The Lasst Straw

This story was shared in the ward Christmas Program today...it was really touching.

By: Paula McDonald

To truly share this season of love and laughter, even a little boy must first discover Christmas in his heart....

Everyone, unfortunately, was cooped up in the house that typical gray winter afternoon. And, as usual, the four little McNeals were at it again, teasing each other, squabbling, bickering, and always fighting over their toys.

At times like this, Ellen was almost ready to believe that her children didn't love each other, even though she knew that wasn't true. All brothers and sisters fight sometimes, of course, but lately her lively little bunch had been particularly horrid to each other, especially Eric and Kelly, who were only a year apart. The two of them seemed determined to spend the whole long winter making each other miserable.

"Give me that. It's mine!" Kelly screamed, her voice shrill.


It is not! I had it first," Eric answered stubbornly.

Ellen sighed as she listened to the latest argument. With Christmas only a month away, the house seemed sadly lacking in Christmas spirit. This was supposed to be the season of sharing and love, of warm feelings and happy hearts. A home needed more than just pretty packages and twinkling lights on a tree to fill the holidays with joy.

Ellen had only one idea. Years ago, her grandmother had told her about an old custom that helped people discover the true meaning of Christmas. Perhaps it would work for her family this year. It was certainly worth a try.

She gathered the children together and lined them up on the couch, tallest to smallest - Eric, Kelly, Lisa and Mike.

"How would you kids like to start a new Christmas tradition this year?" she asked. "It's like a game, but it can only be played by people who can keep a secret. Can everyone here do that?

"I can!" shouted Eric.

"I can keep a secret better than him!" yelled Kelly.

"I can do it!" chimed in Lisa.

"Me too. Me too," squealed little Mike. "I'm big enough."

"Well then, this is how the game works," Ellen explained. "This year we're going to surprise Baby Jesus when He comes on Christmas Eve by making Him the softest bed in the world. We're going to fill a little crib with straw to make it comfortable. But here's the secret part. The straw we put in will measure the good deeds we've done, but we won't tell anyone who we're doing them for."

The children looked confused. "But how will Jesus know it's His bed!" Kelly asked.

"He'll know," said Ellen. "He'll recognize it by the love we put in to make it soft."

"But who will we do the good deed for?" asked Eric, still a little confused.

"We'll do them for each other. Once a week we'll put all of our names in a hat, Daddy's and mine too. Then we'll each pick out a different name. Whoever's name we draw, we'll do kind things for that person for a whole week. But you can't tell anyone else whose name you've chosen. We'll each try to do as many favors for our special person as we can without getting caught. And for every good deed we do, we'll put another straw in the crib."

"Like being a spy!" squealed Lisa.

"But what if I pick someone's name that I don't like?" Kelly frowned.

Ellen thought about that for a minute. "Maybe you could use an extra fat piece of straw. And think how much faster the fat straws will fill up our crib. We'll use the cradle in the attic," she said. "And we can all go to the field behind the school for the straw."

Without a single argument, the children bundled into their wool hats and mittens, laughing and tumbling out of the house. The field had been covered with tall grass in summer, but now, dead and dried, the golden stalks looked just like real straw. They carefully selected handfuls and placed them in the large box they had carried with them.

"That's enough," Ellen laughed when the box was almost overflowing. "Remember it's only a small cradle."

So home they went to spread their straw carefully on a large tray Ellen never used. Eric, because he was the eldest, was given the responsibility of climbing into the attic and bringing down the cradle.

"We'll pick names as soon as Daddy comes home for dinner, Ellen said, unable to hide a smile at the thought of Mark's pleased reaction to the children's transformed faces and their voices, filled now with excited anticipation rather than annoyance.

At the supper table that night, six pieces of paper were folded, shuffled and shaken around in Mark's furry winter hat, and the drawing began. Kelly picked a name first and immediately started to giggle. Lisa reached into the hat next, trying hard to look like a serious spy. Mike couldn't read yet, so Mark whispered the name in his ear. Then Mike quickly ate his little wad of paper so no one would ever learn the identity of his secret person. Eric was the next to choose, and as he unfolded his scrap of paper, a frown creased his forehead. But he stuffed the name quickly into his pocket and said nothing. Ellen and Mark selected names and the family was ready to begin.

The week that followed was filled with surprises; it seemed the McNeal house had suddenly been invaded by an army of invisible elves. Kelly would walk into her room at bedtime to find her nightgown neatly laid out and her bed turned down. Someone cleaned up the sawdust under the workbench without being asked. The jelly blobs magically disappeared from the kitchen counter after lunch one day while Ellen was out getting the mail. And every morning, when Eric was brushing his teeth, someone crept quietly into his room and made the bed. It wasn't made perfectly, but it was made. That particular little elf must have had short arms because he couldn't seem to reach the middle.

"Where are my shoes?" Mark asked one morning. No one seemed to know, but suddenly, before he left for work, they were back in the closet again, freshly shined.

Ellen noticed other changes during that week too. The children weren't teasing or fighting as much. An argument would start, and then suddenly stop right in the middle for no apparent reason. Even Eric and Kelly seemed to be getting, along better and bickering less. In fact, there were times when all the children could be seen smiling secret smiles and giggling to themselves. And slowly, one by one, the first straws began to appear in the little crib. Just a few, then a few more each day. By the end of the first week, a little pile had accumulated.

Everyone was anxious to pick new names and this time there was more laughter and merriment than there had been the first time. Except for Eric. Once again, he unfolded his scrap of paper, glanced at it, and stuffed it in his pocket without a word.

The second week brought more astonishing events, and the little pile of straw in the manger grew higher and softer. There was more laughter, less teasing, and hardly any arguments could be heard around the house. Only Eric had been unusually quiet, and sometimes Ellen would catch him looking a little sad. But the straws in the manger continued to pile up.

At last, it was almost Christmas. They chose names for the final time on the night before Christmas Eve. As the sat around the table waiting for the last set of names to be shaken in the hat, the children smiled as they looked at their hefty pile of straws. They all knew it was comfortable and soft, but there was one day left and they could still make it a little deeper, a little softer, and they were going to try.

For the last time the hat was passed around the table. Mike Picked out a name, and again quickly ate the paper as he had done each week. Lisa unfolded hers carefully under the table, peeked at it and then hunched up her little shoulders, smiling. Kelly reached into the hat and grinned from ear to ear when she saw the name. Ellen and Mark each took their turn and handed the hat with the last name to Eric. As he unfolded the scrap of paper and glanced at it, his face crumpled and he seemed about to cry. Without a word, he turned and ran from the room.

Everyone immediately jumped up from the table, but Ellen stopped them. "No!" Stay where you are," she said firmly. "I'll go."

In his room, Eric was trying to pull on his coat with one hand while he picked up a small cardboard suitcase with the other.

"I'll have to leave," he said quietly through his tears. "If I don't, I'll spoil Christmas."

"But why? And where are you going?"

"I can sleep in my snow fort for a couple of days. I'll come home right after Christmas. I promise."

Ellen started to say something about freezing and snow and no mittens or boots, but Mark, who had come up behind her, gently laid his hand on her arm and shook his head. The front door closed, and together they watched from the window as the little figure with the sadly slumped shoulders trudged across the street and sat down on a snow bank near the corner. It was dark outside, and cold, and a few flurries drifted down on the small boy and his suitcase.

"Give him a few minutes alone," said Mark quietly. I think he needs that. Then you can talk to him."

The huddled figure was already dusted with white when Ellen walked across the street and sat down beside him on the snow bank.

"What is it, Eric? You've been so good these last weeks, but I know something's been bothering you since we first started the crib. Can you tell me, honey?"

Ah, Mom . . . don't you see?" he sniffled. "I tried so hard, but I can't do to it anymore, and now I'm going to wreck Christmas for everybody. With that, he burst into sobs and threw himself into his mother s arms.

"Mom." The little boy choked. "You just don't know, I got Kelly's name every time! And I hate Kelly! I tried Mom. I really did. I snuck in her room every night and fixed her bed. I even laid out her crummy nightgown. I let her use my race car one day, but she smashed it right into the wall like always! Every week, when we picked names, I thought it would be over. Tonight,

when I got her name again, I knew I couldn't do it anymore. If I try, I'll probably punch her instead. If I stay home and beat Kelly up. I'll spoil Christmas for everyone."

The two of them sat there, together, quietly for a few minutes and then Ellen spoke softly. "Eric I'm so proud of you. Every good deed you did should count double because it was hard for you to be nice to Kelly for so long, but you did those good deeds anyway, one straw at a time. You gave your love when it wasn't easy to give. And maybe that's what the spirit of Christmas is really all about. And maybe it's the hard good deeds and the difficult straws that make that little crib special. You're the one who's probably added the most important straws this year." Ellen paused, stroking the head pressed tightly against her shoulder. "Now, how would you like a chance to earn a few easy straws like the rest of us? I still have the name I picked in my pocket, and I haven't looked at it yet. Why don't we switch, for the last day? And it will be our secret."

Eric lifted his head and looked into her face, his eyes wide. "That's not cheating?"

"It's not cheating." And together they dried the tears, brushed off the snow, and walked back to the house.

The next day, the whole family was busy, cooking and straightening up the house for Christmas Day, wrapping last minute presents and trying hard to keep from bursting with excitement. But even with all the activity and eagerness, a flurry of new straws piled up in the crib, and by nightfall the little manger was almost overflowing. At different times while passing by, each member of the family, big and small, would pause and look at the wondrous pile for a moment, then smile before going on. But . . . who could really know? One more straw still might make a difference.

For that reason, just before bedtime, Ellen tiptoed quietly to Kelly's room to lay out the little blue nightgown and turn down the bed. But she stopped in the doorway surprised. Someone had already been there. The nightgown was laid across the bed, and a small red race car had been placed next to it on the pillow.

The last straw was Eric's after all.

21 December 2008

Merry Christams

My hubby is so sweet. He went to shave his head the other day and came out and this is what he did

A heart because he loves me so much :) It was really sweet. He shaved it as soon as I took the picture so that he could look professional for work.

Another thing that happened this past week we started celebrating Christmas! Woo hoo! This past Saturday we went with the Gale family to see "Babes in toyland" and we went to dinner and then to the temple lights. It was really fun. I love to see the magic that Christmas brings, and the excitement on the kids face when they get to see Santa Clause is euqal only to when they see Disneyland :D.














That being said, I wrote a poem in church on Sundayand I wanted to share it. it's called Christmas

It's not about ribbons, it's not about bows,
It's not about snow that sticks on your nose.
It's not about toys, that make all the noise,
Or even 'bout Santa, or good girls and boys.

It IS about a babe, born long, long ago,
who saved our souls from being tossed to and fro.
It IS 'bout love, both gi'vn and recieved,
it is about heaven so don' be decieved;
When you lay your head down on that next Christmas night,
Remember what happened, to give us all light.




























These pictures were all taken at Temple square after the play.

17 December 2008

Rant

I've been ranting a lot lately. I promise this is the last time for awhile. FIRST some AWESOME news! I got a promotion at work! I get to stay home and be a virtual team lead! It's awesome! I get a one time allowance to help me set up the office, and they are going to pay for my internet every month, which is AWESOME. Once I get trained, Adam gets the car all the time, and I can stay at home and not be quite so stressed out about everything. I'm very excited!

Now for my rant. America was founded on Christian principles. It exsists so people can believe what the believe, without fear of persecution. I am thrilled that Prop 8 passed. It has nothing to do with denying rights to anybody, it has to do with retaining my own freedom. For you who opposed prop 8, its over. Leave it alone. You are preaching tolerance and open mindedness, but doesn't that seem a little hypocritical?" You don't like how I live my life, so I'm going to make you accept it?"

Things like the march on Salt Lake City, Prop 8 the musical (don't watch it, if you don't want to be offended) burning the Book of Mormon inside our churches, SHOOTING up our chruches trying to make us afriad to worship and express our beliefs is NOT tolerance. You say that we spread lies, but what about your lies? Your actions are made to terrorize us into bending to your will. This is not a communist country. This is a Representitive Democracy. The people have spoken. I personally will NOT let your fear tactics dictate my life! I will continue to live by my beliefs, following my Saviors teachings, and trying to become a better person each day. I'm not sorry for how I believe and while I believe that God loves you, as much as he loves me, I will NOT bend in the truth!

05 December 2008

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!!

So I decorated our tree today, and took some pictures of our apartment, so here you go...if you were wondering what where we lived look
like.
Our kitchen

Dining room

Christmas Decorations O Christmas Tree, o Christmas tree
Living Room
The opposite view of the living room if you look close you can see that we are watching the Thanksgiving "House" marathon.
The second bedroom. It's bigger than it looks.
The bathroom...it's not bigger than it looks :)

27 November 2008

I want one to!



So I've been thinking about this for a long time. I got my haircut. It looks like Kendra's...only rounder. Well I'll let you look at it.

Another thing, my nephews and nieces are so funny! Watch this video...

26 November 2008

Chuck Norris is NEVER wrong.

"Protestors of Proposition 8 in California (the marriage amendment) shoved aside a 69-year-old woman who was bearing a cross. They reportedly spit on her and stomped on her cross. They then aligned themselves in a human barricade, blocking the media from getting to or interviewing the woman.

Prop. 8 supporter Jose Nunez, 37, was assaulted brutally while distributing yard signs to other supporters after church services at the St. Stanislaus Parish in Modesto.

Calvary Chapel Chino Hills was spray painted by vandals after they learned that the church served as an official collection point for Prop. 8 petitions.

Letters containing white powder (obviously mimicking anthrax) were sent to the Salt Lake City headquarters of the Mormon church and to a temple in Los Angeles. (Thankfully, the FBI said the substance was nontoxic.)

The 25-year artistic director of the California Musical Theatre, who also happens to be a Mormon, was muscled to resign because of his $1,000 donation to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California.

A pro-homosexual, pro-anarchy organization named Bash Back marched into the middle of a church service and flung fliers and condoms to the congregants. They also hung a banner from the balcony that featured two lesbians in provocative positions at the pulpit.

And lastly, the tolerance-preaching activists also have taken their anger to the blogosphere, where posts have planted ideas ranging from burning churches to storming the citadels of government until our society is forced to overturn Prop. 8. You even can find donor blacklists online. The lists include everyone who financially backed Prop. 8 -- even those who gave as little as $46 -- with the obvious objective that these individuals will be bantered and boycotted for doing so.

What's wrong with this picture? Lots.

First, there's the obvious inability of the minority to accept the will of the majority. Californians have spoken twice, through the elections in 2000 and 2008. Nearly every county across the state (including Los Angeles County) voted to amend the state constitution in favor of traditional marriage.

Nevertheless, bitter activists simply cannot accept the outcome as being truly reflective of the general public. So they have placed the brainwashing blame upon the crusading and misleading zealotry of those religious villains: the Catholics, evangelical Protestants, and especially Mormons, who allegedly are robbing the rights of American citizens by merely executing their right to vote and standing upon their moral convictions and traditional views.

What's surprising (or maybe not so) is that even though 70 percent of African-Americans voted in favor of Proposition 8, protests against black churches are virtually nonexistent. And everyone knows exactly why: Such actions would be viewed as racist. Yet these opponents of Prop. 8 can protest vehemently and shout obscenities in front of Mormon temples without ever being accused of religious bigotry. There's a clear double standard in our society. Where are the hate-crime cops when religious conservatives need them?

There were many of us who passionately opposed Obama, but you don't see us protesting in the streets or crying "unfair." Rather, we are submitting to a democratic process and now asking how we can support "our" president. Just because we don't like the election outcome doesn't give us the right to bully those who oppose us. In other words, if democracy doesn't tip our direction, we don't swing to anarchy. That would be like the Wild West, the resurrection of which seems to be happening in these postelection protests.

I agree with Prison Fellowship's founder, Chuck Colson, who wrote: "This is an outrage. What hypocrisy from those who spend all of their time preaching tolerance to the rest of us! How dare they threaten and attack political opponents? We live in a democratic country, not a banana republic ruled by thugs."

Regardless of one's opinion of Proposition 8, it is flat-out wrong and un-American to intimidate and harass individuals, churches and businesses that are guilty of nothing more than participating in the democratic process. Political protests are one thing, but when old-fashioned bullying techniques are used that restrict voting liberties and even prompt fear of safety, activists have crossed a line. There is a difference between respectfully advocating one's civil rights and demanding public endorsement of what many still consider to be unnatural sexual behavior through cruel coercion and repression tactics. One thing is for sure: The days of peaceful marches, such as those headed up by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seem to be long gone.

The truth is that the great majority of Prop. 8 advocates are not bigots or hatemongers. They are American citizens who are following 5,000 years of human history and the belief of every major people and religion: Marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman. Their pro-Prop. 8 votes weren't intended to deprive any group of its rights; they were safeguarding their honest convictions regarding the boundaries of marriage.

On Nov. 4, the pro-gay community obviously was flabbergasted that a state that generally leans left actually voted right when it came to holy matrimony. But that's exactly what happened; the majority of Californians -- red, yellow, black and white -- voted to define the margins of marriage as being between one man and one woman. California is the 30th state in our union to amend its constitution in doing so, joining Florida and Arizona in this election. Like it or not, it's the law now. The people have spoken."

---Chuck Norris

22 November 2008

Another Tag

Rules: Bold the things you’ve done. (I starred it because I have bold on so it's easier to read my stuff)

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain*
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula*
07. Taken a candle lit dinner with someone
08. Said "I love you" and meant it*
09. Hugged a tree*
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise*
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game*
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars*
20. Changed a baby's diaper*
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity*
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope*
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment*
27. Had a food fight*
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight*
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can*
32. Held a lamb In Ireland. Very cute and pastoral.
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster*
35. Hit a home run*
36. Danced like a fool and didn't care who was looking*
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day*
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment*
39. Had two hard drives for your computer*
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends*
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip*
48. Gone rock climbing*
49. Taken a midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love*
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs*
57. Pretended to be a superhero*
58. Sung karaoke*
59. Lounged around in bed all day*
60. Played touch football*
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud*
64. Played in the rain*
65. Gone to a drive-in theater*
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business*
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken*
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married*
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for five days
77. Made cookies from scratch*
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the snake river
82. Been on a television news program as an "expert"
83. Gotten flowers for no reason*
84. Performed on stage*
85. Been to Las Vegas*
86. Recorded music*
87. Eaten shark*
88. Kissed on the first date*
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one or both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language frequently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
98. Passed out cold*
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over*
101. Walked on golden gate bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking*
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived*
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they wer having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109.Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone's heart*
111. Helped an animal give birth*
112. Won money on a TV game show
113. Broken a bone*
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol*
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse*
119. Had major surgery*
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for 30 hours in a 48 hour period*
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. States
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi*
128. Had your picture in the newspaper*
129. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about*
130. Gone back to school*
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach*
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes*
134. Read the Iliad and the Odessey
135. Selected one "important" author who you missed in school, and read*
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating*
137. Skipped all your school reunions*
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language*
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream*
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care*
143. Built your own PC from parts*
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you*
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair*
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident*
150. Shaved someone's head

I tag Kendra Becky and Dad

17 November 2008

Your a mean one Mr. Grinch....

Okay, so I'm struggling. I tried to be friends with our upstairs neighbor, which is apparently not going to work out. Here is the back story.

When we moved up here, our apartment wasn't ready, so we put all of our stuff in storage. There is a storage shed in the back that we put some of our stuff in. Well, every time I try to bring it down I get sick, AND our couch doesn't fit down the stairwell, so it has stayed in the shed. Well when I got home from work on Wednesday, she cornered me and told me it was time to get my stuff out of her shed. (This shed I understood I was to have access to). I told her I would get it done as soon as I could. Well Saturday morning she rings the bell and told Adam that we had to get our stuff out, and that I had been told THREE DAYS ago that we had to get it out, and it had to be done today. No one likes being told what to do, and I understand that she is 7 months pregnant, so I went and made her stuff easily accessible and even offered to help her get the stuff she needed. Well that wasn't good enough. She called our landlord and complained. So now, I'm going to have to haul all the stuff in from downstairs, because Adam's back is bad.

I'm trying to really hard to be understanding, and forgiving, but she is making it very hard. I do want to have an amicable relationship with them. Any suggestions?

We need a little Christmas...

Well it's been, what two weeks? Three? My life has once again fallen into a routine. Although, I must admit...I have started decorating for Christmas. I have a little village that I have that I put up, and I like to add to it each year. It's set up, and up to six little houses, but there are no little people. I will post pictures, at the same time I post pictures of our apartment, which will happen when we are mostly set up. We have lots of books, and no book shelves, so they are going into storage until we get one or two.

We are loving our new place. Our upstairs neighbors donated an entertainment center that they were getting rid of so that's nice. I love being able to use my own things. I have been cooking a lot more and I love it. I'm back working at Convergys, and have applied for a couple of Team Lead positions, one of which is at home, which would be FABULOUS, so I could use your prayers with that one. Anyway, my cell phone is gone, and if you want my new number leave a comment and I will email it to you personally. I don't want any psychos stalking us. Just Kidding. Kind of. Okay I'm rambling! Love you all!

08 November 2008

Little Goodbyes.....

Well today was my last day at laser mania. I am once again (temporarily) in among the ranks of the unemployed...until Monday when I start back at Convergys. So for a few days I say good bye to the working world. It was rather unceremonious, and my boss even had me go home early. So with a hug from his wife and a handshake from him, I was on my way out the door. Now I have to pay for laser tag....who knew.

Another little good bye...I said to my car. We are now a one car family. It will work for now. But Bellatrix was a good car. We needed the money more than we needed the car so away she went. She has a good home now....with a nice family on a farm. Oh wait. It was a mechanic. So he will know her needs, and make his kids take good care of her.

Gager update. Last night I had a going away party with Kendra's kids. I had some chocolate, and I told them they had to buy it with a kiss. Gage came and gave me a kiss and Adam said "EEEEEEEEEWWW!" Gage was not pleased. He shouted at the top of his lungs "IT"S NOT GROSS! IT'S LOVE!" We all had a good giggle about that. Anyway, gotta get ready for the big move!

22 October 2008

A good point...

My Dad sent me this article on Prop 8...thought you California types might enjoy it.

I'm a liberal Democrat. And I do not favor same-sex marriage. Do those positions sound contradictory? To me, they fit together.

Many seem to believe that marriage is simply a private love relationship between two people. They accept this view, in part, because Americans have increasingly emphasized and come to value the intimate, emotional side of marriage, and in part because almost all opinion leaders today, from journalists to judges, strongly embrace this position. That's certainly the idea that underpinned the California Supreme Court's legalization of same-sex marriage.

But I spent a year studying the history and anthropology of marriage, and I've come to a different conclusion.

Marriage as a human institution is constantly evolving, and many of its features vary across groups and cultures. But there is one constant. In all societies, marriage shapes the rights and obligations of parenthood. Among us humans, the scholars report, marriage is not primarily a license to have sex. Nor is it primarily a license to receive benefits or social recognition. It is primarily a license to have children.

In this sense, marriage is a gift that society bestows on its next generation. Marriage (and only marriage) unites the three core dimensions of parenthood -- biological, social and legal -- into one pro-child form: the married couple. Marriage says to a child: The man and the woman whose sexual union made you will also be there to love and raise you. Marriage says to society as a whole: For every child born, there is a recognized mother and a father, accountable to the child and to each other.

These days, because of the gay marriage debate, one can be sent to bed without supper for saying such things. But until very recently, almost no one denied this core fact about marriage. Summing up the cross-cultural evidence, the anthropologist Helen Fisher in 1992 put it simply: "People wed primarily to reproduce." The philosopher and Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell, certainly no friend of conventional sexual morality, was only repeating the obvious a few decades earlier when he concluded that "it is through children alone that sexual relations become important to society, and worthy to be taken cognizance of by a legal institution."

Marriage is society's most pro-child institution. In 2002 -- just moments before it became highly unfashionable to say so -- a team of researchers from Child Trends, a nonpartisan research center, reported that "family structure clearly matters for children, and the family structure that helps children the most is a family headed by two biological parents in a low-conflict marriage."

All our scholarly instruments seem to agree: For healthy development, what a child needs more than anything else is the mother and father who together made the child, who love the child and love each other.

For these reasons, children have the right, insofar as society can make it possible, to know and to be cared for by the two parents who brought them into this world. The foundational human rights document in the world today regarding children, the 1989 U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically guarantees children this right. The last time I checked, liberals like me were supposed to be in favor of internationally recognized human rights, particularly concerning children, who are typically society's most voiceless and vulnerable group. Or have I now said something I shouldn't?

Every child being raised by gay or lesbian couples will be denied his birthright to both parents who made him. Every single one. Moreover, losing that right will not be a consequence of something that at least most of us view as tragic, such as a marriage that didn't last, or an unexpected pregnancy where the father-to-be has no intention of sticking around. On the contrary, in the case of same-sex marriage and the children of those unions, it will be explained to everyone, including the children, that something wonderful has happened!

For me, what we are encouraged or permitted to say, or not say, to one another about what our society owes its children is crucially important in the debate over initiatives like California's Proposition 8, which would reinstate marriage's customary man-woman form. Do you think that every child deserves his mother and father, with adoption available for those children whose natural parents cannot care for them? Do you suspect that fathers and mothers are different from one another? Do you imagine that biological ties matter to children? How many parents per child is best? Do you think that "two" is a better answer than one, three, four or whatever? If you do, be careful. In making the case for same-sex marriage, more than a few grown-ups will be quite willing to question your integrity and goodwill. Children, of course, are rarely consulted.

The liberal philosopher Isaiah Berlin famously argued that, in many cases, the real conflict we face is not good versus bad but good versus good. Reducing homophobia is good. Protecting the birthright of the child is good. How should we reason together as a society when these two good things conflict?

Here is my reasoning. I reject homophobia and believe in the equal dignity of gay and lesbian love. Because I also believe with all my heart in the right of the child to the mother and father who made her, I believe that we as a society should seek to maintain and to strengthen the only human institution -- marriage -- that is specifically intended to safeguard that right and make it real for our children.

Legalized same-sex marriage almost certainly benefits those same-sex couples who choose to marry, as well as the children being raised in those homes. But changing the meaning of marriage to accommodate homosexual orientation further and perhaps definitively undermines for all of us the very thing -- the gift, the birthright -- that is marriage's most distinctive contribution to human society. That's a change that, in the final analysis, I cannot support.

David Blankenhorn is president of the New York-based Institute for American Values and the author of "The Future of Marriage."

19 October 2008

Wa are not homeless....

Yay! At the beginning of the week when went to Provo looking for an apartment, and we found an idealistic one. 1100 square feet, two bedrooms one bath huge kitchen, washer/dryer hookups and tons and tons of storage. On top of all that goodness, it's about a mile from my work. We have been praying VERY hard that we would get this place. At approximately 8:30 this morning, we got a call from OUR NEW LANDLORD!!!! We got the apartment! I'm so excited :)

Also, it needs to be known (Per my mom) that she ended up with the high score on the DDR, and that the video I shot was her first time doing it. She got pretty good with a score of 21000!

17 October 2008

Dance Dance Revolution.....

I had a DDR mat that was getting rid of and Mom snatched it up, and here are the results....


Much hilarity ensued....

12 October 2008

Torn

I'm lamenting tonight. Just be forewarned. Adam and I are leaving Southern Utah. We have been told that it's time for a new adventure. So we move to the frozen north. I was so excited to move here, and miss winter (well mostly), and now I feel like Laman. "Fine, I'll do it, but I won't do it willingly." I should be grateful, that's how I felt when I went on a mission....I didn't want to go, but I loved it so much. Maybe something truly wonderful will happen who knows. But, I hate leaving my family. I feel like I miss so much. Every time I turn around my nieces and nephews are pulling some new trick, and getting older. I don't even get to stay for Halloween :(. But I will go and do. On the plus side, I have some incredible friends up in Provo, and I miss them like crazy...so I'm excited to see them again! There are lots of new adventrues to be had, and I will get a white Christmas.

Looking on the bright side of life, I have an amazing husband. I've been having kind of a rough time with some things and my Adam was very aware of this (sorry honey) and he spent the night placing little postit notes all over the house for me to find, saying things like "Christy is the smartest ever" or "Christy is breatakingly beautiful." Thinking of that all day made me smile, and things seemed to go a little bit better. Thank you Adam. You are wonderful.

A third thought. I am so grateful for the military service men and women. There is a lot of ugly in the world, and we live in a dangerous time. These wonderful men and women are out there spending their lives to protect our right to protest what they are doing. So...troops, I salute you and thank you. I will do what I can to support you!



And now....RANDOM PICTURE TIME!!! Since I missed so much in photos, I'm going to just post a couple each time, and tell everyone about them. soo....


This is my nephew Gager, at our Grandpa's 81st birthday (happy birthday Grandpa!) Our Aunt Colleene had her Chihuahua there and all the kids loved it! (a little too much prolly) But I got this really cute picture of him :)

11 October 2008

Aint no cure for the summer time blues.


Just more pictures.

We spent the 4th and the 24th with the Gales, and went out to the farmers market. Our niece Sky wanted to get her face panted, but got nervous and had her arm painted.

She's all about fashion so of course the cool glasses came out.









Mom Gale dosen't like the sun, she burns and had to wear a hat. She looked SO cute :)!



I will have to do more later. Internet troubles!

04 October 2008

I got a golden ticket....

or a red ticket, or a green ticket or any color ticket. It doesn't matter...as long as there is a huge pile of them. Working where I work, I get a lot of chances to watch little kids. Kids get SOOOOOO excited when they have a big pile of tickets to spend. The more the merrier! They now have arcade games that gives you a tickets, they give you a receipt with the number of tickets you have. No way no how. There is no better feeling than having a WHOLE bunch of tickets in your hands...you won something AWESOME! Then you trade it in for a trinket or some little piece of candy or something. There was a kid, while I was working today, who won about 250 tickets. Now you can get like a whopee coushin or something like that with that many tickets, so your starting to get into the good stuff, but it's not totally there, but he was so excited that he had this HUGE handful of tickets that he had his friend take a picture. It's awesome.

Now moving on, the reason I have been neglecting my blog is I've been spending some time scanning my Dad's pictures to digital format, so I can clean them up and create a slide show of them. As an example:






This picture is one of 422 that I have the privlage of cleaning up and fixing. I'm really excited about that. It's a unique opportunity to view these pictures and have my dad sitting here as I correct them and give me the history behind them. It's really cool. So that's been keeping me busy.

ALSO we spent this last weekend up in Heber with the Gale family. It was our Nephew Gavin's 1st birthday! Happy Birthday buddy! It was loads of fun. He got his own birthday cake and had a grand old time with it....more painting his body with the blue frosting than eating it though. He was rather suspicious of the whole process. But he eventually got the hang of it. He got a ball and hardly wanted to play with anything else. He had such a good time, as indicated by the mess on his cute little face.

Now, I have pictures that I have had on my camera most of the summer that I am going to go back and post and recap on the last little while.

Right after we got here Mom and Dad did a bbq for a family home evening and we had a blast. There was water everywhere. And in August, that's a good thing :). I think I'm going to have to post more on a different blog....so more in a minute!

Tagged again

The Rules:-Link the Person who Tagged you- Mention rules on your blog- Tell about 6 quirks of yours- Tag 6 fellow bloggers to do the same- Leave a comment to let them know.



Quirk #1 - I hate losing at any game.
Quirk #2- I want to have every Disney movie in existence.
Quirk #3- I have to use three paper towels when I dry my hands, and then I have to open the bathroom door with the paper towels.
Quirk #4-It drives me absolutely nuts when my husbands eyebrows are not combed.
Quirk #5- I"m fixin' to do things and I say y'all and all y'all (y'all is singular and all y'all is plural).
Quirk #6- Everything is FABULOUS.

I tag Kendad, Kendra, Becky, Somer, Amie and Tiff.

23 September 2008

A bumper car named desire

It's been awhile...so much for updating on a weekly basis. I've been pretty sick this last couple of weeks. No good reason, just coughing all the time. I won't go into the gory details, but it's not been a pleasant experience.

I've been going to work, but only working 10 hours a week, because I just don't feel well enough to. Today I worked a six hour shift (yipes). But it was worth it. I had to be trained on our new attraction, bumper cars. So as part of the training, you may have guessed it! I got to play! It was really fun. The cars are little, but powerful. You wouldn't think that something that small could move the way it did. Feeling the wind on my face and my hair whip behind me, and seeing the brightly colored walls blur as I was spinning around and around made me giggle. I felt like a kid again. Even the sudden stop when I hit a wall, or another car or mostly just the walls (The steering was wierd) made me smile. I couldn't really hit anyone hard anyway, because I was playing with my boss, who had his 2 year old son on his lap, and his wife, who is like 9 months pregnant...So I had to be careful, but I still had a good time. It was a lot of fun, and I look forward to playing again.

Another quick thought. Dad brought home these foam swords for the kids to play with, and as soon as they saw them they went to town. Good news...it dosen't hurt. :) But I ended up sword fighting with Gage and sliced him, and he went down. He laid there, spread eagle, and said "I'm dead father!" Then he stuck his little tounge out and tipped his head for a moment, before sharing more of his boundless energy with us, and attacking me more fervently with his sword.

15 September 2008

It's been one week since you looked at me....

What a whirlwind! A week since I last posted, and what a week it has been. Kendra called and asked me to do a slide show for Mandy's funeral. I was happy to do it. She brought over about 80 pictures and that was fine. She said that she had about 50 more pictures and I told her that was okay, I just needed them that night. I got home and was told that Kendra wouldn't even tell them how many pictures there were. There ended up being about 197 pictures for the slide show. That was a little bit overwhelming, and I cried a little bit.

It took me a while to realize how selfish I was being. This family has lost someone very important to them, and of course they wanted all the pictures they could have in the slide show. I would want the same thing. She was an amazing young woman, and she, and her family, deserved the very best. The greatest payoff I could have ever had was when Susan hugged me and said "You have no idea what this means to me. I will cherish it forever and ever and ever and ever." I realized at that point, that the late nights (and there were only one or two) had definitely been worth it. It is a treasure that they can have for always.

For me, one thing I am taking away is (an attempt) to be more positive. One reason everybody loved Mandy so much is because she made a conscious decision that every day was going to be a good one. So that is my personal goal. Outside influences are no longer going to dictate how I feel. Even when things go wrong (and this week they did) I can learn from them, and turn them into positive experiences.

I completed my first week at Laser Mania this week as well. I opened and closed three out of the four days I worked, and my boss was a little bit nervous about leaving me with just Kim (who is his sister-in-law and only 15) well there were no major disasters, and I managed to only make one mistake. So things are progressing nicely with my job, and it's really neat to see people having such a good time, and really be able to resolve issues when the arise. And when I come home at the end of the day and my feet are killing me, it just means that I've worked hard and it's really satisfying.

Becky and Hyrum came down for the funeral, and it was quite a treat. I love to see them, and my darling little nephews. Dewy now says Yes instead of yeah or uh huh when you ask him a question. He sounds so grown up. I couldn't believe how big Timmy is getting. And it's hard to believe that Ellie should be here in a month and a half! We wen't over to the worldmark where Becky and Hyrum were staying and went swimming. Little Lacie decided that she was big enough to jump in the pool all by herself...three times. Yowza. But Adam, Shaunie, Lincoln and I stayed in the pool for nearly three hours. We were all pretty tuckered out by the time we left, and I was a drowsy driver. Dad and Mom had separate cars and so I drove Moms car and Adam drove our car so that Mom and Dad could ride together and Dad could stay awake. Apparenlty I was more tired than I thought. But everyone made it home safely and that's what's really important.

Saturday I really started to get sick and so I called the poor Primary president and stayed home and slept. I've been running my body in high gear and it was not appreciative. So today I've been resting and had a fever on and off, but I'm sure I will be good for work tomorrow. I keep waiting to update my blog until I have pictures, and then forget to take my camera anywwhere. Go figure :) Anyway more later.

31 August 2008

The Madness that is my life.

So it's been a busy time. The thing that is weighing on my mind the most heavily is Mandy. Mandy was one of the best people you could find. She was enthusiastic about life, and all the things that come with it. She got engaged on Thursday, and no one could have been happier. She was lucky enough to share the moment with her parents. She was always happy to see you, and she made that the decision of her life. Every day was going to be better than the next. You would NEVER hear her utter a bad word against anyone. EVER. That's just the kind of person she was. You couldn't help but love her. Anyone who came in contact with her, no matter how briefly, was effected in a positive way. Now you ask why all the past tense? Friday evening Mandy was killed in a plane crash. There has been, and will be, so many tears shed over this. She was 20 years old for crying out loud. And in all honesty, I feel the statement "only the good die young" really hard right now. My heart goes out to my brother in laws family, because she is his sister. Johnsons, you are loved, and you are and will be in our prayers.

Other aspects of my life. Church? I get to teach the five year olds in primary. I'm really excited about that. I love kids and they are so funny at that age :) Plus Adam will fit right in. Just kidding hunny. I love you. :) I'm really looking forward to this new challenge in my life. I'm having a rockin time down here. The day after I got here we had a BBQ with my sisters family and Mom started a water fight. Gage ended up the wettest, but I honestly think that he did it on purpose...oh wait he did. He stood under the water fountain so that he would get soaked. It was hot so no one minded, even when he gave us all big hugs :). I was watching them the other night when Kendra and Golden were going on a date, and I did something that made Gager mad ...I think I may have been teasing him a little bit. He looked me in the face and he said, "your just trying to push my buttons!" I almost fell out of my chair laughing. He's four years old for Pete sake. The kid is a card. Later on that night he (being the funny kid he is) stuck his little tooshie out and said "your checkin me out!" I was a little shocked at first but then was reminded by Shaunie (thanks babe) that it's a line from cheaper by the dozen. Kendra said "Guess who needs to watch less TV" when I told her the story. Life is full of moments. I am cherishing each one. Mandy's passing was a wakeup call for me. Treasure life guys. It's short.

One final blessing in my life. I GOT A JOB! It's only part time, and the pay is....well lets just say not phenomenal, but there are other rewards. I am the assistant manager at Lazer Mania in Saint George. I was really starting to get discouraged on Thursday, and feeling like I would never get a job. But Mom prayed with me and within a couple of hours I had three job interviews lined up. So I went in for this interview and he offered me the job almost as soon as I sat down. So I started work on Saturday and got to watch about a hundred kids running around having the time of their lives. It was pretty fun. I look forward to my time there. And recognize that it was a blessing, after the trial of my faith. What a week....more later.

24 August 2008

Well, here we are. Moved. A new start. Fresh. Southern Utah. Yipes. It was quite a trip. My last day of work was on Saturday and on Sunday my mom informed me that I had until 5 PM on Monday to move. I thought I had until Tuesday. What a nightmare. On the other hand, it was a blessing that we never really had to unpack. So I had to pack the bedroom and some of the kitchen. It was a bigger job than I thought and I was up until 2 AM Monday morning, trying to get everything packed. I didn't quite succeed so I was scrambling to get everything together when it was time to go. Oy.

When we moved the date, we were wondering if there anyone from the Elders Quorum was going to be able to come on a Monday night? Would it be me, Mom, Dad and Adam? Lets dissect that.
Adam: Can only lift 5 pounds because of his back injury
Dad: SHOULDN'T overdo it because it lands him in the hospital.
Me: Wimp, I'm realistic.
Mom: Toughy :) But she's 52

Sounds fantastic. How do I get a whole household of stuff (minus major furniture) down three flights of stairs with just this motley crew? Gratefully I had wonderful visiting teachers, and visiting teaching companions. And thanks to the EQ president and one more family came to help us move. There was an assembly line and it went pretty quickly. We had more stuff than even we realized and we had to rent a trailer. Oh and where was Adam during this whole mess? He had Physical Therapy (PT) during the time. I think he did it on purpose, so he didn't have to help. (Just kidding hun! :)) During all the mess, my suitcase of clothes (ALL the necessary items) got inadvertently packed. So we got all packed then the cleaning....

Just when you think your done you find one more thing. Gratefully a couple of the sisters (Thanks Debra and Heather) stayed and helped a bit. I was exhausted after all the packing and moving, so I went to bed at 7:30 exhausted, it was not a restful night, but it was even less restful for Adam. He spent the entire night cleaning. He finally went to bed at 6AM and I made him get up at 7AM so that we could get out of the apartment. We cleaned and cleaned and I trekked up and down the stairs for three hours carrying the rest of the stuff that didn't fit in the trailer and the truck, and shoving it into our two little cars, neither one of which is in such much good shape. So the last trip I didn't think I could make anymore, and I collapsed into Adams non-air conditioned vehicle and he hopped into my air conditioned car, which is leaking transmission fluid like none other.

With a wing and a prayer we drove off into the now hot sun driving through the desert in two broken cars during the hottest part of the day, sounds stellar right? Throw in the fact that I'm dreading unpacking two cars, a trailer and a truck, and we have to pull over every 45 minutes to fill my car with transmission fluid and it makes for a long day.

Once again I was blessed. Mom and Dad had rearranged their home, and unloaded both the truck and the trailer. More than they should have done, but I almost cried when I got here and all I had to do was make the bed and empty the cars, which (another blessing) both made it down. A nice hot shower and a warm, home cooked dinner finished off the day. So tomorrow a serious job hunt begins for both Adam and I. I will keep all y'all updated on how that goes.

12 August 2008

Every new beginning comes from some other beginnings end

Here it is. The beginning and the end. I quit my job at Convergys after three and a half years, and different positions on the project, and promotions and opening a new portion of the project and having that project closed. I really loved my job. Even though there was much complaining about all the drama, and how some of my agents drive me crazy, I really do love my job. The people, the things I got to do, helping other people progress. I was a good team leader. I made some very good friends during my tenure there. Cody and Amie and I got really close.




Some of you may ask, why quit if you love it so much, well Adam and I feel like we need to be down in southern Utah. It is the first time in my life that I have quit a job without having another to replace it. I have had a job since I was eleven years old. We are hoping that Adam can get a full time job so that I can work part time and finish the last six credits and get my degree, and then get Adam started on his degree.

So here we are, at another new beginning, thats coming form some other beginnings end. So we move and let our lives change, and face the future, with only a little bit of fear and a lot of faith. We trust in the Lord, and have to believe that things will turn out. My friend Cody always says what is supposed to happen will happen.

So here's to a new beginning that's coming from some other beginnings end.

08 August 2008

I dare you

This sounded like fun, (maybe a little dangerous) so I thought I'd try it out. If you know my husband too, feel free to leave memories of him too! :)

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses!

28 July 2008

Sometimes my job drives me crazy

What is in the back of your car? A lot of stuff...we never finished moving...and now two weeks? Not worth it.

What color is your toothbrush? White

Name one person that made you smile today. Adam...he always makes me smile.

What were you doing at 8 am this morning? Chatting with Jared while getting ready for this incredibly long day of work

What is your favorite candy bar? prolly milkey way

Have you ever been to a strip club? No

What is the last thing you said aloud? "See you then."

What is the best ice cream flavor? Farr's Strawberry Cheesecake

What was the last thing you had to drink? Pepsi

What are you wearing right now? Jeans and a 3/4 sleeve coral shirt that I've got a lot of compliments on, from women over 50 (so does that make it an old lady shirt)

Have you bought any new clothing items this week? nope

When was the last time you ran? The last time someone was chasing me.

The last sporting event you watched? I think it was a basketball game, where I met my husband..that was clear back in November though.....So I'm not sure.

What are you eating right now? So hungery.....haven't eaten since like 10 this morning

Ever go camping? I love camping...just never have time to go.

Do you take vitamins daily? I should

Do you go to church every Sunday? Try to

Do you have a tan? Me? Tan? Do you even know me?? I'm like a vampire...

Do you like Chinese food over pizza? Yes

Do you drink your soda with a straw? When I can

What are you doing? Trying not to die of bordem at work

Have any plans for the weekend? A lot of sleep

Are you someone's best friend? Pretty sure...

What are you doing tomorrow? Working. Then I will prolly play video games.

Where is your dad? In California, having fun with my sisters and their kids.

Look to your left, what do see? Monitoring Coung, Calander, name plate, HR Direct how to poster

Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru? Depends

What is your favorite number? 2 and 0

Do you have a dog? Not yet

Last person you talked to on the phone? Elizabeth Smith

Have you met anyone famous? My Aunt Diana-Maria is famous. She has a pretty impressive resume. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0728936/

Any plans for the day? Go up to the Gales and hopefully see some wicked awesome fireworks

How many states have you lived in? 3ish

Ever go to college? Yeah 6 more credits....

Do you dye your hair? yes, Black

Biggest annoyance in your life right now? Being tired all the time

Last song you listened to? Jason Mraz I'm yours I think....

Can you say the alphabet backwards? uhhhhh.....

Do you have a maid service clean your house? Nope

Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time? flip flops I got at disneyland...

What was your wedding song? That would be "Bubbly" by Colbie Colait

Is anyone jealous of you? I seriously doubt it

Do you love anyone? Alot of people

Do any of your friends have children? Yes

Do you eat healthy? I am doing better

Do you hate anyone that you know right now?How well do you really KNOW anyone

Do you use the word 'hello' daily? maybe.

Do you like cats? NO

Have you ever been to Six Flags? Nope

How did you get your last scar? Probably a shaving accident

Oh wow. I will try to post some pics from tonight but nothing is really happening right now...just bored....thanks Kim for the survey...:D

24 July 2008

A little help...

We have a Dell Poweredge 2600 server Dual 1.8 Xeon processor that we REALLY need to sell. If you know of anyone who needs one, please get them in contact with me, at pangee@gmail.com. Any any help will be amazing.

21 July 2008

Since you've been gone....

Wow a lot has happened. It seems like I keep saying, I'm gonna update tomorrow...and tomorrow never comes. But Life goes on.

The very day I posted about Adam's birthday, a poorly designed chair broke, and he hurt his back. He hasn't been able to work because he can't sit for very long, it causes him to much pain. It hurts my heart to see him wincing when he goes to pick stuff up. The poor man can't lift more than five pounds, and he is strong as an ox. He has been going through physical therapy three times a week to try to get him to a point where he isn't in as much pain, but they beat him up pretty good there. If you ask him, he will tell you they do things to him that just aren't right...the first thing he tried the therapist said "does this hurt?" and he glared at her and said "lets never NEVER do that again, K?" Then he was bragging to me that he got to get in the hot tub and just relax the next time....little did he know there was more torture in store. They got him in a very heated pool and made him work his butt off for an hour and a half. Then they did did the electrode thingy where they make your muscles spasm on purpose. He said it felt good and then hurt like nothing else possibly could. So my poor hubby has been poked and proded and pushed and pulled in an effort to fix his broken body.

On the plus side, we took the opportunity to go to Les Mis last Saturday with our friends to Les Mis.
In order of appearance (Left to right cuz that's how we read kids.) That would be Heather, Daren, Amie, Me and Adam. We had dinner there, and then watched the show...The kid who played Jean Valjan kept blinking his eyes...it drove me nuts...but I have to give him props for his singing voice...wowza. There were awkward moments and mistakes, but we still had an excellent time. It was hecka fun. Daren and heather got in an 4 wheeler accident that day, so they were both a little woozy, which I'm sure made the show even more entertaining. So that's fun to :)

This last weekend we took the opportunity to go down to Hurricane to see my family...and interview for jobs. It was...an experience. The best part of the trip was, as alwauys my family. Shaunie drew us a welcome mat that was just about the cutest thing ever. If dad will email me the pictures (hint hint) then i will post a picture of it. It made my day. What a wonderful family I have. AND I also found out that my mom asked if we couldn't please have a couple of the couches that were in my grandma's house. So we have some furniture to furnish our new place...wherever it may be. We have less than a month left on our contract.

And for those of you who said our marriage would last three months...y'all need to listen to the song "your still the one" by Shania Twain, because Adam is, and always will be, the one I run to, the one that I belong to...the one I want for life...

So honey, cuz I know you will read this...looks like we made it, look how far we've come my baby, I'm glad we didn't listen, look at what we would be missin'. They said "I'll bet, they'll never make it, " But just look at us holding on. We're still together still goin' strong...

I love you honey, and I love each and every one of you who takes time to read this...and remember comments are more then welcome...they are ECOURAGED!

20 July 2008

4th and 8th

Two exciting events happened in the past week, and me without my camera. Blast. I'm trying to get pictures from Adams sister so we will see. ANYWAY...

On the third of July I came home totally excited to go home and spend the 4th with my family, nieces and nephews, mom and dad and brother and sister. I couldn't have been more excited...until my car started flashing the battery light at me. I was annoyed and thought about just getting my huband in the car and driving...and then sighed to myself because I knew that would only last like 10 seconds because he would have to turn on the AC and then the lights would start flashing and he would turn around and get the car checked out. He is so concerned about our safety. What a good hubby. Well I told him about the light and he checked it out, and decided a fan belt was loose. We called around and found the only place open would be Jiffy Lube so we trucked it down there as quickly as we could and wouldn't ya know it? They didn't have the right size belt. I lost it. I started bawling, it had been a rough week, and I just wanted to chill. I haven't been able to just relax with my family since I got engaged...almost 8 months ago. My poor husband just stood there for a second not quite sure what to do and then hustled me to the car to save my dignity, where he tried to console his crazy wife. We decided to go to dinner and postpone our trip and get the car taken care of.

So we spent the afternoon and evening at Adam's family's home in Heber. Adam is a bit of a tease and has decided it would be fun to pour cold water on me while I'm in the shower so I thought I might take my revenge by arming our nieces and nephews (sisters too muaw ha ha ha) with squirt guns and attack. Well this started an all out war and some of the stinkers turned on me! With my own squirt guns! It was a lot of fun. Mom Gale barbecued stakes and chicken and it was FABULOUS. When it got dark Adam's brother, Matthew, lit off some fireworks and it was wonderful especially since Adam didn't once catch himself on fire, which we all expected and there was a pool of water that we could push him into. We had a really good time...except that I left my wallet up there....which meant another trip up to Heber on Sunday because my car was out of gas and I needed the card. So we visited with his family a little more and it was fun.

Monday we went to Tucanos to begin Adams birthday celebration. It was fabulous and we both left having meat hallucinations. If you have questions about what Tucanos, ask we are happy to tell anyone we can about it. They should pay us we are their best advertisers.

Tuesday was Adams 34th birthday. He worked and I didn't wake up until 11 AM (There is a SEVERE lack of sleep going on in our house.) He came home and asked where his present was, and I teased him a little telling him he hasn't been good enough to get a present...that didn't last long because he knew I had them. So he got his present (the burning crusade update for both of the geeks in the house). I also got him a new movie. We went up to his family, and on the way stopped at Costco to get his cake (it was so cute with a skateboarder on it!) At the check out people asked me how old my son was, and I admitted, somewhat sheephisly, that it was for my 34 year old husband. Everyone got a kick out of that. So back up the canyon to Heber and we got to chillax with the Gale family again. Adam had requested do it yourself pizzas. So Mom Gale got all the toppings and biscuts and we made our own little pizzas. They were yummy. It was time for candles and that made Adam unhappy. He couldn't stand the thought of all that wax driping from soooooooo many candles on his cake so we just got a 3 and a 4 and an over the hill candle and overall I think he had a pretty good birthday. Thanks Mom and Dad Smith for the card and Gale family to :).

09 July 2008

3,300,000

When I googled "beauty products" that's 'approximately' how many pages were returned. Pages and pages of products claiming to make me more beautiful. Make me thinner, make me glamorous, make me....something I am not. I was watching TV and the "Relacore" commercial. "Do you have body fat? Body fat is unattractive and hard to get rid of." Click change the channel. "Do you have unattractive scars?" Click change the channel. Who are you to tell me that I am not good enough. That I'm not attractive. "They" are the 'it' people. I am a natural woman. I am a proud plus size woman. I am sick of the 'it' people telling the world what is and is not attractive. Because let me tell you something, what "they" say I should look like...isn't reality. Take a look....



So next time, women, plus size or petite, you think that you aren't good enough...remember 'they' are full of it. 'They' are just trying to sell you 3,300,000 web sites worth of beauty products. You are beautiful, you are good enough, and there is someone who loves you.

02 July 2008

A link to a more complete album.

Wedding pictures


Hey guess what! This is actually a link to more pictures! If you are interested there you go!

Here is a link to more pictures if you are interested. Your all wonderful!

27 June 2008

Car posts





Zach...remeber this when you get married.... And an assist by Katie

Another picture post




Some people loved the reception.....others not so much

you guessed it...more pics



Theres a lot of pictures!



Yet more pictures