He's Baaaaaaackkkkkk!

On April 9 I flew to Salt Lake City and met my parents and David there.  We journeyed on to Provo to meet up with Sami, and attend her end of the year band concert.  I had promised her that I would buy flowers and have them ready for her at the end of the concert. Unfortunately I forgot, and 25 minutes before the concert was to start David and I were driving around looking for a store that sold flowers.  Provo-ites....business idea: open a flower shop!  We finally found one and I raced in and bought a bouquet.  We raced back to the concert, arriving just in time to be seated.  It was a beautiful concert!  David left the next morning to go back to Rexburg to finish out his end of the year responsibilities.  Grandma, grandpa and I spent that day with Sami.  She had a cold, but was a trouper and went where ever we wanted.  Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of her!  All too quickly the time passed and the next morning we left early to go pack David up to bring him home. The picture above is of David and his two roommates...anyway, their apartment was impressively clean for a boy's apartment and we quickly were packed and ready to go.  Side note: the apartment manager had to sign David off before he left....she gave a new meaning to "white glove" check.  Whew.  We drove to Caldwell and got to have dinner with Aunt Mada and spent the night there.  Next day we drove, drove, drove and drove more and finally made it home!  It was a long drive, but David and I had a good time doing it.  Next step: Bring Sami home!

Grandma and Grandpa stayed to visit with us for the week after we brought David back.  Roo often startles easily..and in this pic something had startled her and she decided to hide behind Grandpa. Silly girl.  She may startle easily, but when it comes to letting us know when strangers are at the door she is serious business.

Have a great week!

Recognizing Blessings

An unexpected blessing happened to us today and I wanted to share it.  Backing up a couple of years:  we have struggled with budgeting our money for years.  It was tough to live on what we made and it was easy to use credit cards.  Over the years we have started and stopped with spending our money wisely...budgeting, budgeting, budgeting.  Giving up when it became too hard or a crisis happened and we went into debt further.  We always paid our bills on time, and never missed payments...we just couldn't seem to put anything into savings.  About two years ago we decided to try again.  Only this time I decided to take the advice of church leaders to pray and study the scriptures for a solution to this problem.  Oh, I had prayed before, but didn't add the scripture part into it til now, AND I really wasn't ready to sacrifice my own "wants".  It made all the difference.  When we were faced with a rather large (thousands) tax bill, at first I was totally crushed, not sure what to do next.  I slept on it, and the next day after prayer and some scripture study,  I was determined we were going to pay this bill with as little help as possible.  We saved every penny we could, we scrimped, we cut back on buying anything that seemed "extra".  We had a little help (thank you!) but we covered most of the bill ourselves.  YEAH!  That success was humbling and made me realize that with the Lord's help we can do anything - even things that seem insurmountable.

Fast forward to today.  It is interesting how things work out.  We are in the position of needing a more dependable vehicle.  A wonderful deal was dropped in our laps and we couldn't say no - so we said yes!  We had to come up with $182 to pay insurance on the new vehicle until our policy renews in July.  I didn't have it.  Still determined to pay cash I decided it would work out.  Sunday Dan was presented with the opportunity to help a woman in our church put risers on her septic tank ports.  In doing a little research on where to buy the risers on the internet I ran into "Septic Riser rebate program".  Turns if you live in a certain area in our county and you've had risers installed (or you install them) anytime after July 2006 you qualify for up to $100 rebate.  We had risers installed in October 2006.  We qualify.  So that bill of $182 has now shrunk to $82...a sum I know I can come up with before the bill is due.

Coincidence? I think not.  By being willing to help someone that needed it, we were blessed - not only with good feelings for helping a friend, but by given the means to pay a bill.  The Lord is good indeed.

I couldn't resist posting more pictures of spring...I love the flowers!  The yellow/orange flowers are actually a strain of daffodil...so pretty!

Today's Sunday School lesson was about likening the scriptures unto us. What does that mean? The scriptures were written SO long ago that sometimes it is hard to remember that the lessons the people learned in biblical/book of mormon times are the same lessons we need today.  For example, today we talked about the consequences of pride, how we can comfort our husbands/wives, and how to have joy and rejoice in this life.  All of those are very relevant topics that we need TODAY...as well as those people who lived so long ago.  The next time you open your scriptures, try to think about putting yourself in them...how is God speaking to you?

Great things happened this last week!  We finally put together the money to pay our taxes - thank goodness!I am so excited to be able to send that off in the mail.  Done with the IRS for another year! We also have put into place plans to visit Sami and pick David up to bring him home for the summer.  Last, but not least, we bought a newer vehicle to replace one of our old old old ones.  Thank you Dad for finding the great deal!  Tommorrow is April and I know it will be a great month with more good things in store.  Look to the sun and you shall not see the shadow.  Good things my friends!

Spring 2013

I looked back to last year's "Spring" post and it was posted in April!  So it looks like we are a little early this year.  That just means the rain ended a little earlier - and who couldn't enjoy that?!?

Not sure if it is age or something else, but time has FLOWN by! In two weeks (from this Tuesday) I will be leaving to see Sami in Utah, and then on to pick up David from college for the summer!  I literally feel like they were just home for Christmas, and then before that we were preparing for the school year.  I am excited to get to see both of my babies very soon.  Balm to a mother's soul.....

Just Listen

Often in our rush, rush world we have to solve problems quickly, and often on a moments notice. We are quick to take in our surroundings and make quick assessments.  What can I do, How can I do it, and How quickly can I make it happen?  It is a good skill for 90% of our lives.  We multitask..and at the end of the day of managed to take care of SO much!  What great skills!  The small portion of our lives, that 10%, is when we don't do as well.  It is when we should stop multitasking and pay attention - and LISTEN.  Occasionally we have those people that come into our  lives that need us to slow down...stop multitasking...and just listen.  Sometimes the pat answers we have in our 'quiver' of quick answers aren't appropriate. Sometimes, being a good friend/support means that we sit back and let time pass...and let the person sitting across from us vent...talk...cry...without us trying to solve what is wrong. In our great multitasking worlds we need to STOP...ASSESS...and then LISTEN.  Sometimes our loved ones don't need us to SOLVE...they just need us to LOVE by LISTENING.  Listening takes time...often the hardest gift to give.

On a lighter note, lets do a check in shall we?

1.  Last week ended up being a good week.  I struggled with sleep issues and due to that didn't work as many hours as I intended.  At first I was very frustrated with myself, but when I stopped to think about it I realized my life was off balance - AGAIN! I sat back, took stock, and reordered my work/life balance.  I'm feeling better about that now.

2.  Part of my sleep problem was Roo.  I thought once my kids got old enough that I was done getting up in the  middle of the night for sickies....WRONG. Adopt a dog with a conscience and you are back in the saddle.  She had a stomach bug last week and took to pacing each night at about 1am and then 3 am needing to go out.  I really am grateful she didn't just get sick and not wake us up, but it was hard not getting a full nights sleep!

3.  One of the best parts about this time of year is the weather...and one of the worst parts of about this time of year is the weather!  I loved the beautiful last Saturday - oh my! I mowed and picked up branches that had fallen during the winter...I filled holes the dogs had dug and took a look at the garden.  I can't wait to have more than one sunny day a week!

I'm looking forward to this next week.  Goals set, head up, ready to go!

David Becomes an Elder

What a joyous occasion this was!  David flew in from college for roughly 27 hours so he could have his dad ordain him to the Melchizedic priesthood, office of an Elder.  As boys reach certain ages, they are interviewed by the bishop (head of the congregation) to see if they are worthy and ready to advance to certain levels in the priesthood.  The first step is that of a deacon, when they turn 12.  The next is a teacher when they turn 14, and then a priest at age 16.  When they turn 18, the next step is to be ordained an Elder.  David had to go through the interviewing process with both the bishop and the stake (think of it as a "area" presidency) to see if he was ready.  Then his name had to be presented to the area congregations (called a "stake") for affirmation.  Once that was completed he was ready for the ordination.  This is an important step in a young man's life and we are very proud of David and the growth he has made in becoming a young man of God.  Love you David!

Dear Sami

Now it is your turn! Since David was here this weekend and you were not, I am writing this letter to you.

Dear Sami:

First, I want you to know how proud I am of you.  I watch you struggle with school and being so far away from us, and you just keep moving forward.  I look to you as an example of what it means to follow the Lord and to do His will. You are extremely hard on yourself and you don't give yourself enough credit for your successes.  Remember how far you've come from that first day of college and all you've accomplished - don't let the boogers get you down.

Like David, it was very hard for me to leave you at college that first time.  I'd venture to say it was one of the very, very hardest things I've ever done.  As a parent you're supposed to protect your children, keep them safe.  I felt like you were being ripped from my heart.  It didn't take me long to learn that you needed this experience to grow into the wonderful woman you are today.  I needed it to grow too, and learn that the best gift your child can give you is to grow into independent adults.  I know you don't think you are, but you have definitely grown into a woman that can take care of herself.  I find I am able to see the Lord's hand in your life and it is amazing to see you move from one rung to another of the eternal ladder we are all on.  Don't give up! You will succeed in getting your education and you will know that the path you are on is the right one. I love you!

Mom