Whacky Wednesday

Some mornings I like to say, "It's Marvelous Monday, or Terrific Tuesday, and of course, Whacky Wednesday". Today has been for sure a Whacky Wednesday. First thing this morning I got the girls on the bus at 7:10 a.m. and then beginning at 8:00 a.m. I made some homemade crescent rolls for a lunch date with a friend. Making crescent rolls that early was completely whacky for me...then I had to be at my daughters school at 2:30 p.m. because she was VIP student, then after school I took everyone to the park to wait until we had to be at the theatre clinic at the High School at 4:30 p.m. , during the clinic I had to pick up my husband at work (ONLY ONE CAR THESE DAYS!!) then hung out at Lowe's to get stuff for our garden, then we went to pick up the girls at the high school, then ate dinner (By the way the new grilled chicken at KFC is so good) after dinner my three year old son had an itty bitty sports class at the rec-center.

At 8:07 p.m. we arrived at home where we unloaded the van and we HAD to watch American Idol. Now at 9:46 p.m. everyone is in bed.

This was definitely a Whacky Wednesday!! BUT...I had a lot of fun!!

Need another book to read?

For my April book club at our library we read The Necklace. I recommend this book to everyone. It is a true story of 13 women that put their money together and bought a diamond necklace. This is the story of their lives and how they shared the diamond necklace.

This book was truly inspiring to me. If you are wanting a good read about friendship and one you can learn from other women then this is the book for you. I learned a lot by reading about these women. Because of this book I chose to make exercise apart of my life. This past week I completed my exercise go and it felt great. I will be doing it again this week.

A Really Nice Day

Hello!! I had a really nice day today. I went and exercised, it's a miracle. I have set a goal to exercise twice a week. I go on Tuesday and Thursday. Today was nice because after I exercised I came home and cleaned out my van AND VACUUMED!! Then planted flowers in flower pots and created an inviting porch. Sandra at SMALL HOUSE invited us to create a cheerful front porch and possibly share it. So, here is what I did today with my porch:

I got this cute pot holder from My husband's grandma...the poor lady. She is in her 80's and her son had to move her in with his family. This past weekend they went through everything to take it to the DI. I was able to gather a few things I would enjoy.

The best part of Spring for me is being able to plant flowers.

You get to see our dog posing for the camera. He is a cute dog, but I'm really not a fan.

Well, that is the end of the tour of my front porch. It is ready for Spring, but we are missing some chairs to sit on to enjoy the outside. Hopefully we will get some soon.

The big 70

Wow, I can't believe this is my 70th post. I should do a giveaway...but I'm not. So, instead I finished a project I have been working on for a few weeks. It takes me a while to finish a project because I split up my purchases between paychecks. Here is how this project got started:

I was shopping at the thrift store when I noticed a silver platter...I had seen a blog that takes a platter and places a letter in the middle and uses it for decorations. So, that day I thought it would be fun if I could find a cool red plate. Seriously, I looked down the isle and there it was a cool red plate. I couldn't believe it...got it for $1.50 and the store price tag was $20.00. Needless to say, I bought it. I also saw on the same blog that she simply printed out the initial on regular paper from her computer. So, guess what I did next?

Yep, I printed a D from my computer and taped it on the plate. Then I wanted to put it in my kitchen, but I needed some kind of plate holder. So, I kept my eyes out for a plate holder. Do you know what is coming next? You guessed it, I found at the thrift store a homemade easle for $1.00. It is made terribly, but I figured nobody will really see it. So, I bought it because I needed to use it.

Well, I bought the flowers, and greenery at the dollar store. I already had the vase and I added real potting soil to the vase. I love this. I enjoy looking at it. I just completed the project this week, and feel very pleased with it. This entire project cost me $7.00. Now I'm sure you just can't wait to hire me to come decorate your house. Totally kidding!!

By the way, I am working on a giveaway...so, try not to get too excited. I'm sure you won't be able to sleep until you find out more. Have a great day!! Really, thanks to those of you who come by. I enjoy visiting your blogs as well.

A Big Thank You!!

On my way home from town I decided to stop at our post office to get our mail. To my surprise I had a key in my box. When I opened the box there was a package from my spring swap partner. I was excited to see what was inside. My son wanted to open the present, but made a big mess in my van so we waited until we got home. Anyway, I am home and excited to enjoy the gifts inside.

As you can see it is a cute little clipboard and two home made wash cloths. Some of my favorite wash cloths have been home made. So, thank you so much Nancy from Something Marvellous for the cute gift. I will find some spring paper to put on my clipboard and keep it in my everyday bag to write down any thoughts or ideas I should write down. I am looking forward to using these. Have a great day!!

I have a question: Is it home made or homemade? I couldn't decide.

A little worried

Well, I am up late because I was sound a sleep when the phone rang. It was our renters calling to let us know that the fridge in the house stopped working. :( Lovely :( There is always something to worry about. I wasn't able to fall back to sleep so here I sit...worrying. I have no idea how we will ever get rid of our house in Arizona. I keep telling my husband we should just let it go, but he is not having that for an option. I know we will eventually have to let it go, but my husband says "we will keep it as long as we can make the payment". We want to keep our credit score great because we want to build a house one day here on our property. I suppose the Lord has blessed us so far, He will continue to do so. We just have to keep going and do what we can then the Lord will take care of the rest.

Anybody want to buy a house in AZ?

On the positive side of things: We have renters, they pay each month, as far as I know they are taking care of our house. I am truly blessed with healthy children, and I am able to stay home to take care of my family.

We're not in Arizona, anymore...

Holy Moly, we had our first soccer game and it was FREEZING!! I'm not just talking freezing I am talking through your bones freezing. I felt so bad for the girls playing. Their arms and hands were bright red and my poor girls were crying. We did not show up prepared at all. I had no clue it would be that cold. To be positive about it, we learned a good lesson...keep blankets and coats in the back of the van at ALL times!!

Moral of the story: If you don't live in Arizona, remember to be prepared for the cold.

Taxed Enough Already!!

I am so tired, but I just wanted to do this before I went to bed. Tonight my little family and I went to the Vernal Tea Party. I so wished I had my camera with me. I was so happy to see people in front of our court house with signs and flags to say "NO MORE" , "I AM NOT AN ATM" and many more I can't remember right now. It was so awesome. There were a good 1000 people there all for the same thing. We are tired of having excessive spending and having leaders that don't care about the American people. I must say I did shed some tears during a speech given by our local talk radio announcer and when the National Anthem was sung. I cheered and yelled "No More". It was a great night...until THE SOCCER GAME!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am proud to say that I went to the Tea Party and I did my part to help tell Obama, YOU SUCK!! Ok, I am laughing right now with my husband because that is quite harsh, but it is how I feel. Have a great night, day, morning whatever you are having.

How Sweet it is...

April has been a really good month. We have had a birthday, starting of soccer, spring break and now we just had Easter. Here is what I have been trying to work on the past few weeks. I have wanted to make my laundry room a more interesting place to be. I hung a shelf that I had lying around my house and placed two silver cans I got on clearance at Walmart and another container I got at the dollar store. When I see other cute things to add to my shelf then I will add more. Here is a peek of what I have done to my laundry room so far.

I worked on making a chalkboard sign for my laundry room. I found this oval board at the dollar store and decided I would paint it with chalkboard paint and create a "open" and "closed" sign.

I painted it on both sides with one side that says "open" and the other says "closed". I took this picture last Monday when I opened my laundry services and honestly could not turn my closed sign around until Saturday. It was a slow week for doing laundry. I was short staffed and so it kept me behind this past week. I have to say their was a great satisfaction turning that sign around to say "closed" when I was done with laundry. Kayci, my daughter, has had fun with the open and closed sign also. She loves to turn it around.

I should have taken a picture of the clean laundry room. I guess you will just have to beleive me that I finished my laundry.

On writing this post is a new week and my laundry service is "OPEN" again.

Have a great day!!!

Easter Sunday

I just woke up from a nice afternoon nap...I think it was well needed!!

Happy Easter...I had such a nice Easter Sunday. Today was Fast Sunday, what a great day to spend and Easter Sunday. There was no big production just testimonies from the congregation. I spent the entire meeting fighting the feeling to stand and bear my testimony. At the last minute I know an angel was behind me pushing me up to the pulpit. I'm so glad I bore my testimony. I know that the Savior was resurrected and I am glad that He was. Because of Him I can return to my Heavenly Father and live again. What wonderful wisdom to have. I also know that if we make things happen for ourselves then the Lord will step in and make up for the rest that we just can't do. I also know that if we are striving daily to live the way we should we will be blessed. I am honestly thankful for what I have...I am truly blessed and have a lot. I may not be in my dream house that is beautiful on the outside, but I can make a home on the inside and fill it with what really matters. I know that I am where I need to be and glad to have what I have.

Each of my kids got a hat in their easter baskets. My girls got a new shirt with a necklace to match to wear to church. I was so excited to find a cute levi skirt this weekend for Clarissa at the DI for $4.00. It is really cute and looks brand new. Thank goodness for people that give their nice things to the DI when they are done using them.

Kayci had gotten a levi skirt from a lady in our ward that didn't need it for her daughter.

I normally don't like to do the easter egg hunt on Sunday, but since it rained all day yesterday and the fact that we don't have grass in our yard yet we had to wait until today. Today was a beautiful, sunny day and luckily the ground had dried up quite a bit. NO MUD!!

I think it was alright that we did our easter egg hunt today...I just reminded them that we are able to have all these things because of the Savior. Their is a great joy when you see your family having fun and enjoying themselves. It makes all the hard work worth it.

I had to add this picture. Since the time John got his hat today he has not taken it off. He loves it. I'm pretty sure he will try to sleep with it on tonight. I'm really glad he likes it.

I guess it will never end...

So, I have been wanting to work on my personal progression. I had my 35th birthday this past weekend and received a gift from my very good friend, Janae. We have been friends for about 10 years now and we will be eternal friends. Janae gave me a book titled

Heaven Bound SPEED BUMPS On the Way to Perfection, by Lynn C. Jaynes. I started reading the book this week and have enjoyed it so far. It is a book to give us ideas for personal progression. She talked about her 76 year old aunt that was still working on herself. Each week would set goals to better herself. She said, "I just wanted to plan for a few quiet, comfortable, reasonably secure retirement years for an aging lady who wanted very much to be self-reliant." Every day she would write down what she would work on having different areas as these:

• SPIRITUAL--read scriptures, study the gospel, pray
• PHYSICAL--stay healthy, take a walk
• INTELLECUTAL--avoid getting stuck in a rut, read a good book, keep learning, watch good programs on public television
• CULTURAL--explore the arts, read from those best books, see if I can still read French, practice the organ
• SOCIAL--phone a friend, write a letter, make a visit, do something for somebody

Aren't these great goals this lady chose to do. This seems like a simple way of creating a day of learning to become self-reliant. The lady that writes the book has taken this example for herself and chose three areas to work on instead of all that her aunt did. The author tries to teach to do what you can do, so that you don't become loaded down with so much to carry.

I just started the book and can't wait to keep reading for more ideas.

I figured out today that this is something that we will always need to work on. It doesn't matter how old we become we still need to work on ourselves and become a healthy, self-reliant person. I would say it is definitely something worth working on.

Something to think about: "...let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:17)

So Far So Good...and Other stuff

So Far So Good...I have had a good week so far using my new goals. I told my husband that I have had more satisfaction sitting down at the computer during my scheduled time, because I feel like I am not wasting as much time. I actually worked on what I needed to before I sat down at the computer or watched TV. This has helped me feel better inside. I know the goal should be to make it happen all the time every week...so I will keep it going.

I have also enjoyed reading more.

Other Stuff...Who Knew what a frame could do?

I posted this picture a while ago to show my faith sign and my brilliant idea for lemon heads and the yellow flower in my jar. Since then I haven't thought this area is complete yet. I sat the other day thinking about it and knew that the picture of Christ needed a frame. I had an extra frame in my "Junk" room. I found the frame and placed my picture of Christ in the frame. I was amazed how instantly a frame changed the look of the area. I felt like a grown up...and not a teenager that hangs a poster with tape. WOW!! I'm a grown up now.

Something to think about: "Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come" (D&C 130:18-19)

AAAHHHH!!! I'm ready...

It is a wonderful thing when one learns their self-worth and knows who they are. I have had the chance to learn this and have had different times in my life when I live my purpose better than at other times.

I had recently been in a "slump" which I like to call it. So, on April 2, 2009 I had had enough of my slump and wrote this in my journal, "Today is the day I am making some changes in my life. I have been idle long enough".

I decided to set some personal goals for myself.

I started with my daily goals...

• Morning prayer,
• Read 10 verses in Book of Mormon
• Get girls ready for school
• Read from Joseph Smith Lesson Manual
• Stay out of bed: Complete house work needed that day
• Get dressed before Noon
• For the biggest goal I could have set for myself is this...I can only turn the computer or tv on between the hours of 1-4 p.m. During this time will be my down time, where I can do crafts, read books, or just simply play on the computer or watch meaningless tv. I had been wasting to much time doing the wrong things. I got tired of it and knew I needed to make some changes.
• Night routine with family
• Read and visit with my husband until 9:00 p.m., pray...do whatever
• In bed by 11:00 p.m.

These goals probably seem simple to some, but it is always something I am trying to improve on and I know I will have to work at this the rest of my life. One day I will be perfect at it.

I am excited to set goals for myself and live my purpose on this earth. To help me with this I got the booklet, Pursuit of Excellence, to help me set some goals. I also purchased a notebook to record my goals. Another tool I will be using is the Relief Society proclamation. I'm excited to learn and ready to do better in my own progression.

I am guessing this can only be better for myself and my family. The better I live my life the better example I am for my family.

Something to think about: We are beloved spirit daughters of God, who: Find nobility in motherhood and joy in womanhood.

I love April Fool's Day!!!

I'm probably not very good at doing jokes and tricks for April Fool's Day, but I at least have to try one every year.

This year I decided to string my daugher's room. When I started getting trapped in the yarn then I decided I probably did good enough. I had a lot of fun doing this. I tried to place saran wrap in front of the door, but I couldn't get it to work very well.

I can't wait to see their faces when they get home from school. I will definitely have the camera ready when they go check out their room. Have a great day!!

My girls made it home...I was hiding in their room while John screamed "Girls come look at your room!!" I was able to take a picture of them coming in. I love seeing the smile on their faces. It was a fun surprise for them. They are pretending the yarn are lasers. I'm sure this will stay up for a few days.

I am still trying to think of a joke I can play on my husband...I'll keep thinking.