810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57BE5L1PJmdfvFflNPH6WQUPxV6ufJs5nlY-L5rnJyH57u24E7mFevqNHjrODRKoJtTU6IpnHV42p-7AQxai-lN0-M5_exhyPFuN2SnfNSgXV2KWNeFhyphenhyphenXvXoNoR-rX9vBqTt0olPaw8/s320/DSC02680.JPG" border="0" />He was also very good at bonking his head. Actually, he's still good at it.</div><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476302750510598578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjr1nT9wUeu1sbASTfV_W6iepULm0RuEFV6ihH5e4TQdMipAHAqoJ4UStiYnXyJfJNNPWuwKdcOnjYkz6ClL0jjs2Ve8WQsQtBcUrRkZ-sC6OHhVIv6I0uLAt5j3ozj8HRkDHtrVhtiQ/s320/Ezra+Pix+006.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Happy, even though he had a hurt arm.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476303015982389330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-4fQlK2U8vOdlmVFC3yNG6yd73WtXu0bTaAtNR2r6HbK8mM0sL4QcyxLfvCR1eB9mt6m0nLEse77WRW0vdNb2AInA0hQQ9JCKSNzxiuaFE0nvo7YzDiD3C1UDD-fdGKNoacI9kobhP4/s320/DSC03827.JPG" border="0" /></p><p align="center">HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY, BENNY BEAR! </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-19056693015598219992010-05-27T13:08:00.002-04:002010-05-27T14:09:03.667-04:00The Prince of DarknessWe watch several dramas on CBS. One of those is Criminal Minds, which had its Season Finale yesterday. We recorded it and watched it later that night. The episode was all about this psycho who would get inside a house during a black-out (they were in LA and there were scheduled rolling black-outs) and kill (among other things). The media in the city nicknamed him "The Prince of Darkness." The last home he broke into, he turned the power off for himself. It was a creepy episode, as are most of them.<br /><br />It was really late and we had already started watching the next show's (CSI: NY) season finale. We were sitting in the living room, just the two of us. Everyone else was asleep. Then everything goes black. Yes. All the electricity is gone. Benny instantly starts screaming, crying, and yelling. My handy cell phone is used for light as I go to the trusty MagLite. I get to Benny and start explaining what was happening and I couldn't help but look out the window. I saw that everything was pitch-black outside, too. Then the lights came back on. Then, a few minutes later they went off again. And finally back on again.<br /><br />It was so creepy! I couldn't help but look everywhere-out the window, the corners of the rooms, the ceiling...<br />Then, Ben and I sat on the couch to resume our season finale and we were talking about what had just happened. We joked that we wouldn't put it past CBS to pay for brown-outs in select viewing areas late at night to cause extra creepiness for their show. Either way, we can't wait for next season!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-61477580421847066972010-05-10T11:49:00.002-04:002010-05-10T11:57:01.080-04:00Mother's Day Gift<div>I finally got it! I finally got what i have wanted for so long! About 7 years were spent wishing and hoping and not being able to afford or justify the expense of what I wanted. But once again, my wonderful husband Ben surprised me with a wonderful gift!</div><br /><div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 279px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.everythingkitchens.com/images/products/popup/kitchen_aid_stand_mixer_4.5_quart_empire_red_ksm450er_popup.jpg" border="0" /></div><br />Isn't it beautiful?! *Sigh* It's Phenomenal! I can't wait to use it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-118070626306144702.post-60131716073926981002010-05-04T12:02:00.002-04:002010-05-04T12:11:09.333-04:00AppreciationToday has already proven to be a tough day for me-emotionally. But whatever, I'm trying to get out of this rut and move forward. It can be done. I've done it before, I can do it again. Along with my personal drama to deal with I have lots of loads of laundry to deal with. But I guess I have to let you in on the secret that I actually really enjoy doing laundry. So its not a biggie, but it does take up a lot of time to get done. <br /><br />As I was sitting on Benny's bed this morning I was thinking about how I was going to gather the energy to get the day started with breakfast, then laundry and possibly a trip to the park or a walk around the neighborhood (and many other things that should get done today). Benny was sitting by my feet putting together his train tracks. <br /><br />He looked up at me and said "Mommy, are you gonna play with me?" I said yes to him, thinking that it probably wouldn't be for very long since I had so much to get done today.<br /><br />He then chuckled lightly and said "I appreciate it!"<br /><br />I can't help but smile and be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">grateful</span> for the blessings that I already do have. It was a boost for my heavy day, and a reminder to be grateful for the present day.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16400555419570849445noreply@blogger.com0